Chapter 76: The Past

Rakiza and Ajella's paths are dark because of the wind. They were traversing snow-covered terrain that was uneven and up and down. Rakiza was about to complain, but she decided to save all her questions for later. She had no idea where they were going. Ajella remained silent as she was led to the location where her mind was linked with Theo's. And Angela didn't have some information about Ajella's agreements with Theo that had been shared with her.
Until they arrived in a small village and rented a paid shelter for the night. Rakiza inspected the inspection while Ajella went to get some food. The village was made up of nearly 20 small houses. Due to the snowstorm, a few people wandered around. Rakiza decided to confine herself to the small cottage they had rented.
A few minutes later, Ajella came back with a handful of food, which she placed on a small table they have in the cottage, along with a jar of water.
"Where is this place?" Rakiza finally spoke up to Ajella. But Ajella's statement was a little dry. "This is Rio Village, but we're going to Raven Forest."
"Where are Theo and Nikolas?"
Rakiza inquired firmly.
"They're also on their way here. We have to arrive and inspect ahead of the forest where we are going to stay and hide Nikolas," Ajella explained. "Nikolas is badly injured, so he needs to be kept somewhere no one knows, including you and Theo."
"And why is that the decision?" Rakiza was perplexed, "Who chooses the location for a haven?" Rakiza wondered; she expected them to stay in the city and hide Nikolas there, not in a foreign country, as they were doing. Rakiza began to suspect something was wrong.
"Trust me, this is for your good," Ajella said as she walked outside. "I have to be out for a while."
"Where are you going?"
"We need a guide; we need to hire a man who can lead us into the heart of the Raven Forest," Ajella said through the falling snowflakes.

Rakiza sat down in a small child's bed and gazed up at the cottage's ceiling. Her thoughts were racing to Theo and Nikolas. In her mind, questions were colliding. And she made herself feel better by thinking positively about Ajella's plan. Ajella is the only one who has access to Theo's mind. Rakiza, on the other hand, had no idea about the sudden change of hideout following the rescue. She sat down and went to the window, which she opened. The wind was getting stronger outside the cottage, so Rakiza closed the window and went back to sleep.
She awoke late in the morning, and she quickly sat and stood to look for Ajella. Her supposed bed was undisturbed, indicating that she was not in bed last night or had not returned to the room. Rakiza stepped outside and saw Ajella conversing with an older man wearing a long, thick hooded coat that covered his face.
Rakiza greeted them, "Good morning."
"Hello, Rakiza, this is Bartolomeo, our guide," Ajella said.
The man looked at Rakiza for a moment, then extended his hand for a shake. "My name is Bartolomeo, and I'll be your guide through the Raven Forest."
"Ajella, tell me the truth," Rakiza said, expressing her displeasure with her plan. "We ran for a long time, and it's bad not to see Nikolas and Theo. If they're going in this direction, we should probably wait for them here. I'm concerned for them. I wanted to know what was going on with them all. "
"Perhaps your pal is correct," said the older guide, agreeing with Rakiza's suggestion.
"I was instructed to clear the area before they arrived," Ajella stated emphatically. Nikolas was badly injured, and we can't afford to fight the enemies again. All we could do was find Nikolas a safe place away from his kind. A location that his mother couldn't find. But if you don't believe me, you're welcome to wait for them here. " Ajella then turned to face the guide. "Let's get packing and get going."
Rakiza was compelled to obey Theo's command by Ajella's agitation and firmness. As a result, she accompanied them on the trail, along with the guide and another helper, carrying their food and medicine for Nikolas.
After a few hours of walking up a snowy hill, the guide, Bartolome, suggested following the river bank to the Raven Forest. The river bank had a melting show that could provide them with an easy walk. Rakiza noticed Ajella leaving some trail indicators for Theo to follow on their way. Rakiza began breaking twigs from bushes and plants.
They only stopped to eat and drink for a few minutes before continuing on their way until the guide stopped and pointed to a dark forest. "That's the Raven Forest."
