ShadowLands

The Enchanted Castle

They walk through the thick, dense, vast forest. Trees as tall as mountains as far as the eye can see.

While in the tunnel Lykin found a bag that was heavy and grabbed while he continued to walk with the girls through the tunnel.

Darkness was creeping up on them quickly as they walked for about 50 miles trudging through trees, roots lifting from the ground, prickly branches, and rotted leaves.

"We should rest here. We can make a contained fire and make shift shelter for the night and continue at day break" said Lykin.

"How do you know she won't find us while we sleep" asked Ayame.

"I don't, but we need sleep" Lykin replied.

"We can take turns as look outs. Take little mini naps and switch off" said Harley.

"Yea we can do that" said Lykin, "I'll take first watch."

The girls nodded as they began to gather material to make a makeshift shelter. Lykin began making a contained fire.

Ayame got comfortable under the make shift shelter.

"I'll take second watch" said Harley before getting comfortable by Ayame.

Lykin sat down against a tree near the fire and rummaged through the bag he was lugging around. Inside the bag was bags of rations containing dried meat, dried fruit, and nuts. There was 30 individually wrapped bags of rations. There was 9 1liter size bottles of water, a compass, 6 notebooks, pens and pencils, a 3 knitted blankets.

He chuckled to himself "they were prepared for this" he thought.

He grabbed 2 knitted blankets, got up, walked over to his sisters and covered them up, then he went back to his tree, grabbed one of the notebooks and pencil and began to draw.

Harley walks up to him "hey" she says.

He looks up "hey, did I wake you" he asked.

"No I woke up because its my turn to take watch. What are you doing?" she asked.

"Drawing, you want to see" he says.

"Yea" she responds.

He finished up the last mark before opening the book to the first page and handing it to her. She takes the book and flips through the pages one at a time observing each work art. She is amazed by her brothers handy work. She flipped back to the first page and examined the picture closer. It was a castle that looked like sun rays were coming out of it.

"Hey, what made you draw this one?" she asked.

"Honestly, I closed my eyes for a split second and I saw it so I drew what I saw. It's the same for all of them. If you noticed the other drawings look like rooms" he said.

"It's beautiful" she said.

"I thought so too" he replied, "I'm gonna lay down for a bit."

She nodded and he went and laid down by Ayame closing his eyes.

Harley looked at the food and water rations and thought to herself "well eat at day break and then head out." She picked up a new notebook, setting her brothers book to the side, she grabs a pen and starts writing:

Dear Journal,

It's been a rough couple of years for me and my siblings, we won't say it out loud but we are all hurting, we won't break down in front of each other either.

Lately, my brother has been off in his own world. I think it's a way for jim to cope with all that's happened. When I see his eyes get misty he walks away and eventually comes back to talk to me and Ayame. My brother is an amazing artist though.

Ayame tries her best to function but I know she's dying deep inside.

Me, well, I don't know, I try to keep everyone together. I know it's hard to talk about our parents with my siblings but I really miss mother and father dearly.

I hope they're watching over us and will give us strength to get through this and defeat Shadley if she should ever find us.

Well, gotta go, talk later. ....H....

She closes her book and places it next to her brothers with the pen on top. Looking over at her siblings she smiles at how peaceful they look.

She stands up dusting herself off as she wraps the spare blanket around and leans back against the tree looking up like she can see the stars.

A slight breeze blows by tossing her hair around.

Lykin and Ayame sit up and look at Harley as her hair was being tossed around her face and they start giggling.

She turns and looks at her siblings while laughing.

She picks up the notebooks and goes over to them, plopping down beside her sister. Lykin takes his book and opens it showing Ayame the pictures.

"Wait, I was dreaming of this place" she said

"Whar do you mean sis?" he asked.

"I don't know, it's hard to explain but I've seen this castle in my dreams" she replied.

"That's weird. I closed my eyes rubbing them and saw a glimpse of the castle, next thing I knew I was lost in drawing the castle and rooms when Harley came over to me" he said.

"This might sound weird but sis do you think you can use magic to build this castle from your dream of it and from the drawings" asked Harley.

"I think so but we would need a clearing to even begin" she said.

"Well it's a good thing the sun is starting to rise" he said as he got up and grabbed rations and a bottle of water for all 3 of them and then folded the blankets placing them back in the bag.

The girls waited for him to finish before he sat back down. They ate their rations and took turns drinking the water. They packed the remaining water in the bottle in the bag and slipped the empty ration bags in as well. Then they took off walking north.

About 30 miles from where they made camp, they came across a clearing. A beautiful field of wild flowers and what looked to be old ruins of cobblestone homes.

