Meadow of ash trees

chapter three: the girl with golden eyes

Chapter 3

    Ash

 When I woke up at first I thought I was back in the orphanage it was dark and I could hear the sound of someone snoring. That delusion all ended when I went to get out of bed, the bed I was in was huge compared to my twin bed, and the blanket felt way softer than the one I had back home. I was In heaven till I remembered I was f*****g drugged by that hairy bastard. Peaking over the edge of the magnificent bed I saw a tall figure on the floor. It was the person I heard snoring. He looked to be the same height as the bearded man but in the dark, I couldn't tell if it was him. Squinting I saw a door slightly ajar and decided my best course of action was to get out of here before the man could wake up. Shooting to the end of the bed I quietly slipped on to the floor and slowly started walking past the man’s when one of the floorboards creaked and one of his arms shot out and he grabbed me by the ankle

“Where do you think you’re going.” the melodic voice hit my ears and I stopped trying to get my foot free for a second. That wasn’t the same voice as Anton. No, it didn’t matter if he was the same guy or not, they had kidnaped me and I wasn’t going to just stop fighting. Pulling my foot away from creepo number three I ran to the door before he could stand and follow me I slammed the door closed. I started to run down what looked like a castle hallway, everything was a blur of gold and stained glass that I had no time to admirer. I had to find an exit and fast I could hear the sound of someone’s footsteps chasing me down. I turned left then right then left again and realized I had hit a dead end. There were no more halls to turn down. I turned in circles looking for any way out or a place to hide but this hall had nothing but a huge painting with a black sheer cloth over it. I heard panting behind me and I knew I couldn’t run anymore. 

“ dame you run fast I wasn’t expecting you to run” it was the same voice as before but this time I noticed that he didn’t sound much older than me. Turning around I saw that he looked to be about my age; he was tall and extremely handsome in that edgy kind of way. My stupid brain decided because he was my age he definitely could not be in on the k********g.

“Who are you? I don’t know where I am. I think I was kidnaped.” he started laughing at what I said but I didn’t care he had the most beautiful laugh ever. 

“ kidnaped you say that as if you don’t know what's going on” based on the condescending tone in his voice something clicked for me. This boy in front of me was part of my k********g. Getting low to the ground I raised my fist the way I have seen many people on tv do, I doubt I looked nearly as cool as any of them, but I was ready to fight my way out of here. 

“Show me the way out of here now. I don’t want to have to fight you.” I was trying to be intimidating but this prick had the audacity to look me up and down and laugh.

“ There is no way you would win against me” he scoffed before turning to leave. He was probably right just based on his toned arms he was definitely stronger than me. I was rethinking my decision to fight him, maybe I should just comply?

“ you want to see the way out follow me.” he started walking away at a slow lazy pace. Was he serious? I’m his prisoner or something right? Turning he smiled 

“Are you coming?” blinking rapidly I took one small step to follow him at a distance of course in case he tried anything. This time walking through what I would say is a modern castle I got to appreciate its beauty. Every hall had dazzling gold walls that seemed to shift and move on their own like golden water, brushing my hand on the wall to see if it was some sort of fancy screen told me that no it was actually a wall. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like this place. It was filled to the brim with flowers, vines growing from the floor all the way up to the arching ceiling with the most magnificent and beautiful flowers blossoming. Everything seemed brighter here, every flower seemed to glow from within. Where was I? Left completely Awestruck of the inside of the castle I didn’t notice we had stepped outside till I saw the sky. There was not one sun in the sky but two but unlike the bright yellow sun I grew up seeing these suns were both a soft glowing pink color. Where the hell was I. Looking around it looked like we were in an old fashioned market place. Instead of giant buildings for business, there were colorful vendor stalls and tents that sold all kinds of things from food to clothes. a few times I stopped to admire the clothing and jewelry. Everywhere I turned was a new marvel. Everything here was way more beautiful than where I’m from. Well, I’m not in Kansas anymore and that was the first thing to pop into my head. Now I knew how Dorothy must have felt when she saw color for the first time. (I watched the wizard of oz too many times in my childhood.) Looking around I noticed something off with the people of this world some looked different, I couldn’t help but stare at one family we passed the little girl had a head of hair made entirely of red roses like the woman who I could only assume was her mother holding her hand and a man that had blue skin like his daughter but he had gills and webbed fingers. I was enchanted as we walked past a group of women whose skin shined like glitter and came in every color imaginable. I didn’t notice that everyone was staring at me too.  

