Chapter 39
Genevieve
As we drew closer, a huge dark forest loomed before us, making my horse stop in an instant and rear violently. I fell from its back, the breath punched from my lungs as my body slammed into the cold ground.
“Ouch.” I mutter, and when I look up at the beautiful unicorn, she has already taken off. Something must’ve scared her, and I don’t blame her. It looks scary out here, like a place surrounded by death and darkness.
Scrambling to my feet, I brush my hands on the fabric on my hips, not realising that small cuts have appeared on my palms.
After hesitating, I entered the dark forest, dead trees surrounding me along sharp thorns of old roses.
The place felt darker than I had imagined.
I had imagined something magical, something out of this world.
But all I could feel was dusk and dimness along the cold of forgotten souls calling my name.
Hugging my own body in an attempt to feel safer, I try my best to ignore my fear of the dark, a fear that has no right to stop me when I’ve come this far.
Almost tripping over a rock, I felt my hand going through a spider web. In an instant, a scream leaves my mouth as I see a big spider crawling up my arm.
Jumping up and down like a fool, I try to get it off of me, but it refuses, almost as if it’s glued to my body.
Suddenly, I do something I never thought I would. I take it into my palm and gently place it on the ground, only letting myself panic again once I’ve released it.
It’s with carefulness that I move forward, not wanting to get stuck in any thorns, but apparently I’m not careful enough. My new teal dress suddenly rips apart, and pearls spill everywhere.
Not letting myself stop because of such a small issue, I let my feet take small steps forward, only stopping once a huge bush appears ahead of me.
The bush is filled with spiders and insects, and the only way to the other side seems to be through it.
“Oh, goddesses...” I curse, feeling myself starting to shake out of discomfort.
Letting my arm go through the dead leaves, my body slowly follows behind. And before I know it, my body slams to the ground, and all I can do is crawl.
I crawled, and I continue doing so for what feels like an eternity.
Just when I was about to give up, my body tired and my mouth dry, sudden golden rays caught my attention, along bright green grass and a well made out of beige stone.
Hurrying forward, I suddenly stopped as I realized that the last part of the bush was covered in thorns. Clenching my jaw together and finding my own strength, I begin to crawl right through them.
A burning sensation spread over my body, face, and small drops of blood begin to prickle over my skin.
“Ahhh!” I let out a small sound of hurt as I tried to remove the blood.
Once through, I stand there and stare. Eyes wide and body standing still, frozen in time. This was unreal. I couldn’t bring myself to understand that I was finally here.
Slowly, I let myself take small steps forward, careful not to step in the wrong place, scared that something might happen if I do.
Inside this circle, the plants aren’t dead at all, far from it. They are so living that I start to question if I was even alive. Magic poured from the well in the form of a blue shine, and the sun spread its light around me.
Breathe. In and out, in and out. I repeat the mantra in my head in an attempt to calm myself down. You’ve got this.
With each step, my dress flows around my ankles and drags against the tall grass.
My heart was pounding so loudly it was the only thing I could hear. All I could feel was the way my lungs filled with air, only for it to be let out. My hands were starting to sweat, and suddenly I didn’t trust myself anymore. But I can’t let the doubt of my own mind control me, especially not now.
Esme. Her name echoed in my mind.
Before I knew it, I was standing before the beige stoned well.
Bending my knees, having to use all the strength in every single muscle, I sit down before the well almost like it was an altar that I was going to beg to. In this situation it truly was, today it would be my savior, Esme’s savior.
Cupping my hands, I let them sink into the freezing, cold water, which made my hands prickle like a thousand needles were pointed at my pale skin.
Feeling terrified, I started visualizing the memories with my sister, her eyes and smile, her warmth. I could almost feel her touch and scent around me. “Please work. Thank you.” I said out loud for the well to hear my prayer.
Letting myself lean closer to the water in my cupped hands, I let myself think of my sister, and just as I was about to swallow the magical liquid, something caught me off guard.
“Stop!” A female voice breaks my concentration before I get the chance to wish for my sister back to life.
