章節 51: FORBIDDEN

As the night fell, the blue haze of day lifted to reveal the stars. The night breeze fluttered the curtains through the open windows.

Classical music sang from the old gramophone softly, awakening the emotions of the musicians rising as a symphony of their souls to the listeners, a conversation that is more intimate than hardly any will admit.

The breeze was colder than usual due to the autumn seasonal change.

Astrel was listening to the music playing through the gramophone, reminiscing his memories while he did his illustration, pouring the deepest of his soul.

The once blank white sheet was being inked by his pen, a detailed sketch of a new type of gadget. He had to prepare a collection of new gadgets for the upcoming winter collection. It was the most awaited show for people like him.

Rookies would get opportunities to display their defensive gadgets too. It would be a perfect timing for one to get the spotlight with their great efforts spent on their works. It was not so easy even for a topper unless they put a big effort into their products with a genuine concern and hard workings.

The very show which could put one to light could dim the already lit companies, a turning point for anyone who took part in it. That was how his world worked, walking on the edges of the cliff.

Stars shone as sugar split over black marble glistening in the sun. It looked like the most beautiful art, alive with raw energy, a song for the eyes.

At times Vilian felt as if she could feel the vibration, some whispers in a way her ears could not reach the distant voice but today, the voice was clear. She could hear a woman's voice whisper in her ears,

"Vilian! Vilian! Come to me, my dear! You belong Where I am. Follow me..." She heard the bewitching voice of a woman calling her in whispers, she could not resist herself but follow the whispers.

Leaving the room door open behind her, she left the room, a thin overcoat draped over her pale white nightgown. The whispers faded too quick for Vilian to follow so she had to run wherever the whispers were taking her. She didn't know where she was heading to but she didn't care and continued.

The run came to an abrupt stop in front of a large door and so did the whispers disappear behind the black door.

Vilian was having a hard time deciding whether to step ahead or not. But then, she thought after all the way she came here, why not try doing this and her curiosity got to its best.

Her hands which were itching to open the door turned the doorknob opening the enormous beautifully carved wooden door and a sudden force pushed her into the room causing her to fall on her knees, scraping her knees and palms. It stung her.

_________

THUD!!

_________

The door behind her shut harshly. She glanced behind her. It was dark. Wherever she took a glance, it was dark startling her.

She was never afraid of the dark but now she did. Her eyes opened wide, dilating in the darkness looking for anything and everything visible, moving her hands back and forth trying to feel anything that was blocking ahead so she could move ahead but she neither caught nor felt anything.

What made her feel so scared was the surroundings were eerily silent in the pitch-black darkness causing a shiver of fear to run down her spine.

A soft breeze swept past her. There was an open area somewhere here thought Vilian but soon after the thought crossed her mind lights lit causing her to squint her eyes due to the sudden intrusion of the light. She peeked through the gaps in her fingers, slowly getting adapted to the light, she dropped her hands down.

Vilian gasped at the beautiful sight. It was a magical sight to be captured. There were big and tall wooden shelves stacked with loads of books wherever she saw and a tall stand stood in the middle of the place which looked like a dreamy library, an open book placed above it.

Even from afar the edges of the book shined gold. Golden dust-like particles were floating in the air, above the big book. She felt so bewildered by the sight. That was not all. White fairy-like butterflies were flying everywhere.

A butterfly came flying towards her whispering something she could not understand and sat on her right shoulder and another few more came circling her.

Vilian tried touching them but her fingers passed through the creature. She could not feel it. 'Was it some kinda spirit?' thought Vilian.

They were all whispering something. Not one was whispering in her ears, but a lot more. It wasn't annoying but a piece of music to her ears. She felt like she was under a spell feeling dizzy just by the whispers.

Unknown to her, her feet padded leaving a sparkle of blue light behind her footsteps which sparkled and risen like the magical spirits in the fairytales.

She looked behind her only to see blue sparkles and when she got rid of them waving her hands in front her, she saw the door missing. She searched for an exit but she could not spot it anywhere.

The place was just lit by what looked like magical sparks and the light that refracted from the full moon through the transparent glass dome ceiling, straightly above the stand where the big book was placed. As if she was spellbound she walked towards the book that was now floating in the air.

"Watch where you step!" resonated a voice in the library. She looked around for the person but he was nowhere to be seen. She ignored thinking that it was her mind playing tricks but then again she heard it.

"Do you not get what I said? I warned you once but not again," came the voice behind when she ignored it earlier and stepped ahead.

Vilian took an about turn as soon as she heard the voice and met nothing but the cold breeze which swept her from behind causing her gown to stick to her body and her hair to fall front.

Tucking her hair behind her ears, she looked down not knowing why was she being warned and saw herself in a circle with lots of jibberish strange letters and signs. A frown came to settle on her forehead.

"Oh... I just wanna go back to the room..." mumbled Vilian, "I wish Astrel was here," she said pouting her lips, and sat on the floor with a sigh feeling her legs ache.

"Looking for me?" Came the voice bringing hope in Vilian to get away from the strange place.

She immediately stood up from where she was and searched for him. Though it was beautiful and bewitching she didn't want to stay here. Not alone at least. That way she could assure her safety.

Astrel! He was there, standing in the dark, his eyes staring at her glowing blue. She ran towards him as soon as she saw him, but the floor started shaking and she looked down to see a red light emitting and heat radiating. She felt her feet turning warmer and warmer and screamed out in panic,

"Astrel!! Help me," she screamed and looked up only to see him not there. She searched for him but he wasn't anywhere.

"Foolish girl, didn't I warn you? Now look what you've caused yourself," the same voice whispered in her ears and laughed evilly causing Vilian to close her ears with her hands.

"Who are you?! What do you want from me?" she screamed while trembling in fear.

"Oh, dear! You ask who am I? Why don't you question it yourself?" It questioned back and laughed again.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"Now, now, don't blame me for where you are. Aren't you the one who came here by yourself? What a bad child you are to blame your faults on me? I was trying to help you by warning you, didn't I?" The voice turned louder and louder. Vilian felt a headache.

"ASTREL!!! UNCLE FALCON!! HELP!!!"