Aaron's POV

Poppy... Claramay... Lockets... Vešterka...

The words kept spinning in my head as I tried to fathom the reality of the situation.

A girl from my past returns and claims that she's a witch and that my sister's one too...

Oh, why aren't I a wizard? I could've easily cast a spell and brought my sister back.

Wait a second. Nothing stops me from going to that land, does it?

Yes, it does.

The reason is, I don't know how to reach there in the first place and secondly, I wouldn't survive for a second without magical powers in another dimension, if it exists.

The more I thought, the less I liked the situation. I had to find Poppy. Even if she's a Vešterka, she'll not forget me, will she?

I had to find the portal of entry into that world.

Did Claramay do something before jumping into the water?

I circled the clear pool, kicking at the round stones which landed on the crystal water with a nice little sound.

Plop! Plop! Plop!

Yes... She had thrown her sapphire into the water. But then she's a witch. Could I?

Taking a deep breath, I sucked in as much air as I could, inflating my lungs. Then I made an aim with my sister's ruby and threw it into the glassy reflection.

The water rippled as the stone touched it and suddenly it parted, like a tunnel — a wormhole and I didn't know where it would lead.

But I knew the portal wouldn't be open for long. Clipping my nose with my fingers and with a prayer on my lips, I jumped into the water.

For a moment I felt like I was falling. I hurtled through space like a stone and it felt like I'd strike a surface and break into pieces.

But then I found myself decelerating and soon enough, I was floating around effortlessly.

I tried to paddle my arms and surprisingly I could swim like I was still in the water.

I didn't realize I'd been holding my breath when I released it with a whoosh!

I took in a small gasp... I could breathe.

One worry ticked off.

I saw light at the end of the tunnel — a faint white glow, which reminded me of the stories I had heard. Light at the end of a tunnel is seen when you die.

Did I just drown in the water and is my soul moving towards heaven?

I pinched myself and felt a sharp jab of pain.

Well... Unless souls could feel pain, I'm alive.

Carefully I navigated my body towards the light.

I realized it was an opening in a cave.

I increased speed when something hit my face.

Lots of tiny wings started buzzing in front of my eyes. They sparkled in various colours, like the phosphenes you see when you rub your eyes.

I tried to swat them off and I heard a splat!

'Hey, big giant? What do you think you're doing?' a tiny, indignant voice rang out.

I peered carefully at the small blob of light to find a chubby little lilliput standing there with hands on her hips. Her face was red with anger. She had delicate little wings like cellophane paper.

While another one sat on a rock, holding her head. She's the one who got hit by my hand.

'You hit Serefina!' another tinny, little voice cried.

'Hey, I'm sorry okay? I didn't know who you are...'

I held up my hands in the universal gesture of surrender.

"You don't know us? Where the hell do you come from?"

That was Serefina. She seemed to have recovered from my blow.

'Umm... I came from the other side.'

'Ooooh, he's a human, a real human. I haven't seen one of them. Do they eat us?' Miss Angry Doll sounded frightened.

'Cut off the drama, Shimmer.' a tiny blue blob of glitter remarked. 'We all know they don't have magic.'

'Anyway,' Shimmer rolled her eyes. 'Welcome to Violet Hollow. We're the sprites guarding the entrance to our world. We'll be your guide. Whom did you come to visit?'

'Is Poppy here?'

'Poppy? Never heard of her,' Serefina nodded her head. 'What kind of a fairy is she?'

'I'm afraid she's a Vešterka.' I tried to sound casual, but the panic in their tiny eyes made me realize that I had taken the wrong strategy.