3 PREPARE THE WEDDING

WEDNESDAY 15TH JULY 1902 6:27 P.M

Phantasy was grateful to the elderly woman. Unlike the young frustrated mother she had first met, the woman was like an angle that fell from the sky. She didn't know for how many minutes she walked, but it wasn't long before she heard bustling noise of market women and men. There was no specific billboard but there was a particular one ahead. A bit far but she could read it with her contact lens.

It wrote 'Welcome to Phantasy.' In extremely eye catching blue and some other colors she wasn't bothered with. Neon Light.

Ahead of the billboard, she could see a flickering light. One like that of a light house. Perhaps because it was almost night, as she had checked, an hour to eight, she couldn't easily make out the large building till she squinted her eyes.

Excitement flowed through her. The castle must not be far ahead. She happily dragged her luggage to a stall. A middle aged man was sitting in a rattle chair going through some old newspaper of some sort. Phantasy caught a glimpse of the date on top the paper.

1850/1902

After explaining where she wanted to go, the old man directly pointed to the flickering light that had earlier got her excited.

"Take a cab on the other side, and say you are going to the house." the man then ignored her and focused back on his old newspaper.

Phantasy looked around for what he meant by the other side. She should have asked when he had his slightly slanted eyes on her. But no, her mouth couldn't bring itself to speak further.

Walking around for several minutes, she later found a car pack which she found weird as every car there was luxurious.

There was a Bently, Ferrari, A rolls royce, Maybach, Lamborgini...and the kinds.

A gentle man walked forward beaming with a polite smile.

"May I ask where you are headed to Miss?"

Seeing someone smile at her after a long journey she felt relieved. She smiled in return and mentioned that she was heading to the Phantasy Castle.

The young lad stared at her with a blank expression. His polite smile, turning stiff by the second. Later he brought himself to say, "Miss, I don't think there's a place like that here."

Phantasy frowned. She wasn't in the wrong place. She was sure of it. The map was correct so was the old man. How was this gentle lad saying there was not a place like that here? She showed him the map and pointed to the blue shining stones.

"Phantasy Castle, am heading there. Do you know how?" she questioned again, starting to feel frustrated.

She didn't want to think of the possibility that she had made a waste less effort on this trip.

The gentle man smiled and looked back at her with hopeful eyes. Admiration was on his face as he stared back at the map or precisely the shining blue stones.

"That's beautiful Miss, but I can't read."

She was about to speak, when she remembered the old man had told her to say she was going to the house.

"Gentleman, I am going to the house, do you know where that is?"

The lads eyes finally shone as he brightly smiled nodding his head frantically. He definitely knew where the house was but he didn't know where the castle was.

He got into a Rolls Royce and gestured for her to get in after helping with her luggage which wasn't much. Just a medium sized box and a little bag back on it.

The car had stopped opposite the castle. The huge gates was glaring at her as the lock resembled dragons that frowned at her.

She brought out her wallet to pay after she had her luggage.

"How much is my fare gentleman?" she asked already counting the few dollars that remained in her wallet. She had some extra cash in her bag but hopefully there would be an ATM somewhere as she doubted the money would survive her for days.

The gentleman wore the same polite smile. "The fare is free Miss. Have a wonderful time here. Good night." he didn't give her chance to speak or a choice to refute him and had already drove away.

That was nice of him but she had wanted to say at least a thank you.

She dragged her luggage across the street to the huge gates which automatically opened once she got close enough. Wary of her strange surroundings she was on alert. She had been taking boxing classes since she was eleven after a tragic bully so currently she could be considered a female fighter. Her shy outer self shouldn't be underestimated.

She had not walked too far when she saw a middle aged woman dressed in maid uniform. A simple skirt reaching above the knees and a white shirt.

"May I ask what you are here for Miss?"

Phantasy showed the map to the woman who in turn widened her eyes and swiftly walked back. A few steps away, with the map still in her hands. Although she had her back turned to Phantasy, the latter could hear her whistle.

Soon a flood of similar clothed people came forward. Am old woman with gray hair and a soft expression was now holding the map.

Seeing that there were more people, Phantasy was preparing her little fists to punch some faces.

The old woman spoke in a fragile voice, one that carried traces of loneliness and excitement.

"Could I trouble young Miss to take off her mask?" she pleaded in a soft tone. It was as if she was afraid Phantasy would refuse.

Phantasy did as she was told and removed the mask, tightly holding it between her fingers.

The old lady gasped, quite shocked before regaining her composure. An excited smile on her face. "Oh!....Phantasy!" she exclaimed and the others gasped as well.

They were clearly shocked.

In an uncertain voice she asked. "You know me?"

"Missus, welcome home. Quick Inform the others. We will now perform the wedding." she excitedly announced as though the day she had been waiting for had finally come.

The other excitedly left, hurrying here and there. Their hushed voices traveled round her as they kept sneaking glances at her. Probably fascinated by how well her eye color matched her hair.

Phantasy froze.

Wedding? Whose wedding?