Sarah turned away. She rubbed her arm, her eyes frantically searching around the room wanting to look anywhere but at the witch. Her eyes fell on Alexander. He tried to smile reassuringly and gestured toward Serwa. Sarah bit her lips and tried to slow down her heart.
“Mrs. Serwa.” She slowly approached her.
“There is no ‘Mrs.’ in my name,” the witch gently corrected.
“Serwa,” Sarah said, her mouth suddenly full of paste. “If I can’t pull my own weight then, maybe...” She couldn’t find the words.
“Yes?” Serwa’s eyes hadn’t moved from Sarah since they began talking. She was like a hawk watching the girl’s every move.
Sarah gulped. “Maybe you could teach me? Back home everyone thought I was crazy. Sometimes I...I hear voices, but now I know I’m not crazy. I have these powers, I think, or maybe it’s the stone, but you could teach me how to use them –”
Her hawk-like eyes dimmed, and she leaned away from Sarah. “I don’t take on apprentices.”
“Well, maybe I could be your first?” It was much more of a hopeful question than a statement.
“No,” Serwa repeated.
Alex held his head in his hands, using his thumbs to rub the temples. Serwa glared at Sarah, her brows arched downwards. This was not going at all how Sarah thought it would, but Alexander said they needed her to get through the forest. Sarah didn’t have a choice.
“My Mama says people saying no is just like using the back door to get into the house. You can still get in, just a different way.”
“Excuse me?” The witch looked back at Sarah, the statement peaking her interest.
Sarah took in a deep breath. “I’m saying I can still learn from you even if you don’t want me to.”
A smirk streaked across the witch’s face. Her eyes became blazing slits of light. “Is that a challenge?”
Sarah took a few steps back. “I...no, I mean –”
“Ha!” Serwa smacked the table and laughed, her eyes returned to normal. “I thought it wasn’t. You don’t have the stomach to challenge an imp much less me. Are you sure we have the right child, Alexander?”
He nodded. “I saw her use the stone. She is who I say.”
Serwa turned to the girl. She moved close to her. “Tell me about these voices. What do they tell you to do?”
“Well, usually they don’t tell me to do anything. It’s more like I’m hearing thoughts but lately I’ve only heard one voice. It’s been speaking to me just like you are now. I’m not messed up in the head...right?” Sarah turned her eyes to the witch.
Serwa placed a finger on her chin. “No, it doesn’t seem like it. Your aura doesn’t show any signs of insanity. If you are the Child of Legend then, those voices are probably the thoughts of Lyricans drifting into your mind. However, you actually could be insane and be very good at hiding it.”
“Serwa.” Alexander shot her a look.
The witch sighed and readjusted her seat. “Child of Legend or not, you will never be my apprentice. This conversation is over.” The words fell from Serwa’s tongue with an authority that made Sarah’s back straighten. With that said the witch left the room.
As she left, Alexander placed a hand on Sarah’s head. “Don’t worry about her,” he said. “Being a hermit makes it difficult to get used to new friends.”
“She can’t be as bad as she seems,” Sarah said staring at the door Serwa had left out of. “No one is ever as bad as they seem.”
Chapter 11
“Is she asleep?” the vampire asked when Serwa returned from the guest room.
“Yes. I’ve brought you some clothes as well.” She placed them beside him. “She’s definitely scared, Alexander. Her energy isn’t steady.”
He sighed. “I know she is. That’s why I must help her.”
“You won’t be very helpful if you die,” she said with a scoff.
Alex gave her a weak smile before coughing hysterically.
“You see what I mean. When was the last time you fed?”
“I ate a rabbit on the way here,” he offered.
Serwa glared at him. “A rabbit? That’s going to fill a grown vampire up? I don’t think so.” She pulled up a seat by his side.
He leaned back. “I think it’ll scare her. I was going to hold off, only for a few days.”
