by Sophia Sharp
“Not…Rafael?” Nora’s heart skipped a beat. Could he be alive?
The man nodded. “Indeed. He told us of your coming a bit more than a week ago. But we did not expect to find you alone. Is he not with you?”
The brief flicker of hope sank as Nora looked at Hunter. They didn’t know? His face gave nothing away, but he had relaxed noticeably at the man’s mention of Rafael.
“You look troubled, child,” the woman said, in that ringing voice. “Speak. What is the matter?”
Nora looked again at Hunter, and he nodded. She gulped and lowered her gaze. “Rafael… didn’t make it.”
“What do you mean?” The man sounded taken aback. “Has something happened?”
Nora nodded. “We were in the caves, being chased by…enemies. Rafael found us there. He helped us escape, but I’m afraid he sacrificed himself to do so.” Both the man’s and the woman’s expressions turned to concern. “When we were lost, he showed us the way out, but he stayed back to fend off those coming after us. He sacrificed himself, to help save us.”
As Nora spoke, the woman walked all the way up to her. Nora was absolutely entranced by her presence. The woman cupped Nora’s chin.
“Believe in him, my girl.” Her voice soothed Nora’s raw nerves. “He knows more than any other.” Nora was completely captivated by the woman, as if she put some sort of spell on her. Looking away was…hard. With that beautiful, ageless face staring right into her eyes, Nora felt as if she had come face to face with an angel. She had to force herself to tear her eyes away.
“Share our fire.” Nora spoke weakly, motioning to the clearing.
“Thank you.” The woman reached for the man’s hand, and they moved together with Nora and Hunter to sit by the fire.
“We should start with our names, then.” The man gestured to himself and then his companion. “I am Alexander, and this is Madison.”
“I’m Nora,” Nora said, “and this is Hunter.”
“A pity our encounter comes under such inauspicious circumstances,” Hunter said.
“Do not let Rafael’s fate bother you,” Alexander offered sagely. “As Madison told you, he is very capable.”
“I am sure he will be quite alright,” Madison added, with an eye toward Nora. Gray had gotten up and walked over to Nora, and she put him in her lap, petting his back to soothe him. He seemed tense and stared directly at Madison and Alexander as if they were a threat.
“How did you know him?” Nora asked.
Madison laughed. “He is an old friend. We shared many ideals about the world as it should be.”
“He said he was a recluse.” Hunter frowned suspiciously. “That he didn’t communicate with many others.”
“Oh? That would not surprise me.” Alexander shook his head and laughed. “He can be…quite cynical, sometimes. Wary, even, with those he meets. What he says is usually the truth, though he has a way of sometimes twisting that truth beyond recognition.”
“Are you saying he lied about being a recluse?” Nora asked.
“Not lied, no,” Madison answered. “But he may have misled you. He spoke to us, and others, through the dream. But he has lived in the cave for generations.”
“In the sanctuary,” Nora put in.
“The sanctuary, yes,” Alexander said, as if remembering. “It was that once. A very long time ago…”
“You know it?” Hunter asked suddenly. “You know what it was?”
“I do not know first-hand, but I have read things about it many years ago.”
“…there was another tongue,” Hunter said, half to himself, “encrypted on some of the walls and the towers outside. Do you know what it was?”
Alexander shook his head. “I cannot help you with that. The answers to some questions need to be found on your own.”
“What do you mean?” Annoyance crept into Nora’s tone. “If you know what it means, please, tell us!”
“You should listen more closely, girl.” The way Madison emphasized girl was not exactly derisive, but it wasn’t as kind as it had been before, either. “He said he does not know. But where we are headed, you might find answers.”
“Where are you headed?” Nora asked, confused. “I thought you were tracking us in order to meet Rafael?”
Alexander smiled. “Do not be completely naïve. Yes, we’ve been on your trail for a number of days, but not only in the hope of seeing Rafael. The way he spoke of you, we thought you might have convinced him to leave his home. But we have not heard from him since you…met. We were pilgrimaging north, regardless.”
