The Hidden World of Gods and Magic

"Tell me what you want and it’s yours” Said the mysterious man in black. “I want my dreams to come true. I want to find a man who really loves me for me and not my looks, my soul-mate in other words. I want to know who my parents were and why they never gave me a chance to show them who I really am. But most importantly I want to know WHO I am.” She said. “Granted, if you need me I will be a wish away.” Said the mysterious man in black and vanished. BEEP BEEP BEEP…. “Crap I’m going to be late…” She said and jumped out of bed. “OH crap… I have to be at the interview in 10 minutes. Jen, where are you? I need your help.” She said as she grabbed a pair of jeans and a white blouse. “Anisa? What’s wrong?” Jen said still in her PJ’s. “I’m going to be late for the interview. I have less than 8 minutes to be there. Can you drive me please?” Anisa asked. “Oh? Is that today?” Jen asked. “Yes!!! I’m so excited but nervous at the same time. What do you think of this?” Anisa asked as she did a little pose. “It’s perfect Anisa. And yes. Give me a minute then we can go.” Jen said and hurried down the hall. “I can’t believe this is really happening. Who would have thought that I would be good enough to land an interview this big? This is what I always wanted and somewhere out there someone or something knew it and gave me my wish.” Anisa said to her reflection. Just for a split second she thought her reflection nodded. “Hmm…” She said as she tried to shake that feeling that someone was watching her. “I need to focus. God I’m so nervous but in a good way.” She said again just to herself. “Are you done Anisa? Let’s go.”Jen said already waiting at the front door. ‘The drive was a lot shorter than I could remember but hey how cares just as long as I get there on time right?’ Anisa thought. “Go go, I’ll be waiting for you Anisa. Good luck.” Jen said as you closed the door of the car. “Thank you. I owe you big time Jen.” She said. “Yeah just go! Hurry!” Jen said and smiled. ‘Up the starts it felt like flying but that’s just excitement right?’ She thought and arrived just in time as they called her name for the interview.  “Are you Anisa Valentine?” Asked a woman with a stack of paperwork in her arms. “Yes ma’am.” Anisa said with a modest smile on her face. “Follow me please.” The woman said and turned on her heels signaling Anisa to follow. As you walk down the massive hall way you can see all kinds of trinkets and the description of various artifacts lined in clear glass displays. ‘This is amazing.’ She thought. “This is your stop Ms. Valentine. Director Van Sing will be with you shortly. Would you like some tea while you wait?” The woman asked. “No thank you ma’am.” Anisa said and smiled at the woman. “Very well, good luck.” The woman said and closed the door. A few minutes passed and Anisa caught a glimpse of a shadow moving in the one corner. She turned to get a better look but nothing was there. ‘Odd, I can swear I saw something over there.’ She thought to herself. “Good day Ms.?” Director Van Sing said as he walked to his desk. “Ms. Valentine sir, and it is such a pleasure to meat you.” Anisa said and faced the desk once more. “We are happy to know that you will be joining our little family here at Beyond The Sights. Would you be able to start immediately?” Said Mr. Van Sing.  “Of course sir. It is such an honor to be working for you.” Anisa said. “Oh my dear you will not be working for me. You will be working with me as my apprentice. It won’t all be fun and games and your first test will start in exactly 7 hours. If you can complete your test before sunrise, you will then be welcomed with open arms. Understand?” Director Van Sing asked. “I understand sir, what do I have to do?” Anisa asked in a professional manner. “Interesting… You will have to redecorate this office. But be warned under no circumstances are you to speak to the shadow in the mirror. Is that clear?” Van Sing asked. “Shadow in the mirror? Sir what do you mean?” Anisa asked. “Not everything is as it seems my dear. That is all the information I can give you at this moment. You may return home for some rest. I do hope to see you in a few hours Ms. Valentine.” Director Van Sing offered his hand and Anisa took it. “Thank you sir, I’m looking forward to my challenge. One last question. What colors do you wish to add to this office?” Anisa asked. “He he he, you will chose what gets added and what gets moved to another office space my dear. Do choose wisely.” Director Van Sing giggled. “What did he mean by ‘under no circumstances are you to speak to the shadow in the mirror’? That’s kind of creepy.” Jen said. “Maybe he meant it as a metaphor? He is the wizard of the weirdest metaphors so who knows.” Anisa said and stared off into the lounge. “What was that? Jen did you see that?” Anisa asked. “What? Where?” Jen asked turning very cautiously with a look of fear on her face. “Something was just there! You know what never mind. I think the stress of this upcoming challenge is causing me to see things. I think I’m going to take a nap, will you be alright Jen?” Anisa asked. “Yeah sure… Don’t you ever scare me like that again!” Jen said turning all shades of red in less than 10 seconds. “Wow, calm down Jen. Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you. Why don’t you go and have a cup of chamomile tea?” Anisa asked. “Fine! Just go take your nap. You will be the death of me Anisa. Best friend or not, I still love you like you’re my only family. Sorry for snapping at you again.” Jen said. “It’s OK Jen, you are my only family and you know it.” Anisa said. “I love you Anisa.” Jen said. “I love you too Jen, now than go relax and I’ll see you in a few hours.” Anisa said. A few hours passed and Anisa still could shake the feeling of something there with her. “Right who are you and what do you want from me?” Anisa said out of frustrations. Nothing happened. “Right now I know I’m going crazy, what’s next?” Anisa said and closed her eyes again. It didn’t take long for her to fall asleep. “My dear Anisa please do not look at me while I’m speaking to you. I do not want to startle you.” The voice said. “Who are you?” Anisa asked. “It doesn’t matter who I am, what does matter is that you need to be careful of Director Van Sing. He is not quite…right. He asked you not to speak to shadow in the mirror. For reasons unknown to us. You may still signal the shadow. The shadow will be at your service at all times but for now you may write down what you want the shadow to do and in an instance you will have what you need.” The voice said, “This is some messed up dream.” Anisa said. “My dear Anisa this is not a dream, if you need my help just say the words ‘Veni foras’ and I will appear in the form of an animal of your choice.” Said the voice. “Ok I’m done with this dream now. I need to wake up now.” Anisa said. “Very well as you wish.” Said the voice. Anisa bold up right sweat sticking her body and soaking her pillow. “Wow that was beyond weird. I know my dreams have been wild lately but that? Damn…” Anisa said taking her phone and looking at the time. ‘Not even an hour nap. This is going to be a long night. Might as well go and clean up before my challenge starts.’ She thought. “Anisa? What are you doing up? You’re supposed to relax and sleep some more before you start with the…uh…test?” Jen said not quite sure how to phrase the challenge. “Yes I know, I’m just going to jump in the shower and slowly calm my nerves.” Anisa said. “You had those weird nightmares again didn’t you?” Jen asked coming closer to check your temperature. “Well you don’t have a fever. What did you dream this time?” Jen asked not letting Anisa take another step. “Honestly I’m not sure my mind can process what I saw. But something or someone said that if I needed help I must say some words of another language and it would come to my aid as an animal of my choice.” Anisa said. “Well, I have a theory…” Jen began. “Don’t you even think about it Jen. I’m not in any mood to play fairytale right now. I need to go and take a shower. I mean I’m sweating like a pig for god sake.” Anisa said but the idea Jen had stuck in Anisa’s mind. In the shower under the hot steady stream Anisa couldn’t think about anything else. ‘Am I totally crazy for even thinking about it? Who knows? What’s the worst that can happen right?’ She thought. She sighs and think for a moment what the words were that might summon this animal. “Piger Noctua… No… Veni huc… No…. Oh wait. Veni foras.” Anisa said and in an instant there was a big black cat with the bluest of blue eyes staring back at her. “JEN!!!!! Oh my soul…. JEN!!!!” Anisa screamed. “Anisa what’s all th….what the hell?” Jen squeaked “Hey there, where did you come from?” Jen asked slowly walking towards the cat. “Please do not touch me.” The cat said. “Phoebus Apollo, is that really you?” Jen asked. Anisa still screaming.  “Can you stop your screaming for a moment and just listen?” The cat said with its front paws over its ears. “Uh-mm…” Anisa said covering her mouth with her hands. “Thank you. Now Ms. Valentine would you like to get dressed before we discuss the reason you summoned me?” The cat asked not looking directly at Anisa.  “Uh… OK… Just give me a moment.” Anisa said and grabbed some clothes trying to dress as fast as she could while the black cat just sat there looking out of the window. “I did miss this world. Has it truly changed this much over a few hundred years? Everything is so noisy and so…bright.” The black cat said. “A few hundred years? What are you? And where did you come from? And why the hell could  I summon you with 2 Latin words I heard in my weird ass dream? Oh god… I think I’m going insane….” Anisa said and collapsed on a chair close to the door.