The window in the lake

Chapter2

My dreams took me to a far away place, a time of smiles and laughter. A time when life was not so hard. A time when my father was still here. I watched as he walked toward me. I was standing on the edge of the woods looking in when he called to me.

"Princess, wait for me!" he yelled. Then he was running to me. "Was you going to leave without me?" he asked when he finally made it to my side.

"I didn't think you would have time for a walk today. You have been so bissy these last few weeks. I didn't want to bother you."

"I always have time for a walk with my princess." He said, now smiling down at me and taking my hand. I felt the warmth spread through me at his touch. We walked hand in hand into the woods.

We didn't talk, we just took in the sights and smells around us. I could smell the wild flowers that were growing in the west. I could hear the ruffle of the leaves while the trees swayed from the soft wind that was blowing through them.

"One day these woods will be yours. They will be yours to watch over and protect. The woods will protect you, they will guard you. You have no reason to fear them. They are a part of you, a part of our family." My dad stopped walking, so I did too.

"Sweetheart, there is so much I need to tell you, but you are still too young. But I will, when you are sixteen, I will tell you our family's story and all of our history. You will learn of your bloodline and who you come from, but now is not the time or place."

I didn't say anything, I just stood there staring up into my father's face. So warm and caring. I could see the wrinkles by his eyes, a sign that everything ages over time.

"Never bow down to anyone. No one rules or controls you. No one is above you." I rolled my eyes. He had been telling me this for as long as I can remember.

"Nyx, look at me." he said, now bending down to look me in the eyes. "You never bow down to anyone, and anyone who tells you to is an enemy. That's very important don't ever forget. No one is above you, no one rules or controls you."

"OK dad, I understand." I said, turning away.

"Princess, I found you." I felt hands slide under me and my body jolt. Then my dream faded into darkness.

The sounds of metal beating together woke me from my sleep. I jumped up and every inch of my body screamed out in pain. I looked around and started to panic. I was not in the woods anymore.

I was in a small room with a bed made from vines and leaves. There was a small table standing next to the bed made from sticks and pieces of a tree. A small misshapen rug lay on the ground, made from veins and different colored flowers. Right beyond the rugs was a doorway. The sound of dishes clinging around was coming from the other side. Someone or something was out there.

I quickly looked around to see if I could find a way to escape. But there were no windows or any other doors. The only way out was through the doorway that was ahead and whatever was in there making all that noise. I slowly and as quietly as I could walked to the door and peaked out to see if I could find a different escape. One where I would not be seen.

I looked out into what looked like a sitting room. The furniture here was not very different from the bedroom. There was a couch made from what looked like a tree stump with vines running to the other tree trunk. A chair made from thick sticks and vines. A table in the middle made from the same materials. On top of a rug that looked like a bigger version of the one from the bedroom. I scanned the room to look for a door. To the right there was another doorway, but no windows. No way to escape. I felt the panic start to kick in. I closed my eyes and took a few steady breathes. I can do this, I can find a way to get out. I just need to breathe and think. Stay calm.

"Hello Princess!" A soft velvet voice said. My eyes flew open, and I stumbled backwards.

"Who are you? What do you want"? I asked, my voice cracking and showing my fear, as I now took in the man standing before me. I had never seen anything like him. From his waist up he was a man, a fuzzy man, but still a man. From the waist down he was a rabbit. I rubbed my eyes. I must still be dreaming.

"Princess, please calm down. I'm not going to hurt you. I didn't mean to frighten you. I'm sorry. Your okay, your safe." He said with both his hands up in the air like he was surrendering. I guess that was his way of making me feel like he was not a threat.

"What do you want?" I asked again. This time my voice didn't crack or shake when I spoke.

"I don't want anything." he said, now looking at me confused. "Why would you think I wanted something?"

"Why else would I be here".

"I found you sleeping by the lake. It was almost night fall."

"Why did you bring me here? Why did you take me from the lake?"

"I just told you. It was almost night fall. I couldn't leave you out there alone at night sleeping." he said, as if the answer was so obvious he didn't understand why I even asked in the first place.

"Why not? I was safe." I said, now crossing my arms in front of my chest.

"Did your father not tell you about the Nox woods?" He asked, now raising his brow at me in question.

"Of course he did." I said as I held my head higher. My father never got the chance to tell me much about the woods, actually, because he died when I was eight. But that was not something that I was going to let this stranger know. It was none of his business. As far as he was concerned, my father told me everything there is to know about what had he called them. The Nox woods.

"Well then you should know how dangerous they are at night and the beasts that roam them," he said, still looking at me with a skeptical look on his face.

My father never told me to be scared of the woods. He always told me the opposite, actually. It was my mother who told me to fear the woods and about the beasts that roamed around them at night. But I was not going to tell him any of that either.

"I'm so sorry. Where are my manners? My name is Jax. I am Deacon to the Lady of Light." He said, extending his hand to me.

I looked down at it. I was still not sure if he was a friend or an enemy. I didn't take his hand. After a few seconds, he realized I was not going to and let his hand fall to his side.

"What is a Deacon? And who is the Lady of Light?" I asked with more attitude, then was probably necessary.

"The Lady of Light is the ruler of the Realm of Light. Her name is Lady Aria, and I am her Deacon. Her messenger, her next in command." He said, standing a little taller. I was about to ask him what the Realm of Light was, but my stomach growled.

"Princess, please you are starving. Let me feed you." He said, now turning and heading out the door, motioning with his arm for me to follow.