I am not that worried about what would happen with me getting lost in his town, but more of what Ace would do to me when they find me. That demon. Surely he notices my sudden disappearance by now and is planning on tying me to his horse and dragging me away.

"Crap crap crap!" I muttered while biting my nails nervously.

I was so engrossed in my future demise that I almost forgot the girl in front of me if she did not grab my wrist with an urgent look on her face. "Miss, you really must come with me."

I looked at her as if she had grown another head. "Sorry." I gave her a small smile as I tried to pull my hand back but her grip was too strong. "No offense but I don't know who you are and what you're gonna do to me after I go with you. My mother told me specifically not to talk to strangers."

"Sophie."

"What?"

"My name is Sophie and I am a seer that is why you need to come with me." She said and before I could protest, she was already pulling me through the crowd.

I don't know who this chick is but I seriously don't wanna go with her.

I tried pulling my wrist again but to no avail. I even tried slowing her down as I dug my heels to the ground but it was no use. She's like a freaking amazon girl.

She led me to a suspicious-looking tent in the middle of two stalls. She pushed me in before she closed the door - err.... - fabric behind her.

My eyes scanned the tent's interior. The flooring was made of weaved straw mat that spread around the circumference of the tent. A small coffee table was placed in the center with two purple cushions that I am guessing will serve as a seat. decorating the outer part of the circle is a bunch of jewelry and gems of different colors and varieties. I could also see a few clay pots and treasure chests.

Sophie cleared her throat as she looked at me and smiled. "Please do not be afraid, Princess Rose." She said and gestured towards one of the cushions. "Please have a seat."

"Thank you but-" I paused as I suddenly realized something. I whirled at her with my mouth hanging open. "Wait, did you - How do you know my name?" I asked suspiciously.

She chuckled. "I have a special gift. See, unlike the other witches, I cannot do magic, but I have the power to connect to the spirits letting me see the future." She explained. "They show me the future or the past of one person once I make contact with them. The spirits told me your name. I apologize for bringing you here all of a sudden, but they told me to give you a reading so I can warn you about your future." She said.

"MmHm." She's still suspicious.

I raised an eyebrow at her. If I was the old me and she keeps blabbering about spirits, then I might think of her as crazy. But let's face it. While I am here I don't think anything could be crazier than living in a castle with 5 Princes. I mean duh! I don't think anyone could survive that especially if the said princes are drop-dead supernaturally gorgeous! I'm surprised I even made it this far.

"Okay." I said as I cleared my throat my eyes darted towards the exit before I trained them back to her. "What is it about my future that you badly need to warn me about?"

Sophie made her way to the opposite side of the table and sat Indian-style on the cushion. I did the same as I sat on the other one opposite hers. "Give me your hand." I placed my hand on top of hers. She smiled and started to close her eyes as if in concentration.

Nothing. Nothing happened at first and we were just sitting there while I awkwardly looked at our hands.

"Um...okay? I don't know what I am supposed to do here but-"

Sophie suddenly opened her eyes as she gave me a blank look. "A spirit is following you, am I right?"

"Huh?" I gave her a confused look until I suddenly remembered the little wolf that has been following us. "Maybe? Sort of, but I haven't seen it since we entered Hazel. It must have stayed back in Sanver." I said.

Sophie slowly smiled at me and nodded at me once. "I see." She said as her eyes darted to the side. Her smile became broader.

"It's still here though."

"What?"

She pointed a finger to the spot where she was looking a while ago. I followed her gaze and saw brown fur poking just behind the wooden chest decoration. The little wolf's head poking just at the side and when it caught me looking at it, it hid.

My eyes widened when I realized that it was the same wolf spirit that we saw back in Gija. "What the?" I whispered in disbelief as I looked at the wolf trying to hide behind the chest before looking back at Sophie. "What is it doing here?!"

Sophie laughed. "It feels a connection towards you." She said and looked back at the wolf spirit.

"A connection? Hang on." I withdrew my hand back from her as I pointed at the wolf. "That thing - creature - feels a connection towards me? I don't get it. Ren said that it only appears to these.....people-"

"Tamers."

"-Tamer race thingy people who are dead. Why on earth would that wolf feel a connection to a non-tamer like me? How can you chop the connection off?"

"You can't chop it off."

"Then why, in poodle’s name, is it following me?"

