I’m Back
The cabin’s solitude is starting to wear on me. Alone with nothing but my thoughts, my imagination conjures up all sorts of horrors. What is happening in Skora? What is Maxon going through?
The images in my mind grow darker with every passing minute.
“Stop, Everly. You’ll drive yourself mad,” I mutter, shaking my head as if the motion can somehow dislodge the spiraling thoughts. But the fear is like a living thing, slithering through my mind, whispering doubts and dread that refuse to be silenced.
As I trudge through the snow, a sudden breeze tosses my hair across my face, causing me to momentarily lose sight of my path.
The air, crisp and biting, carries with it a subtle fragrance of pine, adding a touch of freshness to the wintry landscape.
I gather a small amount of firewood and make my way back to the cabin, feeling the cold nip at my cheeks.
Approaching the cabin door, I pause, my gaze drawn to the darkening forest beyond. The towering trees stand tall and silent, their branches swaying gently in the breeze, as if whispering hidden secrets only they hold.
Felix, with his sleek midnight black fur and piercing green eyes, waits by the front door of the cabin, his distinct features contrasting against the white background.
“I’m back.”
Felix meows loudly, seemingly protesting my departure from the cabin once again. Rolling my eyes, I push open the door and let out a sigh. My attempt to explore the area has proven to be unhelpful. Even my magic seems dormant here, as if it’s too cold to function.
Swinging open the wooden door, I step inside and bang my boots on the mat to remove any excess snow.
Felix follows closely behind, winding his tail around my leg as he enters.
The cabin is small and cozy, with a single spacious room and a bathroom tucked away.
If not for the circumstances, I might actually enjoy the cabin with its frost-kissed windows which exude an icy elegance that perfectly frames the breathtaking view of the snow-capped mountains.
I pick up a log and make my way over to the fireplace by the far wall.
Squatting down, I carefully place the wood on the fire, making sure it’s secure and won’t roll out.
The last thing I need is to catch the cabin on fire.
I stare into the flames, becoming lost in the captivating dance as it flickers.
My mind naturally wanders to Maxon and the rest of the group.
I’ve had no way to know their fate after the Shadoweaver’s pet unleashed her army of creatures at the city’s gates.
I have tirelessly tried to connect with Maxon through our bond but he’s deliberately blocked any connection.
The fact I can still feel his heartbeat next to mine provides the only sense of solace I have in this moment.
In a robotic motion, I remove my gloves, dropping them to the floor.
My soul is heavy with so much pain, it’s a feeling I'm unfamiliar with.
Fighting back tears, I hold my hands out in front of the fire, relishing the warmth as I flex my fingers.
Slowly, I lower myself the rest of the way to the floor, settling in front of the fire, becoming lost in the flames.
My skin relentlessly itches, a desperate sensation that consumes me. The overwhelming need to find my way back fills my every thought. If Alivar stubbornly refuses, I am left with no option but to forge my own way. I refuse to remain hidden out here while others suffer.
Zaria’s soft feline eyes, shimmering like pools of amber, vividly appear in my mind, instantly shattering my heart into countless pieces.
A surge of tears wells up, and I fight to hold them back.
I need to be there for my friend to provide solace during her unfathomable loss.
Rayna was always so bright and bubbly, and I know how close the sisters were.
The thought of the immense pain Zaria must be enduring breaks me.
The haunting image of the light vanishing from Rayna's eyes as she desperately sprinted toward me etches itself forever into the depths of my memory.
She sacrificed her own life in a valiant attempt to reach me, and the weight of that moment presses down on my soul like an anchor, pulling me deeper into the abyss of grief and guilt.
The weight of it hits hard—so many lives stolen, and all because of that demon.
Yumekui. In the past twenty-four hours my fear has morphed into a smoldering anger, seeping into the depths of my being.
The burning desire to grow stronger, to learn my magic, consumes me like a relentless flame flickering in my chest.
I crave to unlock the depths of my magic, to train and hone my skills, so I can bury those who threaten the people I love. My fury will know no bounds, and I vow to do whatever it takes to stop the Shadoweaver.
I need to know every intricate detail of the Shadoweaver’s plan to use me as his escape route from prison and what his intentions are.
But first I need to get home, regroup, and find out who has been working with Alivar behind Maxon’s back.
I don’t know why it bothers me so much that someone we trusted was working with Alivar to feed him information.
I think I’m still sore about him showing up when I was bathing, to be honest.
With a sense of restlessness, I absentmindedly pick at a loose thread on my pants, the repetitive motion providing a small sense of satisfaction.
To my surprise, Alivar has a selection of the dresses I designed, accompanied by matching pants and boots, already here in the cabin.
It’s kind of unsettling how prepared he was for me.
Maxon’s claim that the Seelie Prince has a personal interest in me seemed dubious at first. However, being in this place has made me question my initial doubts.
Unable to sit by the fire any longer, I wander through the cabin, curiosity propelling me to open every cupboard and drawer.
The creaking sound of the old wooden furniture echoes through the silent room adding to the rustic charm of the place.
As I sift through the various items, I stumble upon a stack of blank paper neatly tucked away in one of the drawers.
The untouched sheets, pristine and white, stand in stark contrast to the weathered surroundings.
Next to the paper, I find a tin filled with an assortment of pencils, their tips perfectly sharpened.
Maybe if I did some drawings, it would help quieten the racing thoughts in my mind. So, I sit down at the small wooden table near the window and pick up a pencil. My hand hovers over the paper, and my mind goes blank.
I drop my head to the table and bang it softly against the wood several times.
The prickling sensation of magic rises in the air, sending my senses into overdrive.
I look over my shoulder to see Alivar standing in the middle of the room.
Pushing the hood from his head, he grins at me.
