What had started as a temporary home had become a more permanent one. For the past two years, Lily stayed with Rowan, and he had taken care of her while she adjusted to the world around her. After the initial shock, she soon started to like the new world she had walked into. It was strange, yet familiar too. Sometimes she would find flowers, animals, or even objects and hobbies that instantly made her excited, even though she had never seen them before. She assumed these things were a part of her previous life though she could never say with certainty. She still didn't remember anything about her past. She had tried to remember, or simply figure out what happened to her, but there was nothing. It all simply lead to a dead end... She didn't even know where to start, even though she really wanted to find out more.
Well... She did have one small lead. Ever since she had gotten out of the mirror, she had been having strange dreams. Dreams about a young woman named Layla.
Lily leaned against the kitchen counter as she waited for the food to be ready, completely lost in thoughts as she pondered on her dreams. Layla tried to talk to her through them. She told her that they needed each other. That she was the only one who kept her alive... But every time Lily tried to talk back to her, it would soon turn into a nightmare. The face of the man entering her dreams had been familiar from the start, but she couldn't place where she had seen him before. He'd taunt her... Telling her that she was his, and always had been. Her dreams were always the same. Maybe different wordings and a few cryptic messages she couldn't understand... But the feeling of her dreams had always been the same.
"Lily, the food!"
Lily snapped out of her daydream when a female voice cut through the silence. A young woman with blond hair and a blue dress rushed towards the pot, pulling the lid off to stop it from boiling over. Lily bit her lip, realizing she had forgotten about it again.
"I'm sorry Alice," she said as she tiredly leaned against the counter. "I was lost in thoughts again... I didn't pay attention."
Alice smiled kindly and waved her apology away.
"Oh don't worry about it, Lily," she said with a soft chuckle. "I am just as lost in my own thoughts sometimes. Some people might look down on it, but I don't see anything wrong with it. And besides, your cooking is fine. Rowan says it's a lot better than his."
Lily laughed softly.
"He does often let it burn," she said. "I sometimes wonder how he got by before he met us."
"Men can certainly be hopeless sometimes," Alice joked, shaking her head.
Lily nodded. She remembered how she had loved his food the first time they had met. Back then, she thought it had been the best meal she ever had. Truthfully, even though she and Alice joked about it, he wasn't terrible. Though once she had convinced her to try cooking herself. Since he would always be late home and needed to wash up from hunting, she didn't mind helping around the house. That was at least a way she could thank him for all his kindness. Though since he had met Alice, she often let her help with the cooking. She had to admit she was a lot better than she was.
Alice stirred the pot and put back the lid before turning towards Lily. She looked at Lily worried.
"Lily..." she started. "Are you alright? I have noticed you have been more lost in thought than usual lately. I don't judge you for it, but I was wondering if you were okay."
Lily bit her lip. Alice was always so kind and caring... There seemed to be nothing that went past her about either Rowan or herself.
"I... I think so..." she said, running her hand through her hair. "I don't know. I keep having these dreams about Layla. I still can't figure out what they mean, but I feel like they do mean something..."
Alice nodded with an understanding look in her eyes.
"I understand. Dreams can sometimes feel very real."
Lily tilted her head, remembering the stories that Alice had told her about her own dreams when she was younger. Stuck in a world where everyone was crazy and nothing made sense. She had always thought it sounded like a fun kid's dream, but now she couldn't help but wonder.
"Alice..." she started carefully. "These dreams of yours about Wonderland... Do they return sometimes?"
"Sometimes," Alice answered after a thoughtful look. "I sometimes find myself back in wonderland again, but not a lot. Why do you ask?"
"Do you think your dreams could mean something too? Are they returning dreams that are always the same?"
Alice tilted her head, thinking about it for a moment before answering.
"Not really... I think they are just dreams. I don't think they can mean anything. Everyone there is just crazy. None of it ever makes sense."
Lily looked down and bit her lip.
"Right..." she said with a soft sigh.
"You really think your dreams mean something, don't you?" Alice asked her, her eyes soft and motherly.
Lily nodded slowly. "I know it's stupid, but I don't know anything about my past and ever since Rowan found me I have been having these dreams about Layla... She tries to tell me something, but I can never understand... And this man... I don't know why he seems so familiar but he has from the moment I had these dreams. He keeps turning my dreams into nightmares."
