The Enchancian Curse

The Truth in the Library

Chapter 4

(Sofia POV)

"James" "You know what Sof, I thought that you were actually going to be a part of this family again, but you were going to sneak off and take care of everyone else all over again." "James" I sighed grabbing his arm, "Can you get Amber, we can all go to the library together. I don't want to leave anyone behind but, I can't neglect my duties as Storykeeper for long." "Sof, why do you need to go off to the Library at all, can't it wait a couple of days." James asked. I sighed releasing his arm and held my necklace, "For each deed preform, for better or worse, a power is granted a blessing or a curse. If I don't go to the library something really bad can happen. The last curse preformed by the amulet was Princess Ivy, I don't want to know what it will be next." James nodded starting to understand my position, "I will go get Amber."

(James POV)

As I was walking away to get Amber I couldn't help but think about when I first saw Sofia coming back to the castle in the garden. She looked exhausted and had heavy bags under her eyes. Her adventure clothes were torn and dirty like, she came straight from a task from either the library or as a Protector. She hasn't had a break or a moment to herself until she got here and she can't even enjoy some time off anymore without being called back and having to handle something else. Maybe she really didn't realize how much she was neglecting everyone else because she was so wrapped up in completing every task the amulet gave her to prevent a curse from being released on everyone.

I knocked on the door to Amber's suite. "James, what is going on?" "Sofia got called to the library by her amulet and asked if we would to come with her." "Of course I'll come James, I just need to tell Baileywick so that he and Daddy can handle the rest of my tasks for today." I nodded and went back to see Sofia. She was packing some stuff into the pack that she had been wearing when she arrived, "What's in the bag Sof?" "Of James, you are back. It is just my mission bag. It has all of my Protector's equipment like my Enchanlet and my Which Way Bow, along with some other things I like to bring with me whenever I don't know how long I will be gone." She secured her bag across her shoulder.

"I'm here," Amber announced from behind me bringing me out from my fixation on her bag. "Yeah, let's head out. Hopefully we won't be gone for too long or else Mom and Dad might notice." I said turning back toward Sofia. She held her necklace and said, "I wish we were small." Suddenly Sofia, Amber and myself shrunk down and went through a small opening in Sofia's room. After we grew again and took the boat over to the library.

(Sofia POV)

A book came down from one of the top shelves and it looked worn and the title was faded.

"A long time ago, there was a young kingdom that had first emerged and was at its most vulnerable to all those around. The King and Queen worried for the safety of their kingdom and their children and attempted to make some allies with some of the neighboring kingdoms, but none were willing to help such a new kingdom for fear of alienating one another. One kingdom, The Kingdom of Achlys, agreed to their request but in exchange for such an alliance the young kingdom had to gift the Kingdom of Achlys something special. The alliance must be sealed with a marriage of one of the young kingdom's princesses to the Prince of Achlys. Prince Cole awaited the arrival of the young princesses, but when he saw Princess Alice, the older princess, he knew she was the one that he wanted as a bride but she was in love with someone else. She told her love about it the arranged marriage and he asked the princess to run away with him. The eve before her wedding they attempted to runaway together but were stopped by her younger sister Princess Asteria. She pleaded with her sister to stay but she left with her love and rode away into the night. The next morning Princess Asteria went to tell the Prince that her sister was gone. Enraged the prince, then revealed that he had the gift of magic, he placed a curse on Princess Asteria and the rest of her family. The next day the Kingdom of Achlys disappeared from the face of the world. Once every thousand years he would come back and choose a young princess to be his bride and the only way to escape this fate was if like Princess Alice her love would come and take her away before they were wed."

"What is this legend Sofia" Amber turned to ask me. "I'm not sure... I don't think it's over." I said turning to continue watching the story.

"Due to the enchanting powers of the Kingdom of Achlys the new young kingdom decided to call themselves Enchancia."

We all gasped as we continued to listen.

"Many forgot about the curse that was placed upon the kingdom in the thousand years from when Prince Cole had disappeared. But on the days leading up to the Thousandth Anniversary a vine sprout from the ground and began coming closer and closer to the palace gates without any explanation as to how it appeared. Prince Cole came and collected his new bride, Princess Lilith. He brought her back to his new realm and within a week they were married. However, on the eve of their wedding Princess Lilith was found dead. Now it has been 999 years, 11 months and 27 days and the vine draws near as the King and Queen try to prevent the capture of one of their daughters."

As the book closed Amber and I sat silently looking down at the ground as I occasionally glanced over at her. "Amber, Sof can one of you please say something?" James asked grabbing both our hands. "I want to go back to the palace." I nodded in agreement and James led both of us out as we couldn't bring ourselves to speak.

We got back to the palace and James helped Amber to her room. She was shaking as she walked out. I sat on the floor dazed, hugging my knees. This ancient prince was going to come for me or Amber and there was nothing we can do to stop him. What if he takes Amber? How will we get her back? Will we be able to save her? Would Desmond be able to save her? I can't let anything to happen to her. Not only is she the heir to the kingdom but she is my sister.

I picked myself up and walked over to her suite. I went to knock on the door but it was already open and I can hear her talking to James, "What am I going to do James?" she said pacing back and forth. "He is coming for me. I'm going to die." She kept stating changing direction with each sentence. James stood in front of her grabbing both her shoulders, "Amber you need to calm down." "CALM DOWN! JAMES THAT PSYCHO PRINCE IS COMING FOR A PRINCESS! A.K.A. ME! I AM GOING TO DIE IN 3 DAYS!" James sighed, "It might not be you Amber, it could be Sofia." "James," she said bringing her hands to her head, "we both know he isn't going to take Sofia."

I was confused and so was James, "How do we know that he won't take Sofia?" James asked what I was thinking. "James," she sighed, "Sofia isn't a real princess, she isn't a descendant of Asteria, she isn't our real sister." I leaned too close to the door as Amber was saying this and I fell into the room. "Sofia-I" Amber started as I dusted myself off, tears coming into my eyes. "It's fine Amber. You're right. Despite everything we've been through, despite all the trials and despite all the times we have called each other sister, it's like you said when we first arrived here we are in fact 'stepsisters.' I'll try to help you all I can..." I said pausing for a moment before I went into a curtsy, "Princess Amber." I left the room and ran.

(Amber POV)

"Sofia," I said walking toward the door but, when I looked down the hallway she was gone, "SOFIA!" "Amber, you need to let her go for a minute." James said pulling me back into the room. I shouldn't have said that, I was scared about what was happening. "James, you know I didn't..." "I know that you are scared, but no matter what is going on, Sofia is our sister and she is probably just as scared as you are and now she is alone." "I really messed up" I said looking James in the eyes. "Amber I need to know is that what you actually think, that it can't possibly be Sofia because she is not a real princess?" James asked and I opened and closed my mouth not even sure what I believe anymore. "Amber until you can answer that question and truly believe that answer. Honestly nothing in school or life has prepared us for this so far and I can't tell you how bad you messed up because I don't know. I don't know much about what is going on right now. What I don know is that both of my sisters are in danger and I can't do anything about it." James walked out of the room for what I can only imagine was to look for Sofia. I laid back on my bed and hugged a pillow. What is going to happen?

(Sofia POV)

I ran out to the garden with a piece of parchment and a quill in my hand. If I might die I need him to know the truth, I need him to know that I... that I, "Sofia?"