The witch pulled back the hair from Alex’s sweaty face. “I said the girl was scared, not stupid. She knows what you are.”
“Well, the way you described me earlier made me seem more like a monster.”
Serwa paused with her hand still lingering on his face. She turned her eyes upward and looked straight into his. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s...I’ve helped you so many times before and then, when you leave here you always return to say you’ve killed someone.” She went to move her hand from his face, but he caught it in his own.
He lifted both her hands and pressed them to his lips. “I thank you for all you have done for me. Without you I don’t know where I’d be.”
She gave him a half-smile. “You always say this, but you’re always gone when I wake up.”
“You don’t need me, Serwa.”
She bit her lip. “Alexander, I –”
“Shh,” he hushed her, “let’s rest. I’m tired from the journey. Not to mention how tiring traveling during the day is.”
“We’ll wait until the sun goes down a bit before leaving tomorrow.”
“Not too long,” he said.
She took in a deep breath and scooted closer. “I will not be able to rest knowing you’re dying. Feed from me.”
His hands tensed around hers before he pulled away. There was silence.
“Is this how it will always happen?” His words came out in a hard chuckle. “Is this how we will always be when we reunite? You ask me to stay then let me feed from you?”
Serwa pushed her wrist against his lips. His eyes flickered to hers for an instance before they turned blood red as he bit into her soft flesh. She winced at the slight pain. Alexander pulled her wrist closer, and she watched as he fed from her.
She inhaled a shuddering breath. “Forever and eternity.”
“They can trick you,” said Serwa as the trio walked through the forest. “They’re beautiful creatures. They can hypnotize you with their looks and lead you to your death if they want to.” She was adding to the effect of her elf lecture by wearing a black cloak lined with darker black trim.
Sarah followed between the witch and Alexander, now dressed in her own blue skirt and white cotton top. “They seem nice in the fairytales,” Sarah mumbled thinking about the cute elves from the Christmas books.
Serwa let out a high-pitched heckle and turned to look at Sarah. “You would be wise, Child, to learn that this is not a fairytale.” She had a dark glint in her eyes.
Sarah could feel a ball forming in her throat. She tried to swallow it down, but it only grew bigger.
“How much farther until we reach their village?” Alex asked.
The witch narrowed her eyes at him. “Reach their village? No, no one ever reaches the village. Everyone is taken there.”
“Taken? What do you mean taken?” Sarah asked struggling to keep pace with the witch.
Serwa rolled her eyes. “By the elves, of course. Keep up girl! You’re stumbling along like a newborn.”
“You didn’t say anything about being captured,” Alex hissed.
“Oh, I didn’t?” Her lips curved up into a smirk. “Must have slipped my mind.”
“Or you just want to get us all killed,” he retorted.
The witch heaved a heavy breath. “Or maybe I knew if I told you we had to be captured you would think of another brilliant plan that would definitely get us killed.”
His face grew red. “You are –”
“Wait...quiet.” Serwa crouched to the ground. Her eyes gazed over the trees; she inhaled deeply through her nose as if taking in all the scents of the forest.
Sarah b
ecame motionless. She stood behind the witch with her arms plastered to her side and a clawing feeling in her chest.
“We’re deep enough into their territory,” Serwa said still watching the trees. “They should be here right about...now.” Then, she was gone like a leaf caught in the breeze. There was a quick snap of some branches, a blurry figure, then nothing.
“Stay close to me,” Alexander said as he got into a defensive position, pulling the redhead down beside him. Sarah breathed in deeply, trying to stay calm as she internally panicked.
Alex is here. I’m not alone, she reminded herself, peering around the forest.
“Sarah!” She swung around to see Alex wrenched away through the air and into the trees. He grabbed for her as she reached out for him, but he was already gone.
