Chapter 6: A New Identity

FRANCESCA

"We all knew you were different when you were born. First, you were not born the regular way and second, a light shone on your forehead like a diamond shape when you came out of your mother. You also did not have the pointy ears or paleness of an elf. This had never happened before so the elders claimed that you might be dangerous and should be killed but your parents refused. They didn't want to kill their only daughter.

"Zuri, your mother's friend, was not happy about this in particular and she tried to convince your mother. She even went as far as saying that you'll bring doom to Irkstone. She was a seer so she lied to your mother that she had seen into your future.

"But your mother could not bear to kill her child. Angry that your mother won't listen to her, Zuri left Irkstone. She was never really part of us. She was a sorceress your mother had found almost dead in the woods. You would think she would be faithful to your mother for saving her, but no, Zuri killed your mother."

"Are you kidding me?" I burst out laughing. I could not control myself anymore. "This is the fantasy story I had been reading for a while now. I still have the book on my shelf."

The old woman watched me as I laughed but I did not care. I kept laughing hard, finding everything funny. I could not believe that my reading of a particular book was starting to turn me into a dreamer.

Regardless of how real this looked, I was sure it was another foolish dream of mine. Oh, how I would enjoy trashing that stupid book when I finally wake up. Reading that book was starting to do me more harm than good.

The old woman watched me quietly with a blank expression on her face; she did not seem to be bothered that I was laughing at her. Rather, she looked amused herself and she waited till I was done laughing before she spoke,

"A fantasy story? Really? And who did you say is the writer?"

"Someone. Duh!"

"Hmm." The old woman nodded. "You mean this book." She brought out a scroll and handed it over to me.

I opened it and gasped when I saw that it was the same story I had read but written in a scroll.

"How did you get this?"

"Because I wrote it. I wrote it for you."

"That can't be possible." I scoffed loudly.

"Of course, it is. Do you remember how you got it? Remember that you didn't buy it. You found it lying on your colonnade. You thought someone had dropped it there but when you could not find the owner, you took it in. But I dropped it there. I dropped it there so you can read about yourself." The old lady smiled, looking all proud.

"Remember the story never had an ending?" She probed and I found myself nodding in agreement.

I could remember going online to search for the writer because I wanted to ask her when she was releasing the second part of the story but I had not found the book online.

Back then, I had found it strange that such an interesting book had no title or author: there had been no picture, no profile, nothing about her. It had been strange.

But now as I connected the dots, I felt goosebumps all over. Things were getting creepier and I felt sick to my stomach.

"I hope you believe me now." The old woman held my gaze.

I looked away because her gaze was too intense to hold and also because I was frightened.

"Since you have read the entire story, I need not tell you about how the attack that claimed the lives of many elves in Irkstone started."

"It was Zuri's doing. She planned it all." I muttered but the old woman shook her head.

"Yes, Zuri was involved but she would not have planned the attack alone. She had been helped by a werewolf pack."

"But the story did not state that." I protested. I could not believe that we were arguing about a novel like it was real. It was funny. "It only said Zuri returned with many of her kind. Then she stole the princess from the palace after killing the queen. A maid went after her though, so she. . ." I trailed off, my eyes widening in shock as something dawned on me. I stared at the old lady.

"Are you that maid?"

The book did say the maid was old and feeble with long grey hair.

"Yes." The old lady sighed and I gasped, feeling more goosebumps on my skin.

"This can't be true," I exclaimed but she ignored me.

"I went after Zuri but she had already cast a spell on you. She left you out in the woods to die but I picked you up. It had been difficult to break the spell but when I finally did, I sent you right into the future. It was the only way I could keep you safe. If Zuri found out that you were still alive, she would have come for you. I just had to take you to the future, but I was going to bring you back when it was time."

"What are you? How do you have the power to do all this? I don't think elves have that much power."

"Well, I was a different kind of elf. My father was a sorcerer. I learnt a bit of magic from him. I didn't have a reason to use it until Zuri."

"So your father is just like Zuri."

"No! My father was nothing like that evil woman!" The old woman growled and I flinched.

"I meant they were both magicians. I don't mean he's evil." I explained and she calmed down a little.

"I'm sorry I yelled. I just don't like to be associated with someone like Zuri."

"I understand," I told her and it was quiet for a while.

Then I asked,

"Nothing much was said about you in the story. Why didn't you include yourself in the storyline?"

"That's because I'm not the centre of the story. The centre of the story is you, Mila. I was just a maid that served faithfully at the palace.

"I didn't state too that Zuri allied with werewolves because I was not sure then but now I am. Zuri had the backing of an alpha. You see why the story is incomplete?"

"Yes," I replied and she smiled again.

"But which alpha did Zuri team up with?"

"I do not know. This is what you have to figure out. All I know is that Zuri came with a pack of werewolves. You must find what pack they belonged to. You must find them!" She grabbed my shoulders and shook them hard.

"But how am I supposed to find them when the attack happened several years ago?" I blurted out in frustration. Was this not ridiculous?

"Of course, you can. Maybe you should begin by hunting Zuri down. You must find everyone involved in that attack. Irkstone had laid in ruins for too long. Your father will come back to his senses when he sees you. He lost his mind after the attack. The demise of his wife and daughter hit him badly. Irkstone is not what it used to be anymore, Mila."

"Are you saying King Dale doesn't know about my existence?"

"Yes. I couldn't tell him. It was too dangerous to do so. But now that you are here, he will get better. You are the only one who can revive Irkstone. You are the only one that can bring your father back to his senses."

Her gray eyes were twinkling with a new light but I did not share in her enthusiasm. This was just too much to bear.

"But I can't believe this." I breathed, feeling so lightheaded. I couldn't believe I was seeing and speaking to a novel character. I couldn't believe I was a novel character myself.

"I need some time to ponder on these things," I said to her and she nodded in understanding.

"Yes. I know it's too much to handle. You can take as much time as you want but remember, Irkstone is counting on you." She touched my cheek affectionately and then walked away into some other room.

I stared at her retreating figure, feeling more confused than I had ever been.