When Kate awaken from her slumber she was already lying on the ground supported by the roots of the tree.

Where am I?

She looked at the surrounding area. She's still in the clearing...she didn't go anywhere.

She rose to her feet thinking what to do next.

She decided that she will just wait here for the rescue. She was sure Esmeralda and the leaves will come back to this place to check back on her. If she will leave the clearing, she might get lost in the forest.

The last thing she remembered... she loses consciousness and Esmeralda wasn't able to see her even if she was standing right there in front of her.

Then after that, she no longer remembers what happens next.

Her theory was that Esmeralda left the forest because she can't see her, thinking she went missing.

Surprisingly she was still in the same place! She was never gone at all.

What kind of weird phenomenon is this?

She sat on the root of the tree and pondered the strange situation she was in. She has this feeling that she went somewhere but no matter how hard she tried, she can't remember a damn thing!

Argh! It's killing her!

And all these weird happenings makes her head hurt like crazy.

~o0o~

Back in Esmeralda's place.

She was in her room preparing to go back to the forest, hoping that this time she will be able to find Kate.

She exited the room and went out of the house heading to the tree. "I'm going back to the forest looking for Kate, wish me good luck my friend," she said.

The tree shakes its branches feeling optimistic. "Good luck, Esme. I have a feeling that you will find her today."

Esmeralda smiled. "I hope you are right," she said and turned around going to her transportation, the silver box.

The tree watched the silver box taking off the ground and hovered in the air for a few seconds, then it disappeared in the sky.

A few minutes later.

The silver box landed in the clearing. Esmeralda was overjoyed to see her ward sitting in the roots of the tree, the exact area where she had last seen her.

Kate looked at the silver box and saw Granny inside, her face illuminated in happiness. "Granny! I'm here!" she shouted. Huge relief washed over her. She dashed towards the silver box.

Esmeralda opened the door for her. "Where have you been, child?"

"Granny, you won't believe it," she said, pointing at the tree. "I was just there under the shade of the tree all this time," she answered quickly.

"Huh? Are you kidding me?" asked Esmeralda.

"Yes, Granny. I was here all the time...but something happened to me...I become a statue...I can't move my body parts and I can't even use my voice to call you even if you are standing just in front of me. I feel like I went invisible mode because you didn't see me at all then I passed out!" Kate narrated.

"W-whaaaat? Is that what happened to you yesterday?" asked Esmeralda in disbelief.

"Yes, I'm telling you the truth, Granny! There's no reason for me to lie," Kate said convincingly.

"I believe you, child. Let's go back now to my house," Esmeralda said. Her gaze sweeps around the clearing and saw no one, but she felt that familiar feeling of someone staring at her. That certain someone must be the one responsible for Kate's disappearance.

A resident of the forest must have taken a fancy on Kate and decided to play a frank on her. The good thing is, she was released without injury, or else if that creature was with evil intention, she might not be able to see Kate alive again.

She commanded the silver box to take off.

And there it goes up in the air.

Jegun watched the silver box disappeared from his sight. It's now time for him to return to the cave.

~o0o~

Back in the floating piece of land.

After the silver box landed in the front yard, Esmeralda and Kate entered the house.

"Child, tell me exactly what happened yesterday...why you disappeared?" Esmeralda asked again.

Kate released a deep sigh. "My story is the same, Granny. I was just there standing under the shade of the tree, I never leave the place as per your instruction. When you left to check on the bushes, my body becomes paralyzed like a statue. I can no longer move my body parts. Then I saw you calling my name, I told you that I'm still in the same place but my voice failed me then I lose consciousness and wake up today. That's all!" she concluded.

"Alright, it's not your fault. I guess someone living in that forest took fancy of you and decided to play a prank on you. I'm just feeling grateful that you are safe and they didn't do anything bad to you," Esmeralda said feeling relieved.

"Granny, I would like to sleep. I'm feeling tired," said Kate.

"Okay, sure, rest well," replied Esmeralda.

