I led Tobias at a slow trot taking in everything that happened from being in the Enchanted Forest of Death, meeting my mother, seeing Hayden again, not being able to touch him , then to meeting Dylan...... He was handsome.... I shook my head of the thought. How could I be so selfish! What about Hayden? My love for him was still there, my heart longed for him. I hated how we left things in the enchanted forest, but he was being a hot head, and need to calm down. I sighed clicking tongue I urged Tobias into a faster run back into Capricious, after dropping him off with the stable hand I made my way down the dusty streets to the tavern.
Squinting my eyes as I stepped inside I searched for Tallulah in the dim lighting. She stood behind the bar serving a couple men some fried fish which filled the pub with a wonderful delicious smell. Tallulah stopped when she saw me, she gave me a big smile, "Howdy stranger." She said with a hearty smile, "Glad to see you didn't desert me."
With everything that happened in just those few hours I was gone I lost it, tears ran freely down my face and I stood there in the doorway sobbing.
Tallulah sat the rum pitcher down with such force that some splatter out which made a guy yell, "Hey!" Tallulah ignored him and came right to my side, she wrapped me in a big hug, "Oh Amaya, what's wrong?"
"I...I.....I thought I could handle seeing him again, but I just can't!" I sobbed into her shoulder.
She pulled me back and looked into my puffy red face, "Who?"
"Hayden! I saw Hayden!" I sobbed.
"Hey!" A man complained at one of the tables, "What happened to my order of rum?"
Tallulah turned to the man and gave him a nice smile, "Can't you see my partner is having a breakdown? Your rum will come when I'm damn ready to serve it to you, so just sit back and relax."
The man glared angrily, "Woman you get me my rum or I!!" He raged.
"Get yourself the rum, Mr. Taylor you're here enough you know where it is." Tallulah interrupted him. She turned back to me concerned. "What happened?"
I wrapped my arms around myself as I sniffled, "You know what I'll tell you later."
She looked hard at me, "You sure, Amaya?"
Pasting a believable smile I nodded. More than anything I wanted to tell Tallulah, she had became my best friend and comforter through the hard nights when I cried myself to sleep. But I couldn't sit and talk to her with these guys here demanding food and drinks.
"Okay," Tallulah shook her finger at me, "But this discussion is not over."
Pulling my brave self together I bustled about the tavern with Tallulah. I even sipped some rum myself though I still hated the taste, I mainly wanted it to take my heartache away. I couldn't believe Hayden in his anger had told me I should know what a crappy parent looks like. Like I didn't remember what my parents did! I had to live everyday knowing my father tried to pin me for murder and that my biological mother didn't want me as a baby and even now that I'm older still didn't want me. I had wanted to forget it all, but Hayden brought it all back up again when he said it. At least I was somewhat at peace with my mother since I was able to talk with her one last time. I'm glad she was out of that place and now in a better place. That brought another thought to me what about Hayden? What was his unfinished business that left him stuck there?
As soon as the clock struck midnight Tallulah practically pushed the drunks out the wooden swinging doors. Those who were standing she pushed them towards the doors and those sitting down at the table she grabbed their hands and helped settle them on their feet before leading them to the door as well, "I'm sorry fellas, but it time to close these doors for the night. Don't get hit by a wagon on your way home." Tallulah wiped her hands on her apron and we watched the drunks stagger and sway as they walked away.
I moved toward the counter to start washing glasses.
"No, Amaya, you're sitting your butt down and telling me from the beginning. I'm washing tonight."
I sighed collapsing into the nearest stool I was really tired. With everything that happened today out in the enchanted forest not to mention working the pub tonight had me worn out. I felt bad that I had left Tallulah here and she had already worked so much already.
Tallulah waved her hand at me as she got the basin out to fill with water and soap. "Now tell me everything from the beginning, was Hayden the one you went to the forest to see?"
"No, I had no idea he would even be there." I bit my lip, "I went to see my mother, for a small moment I thought seeing her would make me feel something... I don't know...." I wiped my eyes on my sleeve, "Then she told me Hayden was here and that her unfinished business was to see me one last time and tell me that."
