The Pariah Child & the Ever-Giving Stone

by Natasha D Lane

  Alexander laughed. “When you wander you learn most people are what I would call ‘opportunistic associates’ and not actual friends. As long as you pay the right price, they’ll be your friend, but if a higher bid comes along...well.” He smiled at her.

  Sarah struggled to keep up with him. He was walking at a quick pace and his legs made wider strides than hers. “Then, why do you wander if everyone is like that?” she asked, panting a little.

  “I don’t have anywhere to go.”

  “Oh.” Sarah suddenly felt like she was being extremely nosey by asking so many questions, but that was better than awkward silence. Her mother would have scolded her. She decided to change the subject. “I’m the only child back home. I always wanted a sibling, but Mama said I was it. Do you have siblings?”

  Alexander came to a halt allowing Sarah to finally catch up to him. She looked at him, but his face was covered by the dark hood. She waited for him to continue walking now that she had caught up, yet he remained stagnant.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to...” She knew she had said something wrong.

  He stood looking off into the distance. “It’s fine.” His voice didn’t falter. “If there is going to be some trust between us I guess we should know something about each other.”

  “No, I was asking too much. It’s okay,” she assured him.

  “He died,” Alexander said and started walking again. “In a clan war that my family was a part of.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” she replied and pinched the flesh of her hand. How could she have been so stupid?

  “Loss is a part of living,” he said. They continued to walk but in the awkward silence she had been trying to avoid.

  Sarah’s legs hurt. They had been walking since the previous night. She didn’t want to complain though. She had already bothered him too much.

  “We’ll be there soon,” he said finally breaking the quiet between them.

  “Where does she live?”

  “On the outskirts of the forest, which is why its takes so long to reach her. Even longer since we have to go around.”

  “Why not cut through the middle? A straight line is the fastest route, right?”

  “That’s like asking ‘why avoid attacks by very talented archer elves who have this forest as their domain?’” A smirk appeared on his face, and he gave her a wink.

  Her face grew hot. “That makes sense. These woods are so quiet though.”

  “Ah, but it is when things are most quiet that one has to be most cautious. Always remember that.”

  Sarah nodded, hearing the touch of seriousness in his voice. They continued to walk through the trees. The sky was clear, unlike yesterday, with a brilliant blinding sun that beat down on Sarah. It was a thin forest with few trees. The trees that were there seemed small with twigs for branches and dark leaves. Sarah let her hands caress their bark. She wondered how long the trees had been there. How old were they and how deep did their roots run?

  She stopped in front of one particular tree whose bark was very soft. Nearly all its leaves had fallen to the ground. Sarah knew the tree was rotting. She could feel its heartbeat growing fainter. She placed both hands on the tree and grimaced as they sunk in. She turned her eyes up to the tree. “Why are you so sick?”

  Everything was connected. Sarah could see it now; she could feel it, too. Her body had become weightless. It was like she was floating or walking on clouds. The world around her felt so different. She saw with new eyes.

  The world had become a transparent blue, so she could see through the trees, the rocks and the ground and even farther than that. She looked down at the tree roots that ran below the world. They stretched out in every direction, strong, long and forever. The roots would never die, they would be eternal. Sarah took in a deep breath, forgetting she was far away from home in a strange land full of creatures she had thought existed only in her imagination; she was so at peace here.

  “You have a heartbeat, too. Where’s your heart?” Sarah reached her hand out to touch the transparent tree.

  Lightning speed. That’s the only way to describe the sudden spiral of blurs that flew past her until finally she came to an abrupt halt. Sarah floated in midair and looked into the strange face of another tree. It was old, aged and full of wisdom, every wrinkle a line of knowledge.

  Sarah touched the bark and traced the ridges. This tree had a unique rhythm, different than all the others.

  She traced the mouth and smiled. “And above would be your nose.”

  She moved her hand upward. “And then your eyes. What a pretty face for a grandma.” The tree’s eyes opened, glowing gray and Sarah was hurled back into her body.

