“I am definitely in the Twilight Zone.” - Aliya
in shock at Kiana. She’d heard what Kiana said. She just couldn’t understand the situation in front of her right now.
Kiana hadn’t moved from her position since she greeted Enzo. Not knowing what else to do, Aliya turned to Enzo, who seemed to look just as shocked as she was at the moment.
“Do you know her?” She whispered to him.
The shake of his head was not the answer that she wanted. She peaked at Kiana, who still hadn’t moved from her bowing position. Kiana’s eyes were glued to the floor as if she was waiting for a command. Her hands were crossed in front of her. Kiana barely moved from her position, looking almost like a statue.
“How does she know you?” Aliya whispered again.
Another shake of his head. “What did you say her name was?” He whispered back.
“Kiana. Kiana Roberts.”
“No, my prince.” Kiana finally answered. Her head, still bowing. She also didn’t dare to move from her position either. “Kiana is my identity that I’ve created in this world. I was born in Indresal as Sienna.” Aliya could hear the pride in Sienna’s voice as she introduced herself. “I am Sienna el’Manaeryn of Pheandra.”
Aliya’s eyes widened. She couldn’t help but gape at the revelation.
Pheandra? PHEANDRA?! As in the kingdom from the book series? Aliya looked between Kiana - no, her name was Sienna, apparently - and Enzo.
Sienna hadn’t moved from her position. Her expression hadn’t changed either. There was no sign from Sienna that she’d just dropped an earth-shattering revelation. Aliya didn’t stop shifting her gaze from Sienna to Enzo. All Enzo could do was shrug in response. Apparently, he didn’t know.
But he could have at least had a bigger reaction than just a simple shrug. Aliya felt like ripping her hair out. All of this felt like a prank that life was playing on her. Maybe she’d gotten into an accident on her way home from getting the groceries and was in the hospital, hallucinating. Or her friends were playing a prank on her. Or she hadn’t realized how truly tired she was after this long week that she fell into her bed and she was dreaming this entire scenario.
This has to be a joke. Aliya thought. I’m going to wake up tomorrow and all this is going to be a stupid dream.
Aliya felt her world tilt. She held onto the bookshelf beside her trying to keep steady. She was not going to faint in front of her favorite author… Just in case all of this was actually real, that was.
Aliya took in deep breaths trying to wrap her mind around what was happening. It was all a little too much information for her but Aliya was determined not to faint.
That was, if Kiana - or rather, Sienna - was even the one that wrote the books.
“Who are you?” Enzo asked.
Sienna didn’t answer. Instead, she only lifted her head and squinted her eyes as if wondering if he hadn’t just heard her introducing herself.
Shaking his head as if trying to clear his own thoughts, Enzo asked again. “I mean, if you’re from our world, how did you get here? Who are you? Is there a way we can get back to our world? I can’t stay here forever.”
Aliya tried not to look insulted at his tone, electing to remain silent. Earth might not have been perfect. But she liked it here. Although, Aliya couldn’t blame Enzo. If she had a choice to pick between staying on Earth or exploring Indresal, she’d choose Indresal. Just for the adventure of it all.
“I don’t know how you came to be here, my prince -”
“Please, stand up normally.” Enzo interrupted her. He cringed as Sienna still had her head bowed. He was not used to this level of formality. Yes, his army respected him but their bond was more of a mutual admiration than one of reverence just for his position as the Crown Prince. “This conversation is going to be awkward if you continue bowing.”
Sienna stood straight as she was told. Her eyes were still trained to the ground, however. She barely met Enzo’s gaze. Her eyes flitted away every time she saw him. It was only then that Sienna seemed to notice the bruises on Enzo’s face and body.
“My prince!” She gasped, holding onto her abdomen as she winced at the gashes. “You’re hurt.”
“And they won’t heal.” Enzo added.
Aliya eyed their exchange. It was as if she wasn’t even in the room. Kia - No, her name was Sienna! - Sienna hadn’t acknowledged her yet.