Sophie looked away and sighed. "That was why the spirits wanted me to bring you here in the first place." She muttered and looked back at me once again. She gestured for my hand and I placed it over hers once again. She closed her hands over mine firmly as she began to concentrate.

I jumped in surprise when Sophie began to speak in a very cloudy voice. Her eyes were still close as she said, "You are a princess by name. Asked by the fairy queen to choose an heir to the kingdom." She spoke.

Yeah, I already know it. I wanted to say it out loud but chose not to since it might ruin her concentration.

"Princess by name, shall soon be recognized and become a true royal by blood. Little spirit of the forest shall come and revive what once had been lost. By blood, you shall be recognized and loved. Thy blood shall be hunted by the one who is killed." Sophie then stopped speaking and her body seemed to slouch afterward.

When she opened her eyes I was pretty sure that I was gaping at her like a fish.

She raised an eyebrow at me. "What?"

"Did-" I swallowed and tried again. "Is it me or....were you just possessed by a spirit and gave me a prophecy like Rachel Dare from Percy Jackson?"

She cocked her head to the side in confusion at my reference. "I don't understand who Rachel Dare is or the meaning of Parsley Backsoap, but yes. It was a prophecy foreseen by the spirits."

She released my hand and I drew them back as I thought of her words. "Hunted by someone who was killed," I mumbled. "I don't understand. What does it mean?" I looked at Sophie for clarification, but she did not answer me. She looked uncomfortable in her seat and kept fidgeting making me wonder if what the spirits prophesied about me is as bad as I think.

"I'm sorry, but whatever the spirits told you, that is all I am supposed to reveal. Things that I might say afterward might change your future."

"Great." I sighed. "Thanks for that. Now I don't even think I'll be able to sleep peacefully tonight.

There was an awkward silence in the air before Sophie broke it when she let out a nervous laugh. "Who cares about that prophecy? The thing about it is that it is unpredictable and time will only tell when it will happen." She said.

"But-"

"You know, instead of talking about that awful thing, why don't we talk about something more interesting?" She suggested as she gave me a teasing smile and winked. "While the spirits showed me your future I also saw something very intriguing and this very short info won't affect the outcome of your future." She giggled and motioned for me to lean in as she whispered in my ear. "I saw a man."

As soon as the words left her lips I immediately sat back to look at her. "A man? Is that the killer?" I asked her and she hit me on the head. "Ow!" I glared at her.

"I was talking about your lover!" She burst out.

I stared at her. Wondering if I really heard what she had just said. Then I laughed. "Sorry, but that's not how it's going to be. My lover is somewhere far in the fictional world where one could not reach except in dreams."

"You have a very weird mind." Sophie shrugged and let out a disappointed sigh. "Well, I guess that you still won't care even if I tell you that your lover is one fine man. He's very handsome, strong, smart, and kind. You two get along very well." She winked.

"Make him rich and we have a deal. Also, make him either a son of a Greek god, a dragon, fairy, or an Egyptian god from the underworld that starts with letter A."

She stared at me as if I was the weirdest person on earth. "I can't tell you what he is, but he will be a suitable partner for you. Time will tell when you'll be with him."

"Can you at least give me a hint on whether he's actually one of them?"

She grinned. "Nope."

"Have I met him?"

"I don't know."

"Is he human?"

"Do you want him to be human?"

I paused. At this point and in this world, humans are.... "I-I don't know. It doesn't matter - I guess."

"Then let's leave it at that, alright? I am not allowed to reveal anymore of your future partner because the spirits might get mad and separate you both. I am only allowed to give you hints on what he is like and advises - in which you don't really need."

I pouted. "Well you were the one who said to talk about this lover and now you are the one who's holding back. Talk about being left in the air." I mumbled.

"Sorry." She giggled. "I was just caught up in the moment."

"Well, it doesn't matter." I said even though I was still thinking of what she had just said that this lover is handsome, strong, blah blah, but what is he like? Will he and I get along? When will I meet this person? What if he is the killer? Or the son of the killer? Or the grandson of the killer? Or the killer's brother? Or the killer's brother's grandson's grandson? Or - Oh you get the point!

Millions of questions followed, but all were cut off when Sophie brought my attention back to her when she spoke again.

"Princess Rosalie," She called as she looked up. "I think it is time for you to leave. The others are looking for you and they are very worried."

With that, I suddenly remembered the princes and let out a curse. "How long was I here?" I asked her.

