The Forest

Chapter Sixteen

The street lights were still lit and morning was nowhere to be found. Yet. Time passes differently when you are in another world. Time stands still and no one is there to see a group of off people exiting the library, looking like they have just seen something that will change their life forever. No one was there to see them but if someone were they couldn't help but state at their pale faces still a little pink from all the light nightingale gave them. It was just a minute after they left the world we know and stumbled into the dangerous wilds of the forest where the sun doesn't shine and people don't have much luck in surviving. Only them could come out of there and live to tell the tale of the beautiful and mysterious forest, full of danger and sights unseen, full of blue trees and purple grass and creatures unknown to men. It was easy to forget that in this world there are no invisible harms but only those near the human eyes. There were no threats yet the nightingale still brought its grand light to the street empty of people. There were secrets untold as there always were in the library on the corner but it his more than just that. It hid the truth, a world so different, so alone in its beauty. It his the danger and the real reason the town of linden existed. No one knew yet everyone could tell that there was something there. Untouchable but true. There but not really there. It was hard for the townspeople to feel a threat, to feel that magic but never to be able to pinpoint what it was, or talk about it, or even look at it when if it were happening inside their own home. It was impossible for them to see, her the group ran into the library, this time without the key and with one more person, talk amd dark, thin and elusive like a shadow. He followed them, staring at how much has changed since he was last there in person. He could tell that times are different now and that time has completely stepped over him. His were the past times, the time of fun and love and lost inosence. He couldn't find his spot in that world, not after his side died and left him bare of feeling, bare of her love and attention, bare of everything he cared about. She was his place, his world, his home. Seeing his grandaughter made him sad, made him miss her even more than before if that was even possible. Of course, no one could be her or even come close, but the way she walked, talked, the trembling finger carrying that cigarette made his heart pump just enough hot blood for him to feel alive again. Then the hard cold truth would slap him right across that wounded heart and he would remember, nothing is the same as it was. But being there, back among the living made him feel like that young boy again, made him happy and in love with life. He didn't feel that in a long time. Meanwhile Tilia could barely believe what was happening to get. She was smoking and looking for a dark corner to hide in. She thought that this would be just a small adventure but it was so much more. There were layers and layers, none of them true and all of them true at the same time and she couldn't see what she was supposed to. Magick was in her blood yet she couldn't quite call it and use it. She felt as if she was disappointing many people by being so plain, by being so aloof and wanting to run. Run from all that was pulling her away from her normal life. If things were ideal, she would work on her library, read books all day and then have this amazing man in her life, the one she dreamed of for so long, the one she wanted. Or did she? But in her perfect life he would have been the one who held her at night if only her feelings were not so all over the place. He was the one, but not the one she wanted. She stared at Philip across the room and in his eyes she could see her own life. She imagined his hands on her body, she wanted his kisses on her neck. She could feel the warmth of his body when he was near her and she imagined what it would be like if they were alone just for a minute. There was passion and lust, the kind she loved to dream about and read about. She couldn't find herself in all the things that happened over the past few weeks. ' So, what do we do now? ' someone asked and she didn't listen close enough to tell who. She looked at Philip and realised that the words came from his plump lips, so desirable, so kissable. ' Now we search.' Said Cross. He sat on one of the chairs, right next to Caddie. She nodded and looked around to see if there was any chance for her to get a nice cup of tea. Something that will wake her from her daydream of her past and into this new present. ' Search for what? ' asked Maria who was still in the forest in spirit. It was the adventure she was seeking, it was the life she wanted. If only she could report that story and have it published so that the world can know about what is happening when its sleeping. So that people can know that their life is a low and that what they feel is actually there, among them. There are real dangers in this world and they are not there for everyone to see but hidden away in the bushes. She didn't want all of those secrets to come our though because them the magic would dissapear. There were a lots of words unsaid at those times and none of them spoke the truth about what they feel. ' The