Should the wounds have healed by now?
Aliya knew that Enzo had accelerated healing powers, being an elf and all. She’d read of him getting wounded in battle only for him to be completely fine a few chapters later. But Aliya had always assumed that the healing took place in a matter of days or weeks. From what Aliya saw, Enzo had only been hurt a couple days ago. How fast exactly could his body heal itself?
Aliya began to question if her first aid was the reason he wasn’t healing. She thought back to all that she did to contain his wounds. Nothing she did stood out to her, however. Then again, she hadn’t considered that Enzo’s wounds would probably need some elven or magical healing.
“What do you mean that they won’t heal?” Kiana - No, she said her name was Sienna - asked.
Enzo only shrugged in response. Aliya noticed the wince that he’d tried to hide.
Sienna’s eyes widened. She grabbed the chair she was just sitting on and rolled it towards Enzo. “Please sit.” Was all she said before bolting out of the library.
Enzo and Aliya glanced at each other. That was not the welcome they were expecting. Aliya was completely prepared to go to jail. Her entire life flashed before her eyes when Sienna turned the light on. She was even trying to come up with excuses for the police so they don’t throw her in the psych ward. But she’d never expected Sienna to be a part of Enzo’s world.
“How do you think she came here?” Aliya wondered out loud.
“If I knew that, don’t you think I’d have gone back to my world already?” Enzo muttered back.
Aliya gave him a deadpan expression and rolled her eyes. “Yes, thank you. Astute observation, Captain Obvious.”
The two of them sat in silence for a few seconds before Enzo chimed in again. “Did you see her necklace?” Enzo asked.
“She was wearing a necklace?”
“How did you not notice the necklace?” Enzo’s eyes scrunched in question. “It was right there hanging around her neck. It’s not like you could miss the big crystal hanging from it.”
“Well, seeing as I broke into my favorite author’s house and she caught us, I was a little preoccupied with trying to not freak out or get thrown in jail.”
It was Enzo’s turn to roll his eyes. “She was wearing a necklace with a crystal.”
“If you say so.”
“Will you listen?” Enzo huffed. “That necklace is only worn by witches because they’re the only ones that can access the magic in the crystal. Maybe she used her magic to create a portal to your world?”
“That’s a good guess but maybe let’s wait for her to come back and give us the answers herself.”
It didn’t take Sienna long to come back from wherever she was. She held onto a first aid kit as she walked towards Enzo and Aliya. As much as Aliya loved being near her favorite author, she was getting a bit miffed at not receiving any attention from Sienna.
Sienna opened the first aid kit. She tore a piece of cotton ball, dabbing it in a dark green, foul-smelling ointment. Aliya had never seen the cream before. She began to wonder if it was one of Sienna’s concoctions.
Maybe it’s a potion? Aliya wondered. That would make sense if Sienna truly was a witch.
Aliya’s eyes slowly lifted to the pendant that Sienna was wearing. It was nestled in her bosom, making Aliya chuckle when she realized why Enzo might have noticed the locket. Maybe she really was a witch.
“I’ve already given him first aid.” Aliya chimed in. Her voice tapered off in the end. “They still won’t heal. Although I don’t think some antiseptic wipes and tylenol will exactly help with magical wounds.”
Sienna turned to look at her. Her eyes widened as if she was only noticing Aliya there for the first time.
Well, that certainly doesn’t at all. Aliya pursed her lips, giving Sienna a tight smile. This was not the heartbreak Aliya was looking for. She revered Sienna as a writer. And to have the woman barely notice her even when she was the one of the only three people in the room… For some reason, that cut deep.
“Even if you did,” Sienna said, examining the cut on Enzo’s shoulder. “Some of these scrapes are inflicted by curses. None of the medicines of this world can heal him.”
Sienna unwrapped the bandage from Enzo’s right upper arm. Apparently, Aliya didn’t exactly do a very good job. The gash looked just as gnarly as it did when Aliya first bandaged it.