Alice tilted her head lightly.
"Have you ever managed to find out something about your past?" she asked. "Maybe there is someone out there who knows about this Layla... If she is real."
" I don't even know where to start, Alice," Lily said with a sigh, shaking her head. "I tried to remember my past, but there is nothing... I want to find out who I am, but all I have is those dreams and they don't help me either. How could I ask someone about Layla? 'Say, I have these dreams about this woman, have you ever heard of her?'. I think I'd belong in wonderland if I start doing that."
Alice smiled faintly, but her look became serious and she crossed her arms.
"Well, I don't think it is healthy for you to keep hiding and stay here forever," she argued.
Lily blinked and then looked down, feeling Alice's eyes on her.
"I know..." she softly said. "I'm trying. But Rowan keeps telling me I don't have to leave and we can figure it out together. I have nowhere to go anyway."
Alice sighed deeply and shook her head.
"Of course, he doesn't want you to go," she muttered.
She turned her attention back to the soup, stirring it once more before tasting it. Lily stood by, staring at Alice. Every time their conversation was about her staying here, or even about Rowan, Alice seemed to tense up. She was the kindest girl Lily had ever met, and she was good for Rowan. But she couldn't help to see something like jealousy in Alice's eyes whenever they spoke about him. But Alice knew very well that there was nothing between the two of them... Didn't she? Lily really wasn't there to stand between their relationship. She didn't have feelings for Rowan. Not like that.
After a moment of silence between the two of them, the door opened. Lily cleared her throat and put on a smile as Rowan walked in. His clothes were covered in dirt, and even a few streaks of blood as always. Lily had gotten used of it being part of his job a long time ago. He always washed up before he even came inside, so it wasn't too bad.
"Hey," he happily said, clearly unaware of the light tension between the girls. "Smells good in here."
Alice turned around to see her boyfriend, who walked up to her, and gave her a quick kiss. Lily smiled, seeing the light blush on her face. Alice was still flustered around him, even when they were together. But they hadn't been together for too long after all.
Rowan turned around and playfully ruffled Lily's hair, who instantly tried to strike it flat again. As Rowan walked past her to go upstairs and change into clean clothes, Lily noticed something on his skin. A mark... It wasn't strange for him to have marks on his skin. He was a hunter after all, and he had dealt with some dangerous animals before... Though she knew this wasn't from an animal. It looked like a burn, instead of a scratch or a bite. A simple animal couldn't have done that to him, and she knew there was only one person who could have done it. She bit her lip, realizing that her dreams had once again activated her magic, and she had hurt Rowan.
"I did it again..." she softly said to Alice when he was out of earshot. "My dreams... My magic acted up again during my nightmares..."
Alice gave her a sympathetic look and put her hand on her shoulder.
"You didn't mean to do it," she told her. "You don't purposely want to hurt him."
Lily shook her head. It was the same thing that Rowan always told her when she tried to talk to him about it. He'd brush it off as nothing, saying that he had dealt with worse. And yes, it was true. She was not purposely hurting him. That would have been worse.
"That doesn't take away the fact that it happens all the time..." she said with a shaky breath. "It keeps happening... And what if it gets worse? What if I really hurt him? Or you?"
As her panic flared up, she felt her magic surge to her body. As she looked down she saw her hands glow lightly. She balled her fists and took a step back to put distance between her and Alice. She took a deep breath, trying to block out her magic. Why did it always have to act out when she was emotional...
"Lily..." Alice softly said.
Lily opened her eyes and shook her head as Alice tried to step closer to her. No... She couldn't keep doing this. She knew what she had to do. She had known for a very long time, but Rowan never agreed with her. She felt safe around him and she couldn't say she was unhappy. But still... She couldn't allow herself to hurt the person she cared about anymore. Especially not after what he had done for her.
"You're right..." she softly said, looking up at Alice. "I can't stay here. Not if I keep doing this."
Alice's eyes widened as she spoke, shaking her head slowly.
"Lily, I didn't mean..." she started but Lily shook her head.
"I don't resent you for what you said," she said. "I knew you were right. I just need to find out what is happening to me... Or at least someone who can help me control my powers. I know Rowan won't like it, but I know I have to."
