Chapter 17 #2
Many hours later, my eyes sting from staring at the textbooks, a wave of exhaustion hitting me harder than the second trial did.
I finish reading, and close the third book, but I’m no closer to finding anything.
Old stories of the Great Wiitches and wars from long ago fill the pages, but I can’t decipher any of them.
We’re going to need Oak to help us read the ancient text.
I glance at Maines, her eyes closed and her breath deep.
Her legs are propped on the table, and her head is tilted to the side, a quiet snore escaping her lips.
I chuckle at her current state before moving toward my bed to grab a blanket for her.
Just having her here makes me feel calmer—I pray that sleep will come quickly to me tonight.
Finally, I flop onto my bed and let out a soft groan as the cold sheets meet my skin. I force myself to relax, beginning at my fingertips and working my way down. A deep breath escapes me as thoughts of the past week race through my mind.
Block it out, Briar.
Sleep.
Images of my brother’s body and rising black waters make my heart race. I swear I can feel the Serpyndens clawing at my ankles. Fear takes over as I kick my legs to make sure it’s my imagination. For a moment, I question whether I’m having a nightmare or if my dreams are slowly becoming a reality.
Sighing, I sit up in bed. Maines lies still in the exact position, sleeping gracefully.
Scanning my bedroom, my eye catches sight of the moving curtains against the outside breeze.
The slow movement reminds me of the creature haunting my reality when I realize I’m not staring at curtains anymore and Maines and I aren’t the only ones in my bedroom.
The creature wears its familiar black cloak; however, this time, I see its face.
Its thin lips, or lack thereof, are pursed—like it's studying me—surprised I’m not asleep.
Its eyes are an unholy black and gray, and cracked skin coats its body.
I glance at Maines, my eyes wide, as she continues to sleep peacefully, unaware of what lurks near her in the shadows.
My whole body stiffens as the creature’s gaze slowly travels to Maines.
A dagger, along with both axes lie on the floor beside my bed.
They may stop the creature, but I’ve got to grab them first should it lunge.
I drape my leg over the bed’s edge, prepping to grab whichever weapon I can reach first.
“What do you want?” I ask, not knowing if I genuinely want the answer.
The creature snaps its lifeless eyes in my direction, noticing I’m reaching for the steel. It points its long, great fingers in my direction as if I’m to stop moving.
“Okay, I won’t grab anything if you promise you aren’t going to hurt us,” I whisper.
It responds with a nod.
“What do you want?” I ask again, my voice quaking.
The creature moves toward Maines, and panic swirls in my chest as I leap from the bed, grabbing the dagger tightly in my hand. It freezes, retreating further into the shadows by the adjacent wall. Once more, the fire casts no shadows on the obscure creature.
“Sorry,” I whisper, trying not to wake Maines. “You make me nervous.”
Again, the creature nods and floats back in its original direction toward the books scattered on the table and floor. A sudden gust of wind rips open a book, flipping the pages rapidly on the small table near Maines.
The book halts on a specific page. However, the distance makes it too far for me to read. I creep a little closer as Maines stirs, slowly opening her eyes. A scream rattles through the room as I spring into action to calm her before anyone outside is alerted.
“Maines!” I grab her shoulders. “Look at me. It’s not going to hurt us.”
“What the fuck is that thing!”
The hair on my neck rises as I spin around, but the creature is gone. The unsettling feeling casts a shiver through my body. “Shit, Maines! You frightened it.”
“I scared that thing. Are you insane? That creature almost scared me to death!”
“That is the creature that’s been haunting me. It was showing me something before you woke up.”
Maines throws up her hands, “Next time, can you warn me that you’re inviting it to our slumber party?”
“I’ve been trying to think of a way to get it to show up, but this time, it just came on its own. It made the pages turn!”
I leave Maines to gather herself and kneel before the book. The paragraph is in ancient texts. However, the bottom of the page reads relic rituals.
“Damnit.” I slam the book down, unable to read anything.
Maines kneels beside me, wiping the sleep from her eyes. “We’re going to figure this out, Briar. I promise.”
I glance at her, defeat overwhelming me. “How can you be so sure after everything that’s happened? After everything you’ve been through?”
“Because what happened in my past doesn’t define who I am now. And moving forward is the only way we can move. You taught me that, Briar! A wicked smile stretches her lips. “Plus, I know someone who claims to be savvy with old texts.”