Turning to look at the handsome boy acting as my guide, one corner of his mouth turned up in a half-smile (that made me want to faint) and gestured to me to follow him into a large red tent. Rushing in after him I found myself in a lavish tent the inside looked much larger than it had on the outside. It was basically a house. There was a living room with couches that looked like peach clouds. There was also a large wooden table in the middle of the tent that had weird symbols around it. I could tell there was more to the tent as I could see a pale orange flap that seemed to lead to a separate part of the tent. I was amazed before I realized the green-eyed boy was no longer in front of me but I was face to face with Anton the man who kidnaped me.  Before I could turn to make a run for it I heard a tiny gasp and the sound of a hummingbird’s wings come from my left before I was tackled to the ground. Pushing the hair out of my face I Looked up and saw a tiny girl with ocean blue hair and wide green eyes.

“Oh my goodness you’re finally awake!” the girl squealed while helping me to my feet.  “I have so many questions about the world you were raised in. How do you heal your sickness? I heard you can fly. How do you fly without wings?” I couldn’t help but instantly like this winged girl. She was so energetic. 

“Sure I will tell you if you tell me about your world too” Laughing I gave this girl the biggest smile I have ever given anyone, but the good moment was short-lived because I remembered Anton the kidnaper was here too. Stepping in front of this girl in an attempt to protect her in case the two men now on the other side of the room tried to attack. Anton stepped forward, he looked well dressed in a suit that barely covered his chest (revealing even more hair)made of what looked like brown silk. Raising his hand as he approached in a weird way of saying he had no intention of harming me or the girl. I let my defense drop a little bit.

“Why don’t you take a seat. Have some water.” Anton said while pouring cold water into a sparkling blue glass. I didn’t even realize how thirsty I was till Anton mentioned it, I accepted the water and drank the whole glass in half a second never taking my eyes off any of the people in the room. I took a seat on one of the smaller loveseat across from the larger l shaped couch. Anton took a seat next to the boy whose name I still didn’t know while the girl with glass-like wings sat next to me carefully tucking her wings behind her. Everyone sat for a moment not saying anything, clearing his throat Anton smiled and began speaking.

“ I’m not sure if you remember me…” I huffed telling him I most definitely remembered and didn’t trust him. “ my name is Anton and next to me is Willow,” said Anton. Willow what a weird but fitting name. 

“Next to you is Lilly Willow’s younger sister” that made sense too seeing as they had the same eyes. But if they are siblings why is Willow an elf(yes I noticed the ears) and Lilly a fairy or something. Before my mind could get off track Anton continued speaking

“ I know you must be extremely confused as to why I brought you here.” Anton paused to take a drink out of a glass that looked similar to mine

“ I’m going to put it bluntly, we are in the middle of a war. This place is called Aislinn” he said gesturing around the tent.

“ and the entire world used to be a beautiful and peaceful place. But that all ended when our queen and all of her heirs were killed by the enchantress who now rules this land with the help of her dark underlings she is slowly poisoning the land and its people. What you saw outside are the only people not corrupted by the queen. The people you saw outside are all part of the rebellion. We have fought the enchantress for sixteen years now but we are not strong enough.” Anton who looked to be getting angry took a deep breath and drained another glass of water before continuing

“ that is where you come in. one of our tracers felt your power awaken through the portal, she said your power is equal to if not greater than our enemies”

Anton turned his blue eyes on me and he actually smiled at me. There was no way in hell I was going to trust him. 

“We want you to help us save our world. Now that everything is explained I will answer any of your questions.”  well that was vague and not much to go on. I had a feeling that he and everyone else were hiding something.  taking in everything Anton had said something kept bugging me I was from the earth as far as I knew there was no one with magic on earth.

“ do you often find people with um ‘gifts’ on earth?” I glared at Anton then at the floor. It was carpeted with tiny dandelion blossoms and grass; it reminded me that we are outside and not in a home.

