Signs in the Stars

Eight

Emer woke up when she heard a soft jingle and a laugh. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at the scenery around her. Everything around her was a soft white, and little tufts of light gray flew around, like pieces of cotton gently floating in the wind. There was another laugh and she spun around to see a figure smiling back at her. "You!" she shouted as she recognized the blonde across from her. She was still wearing the same elegant purple dress, and her hair seemed to float around her even more.

"I'm impressed you recognize me." The witch responded with a grin.

Emer let out a yell as she ran at Aithne with murderous intent, ready to take her neck and strangle her, but there was a giggle and she faded away only to reappear behind the charging woman. "Don't try it," her soft voice was gleeful as she stared down the younger woman, "I'm already dead, besides," she leaned forward to rest on her stomach as the rest of her body floated up so she was still at eye level, "you're in a dream world."

Emer's hands balled up into fists as she glared at the witch who seemed way too happy about the current situation, "what do you want?" A thousand more questions ran through her head. She had never been in a dream world before, and Marcas had never mentioned something like this. And how was she dead? Was Marcas able to kill her? But only his body was there. And how did she get here? Why was she here?

"I'm dead," Aithne grinned, "how can I want anything?"

Emer still had her guard up as she glared at the woman across from her, "then why are you here? Why am I here?"

Aithne clucked her tongue disappointedly, "you're the one who appeared here. If anyone has the answer, it should be you."

Emer balked at the response, "I didn't want to come here!" she grew heated as she defended herself against the smug looking woman, "I just woke up here! You were here first! How about you give me some answers?"

"So angry," Aithne continued to look at Emer in disappointment.

Emer let out another yell of frustration and anger, but before she could grill the witch for more answers the world started to fade away, "wait!" she cried out desperately as it faded to black, "you still owe me answers!"

Emer woke up again when she heard a caw. The same white bird from before was resting on her chest, looking at her inquisitively, "you know about Aithne." The bird nodded before flying off into the air. Without a second thought, Emer rushed after it, ignoring the shouts behind her.

❦❦❦

"You gave everyone quite the scare." Emer nearly dropped the stack of books in her arms in shock when she heard Odran's voice in her room.

She flicked on the light to bathe the room in a soft golden light, which showed King Odran sitting peacefully in a chair, "not creepy at all." She muttered under her breath as she moved to place her new books by the books she had brought earlier. "How are you doing? Did it get worse after the attempt?" the room had aired out since Emer opened the window when she finished making the drink, and there was only a faint smell of herbs that remained.

He rolled his head around to stretch out his neck, "just a little tired. I'm sure it'll go away with some sleep." He then leaned forward with his hands together to rest his head on the tips of his fingers, "what happened?"

Emer took a seat on the edge of the lavish bed and faced the King, "meaning?"

"We tried to remove the curse, both of us passed out-"

"Wait you passed out?" Emer questioned in shock.

Odran let out a hum, "I feel we have quite the conversation ahead of us."