“North?” Nora asked. “What’s north?”
“Rafael did not tell you?” For the first time, Alexander sounded genuinely surprised.
“Tell us what?” Nora asked again. “No, we have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Alexander turned to Madison. “An interesting turn of events.” He shifted his attention back to them. “We are going north in search of an ancient archive.”
“An archive?” Nora asked.
“Yes. I have been there once before. It is where I read about the sanctuary. I trekked there by myself the first time, and it was there I first met Rafael. An ancient archive, full of books and documents and other treasures. It is hidden in the most unsuspecting of small towns farther north. The townspeople guard the building dearly, but none know what it holds anymore.”
“What is it?” Nora asked again.
“An archive,” Madison said, in the chiming voice, “containing documents and other writings banned by the elders of the Vassiz.”
“Banned? Why?”
“Only the elders know that, girl,” Madison replied. “The same ones who put entire packs after you. The archive has been tended and maintained for eons, and none alive know of it anymore, other than Alexander and me. And now, you, too.”
“Why share?” Hunter suddenly broke out of his silence. “If the secret is guarded closely, and known not even to the elders anymore, to go there…is treasonous to our race.”
“Not everything is as black and white as you see it,” Alexander said. Nora felt Hunter tense again. “We share because of our mutual interests. It seems you placed your cards in our camp a long time ago, regardless. The elders want you. Dead or alive, they want you. And they will find you, eventually. They have turned nearly every member of the Vassiz after you. It is only a matter of time before you are reached by those loyal to the elders.
“And when that happens, no amount of strength or courage will save you. So, sharing seemed, to me, a simple proposition. We have both been aided by a mutual friend, thus our interests seem to align. We told you of the archive simply because we wish to extend you a welcome. Rafael told us there are documents still contained there of great importance, which need to be read. And considering you have no current destination in mind…?” At a forced nod from Hunter, he continued, “…we thought you might want to come with us. To see what these documents are, to find out more about the elders and their ascent to power. It is a subject shrouded in mystery, but Rafael was convinced there would be something in the archive that would help us see some hidden truth.”
“Wait,” Nora said, suddenly thinking clearly. “If you know where the archive is, why can’t we just go there in the dream world?”
Madison laughed, a clear crystal chime. “You show your youth. We cannot do that, for transient things like paper are not represented there. As well, we believe there have been certain wards placed around it to prevent entrance through the dream.”
“Wards?”
“That’s right. It is an art long lost, but some of the Vassiz in the past were known to ward their dreams, and locations in the real world, from other dream walkers.”
“You know so much.” Hunter sounded impressed. He shifted his gaze to Nora. “What do you think? We can gain a lot traveling with them.”
“I wouldn’t object,” Nora said. “If they’ll have us, I’d welcome their company gladly.”
“So it is decided!�
� Alexander clapped his hands. “You will journey with us north.” He paused, considering. Then his eyes slowly came to meet Nora’s. She felt his gaze on her, felt like he was looking deep into the recesses of her soul. It was discomforting, but she couldn’t look away. “There is…one other matter.” Alexander kept his eyes locked with Nora’s. Then he ripped them away and looked at Hunter. “Your companion has not yet fed.”
“She is newborn?” Madison sounded scandalized. “No, that will not do, it is too dangerous. She will be a risk to bring along.”
“What?” Nora demanded. “Why?”
“I will not leave without her.” Hunter stood firm.
“If she has not fed,” Madison continued over them, “she will be unable to control her hunger. It may overtake her at will.”
“It won’t,” Nora insisted. “I can control it!”
“Control it?” Madison laughed . “The memories of my first feeding are still vivid to me. As they are for Alexander and for your friend, Hunter. The first feeding changes you. Only after your first feast on human blood do you truly become a part of the Vassiz. It is what your body will demand of you. No, you cannot control it, girl. And until you feed, the urges will overtake you completely.”
