Chapter 46 Hidden truths

Derick and Joana set out the next night to journey to the spirit world. They chose to go through the north pole because it was much closer to where they lived. As they flew, Joana reminisced on the discussion they had last night. Though she was pleased that Derick chose to help and follow her as he had been of much help to her lately, she also found it somewhat annoying that he thought she couldn’t handle herself. Asides that, they had returned from China only a few days ago, and yet they still hadn’t talked about their intense moments of passion. Joana felt the need to talk about it, but Derick stuck to the agreement and said nothing. She wanted to ask him how he felt, but she didn’t want him to get the wrong ideas or think that he could get her to change her mind about marrying Andrew.

“We’re here,” Derick said, snapping out of her thoughts. The north pole was closer than she imagined, and was filled with so much snow that she could barely see if it weren’t for her supernatural vampire sight. No wonder humans never came here. The place was freezing. They landed right in the middle and walked through the snow to find the portal.

A glowing light in the distance then caught her attention. She looked at it and noticed it resembled some kind of doorway.

“That must be it!” She said to Derick with a loud voice, pointing at it to show him.

“Let’s go!” He told her in the same tone.

The intense breeze blowing and ravaging the snow around made a loud noise and made it hard for them to communicate without yelling, even though they were close to each other.

He grabbed her hand and they walked forward, braving the storm together whilst trying not to let any snow get into their eyes.

Alas, they reached the portal, and didn’t waste any time walking in, the spirit world didn’t look too different from the enchanted forest, no wonder Dana said it was an extension of the spirit world. Natural, quiet and peaceful.

“Welcome Joana,” she heard the voice the river spirit again as they entered the portal. “I see you’ve brought a friend whose heart is as pure as yours.”

“This is Derick, my very good friend. He insisted on following me here just to keep me safe.”

It was a nice complement, Derick should have been flattered, but why did he cringe every time he heard her refer to him as her “friend?”

“Welcome Derick,” the voice said.

“Thank you,” Derick responded.

The voice continued to address Joana.

“I know who you are Joana, I know that you have come here before.”

“Yes,” Joana confirmed. “I came here but not as Joana; I was in another life when I came here. I was Marylin Lou.”

“Yes, Marylin Lou, and she came here for the exact same thing you are coming for now. She took my water because she wanted to give up her immortality just like you want to do now.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Come and meet with the evergreen river, Joana, come with Derick. Walk through the trees, I am waiting for you.”

“Joana walked through the tall trees that were inhabited by spirits. Just like the enchanted forest, they sang welcoming songs to the visitors.”

Soon after, they reached the mouth of the river, and it was even more beautiful than the poems had described it.

“Welcome to the evergreen river, Joana, you can take the water you came here for now. But before you do it, there is something you might want to see, place your hand into the waters, let the waters lead you to the truth.”

Joana did as the river told, and suddenly in the place where she had placed her hand, she began to see swirls. Then an image appeared. She began to see visions of how things were in her former life, how she was at the castle when she was still Marylin Lou. She saw the things Marylin talked about in her diary, the happy moments she had in the coven with them, it reminded her of China. Only that they didn’t need to go on a vacation, they found happiness within the relationships they built right there in the castle. The river also began to show her the intimate moments Marylin had with Derick. It reminded her of how she was with him too, and although she was touched, she was beginning to get uncomfortable knowing that Derick was there right beside her, seeing everything she saw. She couldn’t take it anymore, she didn’t know why the river was playing games with her mind, or trying to sabotage or convince her to remain in this new life of hers by seeing the happiness it brought, but she wasn’t going to fall for it. She had a home to return to, and no matter how happy she saw that she or Marylin was in the coven, she knew didn’t belong there. It wasn’t her home. She belonged with Andrew, and Marylin belonged with John, that’s how things were supposed to be, that’s why Marylin became human and that’s why she was going to become one again too.

She had seen enough, she thought as she yanked her hand out of the river, then the visions disappeared.