Chapter 29
Genevieve
Nine years ago
“Can you believe that you’re finally twelve?” He laughs. “You have been waiting a whole year for this.” He continued.
“I know, I’m almost an adult now.” My young pitchy voice answered him.
“I have a very special gift for you, Genevieve.” Caspian said and handed me a box wrapped in old, dusty paper.
“What is it?” I asked him as we sat alone in his library.
“You see, little one, there’s secrets that you don’t know about.” He paused. “Secrets that... not many know about.”
I looked at him, his eyes and crooked glasses staring back at me. What was he trying to tell me?
He handed me the box, and as a newly turned twelve year old, I ripped the paper off of the box faster than the two of us could blink.
“What is it?”
“Little one, these are old, well kept books about another realm.” He spoke in words that were hard for me to understand, words that I had yet to learn.
“Another realm?”
“You see, when someone has passed, they do not simply disappear. There are other realms for them to live in. And the realm is all around us.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Some of them stay, and show themselves through animals, for example. They guide us, they let us know that they are still here, right by our side.”
“What?”
“Oh, little one, you will understand once you get older.” He said, petting my head gently. “Some mysteries are to explore once the age is right.”
I remember the words Caspian told me the day I turned twelve. And with his words in mind, I look over at the deer that is still lying by my side.
Another realm. Could it be true? Could it be possible?
“We truly need to keep moving, little one.” I say, suddenly remembering where that name even came from. Caspian.
I can’t wait to see his face once Esme and I return.
What about Ector? The thought echoes in the back of my head, consuming every single cell in my body and leaves my heart breaking once again. It haunts me with every breath, having to choose one of them but longing so deeply for both.
“Keep it together.” I tell myself out loud.
We continue following the stream by foot. It feels wrong using my wings. Ector and I made a promise to do it together by foot, and for some reason, I feel like that promise still applies to me.
It’s ridiculous, really. But I’ve already experienced so much more than I usually do by flying everywhere. I’ve met people, talked to them, I’ve let myself experience things outside of my comfortable little box.
Yes, walking will most definitely take longer, but how beautiful isn’t it to let myself bloom as a person? I need to find myself and find out who I am. A flower doesn't decide when to bloom based on who passes by. A flower blooms and lets the whole world see it no matter who enjoys it or not.
Maybe I’m not as alone as I imagined myself to be. I’ve always had animals surrounding me, following my side wherever I go. I may not have a lot of fairy friends, but I am a friend of nature.
“I’m not even sure I was going the right way.” I tell the deer as my fingers run through my hair.
“Do you think I’m insane for speaking this much with you?” The deer abruptly stops walking, looking at me with judgement in her eyes, as if I’m more insane for even asking that question.
“Okay, noted.” I smile.
Seconds pass by with every step we take, seconds that quickly turn into minutes, and before I know it, hours.
Slowly, seashells and pearls start appearing more often. Looking at the map, I can tell that I’m getting closer to Mermaid City.
It’s a saying that mermaids are obsessed with shiny pearls and beautiful colored seashells.
And I can’t blame them. It’s easy for the shine to grab your attention, making you want to keep it for yourself.
Sometimes they wash up on shore, and other times they can be found in the least expected places where our ancestors might have dropped them.
One time a year, there’s a huge market where every single creature attends, showing their crafts. One that I’ve seen multiple times, created by mermaids, is beautifully decorated brushes. Not only brushes, but mirrors, hairclips and decorative tableware.
They never fail to make things more gorgeous than they were from the beginning, the things they can craft with their hands are magical.
Even though it’s the mermaids who design the things, they often take help from elves to sell it for them, since they can’t be out of the water for too long.
I have never met a mermaid, but I would love to do so. I would have a million questions and I could write a whole book only from their answers. I want to know everything about them, how they live, what their favorite food is, can they speak with other underwater creatures?
The list of questions would be endless.
“I hope to meet a mermaid one day.” I say, my dress flowing around my legs with each step.
“Maybe you will.” A manly voice appears.
“Ector?!” His name leaves my mouth before I get the chance to think, an immediate wave of joy washing over me.
“Unfortunately I am not the man you seem to be in love with.” He speaks again.
I turn my head, trying to find the person behind the deep voice. It’s not until he steps out from behind a tree that I actually get to see him clearly. The guy with long blonde hair and a big bow behind his shoulder.
The guy who tried to lure me to him, deeper into the woods. The guy who wanted me to get the same fate as my sister.
“What are you doing here?” I spit out. “Why are you following me?”
“Oh, dear. It was never you that I followed. It was your beloved savior.” He breathes. “What was his name again? Oh, Ector, as you just said.” With every word leaving his mouth, he comes closer to me.
“He’s not here.” It takes all the strength within me not to break down and fall to my knees right here, in front of him.
“Well, that wasn’t too hard to tell. I’ve got eyes, you know.”
“Leave us alone.” I say, stomping away from him as anger grows within me.
“Now, why would I want to do that?” His steps follow behind me.
Slowly, I reach into my small green bag and grab the silver dagger. “Because I’m asking you nicely.”
“You didn’t ask, you...”
“Leave. Us. Alone.” The words come out through my gritted teeth as my body spins around and places the pointy dagger against his throat. “I didn’t ask you, it was a demand.”
“Woah.” His arms fly over his head with a grin plastered on his lips and something dark shifting in his eyes. “I don’t want to harm you, little girl.” He continues, pushing the dagger away from his body.
“I’m not a little girl.”
“You seem pretty small to me.” He looks down and blinks with one eye.
“I’m gonna go now, and you’re going to stay right here, and not follow me.”
“I will leave you alone as soon as you tell me where your little puppy is.”
“My puppy?” I said in confusion.
“This Ector you talked about.”
“I don’t have to give you any sort of information.” I push him and walk away once again.
A tight grip forms around my hair, drags me backwards, and I fall to the ground. The rocks underneath me scratch my legs.
“Listen carefully, little girl.” He says, his hand gripping my cheeks, my eyes looking at him while feeling terrified.
“You will tell me where your little rat dressed up as a knight is, and then I’ll leave you alone and never bother you ever again.
Can you do a simple thing like that?” He smiles at me, something evil inside of him shining through.
“It’s not you that I want to harm. The archer who gets his head will receive a big pile of golden coins. ”
How dare he speak those words?
Suddenly, it feels like wire is being tied around my throat, making me incapable of speaking.
“Tell me where he is!” He screams at me, his face closer to mine than I’d like it to.
My mouth starts wobbling uncontrollably, “He’s dead, you son of a bitch!” I scream back with eyes full of tears. And before I know it, spit flies out my mouth and lands in his eye, my foot kicking him right between his legs.
With his body falling to the ground, I grab the deer into my arms and lift from the ground in desperate need to escape him. I can hear his footsteps following me as his boots smash against the rocks.
Feeling more paranoid than before, I look at the map once again, trying to figure out how long it will take to get to Mermaid City.