Every day is an adventure, that is the saying right? Well with less than four days until the ball, Jack wasted no time helping the citizens clear out another part of the hill for the refugees. Jack had been axing down trees, along with some volunteers, in order to gather wood for the cottages and small houses.
"𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱." A voice whispered out as another tree fell. Jack quickly looked around him but he saw his own people cutting away at the trees.
"Did you say something?" Jack asked Eris. However, all he got in response were confused looks of confusion.
"Is the sun's heat getting to you?" Eris asked and Jack just shook his head.
"𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱." The whisper said again. Although this time, Jack simply brushed it off and continued to axe the tree with relentless force. The sun's rays seemed to beam down on the Asterians on this mid-August day without any mercy. Jack took his shirt off and heard the squeals of a few girls who came from the Asterin to pass out drinks to everyone. Jack looked at the girls and gave them a wink making one of them faint.
"Will you ever come out?" Eris sighed, rolling their eyes.
"Awe let me bask in their hormonal rage! Plus, I don't want to until I find my partner." Jack said as Eris laughed before a low growl came from their stomach. Jack looked back at the Asterians collecting materials, only to notice how tired they were looking. "Alright everyone, we've been working since breakfast and I think we should start heading back!" Jack yelled as he felt his stomach rumble as well.
Mumbles of mutual agreement from the Asterians clamored together as everyone dropped their stuff and started to walk back to the kingdom's wall; knowing their items would be there when they returned.
"Jack that means you too!" Eris said walking up towards him.
Jack drew his arms back and swung at the tree again."I promise after this tree." Jack reassured as he waved Eris off.
"𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳." The whisper said again.
"Show yourself!" Jack yelled out. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯'𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵, 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐'𝘮 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘺, 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐'𝘮 𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥. Jack looked around cautiously with the axe in front of him.
"𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦?" The whisper asked.
Jack gulped. Was he sure? Alone in the woods, what could possibly go wrong?
"𝘐 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯" The whisper said again, more demandingly, desperate for an answer.
"Yes! Please show yourself. It's rude to invade people's minds without making eye contact." Jack said adjusting the grip on his axe.
"𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥." The whisper said but this time it sounded as if someone had their head on his shoulder whispering into his ear. Jack quickly turned around only to be greeted by a lady wearing a green cloak. Her red lipstick and wavy black hair were the only noticeable features. Everything else about her was covered by the cloak.
"I- Who are you?" Jack asked letting go of his axe.
"You let your axe go? Why?" The lady asked in return.
"I don't have any reason to hold on to it if we are just going to have a conversation. Now if you would kindly tell me who you are?" Jack answered. The lady took off her hood; revealing her face. Any one could easily be swooned by her majestic beauty. Her bright green eyes were almost glowing and dark tan skin was captivating. Jack could not careless about her beauty, he just wanted to know who she was.
"I'm terribly sorry for my rudeness. My name is Sellandia, the Witch of Whispers." Sellandia answered. Jack's eyes widened.
"I thought Findara killed off all the old witches!" Jack exclaimed in confusion.
"They did, that's why you always have to make sure the person you are killing stays dead." Sellandia answered. Jack furrowed his eyebrows prompting the witch for further explanation. "See I did die, but then I didn't." She tried to clarify but gave up.
"Okay, but why were you telling me to stop chopping the tree? And who am I hurting?" Jack asked. Sellandia pointed toward what Jack thought was himself, however, he soon saw she was pointing past him. Jack turned around to see a man who sat on the trunk of a fallen tree with one of his legs huddled up against his chest and the other one swinging freely. He had his chin resting on the knee of his huddled leg and his arms crossed around it. In his arms he held a stick with a lantern at the end of it. The man shifted his straw hat that hid his wavy, shoulder length, brown hair before speaking.
"That would be me. See you're in the Forbidden Forest." The man said, making Jack's eye widen.
"He doesn't like it when you talk to him without introducing yourself." Sellandia said walking over to the man on the tree trunk.
