CHAPTER 5 THE PSYCHIC

There was a whiff of ancient herbs I couldn't identify as I entered the shop, it was dimly lit with different flowers and glasses around, mirrors of different sizes, everywhere I stared there was a reflection of myself staring back, I walked further into the small room and there I saw a glint of something peculiar, it was a mirror with strange carvings, it was different as it shone with different flickering colours, I walked to it and then I saw a reflection of myself as I stood in front of the mirror, I gasped in shock as I saw it, I had a tail, it was the most exquisite red tail with golden scales I have ever seen, I touched my legs as I admired my tail in the reflection."Quite beautiful isn't it? the mirror "I jolted in surprise as I looked behind me to see a fairly old woman with wiry white hair staring up at me as I stood admiring my invisible tail"It is said to show one's true identity" she said as she walked towards me "Now sit Dalla" she said as she pushed me to a chair and took my palm, she put her hands over them as she studied each line on it while running her hands over each dent and pads of my hand. "How do you know my name?" I asked perplexed The old lady just smiled knowingly "My dear you have a long and tedious journey ahead but there is one who will protect you from any danger even with his life" she said still analyzing my palm"What journey and I don't know any such person who will protect me with his life?" I huffed in disbelief"You do but you deny this person, the more you do, the more you lose yourself and him also" she smiled at me "You must perform the ritual soon unless the one you love would be a beast forever" suddenly she grabbed my hands in urgencyI got up immediately frightened by what the old woman said as I rushed out of the room she said "Beware Dalla time is running out, you must join blood with your llyra to save him but most especially yourself, so your true identity will be revealed to you" she screeched in a warning tone As I rushed out of the room I couldn't stop thinking about what the lady said what did she mean by true identity?, I glanced around and saw Thomas talking to a strange man, they seemed to be arguing, whispering furiously at each other but immediately they saw me, the man quickly walked away brisquely. "Who was that?" I asked Thomas as he walked towards me "I don't know, just a beggar asking me for alms, I sent him away, are you ready to go back now" he said glancing back at the man "Yes I am" I said nonchalantly still preoccupied with what the old lady said "So what did you do in the psychic's room, what spooky things did she tell you?" "Nothing to take to heart, just some ramblings of an old woman" I said We mounted our horses and galloped away but I couldn't help zoning out as Thomas talked about his childhood and how he had to wash people's clothes and hunt just to keep alive and feed himself when his father died. "You seem preoccupied" he said when he noticed I wasn't paying any attention to what he was saying "No, am just tired from sitting on a horse for long, my muscles are sore" I stretched my back to ease my muscles "Ok then well we are here now miss, I believe I was perfect company and did a good job of keeping you safe" "Oh yes you were, thank you" I smiled at him feeling exhilarated from going outside after being locked up for a while. "I really like you, you are such a beauty" he declared in a cocky manner staring at my red lips and black curls as we dismounted at the stables. "Hmm you shouldn't say that, someone might hear and Zander would have your head" I said as I retreated away from his repulsive stares "You shouldn't worry about that, no one's here now it's just you and me princess" "I know you are a prisoner here but patience my dear and soon you and I shall be free" he said advancing slowly towards me "I appreciate that Thomas but I have no interest in you" I said backing slowly away from him "Why? Don't tell me you have another man back home" there was a glint in his eyes as he grabbed me and forcefully dragged me to him. "Let go of me this instant Thomas!!" I yelled but he didn't let go, he held me firmly as he made a move to kiss me and before he could, I raised my hands and slapped him hard on the face and he immediately released me. "Don't you ever try that again!" I raged at him "Am sorry miss, I don't know what came over me it'll never happen again" he bowed "I should return to the servant quarters" he said as he walked away hurriedly rubbing his cheeks. I couldn't help but lean on the wall and breathe till my racing heart calmed down, then I walked in and upstairs to my room. As I removed my clothes I pushed the incident with Thomas far from my thoughts but soon it wondered to Zander and what the old lady said, I did miss him, he had been gone for 3days now and I wondered why he took so long to come back I mused removing my shoes as I laid on the bed, closed my eyes and gave into exhaustion.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You must go, there's danger" Zander said in urgency as he hurriedly took my hand and pulled me through halls after halls but it felt like we were stuck in a maze. "Why must I leave? What danger is there?" I glanced around in dread but before I could ask him why we were running and what exactly we were running from, he was forcefully ripped from my hands by a dark malevolent presence, they seemed to seep from the walls of the maze themselves writhing like a creature birthed from the depths of nightmares, one of the grotesque silhouette loomed above me as its tendrils crept along the wall reaching for me but he fought the malevolent entities as he stood protectively in front of me and didn't allow any of those hideous things touch me. The more he fought the shadows, the more they increased and distorted into unspeakable apparitions until he couldn't fight them, as I watched him in sheer horror being taken by the shadows, he whispered "Run Dalla" before he shoved me away from him. I fell to the ground with a thud as I stared in tears at Zander being ripped apart by the hideous shadows, I stood up feebly still glancing back at Zander but he kept telling me to run even as he groaned in pain, I hurried along and saw a bright light, running towards it I came out of the maze and saw that I was surrounded by the sea as far as my eyes could see, there was no boat in sight, I glanced back to see the shadows advancing towards me, there was nowhere to run, as their tendrils of darkness crept to engulf me, I was pulled into the sea. I woke up with a start, it was another nightmare that didn't make sense, "why did Zander keep saving me in all my dreams and who were those people" I thought as I reached for the glass of water on the table and drank from it, I was tangled in the sheets as I freed myself and got up to open the curtains, the sky had a usual red glow, be it morning, dawn, noon it was the same. I guess that was part of the curse. I put on a white gown and went outside, it was night but I couldn't sleep after that horrid dream, so I opened the door and slipped outside, past the night guards outside to the garden. The flowers were in full bloom so I took a whiff of it as I sat close to it, I closed my eyes and just listened to the quiet, it was peaceful like a balm to my senses, then I heard it…my name "D…a…l…l…a" I looked around but I didn't see anyone so I closed my eyes again thinking I imagined it but I heard it again, louder this time, I stood up and looked round but there was no one."Is anyone there" I yelled looking around"Dalla come to me" it was whispered with the wind, as I looked, I saw a path to my left, it seemed to be illuminated like pearls cast on the path, I followed it and saw a beautiful lake, its' waters seemed to shimmer like diamonds. I was mesmerized and stepped closer gazing at its ripples, and shimmering expanse reflecting colours to the sky."Dalla, you must come to me" I heard whispered to me, it was like I was in a trance and I couldn't help but move towards the lake, as I looked at its shimmering surface, the waters rose gradually at the edge little by little and started to form a leg then the torso, as I watched transfixed, a woman was formed, her skin translucent with visible ripples, her hair cascading down her back like a river, I was awestruck as I stared at the woman. "I have looked for you sister, you mustn't be afraid, come closer" she said extending her hands to me I stretched out my hands gradually and was about to touch her hands when I heard a twig snap neraby, I looked and saw a guard walking up to me. "Miss, are you alright? I heard something as I was making the last round of the day and I saw you" he seemed concerned "It's late out and you should be indoors, I shall escort you to your room" the guard said I could only nod, as I stared back at the lake I didn't see the woman who called me sister, I had no sister just a brother surely it was a hallucination but I wasn't sure. "The waters are very deep miss, you shouldn't swim in it" the guard said on seeing me glance back at the lake. "Thank you" I said to the guard, as I closed the door to my room, I leaned against it and closed my eyes, what was happening to me, I needed answers but from whom, or where should I look? I thought as I looked through my window to the direction of the enchanting lake.