~2~

An annoying old grandfather clock ticked in the background, as Rains' father studied me in the dim light of his study.

"She certainly looks like the girl described in the prophecy," he said, finally breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"Do you think that maybe-" Rain started, but her father held up a silencing hand.

"How old are you Ivy?" Her father asked.

"Um... Twelve?"

They both heaved disappointed sighs and turned away from me.

"This is not her," Said her father.

"But what if-" Rain started again, but her father cut her off again.

"The prophecy says that the girl will return home to Onyx at thirteen. Not twelve" He sighed again. "Unfortunately, Emily had gone to bed hours ago, this girl will have to be placed in the morning"

I shook my head. "No! Tomorrow is my birthday and I was supposed to spend it with my grandmother in Paris, I can't stay here!"

"Your family has been informed of your whereabouts already. They would be fools to not be grateful you've even made it this far. Now, will you let my daughter show you to your room willingly, or will I need to call Kirkus?"

Rain made for the door, and I had no choice but to follow.

We climbed one of the winding staircases and made our way down a flame-lit corridor.

It took me a few minutes until I realized something was off.

We were walking, but it was as if we were walking in place as the hall around us morphed into different rooms and disfigured doors. I had to constantly glance away because it was beginning to mess with my eyes.

"It's a security measure," said Rain once she saw that I had noticed.

"Onyx is the capital province of Nave. Many people have tried to break into it in the past, since here is where Nave holds all of its most valuable information and top-secret things"

"Fortunately, many many years ago, one of the four queens who used to reside within these walls had an enchantress spell the halls, so that no one, not even her and her three sisters could find their way around... Without one of these"

She took an old silver key from the pocket of her brown dress.

"As long as you have one of these, the halls look completely ordinary"

"A magic key?"

Rain nodded.

After another minute or two of walking in place, Rain suddenly stopped, turned to the constantly changing wall, and stuck the silver key into a deformed keyhole.

As soon as she turned the key, the clicking of the lock echoed down the corridor, and suddenly everything looked normal. The doors looked like doors, paintings I couldn't make out before hung on the black walls, and my head had stopped spinning.

She led me into a room made for royalty.

It had High ceilings, golden trim along the bottom of the walls, a California king-sized bed with white silk sheets, and a crimson and gold comforter. A pretty bay window that looked out over the province and in the distance even showed a stunning view of a huge black lake and a dark forest.

There was a bookshelf wall filled with all types of books. Fantasy, sci-fi, nonfiction, history.

"Anything in here is yours until tomorrow," Said Rain "You may take any book with you when you leave here"

I thanked her for everything, then she left.

In a room like mine, you'd think I would've gotten the best sleep of my life. But the truth is, sleep just wouldn't claim me.

Most of the night I sat by the window watching shadows move through the forest. And I would often think of my family back home. I missed them, and I had a feeling I would never see them again.

I cried silently to myself a few times.

And by the time the silver sun had risen over Onyx, my eyes were swollen and ringed with purple shadows.

A knock at my door made me jump.

"Dodson?" Rains' voice called from outside.

"May I come in? I have Emily here with me, she's here to place you"

I rubbed the false sleep from my eyes and stretched.

I was exhausted, but the new day was here and I didn't know when I would get another chance to sleep.

"Come in," I said.

The door opened slowly and Rain led a woman who I assumed to be Emily into the room.

"Hello, Ivy," said Emily. A lump formed in my throat when I recognized her heavy French accent.

"Dodson" Rain said, her tone exposing her concern. "You look... How did you sleep last night?"

"Not great" I admitted.

"Not to worry" Said Emily, taking my hands in hers. "You will have plenty of time to sleep on the train, As you make your way to the Silver province"

"The Silver Province?"

Rain thanked Emily as the woman showed herself out.

Rain also turned to leave, but paused suddenly and glanced back over her shoulder.

"Happy birthday Dodson"

Then she took her leave.

In a matter of hours, I was back on the train again heading to a place I wouldn't know.

Despite how confused I was, Rain helped me as much as she could. In this new world, she was the closest thing I had to a friend.

And now I would be leaving.

Whatever barrier had kept me from slumber last night had suddenly melted away, and in no time, I had drifted off to sleep.

I dreamed of my parents and my grandmother. They weren't scared or worried about me. In fact, everything seemed to be pretty normal and frozen in time. My father and my stepmom were in the middle of screaming at each other again. It was nothing new, but it always made me long for my real mother.

I never knew her, but I always took comfort in believing that she was a thousand times better than my stepmom.

All of the sudden, the scene shifted and I was standing in my grandmother's living room. She had a tray of my favorite M & M cookies sitting on the dining table behind her.

She was waiting for me.

But I would never show.

It made my heart ache even more than it already did. I wondered if Rains dad had lied to me. Did my family actually know where I was? And even if they did know of my whereabouts, did they even know where those whereabouts were?