"What are you doing here? How are you here? I've been looking for you all over!" He grabbed me and pulled me to him, hugging me tightly, before quickly realizing this may be uncomfortable and let me go. "Sorry..." he mumbled, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm just relieved you're okay."

"I could ask you the same thing, Isaac!" I was dumbfounded. He stared at me in bewilderment, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.

He sighed. "I live here. My mother told me to come up here and bring our guest to dinner, which unexpectedly turned out to be you. How are you here?"

"I was kidnapped by a cloaked figure, escaped, was chased by a giant cat, and saved by Lilith, who brought me here," I explained quickly.

His mouth fell open in shock, closed his eyes, took in a deep breath, and held it for a second before letting it out slowly. "Well, that explains why I woke up to you gone and couldn't find you. I never would have thought to find you here in Arvora, let alone in my home."

"Why didn't you tell me? Why keep this a secret?" I asked, and he looked at me skeptically.

"How well do you think that would have gone? 'Yeah, well, I come from another world that exists right next to this one called Arvora, where there's magic, fairies, and dragons,' hm?"

My eyes widened, "There are dragons here?" I breathed, my mouth falling open in shock. Dragons?! Images of giant, flying lizards flashed across my mind. "I've completely lost my mind, haven't I?"

Isaac laughed. "No, you haven't. But we should probably get to dinner. Mother will be waiting." He began to lead me out but then suddenly paused. He turned to look at me, a secretive smile on his face. "Oh! And pretend you just met me."

"Why?" I asked.

"Well, Mother doesn't know that I sneak to the earthly plane and pretend to be a normal guy." He said sheepishly.

"Okay... And your mother is..?

He cocked his head to the side. "Lilith."

Oh boy... Dinner is going to be interesting. Isaac held out his arm, and I took it. "When do you think I could get home?"

"Well, as soon as the sun rises, I suppose. It can be dangerous to travel at night, and the veil can be a bit volatile," he said calmly. "But if you want to stay longer... we could arrange something."

"I don't know, what about my father, or Jess and Michael? I already caused them enough worry. I don't want to add to that."

He led me down the same grand staircase from before. It was all so beautiful, from the polished stone to the shiny woodwork. Everything was very well-crafted. Firelight from the chandelier danced across the marble floor, giving it all a warm look.

I looked over to Isaac. He had cleaned up nicely. His hair was tied back, and he wore a red suit. I thought back to Lilith and paled.

"Isaac? If you're Lilith's son... Does that make you a... a prince?" I asked hesitantly.

He seemed confused at first, then laughed. "Oh God, no! We're not a monarchy. Mother does rule, but it's more... How do I explain this? She's the most powerful and kind witch in the coven. She also saved Arvora a long time ago. The people here have never opposed her. In fact, they think rather fondly and highly of her."

"A witch? Well, that explains the bolt of light she shot from her hands when she rescued me." I laughed. Witches and dragons, huh... What else is there to find here? I thought to myself. We finally made it to the dining room. There was another chandelier hanging over a long table set for three at one end. Isaac pulled out a chair, and I sat. I could see the rest of the city outside the giant windows. The sun was setting along the horizon, and for the first time since finding myself here, I felt safe.

Lilith entered the room with grace. She had changed out of her other gown and now wore an emerald evening gown. What was up with all this green? I wondered.

"Are you ready for the show?" Lilith smiled wide, and Isaac groaned. Lilith laughed and clapped her hands twice; all light in the room was extinguished, and I let out a small yelp.

The doors at the end of the room flung open, and plates of food and drinks came floating out with an array of color dancing behind them. They lit up the room as they danced; I could not believe what I was seeing. The plates and silverware darted towards the table, and I jumped. They got close but didn't hit me and instead gently laid themselves in front of me. The food came down next. There were meats, salads, soups, and various bread types.

I felt Isaac's hand touch mine from under the table, and a warmth spread through me. He looked at me fondly, and I blushed. The napkins unfolded from the table and settled on our laps. The lights faded, and the candles ignited themselves before it got too dark. Lilith clapped her hands in excitement.

"What did you think, Elizabeth?"

"That was amazing! And this food looks great." And it was, the food was delicious, and I soon found myself stuffed.

"Now that we have eaten and you are feeling better. Elizabeth, do you have any questions?" Lilith asked.

"Yeah... Do you know who took me?"

Lilith glanced at Isaac. "I do. They're a dangerous organization of witches that wish to take Arvora for themselves. They are cruel and will say anything to get others to join them. Lately, I suspected they've been traveling to the earthly plane in search of hidden witches and warlocks to recruit."

I paled. So they had been stalking me. "Why would they take me? I'm not a witch."

Lilith looked confused for a minute. "You do not know?" She got up from her chair and sat closer to me. She took my hand and hovered hers over mine. An electrifying spark passed through that made me flinch.

"You are a witch and a powerful one to boot. I didn't just hear your screams. I sensed you. This untapped power can be dangerous if not careful."

