Elements

Chapter 2

As Ira and Alyssa strolled down the winding path, a few birds chirped in the distance. The evening sun lit the path in front of them while Alyssa and Ira exchanged secrets.

"Guess what?" Alyssa was twirling her hair around her finger, smiling.

"What?" Ira squinted at her suspiciously. "What are you hiding?"

Alyssa rolled her eyes and smiled. "You know Jackson Hefter...right?"

Ira rolled her eyes. "Duh. He's only the most POPULAR BOY IN OUR GRADE and a family friend."

Alyssa giggled. "Well..."

"Spit it out."

"Ok, fine..." Alyssa smirked. "He's crushing on you."

Ira stared at Alyssa and blinked a few times. "You're joking, right?"

Alyssa shook her head. "Nope. Melissa heard from Ava who heard from Michael that Jackson likes you."

Ira blushed. "Wow...I thought no one would like me, because-"

"You're weird and can supposedly "control" ice?" Alyssa shrugged. "Boys are weird."

Ira blushed, and clutched the locket.

As the two girls gossiped, they started to wander near the forest. Pretty soon, they faced the entrance. The creaky gates were rusted, and above it spelled out; THE WHISPERING WOODS.

Alyssa gulped. "We should go back," she whispered. "This place is spooky."

"Yeah..." Ira grinned. "That EXACTLY why we should go in!"

Alyssa shuddered. "There's a rumor, that two girls went in there, and never came out. NEVER."

Ira rolled her eyes. "You believe that? There's no way. That only happens in movies."

"Yeah? I don't know, Ira..." Alyssa started to back away. "See you tomorrow!" she yelled over her shoulder as she sprinted towards her house.

Ira rolled her eyes. "Scaredy cat," Ira mumbled to no one in particular.

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Ira trudged through the thick, hot fog that was beginning to engulf the forest. Her white sneakers were now splattered with mud and her jacket was soaked with sweat. The squirrels stopped gathering their nuts and stared as Ira glanced around, tired and hungry, with drops of sweat dripping down her face.

"What are you doing this far into the forest?" a voice whispered from behind Ira. Ira jumped, and turned around. An old man wearing a black and white plaid shirt and beige pants was sitting on an old log. He had a wooden walking stick in one of his hands.

"W-who are you?" Ira started to back away from the strange old man. The old man smiled.

"Don't worry, Ira Thomson. You're safe with me." The old man stood up and walked up to Ira, who was controlling herself from running as far away as possible from this stranger.

"H-how do you know my name?"

"Oh, I know a lot about you."

And as the man said that, he started to change. A swirl of sparkling dust engulfed him, and seconds later, he emerged. Although, he was no longer a he.

Ira gasped as she stared at the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Her lips were so red, you might've thought she just drank a cherry Kool-Aid. Her beautiful crystal-blue eyes searched Ira, and her silky blonde hair rippled down to her waist. She wore a tiara made of gems of all sorts, and her gown was embroidered with all kinds of gems as well. Rubies, opals, emeralds, diamonds... and the dress! It was the color of the richest, purest gold you could imagine, just like the blanket Ira was delivered in.

"I'm an enchantress." the woman said before Ira could ask. " I come here from the Element Kingdom. I know who you are. Sadly, I'm not allowed to tell you anything. Mother believes that you will come on your own," she placed her hand on Ira's cheek. "I sense that you contain the very powers."

"What are you even talking about?" Ira shook herself and removed the enchantress's hand from her cheek. "I don't know you and, frankly, I know talking to strangers in the middle of the woods alone is a bad idea."

The enchantress sighed. "Of course. But this is important. I can't tell you anything, however. I can only tell you this..." she leaned towards Ira's ear, and whispered;

O thee must help our home,

Where the elements freely roam,

T'was the kingdom of peace,

Yet now truly seeks,

The destroyer's victory.

Thee possesses the immortality we seek,

As being Mother's peak,

Of power.

Ira gasped, as the enchantress began to fade away. She smiled and disappeared in a swirl of sparkling dust.

Ira blinked a few times, then sprinted towards her house. Her heart was pounding against her chest, and her head spun. Who was that mysterious woman, and what did she mean?