Immortal Read Free Page B

morbid head that floated in nothingness replied. “Will you ever be anything but a poor mortal soul? Lost and confused, desperate and alone, as you wander the hills and roads, mountains and caves. As you search for a man who will put you in your grave alongside your father and mother. I have been watching you. You left a young man back at Troll Bridge. Ha! Ha! Good choice my dear, he was a murderer. That is why he was hurled off the bridge. The fools who threw him should have made sure he was dead before throwing him off for you to rescue. A swift hit on the head doesn’t always do the trick. Oh, I have seen it done and done right.”
    “Again, what is it that you want?” she asked.
    “I need something from you, something that was left behind by your father,”
    “What could you possibly want of my father’s?”
    “It is a map leading to the Sea Child.”
    “What is the Sea Child?”
    “A child who holds the key to immortality. Find the map and bring it to me. If you do, I will grant you immortality. If you do not, you will be buried beneath the earth next to your parents,” he warned.
    “Is that so? You already have immortality. I am sure that for whatever reason it is you want this map it is not for good. I will not get it for you!”
    “As you wish, you may be forgetting something, Staysia.”
    “What is that?” she asked.
    “You cannot seek your vengeance from the grave! Ha! Ha! Ha!” His evil cackle echoed and soon faded away along with his face.
    The sun appeared and the colors returned to the scenery. The Golden trees were in full color. The brightness of the morning had returned.
    Staysia ran her hand over Isis and looked left and right. She pushed down gently on Isis’s head and mounted her once again.
    She thought about what had happened in her head; but didn’t show her concern. Not even in front of her unicorn. Staysia was a very strong-minded woman, strong-willed and determined. Whatever was to come would be played out as it was brought on.
    She believed in living for the day. Living one day at a time was something her parents had instilled in her. So as for today , she would go beneath the trees on to the Grandfather Tree.
    Her brows furrowed as she slowly looked over her shoulder, remembering the rose. There it was—there under the tree. Even the owl was in his place like before. She pressed her lips together and turned Isis around to head for the rose once again.   
    When she was closer, she slid off of Isis and plucked the rose. No darkness; no evil. She placed the rose in Isis’s mane and mounted her again, heading under the tree canopy.
    The golden leaves fluttered as she rode beneath them. She rode up and down the hillocks until the road stopped and became a large field of colorful flowers. The Grandfather Tree stood in the center of the field. Staysia leaned in close to Isis’s ear. “There it is, Isis. The Grandfather Tree! Isn’t it lovely?” She clicked her tongue and Isis galloped to the humongous tree.
    A small, red, wooden door stood at the entrance. She knocked on the door and smiled back at Isis eagerly awaiting an answer.
    A tiny fairy opened a small window on the door. Staysia stood on her tiptoes and got a closer look. The fairy’s blue eyes widened. She flew backwards and forward again. She stared at Staysia. Staysia smiled. The fairy carefully smiled back at her and opened the panel that was between them.
    “Welcome to the Grandfather Tree. May I help you please?” asked the fairy in a chipmunkish voice.
    Staysia smiled and fidgeted her hands. She rocked from her toes to her heels and back to her toes. She looked back at Isis and smiled.
    “Welcome to the Grandfather Tree. May I help you please?” the fairy asked sharply.
    Staysia quickly turned her head and gave her attention to the fairy. “I am Staysia, it is so nice to meet you miss.” She bowed and stuck her finger through the window for a handshake. The fairy flew backwards again, avoiding the offer.