Chapter 7
“Which way?” I asked, seeing only a massive span of emerald forest before us. It was all capped off by a gleaming rainbow that glimmered over the treetops.
This realm was not what it seemed. Everything about it suggested peace and happiness, rainbows and unicorns.
Instead, it held Lucifer landmines and vicious beasts.
Kaito and Logan shared a moment of silent communication before Kaito indicated a direction. “There’s a strong source of demonic energy that way. I believe it’s the portal we’ll need to get into Lucifer’s territory.”
“Works for me.”
Logan rested a hand on my shoulder. “Kaito and I need to be in the lead. He can sense any traps laid by Lucifer. I can scent other dangers, such as the creatures of this realm, and I’m faster than anybody else.
We shouldn’t underestimate them, and there are shifters here, I just don’t know what kind. ”
Uni hissed.
Logan grinned at Uni. “Okay, maybe faster than anybody except you.”
“Are we expecting any kind of danger here?” Orion asked, his eyes grimly scanning the terrain. “I don’t feel anything and it all seems so… pretty.”
“There’s plenty of danger.” Logan stripped off his shirt, then tossed it to Dante who accepted it without comment and shoved it into a pack.
“The Enchanted Forest isn’t a place of lollipops and rainbows, at least, not beyond first glance.
That Uni-Hare with a horn and fangs can kill to protect himself…
or somebody he feels he has a loyalty to—ask Lily.
And he’s probably one of the least dangerous things here. ”
Orion’s golden eyes narrowed in thought as he studied Uni with a bit more consideration. “Alright. Then I’m staying close to Lily.”
Logan grinned as he prepared for his shift into a canine. “You do that, sunshine.”
“Definitely not rainbows and unicorns,” I grumbled as I ate sparkly dirt.
A large, inhuman noise emanated from the latest threat and I made a face at the massive plant with blooming petals that vaguely resembled an oversized butterfly—with fangs.
“Stay back,” Logan warned.
“Not an issue.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I sidled closer to Dante as the plant made another noise—one that reminded me of a stomach gurgling.
The petals spread open and the plant leaned forward.
Kaito’s voice rang out. “Get back!”
We’d gotten too close to the thing while we’d been following Kaito. Unfortunately, Logan’s senses weren’t enough to prepare us for deadly plants.
A slime-covered carcass launched from the plant’s gooey heart, a bunny-shaped one with a stunted horn.
Uni whimpered, then looked at the plant and hissed.
“Looks like your little guy has a natural enemy,” Kaito said, leading us away from the plant.
The plant swayed back into an upright position as several fern-like fronds drifted in our direction.
“Oh, no…” I said, backing up.
“It’s okay.” Dante gripped my arms. “It’s an ugly bitch, but it’s rooted. Right, Logan?”
“Yeah.” He made a disgusted sound. “At least for now.”
The glittery jewel-like shine ahead caught my eye just before Logan said, “Snake.”
We parted down the middle as Dante strode forward and took out a blade that burned with flames down one edge to incinerate the venomous creature. It wriggled as the flames ate through its toughened hide that glittered like diamonds.
Only after the creature had been turned to ash by magic-powered flame did he relax. Smashing the charred remains under a boot for good measure, he gave Logan a sardonic look. “This one won’t come after us for twenty minutes.”
“Good call,” Logan murmured.
I released a long breath. “This realm is insane.”
Orion hummed in agreement and slipped a hand around my waist, keeping me close.
It felt like every two steps we encountered a new threat, but my Virtues were learning, as was I.
As Dante turned back toward us, mouth a grim line, a fluttering movement just behind me caught my eyes. I went to shout a warning and a bolt of dark magic that tasted of Hendrik shot past me before I could.
Hendrik settled in place next to me as Dante slowly turned to look at the dead pixie that had popped out of the tree, a diminutive beautiful thing, save for the fangs and the acid they liked to spit onto the unwary.
“I don’t know what I like less,” Dante said with a shake of his head. “The acid-spitting pixies or the fire-breathing bears.”
“I’m tired,” I said sourly. “I’ve had flesh-eating plants trying to cop a feel and the mama bear with the flames, the snakes, the pixies… Unicorn world is not living up to the hype.”
Hendrik touched my shoulder, the gesture fleeting, but an uncharacteristic show of comfort from my Dark Mage.
Maybe Jess wasn’t the only heart I seemed to be mending.
Logan sniffed the air. “We’re going to focus on finding a safe place to stop for the night.”
Opening my eyes, I looked at Logan. “Safe… here?”
He nodded. “As safe as we can make it.”
In silent agreement, we all started walking. Up ahead, something white flashed across our field of vision, but it was gone so fast that none of us could make sense of it.
An unmistakable sound pattered off into the distance.
Hooves on dirt.
“It seems we’ve attracted a unicorn,” Dante muttered. “And I might deny saying this later, but I’ll be glad when we’re back in Hell.”