This forest seemed to stretch on forever.

"I can't do it anymore, Liana. We've been walking for hours," said Alexa, coming to a stop.

I placed my hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Do we have any water?"

"We ran out. About an hour after we ran out of food."

"Oh," she said faintly.

"I know."

Sparkles poked her head out of my basket, whimpering. I pet her and tried to take in our surroundings. They looked the same as any other part of the woods, except--

"Alexa, I see smoke! And it's not that far."

With newfound haste, we followed the trail to a clearing with a red-roofed mansion with tall windows and vines growing on one of the walls. Behind an iron wrought gate lay a paved path twisting up to the door, lined with roses.

"It's beautiful," Alexa said in awe. "I wonder if someone royal lives here."

"Hopefully someone generous and royal. Who can spare a bed and some food."

I knocked, then we quickly smoothed our skirts and tried to look like we hadn't been walking in the woods all day.

A tall man in a red coat opened the door, his slicked dark ponytail and spectacles catching the golden light outside. "You've come at last," he greeted.

The door opened further to reveal a woman standing next to him. She wore a plum gown and her black hair was in a bun. The couple looked royalty, or like they were about to attend a ball.

"Welcome. Welcome, miladies," said the woman in a faint Scottish accent.

Before either of us could respond, Sparkles pushed past the couple and ran into the mansion.

"Sparkles, no!"

The four of us followed the Cocker Spaniel down the hall and into a large dining room with arching windows and chandeliers. The long table was lit by tall candles and packed with soups, meat pies, a bowl of fruit, plates of cheese, a full chicken, pastries, and a gold pitcher of water.

Had we interrupted their dinner?
Were more aristocrats on their way?

"What may we serve you?" said the man.

"Could you please spare some bread and water?" I said, not wanting to take away from their feast.

"Please, this is all yours. The grounds, the house, everything." He gestured to the entire mansion.

"Ours?" said Alexa.

"The legend," he explained. "It's been foretold two friends--best friends--will come to live in the hall. For years, we've been tending the hall until the rightful owners arrive."

This was too good to be true.

"You must be mistaken." I laughed.

"No, it's just as the legend foretold." He tilted his head slightly, and his eyes glimmered; they were unusually green.

"I can't believe it," Alexa murmured.

"I don't believe it," I said forcefully. "What do you think, Melody?" I pulled her out to see what was going on.

She shrugged. "You know, the Muses sing songs about legends and destiny. This really could be yours."

"Then do you really think we can eat something?" Alexa said hopefully.

"Yes. Go, eat," said Melody.

I took a cube of cheese from one of the plates, curious about its taste. We could almost never afford cheese from the market, and now this couple was giving it all to us for free.

Sparkles eyed my food and started to beg.

"Aw, of course you get your share." I tossed her a cube and saw Lily rolling over in front of Alexa's feet.

She laughed. "You don't have to do tricks for your supper. What's mine is yours."

After dinner, the woman led us to the master bedroom. The walls were impossibly high and covered in pale pink wallpaper with a ring of peach paint along the ceiling. Tall windows filtered golden light from the sunset, which illuminated a brocade couch, a desk with two chairs, a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe, and a massive bed with sheer curtains.

Alexa immediately pulled open the wardrobe doors and gasped at the dozens of dresses inside.

"They're gorgeous," I breathed.

"Try one on," said Melody excitedly.

Alexa picked a shimmering orange gown with a frilled neckline, rose appliqué, and gold trimmed skirt. She held it up to herself in front of a mirror and grinned. "I look like a princess," she said, twirling the skirt.

These intricate dresses seemed too expensive to touch, yet I could see why Alexa would accept them so quickly: I could imagine myself wearing these in another life without a passing thought. It felt almost right to be gifted this mansion and all it held.

"Oh, Liana, it's a perfect home for us." Alexa stopped admiring the dress and turned to me. "Don't you see? More food than we could ever eat, a new dress every day, and a gorgeous garden. We won't have to work hard just for jam and bread anymore."

"But we can't stay."

"Why not? It's ours. We're finally having some good luck, why can't we enjoy it?" A touch of anger crept into her voice, and she placed the orange gown back in the wardrobe.

As much as I wanted to stay, we had a promise to fulfill. "Maybe we can come back after we take Melody to the Diamond Castle?" I meant to sound sure, but it came out as a question.

"If we come back."

"What do you mean?"

She sighed. "Trolls, serpents, evil magic. We may not live to come back."

"We promised Melody we'd help her." She had to understand.

"And we did! We've taken her this far. But I can't go any farther. I can't." Her voice cracked.

"But we promised. You gave your word." Don't cry, don't cry, please don't cry.

"Let Ian and Jeremy do it." She turned away. "I'm staying here."

"You don't mean that." I could hear my voice rising to a yell, but I couldn't stop it.

"Yes, I do."

"Please, don't argue," Melody begged. "You've done enough."

Alexa turned to face me once more, her face red. "See, even Melody thinks so!" Her voice softened and she held out her hand. "Stay with me."

"I want to, I do." I took her hand in both of mine. "But if we don't stop Lydia, we'll all be living under a dark cloud. No laughter, no music, just sadness, everywhere."

She pulled away. "Why us? Why can't somebody else do it?"

"Because Melody is our friend."

"You're choosing Melody over me." Her eyes brimmed with tears.

"No, I--it's not like that!"

"If you were really my friend, you would understand."

I took a step back, a hot tear falling down my face. "You're right," I started. "I don't understand." After grabbing Melody, Sparkles, and my basket, I turned for the door. "Come on, we're going to the Seven Stones."

The door slammed behind me, and all the tears I had tried to hold back fell at once. I covered my mouth to stifle my sobs and ran, knowing that if I turned back now, I would never leave.

. . .

Alexa fell onto the bed and wiped at her eyes.

"I can't believe she did that."

She pulled off her heart necklace and tossed it on the floor, too tired to throw it properly.

Someone knocked, and she perked up. "Liana?"

She opened the door and started to apologize, only to realize Liana didn't come back.

"Surprise," said Slyder, and he knocked her out.

. . .

When she came to, she was in a dark cave. Her vision cleared, and footsteps echoed through the room. A figure stood above her, leaning down to get a better look.

"Liked the manor, did you?" said Lydia with a smirk. "So terribly tempting."

"How did you know?"

"Because I was there first. Did the servants tell you about a legend?"

"Yes, they said that two--" Alexa looked down. "They were under your power."

"Mm-hmm," the sorceress pouted mockingly. "Now, give me the mirror."

Alexa stood. "I don't have it."

Sighing, Lydia beckoned Slyder. He stuck his big nose in her basket to sniff for Melody, but shrieked in pain and retreated with Lily clamped on his face. He flung his head back and forth until he shook off the Terrier, who landed on the floor and yelped.

"You hurt her!" Alexa scooped up Lily to check if she was okay.

Slyder rubbed his snout. "No mirror, mistress."

"So, the other girl has it. Where is your friend, girl? Or should I say ex-friend?"

Alexa swallowed. "I--I don't know."

Shaking her head, Lydia pulled out her aulos flute.

"That doesn't work on me." Alexa crossed her arms.

Lydia raised an eyebrow. "Bold words from a girl who no longer wears her necklace."

Alexa reached for her bare throat in alarm.

"As long as you and your friend wore your guardian stones, you were protected. But now..." The ex-Muse began to play, and this time, the green mist took hold of Alexa. "Now, where is she?"

"Going to the Seven Stones." Alexa's rebellion was stifled too easily.

"Slyder, get the girl and the mirror. And this time, do it right."

"Yes, mistress."