After a few weeks of preparation and Jason Odstar putting in a favour with none other than a royal family, he arranged for me to spend six months in one of the natural world wonders of the globe, in a cabin so large it could fit an entire sorority party, fully stocked with everything my little heart might desire. I had six months to discover whatever Erik needed me to find.
“What more can you ask from her, Elsa?” It was dad’s turn to partake in the bickering. “She’s been doing everything we’ve asked her to, she helped with campaigns, she attended my meetings and your events, she throws pretty smiles at the press and dresses how you tell her to. If my girl wants some time alone, then I will damn well give it to her.”
An hour later, we reached the airport and passed through the VIP passage, where one of the family’s private jets was waiting with the luggage already stacked inside. I paused for the first time. I was really doing this. My arms acted on their own accord and wrapped themselves around my parents as I struggled to keep tears in.
“I will miss you so much,” I sighed, feeling a small drop escape
on my cheek.
“Take care of yourself, darling, and call if you need anything. Call your father anytime,” Dad pulled me in for another hug.
“And you can always come home,” Mom teared up as well and joined our embrace.
“Promise.” It was the only thing to say as I wiped tears away, my eyes now filled with them. “I’ll call you as soon as I land.”
We stood there another few seconds, hugging and crying. I finally took a deep breath and walked towards the jet. My legs wobbled, but step by step, I gained control and forced my legs to take me up the ladder.
“I love you,” I shouted to make myself heard over the wind, waving both my hands, until they disappeared from sight. I took a seat by the window and waved some more until my parents got back into the limo that drove them away. Half an hour later, I was in the air, alongside two pilots and two air hostesses, who were checking every few minutes if I needed anything; the perks of having an entire jet to yourself. I ordered pizza and a can of coke, then took out the laptop and started googling my new residence.
“Evigt Forest,” I typed as tiny strands of mozzarella spread from the slice and onto my chin. It was part of my daily routine, scouring the internet for any clues. I still had no idea what I was supposed to find, if anything, or if whatever Erik had told me in his delirious state simply matched a forbidden location, but I was determined to spend each day of those six months researching, until I either gave up or found what my brother needed me to.
Evigt Forest is one of the few remaining natural marvels. Itbecame a Biosphere World Wonder in 1865 when King Karl XV ennobled the woods and built a summer residence for his Queen consort, Louise of Netherlands.
No wonder Mom was so upset when Dad wrote to the King of Sweden and asked if his daughter could live in such a place; it must have cost him a lifetime of favours. I took another bite and continued reading.
The Eternal Forest, as per its name, is host to a multitude of unique species that never shed their leaves and supply the land with its own ecosystem. Amongst the natural species of fauna and flora national to the Swedish country, the Evigt is home to unique breeds that can only exist in three other points of the globe.
By the time I finished eating, I’d re-read all the articles I had saved during my research. The rest, my lazy self decided I would learn on my own once I arrived.Checking the weather, I found out that the average temperature of the Evigt Forest was 32 degrees Celsius, which meant that even in April, I could live in a bikini if I felt like it. I couldn’t wrap my brain around the fact that the forest looked like a tropical island, yet it was nestled inside a cold country.
I opened another tab and clicked on YouTube. The first videos to pop up were some of Cressi’s, followed by Odstar ads and the Avicii song we played in the morning while getting ready. I went to the search bar and typed in ‘Evigt Forest’. Most of the videos were a collection of the images available on Google, others comprised of documentaries from Discovery Channel or National Geographic about the unique plants, and some conspiracy theories about the Swedish King selling his soul to the devil to gain immortality for the forest. No one could explain why the phenomenon happened, and very few people could visit and research. The forest’s perimeter was encircled from every direction and had guard posts at every mile to protect it from unwanted visitors. Only members of the royal family and their acquaintances received permission to visit, along with famous biologists and other scientific parties who had to get funding and get an escort every minute of their stay. Why on earth had my brother sent me here?
In the weeks ahead of my departure, I found many theories about the late queen, each more surreal than the other. A research channel did a two-hour report on her every visit and suggested she was bewitched or that the forest was an enchanted place who trapped the ruler inside. Others suggested that this forest was a remnant of heaven, from when God destroyed it and a tiny piece fell on earth.
People believed those rumours and while the queen attended business at the palace, they ransacked the place, wanting to get their own piece of heaven. They went into the forest to steal whatever they could, leaves, tree barks, even animal carcasses. The destruction was so great that the land suffered for a long time. During those years, the Queen passed away. Many believed she died of a broken heart after seeing her beloved forest destroyed.
After the funeral, the King ordered guards to be dispatched to protect it and build a high brick wall around. He did not live long enough to watch the ground renew but, before his death, he passed a law demanding all future rulers of Sweden to dispatch guards for Evigt’s protection. Even though a hundred and fifty years had passed, the tradition remained. The more I researched, the more surprised I was to know how I received permission to live in the queen’s mansion for such a long time. As always, Dad had managed the impossible.
I had to sign a dozen non-disclosure agreements, and my entire trust fund had to be placed as insurance should something happen during my stay. I could not post my location on any kind of social media, and neither I nor my family and friends could alert the press about this journey, at any point of my stay.
I could only have video conversations from inside the mansion and couldn’t bring in a mobile phone or any kind of recording device other than the laptop, which was bound to the house. All video communications had to happen for an hour a day during 10 to 11pm Sweden time, and a copy program had to be installed on my laptop so the Swedish Security team could connect for verification.
On arrival, my luggage needed to be checked to ensure I brought nothing that broke the rules. I had one delivery a week where one member of the guard would travel up to the mansion and bring the requirements on a Friday, items which I had to email to a secure address by Wednesday. In case of emergencies, there was a landline phone available, which was only connected to the Forest Guard Quarters, to call for medical assistance or any emergency. It was the modern version of signing away my soul, but I agreed to everything eagerly, desperate to make it official before anyone reconsidered.
And here I was, only seven hours away from landing in a place that would separate me from the world and bring me a step closer to my brother.
Chapter Two
“Are you waiting for another wave of applause, brother, or are you ready to get your seductive bottom in here?” Vikram appeared in the entryway.
I remained still, analysing what I had to do, what faeries from the entire city gathered in the palace gardens, had come to witness. I had seen the palace door open and close a thousand times throughout my life, each one marking significant events: when my older brother Damaris wed the kingdom’s healer, Takara; when my other brother, Vikram, entered wearing his Commander of the Realm newly earned shield; or when our parents, the King and Queen of the Earth Kingdom, appeared through them at every new year celebration to bless the realm and bring offerings for another flourishing season.
It was my turn to take an important event through those doors, my coming of age. After twenty-seven years of studying and training, this night forced me to leave behind youth and become an eligible male. Today I would become a keeper. The blessing and duty all young males eagerly awaited on their coming of age. I would be allowed to fulfil the goddess’ will and use my power to help life grow.
“Seriously, brother, are you alright?” Vikram insisted, reviewing the state of me.
“I am,” I snapped away from the trance and answered. “Just taking it all in.”
“Go get your assignment, then I assure you there will be a queue of females who will want to take it all in as well,” he laughed, folding his arms across his wide chest, their reflection shining from his breastplates. Ever since he’d become Defence Commander, the second born of the royal family did not miss an opportunity to show off his uniform. Or to let the females of the kingdom take it off.
