The Search

It was a blissful spring day in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, the birds were chirping, a light breeze in the air, the smell of all the new growth coming to bloom. Everything seemed near perfect... then she came into town and it was like a dark cloud blocked out the beauty.

She knew something was wrong, and could feel her presence. No one else seemed to notice the dark presence... that was odd to her. She had never felt something like this, it was strange, uncomfortable. What was going on? She was raised to believe that there was not anything like this... magic... in the world. But deep down she always felt different than the ones around her. Felt things that no one else felt; seen things that others didn't see, not truly see anyway. She seemed to know what to do when it came to herbs and things and what they did. She was very in tune with nature and her surroundings, felt the earth beneath her like a gentle caress of her inner soul. Water was her friend, it flowed around her, protected her, gave her peace. Air encircled her like she was a part of it, brought her in like she was the air itself. Fire seemed to dance and flare around her, warm her to her inner core, yet not be burned. Spirit is her guiding light, never leaving her side, warning her of coming danger as well as good tidings.

She came to town looking for something, not knowing what it was. All she knew was that she was drawn to this place for a reason. She had been alone for so long that she had given up ever finding the one that she was intended to be with. She grew up knowing who and what she was. She was the Queen of Zarevia, Raven Jacques. Her kingdom had long stood under protection from which the first Queen of Zarevia had cast, it was a kingdom of witches, elves, were-people, fairies, all sorts of magical beings. They were protectors of the magical world in which ordinary humans knew as only a myth. Zarevia was a place of peace for all magical beings, they were safe from persecution from the humans, and were free to live the life they deserved. Free to practice their magic. They kept the evil magical beings, especially the ones whose powers could not be stripped in a parallel dimension so that they could not harm the innocents, human as well as magical. Those whose powers were able to be stripped, were stripped and released into the human population. They were always being watched by The Guardians of Zarevia, by way of a magical tracking spell so that any time they tried to get their powers back or steal powers or any sort of evil-doing they were sent to the parallel dimension. The Queen of Zarevia was to be married by the time they were 1,000 years old or the protection spell would disappear and all who were under it would be open to the harm they avoided for so long. Raven was fast approaching her 1,000th birthday, so she feared the worst. There had not been a queen like her in over four centuries, who found her bride just in time to save their beautiful kingdom. Raven was worried as she could be, with no hope of ever finding her soulmate. She had searched her entire kingdom ten-fold yet to find her, so she decided to take a break to travel the world over. She had no set route to travel, just go where she felt pulled. Her first stop that he felt most drawn to was the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. She had no clue as to why she was drawn to the specific area, only that she could feel something, perhaps someone there for her.

She was standing there looking out over the beautiful mountains wondering who the dark presence was and what brought her here. All she did know is that she was drawn to her in a way that she could not understand. Felt drawn to her presence, to her spirit. She had no clue how she knew that it was a person, much less a female. She could also feel how powerful she was. The only thing that she knew was that her name was Lettie, that somewhere along her family line there was once a powerful witch or some sort of magical being, that she had immense power, and that she was searching for something or someone. Lettie could not help but wonder if this new powerful woman she felt drawn to was the someone that she was searching for. Could she possibly be able to help her? Could she be someone that was able to be trusted? The power that Lettie felt was so dark, pain-riddled, lonely…

‘I need to find this person, I need to know more. I have no family left, I have nothing left here for me, except for the beautiful nature that surrounds me and gives me strength. There is immense energy that comes from these beautiful mountains especially when a thunderstorm rolls through them - such an amazing feeling to behold, to experience.’ Lettie’s mind was filled with wonder and awe when it came to the storms. She had decided that she would seek out this woman with all that power, to get to know her, to try to feel her out… to make sense of everything she felt.

Lettie began by walking down the mountainside trail not really paying attention to anything or anyone as she always felt at peace when walking in the woods. Her mind was far away in thought about how she would find this mysterious woman. She began to think… I know that she is here, I can feel her power. The question is will I be able to sense how close I am to her, will it truly be her that I am searching for or the power that lies within her. I guess only time will tell in the end. Suddenly, Lettie stops dead in her tracks. She feels someone watching her, feels the hair on the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She peers into the woods to see if she can see someone or something staring at her, watching her. But nothing, she sees nothing. Not a branch or leaf that makes a single movement, everything is quiet, still - not even a breeze rustles the beautiful Autumn leaves -orange, yellow, umber, scarlet. She continues down her path alone, still deep in thought, though ever mindful that someone or something was watching her.

She made it to town without another incident of feeling she was being watched. When she had reached civilization, Gatlinburg was abuzz with all the fall tourists - barely even any room to move, as it was during the tourist seasons. It is something that you get used to when you live in a place such as it is. Even with all the beauty that surrounds the towns of Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge most of them come in and go to all the tourist shops and take a short ride to the top of the mountain that is Ober Gatlinburg to see that one view or over to the Sky Bridge to take pictures on the glass walkway - never to just get out to enjoy nature as it should be. It's shopping and a quick trip to the top.

Walking down the strip was fun, as you got to see and do all sorts of things, meet new people, and just people watch - as the older generations would call it. Lettie was walking toward her car that was parked at The Ripley’s Aquarium parking garage so that she could go over to Pigeon Forge to try and follow the feeling that she was getting from this woman’s presence, that is where her intuition was telling her to go, or at least so she thought. When she arrived at her car, got in, and started it up she was not sure that she would be heading into Pigeon Forge… at least not yet.

Upon pulling out of the garage and getting onto the main road she was pulled toward the cut-off the lead up to Elkmont Campground. As she was driving up the curvy mountainside road her mind began to wonder… Why am I being pulled this way? What could possibly be up here that I feel drawn to? Who is this mysterious woman or the power that I am drawn to? Why am I so drawn to this woman and her power?

As I came up to the road I came upon a wolf standing in the middle of it. Once he moved I continued down the road, knowing that I should have come to the turnoff by now but I hadn’t. When I came to the turnoff it was to turn back on to the spur. Somehow the wolf appearing had turned me around to go toward Pigeon Forge again. Needless to say, I was very confused. Now I was wondering how in the hell it was that happened. What did seeing the wolf have to do with me getting turned around like that? How did it do it?? I have so many questions and I know that there is only one person that can answer these questions. I will find her, this dark presence. Why was she in so much pain? That was the question that I really wanted to get the answer to.

As to how I will find her I haven't a clue. If I am drawn to her and then I am sent in another direction… somehow - how do I have any hope of finding her. I guess I will keep circling the wagon so to speak until I can work my way in close enough.

I can feel her power, her pain, the darkness within. I want so much to be able to help her. Never have I felt so drawn to a person much less another woman. I need to get home and get some rest, and I need to figure out a way to get closer to her to find out who she is. As more time passes I feel like I need to know her that I was meant to know her.

I have that feeling of being watched again as I pull up to my home. I get out and I look around but again I see no one. Why am I getting this feeling? I do not feel threatened or frightened of who or whatever is watching me. I brush it off again. I go inside, hang my keys by the door as always and grab some clothes to get a shower. I think that a nice steamy hot shower will ease my mind a little to get some sleep.

Showered and somewhat relaxed I turn on my speaker and put on the ambient music that I sleep to. Not that it helps with what I am trying to achieve but at least it helps me sleep. I turn on my nightside lamp and open one of the books that I love. Dark Prince by Christine Feehan, Goddess I love her books! I read about a chapter and a half before my eyes start to get heavy enough to sleep.