Chapter 6

Denise's life in the castle had settled into a cozy routine that was full of discovery and education. But as time went on, she started to encounter odd and inexplicable events. When no one else was there, whispers seemed to brush against her ear, and she experienced a strong, unexplainable bond with the forest.

Denise could no longer brush the whispers off as fantasy as they became louder and more insistent. She heard the low, raspy voice calling out to her one night as she was walking through the palace gardens. "Come to the jungle, Denise. Make a claim to your birthright. Denise turned, but there was no one in the gardens. Wondering if the voice was a creature's cry, she looked around the trees.

Rather, she noticed a shadowy figure observing her. Like a nightfall, the woman's long, flowing hair fell down her back. Denise felt a chill go down her spine as she saw the inner fire burning in her eyes. Denise was intrigued and apprehensive as the woman disappeared into the trees. What did this enigmatic woman want from Denise, and who was she? The murmuring voice reappeared, its voice more demanding. "Denise, come to the jungle. Your fate is in store. Denise inhaled deeply before venturing into the unknown.

Deep shadows stretched and twisted on the ground as the trees appeared to press in on her. The smell of damp earth and rotting leaves filled the air. The trees rose in height as she went, their branches tangled above her like skeletal fingers. It was like wandering through a dream, and Denise felt confused. She staggered into a clearing abruptly. A gigantic tree, its trunk gnarled and twisted with age, stood in the middle.

A wave of recognition passed through Denise, like though she had seen the tree before. Then she recalled. In her fantasies, she had seen the tree, towering tall and proud in a dark forest. The whispering sound reappeared as she got closer to the tree. "Welcome, Denise. I've been anticipating your arrival.

Wondering who was talking to her, Denise looked around the clearing. She noticed Lucian standing behind the tree at that moment, his eyes shining with a knowing light. "What's happening?" Denise's question was hardly audible above a whisper. Lucian smiled, his eyes burning with an inner fire. "You're awakening to your true nature," he stated. "You're discovering your hidden heritage." Denise experienced a wave of both anticipation and fear.

Lucian meant what? What was her true nature? As she was about to ask another question, the world around her began to swirl. Through a gap of silence and darkness, Denise felt herself falling. She was in a wet, dark cave when she landed. The stench of rot and decay permeated the air. Wondering where she was and how she got there, Denise staggered to her feet. Then she noticed someone standing in the dark.

The woman with the long, flowing hair was the one. Her eyes were blazing with an inner fire as she watched Denise with unwavering focus. The woman added, "Welcome, Denise," in a raspy, low voice. "I am your mother, Arachne. And the secret to opening an old prophecy lies with you, Denise." As Denise gazed at Arachne, her thoughts whirled. Which prophecy? How was it related to her? Just as she opened her mouth to ask, Arachne held up her palm, and a dazzling light flooded the cave. Denise sensed that she was being raised off the ground and left hanging.

Everything turned black after that. Denise regained consciousness and was resting in her bed in the palace. The whole thing seemed to have been a dream. However, as she sat up, she became aware of an oddity. She had a little leather-bound book on her nightstand. A symbol that appeared to pulse with a subtle, unearthly energy was imprinted on the cover. A scrap of paper fell out of the book when Denise opened it.

There was a note on the paper, written in what appeared to be Arachne's handwriting. "Denise, things are not as they seem. Your fate is not what you believe it to be. At midnight, meet me at the old windmill on the edge of the woodland. Come by yourself. Denise stared at the letter, her heart pounding. What was meant by it? What truth was it that Arachne was discussing? Then, in her ear, she heard a tiny whisper. "Denise, the truth is waiting for you. But are you prepared to deal with it? As Denise gazed at the letter, a chill went through her. She struggled to balance dread and interest. How could Arachne possibly tell the truth that would make all the difference? Denise was thinking about the message when there was a knock on the door. It was Lucian, with a knowing light shining in his eyes. He said, "Denise, I see you've received the message," in a husky, low voice. Anxiety gripped Denise as she nodded.

