“Are you okay?” I looked up and down to see her dress was getting muddy from the ground. She removed her heels and picked them up.

“Where are we?”

“We could be anywhere.” Edward looked around the area and walked back towards me. He grabbed my collar and pulled me closer to him, “What were you thinking? You went into a room alone with a witch. What if she had just taken you?”

“I didn’t expect her to be a witch. I didn’t expect the King to invite the Queen of Frandra. “I shoved him back and fixed my collar a little, “We aren’t in any forests though near our kingdom. Those lanterns seem to have a magical energy on them.”

“You don’t think we are in their territory, do you?” I felt Alexandra grab my arm. I gently patted her on the head. I cared a lot about my sister and her safety was my first thing to deal with. I looked over at Johnathan who was staring at me. I looked away. Edward had a point back at the party. Johnathan could get him, and my sister killed, if anything prevented the wedding.

“What are you doing?” I turned to see Johnathan looking at Ally. She had climbed one of the trees and grabbed one of the lanterns.

“Well, we need a light to help walk.” She replied as she jumped down from the tree.

“Careful Ally. You could get hurt.”

“It’s fine Princess. It will take a lot to hurt me.”

I noticed a few different shadows around us, and I felt a chill go up my spine, “We need to get moving.”

Ally began to walk down the path with the light and we followed behind her. I closed my one eye to prevent seeing anything in the area. I had control of keeping what I see visible when I covered the eye, but I still didn’t have control over seeing the dead when it wasn’t covered. I didn’t want to put us in any more danger then what we were. Selena had taken my eye patch when she vanished, which made it annoying to keep it closed.

“Brother, are you okay? Father isn’t around. you don’t need to hide your eye.”

“It just feels unconfutable to show it. I feel better with it covered.” I smiled as she nodded. She didn’t question me often.

“It looks like a small city is in the distance. We may be able to get some help there.” Johnathan spoke as he walked next to Ally.

As we got closer to the city, we noticed a few lights floating above the path still with no trees. The town seemed to be very lively. We could hear yelling and cheers coming from inside. We entered the city to see many stands set up along the street. I looked as small children ran past us holding what looked to be sparklers. Alexandra looked at them with wonder in her eyes.

“What are those?”

“Sparklers.” I mumbled.

“How do you know what those things are?” Edward asked as he glanced at the booth near us. The booth had small boxes of sparklers. I smiled as it brought back childhood memories from my previous life. I remembered being in elementary and holding a sparkler. It finally died out and I remembered being disappointed that it went by so quickly. Brain ended up giving me his and tried to play it off cool that he didn’t care. I knew he enjoyed them as much as I did and so when I lite it, I ended up handing it back to him. His smile was innocent at the time. I would have never guessed what the future would hold.

“One box please.” Johnathan asked as he pulled out a copper coin. He handed it to the shop keeper who let him pick up a box. Johnathan turned towards me, “So how do these things work?”

“We need fire to light the tips.” I replied.

We noticed a small torch sitting next to the stand and smiled. Johnathan opened the box and handed one out to everyone.

“You just need to lite the tip and that will spark up the stick.” I leaned my sparkler over the fire and watched it ignite. Alexandra’s face lite up with joy as she leaned in closer.

Everyone watched till it finally went out. Then everyone else took theirs and lite them up. I watched as they stared at the sparklers. I looked around the area to see other kids running around with some of the sparklers. As I looked, I noticed one of them ignite the stick with their hand. I glanced around a little more and noticed a few walking around with a pointy witch’s hat. It was as though I was in a fairy tale book.

“Hey Johnathan, how safe are witches?” I whisper.

“Well, they really hate almost every kingdom. No one really defended them when they began to kill people. I mean, who would?”

“What if I were to point out, that we could be inside one of their towns?”

Johnathan looked up from the sparkler once it went out, “Well, I think we need get out of our current clothing. We are wearing your kingdoms colors and dressed nicer than anyone else here it seems. If any guards were to see us here, I don’t think it would end well.” We all ducked quickly into an alley and I removed my over coat. I looked at Alexandra’s dress and sighed.

“Such a waste of a pretty dress.” I glared at the Johnathan and Edward, “Turn around and if you look, I will hurt you.” They both turned around and I looked at Ally, “You are going to have to help her the most. It is improper for a male to undress a female.” She nodded and we looked at Alexandra, “Raise your hands. We are going to take off the dress and your going to wear my over coat till I can get you something more. We just need to hide this dress.”

“Y’all travelers?”