Heading to the dining room, I bumped into 4758. The smile on his face made me wary. Guess it was just a small thing he picked up from Mara.

"635202! The dungeon's that way, isn't it? Aren't you interrogating prisoners today?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I've got to show a newbie around."

"Dusk?" he asked.

"Zolona's nephew." I sighed.

"Really?"

"Mara's taking over Dusk's interrogations. I have to babysit Echo." I crossed my arms in disapproval. I was no nephew-babysitter.

"Babysit? Cruel word."

"He doesn't even know how to fight, 4758!"

He snorted. "You wouldn't expect that from one of those brats, especially the guy. Need any help?"

"Zolona will back me up. Mara might need your help."

"Alright, I'll check over there. Let me know if you need anythin'."

4758 ran ahead of me, passing the corner to assist Mara in the dungeon.

I headed to the dining room, slamming the door open. Zolona and Echo eating without me.

"So, you farmed cows and plucked cotton?" Zolona asked.

Echo nodded. "For the sellers."

"Fascinating story," Zolona smiled.

Echo's face lit up. "It was. I barely noticed the people behind us. I just focused on getting done."

"Any wolves go after the sheep?" I asked.

"...So, Raven, you and Zolona are taking me around the castle?" Echo asked, clearly changing the subject off wolves.

My face became a scowl. "Stop calling me Raven!"

"It fits you, 635202," Zolona said.

"Don't encourage him," I said, clenching my teeth.

Echo's smile widened. "She's right though. It fits you."

"This way." I pointed outside the dining room.

"Let's start with the east and west corridors," Zolona said to Echo.

I opened the door in the dining room so we could leave. "Sounds like a plan."

We walked down the west hallway, and I got bored out of my wits. I had to resist strangling Echo and Zolona as they went into every room explaining what happened in there.

It wasn't like I needed the tour! Why the heck did Zolona invite me? I respected Zolona like a mother, really I did, but sometimes, just like a mother, she got on my nerves. I looked to the watch on my right hand at every stop, watching seconds tick away like minutes.

In the fifth room, our tour was interrupted. We reached the Clothing Fabrication Room. This room was filled with sewing machines, fabrics, and other materials necessary for making clothes. We had our own kind of sheep here-- The Bellwether-- that Zolona said made better clothing materials than the other world's sheep. The animal's fur came in many different colors, making dye unnecessary, and made a much sturdier fabric than cotton or wool. Less work on designing clothes gave more time for training. Guess I was grateful to The Bellwether.

Other than that, The Clothing Fabrication Room was bland. The walls were a dark gray color, and the stone archway on the back wall gave the room one glass window. Two people who went through the portal with Mara came to greet us. One was a girl-- a midget compared to me; the other a boy who slouched behind her.

"This is the Clothing Fabrication Room. Here we..." Zolona began.

She was quickly interrupted by the girl. She analyzed Echo's clothes before a smile came across her face. "Sugarcakes and candy! Look at your clothes! Jordan, this is a disaster..."

The boy, who I assumed was this "Jordan" character, tilted his head and came to the girl's side. "Cora, you can't go around and say that about clothes..."

Cora eyes were doll-like and she wore light makeup. She wore a pink headband with a white bow angling off it and wearing a jade green dress. Delicately placed ivy lingered in the design. The thing that struck out the most about her was the pointed ears mostly cover by her blond bob.

I'll admit she was slightly attractive-- probably from a lack of fighting. More attractive than me? You're asking the wrong person. I liked the way I look more than anyone could possibly say. It's probably my eyes or the way my face angled like a diamond. Besides, I looked good in my black jumpsuit, making my average build slightly slimmer. We weren't restricted on colors. Zolona wasn't that strict. Black hid blood stains better than anything else.

Turning to the girl's brother, his hair was cut at his shoulders, but his features weren't as masculine. His face was oval shape and he had almond shaped eyes. He was just a couple inches taller than his sister, and unlike her, didn't wear a wide smile on his face. He was right to be cautious of me.

Jordan chuckled. "The two of us come from a long line of tailors... I think. That's what Mom said."

"Oh be quiet," Cora elbowed her brother, "My twin's more into hiding than sewing."

"This is my nephew, Echo," Zolona introduced.

Jordan slammed Echo against the wall, elbow against Echo's neck. "You're one of Isla's kids! No wonder your clothing is retched you scum!"

"I want nothing to do with her..." Echo's words choked, "I was just a farm hand three weeks ago. I doubt my mother meant any..."

Cora sighed. "We'll forgive you, if you let us make you another outfit."

