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With that, she turns back toward her cottage and the warmth within.
"Wait!" I reach out to stay her a moment longer.
Her eyes turn to meet mine as she raises an eyebrow in silent question. Swallowing my uncertainty yet again, I force one last question past my lips.
"Who am I looking for?"
The witch glances nervously over my shoulder before finding me again.
"He is called many things," she answers, "but you will call him The Bargainer."
"But how will I know who he is?"
"Trust me. You will know him when you see him, child. Now, go."
With that, she gives my shoulder a gentle push, and for the second time tonight, I find myself with nowhere to go but the forest.
11
Hazel
Istep away from the cottage, wrapping the heavy cloak around me, as I hear the soft click of the door closing behind me.
Taking a deep breath, I square my shoulders and set off across the clearing in the direction the witch had pointed. If what she's told me is true, if this person can truly save my father, then I have no choice but to find him.
Pausing at the edge of the clearing, I glance back at the cottage one more time only to have my heart skip a beat in my chest.
From this angle, the strange little cottage in the woods looks exactly like the one I'd painted back in Father's workshop. It must be a sign. That, or this is all just some strange nightmare that I've yet to wake up from.
Holding onto hope, I turn back to toward the forest and plunge into the inky woods beyond.
As soon as I've left the clearing, the light behind me disappears, throwing me into darkness as a cool wind whips around my face.
I'm just starting to wonder how I'm ever going to find my way, when I feel a warm tingling work its way up my arm. Glancing down, I slowly open my fist to reveal the small crystal laying in the palm of my hand.
It glows a soft pink, emitting just enough light for me to see one step ahead. I can’t help but admire it, my mind almost refusing to accept what it sees.
There’s no way to explain it other than magic.
Realmagic.
If only Cyprian were here to see this. I can almost see the way his eyes would light up, the way he’d smile at me …
Blinking back a sudden wave of tears, I quickly quiet these thoughts, pushing them deep down into the recesses of my mind.
I don’t have time for this, not now.
I have to focus.
To hold onto hope of a future.
Clinging tightly to the glowing crystal, I hold it high, but see nothing but a pitch-black void in every direction.
Feeling more than a little overwhelmed, I make the mistake of forgetting everything the witch had told me as soon as I try to take my first step. Instantly, I find myself sinking into the ground as I scramble to pull myself back. I just barely manage not to topple headlong into the dark forest as I throw my balance backward instead.
Suddenly, I realize the light around me is fading and lurch forward just in time to snatch the little pink crystal before it's swallowed by the forest floor.
Dirty and my breathing heavy, I pull my legs to my chest as I take a moment to collect myself. I close my eyes, re-focusing on what the witch had told me.
