Chapter 6 - The warning seal
The skies were dark and the path ahead was covered in mist as she walked through the forest. Fear crept up her skin as the ravens flew in a circle above her. Ravens are never a good sign. Just then, a man jumped down from the top of a tree, standing right in front of her. The birds flew away but she had a feeling he might be worse than the freakish birds. His whole face was covered with a mask so she couldn't tell who was behind the mask.
"We meet again…"
I opened my eyes, breathing like I had just run a marathon. Oh thank goodness, it was just a dream. It felt so real. The dreams came in flashes and I could barely remember any of it. The masked man called me some name I could barely remember.
"You're awake" a female voice echoed. I looked beside me to see a young, attractive lady staring at me.
"Who are you?" I asked, jolting off the bed in shock. I mean she could be out to kill me.
"Relax, little lady, I'm lord Damien's brave assistant," She said…sounding all sassy and jovial with an accent.
"The name's Ivy by the way from…well anywhere you can think of," She said, reaching out her right hand for a handshake.
"Kelly"
After much hesitation, I shook her hand. I couldn't help but notice her sharp nails and long pointy ears.
"Never seen an elf before?" She said, raising an eyebrow at me, probably noticing how my eyes lingered on her pointy ears.
"Uh…no, I've pretty much not seen anything" I replied scratching my neck.
"Well, you've got a lot to learn then," She said getting up. Her attire wasn't in the colour green and red as the Christmas fairy tales read and she wasn't small or short as my old books said. She was dressed in a black leather jacket, dark blue denim trousers and dark brown knee-high boots.
"Care for some tea?"
"Sure" I replied and she poured some content into two cups on the table.
"So…I know lord Damien's been there to protect you and all that but how've you been handling the new you?" She asked, passing the tea to me.
Ivy doesn't seem like a bad guy and if she's asking this question, then I'm sure she knows about me.
"Honestly, I'm still in doubt.. because about one week ago, I was pissed at my dad at my birthday party and now my life is in danger because I'm a hybrid" I said rethinking it.
"It's weird," I said again.
"Well…you're lucky to be under the protection of my boss, just be cool and don't get on his bad side…ever.
I smiled, finally taking a sip of the tea, and immediately spitting it out.
"Ugh…that's terrible"
"Is it?" She said sipping hers.
"This is great, you need to check your taste buds, babes"
I suddenly remembered what happened to me. It felt like I was being controlled by something.
"Where's Damien?"
"Doing his business" she said and I walked towards the door. Maybe he might still be in that room. He's got to tell me what happened. There's still a lot I don't know and I need to know.
"I'll be right back"
"I've never known lord Damien to be so…humane or caring towards anyone before, you must mean something to him" I heard, noticing Ivy still following. I didn't expect her to, but I could use the company.
"Pfft…please, He's as unpredictable as the weather in my hometown" I found myself saying. Damien could be nice for one second and the next he'd change his mood for no reason.
"I'm just saying…because if you knew who you're staying with, I'm sure you'd be scared and run away," She said.
"I do know who he is…" I said, feeling confident about knowing something.
"I don't mean the part of him when he has fiery eyes and burns a portion of land to the ground," she said and I realized that's what I knew about him…the only thing actually.
"Who is he then?" I asked approaching the east dark side of the mansion.
"Uh…I'm not the right person to tell you that, I'm sorry" Ivy said, nervousness obvious in the tone of her face.
See what I mean? I don't know anything yet. If no one's gonna tell me, I'm gonna find out myself.
"You're not going in there, are you?" Ivy asked, holding my arm.
"I am…" I said moving forward.
"It's so dark," she said, following behind me.
"Aren't you supposed to be Damien's 'brave' assistant? I asked, stressing the brave part.
"No I was kidding, I'm just a newly hired servant," she explained, still clinging to my arm.
We approached the door and the sign still boldly read 'Do not enter' and just as I did earlier, I ignored it and tried to open the door but it wouldn't budge.
I heard Ivy's light gasp.
"We need to leave…" Ivy said, tugging at my arm.
"...but I have to"
"No negotiation," She said, pulling me out of the dark.
"What is your problem?" I asked as she pulled me downstairs.
"We can't go there again"
"Why?"
We reached the dining area and I saw a guy walking towards us. He had long pointy ears just like Ivy.
"Oliver…" I saw her whisper something in his ear.
"What's going on?" I asked, not recalling who he could be.
What if she lied about being a servant and they could both be conspiring to take me away or kill me? I shrugged my hand away from her grip, just to be on the safe side.
"Relax, miss, we mean you no harm, we're just servants here," the young man said, lifting his hands.
"I've been here for a long time even before you arrived, Miss, but my job wasn't focused on you…" he said
"...but now it is,"
"lord Damien assigned us both to you because he has something important to take care of"
"and as long as you stay in this vicinity, you're safe" He explained and I could tell he was being honest.
"Forgive our manners, let me properly introduce myself"
"I'm Oliver, Oliver Woods, and I see you've met Ivy"
"She's new"
"Nice to meet you both, and you can just call me Kelly"
"By all means, we must call you Miss Kelly," He said, seemingly headstrong.
"So what's going on? Why can't I go back there?" I asked.
"It's now off limits to everyone, including you Miss Kelly"
"What happens if I decide to go back there?" I asked stubbornly, crossing my hands over my chest.
"the door is sealed tight with a star on it, that's lord Damien's warning signal"
"It means no entry," Oliver said.
"I know, it's boldly written on the door," I said, not getting their point exactly.
"It has a star 'now', if you enter now...you die"