  “Sarah!” Alexander caught the girl as she stumbled backward. She opened her eyes and for a moment everything was still covered in that beautiful blue aura, then, it slowly faded away leaving her staring at the vampire. “Are you alright?” he asked. “What happened?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know... I went somewhere. I touched the tree then I saw everything. There was an old tree... a very old tree in the forest...sorry. Did I scare you?”

  “Stop apologizing. Did the tree speak to you?”

  She nodded and Alexander helped her to her feet.

  He squeezed her shoulders. “Watching you now, I have no doubts you are the Chosen One,” he said. “Stay close and let’s have no more passing out, hm?”

  She nodded, looking into his face. He had been worried. His eyes were wide, and there were tension lines on the side of his face. It was the same look her father had when she had gotten lost in the forest as a child.

  “Thanks, Alex.”

  “Of course.” He began his stride again, this time much slower. She now walked beside him in a comforting quiet. Soon in the distance she could see a small cottage. It looked exactly like something out of a fairy tale. The beautiful ivy growing up the side of the gray stone walls. A red-tiled roof and a stone chimney with puffs of smoke.

  Maybe she’s the witch from Hansel and Gretel, Sarah giggled and wondered if there were any bread-crumbs in the forest.

  Alexander knocked on the door.

  “Will she have a bump on her nose?” Sarah asked.

  “What?” Alexander looked at her before chuckling. “Earth fairytales tend to portray magical creatures in a negative way, don’t they? Hm.”

  Alexander knocked again. There was no answer. He knocked once more. No answer. He sighed loudly and raised a fist to pound on the cottage door. “Serwa. I know you’re in there, you witch. Stop pretending and open this door.”

  Sarah stood on the sidelines and watched Alexander bang on the door until the sound echoed through the forest. She looked in a nearby window and couldn’t see anything. “Maybe she’s not home,” she offered through the loud pounding.

  Alexander glared at the door. “She’s just stubborn.”

  Suddenly, the door flew open and Serwa emerged. She was average height with dark skin the color of the earth. Her hair was wild and untamed. It stood out strong and proud at every angle with dark tight curls. She was small with a curvy figure but her presence demanded respect as she leaned on the doorframe, drawing Sarah’s attention to the long muscles in her arms and legs. She had full round lips, high cheekbones, and eyes the color of gold. She wore a dirty torn skirt and top. Everything about her was natural, unkempt, fierce and dangerous.

  The woman’s eyes fell on Alexander then Sarah. She raised a brow. “Who’s your friend, vampire?”

  “Let me in, and I’ll tell you.” He flashed his fangs.

  Sarah gasped. “Alex! P-put those away. You can’t go around showing those things off to people.”

  Serwa chuckled. “I’m not scared of his puny fangs, child. So, you would like to come in?”

  “If that would be all right,” he said retracting his fangs. She stepped aside and opened the door. Alexander nodded in thanks and gestured for Sarah to walk in first.

  It was dark inside. Everything was covered in
cobwebs and dust. There were broken chairs, tables and other disheveled furniture scattered around the room. Shards of glass covered the floor, and jars of questionable ingredients decorated the wall shelves.

  Sarah gulped and positioned herself close to the door. “Just like in the books,” she remarked taking in the interior of the cabin.

  Alexander shook his head. He placed a gentle hand on Sarah’s shoulder. She looked at him, only he was glaring at Serwa. “Take down the illusion,” he ordered.

  The witch rolled her eyes. “You’re no fun.” She snapped her fingers, and like a mist, the room disappeared. Starting from the ceiling and then down, the cobwebs faded into the floor, the broken furniture was replaced with cushioned seats, and the creepy jars became pristine silver-ware and dishes.

  Sarah blinked to ensure what she was seeing was real. “But, I...I don’t...How did –”

  Serwa grinned. “A witch never tells.”

  Sarah looked at her. The wild woman who had greeted her at the door now wore a loose hip skirt, which fell to the floor in vibrant waves of burgundy, and a white, short-sleeved cotton top with a black belt. Her hair was still unkempt, and her eyes still had that brilliant gold.

