I wake before Mia, unable to cope with the unfamiliar ache of Alexander’s absence.
Seeing him in my dreams is routine for me. It’s as simple as breathing air into my lungs, as normal and predictable as flowers blooming in spring. It’s not a ritual I’ve ever considered could be stolen from me.
While it’s always been a constant, I’ve never taken his presence for granted
Stepping out of the tent, the morning sun rushes through the breaks in the lush trees above. I inhale deeply, taking in the crisp smell of pine and the damp, earthy scent of the forest.
The sound of birds chirping calms me, the rushing sound of water makes me ... Oh my God.
I dash with frantic purpose towards the inviting sound of flowing water, advancing on a mossy archway made of bending vines and twigs near our campsite. I know for a fact that this wasn’t here yesterday.
Walking underneath the twisted canopy, a gasp escapes my parted lips while my eyes drink in the most magical waterfall, something out of this world, out of a fairytale.
It’s so breathtakingly beautiful that all I can do is admire it for endless moments until I find myself being drawn to dive inside and swim to the bottom. To feel the crystal-clear waters against my skin.
It’s magnificently large. The monstrous height demands all attention, making the typically large forest trees look like ants to a plane.
Gushing water cascades into a still, tranquil pool of sparkling waters.
“Mia!” I yell, not wanting to walk away. Too scared that it will disappear as fast as it appeared, but when she doesn’t reply, I have no choice but to retreat.
Hesitantly, I turn and rush back to the campsite, waking Mia with a gentle, yet firm shake. “Ari, let me sleep,” she begs like it’s a Monday morning and I’m forcing her to go to school.
“Do you believe in magic?” I squeak, my enthusiastic tone much too bright for her to ignore.
Instantly, she perks up, her vivid imagination awakening her. “Yes...” she replies, looking at me with side eyes.
“What if I told you Alexander was magic?” I ask her, not paying attention to the weary, sleepy look she’s giving me.
“Why are you messing with me?” Mia asks, sitting up and stretching.
I explain with great detail the magical waterfall and she looks at me uneasily, wanting to believe every word I speak but also being at an age where she’s old enough to question the unexplainable.
I stand, pulling her with me. “Alexander lives in another world, Mia. I want us to go there. Do you want to do that, too?” I’m not sure what I’ll do if she says no.
She smiles, shaking her head as I begin to grab our things. “What’s there? Dragons?” Her tone is animated.
The vivid conversation draws me back to my childhood, reading fairytales with Mom. It may sound juvenile, but I’ve always believed in magic. That waterfall proves I wasn’t wrong.
I send her a grin. “I’m not sure about dragons.” I say, and she deflates. “But in my dreams—I mean from what Alexander told me, there’s magic and fairies. Mushrooms as big as you! Pink waters that hold magical properties.” I describe to her the things I’ve seen during my dreams, praying she says yes.
Because if she doesn’t, we won’t be going.
“It’s up to you, Mia. It’s a big decision, and I don’t know if we will be able to come back.”
She still looks skeptical, and I don’t blame her. “I want to see this waterfall first. I think you’re messing with me.”
I put a hand up, gliding it in front of me. “Just listen, Mia.”
She freezes. “I hear water!” she stammers, her eyes as wide as saucers.
I grab our belongings, leaving the tent behind as we trek towards the alcove. I walk under first, turning around to catch her stunned expression when her eyes take in the gorgeous sight. “You can pick your jaw up off the floor.” I joke.
“This wasn’t here yesterday. I got our sticks right there!” Mia points to the water in shock.
I nod. “I know.”
Her eyes roam up the enormous waterfall. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” She speaks quietly, as if afraid to disturb the surrounding nature.
I clench my fists, excited and full of energy. “Do you want to go?”
“More than anything.”
I can see the twinkle in her eye, but I have to be certain.
I lean down, trying to have as much of an adult conversation as I can with an eight-year-old. “Mia, if we go, I’m not sure if we can come back.”
