Once everyone left the party, she, Robert, and Corban went back to the living room. After a short while father joined them too, “Gabrielle, what did this Valeria woman want with you? And why did you stare at the sky like that?” He sounded a little concerned.

  She doesn’t see why she should answer him if he doesn’t want to tell her about his expeditions, “Valeria wanted to get to know me better. And I stared at the sky, as it was captivating how quickly the weather changed,”

  He didn’t appear convinced at all. He raised his eyebrows a little enhancing the lined wrinkles on his forehead letting her know his being serious.

  Two can play that game, she thought. She will let him know that her questions are serious as well, “Where do you go for your expeditions, and what are you doing there?”

  “Gabby, you know I can’t tell you,”

  “Then why should I tell you about this?” She knew she sounded a little snotty and felt a bit bad about it, but she was tired that everyone kept stuff away from her, “I know these expeditions are probably incredibly dangerous. Your life is constantly at stake. There are times when you’re literally brushed by death or risking things worse, like being locked up in a small room. There you are tortured you greatly while they ensure you’re just strong enough to live, or become a subject to horrendous experiments,”

  She realised tears began to form in her eyes, “I know what’s going on out there. I occasionally think about it. You sometimes don’t know how worried I am. This why I ask so much. It is to set my mind at ease. For confirmation that the expeditions are not as dangerous as I imagine them to be. Every time you say goodbye, I never know when it’ll be your last. When I was younger, I thought you were out there saving the world. Saw you as some kind of superhero. But now I know the truth, what’s really going on, and I’m no longer this little girl,”

  Father walked to sofa and crouched down so his head was at her level, “Gabrielle, the reason I don’t tell you is because I’ve been sworn to secrecy,”

  She could use this in her advantage, “Is the Forest really as dangerous as everyone says?” She watched the expression of her father. First his face was neutral for a beat too long before it changing to fear. This showed her it was an act, that he was hiding something, and she wants to find out what.

  “Gabrielle! How can you ask him this?” Her brother fearfully gasped straight after her question as almost all colour left his face.

  “Why are you now so interested in the Forest? You know it’s occultly, paranormally, and incredibly dangerous! The Authorities are constantly ensuring no-one gets close by and even they keep a great distance,” Father explained.

  “But why?”

  “Gabrielle, please…please just stop with this!” Her brother pleaded, sounding if he was almost in tears from terror.

  “Gabrielle, what’s the matter with you? You know the Forest is a place beyond dread! If these questions anyhow come out, you’ll get locked up! And very quickly for that matter! All of us will! Is that what you want?” There was great concern in her father’s voice.

  “I’m fully aware of the consequences. I already thought them through well enough. And that’s why I’m so worried,”

  “Gabrielle, no more questions! Please. Promise me. This is a very serious matter,” Her father almost begged.

  “I can’t promise anything,”

  He looked incredibly worried, “Gabrielle, you obviously don’t know what you’re playing at! This is no game!”

  Robert turned to her, “He’s right, you have to stop. You’re upsetting everyone,”

  She jumped-up, “Okay! Fine! I’ll stop!” She irritably and angrily stormed out of the living room and made my way to the flower garden.

  The rain she caused was gone and the sun shined again. The bench was still wet, but she couldn’t care less. She sat down and looked ahead of her as tears flowed down her cheeks.

  The smooth round droplets still clung to all the flowers and leaves, and it glistered in the sunlight forming tiny sparks. She observed the effect of it. Everything smelt fresher and seemed cleaner.

  Robert joined her “Why are you here?” She monotonously asked without looking his direction.

  “I understand where you are coming from, but he doesn’t need that in his life. It stresses him out and he can’t take it. I don’t know if you notice, but his getting older. Everything that’s happening is taking a toll on him,”

  She hated to admit it, but Robert was making sense. She never thought about it that way. After the dream, her mind was so set on finding answers, “But how do I find out more about the Forest? I can’t look it up on my FID as usual. The Authorities track it. I wish there’s a way to find out more away from their eyes,”

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  “If you really want you can always ask Maxwell,” Robert suggested, “I have the feeling he knows more than he lets on,”

  That was a brilliant idea, “Thank you so much Robert!” She eagerly jumped up, “Why didn’t I think about it before?” She reached towards Robert’s arm, “Come on! Let’s go!”

  “Gabs, hang on,” Robert rapidly got up too, “Hang on,” He lightly touched her arm, “He’s probably now helping Ruby clearing everything up,” He turned his gaze again to the bench, “Not right now. Later. When he can give you his undivided attention,”

  Hearing his reason sometimes annoyed her. She let out a sign as she sat down again. After a few seconds of silence Robert then asked, “So what did Valeria want with you?”

  She told him everything Valeria said, “...I’m now more convinced Corbin didn’t go to this journalism program at all,”

  “So, you really believe he went to the Centre?” Robert asked afterwards.

  She nodded, “It’s my only lead. A much better explanation. This could be the reason why his behaviour took such a turn,” Before making her mind up about going there, she first need to investigate how is everything connected, “Have you ever heard about it before?”

