Spellbound

Chapter 14

    A cool breeze blanketed Senya’s face, brushing her hair aside and cooling her neck. Senya opened her eyes, startled at the sudden chill. She stood before an enormous illios tree that she immediately recognized from its unusual shape and color. Only, it was also somehow different.

    A butterfly flitted by her, and from somewhere within the garden walls a bird chirruped, shrill and joyous in its morning routine. A ray of sunshine split through the thick leaves, leaving Senya beneath a light dapple of dancing shadows.

    And suddenly, Senya realized why the scenery was so strange. It was certainly the Illios Garden from the Ellorian Palace, but it wasn’t the same garden that Senya had seen when she observed it during the ball. With the heavy rainfall, much of the illios leaves had been a vibrant shade of blue-green, yet this illios tree before her bore reddish leaves that were characteristic of the summer.

    Senya shook her head, once more sweeping her eyes to observe the garden. She caught sight of the intricate white and gold doors that barred the entryway, and there was no mistaking that this was indeed the Illios Garden.

    “I must be dreaming,” Senya marveled out loud. She walked over the soft grass and became aware that her feet were bare. A childish giddiness spread over her, and with a giggle, Senya pranced around the garden and brushed her feet along the ticklish green blades.

    At one point, Senya found herself slipping. But, instead of yelling out, she welcomed the fall with shrill laughter that near silenced the morning bird. A flower brushed against her nose, filling her with a sweet and pleasant scent that perfumes strove to replicate.

    An orange butterfly landed delicately on a petal, fanning its patterned wings as if it were presenting its beauty to Senya. She sat up and watched in awe as the shimmering wings fluttered into the air. It flitted in front of her, almost teasing.

    “Have you come to find the chest?”

    Senya started at the sudden voice in her head. She whirled in both directions but could not find where it had come from.

    “The chest,” the voice repeated. “You’re here for the treasure, are you not?”

    “T-treasure?” Senya murmured, her focus still on her surroundings. Could someone be hiding in one of the bushes? Behind the tree, perhaps? “Who are you?”

    “I am but a humble guardian. It is my duty to protect this treasure you seek.”

    “Where are you? Show yourself!”

    “There is no need to be frightened, my child.” The butterfly settled atop her head. “If you’ve come for the chest, I shall give it to you.”

    For a moment, Senya was speechless. It was the butterfly! The butterfly was speaking to her.

    “How is this possible?”

    “Reach into the heart of the tree, and you will find your treasure.”

    A dream, Senya reminded herself. She was talking to a butterfly because she was dreaming. There was nothing more to it. It was a dream. Just a dream.

    “The heart?” Senya turned her gaze to the tree and gasped in shock. In the overlapping coils of crimson bark, a c***k began to form. It twisted, deepened, and the tree groaned as though in pain.

    Mesmerized, Senya approached. A power so deep, so great in magnitude that Senya was afraid she would fall in and sink forever pulsed from a single source.

    “The heart,” Senya breathed, the pulse shaking her entire being with its strong and steady beat. Within the hole, a chest no bigger than a pumpkin sat suspended in the blackness. It throbbed with each beat; the wood that boxed it, the gold that hinged it, everything grew then shrunk, following the rhythm of life given by the tree.

    The chest was the heart.

    “Be warned, child,” the butterfly boomed into her mind. “Should you take it, the tree will die. It will no longer bear its magic fruit; its seeds will no longer grow. Be wise in your decisions.”

    “What’s inside?” Senya drew closer, her curiosity sparking from her initial shock. She found the beating chest fascinating, even more so because she could see it so clearly when it was within the shadows. As if it was somehow creating its own light.

    “Treasure,” was the guardian’s cryptic answer. “Power. Magic. With it, you can do whatever you wish.”

    “Whatever I wish,” Senya echoed. It was only a dream. Surely she could open it.

    Senya reached forward. Her hands trembled, her own heart echoed the chest. The closer she got, the more she felt the pulses vibrating against her, until she was barely touching it and her hands were buzzing. Senya didn’t think it odd that it was warm.

    “To access it, you must open the chest.”

    Senya frowned. She pulled at the lid and found it shut. Her finger grazed against a small hole in the front.

    “Where’s the key?”

    “’Tis not time yet, my child.”

    The hole shrunk. Senya pulled her hands back in time before they were engulfed.

    “Hey, wait!”

    “Return with the key, Senya. The treasure will wait.”

    “The key? Where can I find it?”

    “Good luck.” The butterfly rose, flapping its wings, dancing its way upward, upward.

    “Wait! You can’t just leave! At least tell me where to go!”

    But it was gone. The light diminished, the birds were silenced, and before Senya’s eyes, the tree shifted, groaned, grew. Its leaves fell and sprouted, the sky dimmed, and lightning struck…

 *    *    *

    Senya plunged upward with a gasp. The thunder that awoke her quietened into a vague rumble. Sweat glued her gown to her skin, and when she ran her fingers through her hair, she felt it was wet.

