“Seems Alaric is the only one with any brains.”
I was about to ask him why he didn’t want his parents knowing about the pixie when Alex turned to look at me. The way the light warmed his skin, the way it reflected in his eyes. My heart sputtered in my chest and I looked away at the fire, trying to calm myself.
But calm had been completely overthrown. Nervousness had turned tyrannical, massacring all of my other emotions and simultaneously throwing all of my words out of my brain so that they were in broken bits somewhere inside of me.
What is wrong with you?
“What’s wrong?” he whispered.
I had no idea, but I had a sneaking suspicion that once I found out the answer, I wouldn’t be so eager to share it with him. “Nothing.”
I felt his eyes on me as I fought to master my nerves. A few silent moments passed before I gathered myself and was able speak. I also tried to keep the times my eyes found his to a minimum. “Why did you lie to your parents about the pixie?”
He stared at the fire. “I saw how it affected you and I didn’t think you would want to talk about it.”
That was it? That was…thoughtful. “Thanks. I didn’t.” I paused. “But, I’ll tell you now…if you still want to know.”
He didn’t look at me. “Only if you want.”
I recounted both visions to him in detail, fighting against the emotions that threatened to return, but I left out the extent of my agonizing over his death. That, I felt, was a little too personal. His face didn’t change as he listened.
When I was done, he grabbed my hand in between both of his. His face was solemn, his eyes sad, and his lips lifted into a grin that failed to touch his eyes. “That’s terrible.”
“I know, so why are you smiling about it?”
He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his fingers lingering for a moment. “No wonder you don’t care to meet another magical creature.”
“But, what does it mean?” I tried to ignore the feel of his fingers on my skin.
He peered off into the forest. “I’ve no idea. But…” He looked back at me. “I don’t think you need to worry about killing me. Unless you grow two feet and gain some serious muscle mass.”
I chuckled, shaking my head.
He let go of my hand and leaned back on his arms, watching the fire. Despite his attempt at making light of my vision, I could feel that it bothered him. “Maybe next time they’ll show me a vision of you dancing. I can only imagine how catastrophic that would look.”
He tilted his head studying my face, his suspicion strong. “Are you…jealous?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” I answered a little too quickly.
There was a smirk on his face as he studied mine. “I think you are.”
“I am not.” My body felt warm all over. “Why would I be jealous of your bad dancing?”
There was a gleam in his eyes. “You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”
Of course I knew, but if he thought I was going to talk to him about it he had another thing coming. He was my friend. I had no right to care about his love life.
But I did. I couldn’t stand not knowing, and there was no way I was going to ask. Especially right now.
I glared at the fire as Alex’s amusement poured through me.
That was it.
“I’m going to bed.” I got to my feet.
He raised his brows and looked up at me, but said nothing. He knew what was wrong with me. He knew what was wrong and wasn’t saying a word to deny it. My stomach turned.
“See you in the morning.” I spun around and walked to my blankets, feeling his eyes on my back.
“Daria…”
I kept walking. “Alex, it’s fine. You don’t have to explain…”
“Daria…”
This time I paused, but didn’t turn. The night listened as I waited. I heard him sigh.
“Good night,” he said.
Without answering, I lay down, pulled the blankets overhead, and closed him from view.
I woke shaking, startled from my dream of Alex lying dead on the ground, me sobbing hysterically over him.
I sat up. All that was left of our fire were glowing embers. The night around me was thick with shadows. The Del Contes were all in a deep sleep; Cicero’s heavy breathing sounded particularly loud in the silence.
A glow off in the distance caught my eye. It was a faint white halo, floating in the shadows a few yards from where I sat.
“Follow me,” a sharp whisper sounded in my ear.
I started and looked around me. Nothing but shadows, and the Del Contes all had their eyes closed.
My breathing quickened.
“There is something I must show you.”
The voice was in my head.
“Daria, you cannot trust them,” the whisper continued, the light pulsing with each word. “Your entire life they have lied to you. They keep things from you still, and now they refuse to tell you about your father.”
I jumped to my feet as the halo floated away from me, deeper into the dark woods.
“Yes, I know where he is and what has happened to him. Your companions don’t want to tell you. There are many secrets they continue to keep—many dangerous secrets. Listen to your heart. You already know you cannot trust them, and I cannot tell you with them near.”
The light was moving away fast. Fear and curiosity battled within me, each fighting for dominion. Curiosity won. I had to know. For too long I’d lived a lie. And whoever—or whatever—was trying to get my attention knew about my past. Which also meant it was feasible they knew about my present.
