Visible invisible

Itri was glued to the window while she observed her surroundings as the carriage approached the kingdom capital. Just as Lily had described, it was bustling with activity even from outside, making her wonder how much more exciting it would be once they entered the place. Samantha too could not take her eyes off the place, admiring the extravagant place she was visiting the first time.

Even though the capital was nothing but normal, to Samantha it was gorgeous. Her eyes twinkled in excitement, absorbing everything she was seeing. 'No wonder the people back home did not stop praising the place. This looks like heaven.' She tilted her head, trying to take a good look at the vendor who was selling paintings just near the border. 

Although she could not point out what, there was something strangely attractive in those paintings, and Samantha was certain she had seen them before somewhere. However, even before she could dwell on it, Nigel shouted from outside, garnering her attention. "We are entering the capital. Ladies, brace yourselves, for you will be seeing a whole new world now."

The man's shout disturbed Martell's nap, and he frowned in annoyance. 'Humans,' He scoffed. 'They get excited too easily. Ah, my sleep. That lowly human killed my sleep.' He glared at Nigel's back, wishing to kill him for his insolence. But he controlled himself before he actually did something like that. 'I am not in the mood to deal with you today. Otherwise, you would have met your doom. Be happy you can live a few more days.'

Martell flicked his shoulder-length white hair as though he was doing a great favor on the young man. He then observed the young girl he was keeping an eye on, her back facing him. Even though he could not see her, he could sense her enthusiasm, and he smiled at her childlike innocence.

'Did we reach the capital?' He snapped out of his thoughts when Itri squealed again and ran his eyes over the familiar place that had once been his home. 'How long has it been since I last walked this path?' He thought, reminiscing the good days he had spent in the capital. He sat up straight, taking in his surroundings as though he was visiting this place for the first time.

Nigel drove past the border, and Itri clasped Samatha's hands, seeing the activity around her. The kingdom capital was nothing like Soren. While Soren barely had people on the roads at this time of the day, the capital was crowded, with many people taking to the streets instead of staying at home. 

"Do you want to walk around the place, or shall we move ahead in the carriage?" Nigel queried, slowing down near the carriage parking area.

"Let's walk." Itri's reply came in an instant, and Samantha agreed. They had been traveling for a long time, and their bodies had gone stiff from all the sitting. Moreover, they wanted to experience the life around them to their full which traveling in a carriage restricted. The two girls hopefully gazed at the old woman, who had not given any reply yet. Lily could not bear to look at their pleading eyes, and she gave in, even though she was reluctant to go ahead with their plan.

'What if something were to go wrong?' She was worried for the girl who had no idea how powerful she was. But Lily did not want to disappoint the two girls either. It was their first visit to the capital, and they deserved to enjoy it as much as she had done on her first time. 'Anyway, I will be with Samantha the whole time to keep an eye on her. Nothing will go wrong.'

Lily turned to her son, who was waiting for her response. "Stop the carriage. We will walk around." Her answer not only pleased the two girls, but even Nigel was also joyous. 

"As you say, Mother." He beamed at her, and Lily shook her head, chiding her son in her mind. Nigel chose a spot in the private carriage parking area before he got down and unlocked the door for the three ladies to get off. However, even before he could do open it, he felt a gush of air behind him, and he turned back only to see nothing. 

Nigel frowned. 'What was that?' He wondered, trying to see if he had missed out on anything. 'I am certain I felt someone's presence behind me. Who was it?' He bent over, taking a peek at the back of the carriage. But he found nothing. 'Was I hallucinating things?'

"Nigel is everything good?" His thoughts broke when his mother queried from inside. The man looked disturbed. Lily had not missed her son's obvious change of expressions, from happiness to shock. But she had no idea why.

"Yes, Mother. I was just checking the carriage." He smiled at her, assuring her silently, and opened the door for the ladies to get off. He helped his mother and Itri to get down first, and when it was Samantha's turn, he held out his hand for her take, his eyes sparkling seeing the girl he liked at such proximity.

Samantha thanked him and attempted to pull back her hand once she was down. However, Nigel's strong but gentle hold on her stopped her. She tried again, only to meet the same result. Samantha lifted her head and met the man's eyes that were already staring at her. He was gazing at her with such intensity that she gasped in worry. His interest in her was quite obvious, and the girl did not know how to deal with the predicament she was in.

Neither Madam Lily nor Itri was looking at her, and she was left alone to deal with her awkwardness. Samantha was just about to request the man to let her go when her eyes widened seeing someone right behind Nigel. The man was smiling creepily as he lifted his hand to strike Nigel's head. However, even before he could do so, Samantha pulled Nigel towards him, startling the two men completely.

"Mr. Nigel, watch out." She screamed, and her voice attracted the two women, who were busy talking to themselves. 

Nigel stumbled, and if not for Samantha holding his hand, he would have smacked his face to the ground. "What happened, Samantha? Is something wrong?" Lily was the first one to question her, her face marred with worry and anxiety.

"There was a man behind Mr. Nigel." Samantha pointed in front of her only to see a vacant space. There was nobody. "Where did he go?" Samantha was busy trying to avoid Nigel from getting hit that she missed the man vanish from her sight. She dropped Nigel's hand and went around the carriage, trying to find the man she had seen.

"Samantha, who are looking for?" Itri followed, wondering what was wrong with her friend now. 

"There was this man..."

"What man? There is nobody here." Itri shrugged lightly, looking around her once again to confirm it. Nigel had chosen a private parking area where each carriage was given a shed. Nobody else could walk in when the shed was occupied. 

"There was someone here, Itri. I am sure of it." She argued, circling the carriage once again, and just to make sure, she even bent down to look below the carriage.

"Samantha, I believe you are mistaken. The spot was empty when I parked the carriage here." Although Nigel reasoned, he was uncertain himself, for he remembered the gush of wind he had felt a few moments ago. 

"And, neither did we see anyone walk in," Itri added. "We were just outside the shed."

Samantha was perplexed by their words, and she stood rooted to her place, looking blankly at the two people. "But..but...I am sure I saw..."

"Samantha, let's get away from here. You must have seen it wrong." Itri held her hand and led her outside the shed, and Nigel followed them. However, he stopped when he noticed that his mother was still standing, a frown creasing her forehead. 

"Mother," He walked back to her and held her hand, leading her out gently. However, the woman was too preoccupied to notice where she was going. She was still reeling in Samantha's words, and she turned back, checking the shed, only to find it empty.

The group of four left the parking area. After a few moments, the door to the adjacent door opened, and Martell's head peeked out. On confirming that the group was nowhere in the vicinity, he stepped out and sighed in relief. "Oh my Lord. I was almost found out." He patted his heart, soothing it. 'How did she see me? I am sure I am still invisible. How?' He pondered, bewildered by the sudden discovery. 

'That girl is not normal. Is this the reason why the Lord asked me to keep an eye on her?' He thought about it, and the next instant, his eyes widened, realization hitting him. 'Is she the one the Lord has been looking for all this time? Is she the one who is going to save us from the catastrophe the kingdom of Oryn is going to face soon?'