fifteen
SeerGoddardneverdidturn up that afternoon. When I found myself back near his hut, the sun was just starting to tip down the horizon to usher in the evening. I’d spent a long time lost in the sky, but not as long as it’d felt like in the moment.
As I made my way down the hill, heading back toward Wisteria Cottage, I took a detour toward the castle. After seeing the mirages of my mother and Simon, I had some questions for Liza. As I crossed in front of the castle and came to the edge of The Forest, I realized I had no idea how to find the girl.
“I thought you might come visit.” Liza’s voice came out of nowhere. “I have been waiting for you.”
I turned and found Liza sitting at the edge of the river, her feet dangling in the water. Next to her was a small bonfire nestled into a small, sandy patch of shoreline. Beside the fire was a picnic basket that looked familiar.
“Millie found you first?” I asked with a smile. “I imagine she packed the picnic?”
“She sure did. I’ve been waiting for a little while,” Liza admitted. “Which is fine, I had nothing better to do anyway, and now I get the bonus of a really good dinner, so… It all works out.”
“How did you know I’d come looking for you?” I asked gently. “Did your mom tell you?”
Liza didn’t answer, just picked at the pale blue dress she wore today. It was threadbare and worn in, but adorable.
“Can I ask you a question about your mom?” I sat across from Liza.
“You can always ask.” Liza gave a wry smile at the bonfire. “Can’t exactly stop you.”
“Can you tell me more about these conversations you have with her? You said a little bit yesterday, but I’m desperately curious to learn more.”
Liza cocked her head to one side and popped a fresh blueberry into her mouth. Millie had outdone herself on the picnic dinner, as always. The wicker basket was stuffed with cheeses, a little wine for me, ice-cold lemonade for Liza, crackers, fruit, and cookies for dessert.
“It’s not always the same,” Liza said. “Most of the time, I’m not communicating with her through, you know, actual words and language. Usually I get a feeling, a sensation when she’s near. It started after she died, when I’d just get this niggling feeling that I wasn’t alone, that she was still with me. At first, I thought it was just my way of coping with her death.”
“How did you determine it was more than that?”
“Time.” She shrugged. “The feeling is stronger some days than others. I can tell when she’s near. If there’s something specific she wants to tell me, I can usually sense that too. That part didn’t start until later, months later. Kind of like I had to build up to it. Like I had to learn tobelieveshe was still there.”
“When she needs to tell you things, how does she get that across?”
“You’re talking about the trial that I led you to,” Liza said. “That one was a dream. I told you a little bit about it last time, but it’s not the dream you’re thinking of. It’s more of a daydream. I’ll feel this sensation coming over me, like a prickling. All of a sudden, I can see something happening right in front of me, as clear as day. It’s not real, it’s a message from her.”
I could hear the sadness tighten Liza’s voice as she spoke about her mother. While comforting on some level, it must also be heartbreaking to be so close to her mother but not able to reach her, to touch her, to feel her in a physical way.
I understood better than I might have after today’s trial. Seeing my mom, hearing her say all the right things, wishing she’d hug me... wishing it had really been her, not an illusion. I hadn’t even been close with her. I couldn’t imagine how Liza felt.
“I understand, a little,” I said softly. “And I’m really sorry.”
Liza looked at me, and I could tell she knew I meant it. Her eyes melted in gratitude. “It’s better than not seeing her at all.”
“I had some contact with the spirit world lately,” I confessed. “Well, not technically the spirit world. It was more like an illusion.”
“Ah. Your second trial?” Liza reached for a cracker. She slathered it with cheese, drizzled local honey from Wisteria Cottage on top, popped the whole thing in her mouth, and chewed thoughtfully. “Something to do with your Fae ancestors?”
“A little of both. In the trial today, I had visits from my past life. Illusions, not real spirits, but it was like they were real. It was… very strange.”
Liza nodded, like she understood that.
“Before, I did visit a place called The Glade where my ancestors could communicate with me. Spirits,” I clarified. “Ithink you have an incredible gift, Liza. You’re so young, but you have so much to offer.”
“Thanks.” Liza looked up at me. “By the way, you’re not crazy.”
“What?”
“When I started hearing voices or sensing my mom was close, people thought I was nuts. That’s why I don’t tell many people about it. But you’re not crazy. I imagine you probably hear things, like me.”
