18 I am Helena

Back to the forest, Haelan is having the best time of her life, spending each minute with her dearest mother in the small hut. "I still can't believe it! You're here all along", she said to her mother tending to get some wine.

"I've been waiting for you all these time. Here, drink some wine and grab some pie", Beatrice sat on the wooden stump on the dining area.

Haelan was about to take a bite of the sumptous pecan pie when she remembered her father. "Wait.. where's father? What happened back in the hut? Where's Celeste?", she continously asked.

"We don't need to talk about that here, dear.", Beatrice held Haelan's hand. "What's more important is we're together", she said with an endearing smile.

"Alright..Alright.. You made this? I didn't know you can make some pie", Haelan smiled looking at the deliciously looking pie. Haelan felt so happy, given that her mother is here she no longer have worries.

Before she took a bite, she noticed something. "Where's the baby?", she asked as she noticed there's no more baby in her mother's belly.

"Baby? Haelan, what baby?", Beatrice wondered with her creased forehead.

"What did you call me? ", Haelan swallowed a hard one, the woman in front of her didn't called her by her real name.

And then suddenly, she remembered one of the books she have read in her father's desk - about the goddess of grief and sadness hiding in a forest feeding on one's misery. She appears like the person that you miss, however, in the books it is the dead loved ones that goddess copies.

Assuming that when Haelan entered the forest, her mind has been filled with thoughts of her mother. And so she realized that the spirit manifested the image of Beatrice and a home she dreamt of living in, as the goddess savour on the longing that her heart has been filling in.

Haelan inhaled deeply and looked around, everything was all pretty, and very precise - the beds with floral blankets, the livestock quarters, and some nice dishes. "Prettt things are not what they seem", she sadly whispered. And when she looked out the window, she realized she's losing time. "I have to go", Haelan said as she stood and went straight out of the door.

"You can't leave me, Haelan. Don't you love me?", Beatrice beg as she follow Haelan out.

Haelan looked back and shouted, "You are not my mother!". Her voice echoed in the forest as she escape her weeping mother. She followed the orange sky, hoping she'll make it perfectly on time. With the voice of Beatrice calling her name, haunting and wailing for her to come back to the cabin.

Running through the bushes and following the light, Haelan caught a glimpse of a man. She walked closer as she notice a familiar face. Then, she found Ottis laughing and playing around with a lizard-like creature that has a long tail, elongated limbs, dead eyes and a long black hair. And so, in the eyes of others, the mimic's appearance reveal.

"Ottis! Ottis!!", Haelan called for Ottis.

"Haelan? Oh Squirrel! ", he said as he catch his breath. "I want you to meet my brother, Holden. He joined the admissions a few years back. I never knew he was just here", Ottis replied.

Haelan thought that he's the participant who was killed in the last part of the admission test Ottis was telling her about. "Ottis, we have to go. We have to finish the test", Haelan said.

"No, squirrel. No tests for me anymore. My brother is here so, there's no place else for me to go", Ottis refused as he held the creature's hand. "My brother needs me. You should go", he insisted.

"Ottis! You will die if you stay here!!", Haelan said as he grab Ottis pulling him away.

"No, squirrel! This place is where I belong", Ottis replied as he let go of Haelan's hand.

Haelan thought that she should provoke Ottis to wake him up from his senses. So, she called Beatrice to intervene, starting a fight would be timely.

"Mother!! Come here!!", Haelan invited as Beatrice came quickly in sight. "Mother, come", she called.

"Ottis! This creature will hurt your brother, do you understand?", Haelan said as she pointed at Beatrice who's a creature-like in the eyes of Ottis.

"What?", Ottis' increasing rage started to ignite. "No one will hurt my brother", he said as he started a fight.

Ottis immediately attacked Beatrice, the creature, with his bare hands, as the malevolent creature fight back. Throwing punches and kicks, Ottis energy depletes. Now Haelan thought it's a wrong move, she couldn't even help Ottis who's engaged in a duel. Then, with a couple more exchange of strikes, Ottis passed out on the ground like the sky losing light.

Haelan ran to Ottis waking him up. She tried to heal him but none of her magic works at this time. Then, the real form of Oizys appeared from the dark, with eyes like rubies, a wagging tail, and long arms and legs like a spider. "You are both mine, Haelan", she said.

Haelan felt nothing but anger. If she have listened more to her mother, she could have control her powers. And that at grave times like this, she could at least do something than stand helpless.

Oizys slithered towards Haelan, with arms reaching around her shoulders. "Haelan", Oizys breathlessly said.

Haelan closed her fist tightly, faced the creature who's calling her name repetitively. "My.. name is… Helena!!", she shouted as she beamed her healing light from across her body.

******

A few more minutes, it's almost time. Six participants have already made out alive. Atrius comforts Jacomus, who's still crying out loud after a brief encounter with his beloved cat.

The sun is about to set below its horizon when everyone saw a big gleam of light coming out of the treetops nearby. Alarmingly, the Lords watched the light full of great energy in much worry. The participants gaze in awe, because surely, when they practiced their power inside the forest, not a single wavelength of energy came out.

"That could not possibly be Oizys. Wouldn't it?", Alesso said as he measure the strenght of the beams. "That's too strong for a demon", he added

"I thought no amount of power can be expelled within the forest?", Vesta asked as she watch the immense energy disappear.

"That's what I thought", Alesso replied in confusion as he followed Lord Callaghan and Lord Harlan who were already walking past them.

"Someone's coming", Stellan said as he worry that Oizys might be nearing. Lord Harlan smirked, and stopped halfway to see the pair of men advancing. All eyes were on Haelan, with Ottis on her back. Walking out slowly until the sun is out of sight.

"That lad remind me of someone", Harlan told Callaghan as they watch Haelan put Ottis down.