Chapter Nineteen

Callista watches as Julius makes his way toward her, toward the Mage's house. Then a blast of air knocks him and the others across the street, in the grass of the houses. A figure materializes before Julius, his face paling with anger and uncertainty. The Mage turns around and waves at her. Her surroundings disappear and she floats in an atmosphere of pitch black. Her breathing becomes difficult as she is sucked into a void. She dangles there, for minutes or hours. Her harsh breathing seems to echo around her.

A bright light illuminates, but she sees darkness where the light doesn't reach. She sinks toward the light, the air becoming heavy and heated. The sky underneath her opens up, to her free falling toward a world of green. She lands on hard iron ground, her side exploding with pain. She cries out, curling into a ball as the pain radiates throughout her body. Tears slide down her cheeks, catching at the edges of her mouth. She sobs, the grass tickling at her mouth. She tries to move, but her side stretches, and pain sends needles though her body.

Sucking in a deep breath, Callista pushes herself up, sobbing as she felt her rib shift. Snap echoes her mind, but she whirls around to face nothing. Hysteria minutes away. She takes in the scene around her. A dark forest stands before her, the trees completely still as a breeze sweeps pass her. Her breathes comes out harshly in the silence, shock filling her system.

She has been teleported by the Mage, to a bizarre forest. Her heart begins to race, her thought swimming around in her head. Her breathing came out faster, and searing pain came through her chest. Callista kneels in the ground, the breath knocked out of her. She coughs, drawing in a sharp breath when it passes.

Where am I? She asks herself, looking at the forest wall. I am supposed to find the one who is my brother. The panic attack fades, leaving her feeling empty and her body shivering from time to time. She stands, allowing her body to recover for a few more minutes before taking a step forward. Callista follows through, hoping to gain entrance to the forest.

As Callista draws near, the forest opens up. A dirt path about two feet wide climbs over small hills, creating a winding path through the forest. Trees lines the path like a wall of protection, but three foxes turn their heads to watch her as she stands in the middle. Their beady eyes watch her, before skittering off. Callista stands there, unsure if she wants to follow the path. Nothing about this seems sane, but looking behind, there is nothing the other way for miles. Blue flowers scatter the forest floor, glowing lightly in the dim light of the sun. She takes a step forward and walks on the path.

A loud crunch sounds and she flinches. She whirls to see the trees have blocked any exit. Twisting into each other, forming a knot of branches, no way through. Her breath catches in her throat and she turns back around. She hurries through, walking the path that seems to have no ending. A horse nickers and Callista comes to sharp stop, as a creature merges from the forest walls. The trees are spreading out the more she walks in.

The creature bobs his head and looks art her. It is a horse, full of powerful muscle that moves in its slick hide. Grey, but glittery body. It has a horn, centered on its forehead. Right where its mane begins. He trots closer to her, its eyes intelligent in the little light.

"Y-you are a unicorn," she stutters, her eyes going wide at the possibility, "but how? You guys shouldn't exist."

The unicorn rolls its eyes like it could understand her. We do. We never went extinct.

The voice is soft, and floats inside the corners of her mind. Scrambling back, she sucks in a sharp breath. "No. You can't actually speak."

The creature snickers, it is weird. It is like a horse nickering, but high pitch. He trots closer, his head nestling her arm for a second. His tender brown eyes meet hers again. Get rid of your sanity and you will see the world in a new light. The voice is hearty and warm, filled with sarcasm. It is like he gets this all the time. Callista doesn't believe that. In this forest, you have to believe to be able to enter.

Callista feels a shock go through her body. That certain thought came from a memory, but she concentrates, and nothing came up. Her eyes meet the unicorn's and understand flashes deep inside.

Oh. I know who you are and what you are seeking. He muses, trotting around her. He is so close; she can see the black spots that dots his fur. His head rubs against her arm again, nudging her back a few steps. Though I have been warned to never tell you the way. I can guide, but not lead.

Callista tilts her head in confusion. "Is that supposed to be a riddle?"

The creature huffs out a laugh. Like a neigh, but breathier. She shudders as the words wash over her. No. It is easy to decipher. You are to make it through this forest, through every obstacle to reach what lays ahead. The unicorn stands back and twists his head to the side. His amber eyes flickering over her as he went. I go by Philip, Callista.

Callista feels her body flinch as her name floats through her mind. So unnatural to hear someone else say it inside her mind. Philip turns his whole silver body and starts walking forward, trotting slowly enough for her to catch up if she pleases. She looks around herself one more time, marking the trees and beautiful blue flowers that surrounds her. She follows the unicorn, her side not hurting her at all. Callista looks behind her, seeing the roots and trees blocking her only way out a few feet away.

Don't look back, Callista. You're not going back, only forward. Philip says in her mind. She frowns, but her heart knew it is the truth. She turns and jogs to catch up with him.

∞†∞†∞

A few hours in their walk, Callista began to feel pins and needles throughout her body. She winces and shifts, the feeling disappears. A few miles, it starts up again. Philip noticed a few miles back but keeps his eyes ahead and manages to keep his words out of her head. The trees have disappeared from the side of the path, now they are sprinkled across the plains. The side of the trails are now lined with purple and blue flowers. The silence between them stretches thin and Callista couldn't bare her curiosity.

"How do you know who I am?" she asks, letting the question fall between them. For a moment, the only sound is her footsteps and his hooves.

