Act I
“Her New Year’s resolution was to stop falling in love with him.”
My New Year’s resolution, year after year. Long years. This year was different. It was the last year before another death—one I can prevent. And for that to happen, I have to stay away from him, Cade. I can no longer get involved with him. Nor truly love him.
“Blainmeda Grove” is where I live. The place that no one besides me and Cade has visited for over two hundred years.
Humans believe the forest carries something within it. Something terrible—no one would dare say exactly what. But I agree with what they whisper. It’s commonly gossiped that a witch from the inverted world lives in this forest. Maybe that’s true in some way. Or maybe not.
I live at the top of a tree, its trunk enormous and thick. Ancient generations of witches built a home in this tree, one that only those brave enough to enter the forest could find. Even at the top, it remains hidden beneath large, heavy leaves, which are used as a “roof” for the cabin.
This cabin is not comfortable. It is very simple, containing only the basics—a punishment for the world I chose. My black suitcase, made of Icre dragon leather, which I killed on my eight hundred and fifty-seventh birthday, rests on the table.
It is almost ready for me to leave Yekilon and continue my endless journey through this world. All that’s left is to pack some clothes and food that will allow me to survive on the way to my next village, where I plan to live for the next hundred years.
The sound of the rain is strong outside. The sky is heavily clouded, and loud thunder can be heard. I intend to wait for the rain to pass.
Flying with horses through lightning-filled skies would not be very safe.
A loud knock echoed against the old wooden door. Three strong knocks repeated in the same rhythm. I walked slowly to the door and opened it, already knowing who would come to see me.
— Cade? — I say before opening it. As I do, the bizarre creak of ancient doors sounds loudly. The noise of the rain invades the room. Small droplets of water drip onto the floor as Cade steps heavily inside.
— Why didn’t you show up? I couldn’t make the bread without you — Cade says in his deep voice, sounding upset. My heart aches, because I will have to break it once more. And this time it won’t be only mine, but Cade’s as well.
— Cade, don’t come here anymore. Never again — I say, trying not to show how fragile I am, somehow holding all the sadness within silent words and heavy breaths.
— Why? — The look of interest on Cade’s face vanishes immediately. I look at him coldly; I don’t even seem like the same person he knew so well.
— I have to go on a journey.
His pupils widen, and he even blinks rapidly, clenching his fists.
I walk to the table, where my nearly packed suitcase rests beneath it. I sit down, staring at Cade, who remains standing by the door, his black hair soaked by the heavy rain.
His cheeks are slightly flushed now, and he is wearing a black cloak that reaches his feet, completely drenched.
As he walks toward the table, a deep sadness settles within me. As if I could return to the past and relive everything I did to become what I am now. The feeling of guilt. The guilt I will feel for doing what I am about to do to Cade will be yet another of my unforgivable actions.
— Cade? — As soon as he sits down, I take his damp hands and gently squeeze them, careful not to hurt him.
— Do you remember when I told you not to love me? — Cade thinks for a moment before answering.
— Why are you asking me this? You should know that you, Lavina, deserve to be loved more than anyone.
I wanted to tell him—tell him everything I never did. But the guilt I carried would not allow it.
— Stop! — I say loudly, my expression angry, though in truth it is nothing but guilt. — You’re making a mistake.
His hazel eyes look deeply into mine, trying to convince me otherwise. Like a temptation. At the same time that Cade was the most reverent human I had ever met, he also had something that held me captive.
I had never seen him speak to anyone else besides me. It was as if I were his entire world.
— How could loving you be a mistake? — Cade sighs cautiously, not waiting for an answer.
— Some things are meant to remain unexplained. — I end it shortly, not going any deeper.
I release Cade’s warm, damp hands and lean against the table, supporting myself with my arms. I pick up my leather bag, hoping the dreadful rain has finally passed. But nothing outside changes. The atmosphere remains heavy. The pain of leaving the person who matters most to me hurts deeply. Even so, all the pain is worth it.
Because being good also means sacrificing your love for others.
Cade walks toward me. Each step weighs on me more than any human could ever understand. He opens his arms and wraps them around me. He bends slightly, covering me with his body. His coat is so damp, and every breath I take becomes muffled between us. Despite the warmth, I don’t want to pull away. A kind of inexplicable comfort. And I feel it.
My head remains lowered, as do my arms. Even wanting more than anything to return the embrace, I can’t. I lift my head to look up at Cade, noticing that he was already looking at me.
I can no longer see him clearly, my eyes blurred with silent tears, hoping they are not visible enough for Cade to understand the truth. I take a step back, looking down, lacking the courage to meet his eyes.
I no longer care about the rain outside, but I know I have to leave this place. Determined to continue my eternal journey, I walk to the door with my leather bag in one hand.
The moment I touch the cold, rusted metal handle, I feel Cade’s damp hands grip my arm tightly, pulling me back slightly.
— How long will your mission last? — he pants, insisting that I stay.
— That’s not something I’m sure about — I say coldly and seriously, without mercy.
— Then give me just one more day with you. Let’s walk through Fallen Oak. At the end of the trail there’s a field full of flowers, breathtaking on one side.
Even with the rain, I hesitate to go with Cade. But I know this will be the last time. And farewells that will last an eternity and beyond. I give a faint smile, my lips slightly pink from the blood, still looking down, out of sheer cowardice.
He opens the door and immediately looks up, watching the heavy rain fall from the sky. My horses, given to me as a gift centuries ago, are outside in front of my tree cabin. They flap their wings strongly to remain airborne. Each beat sends a powerful gust of wind toward me and Cade.
He goes first, confidently jumping the short distance between the cabin and the black horses. Once he steadies himself on the wooden covering, he extends his hands toward me, waiting for me to do the same.
I climb onto the carriage quickly, as usual. We both sit beneath the cover, avoiding the rain, which has grown lighter.
The two horses fly swiftly against the wind, carrying us to a nearby lake. After some time, we arrive at Fallen Oak.
One of the most beautiful fields I have ever seen in my entire life. The sky is no longer clouded, and the rain has stopped. We walk over the damp, wet grass. Each step makes my shoes wetter. Yet all the flowers remain beautiful, despite the rain.
When we finish walking across the field, I see the lake Cade has told me about so many times before.
The side where he used to play and swim with his siblings, who are now dead. Cade pulls out a towel and spreads it gently over the grass, lowering it until it touches the ground. I sit on the large towel while Cade fetches a large pillow for both of us, along with a simple blanket, which is enough.
I finally rest my head on the pillow, looking at the clouded sky, only a few clouds left after the rain. Only the bright stars illuminate the place.
Cade joins me and touches my hand, looking at me as if it were the last time.
— Cade? — I ask. — Don’t wait for me, please.
He turns his eyes to me, trying to understand what I mean.
— What... do you mean?
My voice no longer leaves my throat, so I let the silence and the sound of crickets speak for me.
— I will be here, every day, waiting for you on your journey. Don’t worry. I want to make you the happiest witch anyone has ever been. I don’t know how long this will last, but don’t forget me. I wouldn’t be able to bear that.
I look at him with deep pain, and pain for myself as well. Why couldn’t I be happy too? Why did it always have to be like this?
He stands up and sits facing me, positioning one of his arms near me to support himself.
Slowly, Cade leans closer. I feel his warm lips move against mine, like a burning flame.
I return the deep kiss, like a kind of farewell. One more on my long list of goodbyes.
I close my eyes slowly, until only emptiness remains. Just me in my world.
I am not leaving because I don’t love him.
I am leaving because I love him too much.
