I stood there in shock looking at the tellings engraved on the temple walls. They seemed to be written in the ancient script of my kingdom, which I fortunately knew. The written  text was;

The wars that were fought

Were hard and devastating

With the people that died

The stories passed on

The villain of this war 

Was none other than the nature controlling daughter of the king

The twin to a water twister

Who put her in her place

This shall happen again 

In three thousand three hundred and thirty three years

The wars will come

There will be death

The world is counting on you

Felicia May Maniliron

Stop Ayla

For the sake of the world

≈≈≈

This left me shocked. I had no clue that this was to happen. No-one is going to believe me! I sat on the cold stone floor, and thought of what I should do next. I had to tell somebody. I checked my wristwatch and saw that I had at least an hour until I had to be back in my room. I stood up, and ran back to the water, and launched myself back up to the surface so hard that I shot up out of the water. 

I climbed onto the riverbank, put on my sandals, grabbed my candle, and ran up the spiral staircase. When I got to the top of the staircase, I opened the painting, and silently ran down the corridor. I made sure to return the candle back to where I had grabbed it, and ran to my bedroom. 

It did not take me long to get to my bedroom, but when I opened the door, I saw that Malinda was there sitting on my bed. 

“What are you doing here?!” I said to her, angry. 

“I wanted to be with you. Everything that is going on right now would drive a normal person out of their mind for at least a couple of days. And it is kinda creeping me out as well. And why are you wet?”

“That is none of your business, but how long have you been here?” 

“From about the time we left the throne room. But I also went to my room and grabbed some things while I waited for you. Where were you?” 

“That is none of your business.” I said, and went to my closet to change. “If you want to sleep in here you can grab some blankets from your room.” 

“Thank you, but you did not answer my question.” 

“Why does my location have to concern you all of a sudden?”

“Because I heard Samuel and Damien talking to themselves and saying something about ‘Ayla is after you’ or something.” I stood there in shock. 

“How long ago was this?” I asked, keeping my voice calm. 

“About ten minutes ago when I went to grab a book. I got creeped out so I came back here.” 

“Are you trying to prank me? Because that is a really insensitive joke.” 

“I am not pranking you, even though my powers are being able to lie for good reasons and mind control, but I can show you where they are talking to prove this. They are most definitely still there.” 

“Okay,” I said, and came out of my closet in a clean and dry dress, and pulled my hair into a braid. “Show me. But can you keep a secret?”

“Felicia, I can lie, of course I can keep a secret.” She said, 

“Are you sure that you aren’t lying right now?”
“Yes, come on Felicia! You are killing me!” 

“Okay fine. After we see what they are talking about, I need to take you to a place that I found. But I cannot say what it is right now.” 

“Okay, fine.” 

“Are you alright with missing school?” 

“Alright.” 

“Okay. We will leave a note for mother and father on my door saying that we weren’t hungry, and we left for school early. We will bring one of our school uniforms in case anyone checks our closets. Then we will write to the school saying that we weren’t feeling well. Which will give us enough time for us to eavesdrop on Samual and Damiens conversation, and for me to show you what I found. Bring an extra change of clothes as well.” I said. “Oh, and bring a towel.” 

“Alright. I’ll ask why later.” Malinda said, and walked out of the room. I immediately started writing the note that I would plant on the door, and the note that I would send to school. I planted the note on my door, grabbed a change of clothes, a towel, my school uniform, a backpack, some dried foods, and water bottles. 

I sat in my bed as I waited for Malinda to come with her things. ‘I hope she hurries’ I whispered. 

A few short minutes later, I heard someone running down the hallway. I was confident that it was Malinda, so I slung my backpack onto my back, and walked out my door. 

“You have everything I told you to bring?” I asked. 

“Yes, but why did you ask me to bring a change of clothes and a towel? The school uniform, but why?”

“I will tell you later. We have to hurry in order not to take all day.” 

“Okay fine.” 

“Good, how fast can you run?” 

“I don’t know, probably about as fast as you.” 

“Okay. Just wanted to make sure just in case Samuel and Damien are up to something bad, and we get caught.” 

“O-okay. Uh, follow me.” she said, and led me down the corridor. We took several turns, and Malinda led me to the same dark hallway of the painting. She silently led me to a thick heavy door. She knew that it was too thick to hear from if we only stood in front of it, so we kneeled down on the floor, and put our ears up against the crack at the bottom of the door. It was a bit muffled, but we were able to listen just fine. 

“Samuel, if we get caught, the consequence will be our execution.” Damien said. 

“That is alright. Because we won't get caught.” Said Samuel. 

“Gentlemen, please. Must we talk about this now?” A femanine voice requested. There was something familiar about this voice. But it was not recognisable. 

“Our apologies, Queen Ayla.” I was shocked at that name. Ayla, my older twin sister in the prophecy! She was here in the castle! 

“We must discuss our plan of action.” She said, and paused. “Let's continue this another time.” 

Malinda and I swiftly and silently got up, and we ran down the corridor. I was surprised at how fast she was able to run. I led her to the painting, opened it like a door, and led her inside. I closed the painting door, making sure to make as little sound as possible. 

I motioned to her to go down the stairs, and when we got to the garden, I fell to the ground panting. 

I looked to my right, and saw that Malinda had done the same. 

“Who is the woman that Samuel and Damien are talking to? How would she be in the castle!” 

“I have a hunch, with both of those questions.” I said, and stood up. “But it is not good.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“You know the woman named Ayla that was talking with Samuel and Damien?” 

“Yes, but what does she have to do with this?” 

“She is my twin sister wreaking havoc on the kingdom.”

I saw Malinda’s jaw drop.

“Are you serious?” 

“Yes,” I said. “But there is something that I need to show you. But first, how long can you hold your breath?”