Chapter Twenty-Two
“Shouldn’t we be stopping?”
We hadn’t been walking long when Aleixo asked, and while his questions used to annoy me to no end, I now found them endearing. “No, we’ll continue for a while. We’re nearly in the depths of this forest, and I would like to put more distance between here and the inn.”
“But he went down the other path.”
“I know, but something doesn’t feel right. He nearly went down the same path we went on. He looked right to where we hid, Aleixo.”
“Maybe we saw wrong. Maybe he didn’t really see us at all and was just looking into the forest beyond where we hid.”
“Perhaps…” I hesitated, hearing sounds in the distance, then lowered my voice. “But something still doesn’t feel right.”
Then I heard it. A faint whistle, then words lifting up like a song, eerie and familiar. I couldn’t make out the words, but I knew that voice anywhere. The low, sultry sound of everything I wanted to run from.
“He’s here,” I whispered to Aleixo, seeing his eyes widen with alarm. “He’s found us. He walked down the other path to mislead us, to make us feel like we were safe, when we were not.”
“It’s okay, Calista,” he insisted.
“How?” I pleaded. “How is it okay?”
His hand slipped into mine, and I relished the feeling, knowing this might very well be the last time such a feeling washed over me. This was likely the end of our journey together. Things would change and nothing could stop it.
So many thoughts raced through my mind about how I had gotten to this moment and visions played.
The espresso brewery, Aleixo stumbling into our shop, running out in the middle of the night with him close behind me, and every moment we had spent together since.
We fell to the ground, and I knew I was shaking.
Mist was all around us, and I knew I had somehow summoned it, despite the choking sensation I was trying to fight against.
Before I could think of anything else, I turned to Dewdrop as her large frightened eyes gazed up at mine.
She knew what I was saying without a word passing between us.
Run. Nilsorn would not hesitate to harm her, and relief passed through me as I watched her disappear into the woods, before I turned back to Aleixo.
He mouthed words and then clamped his lips shut, as though Nilsorn could hear him.
“I know you’re out there, Calista!” Nilsorn called out over the mist. He was closer than I’d first surmised, and I fought the urge to cry. Now was not the time to give in to one’s emotions. It was such a very bad time for that. I must keep it together.
Aleixo’s hand on my shoulder startled me, and he raised his hand to his lips as we both held our breath. This couldn’t be happening, I thought as our hearts pounded. The sounds of the forest became suffocating as I strained to hear where Nilsorn now stood.
“Come now, little elf, I only wish to speak for a moment.” Howls made me jump as Nilsorn’s words washed over me. He sang his song once more, and I could feel my lungs constrict as his ominous voice rose above the roaring in my ears.
Should I find an elf divine
I only have to make her mine
For she can grant what I desire
She can stoke the smallest fire
In my collection she will sit
Entertained by my eternal wit
Until my last breath in the end
She will then help me ascend
There were so many memories running through my mind that I struggled to focus on his words, despite them dominating so much of the world around me.
Perhaps I was attempting to block out their sickly sweetness.
Perhaps I was only partially present in this moment.
Perhaps I was accepting the fact that there was no escape from Nilsorn, and there never would be.
“Stay here,” I mouthed to Aleixo.
Wide eyes filled with fear met mine as he took hold of my arm. “No,” he whispered as a howl in the wind kept the sound from traveling too far.
“He wants me,” I whispered back quickly. “Do not follow. Run the other way.”
Without another word, I stood and ran.