“It’s you!” My words came out in anger as the witch with long straight black hair appeared.
“Your sister is not dead, Genevieve.” She cried out. “I know where she is. I helped her get the fate she so desperately wanted.”
“What?”
“Please listen to me.” She begs.
“Why?”
“Your name is Genevieve, you love tulips because of Esme. You had an abusive father and...” She breathes. “And Esme gave me this if I ever would need you to believe me.” She came closer to me and grabbed me a necklace with a purple pearl.
Reaching forward, I grab it from Darcelle’s hand to study it. And it didn’t take long until I found the small scratch that appeared one time when she had fallen to the ground.
“I told her I couldn’t help her, but she refused to listen.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I told her to do something impossible, I promised that if she could do it, I would help her. But I never expected her to actually do it.”
“What?” I could feel my heart sink, my breath caught in my throat as I imagined all kinds of different scenarios in my head. I knew that when Esme was determined to follow something through, she could do it no matter what it took.
“Please wish for my brother back!” She cries out, falling to her knees. “I never got the chance to get to know him because of his father. And then my magic failed me for the first time in my life as he died in your arms.” She says with tears running down her pale face.
I was so close to seeing my sister’s face again, only for this witch to tell me that it had all been a lie. All along, her death wasn't real? My body goes into chock, stumbling backwards and almost falling to the ground, the water in my hands spilling all around me.
“It can’t be.” I speak, my palms pressing against each side of my head as I can feel myself going insane.
“It’s the truth. And I’m so, so sorry.” She cries again.
“But you can make your own wish!”
“I can’t, I’m a witch, witches don’t get to make a wish in the wishingwell. We are a part of it. When born, all of us get a sip of its magic in our veins, we are connected.” She explains in a rush.
“I need my sister back.”
“She will show herself once she’s ready. She promised that when she has the courage to show up after all this, she will.”
“What if you’re lying?”
“Please!” She almost screams, and I could see how her heart sunk in that moment. A moment I recognized.
The images of me finding my sister flashes before my eyes, and for the first time, I see myself in this woman.
Who am I to steal a life that was only lost to protect me?
It’s not a choice anymore, the only right thing would be to trust her and wish for Ector to come back, and this time with his wings.
I had to do it.
Pressing down the fear that Darcelle might be lying, I cling to what’s the right thing to do.
Cupping the magical blue water into my hands, I let myself visualize the memories I made with Ector.
The way we smiled together, laughed together, saved each other.
I imagined all of it, the only difference being that I added blue magical wings to his scarred back.
Light blue wings that matched his icy blue eyes, his deep eyes that could lure you in and make you forget about your own senses. I saw his charming smirk and rosy lips, the way his hands would run through his hair.
“Please, bring him back. Thank you.” I said and lowered my head to my cupped hand and let the water down my throat. But it would be a lie if I hadn't hesitated for a split second.
For just a moment, I felt confused as nothing seemed to happen. But just as I was about to question if I had done anything wrong, a bright turquoise light erupted from the well and stretched itself all the way to the sky above us.
I looked over at the girl with long dark hair, pale skin and red lips. And all I could see in her eyes was hope, hope for a second chance to know the sibling she was forbidden to see.
Slowly, a manly figure appeared in the strong light, his body slowly lowering itself to us.
It was impossible to ignore the tears that were now begging to be let out from my eyes, and the hot tingle that had now appeared around my heart. Was he truly coming back?
Letting out a deep sob as his body settled on the ground, I ran forward and captured him in my arms. “Ector!” I cry out, my body rocking back and forth.
“Ector, please.” My shallow voice spoke again, my tears falling onto his torso.
And before I got the chance to blink a second time, his eyes had flown open, his hand reaching for my cheek. “Sweetheart?” He whispered, his thumb gently swiping underneath my eye.
“Oh, Ector!” I let my body collapse onto his, and immediately he held me into a warm hug, holding me tighter than he ever had. If this was a dream, I never wanted to wake up, I wanted to stay in this exact moment for an eternity and never leave his side.