My vision blurred as tears burned in my eyes. I was a witch? How?!

"I don't understand... I can't be. I was told I have schizophrenia." My voice trembled.

"You have visions? It must be your powers trying to push through whatever dampener was placed on you."

"Why would my father lie to me?! How can I be a witch... my.. my mother died in a house fire when I was a baby... Could she have been..?" I cried. I felt like my whole world was crumbling around me. My whole life has been a lie?

Lilith wrapped an arm around me and stroked my hair. "It's likely your father didn't know as well, and it's possible your mother was a witch. Back then, it was a very different time in Arvora. She must have dampened your powers to keep you hidden even after she died."

I couldn't say anything. A million thoughts ran through my head. I continued to cry into Lilith's shoulder. I wasn't sick, but a witch. I thought back to all the things that happened. Did I cause the strange weather? Was I dangerous? Lilith didn't let go until I had stopped.

"It's going to be okay, Elizabeth. We shall continue this discussion tomorrow. For now, go and get some rest." She said soothingly.

Isaac grabbed my hand. His face filled with sorrow. He felt bad for me. I let him pull me from my seat and guide me back to my room. We walked in silence, the shock of the revelation slowly sinking into my mind. After a while, Isaac spoke up.

"Are you okay, Liz?" He asked quietly and squeezed my hand. A familiar spark zapped between us. We both looked down. Realization dawned on his face as his thumb gently stroked mine.

"Did you know I was a witch?" I asked tentatively.

"No, I didn't. I thought maybe it was my powers causing the sparks. Then when the weird things started to happen. I thought maybe it was the occultists. I only ever wanted to keep you safe and to get to know you. I really do like you."

I blushed and squeezed his hand back. "Could I have been causing all that strange weather? The... The earthquake?"

Isaac stopped. "It's possible. Mother says you are powerful. It could have been that your powers have been dampened for too long."

I nodded. "I... I can't go home, can I?" I felt more tears starting to break through. Isaac stood in front of me and cupped my face with both his hands. He leaned down and looked me straight in the eyes.

Once he saw my fear, his gaze softened. "Now, don't think that. We will find a way to break the dampener. After that, Mother can train you. That way, you'll be able to go home, and everyone will be safe. We can talk with my mother about it, okay?" He pulled me in his arms and kissed my forehead. I buried myself in his chest and sobbed harder. Isaac squeezed me gently, picked me up, and carried me to my room.

Slowly, I cried myself to sleep.

I woke up the following day, my eyes stinging and puffy from crying. For a moment, I hoped it had all been a dream. I hoped I'd be lying in a hospital bed to see my father happy I was okay. But then my eyes focused, and I recognized the dark green canopy over my bed. It hadn't been a dream. I was in another world, and I was a witch.

Ember came in and pulled out a simple outfit.

I rubbed my eyes, still half-awake. "I thought there'd be only dresses in there."

Ember laughed. "Oh no, we have picked up a couple things from the earthly plane. Clothes, food, books- we haven't managed to get technology to work here, though. Arvora is built differently, I suppose. Would you like me to draw you a bath to relax?"

I nodded, and she hurried off into the bathroom, continuing, "The mistress is meeting with you later today. Master Isaac will be waiting for you in the foyer to tour the city."

"Okay, thank you, Ember." She curtsied then left the room. I slowly got up from bed and walked into the bathroom. I stared blankly into the large vanity mirror, a mess of thoughts racing through my mind.

I hope my father was okay. I feel he's most likely searching all over for me. I needed to figure out a way to get a message to him. I'll have to ask Lilith about it when I meet with her. If I was really the one to have caused the destruction, I might have to stay here even longer. I didn't want to, but I also didn't want anyone else getting hurt because of me. If I could get control over my powers, then I wouldn't cause them any more worry either.

I also wondered if my father knew.

If he had, why keep it secret? Why make me believe I was sick and make me take drugs that would only hurt me?

Anger swelled within me, but I quickly calmed down. I didn't know if he knew, but I needed to find out when I saw him again.

After getting dressed, I made my way to the foyer, hoping I remembered the way correctly. You could easily get lost in a place this big. Isaac was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. He wore a simple outfit as well and smiled when he saw me.

"Are you ready to see more of Listra?" He asked joyfully.

I took his hand, and he lightly squeezed mine. "Yes. Where are we going?"

"Well, you'll just have to find out! It's not much of a tour if we only visit one place!" He pulled me out the door and into the carriage waiting for us.

"If you're a warlock, why don't we just use magic? Like last night with dinner."

"Well, magic can wear you out the more you use. This isn't like Harry Potter. We can't simply wave a wand and clean the dishes. Hell, no one even uses wands except children and we prefer the term Magi. Mother only used the term witch to ease you into it." He pouted.

We passed the gates of the palace and entered the city. It was as busy as it was yesterday. I also noticed some people wearing clothes from Earth. It was like a weird mix of modern and folklore.

"Is everyone here magic?" I asked.

