When they reached the valley, the moon rose high over their heads brightly shining the recent battlefield. Now nothing told that recently the bloody battle took place here. Just terrible chaos around!
"I should come back here to sort out the mess," muttered Huron.
"Why are you thinking about it now?" asked the witch.
"I like this place and would love to live here."
"But you can live with me!"
"No, thank you! Two wizards in one cave - it's like two cooks in one kitchen," the sorcerer laughed. "The last sorcerer arranged everything here for normal life. I just need to restore everything! And I'd better to live near the abyss... You never know what may happen?!"
"Well, you decide!" Margo said. "In any case, you are always welcome in my house!"
Our heroes reached the cliffs surrounding the valley and came out. In the fields - here and there - were small horse and foot troops of soldiers - all that remained after this terrible war. The vampires were standing a side. As soon as the soldiers saw their leaders alive, they met them with joyful hooray.
The vampires immediately gave a saddled horse to their master. Arthur came up and shook hands with Swein, Edward and Huron, then climbed into the saddle and said:
"Gentlemen, it was nice to deal with you, even though you are not vampires! Now I must leave you, I have a lot of work to do at home!"
Then the main Vampire came to Lica and said:
"Angelica, if you wish - my castle is always at your disposal!"
"Thank you, Prince!" the girl said sincerely. "I need to be alone for a while to recover and think."
"All right," the Vampire nodded. "But I keep my offer open! I'll always be glad to see you in my castle!"
With these words, the prince of vampires turned his horse and rode away. A few minutes later, the vampires disappeared in the Ghosts Fields.
Prince Night and the Goblins' King ordered their soldiers to line up. Only now, had they realized what enormous losses suffered their united army.
"How many widows and orphans have appeared in the kingdom!" said Edward in the hearts.
"You can make their life better, it's in your hands," said Angelica.
"You're right!" the Prince Night nodded. "That's what I am going to do as soon as I return to my castle."
"We also suffered casualties," said Swein. "We'll have a lot to do before our life will go down to normal."
"And what about your wedding, Swein?" asked Margo.
"I think it will have to be postponed for a while. I hope Veronica will understand and support me."
At this point two people breathed a sigh of relief. It was Edward and Lica.
"Then, young people, I ask you to do what you have to!" the witch said to the Goblins' King and the Prince Night. "While Huron, Angelica and I are going to my cave to have some rest. We had several Blue Mondays in a row!"
Prince Edward and King Swein kissed Margo and Angelica's hands and went to their soldiers. A few minutes later, they returned with three horses.
"Now, I will not worry that you have to travel on foot!" said the Prince Night.
"Thank you, Prince!" exclaimed Huron and Margo at the same time.
Angelica just came up and hugged the Prince.
"Thanks for everything, Edward!" she whispered.
Edward smiled and said:
"You are marvelous, Angelica!"
Swein, who was watching them sideways, suddenly came to the girl and said:
"Despite the fact that your manners are capable of improvement, I must admit that you are very brave girl!"
Hearing these words, the Prince Night and Lica burst of laughing. The Goblins' King did not understand anything, but smiled too. After that, Edward and Swein took up their troops, while Margo, Angelica and Huron mounting their horses went back - to the cave of the witch...
Lica didn't remember the way back, it was as if she was sleeping. She came out of it only when they came to the cave. The first thing the witch did was a grand gala dinner, at which her brother announced that he was going to his daughter - Leila to discuss their future place of living.
"I'll do what my daughter says," said Huron. "If she and her husband want to move here, I will not mind. But if they would like to stay in our previous home - well, she is a big girl now, she will decide herself!"
"You need a good rest!" Margo noticed. "Elsa has already prepared your room."
"Wonderful!" said the sorcerer. "Then, with the permission of the ladies, I am taking a bow!"
Huron stood up and left the hall. The witch and the girl stayed alone.
"Angelica, what's wrong?" asked Margo. "You look so sad!"
"I'm tired," said Lica.
"I think there is something else," suggested the witch. "You are very upset because of Swein!"
"Maybe," said the girl.
"Well... That's not right!" Margo said firmly. "You definitely need to go home, sleep to get away from all the dark thoughts. When you have a good rest then come to me. We'll talk about everything!"
"Thank you!" Angelica smiled. "I think loneliness is just what I need right now!"
"Then don't hesitate! Go!"
"But I did not say goodbye to Huron and Elsa."
"I'll do it for you."
With these words, the witch got up, took out the stiletto and handed it to the girl. Lica took the blade and tears glistened in her eyes.
"Thank you very much for everything, Margo!" she said sincerely. "Goodbye!"
"Bye!" the witch smiled. "Thank you!"
She helped Angelica up on the table waiting until the girl inserted the knife between the wooden frame and mirror glass. When the mirror dimmed, Lica looked around and then at Margo again.
"I hope we'll see you soon!" she whispered.
"We definitely will!" the witch nodded.
The girl stepped into the mirror not forgetting to remove the stiletto...
Angelica jumped into her room, which was reflected in the mirror. She quickly hid the blade in her deck, slipped off her dirty clothes and carefully looked out of the bedroom door. Her parents were not at home.
"Well, it's good!" Lica was glad. "I won't have to explain anything."
She took a shower and with great pleasure went to bed.
"So, what's to be done?" Angelica was thinking. "What to do with Swein?"
But she was so tired that she just waved her hand and said loudly:
"I'll think about it tomorrow!"
She fell asleep...
The following days Lica was deliberately banishing the thought about the Night Kingdom. She soaked herself in the study and daily routine, hoping that it would help her to forget the Goblins' King. She even went to Discos with her friend Svetlana, although previously she was not very fond of it. However, all those boys who Angelica knew just went to no comparison with any of her friends from the fairy world.
So one week passed in painful meditations. One Friday night the girl, saying that she awfully tired, went to bed earlier. But she couldn't sleep. Tumbling in bed for a long time she finally fell asleep and had a strange dream...
She saw two birds - white dove and a black raven on the windowsill in her bedroom. The dove was clanging and raven was croaking and glancing at her so tricky with its black eyes. Lica decided to feed the birds. She went into the kitchen, took some white bread, crumbled it in her hands and brought in handful. The Dove and the Raven froze waiting - who Angelica would feed first? The girl paused in thought, then shared the crumbs equally and gave to the birds. The birds rushed to the food and at the same time touched Lica's hands. Then something even more amazing happened... the hand that was touched by the dove turned into a snow-white wing, and the hand touched by the raven - into black wing! A minute later Angelica halved and turned into two birds - dove and crow. With horror, they were looking at each other, realizing that a minute ago they were unity. A moment later, the dove fluttered and flew away. The pigeon followed her. The crow also joined the raven. Two black birds circled over Lica's house and then flew away either...
The girl woke up. Her heart was pounding, something flashed in front of her eyes and Angelica did not realize at once that she wasn't alone in the room!
When she finally woke up, she saw someone's silhouette in the armchair. The girl nearly screamed in horror but suddenly a familiar voice said gently:
"Angelica, don't be afraid! I know that my visit was a complete surprise for you, but keep calm!"
"Margo..." the girl gasped. "Margo, you have scared me!"
The witch was laughing. Lica got up and lit a night lamp. Now she could see her night guest. It was Margo indeed. She was sitting in the chair and smiling. Finally, the witch said:
"I doubted that you would go back to the Night Kingdom soon, so I came for you!"
Dear reader! You've read the first book in the Angelica series. I congratulate you! If you like this fantasy, write to me and I'll translate the other books into English.
Sincerely yours, I. Rin...
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