Chapter 248
I was lost. I finally accepted it after running in circles for the fifth time, arriving at the same spot.
I had marked the long tree—because that seemed to be the best adjective for the tallest tree I’ve seen in my life—after the second attempt had landed me right at its feet.
What am I getting wrong?
I looked around the dark forest–which once would have drowned me in fear, but now seemed mysterious to me–and I wondered where I had gone wrong.
I had followed the area Rachel and her brother had led us through hours ago. I had stopped at the landmarks I saw then, so why wasn’t I seeing a wall? Why weren’t I seeing the caves? Was I missing something?
Was it because I came from a party? Was there some code to this thing?
’El, you gotta help me. What do I do p>
’You want me to locate the secret library p>
I rolled my eyes. ’Of course. Can you do that p>
Please, know how to do that. For someone or something capable of much magic, surely locating a simple library was no task.
I checked my watch. Thirty minutes had already gone. I was grateful that time was working correctly here. I wouldn’t know how bad I’d feel if it was fast like it had been that morning. I couldn’t imagine wasting so much time circling an old tree.
’El p>
Why the silence? It’s just a simple location.
’If it’s that simple, why haven’t you found it p>
I rolled my eyes again, hands on my waist. Just get on it, woman!
I could actually feel her roll her eyes at me in… I don’t know, impatience?
“Well, if you must know, it’s an illusion. A strong one that you are in. Would take a lot of magic to break. Courtesy of the Queen,” she said.
The Queen? She must have been here then. When? Maybe immediately we left hours ago.
She had let her children bring outsiders to the library for a peace pact, but she didn’t trust the outsiders enough and had created a barrier to stop trespassers. Maybe she had me in mind. I believed that, noting El’s emphasis on the strong illusion.
“Does that mean we can’t break through p>
“We can, but in your current state, that’s risky. I don’t think your body can handle it—it hasn’t grown to that level yet. And even if it does, there wouldn’t be enough strength in you to read the books and gather knowledge, which is your main goal here p>
A long pause.
“It’s a bad situation, as you can see p>
“You’re implying I shouldn’t be here. Is there a reason for that p>
“Not at all,” she said. A lie.
I breathed out, trying to center myself. I was going to that library today. By hook or crook.
Before I could convince El to go ahead and break the illusion, I felt a touch on my shoulder, and instantly chills descended from my head to my toes. Whatever was behind me couldn’t be good.
The Queen? But that wasn’t her scent.
“You are not going to turn p>
That voice. Familiar. Where had I heard it?
I bit my lips, thinking hard, stopping when El gave the answer.
’The witch with the warning p>
And it clicked instantly.
But if anything, my fear doubled. A witch unknown to the community, not known by the Queen’s children, only to the forest.
What now?
I steeled myself and turned slowly, holding a frightful gasp when I saw her in all her naked glory. Painted glory. Frightening glory.
What the hell! Is this some night fetish? Have I walked into a ritual? Is this part of the illusion?
“What are you doing here at this time of night? It’s not safe for you here. What are you looking for? Did you miss your way p>
I wetted my lips, looked away to the left, and cleared my throat.
“Yes,” I said, my voice unsteady. But my mind was steady enough. Could she point the way? She had the bearing of a strong witch. Could she break the illusion, or would she be happy to lead me home?
I was hoping for the former.
Suspiciously, El was silent, as if studying the witch. I could feel her silent prowling in my mind. I didn’t know what to make of that.
“And what were you looking for p>
I returned my gaze to her, watching her watch me with those intelligent yet scary eyes—eyes that seemed to see into my entire being, as if she knew where I’d been planning to go. As if her questions were just for asking, or as if she could tell a lie.
“I’m here to see the secret library. Open only to the royalty of this community,” I said.
“And aren’t you part of the royalty?” She tsked, looking ahead of me.
It took a second for my mind to process that—not the royalty stance, but the finality behind it, the certainty.
“Royalty of this community p>
But this time, she wasn’t forthcoming with the answer. She moved around me, toward the tree. Follow current novᴇls on.net
I watched as she stared at the tree for a mere three seconds before kicking it with her foot, which I could see was wider than normal.
But what is normal? There was no guaranteed measurement for a foot.
But that foot was wide—wider than a male’s. I shuddered.
Was there a chill in the air? I rubbed my arms.
I should have listened to my parents. I should have stayed home. I shouldn’t have come out here alone—especially at night.
In hindsight, I seemed foolish, headstrong, diving into trouble. I must have a death wish.
“You can go now. The illusion has been broken. Though I’d be quick if I were you—you’re not the only one in these woods p>
Her last sentence sent another wave of chills all around my body.
Maybe I should get out now.
Seeing as she was benevolent and unshaken by whatever magic she had used to break the illusion, she was a strong witch and could get me home in record time.
What came out of my mouth, however, was: “Why are you naked p>
I almost cut my tongue off, but I knew I would need it if the woman questioned me.
El chuckled at my exaggeration.
Wait, now she showed herself?
’Where have you been p>
’Here with you, as always. Just checking out the competition p>
Competition?
’What competition p>
No answer.
I sighed and focused on the woman who stood, studying me again. I could feel her scrutiny.
“You are really a curious one, aren’t you? A good trait that can prove disastrous sometimes. You should work on taming that habit. It won’t do you much good in the long run p>
I had no idea what she was talking about, truly, but I nodded anyway.
“Are you heading into the library, or do I have to call up the illusion again p>
Seems I wouldn’t get my answers tonight.
“Thank you,” I muttered, inclining my head in a bow, then moved past her as quickly as I could manage in the situation.
“And Maya, be careful. Remember my warning. It wasn’t a joke or a dream. Don’t swim in regrets later p>
And then she disappeared right before I could ask her what her name was. She vanished as if she hadn’t been there at all.
What’s with these magic-high people and disappearing? I wondered, walking toward the cave I could now see.
Illusion indeed. A strong one—if I should judge the Queen.
Sadly, not enough to keep the strange witch away.
Were there others like her? Did the Queen know of her existence?
At the entrance of the cave, I placed my palm on the wall—warm to the touch—and enacted the codes.
It opened without much hassle. Good!
’You know the reason why it opened isn’t because you knew the codes, but because it recognized the touch of royal blood,’ El’s voice echoed.
That word again, that finality.
’So. I am royal. You always seemed to avoid the topic p>
El scoffed. ’The white hair was already a telling sign p>
“Yet you won’t tell me which family I come from p>
’And that’s because I don’t know! Don’t you remember our earlier days? I told you I don’t have some of my memories… I seemed to have been knocked out or something p>
Right, I remembered now, and with it came the realization that why El had been hesitant to talk about my heritage was because it made her uncomfortable—the fact that she couldn’t remember, that she couldn’t help me, that she was useless in that area, made her restless.
’I am sorry,’ I muttered, stepping into the cocoon of books.
This was going to be a long night.
“Just the books and nothing more, right? Be conscious of the time too p>
Nothing more? Does that mean there’s something more?
Well, I would just get to this now. No one said I couldn’t come here again.
I just had to be better prepared to break the illusion next time, in case the strange witch was no longer around.