Isaac looked out the window with me. "No, but we all differ from humans. Arvorians have longer lifespans, but it also varies from species. Like the nymphs live a bit shorter than the regular folk but longer than humans from Earth. The Denali who live in the mountains live way longer than even us magi."

Wow... "How long do we live?" I asked, nervous about the answer.

Isaac thought for a moment. "I think the longest living magi we have is a hundred and fifty years and counting."

My eyes widened. 150 years!

"How old is your mother?"

Isaac threw his head back and laughed. It was a deep and jovial sound, making my heart melt. I couldn't help the smile that crept up on me in response. "She's turning 60 this year." I could hardly wrap my brain around it.

"Are you telling me I could live to be the oldest "human" on Earth?" I asked.

Isaac's face fell, "Uh, no. Sadly Earth is different. It doesn't strip our magic, but it does cause us to age a bit faster."

Our carriage came to a stop, and Isaac hopped out. He helped me down, and I glanced up at the massive Cathedral in front of us.

"The Sanctuary of Hepelia..."

Isaac was surprised, "How did you know?"

"Your mother and I passed it on the way to the palace. She told me what it was." It was bigger up close. The towers seemed to touch the sky, and the windows shone brightly in the sun. A loud bell rang from the top, indicating an hour had passed.

"I figured, if your mother was a witch, she would be registered in the archives. Plus, there is a lot about our goddess here. You should know where your power comes from." Isaac said and guided me inside. We entered a great room with a stained glass ceiling. It depicted the same woman with golden hair holding a star above her head and an array of colors around her. In the center of the room, there was a thick book. I felt an overwhelming sense of calm as I walked further into the room. It all felt otherworldly. Isaac walked over to the book and flipped through a couple pages. It was a directory of some sort. After a few minutes of searching, he found what he had been looking for.

"Come on. I found the room number. We have to go up a floor." He said, and I followed him through a door to the right.

"How big is this place?" I asked.

"Pretty big. There are over a thousand rooms here. Besides an archive, there's a church, a library, and a sanctuary for refugees. This is also where the catacombs are located. We believe that after you die, it is your right to sleep next to the goddess. Otherwise, you become lost, and your spirit can be tainted." We climbed up the long flight of stairs and entered a room filled with shelves. A thick layer of dust hung in the air. I sneezed.

"Well, everything is alphabetized. Do you know your mother's name?" He asked, getting straight to the point.

"Well, considering my father is human... I would guess it would be under her maiden name... Silvia Ravenwood." I caught myself by surprise. "How did I not know she was a witch? That is the witchiest name I have ever heard now that I think about it!"

We laughed and began searching after Isaac showed me how the system worked. It was pretty easy to find Ravenwood. After searching through many books, we finally found my family tree.

"Huh.. that's weird," Isaac said after reading a bit of the page. "It says here that Silvia had two daughters. But their names aren't registered, which would mean they were either lost or dead."

"But I grew up an only child... Dad never mentioned me having a sister."

"What did your dad tell you?" He asked, sitting down in one of the chairs. "What happened to your mother?"

I let out a heavy sigh. "He told me that my mother was beautiful, kind, and smart—all the things you would want in a mom. But one night, there was a terrible fire. Dad still doesn't know how it started." I stared down at my hands and picked at my nails.

"He and mom rushed into the nursery to grab me, but the ceiling collapsed. She had gotten trapped and told him to get me out, to come back for her..." I took a deep breath, steadying my emotions before they could let themselves out again. "When he got out, there was a big explosion, all the glass shattered. Everything was destroyed. The fire was so hot... it didn't leave much to find..." I wiped the tears away and breathed slowly. "I uh... I don't even have a picture of her."

"I'm so sorry, Elizabeth. God, this is a terrible second date! I shouldn't have asked." He sighed. He started to close the book in anger, but I stopped him.

I laughed. "It's okay! I've had years to reflect and deal with her death. My father never shied away from questions about her. I feel close to her even now. You wanted to get to know me... I don't mind telling you. This is a great date."

I took another deep breath and centered myself. "So, does my mom have any siblings? Any living relatives?"

Isaac looked back at the book, his brows furrowed. "Um... It seems like she did have a couple sisters, but there's nothing about where they lived. It doesn't say they died either, so they could be out there. Maybe beyond the Deep Grove."

I felt relieved and a little excited with the knowledge that I had aunts- more family members. I grabbed the books and looked over all the names. My family tree was tall and expansive.

"Why are so many dead? With long life spans, I would think I'd still have grandparents, great uncles, and aunts, maybe a few cousins?"

Isaac looked at the dates and then noticed the time. "I'll have to explain that later. Maybe on another date?" He asked hesitantly.

I laughed. "Absolutely. I really like hanging out with you, Isaac." He blushed and laughed nervously.

He cleared his throat and stood up quickly. "It's almost time for your meeting with my mother. We should head back to the palace." 

©2021 Jessica Powell. All Rights Reserved 

-Thank you to my wonderful editor Arco.