Echo smiled. "Thank you."

"But Cora," Jordan said.

"Knock it off Jordan. You're a scaredy cat, not a jerk," Cora wiped tears from her cheeks.

"What's one of Isla's kids doing with Zolona anyway?" Jordan asked.

"I wanted to get to know my family, and discover more about myself," Echo said.

Jordan released his grip on Echo, and they followed Cora to a sewing station.

"Where to next?" Echo asked as the twins measured him.

"We're going to show you outside the castle," Zolona said.

"Really?" I asked.

"Is there a problem with that, Raven?" Echo asked.

I cursed at the name Raven under my breath so Echo couldn't hear it. "He'll have a perfect escape route."

"I'm trusting him. Besides, you're keeping an eye on him," Zolona said like placing me in detention.

Strolling outside, the blood red moon towered above us to watch our every move. We got near a group of trees and Zolona stopped. I had to stop Echo from continuing further.

The landscape in front of me was covered in an eerie fog. Thorns branched off trees, their barks sharp and jagged. A crow cawed in the distance and chills ran up my spine. A gust of wind came from the forest bringing dead leaves with it, whipping my hair behind me. The leaves blew around us before heading back into the forest.

"This is The Forest of Unknown Darkness. Never go in there. It's filled with deadly creatures-- including The Three Oracles of Wrathful Vengeance," Zolona warned.

"What's so bad about The Three Oracles of Wrathful Vengeance?" Echo paused, "That's a mouthful."

"Have you met an oracle before?" I asked.

Echo smiled. "I know one. The Oracle, she's the one Ember says delivers prophecies for The Ancient Ones."

"Did you like The Oracle?" Zolona asked.

Echo shook his head. "Her prophecies creeped me out."

Zolona sighed. "She's one of your mother's good friends."

"Did you ever have a best friend?" Echo asked.

"Once. A long time ago," Zolona said.

"What happened?" Echo asked.

There was a moment of silence as Zolona ground her teeth together. "Never bring up the subject of my best friend again, or your life won't be a pleasant one."

"Back to The Three Oracles of Wrathful Vengeance?" I asked.

"To answer your question, Echo, The Three Oracles of Wrathful Vengeance are keepers of all human fate. They guard Fate Scrolls which state the destinies for all humans. No supernaturals like vampires, werewolves, nymphs, angels, demons..." Zolona said.

Echo interrupted, "Is Raven included in that? She has magic, right?"

"Enchantresses, mages, witches, and oracles get Fate Scrolls-- as they're still human, just with special abilities," Zolona said.

I cleared my throat. "Back to why they're dangerous?"

Zolona nodded. "Yes. Those three oracles have the power to change anyone's fate written on those scrolls, using them like bargain chips. In order to leave this realm without a blood moon in the real world aligning to the blood moon here, you can go to them and offer a portion of your fate. They might take anything, and if you request something, they'll twist it into a way you never planned. If you're lucky, they give free passage, but its doubtful that those sold to old traditions and magic would ever bend laws. Thus is the cost of magic."

"Sounds dangerous." Echo's lip quivered and his gaze lingered to The Forest of Unknown Darkness.

Zolona placed her hand on her nephew's shoulder and forced him to look her in the eye. "They're very dangerous. If I could leave this place, I'd rather wait than talk to those three."

"But you can't leave," I reminded.

Zolona smiled. "At least not yet."

"Are there any friendly animals here?" Echo asked.

"In the other forest, The Glorious Grove, there are all kinds of good animals there," Zolona said.

Echo smiled.

We walked across to the other side of the castle.

There, we were met by a portion of the woods with trees curved at the base. The branches were covered in fruits and flowers and it was beautiful to look at. Different animals were there including wolves, horses, Dark Demented Strays, Bellwethers, unique different kinds of butterflies, cats, and birds. They had different unique names either interesting or scary to describe.

These animals were the friendly ones, unlike the animals living in The Forest of Unknown Darkness. Each of the animals were colored with bright colors as well. There were no words to describe the beauty they held-- the magic. Magic was the only thing I had in common with those creatures, those both magical and familiars of the land.

Zolona gestured to the land around us. "Here we are."

"They're wonderful." Echo face lit up.

"As you can see, there are lots of creatures that live here," I said.

Zolona smiled. "The animals from this portion are friendly towards us, unlike the animals from the Forest of Unknown Darkness. They tend to make bonds with humans especially."

"I can see that. You have a cat right next to you." Echo gestured at the black cat with green eyes beneath my feet... my own laid-back, independent familiar.

