Lost in the desert, the unbelievable thirst was scorching my throat again. Though just a dream this all seemed so real. This time to my surprise I was not alone there. A man whose face I could barely make out was there too. There was something familiar about him; it was as if I knew he was as dangerous as he looked. “Come my princess, come to me.” At the sound of his voice fear surged through my body. To say I was scared was an understatement, I was completely terrified. I wanted to scream for help but no sound came out of my mouth. I was helpless. And then suddenly a scream filled my head and………………..

I woke up startled. I couldn’t remember half of my dream and my head was killing me. I had a massive hangover, which was bound to happen considering how much I drank last night. In a small town like Healdsburg there wasn’t much to do for fun except for the crazy parties that the rich kids threw. My mom and I moved here when I was four. I don’t really remember my life before Healdsburg.

“Aria wake up.” Oh crap! Mom’s voice sounded pissed. She was not frustrated, she was angry and by that I mean blow-the-world type angry. I did my daily routine and headed downstairs for breakfast.

Mom didn’t even look at me. “I’m sorry Ma, really sorry.” I know it was a lame apology but this was my senior year and the party I went to was my first highschool party. I went there with my best friend Shane Zeklos. While she was popular, I was a geek but we were friends since we were in kindergarten. We bonded right away at the first meeting.

My mom was sort of overprotective. She didn’t even allow me the basic freedom that all the other kids of my age had. When I was little I couldn’t understand why she was overprotective and as I grew up, I didn’t care enough to know the reason of her protectiveness.

“Aria you couldn’t follow one rule that I made. Was it so difficult? You weren’t like this before, someone could’ve hurt you, and your behavior last night was absolutely irresponsible. You are grounded for a month and….” I stopped her in the middle saying, “I’ve been grounded my whole life so a month really doesn’t matter. I don’t know why you are so damn protective of me. I get it that there are dangerous people outside but I know how to avoid them and frankly mom I’m going to college next and you can’t expect me to remain with you forever. I know getting drunk was a huge mistake and it won’t happen again but at least allow me some godforsaken freedom.” I was so pissed that I ran back to my room and slammed the door.

I texted Shane that I was coming to her house. She immediately texted me back asking about my mom. She knew my mom was a tad bit paranoid when it came to me otherwise she was a great mother. Instead of texting her back, I got dressed in shorts and a light cotton shirt. Grabbing a pair of flip-flops and my wallet I ran downstairs but before I could open the door mom stopped me.

“Didn’t I tell you, you are grounded! So get your butt inside Aria.” She was still angry and so was I but instead of doing what she said, I ran out of the door, took my bike out and pedaled all the way to Shane’s house.

Shane’s house wasn’t far from where I lived. I locked my bike in her driveway and knocked the door, Mrs. Zeklos, Shane’s mom answered the door.”Shane has been waiting for you. I’m making breakfast, would you like some?”

“No but thanks for asking.” I found Shane in the backyard playing with bozo, her Labrador. “What did your mom say, I bet she is angry at you.”

”Angry doesn’t even begin to cover it. I’m not a kid anymore and she needs to understand this. Leave that and please tell me I wasn’t a drunken mess at the party last night.”

Shane laughs so hard that she has tears in her eyes. Still clutching her stomach she says, “You are such a lightweight, you were hilarious last night and you said things, you won’t be caught dead saying when you’re sober. Man, was it funny to watch you.”

I was mortified after hearing that. What in the everloving hell had I done last night, I couldn’t even remember it. The memories of last night were still fuzzy. I tried hard to remember and then it all came back as a horrible reality. Drunk me was definitely bold. If looks could kill, I would have been dead by now by the looks Elena the queen bitch’s cronies were giving me when I defended some freshman Elena was torturing. When I started attracting audience she tried to deny it and I pretty much called her bullshit in front of everyone.

“Why didn’t you stop me from committing social suicide?” I asked her.” I did try to stop you but you dragged me there. You are so freakishly strong when drunk and frankly I loved the whole chaos. Someone needed to stop Elena and I’m glad it was you.” I glared at her. She never understood why I always wanted to be invisible. It was not because I was scared of crowds but because I didn’t want to be part of the crowd. In school I was a labeled nerd. No one bothered me much and that was the way I liked it. Till last year Elena never knew I even existed but I changed that last night. The senior year was starting in a week and I have managed to become public enemy number one. My only hope was that Elena would forget that I called her shit in public and leave me alone. But we don’t always get what we want.

“Let’s go shopping.” Shane’s voice cut through my thoughts. I nodded at her. She grabbed her car keys and we drove to the mall in a town couple of miles ahead of Healdsburg.