She looked at me and shrugged. "I don't know. I don't keep track." She said. "But maybe about 30 minutes. The sun has already set."

"I am so dead." I got up and started fixing my dress

"Actually you're not. According to the spirits the date set for you to die-"

I paused and turned to Sophie with a bewildered look. "Wait, the spirits can tell when I'm about to die?"

She grinned teasingly. "Yeah and it's-"

"I don't even want to know when I'll die." I snapped to quickly stop her. "By the way, thanks for the um....prophecy thing, but I have to go. Bye." With that, I left Sophie's tent and into the cold night.

The streets weren't as dark as I expected them to be. Unlike earlier, the streets were now almost deserted. Candled lamps hanging from houses gave off a very dim glow, but it was enough for me to see if only I knew which way to go.

"Let's see...." Placing a hand to my chin, I scanned my surroundings and tried to find a familiar path. I tried to look for something that we must have passed by when Sophie dragged me into her tent.

Finally, I saw a stall that was selling crystal jewelry. I remember seeing it on the way since I was attracted to one of the yellow gems that shone brightly when it was hit by the rays of the sun.

I took that as my starting point and made my way to the stall. I saw the shopkeeper was closing his stall and gathering the crystals in a sack.

Maybe I could ask him for directions.

As I was making my way to the stall, I called out for him. "Excuse me."

The shopkeeper looked up to the sound of my voice. I grinned and waved at him and tried to look friendly. When the shopkeeper saw me, I couldn't help but notice the look of fear on his face as he hurriedly tidied up his things and darted away from me.

Um....ok? That was very rude and offensive. I know that I am not the prettiest girl in the land, but my face isn't that bad, right?
I stopped in front of the stall as I thought of my next approach on how to find the others.

Maybe I should just wait here and wait for them to find me. I mean, they are looking for me, right? Surely they would be searching the town as of now trying to look for me.

But what if they already passed by this side of the street already and are searching for another? Oh boy. Maybe I should look for them on my own.

But what if they decide to go back here while I'm gone?

So many thoughts and occurrences swirled in my mind that I did not notice the little wolf hiding behind the stall. It was looking up at me with those wolfish eyes. It might have been cute if I hadn't known that it was a spirit and not an actual wolf.

Its eyes suddenly darted behind me and let out a menacing growl. Its hackles raised and it bared its sharp canine teeth. It was the look of a wild beast.

I backed away nervous while keeping an eye on my spirit stalker. Suddenly, I bumped into someone and I looked back to see a middle-aged man dressed in black and reeks of alcohol.

"S-Sorry." I immediately backed away. I don't know why but somehow I get a bad feeling about this man.

The man smiles, showing a set of rotten teeth. He suddenly grabbed my wrist and started to pull me away. "Hey! Let me go, you creep!!" I dug my heels on the ground in an attempt to pull us both to a stop, but the man was too strong for me that I stumbled on the ground.

The man stopped - well at least that stopped him - as he turned to glare at me. "Get up!" He yelled, sending spits in the air. He sounded furious.

As much as I wanted to bold and run I can't. Not with his strong grip on my wrist and not with frozen legs from fear.

My lack of response infuriated the man and he forcefully pulled me forward dragging me to the ground and scratching my free arm in the process.

"I said get up!!" He yelled again and yanked my arm once more.

"Stop it." I winced as I feared that my arm would dislocate at the force.

The man's gaze darkened. His grip on my wrist tightened, making me whimper in pain and close my eyes to keep the tears in.
As much as I hate to admit it, I am powerless in this world and I couldn't help but remember the rouges I encountered when I attempted to leave Thalia once. The fear and frustration at being useless were still etched somewhere in my mind. If it wasn't for Ren and Dan saving me back then I would have died. That last incident should have been a lesson for me not to go out on my own but no. I have to be stupid and act rationally when I know full well that I am a danger magnet in this world.

Call me a coward for saying this but I wish that the princes would hurry up and find me.

The man pulled my wrist again. Harder this time. Like seriously. Any prince will do. As long as they are willing to help.

As the man started to drag me again, a handclasp on the man's hand and stop his advances. It was soft and gentle with a calming touch. For some reason, I have this sudden urge to look up and know who the owner of this hand was.

And so I did.

The moment I looked up, I froze.

"Let her go." There was a dangerous look in Fred's eyes. One that I haven't seen before. A look that I would never imagine Fred to wear until now.