"This is Suerte! Don't insult him. He bites," I said as Suerte meowed.

Suerte was a cat with a black coat of fur, with one stripe of red on his cheek. He had green cat eyes, watchful and great at running off at the most convenient times. He wore a silver bracelet around his paw with a bell to let people know who he was. He always got what he wanted after meowing, mainly because of the way I babied him. Zolona wasn't a cat person.

"Wow, that meow's so majestic..." Echo said.

I chuckled. "Suerte's my familiar. He looks after everyone here, but I doubt that includes you."

"He's just a stupid old cat. Don't take her words seriously," Zolona said.

The cat hissed at me. He held his paw in the air, claws ready to attack.

"It's okay, Suerte, she didn't mean it," Echo said waving his arms to the cat frantically. Like I needed him to stop that cat. I'd rather shoot it.

The cat stopped its growling before it watched me intensely.

"Now, who's a good kitty?" I asked as Suerte meowed before giving Echo a fierce stare with his green eyes.

Echo smiled. "I can tell Suerte's... special."

"That cat never liked me," Zolona moaned. "I told her to pick another familiar, but that cat's never left guarding this place..."

"Of course he's an angel, but so is this one!" Another cat stroked herself against Echo's leg, much to Suerte's jealousy.

He picked up a cat with silver and white fur and turquoise eyes.

"Oh look. The cat likes you," I said, bored with my job.

Zolona sighed. "Familiars make an attachment to one person and stay by them."

"She looks like a Misty," Echo said.

I crossed my arms. "You're going with Misty? Not Slayer, Silent Death..."

"Says the girl who named her familiar Suerte," Zolona argued.

"It means lucky okay? What am I supposed to do with that scar he has?" I asked.

Misty's meow was prettier than Suerte's. It was as if the cat's meow was like a little bell you would ring for people to bring you something. Her fluffy coat made her a lot more attractive than Suerte as well.

"So, cats are your favorite animals?" Zolona asked.

Echo smiled. "I love all animals. If I had to pick a favorite, it'd be Misty."

Of course...

Suerte's eyes turned fierce as I pulled Echo and Misty aside.

"Don't get Suerte angry, stupid!" I said.

Echo looked to the cat and sighed. "I'm trying not to, but what I said is true."

"This is the end of the tour! You and Misty can leave, Echo," Zolona smiled.

Echo, carrying Misty, left.

"635202, not you," Zolona ordered.

I turned back to Zolona. "Yes, Mistress?"

"Alert the person I picked to train Echo. They need to prepare themselves," Zolona commanded.

"Who gets stuck with him?" I asked, eager to leave and get away with Suerte, maybe sort things out or try to figure out those dreams.

"She's resourceful, loyal, brave, talented, good at keeping things under control, stone hard... even burning a copy of 'Opponent of the Dagger', but I know she's able to handle something strategic that can be a little messy," Zolona began.

I knew exactly who she wanted to train him, and she wouldn't stand for it. Besides, what kind of delusional idiot would read a novel about opposing a magic cult in the fantasy world and going on a quest to save love? Was Zolona trying to poison me? That book was over fifty years old!

"I'd rather burn Echo in the fireplace with 'Opponents of the Dagger' than spend more time with him!" I crossed my arms in defiance.

Zolona glanced at me like a mother. "635202, you're the only person I can trust. Mara is busy interrogating Ember, Dusk, and Arvin. You can train him."

"It's not like he'll save lives when he doesn't fight! He lacks value."

"Well, you're the only person who's able to do it. Besides, you can change him."

"I can?"

"If you do your job. Mara won't get the results I want."

"You're certain?"

"Bloody—" Zolona paused. "Of course."

I paused. Thinking any job through was important, regardless of age or task. If I could change Echo for our cause and get him to adapt to life here, Zolona wouldn't just gain an ally. I'd gain more respect than Mara, more prestige than any other on the compound for my resourcefulness. My mentoring would be legend, for being kickass and harsh.

"...I'll do it."

"Good. I'll look forward to seeing your success."

"What do I need to do?"

"Shape his talents first; let him feel like one of us, and turn him against his friends. The rest is plain to see."

"I understand."

Suerte hissed at me. Guess my familiar was mad I'd been too busy. Again.

Zolona walked away from me, leaving me to question how I'd accomplish my goal. I didn't know where to begin. I wasn't good at making allies. If I had a middle name, it'd be 'anti-social'. I never got close to anyone, not even my familiar. Crap, I never wanted to!

Let's see how far I'll get my buttons pushed...