Part One - Chapter Five

Lily couldn't see the top of the enormous stone castle with three ominous towers. She winced as she walked along the gravel road. Her feet bled. She wondered why the carriage didn't drop her off at the castle doors. This must be a test of endurance. Lily didn't understand why she had been chosen. She was ordinary, working a forty hour a week job to pay her bills. She wasn't any different than the other woman in Callimae.

Alestair walked on two legs beside her in his cat-form. His tail swished behind him. He wore a blue coat, a white tie, and bright yellow dress pants. He had a white and black pinstriped top hat and a red ruby tipped cane. Lily had an overwhelming sensation to pick Alestair up and squeeze him in a bear hug. She controlled herself though and followed him without saying a word.

An old woman in a heavy black hood and cloak ushered Lily toward her. She sat in a small shack off the side of the gravel road. Lily looked toward Alestair who kept walking ahead. Lily stepped off the road and onto the grass. She nearly screamed out when the rocks stuck to her skin dug further into her cuts. She bent down, brushed off the gravel, and wiped the blood on her night gown. She continued to move closer to the old woman when Alestair called out. Her surroundings suddenly vanished. The old woman hobbled toward her.

“Dear, you’re a hard little lady to find.”

“Show me your face.”

“Why does that matter to you?”

“I need to know. For some strange reason, I remember this place, but I don’t know why.”

The old woman stopped in front of Lily and placed two fingers on her forehead. “I release the spell cast upon you, so you will remember.”

Her cloak fell, revealing her face. She had a small nose, brown eyes, and white long hair swept up in a bun. Her skin was as wrinkled as clean laundry fresh out of the wash. Lily was relieved the old woman did not wear an animal mask.

“Sit down. I must tell you a story.”

“A story? Why?”

“I will only answer one question after my story…there is a willow in the forest. Long ago, the people of Silver Stone used to cut off the branches, because the tree was said to be holy. Finally, the tree had no branches. It was said that the tree would die. The next day the willow’s branches returned. Everyone was amazed so they cut off the branches again. No one realized that this was a test from God.

“The next day came and the people expected the tree to grow more branches. When there weren't any branches, the people grew angry and set the willow on fire. The people waited for the tree to burn down. The willow never fell, instead it grew. The branches returned, though the tree still burned. The people started to worship the willow. When the people tried to return the next day, the path to the willow was nowhere to be found. The people had forgotten the way to the tree.”

Lily opened her mouth, when the old woman interrupted her and said, “I will only answer one question.”

Lily sat in silence until finally she asked, “Who are you?”

The old woman began to speak when Lily interrupted her and said, “And I want the truth.”

“You doubt that I would tell you anything other than the truth?”

“No, I just didn't want you saying that you were a harmless old woman.”

The old woman smiled and finally said, “My name is of no importance to you. The only thing I will say is I am a messenger.”

“For who?”

“Didn't I say I would only answer one question? If you want to know the answer, you must figure it out yourself.” The old woman disappeared, leaving Lily in the forest alone.

Lily shivered, hugging her arms. She breathed, seeing her breath. She squatted and held her body as she waited until she thought of a plan. Maybe someone would notice she disappeared and would send out a search party. Or they probably thought she ran away and wouldn't even bother about rescuing her. Either way, she was doomed. What could she do? Nothing, a voice whispered.

Lily stood up and looked up.

“Who is there?”

Nothing, the voice whispered again.

“I know someone is there. Show yourself.”

Lily turned around and her doppelganger materialized.

Nothing, her doppelganger whispered, good will come from you.

“Who are you? And why do you look like me? Can you tell me something about this world?”

You will die.

Her doppelganger pointed out her finger. Lily mirrored the movement; she cried out, “My body. Who are you? Answer me.”

I am you.

Their fingers touched, and Lily began to see many colors as she watched her spirit leave her body. She collapsed, empty.