The Hidden World- Zanthia

Chapter 8: "Yeah And I'm An Alien"

I looked around to see the beautiful scenery.
I made some weird noise in the back of my throat in surprise. I breathed in the cool air that I had felt in my dream.

I took in the beauty of the land, my eyes almost popping out of their sockets as I examined each and every thing.

I stepped forward in curiosity. To my surprise, a sweet, lilting melody started playing.
I was entranced by the tune. My feet started walking on their own towards the tune. I heard Vicki calling me but her voice seemed distant as I moved forward. I felt restless as I could not find its source as I searched for it desperately. Just then I felt something tug my body. I gasped but followed it anyways. In a few minutes, I reached the same clearing I had seen in my dream. There stood a piano but this was more bigger than previous one. I rushed towards it and ran my fingers lightly over the keys, sighing as I felt intensely satisfied by doing so.

I hummed under my breath as I started playing a piece I had composed myself. I was at so engrossed in playing that I didn't notice someone standing behind me, watching me play. As soon as I finished, I remembered about Vicki who I had forgotten about in hurry to find the piano. I got up from the piano, and turned around only to find a blonde haired girl staring at me. I screamed as I was shocked to see her.

"W-who are you?" I asked stuttering, my teeth chattering as I spoke. The girl immediately shushed me and said "Aura! Don't scream. It's me. Vicki."
I scoffed and said "Yeah and I'm an alien."
" Well.... Technically you are kind of an alien."
I scowled and said "Shut up. How do I know that you are Vicki?"
She smirked and said "When you were in second grade, you thought that the new history teacher was a vampire. When she tried to talk to you, you jumped away from her yelling and I quote ' Get away from me, you blood sucking vampire'. The poor teacher was so humiliated that she resigned from her post the next day."

My face turned red due to shame. I said in a low tone "Fine, I believe you."
" Oh really? I don't think so. And I just remembered another epic incident. Remember that day in sixth grade, when you forg-"
I groaned cutting her off mid-sentence "Just stop already."
She grinned in triumph" So, you believe me now? "

" Technically, it's not my fault. How would I have known that your appearance would change once which reach here!"

"You are right. Sorry, I forgot to tell you."

"It's fine. Wait... Does this mean that my appearance has also changed?"
She gave me a small smile and says "Why don't you see for yourself?"
I suddenly felt a lot self-conscious and wanted a mirror to see my reflection.
"Here" said Vicki, handing me a small mirror.

"Why do you have a mirror with you?" I ask curiously.
"For deflecting spells."
I stared at her weirdly.
She waved it off saying "I'll explain it later."
I nodded and looked at the mirror in front of me. What I saw was totally not expected.
I had red hair with streaks of gold here and there, shining when sunlight flashed on them. My eyes were no longer golden brown but instead were green with flecks of gold in them. I just stared at my reflection, unable to say anything.
"You look pretty, even more than before." commented Vicki.
I smiled, "Thank you! You aren't any less either."

"How did you know about this piano?" she asked.
"It sounds strange but I have visited this place in my dreams before."
"How?"
"I don't know."
She frowned deeply as she put on her 'thinking cap'(as I liked to call it). Her face was scrunched up and her eyebrows puckered up.

She stayed like that for a minute or two until I grew bored and snapped at her "Are you done? Or do you plan to stay here till tomorrow?"
She glared at me "I was just thinking. No need to be so rude."
I sighed "I'm sorry. It's just I'm feeling quite restless today."

"It's okay. Now c'mon, let's go."
Vicki turned and started walking towards the deeper end of the woods. I followed her quickly not wanting to lag behind. Soon, we reached a small, pretty cottage.

Vicki knocked on the door three times. We waited for someone to open the door. Minutes passed by but no one opened the door. I tapped my foot impatiently. "Why don't you just open the door?" I ask.

"Can't. It's locked by magic."
I sighed in frustration and ran my fingers through my flaming red hair.
Why am I feeling so impatient? I feel as if something important is waiting for me. Something which will change me. For good or bad that I don't know. But I just have a gut feeling about this.

"Um.. Aura? We can go in by another way" said Vicki.
"We can?"I asked dumbfounded.
"Yeah. We just have to break the window and it's protection spell."
"Why can't we remove the protection spell of the door then?"
"Because it is more powerful than the one cast on the window."
"Ohh..."I drawled out.
"Right. C'mon."
She lead me to the side of the cottage where the window was. It was about one feet high from the ground.

Vicki brought her hands in front of her, about to murmur some spell but I stopped her. "Wait! Can I do the spell? It's just that I want to practice a bit you know, so I don't seem as pathetic as I am." My cheeks were tinged red. I felt embarrassed that I was such a liability to her. To this kingdom.
"Aura Reynolds, you were never pathetic and you never will be. In fact, you are one of the most strongest people I have ever met." Vicki said all this sternly, all the time looking calm and strong.

"Why do you have the 'I'm calm and cool ' face?" I ask.

"Oh this! It's just that I'm used to be like this here. We aren't allowed to show expressions. They can be used as an advantage by our enemies."

"Our enemies?"

"Yeah. I'll explain once we get inside. You wanted to do the spell right? It's Destructis.
I repeated palms facing towards the window. Immediately the glass broke with the frame.
"Impressive. You are powerful. Have to tell this to Guardiana."
Vicki mumbled the last part but I heard it.
I raised an eyebrow. "Why would you tell that to Guardiana?"
"To know more about your real family."
I nodded, getting her point.
She bent down and crouched near a patch of bushes. She took out a weird crystal-like object from her pocket. I stayed silent watching her. I knew better than to ask another thing which will only make more confused than I already am.
Vicki wrote something on the ground with the object and then with its pointed edge, she slashed her wrist.
"Vicki!"I screamed.
"Shhh.." she shushed me, "I'm alright. It's just a little cut. I'll feel the pain for a few minutes but then I'll heal myself." She winced while saying the last part.
"You sure?" I asked cautiously. Whenever her face contracted with pain, I flinched. I felt a bit faint at the sight of blood. Her blood started dripping into the ground. Suddenly, the ground started shaking.

My feet slipped under me and I collapsed to the ground. Vicki didn't move even a bit though. She must be used to this. After some seconds the shaking stopped. To my surprise, the ground near Vicki cracked open. Inside the crack was a rope.
"What's this?" I ask.
"It's a magic rope. It will help us climb inside. This has been kept here for emergency purposes. Only the Guardians can take it." was her reply.
I nodded as I didn't know what to say.

She pulled the rope out and handed it over to me. I held it in my hands examining it. It looked like an ordinary rope.

Vicki stood up and gestured me to give her the rope. I gave it to her. She commanded it "Carry us up please."
To my surprise, the rope started to move towards us. It wound under mine and Vicki's feet. Then, it coiled up and increased in height. We rose up high till we reached the window sill." Woah!" I stumbled as we both got pushed inside by the rope.
I fell to the floor because I tripped again. On what, you may ask? Air. Yeah. Only I could possibly trip over nothing and fall. "Owww.. My ankle hurts" I whine rubbing my leg.
Vicki laughed till tears ran down her face. "How can someone trip over air?"
"Geez. Shut up. It wasn't that funny." I say fuming.

"Oh, trust me it was."
Vicki and I froze as someone unfamiliar spoke that line.
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Howdy people! Here's ch 8 for you all. Hope u enjoy it. Toodles!