QUEEN SANDRA.

　　I remained stunned as I looked at the man standing in front of me. Many questions rushed into my mind. How on earth was he here?

　　Simon the wizard, an old man bowed his head and looked at me with that infuriating smug smile.

　　“Here comes the queen of the Wizard kingdom.” He says bowing lightly before resuming his previous position.

　　His words make her flush a bit. In his words I cannot help but feel mocked or teased at the least. I can feel the blood rushing to my cheeks and the wave of unnecessary shame that engulfs me. Somehow, knowing that he came to speak to me this way makes me feel slightly cross, if not enraged. I feel the urge to leave right now. I stopped myself before I made any rash moves.

　　If I left here, everything I had gone through would have been for nothing, all the beasts I had fought and the danger of being present in the dark forest, all my time spent scheming couldn’t go to waste. I will not allow it.

　　And everything I had gone through, I had done out of her love for Jake. My hope that through this plan of mine I will finally get his heart and he will love me and only me forever was too enchanting to think about. So was I about to let that all go to waste? There is not a way on earth I will do that.

　　So I held in my discomfort and as I had been trained to do for a long time, kept her face in a stoic mask. It was very unnerving to keep eye contact with him for some reason, yet I knew that I must face this battle of wills.

　　The old man laughed and gave a smile, showing off his crooked teeth. He cut off eye contact before moving to the side.

　　“Well then, would you like to come in?” he said, moving his hands In order to usher me inside.

　　I would have moved, if not for the gaping problem in front of me; the barrier. I was already feeling down from the first time it hit and I didn’t want to go through that a second time.

　　But if he knew what was going on, why did he usher her in? Was it all a trick to let her guard down? Was it a way to humiliate her? I thought to myself.

　　I felt anger rise in me at the latter thought. He had been casted out by Jake; did he have some vendetta against me which he wanted to resolve through this? Out of fear and thoughtfulness I stayed stock still and watched the old man chuckle and turn away heading inside.

　　It wasn’t until he reached the corner, a little past my eyeshot from the door that he spoke “I have already let down the barriers for now your majesty. Nothing will harm you”

　　I blinked at his words, opening my mouth to speak. But before I could say anything he had already tried the corner, and I could to see him anymore. Using and taking careful steps closer to the point I was hit. I saw my magical sight and looked to still see the facing sheen of magic surrounding the place. This mea I feel incredulous. He hadn’t taken it down.

　　If what he was saying was true… I thought to myself

　　I held my breath and kept my fingers crossed before I brought my leg forward, towards the step where the barrier was covering. To my surprise I could feel no resistance and soon my feet landed with a thump. I looked down to where my feet were to see that my leg was past the barrier I could see, yet for some reason I didn’t feel anything like before. There was no blocking or resistance sent most especially, no pain.

　　After moments of contemplation I had deemed it safe to go all the way.

　　I stepped in through the barrier and saw that it was still present. Looking at the mirror I could still see the ‘barrier.’

　　There was no time to wander. I had to speak to the wizard.

　　I fully entered the barrier, stepping into it fully before walking down the path that the wizard followed. Reaching the door, I entered and shut it.

　　The house looked so different from the inside. It was so shocking. Unlike the smaller building I saw from the outside, the inside was very wide and spacious, the hallways dark and lit with several candles spread across its walls. I looked up and found that the ceiling was even higher than what I was seeing on the outside.

　　I turned to the direction I could see the wizard previously go before disappearing off of sight and followed it. The more I walked, the more I could feel my stomach curl in anticipation. On my way there I couldn’t help but admire the multi-colored candles which changed in order. It turned from a flaming green to electric blue and even a bright pink. It was a sight to wonder about.

　　I halted my admiration. I had to meet the wizard and there was no dallying to be done. I turned away from the walls and walked faster to the direction.

　　Finally I saw an open door which had lights emanating from it. I knew that that must be the room to the wizards place and I turned to step in.

　　I did not know what to expect but this was more than I had possibly imagined. The room was large, dare I say as large as the rooms in the palace. The floors were lined with a carpet which, from the sight of the texture, was velvet.

　　I saw many wonders. On his shelf, not only were there books, but jars filled with fireflies which aided in lighting up the room.

　　Mostly there was a long table – akin to the dining rooms in the palace- filled with jars and cauldrons. One of said cauldrons was transparent, and glowing an eye-catching mix of purple, pink and red.

