A Journey To The Clouds, Escape From Cloud Castle - Book Two - ✓

Chapter Nineteen

Lily! She's back! I suddenly feel the urge to run to her and greet her with utmost affection. I stop myself, however. I get the same feeling I did the last time me and Ally saw her. She feels. . . distant. Almost unrecognizable. I feel my spine begin to shiver, my hands begin to shake. All the demons do is come into a tighter circle. We don't have much time before they enter our bodies.

But then, Lily does something unexpected. She snaps her fingers and a bright, blinding burst of light emerges and accumulates in all directions. The demons then scatter throughout the maze of hallways.

"Run! Follow me!" Lily shouts. All we can do is nod in agreement. She takes off in the opposite direction of the demons and we have no choice but to follow her.

"Let me tell you something. You two have made it further than any hero who has done this." Lily says. I stare at her in shock.

"How have they all failed?" I ask her. Ally's head snaps up.

"They got trapped somehow. In a metal cage." She replies, not meeting our eyes. That's kind of weird. Normally when Lily tells us something important like this, she makes eye contact. That's part of the reason why her blue eyes are so significant.

"The very first hero was named Amelia Hartford. She fought as brave as you through the forest and through the lair. But unlike you two, she was alone. No animal pets or human companions. Just her and her lonely thoughts. She wasn't loved in her family so Amelia decided that she would earn her family's love. Isn't that cute?" Lily giggles. I exchange concerned looks with Ally. Lily isn't one to giggle at things like that. Actually, I would go as far to say Lily never giggles.

"Now, the second hero, Levi Black, also failed. He was originally a tribe member here in the Fantasy world, and later died." Lily continues. I'm getting nervous. This isn't at all the Lily we know. The Lily we know doesn't go around talking happily about hero's deaths.

"The third person who came to help save this world from destruction was Oliver Braxton. Has a nice ring to it don't you think? Anywho, he was practically neglected. He was skin and bones but almost succeeded. He only failed because of me." Lily doesn't look like she has any regret for this choice.

"You're not Lily." I mutter quietly to myself.

"Well of course I'm not, child!" she screeches.

"I knew there was something off about you but I just pushed it aside." Ally accuses. Lily scoffs. I just can't believe that I actually trusted this woman.

"Who are you actually?" I ask, sounding braver than I felt.

"I? I am Hera. A Shapeshifter or your personal nightmare , whichever you prefer," she says grinning maliciously, "Now, stand right over there." I back away from her before she pulls out something from her ragged shirt pocket. She smiles wickedly before aiming her weapon at us.

"Or you'll meet your end the hard way."