by Crimson Skye
CHAPTER VIII: LOVE’S JEALOUSY
“Down!” Tristan instructed, tapping her shoulder with a twig. Sofia lowered her knees with a dagger on her hand, thrusting towards an unseen enemy. She was not on a battlefield or mixed up with a fight. She was on a training actually. In times like this, she should have known how to defend herself without depending on anyone. Though she knew that she might have looked awful, she does not care. It was her life at stake. She should be thankful that Tristan agreed in teaching her when she asked for his help.
“Very well,” Tristan announced. “That’s all for now. Good to go, Sofia.”
Raven clapped his hands. “Good job, Fie!” Sofia rolled her eyes and smiled. She knew she was still bad. Practice makes perfect anyway. It was just funny how Raven praised her. Tristan offered her a drink. Sofia smiled and gladly reach for the flagon.
Chase was just observing them in silence. Iris was on his side, smirking upon Sofia. The young woman caught his gaze and smile. He set a cynical smile and turned his look away. Her habit of smiling somewhat irritates him. Iris noticed it and suddenly gazed on Sofia. Something was bothering her, but she choose not to lay interest over small matters, especially if it was just a doubt.
They had been traveling quite far but the path they were on seemed to be darker and darker as they draw closer to their journey’s end. Sofia had come across horrendous things she was not aware of existing, a living nightmare, perhaps. Creatures like goblins, trolls, dreadful witches, a half-bird man and an old hag that turns into a terrifying, venomous spider which was her first horrible encounter. The worst part is they were after her head. Battling against each other for a good bounty which was beyond her knowledge. Having the blood of the Hunter was a life-threatening Gift. Setting aside the visions and nightmares that kept flashing on her mind. Same vague dreams — the plague, the skull-shaped omen, the men dressed in white and the vision of herself. These things came in and out of Sofia’s thought. She began to wonder the things she might be doing at that time, back in the human world. Well, studying her lessons maybe or at the cake shop, talking with Ms. Clavelle. Sofia was a consistent honor student with good remarks. Not a minute she think that she will end up in a world like this — a world which only exists in a human’s imagination.
The night came. Night birds begin to sing their nocturnal symphony. The wise owl cooed in the massive limb of a tree. The cry of the wolves echoed at the nearby slope. They found a ruins with huge boulders, suitable to spend the night. A kindle bonfire brighten their surroundings as they watched the flame danced with the cold, night breeze.
Sofia stared aimlessly as the fire flickered. Iris went to sit by her side. She noticed her presence and smile, clasping her fingers over her shins. The men was sitting opposite them, talking about something only they could understand. Chase was leaning on the bole of the deep-rooted tree. He seemed to be sleeping while Raven and Tristan was chattering with each other.
Iris gathered the specks of dirt between them, raising it to the point where she could stare upon it then letting it slipped back to the earth again. “Do you have a family back in the human world?” the young lady asked her.
She laid in silence for a while and finally replied, “Hmm… We are not blood related but I called them a family. They have been kind to me all along.” Sofia turned to Iris and smiled.
Iris nodded and smiled back. “Do you missed them?” The young woman suddenly chuckled. “What a foolish question I am asking, of course you do.” Sofia chuckled but never say a thing. There came the silence and Iris asked once more, “Do you have a plan of going back?”
Sofia smiled. “I do as well, but not until I found the book.” She paused and continued, “This world is beautiful and I do not have the heart to let it be in shreds.”
The girl on her side laid in silence. Strands of hair fell on its face. “We grew up together,” Iris said, stroking back the strands behind her ear. Sofia raised a brow. Iris noticed it and said, “I mean Chase.”
Sofia nodded, turning her look away. That name seemed to bring an edgy feeling on her but she still managed to smile. Iris continued, “I like him actually. He’s been kind to me.” Sofia have no idea why Iris was saying those to her but she listened anyway. The young woman turned to her with a stern look on its eyes. “I just want to know if you feel the same thing on him. Do you?”
This lady had been too straightforward, Sofia thought. Why would Iris ask her those? The matter had surprised her that she cannot think of a better answer. Though the option was just a simple yes or no, it was still hard to decide. “N-No,” she suddenly intoned.
Iris seemed to be delighted. “Very well then. It was nice hearing those from you. You know what to do, right?” The young woman remarked, standing back to her feet and went back to the place where she was sitting before.
Sofia breathe deeply, frowned. What does she need to do? Yes, distanced. What else? It just like saying, “Keep away from him!” Sofia set a wry smile. Looking at the specks of dust beneath her feet, she let out another sigh. Did she answered it right in some way? She had a doubt. Iris might have like Chase so much, she thought. That guy was lucky to be loved by so many.
Meanwhile, men on the other corner starts to be silence as if they were discussing a weighty matter. Sofia took a glanced on them and turned away after a sec or two. She bit her lip and leaned her back on the boulder, staring back on the burning pieces of woods.
“What do you think of Fie?” Raven asked Tristan. The matter captured the attention of the man behind them. Chase listened at the two in silence, without knowing why such thing interests him.
Tristan stared at the young boy and said, “I think she was nice.” A teasing laughter followed.
Raven puckered his brow. “That’s all?”
“What do you know of such things?” Tristan inquired fretfully, glancing over Sofia. “You were just a kid. You should be asking what game you should play instead.”
“Just answer it, okay?” Raven insisted, listening attentively. Waiting.
Tristan patted his forehead, feeling a little awkward. He knew he had met many beautiful, young ladies before but when it comes to that girl, he cannot think of anything. He took a deep breath and said, “I don’t think I should be telling you this but… she’s different.” Chase glanced over the topic of the matter, Sofia. That girl was indeed different, in a way he himself could not tell.
“And?” Raven raised a brow.
“I like her,” Tristan said, smiling to himself. Raven chuckled in victory. Chase on the other hand, draw a wry smile on his face in silence and cleared his throat. He was glad for his friend but not for himself. Raven turned to his young master and laughed childishly. The boy suddenly paused. His master was different in a way or two. He was not sure if he saw a flash of jealousy on its eyes. Raven forcibly laughed, concealing what he had saw.
***