Shane loved shopping and it was tolerable with her. I wasn’t a tomboy but I also didn’t care about the latest fashion. I always went with comfy clothes. In the clothing section Shane handed me a low cut royal blue blouse, it was a little flashy than what I was used to but I liked it. She also got me some more fitting clothes than I was used to. According to her, this year I wouldn’t be hiding behind my baggy clothes her words not mine.

Shane and I were quite different in the looks department. She was what you say a classic Barbie. With her blonde hair, blue eyes and tall stature she could be a model if she wanted. She was petite and at five foot eight inches she had at least three inches on me. She was smarter than she looked and instead of flaunting all this she kept it all to herself. That was the reason why she was my best friend.

“What are you thinking about?” Shane asked me, while we were having lunch at the McDonalds. “How to survive school this year” I said to her while fumbling with my burger. Her expressions made me laugh.”Why the hell would you think about it?”

“It’s not possible for me to stay in the shadows this time but I’m sad because I liked it that way. No one knew I even existed besides you and Kate.”

“You’re giving this way too much thought. By the way you were never invisible, honey. You gave out the get-away-from-me vibe and that was the reason why no one talked to you.” Huh! Did I really do that? It wasn’t intentional on my part. I just didn’t want anyone to bother me but I didn’t mind having some friends.

“I don’t go to school to have a good time. I just want to escape this hell hole of a town. You know what, I don’t actually fit here. It’s like I don’t belong here. I feel so suffocated here. This is the last year when I have to endure all this and then I guess I’m free.” Shane gave me pitiful look. It wasn’t the first time that we had this conversation.

She could so easily blend in with everyone while I stood out like a sore thumb. I was smarter than everyone at school and sometimes I had to hide that fact or everyone would have called me a freak. I guess they do call me that but just not on my face but behind my back. It used to bug me when I was little but as I grew up I started placing a mask on my face. A mask as such that it showed no emotion. I couldn’t care less of what they thought.

“It’s getting late Aria. I think we shouldn’t test your mom’s anger any longer than necessary.” I nodded in agreement. As we made our way to the parking lot, the hairs on the nape of my neck stood up and a shiver ran down my spine. I turned to look at whatever that had caused such an unusual sensation but saw nothing.

Shane went to get her car out of the parking lot leaving me alone on the stands. I again felt the same sensations I had before. I turned again and this time my eyes met a pair of the world’s most beautiful eyes. A pair of icy blue eyes with hue of silver in the middle. I couldn’t help but stare in them. It felt like I knew them. It probably would have been so easy to fall in them.

“Done staring, princess.” The beholder of those beautiful eyes said and that was when I realized I was staring. My cheeks probably were red and before I could come up with some reply he said. “You need to come with me, princess.” That had me frowning.

“Who are you?” I wanted to ask so many questions, my curiosity had no bounds but I settled for the easiest one. Instead of answering my question he grabbed my hand and as soon as he touched a jolt of electricity coursed through my body. Even he seemed to have noticed it but that didn’t make him leave my hand. As my mind registered the situation, I became aware of what was happening.

A stranger I barely knew was holding my hand and taking me somewhere and the worst was, I was letting him. I jerked my hand away from his and started panicking. “How did you do it?” he asked me.”What are you talking about?” He opened his mouth to answer me but a horn beeps behind me. It was Shane. I just left him standing there, got inside the car and signaled Shane to drive as fast as she could.

“Who was the hottie?” she asked. “I don’t know.” I sounded so casual as if it was natural for strangers to ask me to come with them. Then I realized I wasn’t afraid of him. I wasn’t even afraid of the idea to go with him and that made me afraid. Shane asked countless times about what happened outside but I just couldn’t tell her. Even I wasn’t able to comprehend the situation.

She dropped me at my home after making me promise that I would tell her if anything was wrong. I reached for the door but a shiver ran down my spine. This time I felt fear swirl through me. Immediately knew that someone was there, something evil.

Considering it my paranoia I shrugged and walked inside my home. “Mom, I’m home.” She didn’t answer, she probably was in the kitchen. I saw mom lying on the couch sleeping. Her eyes seemed puffy and her cheeks had dried tears on them. It tore me inside to see her like this. Was this because of me? Did I make her so upset? I was ashamed of my behavior. Guilt slammed hard into me. Yes, I was angry at my mom for being overprotective but I didn’t want to make her worry to her death.

I never knew who my dad was. Whenever I asked mom about him she would shut down and give me her silent treatment, I suppose it was because thinking about him caused her great pain. I can’t blame her for being sad, I would be if I was in her place.

She looked so peaceful while sleeping. She was beautiful and we didn’t look alike at all. She had light brown hairs in contrast to my midnight black hairs. She had me when she was young, maybe in her early twenties. She could have married but she didn’t want any man to hurt me even if it was at her cost. Thinking this made me feel guiltier than ever. She looked like an angel, with her sharp defined features and shapely figure. Her green eyes held the love for me and I regretted making her cry.