Aliya winced as she looked at Enzo’s pained expression and the now exposed gnarly gash on his arm. Unlike the time when Aliya was addressing his wounds, Enzo hadn’t said a word or let out a moan in pain. Instead, he sat like a statue. His furrowed brows were the only sign of discomfort that he’d allowed himself to show as Sienna examined him.
Once she’d gotten a good view, Sienna closed her eyes, holding her palms together as if in a prayer.
What is she doing? Aliya wondered, looking between Enzo and Sienna. Before she could say anything, Aliya saw a faint purple glow from the necklace Sienna was wearing. Is that magic? She wondered.
Sienna had written about the magical system of Indresal in her books. It was elaborate, of course. It was at the core of Sienna’s journey to gain her independence. But Sienna had never written about how she learnt her magic. Or why her magical abilities were so different from that of the other witches in the realm. But Aliya had just accepted that it was a fictional fantasy world where magic just existed and that some people could access it. Aliya never questioned the validity of it.
She never had a reason to do so before.
But now, seeing the glowing crystal hanging around Sienna’s neck, Aliya began to wonder what else was possible.
Aliya’s mind began to wander. Would the people of earth also be able to access the magic? Could she have access to those powers if she wore the necklace? Aliya began to imagine herself performing all sorts of tricks. She would definitely have the time of her life.
Aliya began to think of all the possibilities. What else is possible? Aliya stared off into the distance wondering about all the possibilities. How different would earth be if people would be able to access the magic?
Or would it be bad? Aliya wondered, thinking of all the attacks Sienna described in the book.
“Stay still.” Sienna muttered, breaking the silence and bringing Aliya out of her thoughts. The wisps that were just contained to the crystal around Sienna’s neck had flowed to her hands, swirling around and covering Sienna’s hands in a faint purple glow. “This is going to hurt.”
Hovering her hands over Enzo’s wounds, Sienna closed her eyes and turned her hands into fists, as if she was grabbing something. For a moment, Aliya couldn’t see any changes in the wound. It wasn’t until Enzo grunted out loud that she saw the dark wisps wafting out of the wound.
Dark wisps that crackled as they came in contact with Sienna’s purple ones. Enzo’s grunts turned into low pained screams as he clutched the desk hard. Aliya’s heart clenched at the sight of his eyes closed shut as he bit his lip.
Not being able to bear his pained screams any longer, Aliya stepped closer to him. She brought her hand up to his hair. She didn’t even know what to say. Instead, Aliya just placed her hand on his other uninjured shoulder.
Enzo gasped as he released his hold on the desk and held tightly onto Aliya’s hand on his shoulder. Sienna looked up, sweat trickling down her brow at the exertion of trying to remove the curse. Her eyes flitted down to Aliya’s and Enzo’s intertwined hands.
…And was that a smirk?
Aliya shook her head, trying to focus on Enzo. As most of the dark wisps escaped his body, the looser his grip became on her hand and the quieter his grunts became. When the final strands of the wisps escaped his body, Sienna encompassed the dark wisps with her purple magic, creating a ball.
Aliya watched in awe as the purple wisps intertwined with the dark ones, fizzing and crackling as they finally dissipated into the air.
“How many more times do you have to do that?” Aliya asked, sheepishly. She didn’t know about Enzo but with how hard Enzo was holding onto her hand, she didn’t know how long she could hold up.
“Looks like a couple more times.” Sienna gave Enzo a once over. “He has other gashes.”
“Give me a minute to recuperate. I can’t do it just yet.” Enzo panted. His forehead was covered in beads of sweat as if he’d just ran a marathon.
Sienna simply nodded before turning to Aliya. “I’m sorry. Where are my manners? You are…” She felt the sentence trail off waiting for Aliya to introduce herself.
Aliya’s eyes widened. Her favorite author was finally acknowledging her. She gave Sienna a wide boxy smile and scratched the back of her neck as she gushed, “I’m Aliya. Nice to meet you. I love your books. They’re my favorite stories! I guess it’s not really a story. It’s real life for you. I’m sorry for calling it that…”
Aliya rambled on, not noticing the look Sienna and Enzo shared. But no matter what, Aliya couldn’t stop talking once she started. The words kept pouring out.
