Chapter 10: Into The Forbidden Forest
Lucas and Victoria arrived at Elder James's home only to find it deserted. Instead of the Elder, they discovered the secret note left by Phina. Victoria read the warning, her face pale with realization. "So this is Eric's plan?" she whispered. "He's willing to murder an innocent man for power? A power that will never truly be his."
Turning to Lucas, she asked urgently, "What can we do? If he fled in the middle of the night, he couldn't have gone far. He might still be hiding in the Forbidden Forest." She looked at the dark, looming trees at the edge of the property. "Can you locate him with magic?"
"I can," Lucas replied, his expression grim, "but using magic here is dangerous. It's like lighting a signal fire for Den to follow."
"Then we won't use it unless we have to," Victoria decided, her resolve hardening. "Let's just go in and find him ourselves." Without another word, they stepped into the shadows of the forest, beginning their search for the missing elder James.
As they entered the Forbidden Forest, the air turned icy and a heavy silence fell over the trees. "Victoria, stay close to me," Lucas warned. "Do not answer if you hear your name, and do not look if you hear a baby crying." Because Lucas's powers were dampened within these ancient woods, they were forced to travel on foot. Almost immediately, a mist took the shape of Victoria's mother.
"Victoria," the apparition pleaded, "why are you running from home? The palace is safe, and your father is waiting. Please, come back."
Just as Victoria reached out to embrace her, Lucas pulled her back. "Look at its feet!" he commanded. Victoria looked down and saw that the figure had no shadow and no feet—only swirling dust and mist. She screamed, and the illusion vanished into thin air.
"Be careful," Lucas cautioned. "This forest knows your heart and will use your emotions against you."
They pressed on, surviving that encounter only to hear the sound of a crying infant. Victoria tried to ignore it, but when she heard a voice calling her name and telling her to stop crying, she couldn't resist. She followed the sound to a vision of a man standing by a riverbank, clutching a baby. "I will save you from your father, Victoria," the man whispered. "Your blood will not be used for his power. I will save you from the King's clutches."
Victoria turned to Lucas, confused. "Is that Elder James? What is he talking about?"
"We are at the Memory Tree," Lucas explained. "The forest is bleeding the past into the present. That is a memory of the night you were taken to the river; James is not actually here."
As the vision faded, Lucas realized that the real Elder James was hiding at the **Heart of the Forest**. But as they moved to find him, a massive gate creaked open and four giant lions—the Guardians of the Heart—stepped out. Lucas recognized them and pleaded for the release of his friend.
"He gave himself willingly to the Heart," the Guardians spoke.
"He did so to hide from the traitor demon, Den," Lucas replied.
"Den has returned?" the Guardians roared. "Then the realm will soon fall out of balance." They turned their gaze toward Victoria. "You cannot run from him. His blood flows in you; he can feel your presence wherever you go."
"I don't understand," Victoria said, trembling. "Why does his blood run in me?"
The Guardians gave her one final instruction: "When you return to Valor, sing and call for the old man named **Karl**. Only he can tell you the truth you have been searching for."
With that, the Guardians released Elder James to them. Reunited and shaken by the revelations, the group began their journey back to the Kingdom of Valor.
The journey back to Valor was cloaked in a heavy, uneasy silence. No one spoke a word. Elder James appeared exhausted, his eyes still clouded by the lingering, mystical haze of the "Heart of the Forest."
Once they reached the safety of the mountain peak, Victoria let out a sigh of relief. "Can I sing now?" she asked, desperate for answers.
"Not yet," Lucas cautioned. "Remember, Den can sense your every move. We wait until we are secure in our quarters to call for Karl. Besides, he is already a friend to you—there's no need to be so tense."
Lucas knew the dark truth hidden in her blood, but it wasn't his place to reveal it. That burden belonged to Karl, which was why Karl had first approached her back at the riverbank.
As soon as they reached their room in Valor, Victoria, Lucas, and Elder James gathered together. Victoria began to hum the low, haunting melody her mother used to sing to her as a baby. As the tune filled the room, Karl suddenly appeared.
"Finally, you've called," the old man said with a warm smile. "I've been waiting ages for this." Victoria rushed to him, throwing her arms around him and weeping as if a dam had finally broken.
Karl looked over at Lucas. "Long time no see, Lucas. I see you've finally met your bride."
"Karl," Lucas acknowledged with a curt nod.
Victoria pulled back, wiping her eyes. "Old man, why did the Guardians of the Forest send me to you? What is the truth?"
Karl chuckled softly. "So, you've seen the Guardians? That means Den is back on this earth." He turned a sharp gaze toward Lucas. "And you didn't call me? Boy, what were you thinking? You know you can't fight him without her reaching her true potential."
He gestured for them to make themselves comfortable. "Sit down. This is going to be a long night. You want to know why you feel a connection to the traitor, Den."
"They said his blood flows in me," Victoria whispered. "How is that possible? Elder James told me my father was a Keeper."