She questioned, "What does it mean?" With an inner fire blazing in his eyes, Lucian grinned. "It means that you're ready to learn the truth about yourself and your destiny," he stated. Denise experienced a wave of both anticipation and fear. Asking, "What truth?" Leaning closer, Lucian's voice was hardly audible above a whisper. "The truth about your past, your parents, and your true nature," he stated. Denise's eyes went wide with surprise. She questioned, "What do you mean?" Lucian grinned once more, amusement glimmering in his eyes. "All will be revealed in time," he stated. "But for now, let's just say that you're not who you think you are." It seemed as if someone had hit Denise in the stomach. The ramifications of Lucian's comments were causing her to reel. Lucian stretched out and grasped her hand as she stood there, trying to take it all in. "Come with me," he commanded. "At midnight, I'll take you to the windmill.

Together, we'll confront whatever truth lies ahead. Denise nodded, appreciative of Lucian's assistance. Whatever was ahead, she knew she could rely on him. Denise saw that her anxiety increased as the hours passed. At the windmill, what truth would she find? Would it be too much for her? The clock struck midnight at last. They walked to the ancient windmill on the edge of the woodland after Lucian took Denise's hand. Denise noticed a shadowy figure waiting for them as they got closer to the windmill. It was Arachne, with a knowing light shining in her eyes. "Welcome, Denise," Arachne whispered in a sultry, deep voice. "I see you're ready to face the truth." With some apprehension, Denise nodded. When she said, "I'm ready," Arachne grinned, an inner fire blazing in her eyes. When she said, "Then let us begin," Arachne then extended her hand and grasped Denise's hand. Lucian trailed closely behind, staring at Denise's back. Denise was filled with dread as they entered the windmill. Here, what truth would she find? Would it be too much for her? Unsettling shadows were created on the walls by the windmill's groaning and creaking. Denise thought she was entering a nightmare.

As they got to the top of the windmill, Arachne paused and looked across at Denise. Arachne added, "The truth is," in a voice that was hardly audible but whispery. "This world is not your home. You are from a magical and wonderful realm that is beyond this one. Denise's eyes went wide with surprise. She questioned, "What do you mean?" Arachne grinned, a knowing light shining in her eyes. "You are a princess from the world of Tenebrous," she stated. "A parallel universe to this one." Additionally, you came here with a purpose that only you can accomplish." It seemed as if someone had hit Denise in the stomach.

The ramifications of Arachne's comments were causing her to reel. Lucian moved forward, staring at Denise's face as she stood there, trying to take it all in. "There's more," he replied in a husky, low voice. "You are more than simply a Tenebrous princess. An old prophecy that will decide the fate of both worlds can only be unlocked by you." Denise's eyes went wide with surprise. She said, "What a prophecy?" With an inner fire blazing in his eyes, Lucian grinned. He uttered, "The prophecy of the chosen one," "The one who will bring balance to the worlds and restore the flow of magic."

Denise felt as though she was drowning in doubt. What was the meaning of it all? What should she have done? Arachne reached out and held her hand as she stood there, trying to figure out what was going on. Her words, "Do not worry, Denise," "Everything will become clear to you in due time. Let's just suppose for the moment that you have a big future ahead of you, one that will call for bravery, tenacity, and resolve.

Denise nodded as a wave of determination passed over her. No matter how intimidating everything appeared, she was prepared to take on whatever was ahead.

Denise experienced an odd feeling as she stood there, attempting to take it all in. It seemed as though a warm, golden light was pouring into her body. She was suddenly overcome with flashbacks to her time spent in the Tenebrous world.

She pictured herself as a young girl playing in the palace's gardens. She pictured herself as a teenager who was being taught magic by her instructors. And she pictured herself as a young lady, gazing out over the city from the palace's balcony. However, Denise became aware that something was wrong when the images subsided.