"Ah, sorry about that kid. Drayde is my name and this is my forest." Drayde introduced himself.
"Th-The Forbidden Forest-t?!" Jack stuttered as he stared at the two who had their arms wrapped around each other.
"It's okay, I've heard the rumours. It's not as scary as it seems. Want to take a look?" Drayde asked, trying to reassure the young prince.
"I would love- wait... how do I know this isn't a trap to lure people to their death?" Jack asked, crossing his arms in uncertainty.
"𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺." Sellandia whispered. It sounded like it came from behind Jack, even though she was standing in front of him with Drayde.
"Well, yes, but... Yes. Let's go." Jack finally agreed. Will this journey with the dangerously sexy witch and cute forest guy end with a dead prince? Possibly. Though Drayde was right. Jack was curious.
The rumours of the Forbidden Forest were supposed to be folklore. A bedtime story to tell kids for hundreds of years. It went along the line of a young traveler who was at the right place at the wrong time. No one really knows why the young traveler went to the forest that separated (at the time) the newly built kingdoms, Findara and Asterin, but when he got there, an evil spirit was wreaking havoc on the mystical creatures who lived within the forest. Slowly that evil spirit intended to devour the two kingdoms, but the young traveler stood up against the evil spirit, and fought for the creatures. In the end the young traveler consumed the evil spirit and protected the creatures who reside within the forest, killing any who entered or tried to conquer the forest.
At first glance, the Forbidden Forest looks like a normal forest. Bushes were all around, some had berries and others did not. The trees looked as trees should and nothing was out of place. The plants around grew healthy and beautiful. Jack noticed their beauty and thought he should collect for Emily and Sam and their potions. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰... 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. Jack thought as he stuffed the plants into his pockets and then ran up to Sellandia and Drayde. Suddenly the change happened, there was no fork in the road where a traveller looked down one path and the other, it just went from the sun shining through the trees to complete darkness. It was scary, the beautiful flowers turned into poison ivy and the clear ponds of water turned into dark, murky puddles. Even the temperature has changed as the sun's unyielding heat vanished and turned into cold gusts of wind that sounded like faint screams. Jack shivered wishing he had brought his shirt. Drayde noticed this and snapped his fingers to make a beige long sleeve shirt appear for him.
"Thank you." Jack muttered as he put it on and felt instant relief from the cold.
"Try not to pay any attention to the wind. It will only get louder and will drive you to insanity." Sellandia advised as the trio trudged on through the murky part of the woods. Jack made note of her advice. Suddenly, in their walk venturing deeper into the woods, Sellandia and Drayde disappeared. Jack was not in the very least surprised that they vanished in front of his own two eyes. The odd thing was that they disappeared in front of a stone wall... the only stone wall in the murky forest. Jack walked around it out of curiosity.
"Um... Sellandia? Drayde?" Jack asked as looked around him. "Is this the part where I die?" Jack laughed, but the screaming wind was the only thing that responded. Then, out of nowhere, Sellandia's head popped out of a stone wall, her body was missing but her raven wave flew with the screams in the wind.
"Well, are you coming?" She asked. Before Jack could respond, her head disappeared within the stone wall. 𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, Jack thought. He cautiously took a step toward the wall with slight hesitation, but found that his toe poked through. With more confidence building up he took another step, this time letting his whole body guide through.
Jack's breath was instantly taken away, he felt like he had stepped into a fairy tale. The dark, insanity driven, murky woods turned into a wanderlust scenery. The sun that peaked through the trees was back, the temperature was just right for comfort, the trees were of all different colours, and there were huts in the trees where more people and creatures wondered about. There were bridges that connected the huts in the trees to one another. On the ground there were little stations where witches and wizards could practice their spells or where creatures could bask in the pools of water. Jack looked back at the stone wall and saw a portal that was traced with blue and gold.
"That's how we know it leads to Asterin." Drayde said. Jack's eyes stopped looking around to stare at Drayde in confusion.