　　“Don’t just stand there, you can sit on this couch,” he said, pointing to a couch at the far side.

　　I could see the couch he was referring to. The couch was medium length and was a bright gold with black intricate embroidery. The gold shining with the glow of the room and considering the fabric I could assume that the couch will be soft to sit in. The most eye-catching part of the entire thing was not any of that, but rather, the fact that it was floating.

　　It seemed close enough to the ground to be difficult to notice. It was obvious that it was hovering.

　　I turned back to him only to see him gone. I felt incredulous at the audacity but I took a deep breath in, telling myself that it was okay. I was going to do as he said and head to the couch.

　　I moved forward to see a standing coat rack close to me. Removing my cloak I kept it on the rack before moving towards the couch. I sat on it and was pleasantly surprised at the silky texture of the couch. I couldn’t help but be drawn in by the feel and color.

　　There was a noisy clatter and I turned away from my reverie to see the old man coming toward me with two cups in hand.

　　“Of course, what sort of guest would I be if I failed to offer such an esteemed guest a drink?” he exclaimed. I kept my mouth shut despite the slight embarrassment I felt from his words. He brought two glass cups and sat on the other end of the couch, bringing forward one of the cups to me.

　　“Here you go,” he said. I looked at the drink analyzing its dark red contents. I never liked taking anything unknown, and disliked being served things I did not know. Furthermore, I was not planning on taking anything and wanted it to be all business. Looking at the dark contents also fueled my uneasiness

　　I lifted my hand up to block the cup, giving an apologetic smile before nodding.

　　“I appreciate the offer but no. I won’t be here long and the reason for my coming here is really important.” I said.

　　The man looked at me, quirking his eyebrow and musing

　　“Okay then, More for me.” He murmured in a tone I could see held no resentment and instead sounded gleeful more than anything.

　　He kept the second glass on the small floating table at his end before nursing the one he had in his other arm, twirling its contents lightly.

　　“So, my queen, I wonder what on earth could have brought you here.” He said before he tilted the glass, taking the drink down all at once. The moment he did so I could smell the slight stale metallic scent that could only come from one thing. I held in my urge to gag and was inwardly thankful that I hadn’t accepted the drink.

　　Once he put the cup down his lips were stained with the bloo- drink that he had taken. I corrected myself. The old wizard licked his lips to remove the stain and kept the glass on the table, taking a hold of the second glass.

　　It felt unnerving and combined with the sight I had witnessed; it was very difficult to speak at the moment.

　　“Hmm” he mused “it seemed like you’re unable to say anything at the moment, so instead why don’t I guess?”

　　I felt insulted at his notion and was about to speak when he interrupted.

　　“Or is it in order to create a love potion?”

　　I instantly kept my mouth shut. I gaped in shock. How did he know? I turned the other way and focused on the velvet carpet on the floor, trying to rationalize it. While I stay silent I listen to him as he continues.

　　“Let’s see…you are here because you want your husband, his majesty Jake to love you, and hate the person he really loves, correct?” the wizard spoke.

　　I turned to him sharply, ignoring the whiplash the quick movement made me feel. I saw him wearing a smug look on his face with one of his eyebrows quirked up in amusement.

　　“How did you-?” I said, halting at my last word. I sat stunned with questions rushing through my mind. Was he a telepath of some sorts? Could mind reading be among his arsenal of magic? Or could he be a clairvoyant?

　　He simply laughed and got off the couch reaching for the place where he put his cup under a small pipe; there his cup was filled with the same mixture as before. I stared at him the whole time as he walked back to the couch and sat beside me again, taking a sip of his drink before looking at me.

　　“How I know may probably not be your problem. Despite being cast out of the kingdom I still have my ways and my network still exists. I won’t explain further on that though.” He ended with a chuckle before taking another sip from his cup.

　　I brought myself out of my tracks. To me, it did matter how he got that information. Dealing with that would be on a later date. What mattered was my problem, and if he was able to solve it.

　　“Since you already know my people, I’m sure you must have a solution.” I urged him, my words made the jib pause.’

　　I continued, “Somebody told me that you’ve helped them with a problem like this before. I just want him to love me and hate that stupid elf girl called Carlisle. I will pay any price.”

　　He didn’t say a word; he only looked at me blankly, staring at me in silence.