The Phoenix Witch

Chapter 10

Christine's P.O.V

The airport was beautiful and looked exactly like it did 8 years ago, as I stepped out of the airplane and onto the land, I felt the magic run through my body, not realizing how much I had missed the feeling. A smile made my way onto my face before It turned to a frown as if my brain realized the pain this place had given me. I walked into the airport with our little group of 4 and sat inside the car waiting for us. I took the window seat as the car started and I gazed out at my home for the first time after so long. It was gloomy, the trees quiet and unmoving, the flowers sleeping, and the land seemed to be longing for something gone. It was morbidly beautiful, though I paid no interest and just kept staring into nothingness until a voice broke me out of my trance,

' Why does it look so glum, it was beautiful the last time we saw it, not that it isn't beautiful now it just looks very depressing' Willaim said looking out through the window. There was silence in the car and since no one knew what to say I sighed still facing away from them and said ' The land is mourning, their king is dead. Witch's land is connected with witch's through magic, when their ruler dies it grieves for them'.

'Oh, how long does it last for?' William asked seeming interested. 'It depends, no one knows' I said, my soul, connecting with the land but that wasn't what shocked me, it was the fact that the land was accepting me into her hands again, even when I was banished. Surely, banishment wasn't null after 8 years? It was for life, of that I was sure so why was my home welcoming me? Before I could ponder on it for much longer the car stopped. A guard came ahead and opened the doors for us, I stepped out and gazed at the beauty that is the palace of Terra, its tall structure, stunning gardens, and the magic that is embedded in it making it glow golden, like a beacon of light. They all stood in awe, the reaction warranted for the Palace but all I could feel was the dread making its way up my spine, spreading through my body, forcing memories that I wished I had forgotten.

Someone nudged me and I turned to Will, he signaled for me to go first, I nodded and steeled my nerves, held my head tall, and started walking into the place that was once my home. I could hear the whispers of people crowding the sides of the entrance of the palace to see their banished princess but it didn't bother me as it once did. As we were close to the doors of the palace, I felt the magic getting a tad bit stronger making me frown, I shouldn't be feeling this, this was one of the abilities that was taken away from me. I was shaken from my thoughts when I felt bony arms hug me making me instantly stiffen, I looked at the woman who stepped away from our hug and kept me at arm's distance, her face was wrinkled, blue eyes twinkling in happiness and smile as radiant as the sun. 'Oh my, I cannot believe you're finally here, child!' She exclaimed and I felt a hint of warmth creep into my heart. 'I missed you too, May' I said, giving her a small smile. She must have noticed the darkness in my eyes because sorrow claimed her face and she muttered something before, Her face brightened up again and she turned to my friends greeting them like they were not vampires but mere friends. 'Ah, you must be the vampires investigating our king's death, it's so sad what happened but anyways welcome, please follow me to the throne room, my queen is waiting for you there '. I smiled a small smile at her ever-lasting cheerfulness and followed her down a path I knew so well.

It was as if the whole place was taunting me, they had not renovated even a little bit, sending flashes of memories I really didnt want to deal with right now. We walked into the throne room, to see my Nan and the family sitting on their gold thrones, Nan's was in the center with a twin throne for the king and other smaller ones lining the sides of the room. It was as mesmerizing as the rest of the palace, glowing even with the gloom that filled the kingdom. My Nan rose from her seat and said 'Welcome to Terra, the kingdom of witches, we are pleased to see that you have made it here safely, rooms are prepared for you to rest and stay in for the days until the ball. Please rest, the dinner will begin at 8' She gestured for a few servants to guide us to our rooms, and just before we were going to leave she stopped me 'Christine, your old room is prepared for you, I hope that's ok?' I turned to her, gave a fake smile, said 'yeah sure' and walked out of the room.