"Ahh I forgot the dead had unfinished business in that forest." Tallulah shuddered placing the empty glasses in the basin to soak. "Then what happened?"
"Then she left me, going to a better place and I went to see Hayden." I continued telling Tallulah everything from seeing Hayden, to Hayden's father, and our argument. "I don't know what I'm going to do Tallulah, Hayden was so angry when I left. I don't know if he even wants to see me again."
She waved a soapy hand at me flicking some suds onto the counter top, "You know whenever my brother and me fought I would bake him his favorite gooseberry pie."
I smiled, "I don't think that would work, I mean can the dead even eat food?"
"Hmmm good point."
My smile faded, "I didn't think it would hurt this much, just seeing him again...." I choked back a sob, "It's like I don't even know him anymore.... Something's changed him."
Tallulah left the basin and coming over she gave me a big hug, "Cheer up, Amaya, things will be better you'll see. Maybe you should sleep on it, how about you go up to bed and I'll finish up down here?"
"Tallulah, you've already done so much. Are you sure?"
"Positive you go get some rest."
Leaving Tallulah down stairs I made my way upstairs to our small room. I didn't even bother changing into my cotton skirt I just stumbled over to my bed and crashed with my long red dress with the light blue swirls on. As I drifted off to sleep I ran my hand over the bust remembering when Hayden dressed shopped with me before we snuck into Agog's castle to steal the necklace. Suddenly my eyes popped open. The necklace. I had the necklace! The Great Wizard gave it to me after Hayden died, but were it I put it? With eyes now wide away I jumped out of bed. I dug frantically under the bed for my leather knapsack. With a sigh of relive I pulled it out, flipping it open I soon found what I was looking for. I held the delicate silver chain with the soft pink diamond up to the single gas lamp that barely lit the small bedroom. If this necklace could show me my birth mother maybe it could give me information to break my curse. "Come on, so me a way to break my curse!" I gave it a small shake letting the necklace swirl back and forth on the silver chain. Anguish I threw the necklace against the wall. Realizing what I done I crawled over and gently picked up the necklace looking it over. The delicate chain looked fine and the pink diamond didn't have a scratch on it. I sighed and cupped the necklace in my hands. Although I hated that this necklace was somewhat responsible for Hayden's death. If it wasn't for the necklace and the great wizard I wouldn't have gone on that mission to retrieve it and fall in love with Hayden in the process. It also was the only thing I had of my birth mother's, even though she never wanted me, she still kept this all these years. Maybe to remind her about me? I wasn't sure.... I placed the necklace back in my knapsack then climbed back into bed.
As I closed my eyes I thought about Hayden, with his dying breathe he made me promise to break my curse. I had to keep that promise. My thoughts traveled to Dylan he was charming and attractive, I bet he could have any girl he wanted so why was he interested in me? Oh well it didn't matter because my heart belonged and always will belong to Hayden Marx.
~
Bright an early the next morning I came downstairs to the pub where Tallulah was already busy wiping down the counter and tabletops. Did she ever sleep?
Tallulah smiled cheerfully, "Good morning."
"Morning." I grabbed a rag and started scrubbing grime off one of the tables.
We worked together quietly each of us enjoying the quiet morning. I peeked over at Tallulah working, her black curly hair was down and fell into her eyes as she wiped the counter. Her green dress with crisscross ties across the bust looked great with her coco skin. "Tallulah, I know what I'm going to do!"
Tallulah stopped scrubbing and looked up at me with her soft brown eyes, "That's amazing Amaya! What are you going to do?"
"First I'm going to make things right with Hayden." I said as I moved to a different table, "Then I'm going to keep my promise to Hayden and break my curse."
She raised her eyebrows, "That sounds really big and maybe even a little difficult. Don't get me wrong I want you to break your curse more than anything! But how do you expect to break your curse if you don't even know what happiness feels like? How would you know when your curse is broken?"
