Found

It wasn’t long after Travers left the room, when Allison came back. She looked worriedly at Deidra. “He put something in the soup, didn’t he?” She asked.

Deidra just nodded. She wanted to sleep. She was so tired. She was weak physically, and mentally and emotionally exhausted as well. Perhaps this was all a bad nightmare, and soon she would awaken with her head on a book in the library.

Allison looked sadly at Deidra. Their eyes met, and then Deidra saw a new expression on Allison’s face. It was one of strength, and resolve. The emotions of peace and love were still there, like a sanctuaor hor her, but there was also control and power electrifying the room.

“It is time,” Allison said. She reached down and held Deidra’s hand in her own. Allison’s grip was strong, and at her touch, Deidra was filled with light. Her entire body trembled as if she fil filled by lightning. She closed her eyes to try and blot out the light, only to wrench them bapen pen again when a roaring sound of wind filled her ears. In the background, as if far in the distance, seardeard pounding and shouting at the door. Travers was trying to break it down to get in. But Allison held it tightly shut with her mind, and concentrated on the wind. The wind in the room came together to form a spiral in the corner, and then changed form again into a tunnel of light. Allison pulled Deidra to her, and walked into the tunnel. Deidra had never known such p and and love, and it enveloped her in the tunnel. Her eyes were squeezed tightly against the light, but she couldn’t keep it out of inside her, and she didn’t want to.

When the noise of the wind stopped, Deidra felt herself coming down as if she were being dropped from a high place. She landed with a thud, and exhaled the breath she had been holding. She was no longer filled with the lightning, but a residual feeling of peace and comfort stayed with her. She opened her eyes to find herself in a forest. Allison was standing beside her, with a beautiful smile on her face.

“Welcome to my home,” she said.

Deidra stood and looked around. It was beautiful. The forest was not dark and imposing, but welcoming. The ground was covered with thousands of yellow and purple flowers, and golden grass. The trees were miles high, with khaki trunks and yellow and purple leaves.

“This is Laus,” Deidra whispered.

“Yes, my home. Come, we shall go and see Sulu. He will care for you, and instruct you.”

Instruct me, Deidra thought? What did that mean? She was curious, but not wary. She just knew and felt that this was a good place, and Sulu and Allison were there to help her. Deidra was taught to not argue or question elders. The Sestons and Mr. Giles had ingrained that in her, but she had no fear in questioning Allison.

“Allison, who are you really? Why am I here? Can you please tell me what is going on?”

Allison took Deidra’s hand as they walked beside a clear blue creek. Deidra could see a shelter of some sort in the distance and figured that must be their destination.

“I am your Guardian, Deidra. I was placed where I was to protect you and guide you, and bring you here. Here you will find answers. Have you not heard of Sulu in any of your studies? But, no, you were too young to have delved that deep into the seers and prophets. Sulu is the greatest Seer and Prophet. He foretold the prophecy from which Travers discovered. But prophecy is not always what it looks like. Travers could indeed have destroyed all dimensions, as he had planned. But prophecy can bend and change. It is all in the interpretation, and in choice. Sulu will help to guide you with your decision making, and I will protect you in the future as much as possible.”

“I won’t be staying here, will I?” Deidra asked, already knowing the answer.

“No. You will be going back. But Sulu must prepare you first.” They had reached the shelter. It was a one room house, by the looks of the outside, made of some kind of bronze stone. When Allison opened the door, however, Deidra found herself looking into many rooms, with many passage ways, and many doors. It made her dizzy just gazing into the doorway.

They stepped into the first room, and Allison closed the door behind them. She led Deidra through a great hall, and opened an ornate door at the far end. She beckoned Deidra in, then Allison turned and left her, shutting the door behind her.

Deidra gazed all around her. The door had led to a wonderful garden. There was the sound of running water, and chirping birds. The scent of aromatic flowers coated the air she breathed, and colors were splashed everywhere. So caught up in her paradise like surroundings was she, that she failed to notice Sulu at first. And then her eyes stopped on him, as he sat on a stone bench. He was looking at her kindly. “Hello, Deidra. Come, sit beside me.”

He was out of a fairy tale, she thought. “You look like Merlin!”

Sulu laughed a warm laugh. “Yes, I’ve been told that I resemble myself quite nicely.”

Deidra’s eyes almost bugged out of her head. “Are you Merlin?” she asked.

“I have many names. But you can call me Sulu. Please, sit child. We have much to talk about.”

Deidra sat before him, and Sulu reached down to pick up a wooden cup he had placed between his feet. He handed the cup to Deidra, indicating to her to drink. She smelled the orange liquid, and it was heavenly. When it hit her tongue, her mouth came alive. Never had she tasted so much at once. It was the sweetest of nectar she had ever imagined. She swallowed it all, then looked at Sulu guiltily. “Sorry,” she said. “It was just so wonderful.”

Sulu chuckled kindly again, and nodded his head. “You have been through a lot, and neesomesome restoratives. That should fix you right up in no time,” he said. “You will need much energy for your return trip.”

Deidra frowned at that. “Must I leave here? It is so peaceful and wonderful. Why should I go back? I have no home, no family…” she choked on her words. “Why can’t I stay here?” She pleaded at him.

“Because Rupert and his Slayer need you.” Sulu said.

Deidra’s head snapped up at that. “His Slayer? Rupert has a slayer? But he hasn’t even left for Oxford yet? Oh, wait..prophesy, you are speaking of the future?”

“I am speaking of the now. In your mind, you are still fifteen, sixteen next week?” Deidra nodded. Sulu reached into an inside pocket of his gown, and pulled out a small hand held mirror. “Look into the mirror,” he instructed.

Deidra took the mirror and gazed at herself, and gasped! Who was this woman that reflected in the mirror? It wasn’t here. It wasn’t a little girl. It was a woman? But the woman had her hair, and her eyes. What was going on?

“Yes, Deidra. It is your reflection. You are no longer a child. The portal into this dimension aged you 12 years. In that 12 years Rupert has struggled with his destiny, but has come full circle and is now training as a Watcher at the Council. When you go back, you will age another 12 years. By then, he will have a slayer, will have won many battles, but will need you for the ultimate battle.”

Twelve years? She had aged twelve years? That meant she was looking at a 28 year old reflection. Twelve more years onto that would make her 40. She would be old. Very old. Her whole life would be practically over!

Sulu read her thoughts. “Deidra, I cannot give you back the time you have lost, but I can prepare you for the time ahead. Your world will need you, the Watcher and Slayer will need you, and I can prepare you for the battles to come.” He took the mirror out of her hand, and replaced it within his robes. He stood up. “Come, you need to rest. In the morning, our training and your studies will begin.”

Deidra didn’t think she could sleep now if her life depended on it, but she followed Sulu back into the house of rooms. He led her down a passage way to the right, and opened a door to a bedchamber. Allison was there turning down the bed. Sulu bowed to them both, and then left. Immediately Deidra’s eyes became heavy, and sleep sounded like a good idea after all. Allison tucked her in to the warm, soft bed. It was the most comfortable bed Deidra had ever been in. She fell asleep at once.


TBC