13
I’ve been dragged into a place between worlds, the energy here so different. Tugging and pulling my body in all directions. I almost can’t feel Xander’s hand pulling me towards the right one.
I have no powers, and can look no further forward than what you normally see when you close your eyes.
I hear nothing and smell nothing. None of my senses work in this place between worlds.
It's terrifying, you would surely lose yourself if you ever got stuck here.
That is, moments before you were ripped to shreds by the energy.
We suddenly drop to the ground and the impact makes us both let go of the King and stumble. My knees hit the ground and I’m met with a soft coldness through my clothes and I quickly realise I may have worn the wrong thing.
I pull myself up, wanting to bring the harsh cold away from my bare hands and regain my footing.
I turn my gaze to the view around us and the jagged tips of the mountain just above.
We’re almost at the peak. I look in front of me and see the sharp edges of rock that forms the walls.
Then I spin around to look at the view below, the snow crunching beneath my boots as I do.
It’s beautiful, I’ve never been this high above our land before. You can see trees for miles and miles. I can’t quite make out Erador but I guess the city may be covered by one of the many valleys below.
Cloudiness forms in front of me, caused by my warm breath against the cold air. A violent shiver starts to overcome my body and I feel my lips turning blue.
I bend down to pick up the snow in my hand and run it through my numb fingers. I don’t see much snow where I’m from. Even in the winter period, it rarely snows.
Yet another shiver sprints down my spine in the next second, telling me I need to get moving.
“Everyone okay?” Cole asks, voice husky from the cold.
I spin around to see his breath escape him.
“Never better.” The King replies.
I just nod my answer as Cole looks towards me.
Our footsteps are loud as we walk onwards, around the mountain's edge. The terrain is not too difficult but there’s no barrier around the edge. If one of us slipped on the icy snow, it would be a long fall to our death.
I’ve never been scared of heights but I’ll admit that I think falling to my death would be one of my least favourite ways to go.
The King catches me looking over the edge. “Fear of heights?” He mocks questioningly.
“No.” I say simply before turning and giving him a smirk. “Just imagining what your scream would sound like if I pushed you off.”
The King laughs. “I’ll have to remember not to piss you off while we’re up here.”
I smile slightly. “That’s an impossible task for you.”
He laughs again, shaking his head softly, as we keep walking on.
“So who owns this land?” I ask, curiously.
“I do.”
My brows crease. “And yet you can’t get into the chamber?”
“My ancestors designed it that way.” He says with a sigh, “I don’t know why and it’s incredibly inconvenient that they did.”
“And yet I can get in, because I can turn invisible?”
He cringes slightly before answering. “Yes.”
“That’s the only thing allowing me through?” I push, my instincts telling me otherwise.
He looks away. “Yes.”
I don’t believe him for one second, he’s hiding something. I’m about to demand he tells me what exactly he’s leaving out, when I feel the ground shake beneath my feet. I throw my hands out to steady myself.
“What the fuck is going on?” I exclaim.
“Averlanch!” Cole bellows, “run!”
All three of us sprint around the mountain as rocks and snow start to shake and drop from all angles.
A massive boulder lands just behind me as I narrowly escape it, jumping forwards.
I stumble slightly before regaining my footing and running ahead. My breathing hitches from the cold fresh air, or lack there of up here.
I look away from my feet and see the landing path before the entrance of the mountain. It’s entirely clear, not being affected by the falling debris behind us. I take in a breath and charge forward, faster and harder.
The guys make it there before I do and turn around, eyes wild as they watch me push my body further. Willing it to grab more speed and strength from anywhere.
“Maeve watch out!” The King exclaims and I quickly dive forward to miss a rock coming straight for me.
I land with a face full of snow but thankfully no rock on top of me.
I roll over onto my back, the snow becoming a surprisingly welcome cushion to cool the adrenaline rushing through my body.
“Are you hurt?” Xander asks as I hear the snow crunching, telling me he’s racing towards me.
“I’m fine.” I say and haul myself up before he has the chance to help me.