Everyone knew of your birth, just not who you are. We all felt it in the air, but no one could locate you before your power was tampered. He explains, his voice soft inside her mind. So therefore, I had to find out through other ways. The moon tells the sky. The sky tells the sea. The sea tells the tide and the tides tells me. It was only a matter of time before I came across for you.

"Then why does this forest feel familiar?" she asks, her thoughts rolling over his words.

The Mage probably sent magic into your system to overdrive whatever is keeping your memories hidden. He explains. Magic is a good healing ritual, when it comes to diseases or memory loss. Your memories are important.

Callista lets it sink in, absorbing his words and the words the Mage gave her. Her past is a grasp away, locked inside a cabinet in her mind. Just out of reach. "It was the King of Vampi that kidnapped me the first time, am I right?"

The unicorn turns, its mane of hair ruffling over one shoulder. Yes. And nothing good would've came from you being delivered like a sack of meat.

She nods, agreeing with him. The last moments before she zapped out of existence, Julius seemed to relax and radiated relief. She didn't see Jacob or Davis, but two guards and a bulky guy that never moved after the Mage threw them back. She hates thinking about the place, terrified where the witch has put her.

The path comes to a stop and a clearing floods her vision. Running water spurts close by and her eyes spy a building, very far away. She squints, trying to figure out what is happening. Callista turns her head to Philip, but he is gone. She comes to a stop, her heart beating within her chest. The ground begins to shake, indicating something coming closer.

A herd of horses travel toward her, their eyes black and demonic. She gasps and dives out of the way. She rolls on her side as a gust of winds pass her. She watches the herd of horses' neigh and shriek as they stampede by her. The last one in the end, turns its head and locks eyes with Callista. The slick black bodies of the horses disappear over the edge, and she began feeling her body again.

First obstacle, Philip muses, as her reappears by her side. She pushes herself up and dusts off her dress. She freezes, a frown pulling at her lips. She inspects the dress, not a speck to be seen. She wasn't wearing a dress in Vampi Kingdom. What had the Mage done to her? Is making sure your animal insticts are still intact.

"Animal instinct?" she asks, her voice breathy. Her heart calms in her chest and her gut wrenches to a stop. "Right. I am werewolf."

Her tone made Philip swivel to her, his intelligent eyes taking her in. Yes, you are. You have to accept it, if you are meant to pass this forest, Miss Shawcross.

"So, you say." She replies bitterly.

The unicorn huffs, a breath of air escaping his muzzle. His horn glitters as a piece of sun glints off of it. His mane of hair flickers over his shoulder. Callista, the last few days should've showed you anything is possible. You have met vampires, witches and werewolves. It is not insane enough to think maybe you are part of this world.

Callista starts walking, taking in his words. She knew without a doubt, maybe this world is where she belongs. Cliché as it sounds, she never fit in with her world. She never felt a connection to Parker. Fiona and Sasha are the only ones beside family, she connected really well to. Her parents— Wait, no. Her kidnappers have always felt off, even though they were amazing at raising her.

"I think I understand," she states, her footsteps becoming more confident. The fear of what is ahead is all that attacks her, but she is no longer doubting where she belongs.

A crack of lighting. A scream of fear. A pale face of a boy, smirking at her through a cell. Callista lurches to a stop. Pain explodes in her brain, voices and pictures cram her mind. She gasps, pain circling her head. A gorgeous female and a handsome male stand side by side as they face a familiar face. Dark grey eyes flash blood red. Philip nickers beside her, so near, but so far away. She falls to her knees, the pain a force in her mind.

Vampires laughing as they chant around a head brace that is lowered onto her head. She screams and a dark laugh echo it. She squirms and tries to get away, but invisible hands latch onto her and she becomes motionless.

"Ah, yes, " a voice snarls in her mind, "show me the Warrior Princess." Nothing comes and a blinding white wall stands still. Callista cries out as pain circulates throughout her body, the resistance strong in her blood. She can't let this information go, not to this man.

"You little—" he snarls, yanking the head brace off. His dark grey eyes and black hair flare together to create a madden scientist. "Who is the Warrior Princess? Where is she?"

He seems mad as he continues to ask the same question, the insanity a bright gleam in his eyes. Callista feels the pull to the head brace, the memory of his threat of resetting her mind lights up.

He won't do it. She realizes. He needs this information. She reaches across the table, with her fast reflexes, and stuffs the head brace on. She hears the soft hiss and something prick her neck, allowing her entrance. She hears the King curse and start to walk away. She breathes in deep and concentrates.

"Reset memory," she orders, her voice muffled through the head brace. She hears the King yelling at his helper. The white wall transformed into a single question.

Do you accept?

"Yes." She breathes.

The wall explodes with vivid colors and pictures. Her parents, her brother and her friends. The history she has been taught and must forget to save her some time. Her eyes close and everything disappears.

Her eyes pop open and find Philip nestling her head. His eyes are a warm brown color and his face is tan. A tiny horn is centered on his forehead, but he is physically human. "You are truly a miracle, Callista."

She is barely concerned about how he turned human, just focuses on her memory that has been restored. "The King didn't take my memories by force."

Philip stands, his eyes sparking. "What do you mean?"

Callista joins him, her body awakening at the new feeling of being in her body again. "I gave them up. To save time."

"Callista, you need to tell me exactly what you remember. " he says.

"The King wanted to know who the Warrior Princess is. He couldn't figure it out by force through his machine. I think—" she hesitates, concerned where her thoughts are going. "I think it's me."