I brought a blanket and laid it on her. I went to my room and changed while thinking about the day’s events. The last thought on my mind before sleep claimed me was of the stranger with the most captivating eyes and the absurd conversation with him.

Tylon

I rushed down the hallway to the king’s chamber where I had been summoned. It was the late hour and most of the palace was resting. I was nervous as to why the king himself asked for me at this hour. As I reached to his highness’s chamber, I saw the minister pacing with a frown on his face; it was as if he was waiting for someone.

“Is everything all right minister?” I asked him. On seeing me his face lighted up like the sun. “Thank the goddess you are here, his majesty wants to see you.” It confused me as to why the minister was so happy to see me, an ordinary sword holder.

We entered the king’s chamber, where he stood with prince Desmond. “You commanded my presence my liege.” I bowed to both the king and the prince. “I have a task for you. You have been chosen by the goddess to bring back the princess of this kingdom.” My eyes widened in surprise. The princess was alive.

Hearing this made my day, hell it made my damn week. The kingdom had lost their princess just after her fourth birthday, during the Great War. While it had been a great loss for everyone else, for me it was heart crushing. She was not just a princess for me but she was my best friend, at that time my only friend. She had been my Elsa and I hadn’t been able to protect her. Although no one blamed me, for I was just a six year old who had done his best to protect her from the Darconians. 

“If I may be so bold to ask, how do we know she’s alive.” I couldn’t help myself from asking this question.

“Ease up sword holder. You have the right to know but other than you and the one’s I choose, no other shall know about this.” The king had thrown the power of the crown and even the strongest of the magic wielder couldn’t defy his commands.

“On Elsa and Desmond’s birth, her mother had bound her with magic. She had connected Elsa and Desmond with her magic. It was like a chain they both were bound to. But before she could complete the bonding, death succumbed her. As they both are approaching near adulthood their magic is rousing from its sleep and the bond between them could be felt.” Hopefulness filled me on hearing this.

All eyes were on Prince Desmond when he explained how he sensed emotions such as anger in him when he had no reason to be angry. He sensed emotions that were not his for several weeks and lately he even heard thoughts which were not his. It seemed to him like a female voice spoke to him in his mind without knowing she was speaking to him. When he confronted to his father about the strange happenings, the king was beyond ecstatic on realising that his daughter wasn't dead and there was a way to find her.

Helda the palace's head magic wielder was called forth so she could pinpoint the exact location of the princess with the help of the bond.

"We couldn't get the exact location of her because of some magic hiding her but we were successful in getting the location of the place she might be in. Tylon you are the only person I trust to bring her to me." He told me.

I once failed to protect her, although no one would blame a six year old for failing to protect the princess but it was the guilt I carry everyday since her abduction. I may not have been able to protect her then but I'll be damned if I let her happen anything now.

His highness gave out instructions  as to how we are to bring his beloved daughter back. As I was dismissed I left the chamber with the thoughts of Elsa. I wondered if she remembers me, I wonder how she looks. To find her I don't  need to know how she looks, her eyes would give her out. I still remember those golden eyes with silver in them. They held tenderness and kindness in them.

I reached to my chambers and started preparing myself to brace the challenges that would come during the rescue mission. I fall asleep with Elsa on my mind.

I woke up early in the morning and started packing to leave for Esron's tree in the enchanted forest. Averial and Earth were connected by a single portal, many years back the people on Averial used to roam freely on Earth. It all changed when humans began being greedy. They thrived for power. We had to leave Earth because the humans were starting to execute the magic wielders. The war was brewing between the humans and my people.

It was said that a witch had drove my ancestors to madness. They considered leaving Earth a better option. They came back to Averial and sealed the portal. The portal is still used but humans don't  know anything  such as lynans or magic wielder.

Some humans are special as they have the sight which enables them to see our true form. They are called sensitives. One such sensitive Jason Murray had agreed to help us find the princess.

Just thinking of her made my heart clench  with agony. I can't  wait to meet her. She may not recognize me but I  will recognize her.

As we reached the Esron's tree, the soul of Esron graced us with its presence. We all were shocked and awed of its beauty. It is known to be the purest soul in the whole universe.

"Tylon, my son, you have endured many hardships and now you will be granted the powers that were denied to you. This may confuse you but you will be aware of the whole truth in time. Son, I bless you with the powers of sun, may you shine and light your path. You are destined to do great things." As it said the words a surge passed through my body. I felt stronger than I was.

It was then I realised  that everyone around me had been frozen in time. The soul had shown itself to only me. As everyone wakes from the trance I pretend to be one of them. Because if they knew what I just witnessed they wouldn't allow me to leave Averial. I focus on passing through the port