Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
~ Shade ~
So, it turns out that shadow creatures do like snacks.
At least, the nemins do. The only problem is, I’m the snack.
Do I want to be out here acting like a tasty metaphorical worm for the nemins?
Well, no. But could I bring myself to let the guys use another student in my place?
Unfortunately, that would also be a ‘no.’ At least, the guys will try to save me.
Going by Raith’s laughter, another student wouldn’t fare so well.
“So, how long is this going to take?” I ask, trying to distract myself from my fear.
The guys have been talking to me using their shadow whisper power, which has helped, but I still feel queasy with nerves.
I lean back against Raith’s chest, glad to have his strong presence behind me, and I focus on Kazer’s steady movements as he carries us forward.
Giant black trees surround us on all sides, and though I don’t know exactly where we are, we’re far from the safety of the academy walls.
After our discussion in their sitting room, the guys wasted no time summoning their beasts and whisking me away through a shadow pathway.
According to Galen, we’re in one of the wilder forests in the shadow realm, and every so often I glimpse white figures floating between the trees.
A chill snakes down my spine, and I jolt when Raith finally answers my question.
“Could be half an hour, or it could be most of the night,” his whisper reaches my ears as we enter a small clearing.
Everyone stops and dismounts, and Raith, Galen, and Thane take turns kissing me before I’m instructed to sit against a large boulder.
The guys and their animali disappear into the trees, and though I can’t see them, I can feel them watching me.
Moonlight shines down on my position, making me feel utterly exposed as I sit there, and the forest is eerily quiet around us.
Okay, this isn’t so bad, I tell myself. With the warnings we’d been given about not leaving academy grounds, I’d been imagining monstrous creatures coming for me the moment I set foot in the wider shadow realm.
Here I am and so far, nothing bad has happened. Okay so sure, the forest is pretty spooky, and with all the fog, shadows, and strange floating beings it’s hard to see much in any direction, but it’s peaceful. So that’s a plus.
As time passes and nothing happens, my mind wanders, and my attention goes to my portal ring.
The one my bestie Blake, the demon queen, gave me.
I’m tempted to activate the magic of the ring.
For the first time since arriving in the shadow realm, I’m outside of the academy walls.
That means, the magic of my portal ring will work, and I could finally tell my bestie where I am.
After the hunt, I explained to my mates all about my relationship with Blake and my time in the demon realm.
Unfortunately, they pointed out that if I use my portal ring in this realm, the shadow queen will be able to sense it, and she’ll likely send soldiers to investigate.
Which is kind of a problem considering I’m trying to lay low.
Then there’s also the fact that if I tell her where I am, Blake will try to rescue me, and things will get real complicated because as much as they can be a pain in the ass, the idea of being away from my mates makes my stomach churn.
Not to mention I still haven’t figured out who I am.
And then there’s the shitstorm that would happen if the shadow queen and demon queen were to both turn up at the same time.
Still, I stare at the tiny crow molded into the metal. It’s nice feeling like I have a backup plan if things go sideways tonight. Even if it’s a terrible one. I tell myself, that once I’m immortal and I have my memories, I’ll contact Blake and explain everything.
My thoughts are interrupted when an icy breeze cuts through the forest. A strange sense of familiarity goes through me, and awareness prickles along my skin. I peer into the darkness of the trees, but the forest remains quiet, and slowly the sensation fades.
“Okay, when you said this might take most of the night, I thought you were kidding,” I whisper to my guys, covering my mouth as I yawn loudly.
“All in good time, treasure,” Galen responds calmly. There’s rustling near a tree on my right, and I wonder if he’s somewhere over there.
“Okay, but as long as that time is soon, because I’m going to need to pee if it’s much longer,” I send back. I’m not kidding, either. Stupid me didn’t go before we left, but in my defense, I hadn’t expected so much waiting around.
Raith’s laughter brushes against my ear.
“I’m serious,” I grumble. “Too much longer and I’m going to have to pee behind a bush or something.”
That’s followed by more laughter.
“Trust me, this isn’t a place where you want to get caught with your pants around your ankles,” Thane growls in warning.
Raith’s laughter cuts off, and he groans instead. “Great. Now I’m imaginin’ her with her pants down.”