“I can control it,” Nora said stubbornly. “I did it this morning.”
“It’s true,” Hunter intervened. “A group of game hunters crossed our path. Nora chased after one of them. She hunted, but she pulled away just before taking his blood.” Hunter’s tone turned to one of admiration, and Nora felt warmth spread inside her. “I cannot imagine the will power it must have taken her to do so. Newborns are crazy with bloodlust, but Nora…she overcame it, when her prey was most vulnerable.”
“Is this true?” Alexander looked at Nora again.
“Yes.” She nodded, somewhat shyly.
“Alexander? You do not think to bring her along, do you?” Madison sounded appalled. “She presents a risk we cannot take!”
“Sometimes,” he said cryptically, “a gamble is all we can place our hopes on.” Then he nodded. “Fine. She will be allowed to come.”
“What?” Madison’s voice turned indignant with disbelief. “I was fine with them coming before I knew the truth, but I cannot—” She got up and swung her head angrily. “She will endanger our entire purpose!”
“If she says she can control it,” Alexander replied, “I believe her.” His words were hard, as if he was forcing himself to believe them.
Madison sniffed angrily. Taking one long, hard glare at Nora, she turned and stalked away. Gray growled in Nora’s lap.
Alexander didn’t even look in her direction. “Don’t mind her.” He spoke directly to Nora. “She does not know what I do.”
“And what is that, Alexander?” Nora asked cautiously.
“I know you are a woman of your word,” he answered. “And I know that if you say you can control your hunger, you truly believe you can. But understand the importance of having that control. If you slip but once, if you lose your grip for half a moment without it being planned on beforehand, the elders will become aware of our location. And it will compromise everything.”
“I can hold on,” Nora said determinedly.
Hunter placed his hand over hers and squeezed it tightly.
Chapter Five
~The Journey Begins~
Nora slept poorly that night. She went to bed feeling bad for causing the animosity between Madison and Alexander.
At one point, still half-asleep, Nora flipped over to one side and opened her eyes. She saw Hunter, seated far away, speaking intently with Madison. Nora strained her ears without thinking, trying to make out what they were saying, but heard nothing. Suddenly Madison looked right at her.
Nora shut her eyes quickly, pretending to resume the steady breaths of sleep. Her ruse must have worked, for when she peeked again, Madison had returned her attention to Hunter. Absently, Nora wondered what they were talking about, but then sleep overtook her again. A sleep that was haunted by those same unremembered nightmares.
Hours later, Nora opened her eyes. She squinted against the bright sun to look around, and realized she was alone. She reached out a hand to feel for Gray and found him missing too.
Getting up, she looked around. There were no signs that anyone had ever been in the small clearing, no signs of the fire from last night. She frowned. Where did everyone go?
As soon as that thought crossed her mind, Hunter, together with Madison and Alexander, came through the edge of the forest and into the clearing. Nora opened her mouth to speak, but stopped as soon as Madison glared at her. Madison sniffed loudly and walked away.
Alexander, however, behaved in completely the opposite manner. On seeing that Nora was up, he walked over and greeted her with a smile. “Good to see you finally up.”
“Where did everyone go?”
“We went to convince Madison to come with us.”
“Oh?” Nora lifted a brow. “Did you succeed?”
“Well, you saw her here, didn’t you?” Alexander scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Although I have to warn you, she’s not too happy about it.”
“Because of me?”
Alexander avoided her question. “I wouldn’t blame myself too much if I were you. Madison’s issues are her own, and she has to deal with them herself.”
“I see.” Nora didn’t really, but she decided to let it drop…for now.
“Now, you’d better get ready for travel. We’ve got a long day ahead.” He turned away.
Hunter looked after him as he went, then approached Nora. “How did you sleep?”
