We arrived at a large mansion.
It was a Victorian-style house.
Who might have thought that there is a beautiful house in the middle of the forest?
The weird vibe coming from the forest earlier was completely gone.
But this place felt very safe. It's like this place was welcoming me.
I had very good memories of this place in my childhood. It started to make me feel nostalgic.
On the other hand, Emily's mouth stayed open while looking at the large mansion.
She started whispering to me. "You never told me that grandma was so rich. This house is five times more bigger than the house we used to live in before."
"Girls. What are you guys doing standing there? Come inside" Grandma yelled while opening the door's lock.
"Coming.." I replied and dragged Emily inside the house.
The house was more beautiful from the inside.
Many olden times decorations were hanging on the wall.
It was the same as I remember in my memory.
But the only difference is that, there were a lot of herbs on the kitchen counter.
Maybe that's where she makes her medicines.
There was also many painting of the weird symbols on the wall.
"Grandma how many total bedrooms are in the mansion? The house looks so big." Emily asked while exploring the house.
"At least 10 bedrooms are there. Choose anything you like. It's yours only." Grandma replied.
After hearing that, Emily ran upstairs to pick her room. Ofcourse she wants to have a bigger room but wait till she see mine's.
I just smiled while looking at Emily's back.
"Everything is the same as I remember. But grandma, What is the meaning of the symbols on the painting?" I asked while pointing at the painting.
"Oh! that? These symbols represent safety and protection. If you hung it in your wall then your house would always be protected from any harm."
"Did you make that? because when we were coming here. An old man showed us the road and he said that you are a shaman. Is it true?"
She just smiled and replied. " Yeah that's true. You know how I was so interested in spirituality. After you guys were gone, I had nothing to do. That's why with the help of my knowledge I started helping people with their illnesses." She said while looking at the window. It was almost evening outside. "But enough talks now. Go to your room and freshen up a bit. I'll go and prepare dinner for us."
I nodded and started heading towards my room.
I opened the door and entered the bedroom. It was a simple but very elegant looking room. With the fresh air coming from the balcony. this place was heaven.
This is where my mom used to live when she was a child but after her, it became mine.
There was also a picture of our family together hanging across the bed.
Mom, Dad, me, grandma, and baby Emily were in the photo. everyone looked so happy in that picture.
But after dad's death, everything went downhill.
Mom left the village with us. Leaving here grandma alone.
I wish dad was here, so nothing would have changed and we would have been happy family like we were before. I shrugged this thought from my mind.
Let's not think about the past, it will only hurt me more.
Right now i am just going to enjoy my time with grandma. I don't care about anything else.
I quickly ran towards the bathroom to freshen up and calm myself a bit.
I was so excited to know what grandma has made for dinner.
***
After taking a shower.
I ran downstairs to see that Emily was already sitting at the dining table and grandma was still in the kitchen preparing for the food.
I wore a light blue pajama and tied my black hair into a bun.
I looked over at Emily and saw that she was reading something.
That was odd because she hates reading and now she looks so interested while reading it.
What type of book is that?
"Emily! what are you reading?" I asked her but she told me to keep my voice down.
"Shhh, It is a book I found in grandma's room. It has lot of information about the supernatural beings and urban legends of this village. Would you like to see this?"
"Did you steal it? I told you don't touch other people's stuff without their permission. At least tell grandma about it."
"I didn't stole it." She got defensive "I just went to ask grandma about something in her room and found it lying on her bed. If this book was so important then wouldn't she keep this book in the locker? But whatever, if you don't want to read this then don't."
A book about the urban legends of the village and information on supernatural beings? Maybe in that book, I could find something about the forbidden forest. So my investigation about finding what is inside the gate would be easy.
"No, I am sorry. I want to see the book. Please Emily." I asked her for the book.
She smiled with satisfaction and handed me the book.
While I was trying to read the book. I heard grandma's footsteps coming from the kitchen. That's why I quickly hid the book in my chair and sat on it.
I know it was weird.
But I was so panicked that I don't know what I was doing.
Granny came out of the kitchen with the food and saw our panicked faces.
"Is everything alright with you guys?" Grandma asked while being worried.
Maybe she understood we were hiding something.
"Nothing granny. I am so hungry that I thought I am going pass out. That's why Anna was a little worried about me." Emily said while being dramatic.
I guess granny bought the lie.
It was mistake to think that way.
"Anastasia? Are you sitting on something?"
This statement made me panic and I started to stutter. "N-No"
I really don't know how to lie in important situations. That's why I always get caught.
"Oh yeah? Then show me what you are hiding"
Grandma is very cunning. And I thought we fooled her.
If I am caught now then there is no point in lying right? So I told her about it.
I took out the book out and gave it to her.
"I am sorry grandma for hiding your book. But it is not my fault. Emily stole it from your room"
I know I should not throw my own sister under the bus. but it's her fault only. Why did she took the book without grandma's permission?
"Anastasia you snitch!"
Emily looked at grandma and apologized. "I am sorry grandma. I should have not taken your book"
Grandma just smiled at us. "Atleast you guys didn't lie about it. I'll forgive you. But don't touch anything without my permission next time. alright?"
"But what was the book about?" I asked grandma acting like I don't know anything about it.
"Nothing, this book is called the golden book. This book teaches us how to heal people spiritually. This is where I learned how to treat people's illnesses." Grandma explained.
"But that is not what I saw in that book. There were stories about the village's urban legends. Not the thing you told me about just now." Emily said with confusion.
"Well, that is not urban legends of the village. It is the story of our ancestors who were healers and how they helped people with their abilities." grandma said while showing the names of our ancestors written in the book.
Wait what? Our ancestors were healers? And nobody told us about it? So if grandma is a healer than does that mean...
"But grandma. If being the healers are in our bloodline then does that mean me and Emily can also be a healers?"