“I don’t care. I have you and my cello. That’s all I need,” Her words hold so much power, I can tell she’s as certain as I am.
“What about your school? Your play?” I ask.
She looks to me, shaking her head. “The kids weren’t nice to me there.” I frown at her honesty, never knowing. “I can play anywhere.” She reaches out and touches the strings of her cello. “I mean it. I want to go, Ari.”
Selfishly, I internally scream in delight.
“I just want to dive in.” Mia mutters, her tone sounding mesmerized. “Why do I want to get in so badly?”
“I do too, Mia.” I tell her, inching towards the water without trying.
Our bare toes dip into the sparkling liquid, and it’s unusually warm considering the vast number of tall foliage around the forest that block out the sun. But then again, this wasn’t here yesterday.
“Our stuff will get wet.” She says as an afterthought, her bookbag already submerged on her back.
I nod. “I know ... but for some reason, I don’t care.” The water encases me like a warm blanket when I step in.
“I don’t either.” Mia replies. As if in a trance, we continue slowly walking in.
I fumble while holding our stuff, dropping my bag in, but when I grab it, a peculiar thing happens. “Look, Mia!” I gasp, submerging it again to show her. She feels the bag underwater, eyes widening at it being perfectly untouched by the liquid.
“How is it dry?” She asks in an astonished tone. “Magic,” She decides before I can answer her.
It’s as if all her wildest dreams have come true, and before I can stop her, she plunges down. That same instinct to touch the bottom I had rushes through her. “Wait, Mia! You can’t swim well!” I shriek, diving in after her.
I clench her massive cello against my body when I rush behind her beneath the waves. Everything that was heavy before feels weightless in this water as we both swim down.
Down.
Down.
Down until we reach the bottom, and my bare feet graze the softest sand beneath them. I try to open my eyes, but pure blackness surrounds me. I’m not scared of it, though; I can feel Mia holding my hand. Moments later, the water fades, and I’m left sitting on soft, spongy ground. My fingertips touch the padded area underneath me and when my eyes adjust, I look to them.
It’s no longer daytime but pure night, and I’m sitting on a deep green moss that travels along the ground.
Upon looking up, a vibrant swirl of neon colors explodes before my eyes, illuminating from massive mushrooms that spurt out from the forest ground. Vibrant blues, sparkling greens, and luminescent whites shoot out from the mushrooms like the lively lights at a club. One thing I’m sure of is that this is definitely not the same forest we left. This is pure magic.
I search for Mia, finding her entranced. Her gaze is set on the luminous fungi that seems to flank a pathway. One after another springs to life, creating a blazing color and a distinct trail for us to follow.
“We’re here, Mia.” I announce in a quiet voice, not wanting to disturb the dark, yet inviting forest spread out before us.
“These mushrooms are just like you said, but they’re way bigger!” she observes. I grab her wrist when she reaches out to touch one of the stalks, unsure if they’re safe.
“I saw them from a distance I guess?” I question myself, never remembering them being this massive.
Mia lifts herself off the dirt. “In your dreams?”
As I stand, about to explain further, something captures my attention. From the corner of my vision I see fireflies emitting a powerful pink light down the pathway. They swirl up and down, left to right, in wild circles. I grab her hand and we begin to walk, knowing we need to follow them.
“I didn’t want you to think I was crazy.” I mutter.
“Too late, I already know you’re crazy.” she giggles to herself.
I suck in a deep breath. “I’ve only seen Alexander in my dreams. I have every single night since I was sixteen.” I leave out him not being there last night, worried why that may be. But now that I’m here, I know it must be where he told me to find him. He knew that I would.
Mia stares at me, but I can tell she believes my words. How else could I explain the things surrounding us if not for magic.
“You okay?” I ask her.
“It’s just a little ...she looks around, stuttering. “Dark,” She gulps.
I give her a reassuring smile, not feeling the least bit uneasy. “It’s going to be okay. I wouldn’t take you anywhere that would hurt you, I promise.”
I gasp several times at the beauty of the dark forest. While I can’t see beyond the pathway or mushrooms, I’m certain that it would be sensory overload for my brain.