I laid my rag aside and grabbed the broom, "Because I felt it before, briefly with Hayden." I smiled as I thought back on memories of him, "I can't explain what it was, I've just never felt that way before, for once in my life my heart felt light and complete. It was wonderful!"
Tallulah smiled, "What you had with Hayden was special."
Nodding my head I swept the dirt out of the pub and onto the pack down dirt street. "Which is why I need to fix things with him." I glanced at the grandfather clock that hung on the wall. "You won't mine if I took Tobias and went to Hayden do you?"
"Not at all, we're almost done cleaning anyway. Just be back in time for the evening shift when all the drunks come."
Not wanting to waste anymore time I hurried and cleaned as fast as I could. As soon as we were done I made my way to the stables to get Tobias. I was so thankful Tallulah was generous to let me use her horse, without him I won't have made it to the Enchanted Forest of Death in record time.
Jumping off Tobias I made sure he was tied tighter this time to the tree. I couldn't have him running off again. Then I stepped inside the enchanted forest. I shivered and pulled my red leather jacket closer to my body. I didn't remember it being this cold last time.
My eyes soon adjusted to the dark forest and I was able to walk past the dead trees with branches that reached out like skeleton arms. As I walked dead people turned their heads and whispered or pointed at how I was a living person; but I just ignored them. I slightly wondered how many living people came to the Enchanted Forest of Death? Obviously not many if they are amazed at seeing someone who's alive!
Nearing Hayden I slowed my steps down. Like before he was sitting on the tilting bench outside the pub that was in badly need of fixing up. His back facing me I slowly approached.
"I didn't think you'll come again." He said his face slightly turned to the side.
I stopped on the path, "How did you know it was me?"
Although his back was to me I could tell he was smiling, "Because I only know one princess in five inch heels who walks like that." He turned to face me with a grin on his face and those dark beautiful eyes of his twinkled like the stars in the nights sky.
Tears brimmed my eyes, oh how I missed that twinkle in his eyes when he would tease me! His grin just took my breath away I couldn't help but smile back as I continued walking towards him. "I.... I had to see you again."
"I'm glad you did," he stood up and walked towards me, "Amaya...." He said just as I was saying his name.
We both chuckled then when there was a pause, I whispered, "You first." I held my breath as we stood facing each other my mind going a thousand thoughts a minute. What if Hayden hated me? What if he didn't want me to come anymore? What we got in another fight? What if he fell in love with a dead girl in this horrid forest? Okay that last one was probably a stretch from the truth. But still anything could happen.
Hayden took a deep breath then let it out, "I'm sorry, I was hot headed and stupid, I was angry at my father for what he put me through and I took it out on you and that wasn't fair. I'm sorry." He reached his hands out to touch mine but his hands sank right through them. He pulled them back and clenched his fists shut. "Ugh! I hate not being able to touch you so bad! I want to hold you, feel your soft skin, and kiss you till the sun goes down."
My cheeks turned a bright flaming red, "Okay... I think I got the picture." I smiled up at him, searching his eyes I asked a question that's been bothering me, "Do you regret dying? If you won't have told me you love me you would still be alive and we could still be together."
He shook his head, "No, because even if I didn't say it I would still be dying inside from keeping it from you. I meant what I said I love you, today, tomorrow, and always." I opened my mouth to speak but he quickly added, "And don't say you could have waited."
My mouth closed and I lowered my eyes, "You know me too well."
"And you're too good for me." He said with a warm smile. "Amaya, I can't raise your head to look at me, so please look at me."
Slowly I raised my head to look at him.
His dark eyes pierced mine with concern, "Do you regret my decision to tell you I love you?"
I began to shake my head no, but stopped. With a shaky voice I spoke, "Do I love hearing you say you love me? Of course I do, but I knew you loved me before you said it and I didn't need the words to know how you felt. Do I wish you were still alive? Yes! My heart longs for you Hayden, you were everything to me! Do I think you're an idiot for saying you love me when you knew the cost the answer is yes." Even though I couldn't hold his hand I still reached out and let my hand pass through his, "But you're my idiot and I love you."
