In Another Life- Chapter 4

The front gates were locked. Lissana took a deep breath as she put her hand on it. The metal bars creak under her touch. Like a spell being unraveled.

“Hm…that’s odd.” Lady Penny says.

“Yes. According to the tales it’s supposed to be locked.”

“Since it’s not…” Vince trailed.

He took out his sword walking in first. The two ladies walk behind him, looking around the empty front of the palace. Inside was even darker. Lissana picked up an unlit torch. Lady Penny focused as she imagined a flame on it. Then her imagination came to life. Lady Penny picked up another torch. Two flames were better than one.

As they walk down the halls, their ears pick up faint whispers. Chants of something in a foreign language.

“They’re full of vengeance.” Lady Penny whispered.

“Do you know why?” Lissana asked.

Her friend shook her head no.

“I think they are angry but not towards us.”

Lissana hummed as they headed towards the south side of the palace. In a particular hallway all doors were shut except for one. A shadow was cast into the hall. That same voice of a young man humming. Vince looked towards the door. His sword that was once held high and had lowered. He got on one knee bowing to the young man.

Lissana and Lady Penny had run after him. What came into view was a man with blonde hair, bright gold eyes, and deep brown skin.

“Prince Eno?” Lissana gasped.

The man smirked, with crossed arms.

“Hmm…you were able to enter my palace? Interesting.”

The two women bowed and as they did Lady Penny whispered, “How should we run away?’

“I don’t know, do you think you can outrun a man who won countless wars?”

Vince cleared his throat.

“Lady Lissana, Lady Penny…we can hear you.”

They look at each other and back at the prince.

He bursts out into laughter, thunder crackling behind him.

“How amusing.”

Back from where they came, there was a woman humming down the hall.

“Quick get in.”

The door shuts as the hums proceed to get louder. Until it stopped. A long scratch ranged from the other side. Then a short giggle. After that was silence.

Lissana asked the prince, “What are these…ghosts doing?”

“They’re stuck.”

“Like you?” Lady Penny asked.

Prince Eno nodded.

“I cannot leave here. Nor could people reach me from inside.”

“But here we are.” Lissana said.

Prince Eno went out to the balcony.

“This appears to be a special case.”

“How so?”

“I do not know. Anyone I contact I talk to them from up here.”

The prince turned around, resting his back against the railings.

“However this is a nice change.”

He tapped his index finger against his arm. Looking between Lady Lissana and Lady Penny.

“One has a desire for something and the other is a witch.”

“I want to help her and your highness, I know you have the answers!”

Lissana smiled at her friend. She looked back at the prince, taking a deep breath.

“What does it take to reincarnate?”

“Do you have someone you want to reunite with?”

“Yes. My lover.”

Prince Eno nodded. He stepped forward, “You don’t blame your lover for putting you in harm's way?”

“I would never. Marzen has always been kind and selfless. He would never do anything to hurt me.”

“Then why don’t you move on? Surely you can get another man. To you women men are just tools to pick out for a life of comfort-”

Lissana raised her hand to smack his cheek. Just as the wind of her hand hit Prince Eno’s cheek, Lady Penny had stopped her.

“He doesn’t mean it. He’s just testing you!”

Lissana stared at his highness. He had a sincere smile.

“So you were let out for purity.”

“Purity?”

“A desire with no ill will. I don’t get many of those. The last one was about…two and a half decades ago.”

Prince Eno pushed the door open, waving his hand for them to follow. He guides them to a room. Big window where the moon fully faces it.

“Here you could possibly reincarnate. If you do succeed, you won’t be able to return.”

Lissana nods.

“I understand.”

With the three of them now in the room, nothing but a spell book on a wooden desk and a single chair.

“I suppose I’ll have to say my goodbyes.”

“But not after dealing with him, right?”

Lissana smiled.

“You know me so well.”