I wipe the snow from my body before reaching up to brush the rest off my face.
“Let’s keep moving.”
There’s two guards standing by an arched entrance that leads into the mountain. Seemingly unscathed and unbothered by what just happened.
“State your name and the manner in which you wish to enter the mountain.” One of the guards says.
“Xander, King of Erador and above your clearance.” The King replies, his voice becoming the same as I heard the first night I met him.
The guard falters a little. “Of course, your highness.” He says before he steps back and gestures towards the archway.
The King rolls his eyes and walks on, heading into the darkness of the mountain.
“Everytime.” He mutters to himself and I hear Cole chuckle.
I follow them into the tunnel, allowing the darkness to span around me. As we walk further into the mountain, a few torches start to appear sporadically. Lighting the narrow path before us, ever so slightly.
It’s deathly quiet in the small dark tunnels, but occasionally I swear I can hear some whispers.
“What’s down here?” I ask.
“Secrets.” The King whispers.
“Well that’s annoyingly vague.”
The King's laugh echoes through the mountain.
“He doesn’t actually know, that’s why.” Cole says, mocking his friend. “He’s spent so long down here trying to figure it out but he can’t get into the chambers.”
“And why can’t he?”
Cole looks away and the King looks to the ground.
“That’s information we cannot share yet.” Cole is the one who answers.
“I feel like I should know what I’m getting into.”
“You know enough, stick to the plan and you’ll be fine.” Cole says bluntly.
I hear a hiss at my side suddenly and flinch.
“Did you guys hear that?” I exclaim, my eyes widening.
They both look at me funny, brows creased as they look around.
“Hear what?” The King asks.
“The voices, that hiss.”
They exchange a look. “We can’t hear anything Maeve.”
I shiver, I couldn’t have imagined it, it was so clear. Like one of them had just turned and hissed into my ear.
We move forward, deeper into the mountain, I’m unable to see the opening anymore as I look back.
“Maeve.” I hear my name whispered in my ear.
“What?” I ask.
Xander looks over to me and then back at Cole, brows furrowed and eyes narrowed.
“Nothing, we didn’t say anything.”
I look at him incredulously. “You didn’t just whisper my name?”
Xander stares at me, a seriousness washing over his face.
“No, I didn’t.”
“Are you sure this was a good idea?” Cole asks him.
“I’m positive now.” The King replies sternly and gives Cole a look that I can’t place the meaning of.
Now deep enough in the tunnel, we start passing by other passageways, leading into all other directions. As well as stone doors that lead into each chamber. I would surely get lost here without the King leading me.
We pass a door to my left, it stops me in my tracks and I circle back.
There’s an energy coming from it. It’s strong, like it’s pulling me in, begging me to touch the door.
“Maeve, what is it?” The King asks, noticing that my footsteps no longer match theirs.
“I don’t— I don’t know.” I say gently as I raise my hand up to touch the door. “There’s just something about it.”
“No.” Xander exclaims as he grabs my hand and rips it down, away from the door. Just as I hear a massive bang on the other side that makes me jump back. It’s followed closely by a growl.
I gasp. “There aren't any creatures down here, are there?”
I’m uncertain I actually want the answer.
“I’m not sure, there’s lots of things down here but I wouldn’t be touching anything except for the door that leads to the prophecy. Stick to the plan.” The King answers in that commanding tone.
We creep down the tunnel for a while longer. I’m still hearing whispers and voices but nothing is affecting me as much as that door. I don’t tell the King about the whispers anymore, it’s clear to me now that it’s only me that can hear them.
Whatever it is, I don’t want to give it more attention.
The King stops so abruptly that I almost run into him.
“It’s this door to the left.”
I nod and go to open it before he grabs my shoulders, turning me to face him.
“Remember the plan, remember what we spoke about, don’t let it twist you, or confuse you, or convince you of anything you know not to be true.”
I nod and motion for him to take his hands off my shoulders.
He removes his hands promptly but waits for confirmation that I understand before stepping away.
“I’ve got this.” I tell him confidently.
Then I turn invisible and push open the door.