“This has got to be a joke. I know what I saw, i don’t understand what is going on right now… She lead me there! Aria lead me to the warehouse. My visions are not blurry neither have I lost my memories. I know what I saw and the face I saw! I’m not crazy, I’m not..”
“Anastasia calm down. Breathe in and out slowly, okay. In and out.” Christian whispered softly to me, his hands rubbing my back calmly and it made me calm down.
I turned around and hugged him, “I almost died Christian and I was so confused, I thought I won’t make it out alive. What if I was just a normal girl, that would have been the end of my life. I was so scared.” Tears ran down my cheeks in full speed, they wouldn’t just stop coming out. My emotions were just all over the place, It just hits me that I survived a near death experience.
“Is alright, you are alive now and that’s all that matters.” He whispered comfortingly, patting my hair softly.
“Someone tried to kill me Christian, is not alright.” I cried out, my nose getting blocked with mucus.
“What if the fire juggled your memories Anastasia? What if I didn’t really take you to the warehouse like you think… what if you went to the warehouse all by yourself, and then happened to play with your magic fire a bit, it went out of control and ended up catching the house on fire.” Aria voice out, and I separated from Christian’s hug and glared at her angrily. Is she calling me crazy?
“No Aria. I know what I saw, and I did not make it all up. My memories wasn’t juggled, I know you were the one who lead me to the firehouse, so if you are trying to call me crazy you had better stop, cause I’m not crazy! You lead me to the warehouse!!” I wiped away the tears gathering up in my eyes, I shouldn’t be crying at this point. I feel so angered by her make up thoughts. I can’t believe I almost believed her side of the story. She’s a really good liar.
“And for the last time. I did not lead you the warehouse Anastasia. I was in the stream washing clothes. And I’m not trying to make you sound crazy or look like one. I’m just trying to make sense of all what you have said. There’s no way I would have been up in the stream doing the laundry and also be able to lead you to the warehouse, and light it up on fire.” She uttered her voice breaking up… she looked dismayed and annoyed by what’s going on to. She’s just faking it!
“I have a solution for this.” Arkalis spoke up and we all turned to him in eagerness.
“What’s the solution. I am down for anything.” I felt relief that we could finally see a way out of this whole drama.
“I will check the both of you memories and see which of you is telling the truth or if there’s a third party involve.” He replied.
“Okay, let’s do that and I will go first.” I replied immediately, I just want to put an end to all of this.
“Let’s go in.” Arkalis said and we were all about to leave when Freya shouted…. “Ohh my goodness, we forgot about the warehouse and now is all burnt down to ashes.”
We all turned around and stare at what’s left of the warehouse… Ashes.
“It’s a good thing I’m a wizard loved by the whole of Azra, by tomorrow morning I will definitely be having a new warehouse in that very spot, filled up with maize and wheat.” Arkalis grins then walks towards the house… we all joined him.
Arkalis made me seat down on a chair, then asked that I close my eyes…. with his hand placed on my forehead. In about a minute or two he asked that I stand up. For someone who just needs to tap my shoulder and see my memories, he sure is taking is time this time around. Or he probably doesn’t want the rest to know.
“She is telling the truth. Aria did lead her to the warehouse.” Arkalis said as I got up from the seat. And I was more than happy to hear that. Finally my words has been proving true.
“What? That’s not possible.” Aria cried out.
“Well seat down and I will get to find out if you’re also telling the truth or if you have a twin sister that looks exactly like you, that dresses and ties her hair exactly the way you did.” Arkalis replied her calmly and a confused looking Aria sat down on the chair.
I was expecting her to probably refused or make a fuse, but she sat down so easily. What is you game Aria?
Arkalis repeated the same process he did with me in a minute or two he asked her to get up. “She didn’t take you to the warehouse Anastasia…”
“I don’t get you, when you checked my memory…. You said she took me there and now when you check her memories, you are saying she didn’t take me there?” I uttered cutting him short.
“Yeah, and if both of their stories checks out… who is the Aria that took Ana to the warehouse?” Christian asked confused as me.
“That would be the Aria standing right here.”
What is Arkalis playing at. First he said she didn’t take me and now he is saying that she took me?
“Are you saying she was possessed and not in her right frame of mind?” Freya voiced out.
“Yes, she was possessed.” Arkalis responded nodding his head in confirmation and I gasped in shock.
“I was possessed? But by who?” Aria asked shakily obviously in fear.
“That is what I couldn’t find out.” Arkalis answers looking disappointed.
“I don’t get. Who would go to so much trouble just to see me dead. And why?” I said in a frenzy, plopping down on the chair closet to me.
“Because of the great destiny laid out in-front of you. They don’t want you fulfilling that destiny.”
“Again with the *Great destiny* talk. The only destiny I have is to break a curse. Nothing else. Why would any one want to kill me for that?” I uttered exasperated staring at him with disbelief.
“Your destiny Ana is far more bigger than what you think Anastasia. I can’t tell you what it is but now we have to double your training. We don’t know how strong your enemy is, the next time the enemy strike you might actually die.” Arkalis said looking so perplexed by the whole situation.
“Is there anything that could be done about me? Will that enemy of Anastasia still possess me at his will?” Aria asked in fear. Now I feel guilty for suspecting her so much.
“I will give you an enchanted pendant to wear. As long as you have that on your neck, no one can posses you. I will also be giving one each to the rest of you. Then I will try my very best to create a spell that would stop the enemy from coming anywhere near the kingdom of Azra.”
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“Hey Aria.” I said knocking on Ana’s door . She stays at the servants quarters, at the east wing of Arkalis mansion.