Rakiza's heart beat faster as she watched the dark forest they were heading to. "I've been there," Rakiza admitted quietly.
"What? " Ajella reacted. "How did that happen? This is a long way from anywhere we've been. "
"I've dreamt about that forest since I was a child," Rakiza explained. "It was a carousel dream that kept returning until I became a teen."
"Perhaps that is significant," the guide interjected.
"What do you mean, significant?" Rakiza inquired.
"Sometimes, a dream will become your guide to the future and bring you together from the past," he said before falling silent.
"The past," Rakiza murmured, turning to face Ajella. "How did you find this forest, Ajella?"
"Theo suggested it and gave me the directions, which is why we're here now," Ajella stated solemnly. She explained about the location's safety, which could be Nikolas's top priority for protection, as Theo had suggested. She went on to say that it was her first time in the area and that she was excited to see it for herself.
"What piques your interest in that forest?" Rakiza inquired.
"Because of its history," explained Bartolomeo quietly. "Am I correct?"
The guide continued, "What got the people's interest in that forest was the story of the place and the hermit's cave that gave the place the name Raven Forest." Ajella nodded but didn't comment. The enchanted cave was said to be the home of an old and powerful hermit, with Raven as a guide who assisted vampires in seeing the sun for the first time. And it piqued the interest of people from other countries. This location was becoming well-known among vampire and werewolf enthusiasts due to its history. "
Rakiza was astounded by what the man had said and the way he had explained it without any stuttering. According to Bartolomeo, the location was once a haven for an accused mother and her daughter, witch healers, where the daughter was being made a vampire by the vampire-witch named Ardoja.
"Oh no," Rakiza exclaimed, her stomach churning at the mention of the witch Ardoja. She was sure she heard it right and it was written in the book of Zella. Bartolomeo’s story was from the book of Zella that Miss Brinson lent to her as a reference. And now, a simple native guide is talking about it? Is the Book of Zella written by a native of the Raven Forest? Rakiza had a thought.
"Have you heard of the Book of Zella, mister?" Rakiza asked Bartolomeo.
"No, I haven’t," the man answered. "The story was passed from generation to generation by the older people, and now it is my time to tell that story to visitors like you. And it would be an honor to tell you the story of the Raven Mountain Forest. "
"Let’s go!" Ajella rose to her feet and started to walk down the hills without waiting for them to respond. Rakiza quickly picked up her things and pursued Ajella. They were sliding down into the river again and following the riverbank. Ajella was not in the mood to talk, especially with Rakiza. Rakiza could feel it. That’s why she befriends Bartolomeo, who was showing keen attention to every word she uttered.
"How long have you been guiding tourists in this forest?" Rakiza asked the elderly man.
"This is my first time," he replied casually.
"What?" Rakiza was shocked by what she heard from him. And she felt the sudden fear of being lost and not seeing the others again. "How come you accepted the job?"
"Since childhood, I have dreamt of seeing the beauty of the Raven Forest," Bartolomeo recalled his past. "My uncle Ben went there and never came back. It was said that the Raven Forest was a maze. That whoever got in couldn’t find their way out. "
"And you wanted to experience that too?" Rakiza asked. "Of never getting out of that forest?"
"Maybe yes, maybe not," Bartolomeo answered mysteriously. "All I wanted to know was the truth about the mystery of that forest. If it's true, it’s a maze. And if there’s still an enchanted cave within that vast, thick forest, he must see it for himself.
"Have you heard the name Zella?" Rakiza asked.
"Never heard of that name."
"Did you know the name of the accused mother and daughter as witches?"
"None either. There's a belief that those who mention their names may suffer from incurable illnesses. The guide sighed, "So their names were purposely buried and forgotten."
"Are you sure you haven’t heard the name Zella?"
"I told you, I had never heard that name. Who is that? "
"I suppose that’s the name of the girl whom the vampire cursed and turned into one of them." Rakiza explained, "Zella was the daughter of a famous healer named Dali in her time."
The ground suddenly trembled from an earthquake.
The elderly guide warned, "Do not ever speak that name!"