1. The Past Haunts Us All #2
Aradia twisted her thick black hair back into a large bun at the nape of her neck.
She kept it pulled back in a practical style, only allowing small curls to frame her temples and soften her face.
She brushed her dress free of a few wrinkles and inspected herself in the mirror against the wall.
An exact, younger image of her mother. Dark lashes shadowed light hazel eyes with flecks of gold.
She was shorter than most girls her age. A short round nose, sharp cheekbones, and full lips, which complimented deep dimples, apparently inherited from the father she never knew.
Quinn’s footsteps shuffled in the kitchen before drawing near to her. Chestnut eyes observed her in the mirror with a slow whistle.
“Oh hush,” She giggled.
Her cheeks warmed. A small blush worked its way into her face. She was relieved he would never be able to tell since her skin resembled the same warm lava cakes they served at the tavern.
“Actually, I don’t have all my options open.” Quinn’s eyes grew serious even as his smile never faltered. “There is one stubborn girl who is determined to keep to her side of the city.”
Aradia stilled. “I’m sure she has a perfectly good reason.”
“None important enough to hide away.”
If only you knew.
Aradia turned with a sigh. She knew where this was going. Every party he asked and every party her answer was the same.
“My answer is no. Before you ask, we don’t have time for my explanation and it hasn’t changed since the last time you asked me.” She brushed past him and gathered two baskets. “Now, can we go?”
Quinn pursed his lips but swiped one basket from her hands. “You can’t blame me for trying.” He winked.
“Ugh, just go.” Aradia swatted him away even as her grin grew.
She was thankful her home lined the border of the Redwood Forest. Within minutes they were deep in the thick foliage and surrounded by giant trees covered in vines.
The crackling of crisp leaves and dead twigs underneath their boots was a constant reminder of the coming winter.
The morning turned unusually warm as they traveled off the trails and deeper into the woods.
Aradia wiped the sweat forming on her temple as she kept stride with Quinn.
“Why are you walking so fast?” She huffed.
Quinn shrugged but glanced around in paranoia. “We’re not supposed to be this far from city limits. It’s not safe.”
Aradia reigned in her sarcastic remark at his clear disdain of being in the forest. The city was under curfew and limits were placed outside the city.
After a few maulings by animals no one could seem to capture, the city guards declared the Redwood Forest off limits.
Unfortunately for them, the forest held the best winterberries Aradia had ever tasted, and nothing was stopping her from making her infamous autumn pie for the Lazy Lunar.
“We can still see the white walls and we’ll be quick.” She pulled on his arm. “There!” A perfect patch of berries lined the forest ground fifty paces away. “Come on.”
“Fine, but I get to eat my fill first.” Although Quinn gripped the basket, his smile shone brighter than the rays of sunlight filtering through the trees above.
They raced to the grove, plucking and wildly chewing the sweet berries.
Aradia gave a blue-stained smile at Quinn who laughed and revealed his own row of tainted teeth.
Their baskets began to fill as they picked the treasured goods between thorns and leaves.
She fell into an easy rhythm, unaware of her surroundings.
Quinn was speaking of something she hardly heard as she nodded absentmindedly, pretending to listen.
“Aradia.” His sharp hiss of warning froze her in place as their gazes locked onto a creature a hundred paces away.
“Oh.”
“Don’t move,” Quinn whispered.
Her heart beat against her chest. Panic stole any warmth of the day which had shone only seconds ago.
From the distance the creature was all matted black fur with a scaled torso, sharp claws and bone-crushing jaws.
It lifted its massive head and beady black eyes landed on her.
She swore it smiled. The creature reared back on its hind legs and roared.
“Run!” Aradia shrieked.
They abandoned their baskets and fled but not before the thundering steps of broken brush and snapping twigs was heard behind them.
Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods!
Her breathing was labored as her dress twisted and gripped the insides of her legs. Her vision blurred to her left, and she whirled around to see Quinn tripping over a curved log buried beneath the brush.
“Get up!” She reached for his hand as the creature cleared the grove in leaps and bounds.
Quinn’s feet dug into the dirt as he pushed himself off the ground and back into a sprint.
“We’re dead, we’re dead, we’re dead!” He chanted as they ran, his voice rising with hysteria.
“Faster!” Aradia’s yell was cut short when she gagged on a rotten smell of hot breath, and mangy fur.
Close – too close!
Against her better judgment she glanced back to find the creature on their heels and gaining.
The walls of safety were too far. They weren’t going to make it, not both of them at least. Aradia squeezed her lips against the whimper threatening to slip free.
She couldn’t bear it if Quinn’s death was on her head.
How would she tell his family? He was everything to them – their future and security.
It would be far easier for her. No one would miss her.
“Keep running!” She whipped around and faced the creature.
“What the depths are you doing?” Quinn’s voice cracked as he stopped, hesitating between her order and the uncanny urge to be the hero.
“Saving you.” Aradia drew her dagger from her boot.
Quinn scoffed. “With that measly thing? Don’t be an idiot.”
Too late.
The creature lunged and Aradia felt her body hurl through the air as Quinn pushed her out of the way.
“No!” She crashed to the ground just as the creature latched its giant jaws into Quinn’s shoulder and crunched.
Aradia’s scream ripped through her at the sound of Quinn’s pain.
Her mind went silent, and gaze turned red.
An aching, familiar sting wrapped around her being and pushed into her fingertips.
Her hands gleamed with golden magic, forming hot orbs of light.
Without thought she clamped her hands together until the buzzing became electrified and with every ounce of her will threw her magic into the creature — obliterating it.
Her body was thrown back by the force and when she blinked the sizzling pain away, she found Quinn on the forest ground, gripping his shoulder and staring at her.
“What,” Quinn whispered, eyes wide and face slack, “did you do?”
Aradia glanced down at her finger where a honey-calcite ring rested in delicate loops of silver.
The potent ring she was never to take off and the identity she had promised to keep hidden.
For eleven years the ring had remained dormant – locked – since her mother’s death.
Now, it glowed a bright golden beacon, humming with renewed power.
And for the first time in a long time, an old, soul-quaking fear grew where the shards of her mother’s sacrifice had splintered within her.