Kate placed the mattress on the floor and lies on it.

Esmeralda exited the house and sauntered towards the direction of the tree.

"I'm glad you finally found Kate! Where did you find her?" asked the tree.

Esmeralda wore a grim expression on her face. "I found her in the same area where we landed yesterday. She claimed that she was there all the time, just that I wasn't able to see her standing in front of me. Weird isn't it?"

"Hmm...I think the elves in that forest played a joke on the two of you. How is she? Is she alright?" the tree asked.

"Yes, she's unharmed. I left her inside the house to rest. Now...I got to find Ivy as soon as possible!" there was urgency in Esmeralda's voice.

"Come inside my trunk, I want to show you something!" the tree invited her.

"What's inside?" Esmeralda's brows furrowed.

"Just come inside, how will you know if you won't enter," the tree said.

Esmeralda complied. "Okay, as you say so..."

The trunk of the tree opened and she entered.

Inside the tree...

She saw a wooden bed, and a sleeping woman was lying on it.

Esmeralda's breath was caught on her throat. "Ivy! Is that you!?" She hurriedly went to the woman's side and examined her body.

"Tree...tell me...why Ivy is here inside you!?" she demanded, annoyed that her friend pulled a stupid stunt like this behind her back.

"Calm down, Esme. I was just trying to help you. After knowing that Ivy has poison on her body, I abducted her inside your house and didn't tell you about my plan. I just want to surprise you. I plan to return Ivy after curing the poison in her body but unfortunately, I failed to do so," the tree said sadly.

"You mean to say, you are the one who took Ivy from my house?" Esmeralda gritted her teeth in anger.

"Yes. Before you get angry. Hear me out first. I tried several antidotes I can find in the forest but the poison remained in her body. So, I decided to return her tonight so that you and Kate can finally rest in peace. I'm sorry, I'm trying to help you guys but the poison is powerful, only the person who made the poison can provide the antidote," the tree elaborated further.

Slowly, the anger that Esmeralda felt dissipated, but she was annoyed just the same. "You should have at least informed me! You got me worried to death for no reason," she grumbled.

"I know. I'm sorry, it was meant to be a surprise. It's no longer a surprise if I tell you," the tree laughed a little to lighten the tense mood.

Esmeralda breathed deeply. "So, what is Ivy's condition right now?" she inquired.

"She's fine. I put her to sleep. I will return her to your house tonight, just make sure Kate is sleep during that time," the tree said.

Esmeralda was thinking of another plan. "No. Let's try something else. Wait for my signal before you do that," she said.

"Okay," said the tree.

Esmeralda stared at the sleeping woman. If the tree was unable to find the cure of Ivy's poison, then the girl will die in her place if she can't return to the vampire's territory. Since poison and antidote were never her specialties. She can't help Ivy in that area.

She sighed heavily.

She has no choice but to return Ivy to the vampires' dwellings as soon as possible!

She doesn't want Ivy to die in her place.

"Don't worry Esme, I instructed several of my leaves to continue finding the cure all over the forest. As long they find something useful, I will try to concoct the medicine and try it on her. I still want to keep trying even if there's no guarantee, hopefully, I can help you, girls, to lighten your burden," the tree said thoughtfully.

"Next time, informed me. I hate surprises the most," Esmeralda said in a mild voice.

"Okay, I understand," the tree said.

"I'm leaving now, you can open your trunk," Esmeralda instructed.

"Alright," the tree responded and made the opening.

Esmeralda exited the trunk of the tree and went back to the house.

She checked Kate, she was sleeping soundly in the mattress. She lowered herself on the floor facing the girl and formulate a plan in her mind.

Putting back Ivy beside her sister tonight as if nothing happens would raise Kate's suspicion. That would be an absurd situation. She doesn't want Kate to starts suspecting her that she was the one who took Ivy away.

While the girl is sleeping, she might as well put her plan in action.

She rose to her feet and left the house, then she went back to the tree.