"You say that like there's other portals." Jack said as the people and creatures of the forest started to gather around the three.
"Well of course there are. There's one that leads to Asterin, Findara, the Wastelands-" "Findara?!" Jack exclaimed, interrupting Sellandia.
"𝘠𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯." Sellandia whispered furiously into his mind. It sounded like the last time she pointed out the portals to someone, they had used them to their advantage. Jack made a note of that and decided not to pry. Instead he kept the thought at the back of his mind.
"So, you must be wondering why the hospitality?" Drayde asked, changing the subject.
"More or less. Could you tell me before I start running out of fear?" Jack asked before hearing giggles from a group of kids nearby.
"Oh, we try to refrain from killing. A lot of men who can't comprehend a powerful lady tends to kill her." Drayde said, referring to Sellandia as they finished their walk towards the common area that looked like where the people and creatures of the Forbidden Forest had their meetings. "But you disarmed yourself and your soul is pure, filled with good intentions. Plus, the witches foresaw a possible future coming your way. We thought it would be a good time to intervene; that and you were hurting me by cutting the trees." Drayde explained.
"Thank you, but I really didn't see a reason to attack Sellandia. Also, what do you mean hurting you?" Jack asked. Sellandia offered him some water for which he gladly took in appreciation. Jack noticed that some witches and wizards joined the common area, listening in on the conversation.
"I'm the spirit of the Forbidden Forest. I thought you would be smart enough to catch up by now." Drayde laughed, placing the lantern on it next to him.
"That means Sellandia is a very powerful witch from the old coven and you are a powerful spirit full of hatred!" Jack pieced together as Sellandia clapped her hands. She applauded his epiphany.
"That silly rumour? Let me clear this now. The evil spirit gifted me with its power for not only being courageous enough to stand up against it, but also defeating it. Now my soul is tied to the forest. So, every time you chop down a tree, I can feel it, and it feels like a bee stinging me." Drayde huffed as Sellandia sat on the bench next to him.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you at all. It's just we need materials to build more housing for the refugees escaping Findara and other kingdoms that ally with them." Jack apologized.
"Well why didn't you say so?! We would love to help. Anything to go against Findara. We actually have one residing with us from Findara right now, isn't that right, Lilith?" Drayde asked, looking passed Jack at a lady who stepped out from the many curious faces with a man following closely behind her.
Lilith slightly resembles Sellandia, except she had straight black hair and a light scar over her left eye that she received from a horrible fight with her family. She had her hands interlocked with a man whose skin was as dark and beautiful as the rare milk chocolate Jack received during the February months. His eyes beamed of the ocean's colour and his body seemed in healthy fit from helping Sellandia protect the forest and the people within. Lilith truly looked like she grew up in Findara, but the guy looked nothing like a Findarian. "So, you're Prince Jack. King Oliver used to go on and on about how dumb you and your father were." Lilith giggled, fixing her black sleeves that cuffed her wrist.
"So, you're Lilith! Zerah has mentioned you before." Jack said, mocking her tone. "Plus there's nothing dumb about not wanting to be a part of a rising cult." Jack huffed as he crossed his arms.
"I totally agree with that, but seeing you now, the rumors seem false." Lilith pointed out.
"Rumours?" Jack asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Yes, the ones saying that you're dumb but only do that to fool your opponets." Lilith clarified.
"Come on babe, there's no need to tease the man. Look at him, it looks like he's been out in the sun all day." The guy pointed out Jack's sunburnt face. "Malakai Finn." Malakai introduced himself as he extended his hand to Jack.
"Jack Sterling." Jack said as he took Malakai's hand and shook on a newly founded friendship.
"It looks like you're about to have a heat stroke. Come here, let us help you out. Hana... Hana where are you?" Malakai called out as he looked around.
"I'm here!" Hana said as she squeezed herself out from the crowd without pushing anyone over. She was a short, plump, redhead with rosy cheeks. She wore a light-yellow dress with a purple cardigan over her shoulders. The odd thing about her was, much like Drayde, she was barefooted with a dirty bandage wrapped around her left foot.