My alternative had presented itself earlier than expected.
I glanced back, making sure the Del Contes were still asleep, and tiptoed after the light into utter darkness.
Chapter 20
Misleadings
The light moved fast. I stumbled over roots, grabbing low hanging vines for support as it pressed on.
“Who are you?” I asked, now well out of range of the Del Contes.
It was silent, a white orb swimming through black. And then it stopped. Something cold touched upon my senses and the light disintegrated, leaving me in total darkness.
Alone.
I gripped the handle of my dagger and pulled it free. My breath was the only sound in the night.
A puff of stale air, cold as death, tickled my neck. I jerked my blade around. “Who’s there?”
Something chuckled a few yards away. The sound was deep and gurgling.
“That was almost too simple,” hissed a bone-chilling voice.
“What do you want?”
The voiced paused. “It is incredible how much trust you’ve put into those that continue lying to you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your…friends.” The word was filled with loathing. “They’ve led you here,” the hiss continued, now on my other side. “In a direction opposite your father. All your life they’ve lied to you and are lying to you still, yet you do not question them.”
“Who are you?” I wanted to believe he was lying. I needed to believe.
“Haven’t you questioned them and this power they worship? It isn’t as good and pure as they would have you believe. How could it be when its followers are forced to lie to those they hold dear? How can a power so good and pure enable such corruption and tyranny? The one I serve is greater. He can give you the answers you seek. He can give you power so that no one—not even your companions—will dare lie to you again. Take your future into your own hands. Do not trust it with them.”
I couldn’t take it. Each word ran through me like a sharp blade because each word was true. “What do you want?” My dagger trembled.
A light breeze rustled the trees above.
A distorted human face appeared. His skin looked like it was made of dirt, cracked and dry like the ground when it hasn’t seen water. His eyes were orange and cat-like, and he had no nose, just two fine slits. His liples
s mouth smiled, revealing a row of spaced, pointed dagger-like teeth and its tall, cloaked form hovered over me with breath that smelled of rotted flesh.
I opened my mouth to scream but no sound came. My dagger burned in my hands, bringing me back to life. I lashed out, slashing across his torso, but he vanished and appeared on my other side faster than I could blink. Horrified, I tightened my grip on the handle when a bolt of blue light shot past me.
Fury filled his orange cat-like eyes and a low growl rumbled from his chest. He leapt straight into the air, cloak whipping after him, out of sight. A ball of green light exploded from the trees, arching into the darkness beyond. Another bolt of blue light twisted above from somewhere close, stretching its blue fingers high into the tree, illuminating the silhouette of my attacker.
My feet were frozen in place as my eyes tried to make sense of what was happening. Bright lines of light streaked through the darkness—green, blue—each vying for dominance. Whatever had led me here was producing the green. So who—or what—was making the blue?
Before I could find out, something clamped around my wrists.
I tried to break free but it was like trying to pull off my own arm. Someone was dragging me away from the battle of blue and green lightning, farther into the shadows. Another streak of blue light flashed and I saw my captor’s orange cat-like eyes glaring at me.
There were two of them.
I flexed and twisted to free my wrists but his grip was like iron. “Let go!”
He just pulled me after him like dead weight.
With all the force I could muster, I kicked out my leg and struck him hard in the back. My leg jarred as it made contact, sharp pain shooting up my shin. I might as well have kicked a rock. My joints burned and my leg throbbed, and the pain I felt was all mine. None of it belonged to the creature. I couldn’t even detect the slightest discomfort. He just pulled and pulled and pulled, leading me farther away from the battle. What was this thing?
My dagger singed my palm again. Heat spread through my blood, bringing life back to my aching limbs, and this time when I twisted my wrist, I broke free.
Everything slowed and my senses sharpened.
The light overhead froze mid-arch and my captor’s face was stuck in ugly surprise. Gripping my dagger, I slashed across his arm, freeing my other wrist. Surprise and pain shot through me as he let go.
Light shot from his hands, but the light came slowly, creeping forward as my blade rose to meet it. The burst of energy hit the metal with a spark and deflected into the trees in a hundred directions.
Another bolt of light came and I rolled towards the creature. The light singed the place I had stood only a moment ago. I leapt to my feet and thrust the blade up into the creature and a burst of pain shot through my ankles.
