Chapter 5: The Journey to the Castle

Ashley’s POV

“Okay! I’m sorry, Mrs. Spencer, but I’m done with this bullshit.” Aries’ voice cracked.

I was still sprawled on the floor, my body shaking so badly that I could barely breathe. Tears blurred everything around me, and every time I tried to wipe them away, more slipped down my cheeks.

Aries turned toward me. “Ashley, are you coming with me or not?” she thundered.

I stopped rolling. For a few seconds, I simply stared at her. Then I slowly pushed myself upright, my palms pressing against the floor as I struggled to get my legs beneath me. I looked between Aries and Mrs. Spencer as though I had somehow walked into a room filled with ghosts. My fingers trembled as I wiped my wet cheeks.

“Look!” She blurted out. “The only reason I haven’t gone is because Xavier specifically asked me to come with you. I don’t even care about your outfit anymore. It’s your reputation you’re denting, not mine.” Aries rolled her eyes and folded her arms.

I stared at her for another second then I stepped closer. Before I could stop myself, I lifted my hand and touched her cheek. Warm, soft. And very much real.

Aries immediately jerked her face away from my hand. “What are you doing?”

My eyes widened. “Are you really real?” She stared at me like I had completely lost my mind. I blinked rapidly. “No! Sorry…” I pulled my hand back and looked down at my own trembling fingers. “Am I real? Is this real?!” The question broke whatever little control I had left. I burst into tears again.

Aries groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Okay! I’m going!” She spun around.

I hurried after her. “Wait! I’m… I will follow you.” If I wasn’t dreaming, then the party was all the answer I needed right now.

I had barely taken a step when Mrs. Spencer called out. “Wait!. She approached me slowly, the necklace resting in her palm. Without saying anything else, she lifted it and carefully placed it around my neck. The moment the pendant settled against my chest, a strange chill ran through me. I instinctively touched it.

Mrs. Spencer’s expression suddenly became serious. “Remember. Never take it off.”

Slowly, I nodded. I turned and hurried after Aries.

*******

The further we walked, the more my anxiety grew. There wasn’t a single car. No paved roads stretched beneath our feet. No electricity poles lined the pathways. No shops, houses, motorcycles, or people dressed in anything remotely normal. Instead, the road beneath my shoes was uneven and dusty, surrounded by enormous stone structures and stretches of land that seemed to go on forever.

I hugged myself as another shiver crawled down my spine. This wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be. There had to be an explanation. I was definitely missing something.

I glanced at Aries, who marched ahead of me without so much as looking back. “So, like…” I swallowed. “Is this the fourth month into the Year of the Dragon?”

She scoffed. “What?! Another stupid question.”

she didn’t slow down. “In fact, I’m not even surprised. Because of you and your stupid tantrums, we will be late.”

I hurried to catch up with her. “I’m not throwing tantrums.”

She gave me a sideways glare. I immediately decided arguing wasn’t worth it. Instead, I lowered my voice. “So, like, I just want to clarify something before we get to the party.”

Aries sighed heavily. “What now?”

“I know you like Xavier.” She stopped for half a second before continuing.

I swallowed. “And actually, thinking about it now, you both are the perfect match compared to Mrs. Spencer’s daughter.”

“You’re strong,” I continued. “She’s weak. And with the incoming apocalypse, Xavier needs a strong woman and not a burden he keeps saving.”

Aries finally stopped and I almost walked into her.

“But regardless of what happens,” I quickly added, “it’s not enough reason to kill Mrs. Spencer’s daughter.”

She turned around so sharply that I instinctively stepped back. Her eyes narrowed. “What the hell? And why do you keep mentioning Mrs. Spencer’s daughter like you ain’t the one?!.”

“Actually, nope!” Her brows pulled together. “Look, there’s been a mix-up somehow, and I’m trying to sort it out. But while I’m here, I’m just going to try to resolve your misunderstanding with Mrs. Spencer’s daughter.”

Aries stared at me. I took a cautious breath. “I knew you had every reason to be jealous, but killing her was where I drew the line.” Her expression hardened. “You’re beautiful. You’re strong. You’re sexy, and I’m very sure most men will want you.” I gave her a small, nervous smile.

“But you can’t force love.” I continued. “Maybe you were always supposed to be the side character, and there’s nothing wrong with it.”

Her face went completely blank. Then her jaw tightened. “Look! If you don’t shut up, I will kill you right here!”

My mouth snapped shut. Slowly I looked toward the lonely pathway ahead of us. “She was right about that temper,” I mumbled.

“What did you say?”

I straightened immediately. “Nothing!” She narrowed her eyes at me, i forced a smile. “But I just want to clarify that I’m not who you think I am… in case you have those thoughts along the line.”

Her eyebrows rose. “What thoughts?”

“You know…” I hesitated. “I mean… everyone does get jealous. Hell, even I envied the love Xavier had for her. Believe me, men like that are hard to find, but…”

“For who?!”

“What?!”

“You said you envied the love Xavier had for her.”

I scratched the back of my neck. “I mean…” My fingers began trembling as Aries folded her arms. I swallowed hard. “If… if you want your own love story, I can actually take it up to the author.” Her expression became increasingly confused. “I’m sure she can wiggle up some hot character for you.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then Aries slowly turned to face me. Her eyes narrowed into slits. “If you think Xavier will choose you just because he has always been unnecessarily kind to you, then you need to wake up from that dream.”

She continued. “You’re not even an option! Okay?! I don’t know what has gotten into your head today, but if Xavier is among them, dead those thoughts.” Then she smiled.

And turned to the enormous building beyond her shoulder. I stopped walking. My mouth slowly fell open. The castle, the gigantic castle I had read about. It towered over everything around it, its massive stone walls stretching toward the sky.

The enormous gates stood open, and warm golden light spilled from within. Music echoed through the distance.

For a moment, I forgot how terrified I was, i simply stared. It was magnificent, beautiful, alive. And somehow, knowing what was supposed to happen to this place made the sight hurt even more. This was the same castle that would eventually become nothing but ruins. The apocalypse would strip away all of this beauty. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.

Aries glanced at me one last time. Then she turned and walked through the entrance without waiting.

I remained where I was. My fingers tightened around the strange necklace resting against my chest. I still didn’t understand what was happening. I didn’t understand how I had gone from sitting on an airplane to standing in a world that shouldn’t exist. But one thing was certain. Whatever answers I needed were waiting inside that castle.

I drew a shaky breath and slowly walked inside.