“Look!” Mia exclaims while pointing, her voice echoing through the quiet forest.
In the distance, the spiraling pink trails reappear and swirl around a large tree ahead. But much to Mia’s dismay, they disappear.
She frowns. “Do you think it could have been a fairy?”
I shake my head, trying to hold everything we own, along with her hand. “Not sure, everything is so unreal here. Let’s just keep following the path.”
And we do, until we reach a new archway made of creeping vines. That isn’t what tells us that we’ve made it to the end of the trail, though. The sunshine that’s beaming through does.
“It’s daytime!” Mia announces, shocked.
I squint my eyes looking into the archway. It’s like opening thick curtains into a dark room. “How weird is that?” I say, confusion setting in. When we left our world, it was day. Then, night. Now, day again. It’s all too much to think about, and if Mia weren’t here with me, I would have known I had lost my mind.
Right before we’re about to rush towards the light, an unfamiliar voice alarms me. “Oh! I hear them. I hear them coming!” It’s a woman, and I hear the whispers of others.
I grip Mia’s hand a little tighter. “Mia, be very quiet.” I tell her, unsure of my next move.
“Oh, Penelope! You’re going to scare the poor lasses. Hush now!” Another unfamiliar female says, this one sounding more mature.
I don’t move, I only speak. “Who’s there?” I ask calmly, trying to hide the tremble in my tone.
“It’s okay dear. Come out,” The older woman’s tone is comforting, but can one trust a voice?
I hesitate, looking towards my little sister.
I know nothing of this world. What if something bad happens? As my eyes pan behind us, the mushrooms’ radiant glow begins to fade, like they were only lit for us to find this clearing and nothing more.
Mia grips my shirt, tugging on it. “I think it’s okay, Ari.”
The pink, sparkly swirls appear again, guiding us closer to the mouth of the twisted vines.
With a brave face, I hold Mia tight as we step through the threshold. The bright sunlight irritates my eyes, and I rub them, trying to get a better view of what is in front of us.
A stunning landscape catches my attention, and a rolling, hilled countryside is the first thought that pops into my mind to describe the scene. The air smells of lavender and freshly-cut grass. Two women stand at the edge of the tree line, a man beside them. One woman is wearing a maid’s outfit, her excited grin stretching from ear to ear. She has brown hair and rosy, plump cheeks.
The other woman is older, with pearly hair. Petite yet tall. She looks a little more serious, sporting an all-black attire with no fluff to it, but her smile is genuine.
“Oh, Arianna! We’re so happy that you’re here!” The younger woman squeals, clapping her hands together. She bends down and pinches Mia’s cheeks, making them as equally pink as hers. “You too, little Mia!”
“How do you know my name?” Mia inquires, raising a brow.
“Alexander has told us everything about the two of you.” The one with silver hair replies instead before throwing her palm to her forehead. “Where have my manners gone? I’m Ruby.” Her smile lines are prominent, years of laughter streaking her face.
“And I’m Penelope,” The younger one chimes. She seems like she wants to pull us both into a tight hug, but she restrains herself.
I extend my hand to them. “Hi, where are we?” I don’t give our names, as they already know them, apparently. Everything feels like a dream, but I can feel everything around me in great detail. The way the soft grass feels beneath my bare feet, how the midday sun is warming my skin, the scents that surround me, and also, the scents that don’t.
Rain and pepper. The sting of Alexander’s absence alarms me, and I worry for him.
“Why, you’re in Haven, of course!” Penelope beams.
She looks to the man who still hasn’t spoken. “Pip, grab their things please.”
I shake my head, already waving him off when he moves towards us. “It’s alright, we can carry them.”
Ruby scoffs. “No need. Pip is quite alright lugging them back.”
He bows his head, a nervous smile on his lips. “Hello, Arianna.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Pip.” I say. “But—” Before I can detest, he’s throwing our bags over his shoulder and gripping onto Chloe’s cello. I feel bad that someone’s helping us, but he seems eager to.
