Journey Called Life

11

He came closer to her, and looked at her with a sympathetic expression on his face.

"Ashley? My, my. Is this really you!?" She nodded her head with a happy smile, and ran to hug her father. "Where have you been? I thought you and mom were dead. But then later, when I came here to Orindoth, Amanda said you were lost. Wait, where's mom? Is she even alive? Jason said she was, but I don't see her anywhere."

Mr. Oland embraced her with love and affection. "You have missed a lot, honey. I never knew you'd be back here. How did you even find Jason?"

"Um.. Well, I found a book in a library and I figured out it was for me. Me and Claire here figured out a riddle written in the book, and that's when I met Jason. Actually, he was my dog Skittles before that. I got to know that I have a sister. So, Jason led us here to Orindoth, and that's when I found out about Amanda and Ms. Lues."

"Who, I'm sorry?" Mr. Oland asked.

"Malam Lues."

"Oh dear. What has she done to herself?" He asked, as he faced Jason. "Lues is getting out of control, your Highness. She's getting weak, but she has the book now. Yes, the one with the incantations. Apparently, she needs Ashley for something. But we escaped, thanks to Ashley. She can freeze time."

Mr. Oland let out a terrified gasp. "She went too far. I couldn't stop her. And here I thought, I made a good decision hiding from her."

"Dad? Oh wait, I can call you that right?" Ashley asked, with a nervous smile. "Of course darling."

"So, dad,who really is Malam Lues?" Mr. Oland looked at Jason. He couldn't think of anything right now.

"It's time she found out the truth, your Highness. She's ready. I myself would've told her, but I think you're the one for this job."

He nodded. "Malam Lues is none other than," he stopped to take a deep breath, "your mother. Her actual name is Kara Oland. Seems like she isn't who I thought she was anymore."

"What?" Claire asked, confused. "Hold on. This is getting crazy! I come from earth, with no parents. Well I'm still on Earth, I guess, and I then get to know I have to come with Ashley to a kingdom which I didn't even know existed. I find out I have powers that I can't really define. I meet Amanda, Ashley's sister, and end up with Ashley in a dungeon. And now I discover that that evil lady is none other than Ashley's own mother!? Holy Moly."

"I'm sorry dear, but, you said you're from Earth and yet you have powers?" Mr. Oland asked.

"Oh but then again, am I really?" Claire asked, curiously.

"I don't think so. Come with me. Ashley, honey, I'll tell you everything real soon, I promise. Right now,I just need you to trust me. Can you do that?" Ashley nodded. "Of course, dad. Oh, it's so lovely to see you!"

"You too dear. I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen." Ashley was definitely confused, but she chose to listen to her dad's request, and decided to ask more of it later. Beaming, she and Claire went through the cave as they approached a table, with a box on it.

"What's in it?" Claire asked, curiosity developing within her. "That my dear", he started, "has a spell to determine the kind of power a person has." Beckoning her forward, he placed the gemstone in her hands and closed his eyes. He sighed, and took a deep breath, focusing on Claire.

"You have hybrid powers, dear." He finally spoke. "Huh?" She questioned. "It looks like both your parents had powers, and they both have passed it on to you. It means that you're not from Earth."

"How is this possible? Here I was, thinking I was a normal person, who accidently got this power or something like that." She quivered. Ashley gave her a side hug, comforting her. "It's okay, Claire. You're just feeling the exact same as I felt when I found out about my sister, my parents, about my mom. Relax, okay?" Claire nodded.

Mr. Oland smiled at his daughter. "Well, what really are her powers, dad?"

"She can concentrate on a particular person, and see what exactly is happening to them right now. She can also sort of predict the future."

"So, my powers have something to do with time. Am I right sir?" He nodded and gave her a small smile, "Call me Ellis." She returned the gesture.

"So, what do we do now? Lues -I mean mother- is still out there. Amanda is probably in danger too." Ashley stated.

"Could Claire here, perhaps, look into what's happening over there?" Jason enquired, while Claire gave him a smile.

She kept muttering, "The book... The Dungeons... Amanda... Her powers..." Ashley put a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder, as Claire returned back from her vision.

"What happened?" Jason asked. Claire replied, "Amanda is locked up in some sort of cage, Lues is refusing to let her ou-"

"Could we stop calling her Lues, please?" Mr. Oland asked, looking away, trying to avoid eye contact with any of them. It was awkward, and all they could do was nod their heads. "Um.. Then-"

"Kara." He responded. "She may be possessed by the thought of it or obsessed with becoming the most powerful, but that doesn't change the fact that she's the most wonderful and bravest woman I know. Nothing will change that."

Ashley smiled at her father. "Then let's go get her."