"What do you think sis? Can you work your magic here and build the castle?" asked Harley.

"I think so" she replied, "but I need the drawings to get a better feel for the interior" she said looking at Lykin.

Lykin hands Ayame the book full of drawings. She flips through each page slowly, examining each piece of work thoroughly. She then clothes her eyes and gets the image of the castle.

"OK, I got it. Keep watch and make sure I don't get disturbed" she said while clinging on to the artwork.

The twins nod and stand 3 feet away from her on either side of her. Harley faces northeast while Lykin faces southwest.

Ayame takes in a deep breath, breathing out slowly while she focuses on the image of the castle and its interior.

A breeze starts blowing around them as leaves are tossed in the air and flowers dance on the breeze.

Ayame's hands begin to glow as she starts to float off the ground. The twins look at her concerned but don't touch her since she told them not to let anything disturb her.

The twins hear a whoosh sound and turn to face it. The ground turns to floor, a beautiful oak wood, right in front of their very eyes, the size of 6 of their houses put together. Walls of cobblestone climbs to the sky, well almost, the walls stop at 6 storys high. An oak door appears in front of them, fastening itself in place as small windows and balconies form around the walls. The top two storys of the castles have magnificent balconies scattered a penthouse length away from one another. A cobbleston gate and a wrought iron gate forms around them to block off the forest a story high with gargoyles planted on each podium. A fountain appears in front of them between the front of the castle and the wrought iron gate. They are then swept inside the castle where arches are formed. Off to the left a grand dining hall appears with a massive table that could fit 12 families with high back cushioned chairs. Off to the right a grand foyer appears with a sitting room and massive fire place, the furniture oak wood but gold in color with red cushions to match the dining room furniture. They are pulled forward more and off to the left a massive kitchen forms with a grand stove a oven, a kitchenette, cabinets ceiling high, a fridge with 4 doors and a walk in pantry, with a door off to the side and on the right a grand ballroom appears with a big grand piano. They are swept up a glorious staircase that splits off into two and meets in the middle where they are faced with an exotic library through the whole second floor with a movable ladder that goes from one side to the other. Being swept to the third floor with yet another staircase split in two meeting in the middle they are met with what appears to be a bar and lounge. Off to the fourth floor with another split staircase meeting in the middle is what appears to be a game room of sorts and a lounge area. On the fifth and sixth floors rooms appear, 25 on the left and 25 on the right 100 total bedrooms, each room identical with a massive king size canopy bed, a walk in wardrobe (closet), dressers and a desk, and a bathroom with a claw footed tub, a vanity, a stand up shower, a powder room, a toilet. They are quickly swept back down to the first floor in the kitchen where the door swings open and they are swept down a set of spiraling stairs where a wine cellar and blood storage is and off to the right is another door which they were swept through and it had cages. Once it was finished they were swept back to the entrance of the wrought iron gate on the outside looking in.

The twins fall to their knees catching their breath and their stomachs, while Ayame stood there watching them.

"Are you guys ok", Ayame asked.

"No, you kept swooshing us with you or something like that with absolutely no warning at all" said Harley.

"I think I'm gonna puke" said Lykin looking a little green.

"Exactly what are you talking about" Ayame says.

"It's like we were stuck in place but we were being dragged with you to each room that was being built and saw everything appear right before our eyes. We couldn't escape the constant pulling. I could see everything and feel my self being pulled and my stomach coming up but being pushed down at the same time" said Harley through short breaths as she doubled over and hurled.

Lykin moved away from them holding the wall of the gate and puked.

"I'm sorry guys, I didn't know that was going to happen. Are you guys going to be ok" Ayame asked.

"We'll be fine once we catch our stomachs" said Lykin.

They stood there for what felt like an hour puking up their guts and trying to catch their breath. When they finally stopped puking and righted themselves they rejoined Ayame in front of the wrought iron gate.

"Are you two ok" asked a very concerned Ayame.

The twins look at each other and say "we're fine but please dont do that again."

Ayame laughed and said "I promise it won't happen again."

She opened the gate and they walked through felling like they just passed a barrier the twins stop and look around. "What was that" Lykin asked.

"You felt that" said Ayame.

"Yes" the twins said in unison.

"I added a spell to the gate that forms all the way around. Anyone with evil or ill intent in their hearts can not pass through the barrier" said Ayame.

Curious, Harley asked "what would happen if some like that did try to pass through the barrier."

"Well" said Ayame, "they would get thrown by the barrier, if they continue to keep trying they will continue to keep getting thrown away."

"How protected are we exactly here, especially from Shadley" asked Lykin.

