Alice made her way up the path towards Sunset House. The ruined mansion was all that lay before her. She frowned, looking back down at the note in her hands.
Wait till night.
Roar, point. Worship and laugh.
Then await first light.
~A friend
Alice frowned, looking around her. It was still about noon. She sighed, sitting down on the grass, leaning against a wooden pole with a 'Do not enter' sign on it. She leaned her head back against it. She had been queen for a week, and it was already beginning to take it's toll on her. Walter's funeral. Having to undo the choices Jade made, with the help of Reaver. Then Alice ordered a search party to find Jade, as well as putting up 'WANTED' signs practically everywhere. The Jade, Alice once knew was gone, who know's what she's capable.
The thought made Alice's stomach churn. Jade was now lost in darkness. And the power she holds is what worried Alice most.
She guessed that doing several quests and keeping busy in the throne room would help. Help her not think about Walter. But nothing helped, she still felt empty. Any time she wasn't busy, she locked herself in her room. Not speaking to anyone. Not Rhydian, nor Rose. Not even Reaver. Reaver. She could barely look at him after Walter's words. Something tugged at her insides, seemingly luring her to him, but she fought.
Alice looked down upon feeling something nudge her foot. She smiled, seeing Sadie sat before her.
"Come to keep me company?" Alice asked. Sadie barked in response, making Alice chuckle. Sadie walked over to Alice, laying down beside her new owner, with her head on Alice's lap. Alice scratched her behind the ear gently.
The hours seemed to drag on, but soon enough night fell. Alice awoke from her nap, spotting Sadie still asleep next to her. Alice froze when she noticed a glowing behind her. She turned her head, quickly standing up when she spotted a ghostly mansion. The see-through mansion glowed a light blue. Standing tall as it once was. Noticing Alice's movement, Sadie awoke and got her feet, walking to stand next to Alice, who was amazed at the sight before her.
Alice stepped towards the mansion. The moonlight shone brightly behind it. She extended her hand to touch the bannister of the four set of steps, only for it to go straight through. She gasped drawing her hand back as if it burnt her. The coldness of the ghostly mansion, felt as though it froze the blood in her hand and fingers. Sighing she grabbed the note from her pocket again.
"I don't get it," she groaned. Sadie suddenly barked, making Alice jump slightly. She looked down at her companion, who was staring off into the distance. Sadie growled at whatever she saw. Alice frowned and followed her line of sight but couldn't see anything through the thickness of the trees.
Sadie suddenly ran off towards the thick forest with great speed.
"Wait! Sadie!" Alice called worriedly. She groaned before racing after the Border Collie.
Dodging tree's and branches was easy enough. However, so was getting lost. Alice stopped, her head snapping around to find her missing companion.
"Sadie!" Alice called. She let out a sharp whistle, before letting out a sigh of relief when said dog, bounded over to her, tugging at the fabric of Alice's black pants that were tucked in her black boots. Alice furrowed her eyebrows, following Sadie at a slower pace than before.
Alice's eyes soon shot up, sighting the ghostly gazebo. It shone blue, exactly like the mansion. It didn't take long for Alice to add one and one together to figure out they were connected….but what was she meant to do?
She ran her hand through her hair in frustration, her head hurting as she tried thinking up idea's. She pulled the note out once again.
Roar, point. Worship and Laugh.
Looking back up at the gazebo, she noticed that each of the four statues were doing their own actions. Worship, point, laugh and roar.
Maybe that was it. Perhaps she had to put them in order? But how?
Alice walked towards the nearest statue, staring intensely at the worshiping woman. Sadie came to sit beside Alice, before barking at the statue once.
Alice chuckled at her companion. Evidently this quest became even more challenging by the minute.
Alice sighed, biting her lip. Unknowingly, Alice's hand began rising, until it suddenly touched the hand of the woman. Alice blinked, confused by her own actions, but her eyes soon went wide as the woman moved, changing position till she looked as though she was…roaring.
Realisation soon hit her, and thus she began to touch each statue to put them in the order the note told her to. Upon tapping the last statue, a flash of light momentarily blinded Alice, and a force pushed her back.
She groaned, rubbing her eyes as she sat up, blinking a few times in order to gain her sight back. Alice gasped she saw it was now day time once more.
Sadie was beside her, watching Alice carefully. Alice's eyes went wide upon landing on the now solid gazebo. Within that same second, she pushed herself from the ground and raced to the mansion, gasping when she saw it too was solid, and standing proudly as though it were never destroyed.
As soon as Sadie was by her side, the pair entered Sunset Mansion, unknown to how everything was about to change.
A/N: Salutations everyone! So thankfully I'm now on my summer holidays, and won't be back at school until the beginning of February, so that gives me PLENTY of time to write more and hopefully I can update more often :)
I wanted to add Sunset House in for a very particular reason, which you will all find out soon :) I have been really looking forward to this and I'm really excited for the next chapter :)
Review! :) xx