  “You must be very important for the vampire to ask me to show you my real home,” the witch said. She took a seat on a nearby couch. “And even more important for him to not have made you into a snack.” She looked at Sarah. Sarah looked away with unease.

  Alexander rolled his eyes. “Have some manners. Can you offer a seat?”

  “When have I ever had to offer you a seat? You act like we’re strangers, Alexander.”

  He gestured to Sarah. “I meant for her.”

  She looked past the man to Sarah who was keeping her eyes on the floor. “You are definitely from earth. Any Lyrican would not have been so shocked by such a simple spell. Come here child, take a seat. You look tired. I’m guessing the vampire has been dragging you through the woods, hm?”

  Sarah hesitantly did as she was told. She tried to stop her body from shaking as she sat beside the witch. She couldn’t. “Uh...”

  “He can be quite the brute at times can’t he?” Serwa glared at Alexander.

  He glared right back. Sarah was still staring at the floor. She had unknowingly stepped into a war zone.

  “Let me speak before you start making assumptions.” He leaned forward in his seat at a small round table. “A few days ago, I was on my way to see you, but the sun had started to rise. I stopped to rest in a cave not too far from the sea. As I was sleeping, I heard some movement, movement that turned out to be Sarah.”

  “And as I asked before,” the witch said still clearly not seeing the point of his story, “you didn’t eat her?”

  He rubbed his eyes in exasperation. “Stop trying to scare her. I’m not an animal.”

  Too late for that, Sarah thought. Her mind had tried to suppress the memories of Alex’s teeth at her neck. They came back to her with full clarity now.

  Serwa shook her head. “No, but I know your appetite, especially after traveling that early in the morning.”

  “I haven’t killed for a meal in years, you know that. I’ve done well.”

  She nodded. “Yes, however a few years are like a few hours to a vampire. You’ve fallen off the wagon before, Alexander. When you leave –”

  “I know.” He held up a hand to stop her. “Like I said, I’ve done well. I will admit, at first I was going to feed from her. Then...well the stone stopped me.”

  Serwa tensed. She clenched and cracked her fingers. The cottage windows slammed shut, making Sarah jump in her seat. Candles lit to illuminate the now dark room. The witch leaned in very close to Alexander. “What do you mean the stone?”

  He smiled. “Now, I have your attention.”

  Alexander cleared his throat. “For centuries, Lyrica has been torn by war and strife over petty qualms like land and blood. You know as well as I that our home is out of balance. Sarah is the answer that the books have foretold. She is the Child of Legend, the only wielder of the stone. When I tried to harm her, the stone projected rays of sunlight that burned my skin and...it spoke to me. The stone told me my days of wandering were over and I was now to become her guardian.”

  Serwa examined him from head to toe. “But you’re not dead... your body should be burnt to a crisp.”

  Alexander turned to Sarah who was tapping her foot, still avoiding eye contact. “She healed me. I owe her my life and will forever be in debt to her.”

  Serwa turned to Sarah. She grabbed the girl’s chin and held it close to her own face. “Are you the child?”

  Sarah felt the sweat build on her brow. “I...I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

  Serwa moved to her feet. “If what you say is true, Alexander, why would you bring her here? She should be returning the stone to its rightful place. The longer the stone is away from its home the weaker it becomes. If it is not returned, Lyrica will fall apart, and the stone will cease to exist as the old books say. Have you not seen the forest?”

  “I know that,” said Alexander. “She told me when she first arrived; she was mistaken for a siren by the humans. She was attacked by some guards and a mage, disguising himself as a human. They chased her and her friends into the woods. They managed to escape, but I believe the forest elves captured the other two. Sarah wants to get them back. You know this forest better than anyone so, I need your help.”

  Serwa shook her head. “Her friends can come later. Right now, returning the stone is the most important thing.”