"If Shadley were to stumble on this place and try to enter then she would be thrown away. However, with mother and father telling us how relentless she is, then I'm sure she will keep trying until she succeeds but magic is powerful even against a ruthless vampire and I don't see her ever getting through" said Ayame.

"Fair enough" said Harley, "now can we see the castle and all its glory without being drug along unwillingly."

"Of course, let's go" said Ayame, "oh, also, one more thing about that castle."

The twins stop and look at Ayame a bit concerned.

"It's not bad, stop looking at me like that. I enchanted the castle so that anything we want will be given to us. I mean, that is til we hire people to work in the castle for us, like cooking and cleaning wise. It is a big castle after all" said Ayame.

"Yea about that. There's like 100 bedrooms in this castle. Are trying to let people live with us" asked Lykin.

"Well, I figured if I made it big enough and we ever came across supernaturals like ourself thats needing a safehaven from danger and they appear to be no threat to us then we could give them a place to stay. Would that be a problem to open our home to those with good intent in their hearts" asked Ayame.

The twins looked at each other and thought about it for a bit.

"I mean I guess that makes since. When we decided to go look for those who need a job, then we can also look out for supernaturals with good intent in their hearts and I don't know maybe try to be friend them as well" said Harley.

"I just have one question. What kind of people would we hire to be cooks and maids" said Lykin.

"Anyone with good in their hearts regardless if its human or supernatural" said Ayame.

"Ok then, it all sounds good to me" said Lykin.

"Me too" said Harley.

"Well then its settled, let's head inside. We've had a very long day" said Ayame.

"Yea and honestly, I'm hungry now and would love a good bath and a proper rest" said Harley.

They started laughing as they walked into the castle.

They stopped and admired the interior of the castle and all its beauty as they got super excited and started running around the castle room to room exploring its vast beauty before running into one another in the kitchen.

Harley sits at the kitchenette as Lykin and Ayame go over and join her. Calming down they hold hands and breath.

"So, wanna give the castle a shot and tell her what you want" said Ayame looking at Harley.

Harley nodded and closed her eyes and said "I would like eggs over easy, crispy bacon, sausage, hash browns, and grits with butter and sugar, and a nice glass of orange juice." She opened her eyes and looked in front of her to a big plate of hot food that she asked for and a big glass of orange juice.

"Wow, my turn" said Lyking as he closed his eyes and said, "I would like a big juicy medium rare steak, with 3 over easy eggs, a stack of buttery pancakes, hash browns, crispy bacon, sausage links, and brown sugar oatmeal with a big glass of milk." He opened his eyes and his food and glass was sitting in front of him.

"My turn" said Ayame as she closed her eyes and said "I would like a bowl of fresh chopped fruits, 2 eggs over easy, brown sugar oatmeal, hash browns, and sausage, with a big glass of orange juice." She opened her eyes and her food was in front of her along with her glass.

They all smiled and dug in savoring each bite of food and drinking their drinks. Bite after bite, drink after drink, they filled up their bellies. Once finished with their food and drinks, they placed their plates, utensils, and glasses in the sink.

They walked up to the fifth floor not caring to be on the sixth floor and turned left walking down the massive hallway with red and gold carpet the stopped in front of the last 3 rooms. Harley took the room on the left and her name appeared on the door. Lykin too the room on the right and his name appeared on the door. Ayame too the room dead center and her name appeared on the door.

"Now thats cool" said Lykin pointing at his door.

The girls look at their doors and smile.

"At least everyone will know who's room is whose, especially when we bring more people in" said Ayame.

"That's true. I wouldn't want anyone entering me room so I'm glad the rooms know who we are" said Harley.

"Will the castle decorate our rooms the way we want them to be decorated" asked Lykin.

"Of course" said Ayame, "you just have to think of the way you want your room to look before you enter and the castle will do her thing."

"Awesome" said Lykin. He thought about how he wanted his room to have art easels, paints brushes, sketchbooks, pencils, black drapes, and the clothes he could see himself wearing. He waited a few minutes then opened his door and everything he thought of was there.

Harley touched her door and thought of all the clothes she would wear neatly hung up or folded in the dressers, the desk had a few of her favorite books on it, a bookshelf with lots of empty journals and colorful pens, black and red drapes, with a black and red blanket and lots of pillows. She opened her door and walked in.

Ayame thought about spell books, a cauldron, potions, herbs, clothes she would wear neatly put away, purple and gold drapes with matching pillows and blankets, empty books and pens to write spells in. She opened her door and walked in.

They all turned facing each other and said "good night, see you in the morning."

They shut their doors and made themselves comfortable in their own rooms.