Sandman is here. We just have to search well enough. ' said Tilia's grandfather. His thoughts were trying to focus on the elusive person calling himself sandman. He was there maybe just around the corner. But he will know when he sees him. He will be there to destroy what can destroy all he cared for now. ' Hey Tilli, are you here? ' Philip asked and she could have said that She was but her thoughts were somwhere far away. She couldn't focus on just finding Sandman when she wanted so much more. She had to decide who she wanted. ' Nightingale can have that effect on the one who carried it. It is exhausting, you can't really sleep it off. You can have a lot of energy but the problem is that you get tired of all of that. Maybe it would help if you ran for a while. ' Said Caddie who remembered how her friend used to get tired and how she would always try her best to spend all that energy on something useful. Or at least fun. They didn't always hate each other, once upon a time they were best of friends, telling each other everything. But something changed. Over the years no one understood what happened with the two of them but she understood. Her friend got married. Her friend didn't love her the way she loves her. Not enough, not even close. ' I'm not tumning. Not at this time. ' said Tilia who didnt like any sort of physical activity. All she wanted was her warm bed and her blankets and pillows and maybe a good cup of coffee. Running wasn't her thing. Runing from her feelings was easy but running in real life was harder. Philip came closer to her and put his hand around her which made her hairs stand up and her heart race to catch up to all the greatness of feeling she felt at that point. His fingers played with a streak of her hair and that made her smile. She could tell that he cared for her, if nothing then just as friends. Her grandfather gave him a mean look as if he just realised that it was his julob to prptectvher from everything that might hurt her. But he saw the honest caring in that boys eyes and he couldn't speak against him. It was touching to see two young people so in love. ' Okay, so how do we recognise him. ' asked Maria, seeing her friend so at a loss of words. She knew what that huh ment to Tilia and all she wanted was for her to be happy but what she couldn't understand was how in the world she could think about something like that when their world was changing at a whirling pace, something new was happening and in Maria's mind there was no place for romantic feelings or dating it anything like that. She wanted to find the man who is to blame for many evil doings and she wanted to be a hero. ' You'll be able to see him but whether or not you'll feel what he truly is is up to you. You see he can be anyone. He will present himself in his human form and maybe charm you into thinking that he is truly nice amd kind. But he is not. We will have to find a spell that will make you see who he really is. ' Said Caddie lighting a cigarette and watching the smoke ride above their heads. ' But who can cast a spell? ' asked Connie knowing that the only sorceress they had is dead and gone and Tilia, even if she had any powers couldn't cast it right away and even with practice it could take her a couple of months and no one knew what could happen by then. ' A potion then? ' asked Cross thinking of a great potion book Magda left him. He knew there might be something there that could help them find what they were searching for. He was enjoying the fact that He ment that much to Magda, enough for her to leave something for him. Him, the not no one liked that much or enjoyed being with. She saw him for what he was, she loved him as if he was her own brother and she even showed him a couple of spells and potions. ' That could maybe work. ' said Caddie. ' But we'll see tomorrow. ' she said, too tired to even think or move. There were so much information around her, she could pick up on the strangest thisngs when she was this tired and she could see fragments of other people dreams and thoughts in her head. All she wanted was a bed and sleep. When she was rested she could control what comes in but when she was this tired there was no control of what was coming in. That made her even sleepier and she wanted to home so that no one can see her weakness. She was old, she no longer had the energy to fight or search. ' Yes, that would be best. We are all tired, none of us has the energy to think, let alone make potions. ' said Tilias grandfather. He looked around and saw faces of his friends lite up with hope of finding a comfortable bed and sleep. ' Come on Caddie, I'll take you home. ' said Cross, helping her get up and taking through the door. Maria left and Philip decided that it would be best if he followed Tilia home since she almost fell when she stood up off her chair. She told her grandfather that he could sleep there in the library and he understood. He was her grandfather but she didn't really know him. And it was more comfortable than what he was used to. Philip followed ger to the door. ' Hey, your apartment is pretty far away. You could stay if you wanted. ' said Tilia. She was tired but she didn't want him to go. He smiled and nodded, entering her tiny apartment with a funny feeling in his stomach. She closed the door behind him. They were alone.