  “By now all Lyricans have felt the presence of the stone’s return, many will be in hot pursuit,” he said. “The mountain where the stone is to be returned will be under high guard. We couldn’t return it now, if we wanted to.”

  “I can’t leave them behind,” Sarah whispered so low that Serwa and Alex had to lean in to hear her.

  “Did she just speak or was that a mouse?” Serwa asked.

  Alexander sighed.

  Sarah’s hands were still shaking. “I just...I just...” She took in a deep breath, steadied her hands and hesitantly met their eyes. “I can’t leave them. If Solar, Jacob, and Nettle are in trouble because of me, I have to help them. Even if one of them isn’t really a friend anymore. It’s the right thing to do. And, anyway, I don’t even know why this stone’s so important.” She looked away from them and scolded herself for thinking of Jacob.

  Alexander turned to Serwa. “My friend, please, help us.” He placed a hand over his heart. “You know I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t need to.”

  She glanced from him to Sarah. Their eyes bore into her. She sighed and stared at the floor before saying, “Is this Solar a dragon?”

  Sarah nodded. “How’d you know?”

  “Well, the dragons were the first beings. They’re old creatures and dedicated believers in the old ways. Since you are carrying the source of our world’s life it makes sense they would send someone to guide you. And this Nettle?”

  “Uh...She’s a little fairy. What did you mean the source of –”

  “A fairy? That’s a bit more interesting. Fairies are old as well. But because they have their own realm, they tend to stay out of Lyrican politics. And Jacob?”

  “He’s a boy from back home. He found me in the forest and followed me into the well that took me here.”

  The witch rolled her eyes. “Earth human, not important.”

  Alexander eyed her, and she eyed him. “Better choice of words, maybe,” he suggested.

  She sat back in her chair. “It does make sense that you would come here through a well. You had to travel by water. Water is the element of passage and you don’t seem powerful enough to have traveled here without aid.”

  Alexander stood from his chair and began to gather his cloak.

  “Where are you going, Alex?” Sarah asked rising from her own seat, ready to leave if he was.

  “We are leaving, Sarah. It’s obvious that my friend does not want to assist us, so we shall fin
d another way.” He turned to Serwa, “Say no or yes. Simple answer.”

  Serwa watched Alex as he stood, waiting for a response.

  With a loud groan she finally said, “All right, I’ll do it. Just stop staring at me, it’s frustrating.”

  “Yes!” the vampire cheered.

  “But” the witch held up a finger, “on one condition. We look for them tomorrow. This day you two shall rest. We’re already delaying our trip because we have to rescue your friends, so another day won’t matter.”

  “But they’re captives. What if the elves hurt them?” Sarah asked.

  “How long ago were they captured?”

  Alex returned to his seat. “It’s been about three days.”

  The witch shrugged. “It’s not been nearly long enough for them to be dead. The wood folk would torture them first to figure out why they were in their land. And if they know that the captives are friends with you, Sarah, they will definitely not kill them. Instead, they’ll use them as bait to get you, which is why we need to be alert.”

  “Torture?” Sarah’s voice sounded unfamiliar using the word.

  “Agreed,” Alexander said.

  “Hmph, hopefully, we can keep her alive. Can she pull her own weight?”

  Alexander nudged Sarah, who was still staring at them both. She looked up at him, still in partial shock.

  “Can you pull your own weight, Sarah?” He widened his eyes and lifted his brow.

  She blinked then shook herself. “I can. Back home I can run the whole farm by myself. I milk the cows, gather the hay to feed the horse, gather the water, feed the chickens, and I can even cook.”

  The witch smiled mildly with a light chuckle. “So, you’re a farmer’s daughter. Fate is so ironic. Well, that’s not what I meant. Hm, you’re so young. What’s your age, girl?”

  “I’m thirteen,” Sarah responded straightening out her shredded clothes.

  “Aw, well isn’t that cute. You’ve started taking your steps into womanhood, but you’re still young enough to be innocent and naïve. So far, your words have only proven to me that you are dead weight.” Serwa raised an eyebrow.