Shadow Princess

Chapter Nineteen: Whispers of Fate

Callista watches as Julius makes his way toward her, toward the Mage's house. Then a blast of air knocks him and the others across the street, in the grass of the houses. A figure materializes before Julius, his face paling with anger and uncertainty. The Mage turns around and waves at her. Her surroundings disappear and she floats in an atmosphere of pitch black. Her breathing becomes difficult as she is sucked into a void. She dangles there, for minutes or hours. Her harsh breathing seems to echo around her.

A bright light illuminates, but she sees darkness where the light doesn't reach. She sinks toward the light, the air becoming heavy and heated. The sky underneath her opens up, to her free falling toward a world of green. She lands on hard iron ground, her side exploding with pain. She cries out, curling into a ball as the pain radiates throughout her body. Tears slide down her cheeks, catching at the edges of her mouth. She sobs, the grass tickling at her mouth. She tries to move, but her side stretches, and pain sends needles though her body.

Sucking in a deep breath, Callista pushes herself up, sobbing as she felt her rib shift. Snap echoes her mind, but she whirls around to face nothing. Hysteria minutes away. She takes in the scene around her. A dark forest stands before her, the trees completely still as a breeze sweeps pass her. Her breathes comes out harshly in the silence, shock filling her system.

She has been teleported by the Mage, to a bizarre forest. Her heart begins to race, her thought swimming around in her head. Her breathing came out faster, and searing pain came through her chest. Callista kneels in the ground, the breath knocked out of her. She coughs, drawing in a sharp breath when it passes.

Where am I? She asks herself, looking at the forest wall. I am supposed to find the one who is my brother. The panic attack fades, leaving her feeling empty and her body shivering from time to time. She stands, allowing her body to recover for a few more minutes before taking a step forward. Callista follows through, hoping to gain entrance to the forest.

As Callista draws near, the forest opens up. A dirt path about two feet wide climbs over small hills, creating a winding path through the forest. Trees lines the path like a wall of protection, but three foxes turn their heads to watch her as she stands in the middle. Their beady eyes watch her, before skittering off. Callista stands there, unsure if she wants to follow the path. Nothing about this seems sane, but looking behind, there is nothing the other way for miles. Blue flowers scatter the forest floor, glowing lightly in the dim light of the sun. She takes a step forward and walks on the path.

A loud crunch sounds and she flinches. She whirls to see the trees have blocked any exit. Twisting into each other, forming a knot of branches, no way through. Her breath catches in her throat and she turns back around. She hurries through, walking the path that seems to have no ending. A horse nickers and Callista comes to sharp stop, as a creature merges from the forest walls. The trees are spreading out the more she walks in.

The creature bobs his head and looks art her. It is a horse, full of powerful muscle that moves in its slick hide. Grey, but glittery body. It has a horn, centered on its forehead. Right where its mane begins. He trots closer to her, its eyes intelligent in the little light.

"Y-you are a unicorn," she stutters, her eyes going wide at the possibility, "but how? You guys shouldn't exist."

The unicorn rolls its eyes like it could understand her. We do. We never went extinct.

The voice is soft, and floats inside the corners of her mind. Scrambling back, she sucks in a sharp breath. "No. You can't actually speak."

The creature snickers, it is weird. It is like a horse nickering, but high pitch. He trots closer, his head nestling her arm for a second. His tender brown eyes meet hers again. Get rid of your sanity and you will see the world in a new light. The voice is hearty and warm, filled with sarcasm. It is like he gets this all the time. Callista doesn't believe that. In this forest, you have to believe to be able to enter.