Ruby moves the silver hair from her eyes when the breeze catches us. “Alexander is going to be so thrilled you two made it okay.”
“Alexander,” I breathe his name into the crisp air. “Is he okay? Where is he?”
“He’s quite taken with you.” Ruby replies. “Come along, now. We must get going! Time is of the essence!” she chirps.
My heart squeals in delight, knowing not only is he okay, but that I’ll get to meet him soon. My stomach flutters with anticipation; I’ve never felt this way before about anyone. “I can’t wait!” I almost sing, my heart thundering inside my chest. These two ladies know my Alexander, and soon I will get to see him.
“You’re every bit as lovely as he described!” Penelope smiles as we make our way north from the archway.
I blush from the compliment, thanking her. Mia huffs, seemingly jealous of all the attention she’s not getting. She’s always been that way, either wanting every ounce of the spotlight, or none at all. I imagine her dominating the stage in an orchestra one day, but I don’t know if that’s in her cards anymore.
“And you’re as cute as a button. I have a granddaughter your age that will be thrilled to have a new friend, but we really must be going now.” Ruby says, her tone light yet stern.
My intuition tells me I can trust them, and that’s all I can really do now while we follow them over the spiraling fields of flowers and gorgeous rolling hills until buildings appear in the distance.
“We’re almost home.” Penelope announces, her hands gripping the bottom of her dress so she doesn’t get it wet from the morning dew that blankets the ground.
The closer we get, the more everything comes into focus, and what we’re walking towards is anything but a normal home.
“A castle!” Mia gasps, and she’s not lying. The once smooth pillars stretch towards the sky like praying hands as they hold the ancient foundation in their palms. Centuries-old cracked marble wraps around the cylinders like a splattered web.
Every stacked stone on the castle walls are uneven and rugged, placed by hand with a thick clay paste to hold them together. It adds to the beauty, the sheer man-power it must have taken to build.
“Wow.” I breathe, taking it all in. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to live in something like that. I wonder where the village is and where Alexander lives. “I didn’t know you had castles,” I mutter, embarrassed by my lack of Haven knowledge.
Ruby gives us an inquisitive look. “Yes, of course. That’s where we’re going now. Are castles not normal where you come from? Where do your princes live?”
“Your princes?” I almost choke. “Why are we going to see Haven’s prince? I’m in no shape to meet him!” The closer we get, the more I become aware of the bustling life surrounding the castle; horses with carriages ride along the streets and people flutter around the property.
A faint scent of smoked turkey legs wafts through the air, reminding me of the renaissance fair. But I’m happy to note the clothes on the townspeople aren’t an example of medieval fashion, the garments aren’t much different from my world.
But still, they’re nicer than what I’m in now. I look to my bare feet and dirty clothes, shaking my head. I can’t imagine the embarrassment I would give Alexander if I showed up to his prince’s castle looking like this. “Can we go see Alexander first?” I plead.
Penelope places the back of her hand on my forehead. “Oh, she’s exhausted from her journey. We must hurry and get her inside.”
Mia pulls on my sleeve, her eyes filled with wonder. “Can I run through the halls like in the movies?”
“Mia, we’re not going to the castle, we’re going to see Alexander.” I state, wondering why no one is listening to me. “It’s packed, anyway!” I point to the mass of people at the bottom of the hill.
“Well, a royal wedding is underway.” Penelope sings, gesturing to the masses of people.
I groan, pointing to myself. The women look over me, studying my appearance. “We can go through the back?” she suggests to Ruby.
Ruby nods, sending me a smile. “That would be best.”
“Or we could go to the village? Let me get ready?” I suggest, trying to be polite, but I don’t understand the rush to visit the prince.
“Arianna, you can’t see Prince Alexander. Tradition states that you can’t,” Penelope pleads with me.
“Tradition? Prince Alexander?” I manage, eyes wide.
She laughs, and with a warm smile she captures my hands in hers. “In Haven, the night before any girl’s wedding, she can’t see the groom.”