Gold

The golden cobra snake wrapped itself around Kissa and settled on her shoulders. It rested on her like it knew her before now.

"His name is Gold. Well, that's what he was called." Sabola smiled nervously as she looked at the snake.

Kissa could already tell she wasn't good with snakes with the was she looked at Gold.

"We need to look for more answers quick. The book must be around here somewhere unless it isn't here." Kissa said as she showed her the painting of the book and the waterfall.

"It could be anywhere she used to stay."

"I know where that waterfall is. It is located in one of the abandoned temples." Sabola explained as she took the painting.

"They call it the temple of life. Inside it, there is a flowing waterfall which no one knew how it got there till today. It is called the pool of life." Sabola explained.

"If it is abandoned, what would she do with it? She painted this of course." Kissa pointed that out.

"Well, she might have gone there once without anyone knowing. The temple closed its doors when the water is being used for evil."

"The water has magical contents and can heal and destroy at the same time. When the evil people started using it as a means of destruction, the temple magically closed its doors and no one was able to enter."

"Till Lady Dina went there secretly to do something she did not tell me about." Sabola explained as much as she could. 

"The pool of life." Kissa rubbed her chin with the corner of her eyes still on Gold who was looking up at her peacefully.

See didn't trust that snake one bit. He did look dangerous, but acting all nice makes him even more dangerous.

"If you can communicate with him, he knows almost everything about her because he sticks to her like glue." Sabola gestured to Gold.

"It's of no use." Kissa rolled her eyes as they kept on searching the room for anything useful to them. 

Kissa got to a particular table in the room and the red parcel caught her attention. Although it was covered in dust, she could still recognize the colour.

Kssa took the parcel and hurriedly pulled it open. The first thing she saw was a brown paper.

"To my child, on her eighteenth birthday. Love, your mother."

Kissa took out a small box and pulled it open. It was a music box with a mother kissing her child's forehead rolling on top.

"It's beautiful." Kissa smiled happily. Although it was a late birthday present, it's also a present.

Kissa kept the present gently before they continued searching the room. 

"Here Lady Kissa." Sabola handed her a small book. "In this book, she jotted important things down. I don't k ow about what exactly but it might point out of something.

Kissa opened the book and the first thing she sw ws the locket she was given. 

It was labelled as "the key". Kissa looked at it to be sure it was hers and it looked the same, perfectly well.

Kissa flipped the pages again and she came across another drawing of that same book. Then she noticed there was a small hole at the middle of the book with a lock strap. 

Kissa examined the book again and then read the notes on it. 

She didn't understand any of the words well because they seem to be written in codes but she tried to figure out "Pool of life" and "book of knowledge."

"What is a book of knowledge?" Sabola asked. 

"It is a book about magical beings. Each person that possess magic has a particular book of knowledge about their powers which is usually with their head keeps it." Sabola explained.

"This book, is the book of knowledge about sorceresses. It dates back to histories back and some tricks of sorceresses."

"In order to avoid the book gotten by another, they hide the book and pass it down to the next generation."

"Kissa nodded her head as she kept the boom too. Soon she heard Layla's voice in her head. 

"Where are you? I'm in need of myself." Layla said and Kissa nodded before signalling to Sabola. 

"Alright, I'm on my way back." Kissa sighed as she turned to Sabola to tell her they were leaving.

"You're going to leave with him? My lady? Pharaoh hates him and also Lapis." Sabola informed but Kissa looked like she even wanted it more when those duo hate the snake.

Kissa ran her hands through its scales as she thought about all they saw in the room as they stepped out.

Kissa and Sabola arrived at her atrium and the wall behind them shut tight. 

Kissa stepped into her room and Layla was already gone. "Must have been something important." Kissa sat on the bed and let Gold crawl off her shoulders.

"So you'll be a good boy and listen to whatever I tell you or else, I'll have no choice but to use my powers on you." Kissa said and it reacted by curling more on the bed where he laid.

"Good." 

As Kissa settled in her room and was about to get all the things she brought back before Sabola quickly rushed in. 

"Lady Kissa, Pharaoh is on his way into the quarters." Sabola quickly informed but Kissa looked indifferent. She just placed all the things she brought back in the bedside table and sat comfortably on the bed.

"Didn't you tell them I don't want any visitors today?" Kissa frowned.

"I did tell Lady Lapis, my lady." Sabola replied with a bow and just then, the door gave way and Asim stepped in. 

The look of horror on his face couldn't be escaped when he set his eyes on the golden snake whick perfectly curled on Kissa's bed and it looked straight at him with its tongue out.

"What is that thing doing back here in my palace?" Asim almost freaked out.

"Greetings to you Pharaoh." Kissa bowed her head and Gold launched at Asim. "Gold stop at once."

The snake was just an inch away from attacking Asim when it turned to obey Kissa's orders.

"Pardon him Pharaoh, he's a bit jumpy."