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After six hours on a bus checking into the local lodge in Mistletoe Canyon and hyping myself up on coffee, I took the trek to the general area where I thought she could be found. I was two hours into walking in circles, or what felt like circles, when I swear the trees parted and the most gorgeously gothic-looking little house was revealed to me. I am glad it was finally shown because I was starting to get upset, and that never bodes well.
“I figured I had five more minutes tops before you froze the entire forest.” This tiny woman, who reminds me of an older Janis Joplin, says, holding the door open. I am hesitant for a second, sort of shocked it worked, and I actually found her, but when she looks at me amusingly, I realize how silly I look right now. I came to her, and now I am unsure. Yeah.
“Sorry,” I say sheepishly, feeling a bit silly.
“It’s fine. I was expecting you.” She says it so nonchalantly, picking up a cup of tea and handing it to me.
“Oh do you have-”
“Two sugar cubes and some anise? Yes dear. I put them in your cup already.” The glass damn near slips from my hand.
“How do you…?” My mouth won’t work right now.
“Why did you come here?” she deadpans me, and I understand. If I am so shocked at her abilities, then why am I here?
“You’re right. I’m just so...lost right now I don’t know what to believe.”
“Please sit.” She sits in a chair in front of me and crosses her legs. “Ask me,” she says, looking at me like a crazy person.
“I don’t know where to start,” I tell her truthfully with my shoulders slumping. My head is hanging, and I feel more than defeated.
“What is your long-held question?” A tear leaves my eye, and I look up at her.
“Why me? Why did I get given this…this affliction?” I scream that last part, finally able to put a voice to everything I have been thinking since I was a little girl. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to be a freak? To not be able to touch anyone without worrying about doing them harm? I have never had a friend who wasn’t a sibling because I can trust no one. No one can know of this, and I feel so utterly...alone.” I sob the last part. My body is shuttering with sorrow and anguish as I finally give words to a pain I have held inside and smiled through for years.
Without answering me, she walks over to her bookshelf and grabs a huge book of some kind. Before I can ask what it is, she slams it down in front of me, and it automatically opens to a page in the middle. “Do you know the story of how we were once under British rule?” Nodding my head, I take the offered tissue and blow my nose.
“Yes. Hundreds of years ago our ancestors fought a war to gain independence from Britain. It was a long-fought war, and we lost a lot of lives but in the end we won.”
“Yes, that is correct. That was in 1820.” I begin to nod, and then I stop, realizing she has the wrong date.
“No, I think you mean 1823. Well for Evergreen anyway.” Rolling her eyes at me, she turns another page and mumbles under her breath.
“The future is certainly bleak.” Taken aback by her utterance, I am unsure what to say when she ignores my obvious offense and continues on. “1820 is when we separated from Britain, but before that were two kingdoms: the one that ruled Western Siberia and the other Eastern Siberia, until Russia began to expand into our region. The truth is Britain saved us from Russian dictatorship, but they too became dictators.” She can’t be right. I mean, surely they would have told us this, no? “The war to no longer belong to anyone but ourselves was long fought but worth it.” What is she saying? She nods towards the book, and I begin to look over the pages as she continues to speak.
“Once we were no longer under the British flag, two prominent families who were each royal in their own right, the Aren’s and the Jackson’s, decided to rule as one kingdom, splitting duties.” My hand flies to my mouth when I realize what she is saying. She is talking about me and Frost's ancestors. “It was alright for a time as most things are when they are new, but then greed took over and there was a civil war. Rather than either side concede,Fa they allowed their people to suffer while they fought over wealth and power.”
“Surely you are mistaken.” I rush to ask her, hoping this is some sort of joke. I mean, I know it has to have worked out in some way since I am here, but just thinking about what was is making me nauseous. And what does any of this have to do with my problem?
“They decided to divide the kingdoms up eventually into what you now know as Evergreen and Wintergreen, but not before many died from starvation and poor healthcare during their cold war. A witch, one much like me but more powerful, cursed the future rulers of both kingdoms. She said that just when that kingdom is going to be at its best, born to the royal family will be a child, an heir with the power to destroy all they have built. This was to be their punishment for their selfishness.” Hearing her say the words out loud, makes my body revolt. Before I can stop myself, I am over her garbage can, releasing the last hope I had that I was not meant to be the destruction of my people.
“Oh God, so it's true,” I say out loud, even though I am talking to myself. I was born to destroy everything I love.
“Young people are so dramatic nowadays.” She dismisses my words and hands me a cold cloth. “Drink this. It will cleanse your breath and soothe your belly.” Once I have gotten myself somewhat together, I sit back down.
“There has to be a way to change it, right? I mean a cure…some sort of..”
“Yes, there is. According to the prophecy, only their mirror image can reverse the curse in a blaze of passion.” Immediately, an image of Frost and my hands on him enters my mind. Surely that cannot be what they are saying?
“When you say a blaze of passion, are you talking figuratively or literally?” She looks at me like I am nuts, and you know what? I feel like it. This whole conversation feels nuts.
“I believe you know the answer to the rest of your question, no?” Of course, I don't. Hasn’t she figured out I know nothing? I am a mess.
“My mirror image? I mean that could mean anything.”
“Could it, though?” Her sarcastic voice tells me I have worn out my welcome, and to be honest, I am more confused than when I came here. I thought I knew a lot of things, but it turns out I know nothing.
With nothing left to say I grab my bags and walk out of her door. “That was all bullshit,” I say to myself, walking back through the clearing towards town. “It has to be, right? Yeah, none of it makes sense.” Even though I know I am trying to talk myself out of it.
