My house was in tatters; years of disrepair and my mother's tantrums had really done a number on the place.
The small dark hallway held no light so that now even in the daytime it remained dark.
The living room came into view and there sitting at the table by the couch was my mother, a bottle of alcohol in her hand and sitting on the table in front of her was my box oddly enough.
Stepping out of the hallway I mustered up the strength and walked forward.
"Hi mom." I said as casually as I could. This was definitely an odd sign, and part of me was afraid she would withhold the music box from me.
"Did I ever tell you how I met your father child?" Her voice came harshly slightly slurred already.
I almost didn't want to answer but the curiosity in me answered "No" and simply waited.
She laughed roughly and moved in her chair so that she was facing me now her long hands picking at the box thoughtfully.
"I was on a walk one day, by the forest only a mile away. There is a beaten path up there and if you follow it, it ends at a large stone tunnel where a large odd statue sits in front of it. I was bored that day and went by it having been there before and decided to sit for a bit leaning up against that statue. Suddenly I heard footsteps in the tunnel, and out of that tunnel came a tall man. Your father actually, he took one look at me and bowed before asking to join me. It was so odd, no one goes in there, and people say it's haunted."
Her face was screwed up in memory her blue eyes glazed as she thought about that day.
Something about the place she described did seem familiar.
My head seemed to click into motion again and a memory seeming to come out of nowhere floated before my eyes.
I was 4, in a long little white dress, my father holding my hand as we walked in the woods.
He was talking but I couldn't make out what he was saying, finally we came to stop at a tunnel and in front of it stood a moss covered statue. It looked like a frog to me, and I was laughing pointing at it as my father picked me up and swung me in his arms.
Suddenly his voice was clear now as we came to stand by the tunnel, and he put me down.
The wind seemed to pull me in as I stood there, a strange almost scary feeling was creeping over me.
His voice was deep and strong.
"See my darling, nothing to be afraid of. This is the entrance, and someday you will find out where it goes, but not today."
I looked up at him and nodding, still confused.
He bent down, his tall frame coming to kneel in front of mine.
"You are a Sagnaska my child, and although you do not understand what that means now, someday you will. If you are in trouble and they ask who you are…say you are Lena Sagnaska daughter of Natyarno Sagnaska, and you will be safe. Do you understand my princess?" He asked his deep brown eyes looking seriously into my small brown eyes.
I nodded and his face suddenly became happy again as he lifted me up and we strolled in the other direction.
I shook my head, as the memory seemed to pass.
I was suddenly aware that my mother was now looking at me angrily.
"Have you gone deaf child, answer me when I am talking to you." She said standing up abruptly now.
I nodded my head quickly and apologized.
"Insolent, disrespectful little whelp." She said pointing her nose down at me as she glared.
I could feel my heart racing now, I knew what was coming.
I could hear my father's words in my head, circling over and over.
Standing up straight I looked into her eyes willing with all my heart that I sounded stronger than I felt.
"I am Lena Sagnaska daughter of Natyarno Sagnaska, and you will not harm me!" I almost yelled the last part, my body standing on tiptoe with my rising voice.
Standing back on my heels I watched my mother for a reaction.
Her eyes suddenly became very dark, so dark it seemed that no light could pierce them.
"You REMEMBER!" Her voice was different now, it sounded deeper and angrier.
My heart began to skip at her words, that were so simple but threatening.
Her face seemed to ripple as I stared at her, changing shape in front of my eyes from a soft white texture to a black oozing exterior.
The person before me was no longer my mother, but someone else, something else.
The creature yelled angrily, moving forward and throwing itself at me angrily.
I was rooted, I couldn't move, but just before the black thing crashed into me something from within me almost seemed to push back.
I ring formed around me, it's color a dull white and the creature was pushed backwards.
"Lena, we need to go!" Grab it quickly!" I could hear Haku behind me, running up to help me.
The creature was on its feet again, moving for another attack.
"Tell me how to open it!" It yelled, it's voice harsh and berating against my eyes.
Just as it came towards me again, Haku's form moved in front of me, as he held up his arm and the creature was thrust backwards again.
"Grab it!" He yelled, and my body seemed to be released from its hold. I rushed forward and grabbed my precious music box cradling it against my chest.
Turning around I almost screamed, where before Haku was standing now there stood a magnificent dragon, it's body a pure white and it's mane a sea green color just like Haku's eyes.
Taking a deep breath I moved forward just as Chihiro jumped onto Haku's lowered neck and beckoned me to her.
He was incredible, I couldn't believe my eyes.