"I could have healed him myself." Lilith said, as she watched Hana's hands glow white.
"Yes, but you have a lot more to practice. May I?" Hana asked. Jack reluctantly agreed; not wanting to hear another lecture from Eris about how he shouldn't be in the sun all day or from Emily about not being his personal healer. Jack watched in never ceasing amazement as she placed her hands over the first-degree burns. Jack let out a groan of relief feeling the heat leave his skin and a cool wave replacing the stinging feeling.
"Backtracking to what you said earlier, Drayde; are you serious about helping out? Because that would be great and I have two witches residing in Asterin who would love to meet you, Sellandia! And I would love to get to know you more, Drayde!" Jack beamed with excitement as Hana finished healing him and he thanked her.
"Now slow down. We should first meet King Harry. It's been awhile since we've last seen him. Right, darling?" Drayde asked, picking up his lantern. When he stood, Sellandia nodded.
"Well, let's go now! It's lunch time and the fairies made some tasty ribs. Or, if you are vegetarian, there's vegetable fried rice." Jack said, getting up. "You're all invited! We always have room for guests!"
"𝘘𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴. 𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮." Sellandia whispers over to Drayde.
"𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴." Drayde whispered back to her. Now the two didn't have any bad intentions towards Jack. In fact, they had been wanting to meet him for such a long time. Sellandia already knew about Emily and Sam who resided within the castle walls, that's how she knew about Jack's plans and big heart of gold.
"All who would like to come to Asterin please gather around the lantern." Drayde said. Hee shoved the stick into the ground making the lantern swing violently from where it was hanging. Only Lilith and Hana stepped forward while the others looked back at one another in an indecisive thought. "Very well. Kids practice safely, elders watch over, and creatures please play nice. Malakai, I trust you to keep everything under control." Drayde warned and Malakai nodded. "Alright, everyone hold hands and close your eyes." Everyone did as told. Jack held onto Hana's and Lilith's hands and shut his eyes tightly. When he opened them again, he was back where he was earlier: at the beginning of the Forbidden Forest. The Asterian's stuff laid carelessly on the ground waiting for their owners to return. Jack's shirt was also on the ground where he had left it.
"Awe let's fix this up, shall we?" Sellandia asked rhetorically, looking at all the chopped down trees. She held her hands in Drayde's and leaned forward so their foreheads touched. Drayde let out a soft giggle as a gust of wind flew around them and the tree's grew back to their formal state.
"I admire their love." Hana signed as Lilith pointed her finger to her mouth and pretended to gag. "Oh, like you and Malakai don't love each other?" Hana asked, making Lilith roll her eyes playfully.
"You have to agree, Lilith. It's so pure." Jack agreed, making Lilith roll her eyes. "Well, shall we?" Jack asked, pointing to the direction of the kingdom. He watched Drayde pick up the stick with the lantern out from the ground before they began their walk.
"It's such a beautiful kingdom my mother and her friends gifted upon your ancestors." Sellandia said with a soft smile growing on her face.
"Your mom gifted the kingdom?!" Jack asked in awe.
"Yes, and I'm glad she did. Your traits are all the same, they run strong within the Sterling family. You remind me of your great, great grandfather; Able Sterling." Sellandia smiled, making Jack's eye twinkle. "It's funny how every other generation of the Sterling's look so intimidating but you are all softies. I love it."
"Hey!" Jack exclaimed at the word 'softie' but before he could continue on, he heard multiple frantic screaming of his name.
"Eris, I found him!" Leo Percy yelled out while coming upon the group. "Hi everyone, I'm Leo Percy." He introduced himself as he held out his hand.
"NOW IS NOT THE TIME, LEO PERCY!" Eris yelled at him. "I'm sorry everyone, introductions can come later, but Jack it's your dad."
With those words Jack's world froze.