“...And that’s why we were here. I promise I had no intention of breaking into your house.” She continued, not hearing Sienna snicker along with Enzo. “But it was entirely his fault. I promise.”
“What happened to loyalty these days?” Enzo muttered incredulously, cutting Aliya off.
Rolling her eyes at Enzo, Aliya turned to Sienna again. Clasping her hands together, Aliya bit her lip as fear began to creep up with her heart. “So, please don’t throw me in jail. I promise to be out of your hair after we get the information we need.”
Aliya took a deep breath at the end of her speech. With how fast she spoke, Aliya was sure Eminem would be proud of her rap at this point. She pursed her lips, waiting patiently for Sienna’s response.
It was only when Sienna covered her lips, trying not to laugh that Aliya felt herself relax.
“Is she always like this?” She asked Enzo.
“She was actually a bit calm with me. I’m jealous she’s gushing over you to be honest.” Enzo sighed. “I’m getting used to it though. I think I might even miss it when I go back home.”
Aliya didn’t know what was going on but that statement from Enzo sent the butterflies in her stomach into a frenzy.
“That’s going to be unfortunate, indeed. Unless you plan on taking her with you.”
“I have college!” Aliya chimed in.
“Are you telling me that given the opportunity to explore Indresal, even if we told you that we can bring you back, you wouldn’t want to go?”
That made Aliya pause to think. She’d always wanted to escape her life here. The monotonous routine of work, classes, assignments were nothing compared to the world of Indresal. The world of Indresal was her escape. It was hellish. It was devastating. There were never ending battles. There were people struggling to just live their lives as the battles waged on around them.
But within those battles against the darkness, Aliya found the light. The stories of the normal people, trying their best to live their lives as they fought the darkness that threatened to consume them. Just like the story Sienna wrote - the story of a young girl that escaped the massacre in Pheandra and grew to be one of the most feared witches in the realm.
Would Aliya miss an opportunity to visit Indresal given the chance?
Could she?
Aliya bit her lip before looking at Enzo and Sienna. The two of them looked up at Aliya expectantly. Enzo more so than Sienna. The little hopeful expression on his face made Aliya’s heart skip.
“In my defense, until one day ago, I thought the stories of Indresal were just that… stories.” Aliya mumbled.
“Sweetheart,” Sienna leaned forward in her chair. “In the end, we’re all stories.” Her loving chuckle at Aliya only seemed to make Aliya blush further. Her favorite author calling her ‘sweetheart’ was not what she’d expected to get out of this interaction, but Aliya wasn’t complaining.
“Are you sure you’ll be able to bring me back here?” Aliya asked.
“Are you sure you want to come back here?” Enzo asked, snickering under his breath.
She knew he was thinking of her life here. Her house and her car… She’d heard him call her car a death trap a couple times. The only response Aliya gave him was a slight narrowing of her eyes, mumbling all the curses she knew at him.
Sienna nodded. “I know I can bring you back.” She glanced at Enzo for a moment before looking at Aliya again. “If you want, that is.”
Aliya bit her lip again, peaking at Enzo before looking away again. His gaze didn’t waver though. He continued to look at her expectantly. Although his smirk made Aliya want to smack him. He bent his head to look into her eyes. As if he was also waiting for her answer. Aliya gulped. She felt her heart speed up as she felt his gaze on her.
“I’ll give you a moment to think it over.” Sienna said and swiveled her chair towards Enzo. “Are you ready, my prince?”
That seemed to bring Enzo out of his reverie. He blinked, tearing his gaze away from Aliya. He’d stayed quiet the entire time making Aliya wonder what he thought of that proposal. Stealing himself for the pain again, he clutched the desk again and nodded to Sienna.
Sienna’s hands froze mid air as the burglary alarm blared through the entire hour.