“Hi.” Anastasia. Please do come in.” She gave me a weak smile, her fingers lazily fumbling with the enchanted pendant Arkalis gave to her. “Thank you.” I mouthed softly walking into her room, I gulped sitting down next to her on the bed.
“I want to apologize for the way I accused you earlier. I should have believed you when you said you were at the stream. I shouldn’t have indirectly called you a liar. You are my friend, and I couldn’t even believe your own words.” My voice came out shaky, I couldn’t look her in the eyes…. My eyes darted around the room in complete guilt.
“You shouldn’t feel guilty Anastasia. Having such a near-death experience that a friend lead you to… even if I were you at that moment, I would definitely not believe the words I said. And I’m sure you felt more hurt knowing I was the one who lead you there and not a stranger.” She picked up my hand in her’s and rubs on it softly.
“I do not hold any grudges against you Ana. Friends don’t hold grudges.” She smiled at me warmly and I couldn’t help but return her smile through my teary eyes.
“Thank you so much. I feel so much light weighted right now. I feel so relieved and happy.”
“Should we hug it out?” She questions grinning from ear to ear.
“Yes we should.” I returned her grin and wasted no time in hugging her so tightly.
“I should call it day. I have had enough drama for just one day, I think it’s best I go sleep it out.” I said as the end of the hug. I got up from the bed, said good night to her and then exit the room and also the servants quarters.
I had my bath and fell on my bed, then journeyed into the land of dreams.
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I was sitting next to the stream playing with the water. When a little boy walked up to me and just wouldn’t stop smiling so brightly.
“Are you lost child?” I asked the boy.
“No I’m not. I’m here to meet you.” The boy replied and I chuckled.
“Awwn, Why do you want to meet with me?”
“Sadly I would’ve loved for our first meeting to be physical and not in your dream. But anyways… I will make do with what I got.” He frowned… then sighed and continued…
“I am the enemy that you and Arkalis have been looking for, the one that possessed your friend Aria. You can call me terror because that is what I bring to peoples life.” He took a deep bow.. and I couldn’t help but roar with laughter.
“You can’t be of evil… you’re too cute to be evil and besides, you are just a little boy. Just a child.”
His face turns red with anger, his head began to swell… and also the rest part of his body, “That is your first mistake and I will make you regret it!” Within a blink of an eye the little boys grows into a big gigantic red monster.
“Now how do you like me now? Am I scary enough or big enough!!” He growled in a really loud voice, uprooting a three at my right side with just his hands.
I stood up in fear and took to my heels. “Where are you going Anastasia? The fun has just began.” His voice wasn’t as loud as it was anymore and it sounded so close to my ear. I looked at the direction of the voice and there he was flying, he’s a bird now.
“What do you want from me!.” I yelled so scared for my life. I tried throwing fire balls at him, I couldn’t.
“Your powers don’t work here sweetie.” He’s now in the form of a woman in a red seductive dress. “This place you see is my turf. I created this dream just so I could meet with you, it might be happening in your head… your subconsciousness but this is my turf and so your powers won’t work.” He said in a sing song voice running alongside me, laughing like a maniac In my face… turning slowly into an old woman with no bones and three eyes. The old lady looks like a jelly.
“Tell me my love… what possibly could I want from you?” The old ugly lady laugh out hysterically the voice resounding into the night.
The wobbly jelly old lady disappears into the air. “YOU ARE NOTHING COMPARED TO ME!!”
I looked up to see he was now in the form of the sky. His eyes so big and large it frightened me.
“Then if I am of no use to you, why bother me? Why try to kill me?” I question shouting into the sky so loud. I am getting so fed up and irritated with his too many ugly and evil appearances.
“Don’t be angry now. It was a test and you passed in flying colors. Remember, you walked out of it unscathed. You should be thankful to me, I helped you with the fire element, witch.”
“Thank you? I almost died!!” I so much want to throw a fireball at this person. I hate the fact that my powers are not working.
“Again unscathed.” He said in a duh tone, turning back into the small boy he was.
“They all said she is the chosen one! She would be the end of you! She’s definitely more powerful! She’s the greatest! You would be no match for her king of terror and disguise. Blah blah blah. They didn’t know what they were saying…” He surrounded me as he talked…
“You are no match for me Anastasia. You are just a girl still trying to get her footing. You are nothing and I can see nothing of the great power they all talked about. You are definitely going to fail in breaking the curse and you can never amount to my greatness.” He laughed, agonizing my soul.
“I will be waiting for you in the presents, when you return back from this past. You should know in the present there would be no Arkalis who would put a spell on a whole kingdom just to protect you. And now, I will leave you with a goodbye gift. Adios witch.” He did a bow and flew into the night sky.
“Till we meet again, witch.” He yelled as he disappeared into the night.
I noticed there was something in the dark coming at me in fast motions. I adjusted my eyes to see what it was… then I saw it, scorpions! Millions of them! They were eating everything in their way as they rushed towards to me.
*Anastasia run! You have to run Anastasia!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOT RUNNING!!*
My heart rammed against my chest, my legs remained unmoving. What do I do, they are getting closer with every passing seconds I waste.
*Is this how I die. Would I die in my own dream?*
At this point the scorpions were only a few feet away, not seeing a way out… I shut my eyes tight and then waited.
Nothing! I couldn’t feel anything eating my skin out or crawling into my ears or any part of my body. I still feel very much alive.
I opened my eyes slowly only to find myself back in my room, on the bed. I checked my body hurriedly for any sign of scorpions or that I was bitten by them. None.
I looked out of my window and an uneasy feeling settled inside of me as I realize, terror is out there waiting for me to return back to the present time. I should probably just remain in the year 15 BC forever.