There was something wrong with the recollections. They were... changed. "Arachne, what's going on?" Anxiety gripped Denise as she questioned. Arachne grinned, a knowing gleam glimmering in her eyes. "The memories you saw were not your own," she continued. "They were implanted in your mind, to help you adjust to your new life here." Denise's eyes went wide with surprise. She questioned, "What do you mean?" Lucian took a step forward, staring at Denise's face. "You were brought here as a child," he stated. "You were put here for your own safety by your parents, the Tenebrous king and queen.

They were aware of your uniqueness and your critical position in both worlds' futures. It seemed as if someone had hit Denise in the stomach. The ramifications of Lucian's comments were causing her to reel. With a desperate tone, she questioned, "But why did they send me here?" For a brief moment, Denise noticed a hint of grief in Arachne's eyes as her grin wavered. "They sent you here because they knew that you were in danger," she said. "In Tenebrous, a malevolent entity was emerging that posed a threat to the destruction of both worlds. Your parents were aware that they needed to keep you secure from people who might try to hurt you.

A shiver went down Denise's back. Her voice was hardly audible above a whisper when she questioned, "What dark force?" Lucian's gaze was harsh as his eyes met hers. Saying, "The Shadow," "A dark and malevolent force that seeks to destroy all that is good in both worlds." It seemed to Denise that she was looking into the abyss. She was aware of the peril to both realms and the need to understand more about the Shadow. However, she noticed something that made her heart skip a beat as she turned to face Arachne.

The deep, blazing red of Arachne's eyes had shifted. "Arachne, what's wrong?" With a sense of worry, Denise asked. Arachne's eyes blazed with an inner fire, and her smile widened. She said, "I'm afraid I'm not who you think I am," in a deep, low voice. "Denise, I'm not your mother. I'm something far more sinister." Arachne's body then started to move and morph, her limbs elongating and twisting like a puppet on a string. Denise was horrified to see Arachne's face slip away, exposing a shadowy, black creature underneath.

Denise murmured, "You're the Shadow," as a wave of fear passed over her. The Shadow's eyes, blazing with an inner fire, met hers. "I am," it said in a thick, deep voice. "And you, Denise, are the key to my ultimate power." Denise knew she had to move quickly as the Shadow stretched out to seize her. The Shadow flew across the room as she raised her hands and conjured a magical explosion. However, Denise became aware that she was not alone as she stood there, gasping and shaking in terror. Standing next to her, Lucian's gaze was focused on the Shadow. He whispered, "We have to get out of here," in a quiet, frantic voice. "Now."

Denise nodded, understanding that she needed to have faith in Lucian. The Shadow's laughter reverberated like a curse behind them as they turned and fled together. However, Denise's heart skipped a beat when she noticed something as they came out of the windmill. A man with eyes that appeared to be blazing with an inner fire was waiting for them.

The apparition responded, "Welcome, Denise," in a silky, low voice. "I had been anticipating your arrival. I'm Kael, and I'm here to lead you to the only location where the Shadow won't harm you." Denise's mind was buzzing with questions as her eyes narrowed. Kael was who? Where was he referring to? However, Kael grabbed her hand before she could express any questions. "Come with me," he murmured, an inner fire blazing in his eyes.

After that, Denise sensed that she was being drawn into a magical and dark world where illusion and reality were continually muddled and nothing was as it seemed. Denise became more and more enthralled by Kael's mysterious presence as they traveled through the mysterious realm's twisting alleys and secret passageways. There appeared to be a profound wisdom in his eyes, a knowing that transcended the everyday world. "Who are you?" Denise's question was hardly audible above a whisper.

The way Kael smiled was like a secret told. His words, "I am a guardian," "A protector of the world-to-world boundary. And I've been tasked with protecting you from those who might try to hurt you." Denise's mind was buzzing with questions as her eyes narrowed. By "those who would seek to harm" her, what did Kael mean?