The realization of her situation settled on her face, and for the second time in a week, she was left alone in a foreign place. Suddenly, the trees were like giant strangers surrounding her and every noise was an oncoming attack. The wind blew, and Sarah got the chilling feeling she was being watched. The stone in her pocket sent cooling sensations through her body. She held it tight in her hand, knowing that the stone was what the elves—and nearly everyone else in Lyrica—wanted. But she refused to let them have it. Sarah bit her lip.
There was some rustling in the trees.
They’re close, Sarah thought as the stone continued to send her soothing vibes. She stood on trembling legs and with feet firmly planted on the ground. Sensations ran through her like electric volts, awakening every part of her body. She wasn’t herself anymore. No, something much older had taken occupation inside of her. Something much wiser that was there before the world began and would remain forever. Her legs stopped their trembling.
The elves broke from the trees and circled around her. Her eyes shone a brilliant white.
Sarah watched as her body was overtaken. She allowed the force to do so, trusting in its familiarity, knowing it was there to help.
The elves came closer, she could feel each of their individual forces, some weaker than others. However, as they approached their power increased.
Adrenaline. She recognized the aura.
“Wait,” Sarah and the force occupying her whispered in unison.
The enemies’ circle tightened.
“Wait,” they repeated.
The circle got smaller.
“Wait.”
The elves had spears drawn.
“Wait.”
They lunged.
“Now!” Power rippled through the girl’s body like ocean waves. It started from her toes and ran up to every single string of hair on her head. Then, it sprang forth from her in the form of a gray mist. Sarah let out a wail as the power escaped from her like a tornado.
The mist settled in around her acting as a protective shield. The elves stared warily, and for the first time since the battle had begun, Sarah could see their faces. When Serwa said they were beautiful, she was hitting the nail right on the head. Every single elf was tall and lean with sharp, pointed ears and lovely green skin. Their hair came in long dark waves of brown silk. The men had strong jaws and pronounced noses. The women had long elegant faces and large eyes.
The mist continued to swarm around Sarah until the shield was complete. One elf stepped from the crowd. She approached him.
“Please,” she said to him, “please tell me where my friends are.”
The elf lifted his arm and reached out toward the shield. The crowd behind him mumbled amongst themselves. Then, they begin to chant, using their thighs and abdomens as instruments.
The elf straightened his back. He moved forward, and when he made contact, the air around the shield illuminated with lightning. He hissed and staggered back. There were streaks of burnt skin around his hand.
The others grew silent. They lifted their spears and pulled back their shoulders ready to attack when the elf raised his injured hand. He turned back to them and shook his head. Then, he moved his attention back to Sarah and nodded before walking deeper into the forest.
The others begin to follow him. Sarah stared as they walked away, as the forest emptied.
“Wait,” she said. “Where am I supposed to –”
“Follow.”
The pronunciation was long and purposeful. The voice was low and foreign.
Sarah gasped and stumbled away from the green-skinned man beside her shield. She knew her eyes had to be as big as saucers while she stared at him. He, on the other hand, had a perpetuating calm in his own eyes, either not caring about or not noticing her reaction.
“Follow,” he repeated and ran to catch up to the other elves.
Sarah clasped her hands to her chest and watched the elves fade into the trees. Soon they’d all be gone, and she’d be alone...again.
“He said ‘follow.’” She took a step. “Alex and the others are with them. Just follow.”
She began walking, then running, until she faded into the trees, as well.
She could finally see it. After running for what felt like hours, the village was actually coming into view. Sarah mentally sighed.
As she got closer to the village, the forest thinned out into a clearing, and she could see houses built in and around the trees. The village was alive with elves walking around busily; women carried babies and harvested from a garden, men assembled weapons and swung from vines to get from house to house.
Sarah stepped into the clearing still surrounded by her shield and the warriors. All activity stopped, and everyone’s eyes fell on her. They stared at her. Sarah tried to smile to break the tension, but no one smiled back. Finally, one of the elves who had “escorted” Sarah stepped forward. He looked around and nodded, and every elf nodded back, before returning to their activities as if Sarah was not even there.