My teeth clamp together and my eyes narrow, sending him a glare before going back to my drawing.
Every line I sketch is more aggressive than the last, a silent rebellion against his presence.
“I brought dinner,” he says, his tone calm but edged with irritation.
“I don’t want to eat.” My voice is flat, final.
The conversation should end there.
“Don’t be stupid. You need to eat.”
I turn in my seat and face him, my eyes falling on the lifeless rabbit he lifts into the air. Disgust curls my lip as I take in the sight.
“I don’t eat meat.”
His expression shifts from frustration to bewilderment. “You don’t . . . You don’t eat meat? Are you serious?”
“Deadly.” My eyes flare with defiance, and I raise my chin, daring him to challenge me.
“How did Maxon ever put up with you?” he mutters, more to himself than to me, but the words hit their mark.
Pain slices through my chest, sharp and unforgiving. I blow out an aggravated breath trying to expel the hurt, but it lingers, heavy and suffocating.
“You’re an asshole,” I snap, the insult escaping before I can stop it.
His eyes widen at my outburst.
“I saved you,” he counters.
“You’ve held me here for–”
“Twenty-four hours, Everly. Not an eternity!” His patience is wearing thin, and it shows in the clipped tone of his words.
I stand abruptly, my chair scraping loudly against the wooden floor. “It feels like an eternity, Alivar!” The words burst from me, raw and unfiltered.
The room falls into a tense silence, the air thick with unspoken accusations and simmering anger.
“Once I’m sure the threat is gone, that the city and Castle Vesner are safe, I will take you back. Yumekui could still be lurking in the forest, waiting to snatch you. If I allowed that to happen, then all those lives would have been lost. And for what? When I get the all clear, I will return you.”
My heart sinks like a heavy stone down into the pit of my stomach, making it twist and churn with guilt.
The realization hits me like a punch to the gut—I don’t want to endanger anyone else.
I’ve been selfish, thinking only of my own fear and desperation.
So many people have already died, their lives snuffed out like candles in a storm, all because of the cursed blood that runs through my veins.
My blood, the key to setting the Shadoweaver free from his ancient prison.
The thought makes my chest tighten, a cold sweat breaking out on my skin.
I can’t shake the images of those who have fallen.
Their faces flash through my mind, one after another.
Each loss is a fresh wound, a new scar on my soul.
And yet, here I am; still alive, still breathing, still a threat to everyone around me.
With a deep, shaky breath, I settle back into my chair, my movements slow and deliberate as I try to steady myself. I brush my long blonde hair away from my face, the strands falling back stubbornly, as if they, too, were burdened by the weight of my guilt.
“Alivar?” I say softly, my voice trembling despite my efforts to keep it steady.
“Yeah?” he grunts as he heads toward the kitchen and casually tosses the lifeless rabbit onto the counter. The sound is enough to make me cringe, and my stomach churns with nausea.
“What do you know about the Shadoweaver?”
Alivar turns and leans back on the counter. He folds his arms over his chest and stares at me. Silence stretches on, and I shift uncomfortably. The force of his piercing gaze intensifies, making me want to take the words back. Just as frustration builds up, he finally speaks.
“If he gets his hands on you, I know he will leave nothing but destruction in his wake.”
His words stir something fierce within me. A sharp mix of dread and determination.
“How do we stop him?” I ask, my emotions rising, tightening my throat, making the words emerge strained and barely audible.
Fear, anger, desperation. But the one taking up the most space? Guilt.
With a heavy sigh, Alivar moves that piercing gaze to stare out the window. “The Shadoweaver has been imprisoned for centuries, deep in the mountains of the Deadlands.”
“Why not just kill him?”
“He can’t be killed. Our ancestors did what they could in trapping him. No one knows where exactly. He commands the dark, the shadows, and those who dwell in it.”
The image of countless deadlings swarming the city flashes vividly in my mind.
“Why does he need me?” I whisper, my fingernails digging into my legs as I scrunch up the fabric of my dress. “I mean, I get it’s my blood that unlocks the prison he is in, but why? Why me?”
“You are the strongest of your kind. It was the druids along with the Guardians, who imprisoned him in his cavern deep in the mountains. So, it is your blood that will unlock the spell, only your blood holds the magic required to do so. The fact that you were able to open the gate from the human world to here and without even realizing it, is just a testament to that power.”
My mind goes blank and my lips part on an exhale.
“Once you master your abilities, you will wield more magic than those who came before you. The blood that flows in your veins holds the power to command armies, a legacy of ancient strength. Why do you think my mother was so pissed when your parents denied us a marriage treaty? Why she is so pissed that I didn’t find you first? ”
“I don’t feel as powerful as you say,” I mutter, looking out the window at the snowy landscape.
Despite being an all-powerful druid, I couldn’t save Maxon, Rayna, Lavina, or protect the city. I sure don’t feel like I’m someone great.
“From the moment you were born, it was clear you were destined for greatness. It was whispered on the wind.”
“The prophecy?”
Alivar nods, and the words run through my mind.
It was from the whispers of ancient trees and the murmurs of the sacred groves.
A druid princess, born under a crescent moon’s gentle glow, shall wield power unmeasured in realms both high and low.
With magic deep within, she’ll rise, her destiny unknown,
To shake the faerie realm, where mystic secrets are sown.
Her heart a beacon of the woods, her spirit strong and free,
She’ll dance with stars and call the winds.
Beneath the moon’s enchanting light, she’ll rise to claim her throne,
Uniting realms of faerie, her power fully grown.
With wisdom, love, and courage, she’ll mend what once was torn,
For in her hands, the faerie world shall be reborn.
“How do we stop him?” I whisper, repeating my earlier question.
“I don’t know.”