Alice nodded slowly and her eyes got misty.
"It's alright Lily," she softly said. "I know you want to know who you are and where you came from. And honestly, so do I... Though I know this is going to be hard on him. He needs someone to take care of him."
Lily smiled. "He already has someone who can take care of him."
Alice's blush brightened a bit, and there were no more words needing to be said. Lily knew Rowan would be in good hands. She felt Alice could take care of him a lot better than herself. Of course... She hopefully didn't have to stay away for forever, or even for long. As long as she would find someone who could help her control her magic, she would be fine.
As she heard the stairs creak, she took a deep breath. Here goes nothing... She turned around to face him, and she could feel Alice's eyes on her as she stood beside her. The moment he came down, Rowan instantly noticed something was off.
"Is something wrong?" he asked curiously, with a worried look on his face.
Lily glanced at Alice, who gave her an encouraging nod. She took a deep breath.
"I think I need to find out more about my dreams," she told him. "They're... Dangerous. They are hurting you and I have to find out what they mean. You've been around here for a very long time, and I know you talked about magic before... Other magic than mine. Don't you know anyone who can help me?"
Rowan blinked as she spoke, and there was a tense and painful look in his eyes. It was always there whenever she tried to speak about her magic or ask about different kinds of magic. It was clear he didn't like it, but she still could not help but wonder why.
"Lily, they are just dreams..." he argued, shaking his head. "And I am fine. I've dealt with more dangerous animals."
"Are they though?" Lily asked, crossing her arms, refusing to take that as an answer this time. "How can you be so sure of that? We both don't know anything about my past and Layla has been there since I was freed from the mirror. There has to be a reason for these dreams."
She sighed, knowing it was hard for him. It was just as hard for her, but she still knew she had to do it.
"Rowan, you can't keep pretending that there is nothing strange happening," she said. "I'm hurting you, and you know it. I at least have to find someone who can help me control my magic. There has to be something."
Rowan looked at her with a hesitant look in his eyes. It was clear that she was right. He did know something, and he was trying to keep it from her for some reason.
Before she could say anything else, Alice stepped forward and put a hand on Rowan's shoulder.
"Rowan, you can't keep her here forever," she softly said. "You can't replace her.
Rowan shook his head.
"Of course I can't, I'm not trying to." he sighed.
Lily tilted her head as they spoke, wondering what they were talking about. She recognized the pain in his eyes when she first choose her name. But he had never told her why it hurt him...
"I know you are not doing it purposely," Alice said. "But you have to let her go. You can't protect her and she has to know who she is... We can't help her with that."
Rowan looked at her and blinked a few times, letting out a deep sigh. He nodded slowly, finally giving in to the pressure both women were putting on him.
"I... I've heard of fairies in another forest, near the next village..." he answered. "It would be about a day traveling if we'd go there."
Lily's eyes widened when she heard the word Fairies.
"Are... Can they help me?" she asked, feeling more anxious and excited at the same time. Maybe they could teach her more about magic, and she would never have to be afraid again.
"I don't know," Rowan answered. "I don't really like magic. It usually only ruins everything in the end. I prefer to stay away from it"
Lily raised her eyebrow.
"You don't try to stay away fro me," she said. "I have magic, and you never even hesitated to give me a room in your own home."
"That's different," Rowan argued. "You needed help."
Lily narrowed her eyes, seeing that he was still beating around the bush and trying to not make her go.
"Well, I still need help," she told him firmly. "And I think those fairies would be a good place to start with that. Maybe they can help me."
Rowan looked at her hesitantly. He looked at Alice, then back to her again, before letting out a deep sigh.
"I heard that they help people with their problems," he admitted. "Usually it's more sickness or curses... But perhaps they could help you too. If you really want to go there, then maybe we can go tomorrow."
Lily smiled, happy that Rowan finally gave into her pleas.
"I want to try," she answered with a nod.
"Alright... But just be careful..."
Lily shook her head but didn't answer. Her safety was not her priority. It was him she was worried about, not herself.
Author's note:
A bit of a longer chapter today, but we are getting somewhere. Just had to give Rowan a love interest, just for fun, and I think Alice is a good match for him! Had been debating between either her or Wendy, but Alice felt more right to me. As always hope you guys like it, and I will be back next week.