Chapter 13 #2
I went back over to my little spot and retrieved my sword. Thank the gods I had this. And that Alaric thought of getting it.
It was the only useful weapon we had. The magic within could slow time, drain a life, and, best of all, my Yuilandria would always return to me.
I slotted my sword on my back and tapped my heart, beseeching the Blessed Mother to keep me safe.
I looked back at Wolfe, hoping he’d be okay without me. I doubted anything would mess with him, though. Who knew; the fireflies probably escaped in the night when they realized what he was.
On that note, I ventured outside the cavern.
There was no sun in the sky. I didn’t know if that was more unsettling than the twin suns in the Land of the Dead.
I looked left and right and back again, taking in the twisted barren-looking trees rising from the earth.
There wasn’t a single bird in the sky. Maybe that was a good thing.
I dreaded to know what the birds would look like here. I didn’t imagine they would be a whole lot different from the eeriness of the rest of the place.
I fixated on the path ahead. There were more trees that way. More trees could possibly mean water. The cluster of trees also didn’t seem too far.
Taking a deep breath, I took my first steps down the path.
Please, please let me be okay.
Every step I took was careful as I kept scanning my parameters, making sure I’d spot anything strange, hopefully before it spotted me.
A little way down, the landscape became fuller and some of the trees even had leaves. Not green though. Green wasn’t a color here. Neither was anything too bright. The cluster of trees before me was a murky gray.
I glanced back to see how far away I had ventured from the cavern.
My stomach squeezed a little when I realized I’d gone quite far. Too far for comfort. I could still see the outline, but just barely.
I paused for a moment, weighing my options. I hadn’t done anything yet besides get some fresh air. I also hadn’t cleared that much distance. Turning back now would be fruitless. And a little cowardly.
I’d go just a little farther, then I’d head back.
I pressed on, still cautious.
After a minute, the sound of trickling water caught my attention, and my entire body sighed with relief.
I walked a little faster and found the source. It was a narrow river and the water was surprisingly clear.
Gods. Thank you.
I found a good spot to kneel by the bank. The water looked fine, but I still checked it, smelling and wading my hand through it.
There was nothing untoward to worry about, so I cupped my hands, gathered a good helping, and drank deeply.
Merciless gods, the cold water soothed my parched throat. I didn’t even realize it was so dry until the water slid down.
I drank until my thirst was truly quenched and a sense of normalcy settled over me in this abnormal world.
"Easy, there." The voice came from behind me.
I froze.
Oh hells. Who was this now?
Slowly, I lifted my head and turned, my heartbeat tripling at what I might find.
An old man sat on a rock a short distance away.
I hadn't sensed anyone approaching. There were dead leaves and twigs on the ground.
Surely, I should have heard him approach. Or maybe I was so engrossed in drinking the water I just didn’t hear.
He smiled and looked ordinary enough.
White hair.
Plain clothing.
Worn boots and a scruffy-looking bag on his back.
He also seemed human. I hadn’t met another human in the magical realm, though it wasn’t uncommon. My father had crossed the Veil all the time, but he was an ambassador, an emissary for the king.
This man looked right at home here. And he’d been watching me.
"Sorry," he said with a polite smile. "Didn't mean to startle you."
I straightened and calmed myself. Maybe not everything or everyone here was terrifying. “That’s okay.”
“Passing through the woods?” He looked me over.
“Yes. I just needed some water.” I decided to go with the simple version of my story.
Though I needed directions, I was being careful.
I’d come from Stormfell. The likes of Gryffin Forest held all sorts of unsavory characters who wore friendly masks.
Sometimes, the worst thing you could do is let them know you were lost.
“Ahhh. Me too. There’s not another source for miles.”
“Then I’m glad I happened upon it.”
“More like a blessing.” He looked me over again. “I have to ask. What’s a Ravenwood mage doing in a place like this?”
My hair color had always been a dead giveaway of my heritage. So many immediately thought I’d come straight from the Ravenwood Realm, when the sad truth was I’d never been.
“My husband and I like exploring.” Now he knew I wasn’t alone.
“That’s good. Was married once. My wife died a few years ago.” He dipped his head.
“Sorry to hear that.”
“Thank you.”
Something rustled in the trees and stopped. A chill crawled up my spine. Something in the air felt wrong.
It was probably time to go back. I would have loved to venture a little further and see if I could sense one of those gateways, but I had a feeling I should head back to Wolfe.
I stepped backward and stopped when my eyes caught the surface of the water. It was still, but that wasn’t what stopped me. It was what wasn’t there.
My reflection shimmered on the surface, but … there was nothing where his should have been.
The water reflected the rock he was sitting on.
The sky above.
But not him.
Fuck.
My stomach hollowed again. I tried to act natural, but the man noticed straightaway what I’d seen. Or rather what I hadn’t seen.
“Damn, should have sat a little further back.” The man's smile never faltered.
“I’m gonna go.”
“Please stay. We don’t like to chase our food.”
We?
Movement stirred the trees behind him, and more people stepped out.
“It’s the sweat,” said a burly man with an axe. “We hate the taste of it. Too salty.”
I counted ten people.
People. No, I didn’t think they were people. People had reflections and…
Gods, none of them had shadows. They moved as one like puppets. All of them watching. All of them smiling.
The old man followed my gaze and chuckled softly. "Oh good, everyone’s here. We can share you."
“You can fuck off.” My hand drifted toward my sword and I drew it.
The smile on his face stretched wider than any smile should. A crack split the skin at the corner of his mouth. Then another.
And another.
The sound of splitting flesh echoed through the clearing.
All around me, the figures began to change.