“No. we don’t. Our guess is that your parents brought you to earth to try to prevent you from being involved in this war” the way Anton spoke made it sound like my parents were dead. That meant even though this is a new world there was no hope for me to have a family here. I’m still just the poor orphan girl. I don’t know why I expected anything to be different here then they were on earth, they were even worse here all I was to these people was a tool in a war I had no part in.

“ Why. Why should I help you? It’s not my kingdom or my world. I’m also not a tool you can use.  Why would I risk my life for a world I know nothing about.” realizing there was nothing in this world for me I stood up and flung my long hair behind me. 

“ Take me home now, I won’t take part in a war I have no business being a part of. You never even asked me what my name was or if I will help you. All you did was take me from everything I’ve ever known.” all three of them looked at me dumbfounded about what I said but none of them moved to argue with me. I didn’t know any of these people no matter if I think there’s potential for friendship. I was just someone they could use. I was about ready to storm out but I felt the same pressure I felt in the alleyway building up in my chest again. why now of all times. I turned away from Anton and willow, clenching my fist and jaw. I was determined to control it this time, however, it was different and stronger. My palms started to sweat and extreme pain flowed from my chest to my entire body causing me to scream in pain and crumple to the ground everyone jumped up and rushed to me.

“ Lilly, what is happening to her,” Will said in a panicked tone as he lifted me off the ground and placed me on the couch.

“I don’t know Will I don’t know what to do oh goddess please help me.” Lilly rushed to my side and placed her hands over my chest a soft blue light gilded over me before plunging straight into my chest Lilly quickly removed her hands

“ get out now we need to get away from her.” backing up from me with fear in her eyes, Lilly was stopped by Anton

“Lilly tell me what’s going on” turning to Anton Lilly screamed at him over my cries of pain

“I thought you said her magic already had awoken Anton so why is it her powers are awakening now.” shocked Anton turned to me and placed his own hands where Lilies were just a moment I watched his blue eyes go wide before he grabbed Lilly and Will before running out the tent leaving me alone and in pain. It seemed like everything exploded all at once, everything around the tent was ripped to shreds even a few of the vendor stalls were destroyed. What was happening? I could feel my body convulsing and growing warm. All at once, it was like all of my senses were heightened. My vision seemed to pick up every detail of the destroyed tent from the small threads blowing away from the wind to every crease of Willow’s worried face. He was beautiful. In the next second my eyes were torn away from Will and landed on the most beautiful fire I had ever seen. It was a blinding gold with flecks of bright pink and lime green, it was mesmerizing the way the colors playfully danced around me. I couldn’t resist the call to reach out to touch the flame. The fire jumped up my arm and surrounded my body until I was engulfed. There was no pain, What I felt instead was happiness and joy. This is who I am. I’m not some sad human. I was the girl with auburn hair and gold eyes. I am a powerful brilliant flame. As if the flame did what it was supposed to do they slowly extinguished themself and all that was left was me surrounded by people with shocked looks on their faces. I could hear the people around me start to whisper and start cheering. I watched one woman cover her young son’s face before I noticed the flame may not have hurt me but burned my clothes to dust. I curled into a ball covering all the important parts of me with my hands and hair, wishing I could just climb into a ditch somewhere. There had to be at least 50 people who just saw me in my birthday suit. What should I do if I stand i would be on full display, I couldn’t do that I’m too self-conscious to even wear a bathing suit to the pool without a cover. I was so embarrassed that I was about to cry when I felt a hand touch my solder, it was one of the women with the glittering skin, she and her friends(or family?) had made a ring around me providing me cover from the onlookers. I smiled at the woman with green skin and deep green hair that could be mistaken for black before I took her outstretched hand and stood. A woman who I saw working at a clothing stall earlier rushed to the rainbow woman and handed me a purple gown with a low back and a lace overlay. It had to be the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. I swiftly pulled the dress on before someone came behind me and started brushing my hair. There where so many things being handed to and people rushing to get closer to me that I was too overwhelmed to do anything but follow the dazzling woman acting as my guards to where ever they were taking me.