  “No, I haven’t,” He answered.

  ***

  She minded the gaps between the narrow metallic stairs as she climbed up towards Maxwell’s living quarters in the attic. She recalled Aunty Ruby’s paranoia about the stairs when she was younger. She reached the landing and the door was closed. She knocked twice, “Maxwell, it’s me, Gabrielle,” She then called, “May I come in,”

  Not a few seconds afterwards Maxwell opened the door, “Gabrielle, of course you may,” He gestured towards the sofa that faced the lit fireplace.

  She entered and looked at one of the ceiling windows. It had a clear view of the shinning glistering stars.

  Maxwell noted her gaze, “Even though it’s going to be eternal winter with a lot of snow, I hope we will still get some clear nights to see the stars by,” He then committed.

  “They are very beautiful up here,” She stated, and sat down on the sofa across the fireplace. She watched the effects of the flame on the wood, “You know, it was me that caused the thunderstorm,” She confessed, hoping he won’t think strangely of her.

  He sat down next to her, “Yes, I’ve noticed it was you, and I thank you for what you did,” He sounded he was truly grateful for it.

  “It doesn’t make sense. Aren’t you afraid, appalled, that I’m a...a Sorcerer,” She almost forced out the words, “Many would be,”

  “No, I’m not at all. Why would I be afraid?” He responded, “There is a lot of things that needs to change in Crystasia,”

  “So does this mean you’re a Sorcerer too,”

  He took a deep pained breath as a disturbed look appeared on his face.

  “Okay, you don’t have to tell me if it’s too much,” She would hate to cause him any distress, “Do you anything more about the Forest. The haunted one,” She still hoped she will be able to acquire some information about the Forest without tormenting him too much.

  “You must promise not to tell anyone. Not even Robert or Corban. Do you have my word,”

  Her top priority now was to find out more. She will worry later about keeping it a secret from Robert. As for Corban, there’s no ways in hell she’ll tell him, “Yes, you have my word,”

  “Very well,” He took another deep breath, this one not as pained as the one last, “The Forest has a legend to it. The Authorities, Commanders and queen hides it from us. There are other realms beyond Crystasia. The Forest is the border between Crystasia and the next closest land. Rumour states that a girl has been brutally murdered there, and now she haunts it. However, it is believed that she survived and lives. Ghosts doesn’t exist, not even within the laws of magic,”

  “So, this girl is a Sorcerer too?” She was fascinated by this. She clung to every word he spoke. It reminded her off when she was younger. Of the fantasy stories he used to tell her.

  “If our sources are correct then yes, she is, and a very powerful one for that matter, if she’s able to haunt the Forest like this,”

  If this is put into context it sounds utterly ridicules, “So you mean to tell me that the entire mighty Crystasia is afraid of one girl with magical powers,” She don’t know how she’ll keep it from Robert. He needs to know the truth. But she’ll hate to break Maxwell’s promise.

  “This is not all,” Maxwell stated, willing to continue.

  “Yes,” She curiously responded.

  “The legend further states that she is the Princess of Crystasia. A true potential heir. This is why she’s seen as a threat. This is why they are afraid of her,”

  “So, the queen has a daughter?” She was stunned by this information. How does Maxwell know all this? And why did he tell her, when farther and Corban always kept her in the dark?

  “She also has two sons, but they are yet to be found. The queen did a lot of things to her journey to power,”

  “But wait, how old is she? If she is still a girl, she couldn’t have haunted the Forest for that long. To create such a lasting legend,”

  “The Queen, Commanders and Authorities created this reputation before she came. They don’t want citizens to believe there are other Realms beyond Crystasia. The haunting of the girl only happened a few years ago. An added incident,”

  “Why does she haunt the Forest like this? Isn’t it tiresome?”

  “Although she lives, she underwent great torment. If one’s a Sorcerer and this is to happen, they will lose awareness of their surroundings. Can’t think. Can’t remember. It’s as if she’s unconscious. Sleepwalking. Only a Sorcerer with pure raw utter powers can cause such a haunting and for so very long,”

  “Poor her,” She almost felt nauseated of what great torment one needs to undergo to cause this, “Isn’t there anyone that can help her, heal her?”

  “This is being investigated, but it will be incredibly perilous, since so many Authority members are guarding the area. And to recover from such torment requires very advanced magic. The Sorcerer to heal her needs to be more powerful or just as powerful as the girl,”

  She never wanted to be in such a state. From now on she needed to tread very carefully. She took it that Maxwell is a Sorcerer too.

  “How do you know all this?” She then asked him.

  “I told you enough for now. I don’t want to overload you. Take time to process it, then I will tell you more on another night,” Maxwell responded.

  “Why are you telling me this? Father and Corban always keep me in the dark,”

  “I feel can trust you after what you did today. Now that I know you are a Sorcerer too,” Maxwell answered, “Goodnight Gabrielle,”

  “Goodnight Maxwell,” She got up, left his place, and closed the door again.