The man turned his attention to a group of small boys playing in the clearing. “Skuntz,” he said. One boy looked up and ran over to him with a bright smile. He was skinny as a stick with scrawny legs. His brown hair was braided long down his back.
The boy said, “Papa!” He leapt up and reached for his father.
“Skuntz,” the father said with a smile. He held the boy tight in his arms and hugged him. Sarah could see the strong bond between the father and son. She had tried to blink the image away, but it remained. The link between the two flew from their auras in slivers of gold. She watched with a sad smile and wondered how her own father was doing. If he had had his breakfast yet. The usual eggs and bacon. Had he forgotten to take his mask with him to work? He really needed that. But most of all Sarah wondered if he was missing her as much as she was missing him.
The elf father glanced at Sarah from his peripherals. His smile faded, replaced by an angry mask. He placed his son on the ground, whose big eyes stared up at him.
With a stoic face he said to the boy, “Skuntz, go get Gan. Now.”
Skuntz peered at Sarah then back at his father before running off to the tallest tree that rested in the middle of the clearing. The bottom of the trunk was hollowed out into a large room. Sarah looked back at the elf. He was like a dark tower looming over her. She shifted nervously in her shield then offered him a shaky grin.
“Does ‘skuntz’ mean son? Was he your son?”
He didn’t respond. She frowned. Perhaps, the elf wouldn’t be a new friend.
“Gan,” rippled through the crowd of people in a low murmur. Sarah saw an old woman emerge from the base of the hollow tree. The woman began to walk toward her. She was short and hunched over with both leaf green and tree brown skin. Her hair was a washed out brown, a shade of tan. She had a round face and a round body covered with several robes of different patterns. She smiled when she saw Sarah.
Sarah couldn’t return the favor. Her body was on edge, a sudden fear had gripped her. This woman was strong. Her essence touched every inch of the wood elves’ territory except where Sarah’s barrier stood. All the elves’ energies were still around her, but Gan’s energy was different. It was perfe
ctly one with the forest. Her heart beat with the trees.
“Eho n ewo em, ife dn.”
The village elves gasped.
“She is showing you respect,” said the tower-like elf who still stood beside Sarah. She looked at him and blinked, not sure if he had actually spoken to her.
“It is very odd for Gan to show such respect to a stranger,” he said.
Sarah nodded. “So, you can understand me?”
“She welcomed you and called you her friend.”
“Friend?” Sarah looked at the old woman. She turned back to the elf beside her.
“What should I do? What should I say?” She began to fiddle with her clothes, staring up at him for guidance.
He raised his heavy brows. “That is for you to decide.”
Sarah hunched her shoulders. Everyone was staring at her, waiting for her next move. She swallowed the ball in her throat.
“Hello, uh...my friend?” She waited for the crowd’s reaction, but there was none. “My name is Sarafina. It’s nice to meet you.” The girl awkwardly bowed toward Gan. She peeked up to watch everyone. They were all nodding.
“You may release your shield, child,” Gan said. “You are among friends. Tell her my children.”
“Yes, Gan,” was heard throughout the crowd as everyone bowed in salute toward Sarah. She once again awkwardly bowed to all of them. She placed her hands in her pockets and held the stone. It was her only sense of comfort.
Gan grinned. “See, oce ehsn eno. You are among friends. You are safe. Take down your shield. Please.”
“I would,” said Sarah. “But I’m not sure how.”
“Still developing your powers I see. Remember, the shield is in your control, release it. Soon it will become like breathing. It will be just as natural.”
“I don’t think I ca –”
Gan held up a hand. “Don’t think. Just do.”
Sarah felt all eyes on her again. She was the show, and they wanted a performance.
She gripped the stone, took in a breath, exhaled, and repeated. Slowly, her body began to relax, and the shield began to disappear. Sarah stared at the old woman as the last bit of mist faded.
The Pariah Child & the Ever-Giving Stone Page 10
