The Goddess's Chosen

Chapter One

How can something so unassuming be so intimidating at the same time?

All I had to do was step through.

I reached out my hand towards the shimmering wall that kept me safe. That kept me trapped. The magic prickled my palm and my fingers. It started to part and the sounds of the forest trickled through. I could hear the deer prancing nearby and the squirrels scurrying in the snow. I could hear children playing far off in the distance. Sweat built up on my forehead as my heart pounded in my head and a lump formed in my throat.

I could almost taste the freedom.

"Ivory!" My mother's voice rang through the calm, quiet forest that surrounded our property. The sound reverberated off the wards and pierced my eardrums. I recoiled, falling away from the wall into the deep snow just as my mother crested the hill.

"Oh, my god! Ivy, what are you doing?!" She rushed to help me stand and pulled me further away from the wall. "You didn't go outside the ward, did you?!" Her voice rose in pitch and she frantically looked around the forest. It was as if something was going to swoop down and grab me.

I fought to free myself from her tight grip. "No Mama, I didn't pass through the ward. I was just looking."

My mother let out a relieved sigh. "Why were you even that close to it to begin with? You know it's dangerous out there."

I inwardly groaned and rolled my eyes. "I know, Mama, you tell me that every day. I still don't see what could be dangerous out there. Why can't I go out and meet other people?"

"You know why! You're different. Now come along, it's time for your medicine." She grabbed my hand and started pulling me towards our house. My face twisted at the thought. Ugh. But I knew she was right. I could already feel the strain in the back of my eyes. Drilling holes into the back of her head, I watched her long black hair sway back and forth while we walked. It was one feature we shared, the green eyes I got from my father.

I don't understand. Just because I knew a bit of magic didn't make me that different from other humans. I had only seen them in pictures and the occasional mountain climbers that passed by our home on the way to the summit. But mother's wards keep us hidden and I'm never allowed past them.

I turned 18 today, and apparently, that would give me certain freedoms in this country. But my mother would never let me leave. I just wanted to meet people my age and hang out as normal people do. I hate being cooped up on this mountain.

Our small wooden cottage came into view, nestled into the mountainside and covered in snow. Lanterns glowed warmly from the inside and smoke rose from the chimney. The smell of mother's cooking wafted through the air. She was making my favorite tonight. That brought a smile to my lips. Mother's creamy potato soup was to die for.

She opened up the door, and we stepped inside, shaking off the snow from our boots. I took my coat off, handing it to her to hang in the stuffed front closet, and bolted for the big pot that was simmering over the fire.