The Shadows of Erisdar (ON HOLD)

Chapter 19

The music faded, but Alex's heart still pulsed with unease. She scanned the crowd, searching for the face she thought she saw earlier, but it was gone. Her mind must be playing tricks on her.

"I see you've both found yourself a new home." Alex spun around at the voice, but Darcy kept walking with Percy.

When Alex found the person who the warm voice belonged to, her eyes brimmed with tears, and she leapt forward, embracing the woman. Her mind wasn't playing tricks on her after all.

"Anja." She exclaimed happily. She smelled of earth and wild mint, just as she had back in Boronduin; comforting, familiar, safe.

Anja hugged her tightly. "There, there, child. There's no need for tears."

Alex chuckled as she pulled back "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Well, this is my home, and I spend most of the year here."

"So you've known about this place all along?" Alex asked, incredulously.

"Of course," she answered.

Alex smiled. Anja sure was a mystery, and it never ceased to amaze Alex how much she truly knew. "When last were you at Boronduin? Something happened after you left and I-"

"They are all fine, dear. I've been watching. You did the right thing by leaving. One day you'll be ready to return balance to your home." Anja told her.

"The Gasham, they've enchanted them. Markus, Albert... Is there something you can do?" Alex pleaded.

Anja gave a soft smile before gently stroking Alex's cheek. "I cannot walk your path for you. This is something you must do. Once you've looked inside yourself, you'll be able to break those enchantments."

"Me?" She questioned, "But what can I do? I can't access magic."

"We have some work to do, then don't we?" Anja said.

Alex stared in stunned silence as she processed the information. A few stray tears rolled down her cheeks. "So I can't go home?"

"If you could, do you want to?" Anja asked her.

Alex was not sure herself. She'd never truly fit in at Boronduin, but among these worgen, and with her best friend, she felt more at peace than she had ever been. Looking around her and thinking back, she made up her mind. "This is my home now." Anja smiled happily. "But my family also need me."

"I understand, but it would be best if you stayed here for a while longer. The Gasham are still looking for you, and their plan will still work if they find you." Alex nodded sadly as Anja wiped her tears away. "For now, forget your worries and find happiness." She said lovingly. "Oh, and also practice your skills." She said, sternly pointing a finger at Alex, which earned a laugh from her. "Now go on and join your friends. We'll see each other soon."

"I saw Lady Whitelock talking to you earlier," Percy told Darryl as Alex approached behind them. Hearing their conversation, she halted instead to listen. They knew Anja quite well if they called her by her title. "Did she find a way to break the curse, yet?" he asked.

Darryl shook his head. "Aside from some cryptic advice about the curse only having as much power as I feed it, which I don't yet understand, and something about Alex. You know the rest. Only I can resolve it by myself." He said discouragingly. "I gave up trying a long time ago, so let it go. It's done."

"What did she say about Alex?" Percy questioned.

Darryl shrugged slightly. "I'll have to ask her. I didn't understand it."

Alex moved back through the crowd to go find Darcy before she could get caught. Her inquisitive personality wanted to know what they were talking about. She could not even imagine what it might be, but she was curious to find out. In time, she would.