    “A dream,” she murmured. “A dream.”

    A dream so vaguely familiar. But why?

    Shaking her head, Senya slipped off her bed and reached for the pitcher sitting on a small square table. She filled a glass with water and cooled her parched throat.

    The dream was still vivid in her mind, and despite Senya’s efforts to go back to bed, it crept into her thoughts. Could there really be treasure in the tree? Surely not. But what if…

    Groaning, Senya pushed herself up once more. She would check out the garden, she decided, if only to dispel any thoughts that there was a secret hidden within the magic tree.

    She hastily donned on a robe and slipped outside as silent as she could. The hallway was gloomy and dark, the lamps that lined the walls too dim to chase away the shadows that loomed over her. Shivering, Senya tucked her hands under her armpits and padded towards the stairway. This was also poorly lit, and Senya almost convinced herself to go back to her chambers when she thought she saw something hover around the stairs.

    Gritting her teeth and thickening her resolve, Senya pushed on. She knew she would never get any sleep if the thought continued to plague her, and there also something about the garden that seemed to call to her. A subtle whisper that asked her to come, though Senya wasn’t entirely convinced that it was real. A remnant of her dream, most likely.

    So, she continued to steal through the night. Strangely it seemed she didn’t disturb the guards, and all they gave her was an inquisitive gaze or a curt nod. Why they didn’t stop and question her, she did not know.

    At last, after what seemed like forever, Senya drew closer to the garden. She shivered from the cold breeze that swept through the open doors. The guards that stood there did not stop her when she made to enter. Senya was so tense that she tripped over the lip of the threshold. Pain jolted through her smallest toe, and with a hiss, Senya limped to the wall. Why hadn’t she worn her shoes?

    A few seconds of soothing and the pain had numbed enough that Senya could ignore it. She finally turned her attention to the illios tree that stood at the center of the garden. A chill ran through her once more at the memory of what she’d seen. Where had the beauty from her dream gone? Why was this bloodred tree towering over her so ominous and dark and terrifying?

    A light giggle disturbed the rain-filled silence. Senya barely bit back a scream. A ghost was the first thought that came into her mind, but once she strained her ears for odd noises, she realized she wasn’t alone in the garden. She snuck closer to the tree and peered from behind it to see the culprits. To her utter shock and embarrassment, she saw a couple huddling together under a large umbrella propped against the wall.

    Senya backed away swiftly enough to avoid witnessing their kiss, but her heart skipped a beat and her cheeks flushed all the same. She hoped they would mistake the blood pounding in her ears for the steady shower of rain. It struck her then that this must have been why the guards had chosen not to engage with her on her way here. It was likely that this couple was not the only one sneaking around at night to spend a little more time together.

    Her initial purpose in the garden now forgotten, Senya began to creep away, hoping to leave the couple in peace. Lightning flashed, and briefly, she caught a glint of light from the ground. Without giving it a second thought, she swiped the object up and took the moment of thunder to rush out of the garden.

    Only, she hadn’t expected anything to block her way to the door, and for the second time, she found herself on the ground and hissing in pain.

    “Watch it,” a familiar voice rang out. That arrogance, that irritation that it sparked. Senya glared at the figure even before she could properly make out his features.

    “What are you doing here?” she hissed, her eyes flickering in the direction of the couple. She hoped they couldn’t hear her.

    “That’s none of your business. Now, out of the way.”

    What was Tyrion going to do? Whatever it was, he would surely sour the romantic mood. Perhaps it was because she spent too much time with Liane or because she wished to use whatever excuse given to hinder Tyrion, but Senya didn’t want him to disrupt them.

    “Now’s not a good time,” she whispered. “Come back tomorrow.”

    “Do you own the garden now?” Tyrion’s brow arched in mockery. “What gives you any right to deny me entrance.”

    Oh, how Senya wanted to slap that arrogance out of him. Somehow, she knew telling him of the couple would do nothing to deter him.

    “Mister Lios,” Senya tried, holding back the anger from her voice. An idea suddenly struck her. “Princess Pria is waiting beyond that tree. You should leave before she sees you.”

    Senya held her breath, instantly regretting her lie. Why would the princess be in the illios garden in the wee hours of the night? Surely, Tyrion would see right through it.

    “Pria? Why would Pria—oh nevermind. Move, I’ll deal with her. Why you even bothered to warn me, I don’t know.”

    A sudden lethargy burdened Senya’s shoulders. Why was she even trying? Tyrion could go interrupt the couple and continue souring his reputation. She shrugged and moved past him. Already, she missed her home in Giligha, and she was growing tired of the extravagant life in the palace. Her father was right. The palace was no place for someone like her.

    “Whatever,” she said, not whispering anymore. “Do what you will. I’m going to bed.”