Oh no! Lila's Pov

"Take my dress. You can wear this for now while I help find a better tacking to yours." Aurora gave me a a dark green gown that reached my ankle. With a long sleeve and floral design at the wrist. The gown was free from the waist and there was a split from my knew down to my ankles.

 I recognized the dress as ancient. We were taught, I watched some documentary on Tv well enough to know I was living in a different word.

 "You don't like it? This is the most decent cloth I have." Her lower lips disappeared into her mouth as quickly. Regret.

 "No, no. I…I'm just thinking. Why do you still have this dress?"

 "What do you mean?"

 "I mean, it's old and ancient. They're better upgrades now, like the one I'm putting on. Though it's a bit tattered but…well."

 "I don't understand. I figure maybe it's the kind of dress celestial beings wear." She shrugged.

 "Do you think I'm from the sky…I mean, I know I literally fell from a cliff."

 Her eyes widened, she held my hands and burrowed into my eyes. 

 "I know you're sent by the gods to help us. I could feel it as soon as I set my eyes on you."

 I tried to pull my hands away because she was clearly wrong. I wasn't from any god.

 Argh! I mean we all are but I wasn't personally sent from some sky.

 "No Aurora. Someone pushed me off a high cliff and I fell. I don't know how I survived but when I opened my eyes, I was here."

 "We're saying the same thing but in different perspective. Time will tell goddess."

 "Lila!" I echoed. "My name is Lila and not a goddess."

 She'd let me go now and had moved a whole farther from me. "Lila. That's a nice name."

 "I was named after my grandmother. She's no more." 

 She heaved dryly. "She's watching over you."

 I nodded to agree, then she left.

 "Uhm, Ondine?" I yelled as Ondine came to sight with a wet hair. It appeared she'd taken her bath.

 She didn't reply but her eyes did.

 "Can you take me to wherever you took your bath?"

 "Take a stroll down, follow the path and you'll see the river. It's hidden so you'll have to beat open the bushes."

 I wasn't getting it. I sighed.

 "Can you take me there? I don't know here that well and I'm not a skilled fighter like you."

 "Derek might has well take you there."

 "I can't find him. Aurora has done so much for me already."

 She was still. Deliberating. 

 Then a smile broke. "Okay. Then you need to stay close and do as I say." She instructed.

 "Okay." A satisfactory nod and we made for the river.

 It was indeed a quirky narrowed part. I was right, if I had gone alone, I would've gotten lost.

 "So tell me, why do you think I'm a threat, Ondine?" I started.

 A disgruntled sigh. "Everyone sees innocence, but I see way past that."

 "You think I'm evil and just disguised as a little helpless girl?" I asked.

 "Innocence is one sly way to get into someone."

 "I see. You made reference to Aurora's brother yesterday. Why? What happened?"

 I heard her snorted. "She didn't tell you? I thought you guys got pretty close."

 "You brought it up. You can tell."

 The forest was quiet and I could hear even the crawling insects and flapping wings of flies.

 "We're almost there." Ondine said completely ignoring my question.

 She seemed calmer now.

 Rustling leaves and I jumped. "Oh my God. I thought I heard something."

 "Just stay close. Might be snakes slithering or anything that crawls. I can't believe I'm guarding a supposed threat."

 "I have you to thank. Ondine." I could hear the sound of roaring river and I knew we were close.

 I was relieved. A good bath was the only thing lingering in my mind now. I didn't care for anything else. Maybe after the bath and a nice dress and food, I'll inform them I've found a way home and that is finding my tiara.

 "I'll stay here. You can go ahead. Sure you know how to swim."

 "Very well. Thank you, Ondine." I threw a warm smile but she returned with eyes rolled, arms folded.

 I sauntered towards the river. It was so large and deep, I assume. The cold was breaking ice and stung my skin like set of needles as I undressed. I shivered but I had no choice.

 "Stay by the river bank!" I heard Ondine's voice loud and clear.

 Naked, I slowly pushed to the river. Steady steps, I was knee deep into it and I stopped. Washed my body gently and scooped the water to my face.

 I swimmed deep, foraging the depth and basking in the cold, yet good feeling of water on my dry itchy skin.

 When I came out, I was surprised to see Derek. He too was naked and equally soaked in water.

 "Heyyy, Derek! I didn't know you're here." I said and acted as if I wasn't surprised and shocked.

 "Ahh! I'm…I'm sorry, damsel. I didn't know you're taking a bath."

 I was neck buried into the water as we spoke. 

 He climbed out of the water quickly and I squinted my eyes to not see him naked with a turn around.

 A while passed and I heard him say. "You can turn back now. Isn't it dangerous for you to be alone out here?"

 When I did, his back was turned on me, fully dressed. 

 "Ondine brought me here. I'm safe."

 "That's a surprise. I should meet her now. Don't swim far away." He started walking off.

 All these while, I felt some pleasurable throbbing and lustful feelings swimming in my belly but I pretended it didn't happen. I still thought of Mason.

 "Wait Derek!" My voice rose after him.

 He stopped walking with his back still turned on me. I wished he could just look at me.

 "Just a minute." I swam out of the water.

 "Yes Damsel."

 "Lila. My name is Lila."

 Out of the water now, I patted myself dry and wore the dress Aurora gave me.

 "Lila. That's a fine name." He remarked.

 "Yes. Aurora said the same. I was named after my grandmother." I finished wearing my dress and I walked to him.

 "You can turn now."

 And he did. Took a lasting gaze at my new appearance.

 "How's the dress?" I asked unsure.

 "Great! You look…beautiful." His eyes went over me again.

 I was seeing him up close and I swore he looked so much handsome than I gave him credit for. Mason was not a match.

 I bit my lips as we stood staying nothing, then he broke the awkward silence.

 "I should go."

 I suddenly remembered why I called him. "My tiara! I know my way home, it's my tiara. I think I dropped it when I fell."

 "Tiara? I don't think so."

 "No, I know. I had it on before I fell. If we could just find the location, I know I can find my way around." I insisted.

 "There was no tiara when we found you."

 "No no, that was not where I dropped. I remember running from the initial spot. Believe me."

 He sighed deeply and peered more deeply into my eyes.

 "The tiara is your way home? There's no home. You're the prophecy, you've come to help us."

 I skidded back in disbelief. Oh no!