Sliding on behind Chihiro I squeezed my knees tightly and held onto her back.
With one final look at the black ink jet creature in front of us, we were off; his body seemed to coil and rocket from the ground.
His head shot through the roof and us afterwards as his body glided through the air.
The people on the street seemed to notice the roof breaking but not us.
The wind rushed around us as we flew and I couldn't help but laugh and smile at the sensation.
I felt free; completely free from everything that had surrounded me.
The music box was now in between Chihiro and I as we flew; the last piece of my father was safe.
I should have been worrying about the creature and leaving my life, but for the first time since my father past away I felt like I had no worries and the world seemed right again.
I yipped loudly as we flew and I could hear Chihiro join with me loudly. Even Haku seemed to join in, his body shaking and vibrating with his thunderous roar.
Soon the forest came into view, the same one from my memory and my mothers…or the creatures I'm not sure whose.
Haku took us down quickly, his form snaking through the trees before we landed safely on the ground.
Touching down, she and I slid of his back and looked over to see Haku again in his human form now.
"I can't believe it! Chihiro you made friends with the Protectors daughter, what a chance of fate this is!" Haku said smiling widely and pulling us both into a big hug.
My cheeks began turning red at his sudden closeness, he smelled so nice like pine and something different…something breathtaking, like fresh summer air.
"Lena, you never told me your father was from the spirit world." Chihiro said looking at me intently.
I gaped, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. Suddenly now being back on earth, I felt everything come crashing down. Everything I had known was wrong, and there was so much I didn't know. And what just happened back there?
"I never knew, when I stood there and she was telling me the memory something clicked and I remember him telling me that if I was ever in trouble I should say that name. I don't know how I knew to use it on her, or it…something inside me just kept egging me to. But I don't understand, who was that thing? That couldn't have been my mother right? And what about the relic did you get it? I mean what is going on, this is a whole lot happening at once you know!" I sounded becoming exasperated.
I sunk to the ground and pulled my knees up to my chest.
It was so much information at once, and the memory of my father, it was too much.
Chihiro crouched down in front of me her eyes worried and put her hand on my knee in comfort.
Next to me Haku lowered himself and put his arm around me, causing my heart to unintentionally race.
It really wasn't fair the affect he had on me.
"Don't worry let me explain. It seems that we never knew he had a daughter, I think he knew he needed to shield you from us that a shadow was after him. Mating with a human also meant that it would be harder for the shadows to recognize you and yet you will still have your father's blood in you.
You are the next protector of the relic, and that music box you're holding is the hiding place that your ancestors created to keep the relic safe. It's almost impossible for anyone to figure out how to open it, even for a human but now that we have you it will be easier.
That person back there was your mother, but her body was taken over by a spirit of greed and hatred. She is no longer herself nor will she ever be. Most likely after your father left, a shadow must have taken over her body and the anger she felt simply made it easier for it to control her.
The shadow must have known who you are but may have been bidding it's time until you remembered something.
This explains so much, you could see the shadows in the trees couldn't you?" He asked finally stopping to let me register everything.
I nodded quietly.
"Yes, I thought so, and that song it sounded like the spirit songs that are in my world. And the words make more sense now too. For now I think the best thing is to get to the spirit world, we aren't far.
You need time to register everything, and we need to eat. I suggest we go to the bathhouse find some food, catch up with old friends and leave tomorrow for Zeniba's. She said that after I found it I needed to bring it and the Chihiro, and now you Lena to her house and that she had some more information that would help.
Does that sound alright with you guys?" He asked looking from her to me.
Chihiro nodded still looking at me with worry, doing my best I forced a smile onto my face and nodded as well.
"What was that white light that pushed the spirit back?" I asked curiously, remembering the feeling of strength that had radiated inside me when it had pushed the monster back.
"It was a spell, a very old one. Whenever a protector states it's name and father, it causing an old spell of protection to be unearthed that pulls from your strength inside you to repel whatever could harm you." He said simply.
I nodded quietly hugging the music box to my chest as I got up and followed Haku as he walked deeper into the woods.
Chihiro stood beside me looping her arm around mine as she walked.
Soon we came to the same spot from my memories, where the same frog like statue sat in front of the stone tunnel.
"Was this where you entered into the spirit world?" I asked her as we moved forward.
"Yeah it is, gosh it's been so long." She said her eyes shining with excitement.
We walked silently through the tunnel, and I almost chuckled at the irony from Chihiro's memories. Just like in the first one she is holding my arm just like her mothers, but this time with excitement and not anger.