“Not bad.” Nora remembered his hushed conversation with Madison during the night. She didn’t want to admit she’d spied on them, but at the same time, she itched to know what they’d been talking about. Maybe she could get him to mention it. “How did you sleep?”
“Me?” Hunter sounded surprised. “I kept watch last night, as usual. I still haven’t felt the need to sleep yet.”
“Oh. Nothing unusual happened, then?”
“Nothing you should worry over.” Hunter changed the subject. “I saw Gray scuttling away this morning, though. Out into the woods. I think he found a small rodent or something like that. In case you were wondering where he was.”
“Oh. Yeah, thanks.”
Hunter started to turn away, but Nora caught his sleeve. He had that black shirt on and looked absolutely majestic in the rich fabric. “Are you sure nothing happened last night?” she prodded.
“No.” He paused, looking over at her. “You probably should go find your bear. I haven’t seen him since he left.” With that, he turned to make his way back to Alexander.
Nora stared after him. She had given him two opportunities to mention the conversation with Madison, and he had avoided it each time. Why?
She stood up and brushed herself off. He was right about finding Gray.
She looked around the place she’d slept. She saw Gray’s paw prints, faded in the dirt, leading away into the forest. She followed the trail.
Walking into the shrouded woods, she could only pick up bits and pieces of his trail. A bent leaf here, a broken twig there. If her eyesight wasn’t so sharp, she doubted she could have followed him. As she picked her way along, she wondered where he had run off to, and why.
She walked in one direction for a couple minutes, and then stopped when the trail ended. “Gray?” she called out, her voice ringing loudly in the quiet forest. She stood still, waiting. When he didn’t emerge, she turned around, ready to retrace her steps to see where she lost his path. At that moment, Gray came rushing out of the bush, his mouth stained red.
Nora squatted down to greet him. She wondered what kind of animal he might have found, to have his fur stained like that. But as he came closer, she realized – with only a bit of relief – that it was just berry juice.
“So that’s where you’ve been.” She laughed as he jumped up to lick her face. “Come on.” She pushed him down playfully. “We�
�ve got to get back before they take off without us.” Gray tilted his head at her, but followed her back. She walked into the clearing to find Hunter sitting alone. He looked up at her. “Alexander and Madison went ahead,” he explained, “and I wanted to wait for you.”
“Thanks,” Nora said.
“Looks like you found Gray pretty quickly.”
“Yeah, I guess I did. I had a bit of trouble tracking him, but he was just eating some berries nearby.”
“So that’s why his mouth’s so red.” Hunter grinned and pushed gracefully to his feet. “Come on, we’ve got to get going if we want to catch up.”
“How far away are they?”
“Not far.” Hunter ran ahead, and Nora followed. Gray trailed behind them.
A few minutes later, they found Madison and Alexander walking together…but apart. They were the same distance away from Nora and Hunter, but spread widely from one another. Nora hoped the disagreement last night didn’t strain their relationship.
“Hey!” Hunter yelled out, and both Madison and Alexander stopped and looked back. On seeing them, Alexander walked toward them, but Madison turned and continued forward.
“She wanted to go faster.” Alexander grinned. “But I said we had to wait for you if we’re going to be journeying together. Now that you’re here, though, we can make use of our speed.”
“Oh.” Nora’s cheeks started to burn. “I can’t, yet. Not for long distances.”
Alexander frowned. “Have you been converted so recently?” Nora nodded. A derisive laugh made her look past Alexander to find Madison staring back at her.
“You see?” Madison sneered. “The girl is already holding us back. She should not have come.”
Nora felt her cheeks go completely red and looked to Hunter for protection. Instead, he just shrugged at her. “She’s not wrong.” He spoke so quietly Nora thought she might have imagined it. She stared after him, flabbergasted, as he ran forward to catch up to Madison.
Alexander looked at Nora and sighed. “I should speak with her, too.” He ran ahead, leaving Nora alone at the rear.