Hayden broke out in a huge grin, "You don't know how much I want to swoop you up into my arms and kiss you right now."
Laughing I tugged my jacket closer to me as a chilly icy wind stirred the dead trees. "Hey do you think there's somewhere we could go to get out of this cold air? It's freezing!"
"Oh yeah, sorry I would give you my jacket, but the dead can't take their clothes off they died in." Hayden motioned toward the pub with its shattered windows and red shingled roof that had lost many of the shingles. "You don't want to see the man who died while bathing." He grimaced, "It's not a pretty sight."
I giggled as we stepped over the rotting and entered the pub that smelled of rotten food and spoiled rum. My giggled quickly turned to a sour look as my nostrils took in the awful smell.
The inside of the pub looked as bad as the outside. With tables and chairs missing legs or floor boards that were completely rotten through, not to mention the walls were covered with who knows what. I couldn't help but stare at a dead man who took a swing of rum from a glass only to have the rum sprinkle to the floor at his feet. My eyes widened, the dead couldn't even drink! Not wanting to seem rude I adverted my eyes and allowed Hayden to lead us over to a table that was chipped and stained.
"Sorry I didn't realize you were cold. The dead can't feel cold or warm. I don't know how to explain it."
I whispered softly to Hayden, "Apparently you can't drink either! How have you survived without rum?"
Hayden laughed and waved at a waitress who was obviously dead too. "It was hard, but I got used to not eating or drinking; it's not fun anyways when it just passes right through you onto the floor."
The waitress smiled at us, "What will it be today?"
"Rum for my lady."
"Hayden, I'm not going to drink if you can't."
"Please enthuse a dead man." He winked.
The waitress walked away and I rolled my eyes and shook my head at him. We stayed in the pub awhile longer. I did drink some of the rum for Hayden, then he walked me back to the Enchant forest's clearing.
About five yards from the clearing Hayden stopped walking.
I turned around, "Hey you okay?"
"Yeah, I um.... I can't go any farther."
"Why not?" I frown.
Hayden sighed and out his hands up he went to take a step, but a clear wall went up from the ground where Hayden was all the way up past the tree tops. He lowered his hands from the transparent wall. "None of the dead can get past this point. It's what keeps us all from leaving this bloody prison."
I walked back to him, "But you can leave, you won't be here forever I read the legend of this Enchanted Forest when I was getting the map of Enchanted Forests. Legend has it, dead souls are brought here, not to live eternally, but just till they finished their unfinished business with the living then they will go to a better place or a worse place. Like my mother and your father." I stopped rambling, why was Hayden stuck here? If his unfinished business wasn't to see his dead brother what was it? "Hayden..... What is your unfinished business?"
He shook his head, "I don't know, Amaya."
"But if you don't know, then how will you move on to a better place?! I don't want you to be trapped here forever!"
"Hey, hey it's gonna be alright," he smiled at me and gently placed his hand just inches from my cheek, letting it hover over, "I don't need to go to a better place, just seeing you makes this a better place for me." He smiled warmly, "Promise me, you'll return?"
"I promise, and I promise you I'm going to break my curse, some how."
Hayden smile, "I know you can do it, I have faith in you."
I nodded, "I love you."
"I love you too." Hayden watched me leave.
Climbing on Tobias I looked back at the Enchanted Forest of Death before trotting away.
~
Back in the Enchanted Forest of Death Hayden watched her go. From behind a dead oak tree a young teen with fiery red hair and piercing olive green eyes watched Hayden carefully. He heard every word he spoke to that living girl. Slowly he stepped out from behind the tree and revealed himself to Hayden. "If you love her, why did you lie to her? We all know our unfinished business, that's one of our advantages of being dead."
Still watching Amaya leave, Hayden turned his head to the side, "Because when you love someone you protect them, it would destroy Amaya if she knew."
YOU ARE READING
Happily Ever After.....Maybe
FantasyI promised him I'll break my curse and beat the Great Wizard at his own game. But the game is worse than I could ever imagine. Can I break my curse and find my happily ever after?
