Chapter 21- Wicked Forest

Crystal heard the sound of water. Like when you run a tap only ten times louder. She could smell the damp earth. Opening her eyes, she had to shut them again to block out the bright light that instantly made her head pound.
Opening her eyes into little slits she made out the scene in front of her. A curtain of white water came over the grey rocks and crashed into the water below.
She heard the low mumble of voices and sat up. She was sitting on the cold ground beside a stream. Just ahead was a beautiful breath-taking waterfall. Her eyes now fully open she could see a slight shimmer around the water.
Crystal wanted a better look; she got to her feet and took a few steps to the water’s edge.
“Don’t get too close, the merfolk are not nice folks,” Drake held her elbow and steered her away. Her gaze caught Levi’s. He looked angry. It was easy to tell with the way he held his body rigid and the look in his eyes.
“We need to keep moving,” he said in a low and gruff voice.
“Where are we?” Crystal asked the question that had been in her mind since she had wakened.
“The other side of Wicked Forest. Thanks to you,” Levi snapped.
“My fault? Do you think I asked to be attacked by a wolf? Did I ask for your help?” she shot back.
“You were the one who just had to draw around the symbol of Athens. You are the one that brought us here,”
“Wait, what do you mean?” a sudden panic came over her.
“We are no longer in our world, but in Athens,” Drake said softly.
“Athens, like the land of the Gods?”
“For heaven’s sake. Don’t they teach you anything? Athens is the world in which we came from. By the way a world in which we have been exiled from and if we are caught here then we will be put to death,” Levi stated.
“Exiled, Death?” she whispered as the news sank in. She was dreaming. She had hit her head and had been sucked into a dream. Pinching herself she winced. She definitely felt that.
“We have to find the door that leads to our world. Hopefully when we get there you can open it.”
“If I can’t,” she asked Levi who looked to be losing his patience, his jaw set firm.
“Then we are stuck here.”
The guilt she suddenly felt mixed with her fear it felt like ice in her chest. She felt the beginning of tears sting her eyes and started to walk taking long strides. Why did she do those things? She was cursed she had to be. Why else would bad luck stick to her like glue?
“We better get going,” she was surprised at how strong her voice sounded, even though she was close to tears.
“You’re going the wrong way,” Drake called out to her. When she turned back, both the boys stood in the same spot. Huffing she followed along behind them in silence as they made their way through the forest.
Even though, Levi was mad at her for taking them to such a place. Still Crystal couldn’t help but bask it the beauty it held. Each flower, each leaf, everything was more vibrant and colourful. The colours seemed to sparkle with the sun like they were covered in glitter.
Crystal soon noticed that they were following the river upwards, as the currents moved past her.
She paused as she saw a flash of white head towards the stream. Its stunning white coat was as white as snow. But that wasn’t what had made her pause, but the horn on the horse’s head.
It lowered its head into the stream and began to lap up the clear water. Her body moved closer to the unicorn on its own accord. It lifted its head slowly and their eyes met. The unicorn’s eyes were the most stunning blue she had ever seen. She couldn’t take her eyes of them. Her body began to feel light. It was like she was floating closer to the beautiful animal.
Suddenly, her vision was blocked by a black t-shirt. She found herself looking at Levi’s chest.
“You are worse than a child.”
“Am not,” she folded her arms and stamped her foot which made Levi raise his eyebrows. Okay that was childish, she looked over his shoulder and watched the unicorn trot away, it moved like a stallion, proud of himself, its glittering fur only added to its memorizing look.
“Then why did you let the unicorn hypnotize you. You’re lucky I stepped in. Another minute or second who knows, and you would be dead now.”
“Levi, knock it off. It is clear that the Starlight coven has taught her nothing,” the way that Drake spoke about her coven caused Crystal to become defensive of them.
“Maybe they had their reasons,” she said.
Levi laughed and carried on walking; it was obvious that he didn’t agree.
As she walked, she looked back on her lessons within the community.
She couldn’t recall a single one about Unicorns,
Nor Athens. Granted she wasn’t much of a student and spent most of her time daydreaming. Still if they had mentioned another world with enchanting creatures, she would have paid attention.
There was still so much she didn’t know. Not only about herself, but where she had come from, another world was hidden within the forest she loved dearly.
Was that the real reason her mother didn’t want her there?