Wanting to change the subject so I’m not thinking about needing to pee, I ask instead, “So why do you need the nemins for the games, exactly? What do they do?”
“It’s probably best you don’t know, lovely,” Galen answers cryptically.
“It’d be better if she did. A little fear would do her good,” Knox counters. It’s the first time he’s spoken in a while, and I’m not sure why I’m surprised he’s suggesting something mean.
I poke my tongue out, hoping he can see me.
“Mmmm I love it when she’s angry. She’s so cute and tiny,” Raith comments.
I would be offended, but then again, I am small so I can’t really argue with that.
“The nemins sense fear,” Thane explains as if he’s the voice of reason. “Knox is right. You’re not scared enough for them to think you’re appropriate prey.”
I’m about to protest, but I pause, thinking about what he’s just said.
When I do some soul searching, I realize Thane is right.
For whatever reason, I’m not that afraid.
I can’t tell if it’s because I know my mates are watching me, and I don’t think they’ll let me be harmed, or if there’s another reason, but even though I’m here like a sitting duck out in the open, I don’t exactly feel vulnerable. Which is weird…
“Oh,” I say softly. “Well, I guess…continue then?”
“I don’t like this,” Galen murmurs.
“Neither do I buddy, but I also don’t want to be stuck out here forever,” I reply, wiggling against the boulder a little as I try not to think about my full bladder. “Okay, hit me with it. What horrible things do the nemins get up to?”
There’s a beat of silence, and it’s Thane who speaks. “The nemins hunt in groups, called a hollowing, preying on the weak. In the shadow realm, fear is weakness, just as much as injury or an inability to use powers. This land wasn’t built for those too terrified to walk it.”
“They don’t simply kill their prey, either,” Knox adds. His voice is cold and emotionless, and I wonder if the guys agreed to let him talk because they knew he would have the most impact. “No, they toy with you. Going for the feet first.”
I wince. “So they have a foot fetish?”
“They start with the feet so it will take longer for you to die. First, they paralyze you using one of their poisoned darts. Once the toxin enters your system, only your head is left mobile so they can enjoy your screams as they consume you piece by piece, keeping you alive for as long as possible.” Knox pauses.
“They like fresh meat and seem to have a particular fondness for humans. They’re also very superstitious. ”
Bile creeps up my throat at the images he’s placed in my head. I’m not sure if he’s trying to frighten me or make me throw up.
“Of course, while you may be paralyzed, the toxin does not block your pain receptors,” Knox continues, much to my dismay.
“So you would suffer and endure excruciating agony, completely helpless to stop them. The higher your fear, the slower they will devour you, as they will want to savor every last scream that comes from your lips.”
At that, the hairs rise on my arms, and I shiver. “Okay, well that’s beyond horrifying.”
“And all the while they whistle an eerie tune, and you slowly die listening to them feasting on your suffering.” That last bit from Knox seems entirely unnecessary, because I was already terrified, and I grimace, thinking about the nemins coming for me.
“That’s enough, Knox,” Thane growls, and I’m grateful for it because I don’t want to hear any more.
“When dealing with a hollowing, one of the strongest nemin in the group acts like a leader of sorts, and is usually the last to appear after the other nemins have secured their prey. None of them feed until the leader is present. We need all members of the hollowing for the games, because without the leader, the nemins would struggle to hunt as a united group. The moment the last nemin is in view, we’ll work quickly to capture them. ”
The air cools yet again, the icy breeze picking up, brushing against the trees, and teasing my hair.
I get the strange sensation of cold fingers tugging at my clothes, ruffling the black feathers woven into the material that bands across my chest. When I blow out a breath, a cloud materializes before my lips, and I wrap my arms tightly around myself.
“Okay, well let’s just hope we can get this over and done with. I am officially freaked out now, so I guess we shouldn’t need to wait much longer.” I laugh nervously.
“It’ll be over soon,” Raith tells me. There’s a rustle in the trees, and he adds. “Fuck. What was that?”
I sit up straight, getting a bad feeling even though from his comical tone I’m pretty sure he’s messing with me. “Nice try, guys,” I say with a weak smile.
No one replies, and the forest is eerily quiet.
“Guys?” I hiss, my heart starting to pound harder.
Still nothing.