THE FATES
11
- ALANIS -
I stare at the group in bewilderment. Why does this matter?
“I’m not really sure. We had been to two other realms before we came upon this one. One was an absolute no. It was desolate and gave us both a really bad feeling. The other one was nice, though. Elion wanted to depart there.”
My chest grows tight, as if a heavy weight sits on it. Maybe if I had listened, he wouldn’t be missing right now.
I scrunch my nose before continuing. “It didn’t feel right. I walked towards the gangplank at one point and felt this…tug. My mind was begging me not to get off the ship. It caused a sharp headache until I backed away. When we got to the Primal Realm, the tether felt as if it moved off the ship. I thought it was a sign that we had finally found where we were supposed to be.”
Looking up, I meet Kailu’s stare. He is looking at me so intently that I can’t help but blush and avert my gaze.
It’s Novus who breaks the tension. “That sounds like fate intervened to me.”
Sarya gives me a small smile. “Yes, it does sound as if the Fates wanted you here, Alanis.”
“The Fates? Like the triplets who are even more powerful than the Gods? I thought they were merely a legend.”
Novus shakes his head. “I suppose it depends on your beliefs. In this realm, we all pretty much believe in them. If the Fates did want you here, I suppose you’ll have to figure out why.” When he meets my eyes, it sends a shiver up my spine. “The Fates don’t always intervene with good intentions. I think it’s important that you all be wary and diligent. Any signs or weird occurrences may be tied to why she felt inclined to stay here.”
Kailu pales, as if that was his worst fear confirmed.
“What did you mean when you said Elion might have stumbled upon knowledge?” I stare down Kailu and refuse to give an inch until I get some damn answers.
“Your brother was doing research about why you felt a pull towards this realm and what it might mean. He found a scroll that had information, from what Siveral says, but it went missing when he did.”
My eyes widen in shock. I didn’t realize Elion was so concerned about what brought us here. He never talked about it, nor did he tell me he was looking into it. I work in a library; I could have helped. Why didn’t he tell me? Or Levi? Why did they choose to hide this when it involved me?
Kailu’s deep voice breaks through my thoughts. “I think there’s a possibility that your fate was long ago intertwined with something in this realm.”
I jerk my head in his direction. “What does that even mean?”
“We don’t need to figure this out now,” Hannah says, as if sensing my anxiety. “We can piece this mess together while we figure out where the soldiers are, but we are wasting time.”
Nodding, I try to focus. I’m fully aware that what she says makes sense, but my brain refuses to work. It’s latched onto this theory, and I can’t seem to catch my breath. If it was my fate tied to this realm, then does that mean it’s my fault Elion is gone?
Kailu grips my chin between his fingers, forcing me to look him in the eye. I’m not sure when he dismounted, but it’s grounding to find him so close. “It is not your fault your brother was taken. Do you hear me? It is not your fault and we will get him back.”
I feel the burning behind my eyes, but can do nothing to stop the tears from falling this time. How could he have known those were my fears?
The tears flow freely and Kailu gently brushes them away. “It is not your fault,” he whispers to me.
I breathe in his woodsy scent, letting it calm me. His gentleness shocks me, but it is not unwelcome. It’s almost too comfortable, how good it feels.
“Thank you.” I swear his eyes glitter.
“Let’s head out!” he orders his soldiers before turning to the Elves. “You are welcome to ride with us until you get back home.”
They look to each other and then give a slight bow. “We would greatly appreciate that,” says Sarya.
- ELION -
“Eli!”
I turn towards my five-year-old sister running towards me across the barren cornfield. I’m out helping Father prepare the land for the new season, removing any large stones and making sure the moisture level isn’t too high. She’s in her usual white chemise with her pink tunic over top that she refuses to take off, her bright blue hat at odds with her yellow boots. I shake my head at the absurdity of her outfit. Mother stands on the porch with a smile on her face.
“Eli!”
Alanis screams my name again, but it isn’t her playful scream as before, and she sounds older. The sheer terror on her face has my heart hammering. The cornfield is burning. I try to run to her, to shout for Mother and Father, but I can’t move. White bony fingers grab my arms and drag me backwards, away from Lani. She’s screaming my name.
I can’t get to her.
The arms reach out from the ground and grab her.
“LANI!” I scream, thrashing against the skeletal arms.
I wake with a jolt, sweat coursing down my brow. My memories all blurred together in one horrific nightmare, leaving me with ragged breathing. I’m just thankful Alanis is safe. I take a breath and look to the other soldiers chained in this small stone room, the only light coming from beneath the iron door directly across from where I’m shackled to the wall. The tangy smell of mold hangs heavy in the air.
I’m not sure why they took us or where we are, but they’ve only come back once since dragging us from our post. They took six of us, but only four are in this cell. I have no idea what happened to Hammon or Matix.
I meet Levi’s eyes across the room.
“You all right?” he asks.
“As best I can be in the situation.”
He gives me a small smile. “You were yelling for Lani.”
I swallow hard. “Sorry about that. Nightmare.”
He nods in understanding. “Do you think she’s all right?”
Levi’s relationship with my sister is over now and I’ve never attempted to figure out what happened. His story doesn’t align with the nights she spent crying in her room.
One thing I do know is that he cares for her, no matter what happened before.
“I’m sure she’s struggling, probably causing issues trying to get the others to come find me.”
He chuckles and goes quiet. “What do you think they want with us?”
I look at the other soldiers who have now woken up, unsure of how to even answer his question. “I’m not sure. When I woke up in the forest, I noticed one of the ghouls carrying the Primal Scroll I found, which can’t be a good sign.”
“You think this is about the research you were doing?” he asks quietly. “The prophecy?”
I take a deep breath, attempting to figure out how much I should say, or if I should even say anything at all. I don’t know who’s listening, but I am very aware that a ghoul stands just beyond that iron door guarding it. His dagger-like claws scrape down the wall every so often as he paces back and forth. Normal ghouls don’t act like the ones who took us. They seem to be under someone else’s control, and that’s what frightens me.
“What if she’s not all right?” I whisper, and his face pales.
Before either of us can say another word, the lock slides back and the door groans open. Standing in the doorway is a King’s Guard soldier. Everyone else exhales in relief, but I hold my breath. Something is off. His eyes are far too empty.
The guard smiles and it chills me to my very core. The room goes silent as the guard steps into the cell. The bottomless black eyes of a ghoul stare back at us, causing some men to jerk back towards the wall to get away from him.
That means he devoured a soldier and took on his form, but it isn’t Hammon or Matix. I don’t recognize this soldier; he must be from a different patrol group than ours.
The soldier strides toward me before kneeling to get on eye level. His rancid breath curls against my face, and it takes everything in me not to retch. It smells of rotting flesh, of death left to putrefy in the sun.
He smiles but it is more of a sneer, his eyes lifeless and dull. “Alanis says hello.”
Levi curses. I jerk against my chains. “Stay the fuck away from my sister!”
The ghoul lets out a horrific laugh, the shrill sound filled with glee as it reverberates through the room. “Don’t worry, she will join you soon.” With that, he saunters right back out of the cellar, shutting the door firmly behind him.