The Valley of Mysteries | Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 12 - RAPUNZEL

"Where did you get this?" Natalie asked as she took a bit out of her bread.
"Bought a bunch before we left the town. My bag is full of it."
"It's been over a month!"
"Look inside the bag." he pointed towards it. She picked it up and looked inside. It looked bigger inside.
"What the...?"
"Extention spell!" Aaron smirked.
"But it didn't go bad! Another spell?" she asked.
"Yep!" he said, taking a bite out of his bread.
"You just bought this much bread? You knew we'd be lost for this long?" she put her face inside the bag. It looked deeper and deeper.
"No, I bought just one pack!" he said and pulled her head out of the bag. She gave him a blank expression. "Multiplication charm!" he laughed.
"And you have to teach me that!"
"Sure thing!" he continued eating.
"And... how do you charge that damned thing without a charger!" she pointed at her phone.
"Haha... MAGIC" he laughed.
"I know that... I mean teach me the spell!"
"You want to learn everything... don't you?"
"Yes!" she said immediately.
"I will teach you... one by one!"

Natalie put the bag down and frowned.
"What?" he asked.
"You mentioned something about my mother is the reason. What is it?" she looked at him.
"Did she ever tell you about her past? Or her family?" he asked.
"Nope, never!" Natalie said.
"Shocking, but understandable."
"Huh?"
"Before marrying your father, Alastor Brown... she was the only daughter of the biggest and the most prestigious house!"
"And that would be...?"
"How dumb are you?"
"Hey... I'm trying. But I'm tired of guessing. You just turned out to be my mother's secret partner in crime."
"Oh, God! Don't say that again. It was an honour working with her." he said, his eyes wide open.
"Okay, go on!"
"She's one of the Hales!" he said. Natalie choked and coughed.
"What?" she choked on her bread.
"Yep!" he chuckled.
"That's amusing for you?" she glared at him.
"Um... yeah!"
"What the hell! Why didn't she mention it?"
"Because she was in hiding. She wasn't supposed to tell anyone."
"But why?"
"All the Hales were mysteriously killed one by one. Only Caitlyn and King Stuart, her brother, survived. No one knows exactly why but Malum is responsible!"
"Woah!"
"And they're after you because you're the only living heiress for the throne," he said.
"I'm what?"
"The heir of Hales."
"You're barking mad!"
"Nope. I think not!"
"How is it...?"
"Caitlyn and you are the only living members of the Hale family."
"Hold on! If I really am the heiress, then why did everyone hate me there?"
"Even I don't understand that! Maybe, because when she left the valley, things were back to normal. No more killings or conspiracies. But when you returned... well you know what happened." he said.
"Oh, God! So this really is happening because of me!!" she freaked out.
"I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's not comforting either!"
"Look, we'll get through. Okay?"
"HOW?" she cried.
"I don't know. But we will!" he smiled, reassuringly.
"You know when I was coming here, I was completely lost. I had just seen my mother killing my boyfriend... I was going to be away for an entire year... I was totally freaking out. But when we reached that misty place..."
"The wall of mist!" Aaron added.
"Yea, that! When I walked past it... I felt like I was meant to be there. I didn't know then, but now I think I do!"
"What?"
"You were right! We'll set things right! First, we'll find mom and dad. Then we'll get back to the others." there was a spark in her eyes. "Do you know where they are?"
"Sean mentioned the other side! It means somewhere near the wall of mist. We call it the other side."
"Oh! I thought he was being poetic."
"Hell, no. That's the last thing he could be, next to funny."
"Okay. But to get there, you need to teach me how to fight. Teach me the spells and everything I can do to help. I'll answer all your questions and won't get angry. I mean I'll try."
"Woah, that's one hell of a commitment. Suddenly decided to trust me?"
"Yeah, I just found out you've been looking out for me since the very beginning! I mean it's totally creepy but... I... Thank you for everything." she said.
"Okay, great. The sword, who gave it to you?" he asked.
"I told you... Alyssia's mom... said I'd need it someday. It was a welcome gift from her. I didn't even know who Alyssia was. But she was sweet."
"Alyssia is very sweet, indeed." he smiled.
"Have a thing for her?" Natalie narrowed her eyes and smiled, teasing.
"Hell, no! Sean has many things for her... Me? I just think she's a good person..."
"Sean and Alyssia??? I didn't know that was possible... I mean they're poles apart." Natalie's bewildered expressions made him laugh.
"Well, no one knows. I doubt even Al knows. Sean might come out strong, but he loses all the courage when he has to talk to Al." he laughed.
"Wow, and to think, I was shocked to see you smiling and laughing. Now I have enough proofs to say, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!" she said, dramatically.
"Am I that bad?" he said, his expression unreadable.
"No... no. You're not bad... at all. You're... here's the sword." Natalie threw the sword at him.
"Ow, that hurt." the sword hit his leg.
"Oops. Sorry!"
"Never mind!" he got up and took the sword out of its scabbard. "Did I mention, it's beautiful!"
"Yeah, you both make a great couple. Sharp tongue!" Natalie giggled.
"You're the one to say." he looked at her, right into her eyes. His eyes lingered on her face for quite some time. Then he cleared his throat and looked away, shaking his head as if clearing fog out of it.