Illusion and Reality

Finding the witch

I was back in the same place, it was the same oak tree and the same field. But this time everything was bright and colorful. 

The oak tree was full of life, the land was no longer barren. Happy birds filled the blue sky with their melodious songs. 

I started walking towards the tree. Every step I took to get closer to the tree, something from the beautiful surrounding died. 

I was almost near the tree and the birds had disappeared from the sky, wilted flowers and grasses laid on the ground, the sky was dark and no longer blue.

Dread started passing through my veins as I felt someone standing on the other side of the ground, watching me.

It was a man, in dark clothes with his face hidden completely. 

I screamed when suddenly I felt a sharp wind on my face, a raven flew by me. It started spinning in circles above that man’s head. He did not move from his place, just tilted his head slightly towards the left.

A sudden darkness spreading from that man’s side, I ran towards the tree but it was all in vain.

The next morning everything went according to the plan. Astrid and Lucius left to see their friend before the first ray of sun fell on the earth.

Lily could not bear another moment in the sad house, so she went to see Liam.

I had another idea after having that bizarre dream, I was sitting in front of Valeria, explaining to her.

A sad smile formed on her face in the end and the thing I was dreading happened, I put my head in my hands.

“There might be one way.”

My ears perked up and I looked at her to continue.

“What if we ask the person who made the stone for help?”

Her idea made so much sense, who would know about the stone more than a person who made it.

“How would I find that person? I am not even sure if that old woman is a witch or not. And if she is the witch then she is not in the kingdom and we are doomed.”

“Wait,” Val suddenly stood up and ran to her room, I looked at her confusingly.

Within a minute she came back carrying a heavy book in both of her hands. She put the book down on the table, it was a dark brown book with different constellations shining on it. I looked at the shining stars in awe.

“What is this book?”

“This book belongs to my coven. As the stone is extremely rare there is a chance something about it is mentioned in this book,” she opened the book and I was expecting some words but only the blank parchment stared back at me.

Valeria might have looked at my confused face, “We have to protect our legacy, if the book got into the wrong hands our secrets would be exposed.”

She closed her eyes and mumbled something under her breath, when she opened her eyes tiny stars appeared all around the book and the words filled the blank pages.

She started flipping the pages and started searching for something with full concentration. I stared at her silently, anxious for her to find anything. 

A smile broke on her face after about 30 minutes, “There is something written about the stone in this. And something about the witch.”

“Where does the witch lives?”

“The witch lives in a jungle far far away, always hidden from everyone’s way but can be seen with sun’s first ray,” she read with a frown.

“What does this mean?”

“I do not have any knowledge of such place,” she sighed in defeat.

“It’s okay, this is a good start. We have something now, which is better than before,” I gave a smile to cheer her up, “I should leave now Val, they might be back.”

I did not want Astrid or Lucius to know about my meetings with Valeria.

“Be careful Samara, you can not let anyone else know about your secret.”

“Is there something I don’t know, Val?” I asked after seeing her serious expression.

She put a strand of hair behind her long earring dangling from her ear, “Royals are taking extra precautions after the queen’s death. The authorities have become sterner. If they realized you and Lily are not from here they would not hesitate to eliminate the threat.”

I stared at her speechless, hearing it from Val made it sound even more real. 

She gave a smile to light up the serious moment, “Hey, it will be fine as long as you are taking precautions.”

I took a deep breath, “I have seen the palace, there are guards everywhere then how did someone manage to murder the queen?”

Valeria shrugged, “That is the reason her murder is a mystery. Some people think the current king has something to do with it, while others think superior shifters have a hand in this, no one knows the truth for sure. Apparently, the queen had a powerful protector but who knows where he went?”

A queen was murdered in her own palace, despite having a powerful protector, magic, and security to protect her. The thought sent a wave of fear through my body, how exactly were we supposed to survive in the world if we didn’t manage to go home?

“But superior shifters have a different kingdom, why would they think about murdering the queen?”

“They do not like witches,” Val replied with a frown.

I dropped the topic and gave her a hug before leaving.

I went straight to Lily’s room first, but it was empty. Instead of walking to my room, my feet started moving to Lucius’s room.

I opened the room, everything was the same.

I started going through the drawers, but it was useless, most of the information was written in a foreign language while other papers were blank. The blank papers must be enchanted so I stayed away from them.

I started going through another drawer.

“What are you doing here?"