My legs were yanked out from under me and I slammed to the ground, hard. I choked on my breath as I fought to move, but my legs were stuck together. A thick root had snaked around my ankles and pulled tight. I hacked at it, chopping away as hard as I could, but my dagger didn’t even make a scratch. The creature grabbed my feet and started pulling again, the rest of me dragging after him.
I slashed at the air, screaming at the monster. Light flashed above and I saw another shadow move from the trees.
My heart sunk. Another one? I’d never escape.
There was a burst of white light so bright I was blinded. The grip around my ankles vanished and the light dimmed to black. Flames exploded, filling the night with smoke and fumes, engulfing my captor. His agony and fury powered through my body as I struggled to get away.
Sweat dripped into my eyes from the heat as I pulled myself from the flames, dragging my legs behind me. The fire suddenly disappeared, as if someone snuffed it out, and everything returned to darkness.
“Daria!”
It was Alex. I couldn’t see him, but within seconds his hands found my shoulders and he was trying to get me to stand.
“I can’t. My ankles are tied.”
He was quiet, his mind racing until I felt him turn decisive. “Don’t move an inch.”
“Okay.”
The sword in his hands started glowing white.
“Daria…” He leaned closer to me, his eyes shining from the glow of his sword. “I’m serious. You can’t move.”
I held his gaze. “I won’t. Promise.”
Satisfied, he took a deep breath and stepped away, focusing on my ankles. He raised his sword and looked back at me with a warning so strong I might’ve been scared if I wasn’t in such pain from the thing binding my legs.
The sword flashed and he brought it down in a white blur. The root snapped and fizzled, the shards wriggling and writhing back into the earth. He dropped his weapon to the ground and crouched at my side. “Did they hurt you?”
I wiggled my ankles and flinched. “Not too bad. I’ll live.”
The glow from his sword faded. “Come on, I’ll help you up.”
“I don’t need your help.” I tried pushing myself to stand, but the pain in my ankles was too much.
“Let me guess.” He ignored me and wrapped his arm tightly around my waist. “You have everything under control?”
His breath tickled my ear and I swallowed. “Yes.”
I felt his amusement as he helped me to my feet. I was thankful for the dark because I could feel my cheeks burning.
Pain ripped through my ankles and legs and I stumbled. Alex held me tighter so I didn’t fall and I bit my lip, fighting back tears. My ankles were sprained, badly. Come to think of it, breaking them might have been less painful.
Alex slowly sat me back down. “Looks like I’ll have to carry you.”
No way. “I’m fine.”
“Yeah, you look fine.”
“Just…give me a minute, okay?”
He sat himself beside me, our sides touching.
I could feel him—his curiosity. He wanted to know what I was doing out here. He wanted to know why I’d left, but for some reason, he didn’t ask. I could feel his hesitation pulse as strongly as the burning sensation in my ankles, but before he said a word, something snapped a few yards away.
My heart sunk. Not another one.
Alex leapt to his feet, sword in hand. “Don’t move,” he whispered.
Like that was an option.
A tiny light appeared, hovering in midair. Standing just a few feet away from it was an old man. His hair hung long and straight and white at his sides, and his wrinkly forehead wrinkled further in curiosity as his clear blue eyes stared at the pair of us.
It was this man that had saved me. He had been the one that had produced the blue light. I didn’t know how I knew that, but I knew it with certainty.
Alex stood over me, blade ready, as the man approached. The man halted one small step before the tip of Alex’s sword.
“Who are you?” Alex growled.
“Great mages, young man, do you always introduce yourself like this?” The man’s voice was raspy, but not threatening. Like he spoke too much and his vocal chords were wearing out. “I warn you, it will never encourage friendliness.”
Alex pushed the blade towards the man’s throat, creating a dimple. “Answer me before I kill you.”
I started. Alex? Kill someone? “Alex.” I touched his leg. “I think this man helped me, before you came.”
His blade didn’t lower. “Then explain what you’re doing here.”
The old man smiled. It was a smile that made you feel like you could tell this man anything in the world, and he would protect you. “Our aims aren’t so different, Alexander Del Conte. Like you, I want only her safety.”
Alex’s eyes narrowed. “How do you know my name?”
“I know many things about you, dear boy, but I must admit that I don’t particularly enjoy friendly discourse when one has a sword at my throat.”
Alex lowered his sword, but his eyes remained fixed on the man.
The man rubbed his neck and turned to me. “Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?�
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“Tell me your name before I change my mind,” Alex said.
The old man gave a slight bow and his long, white hair hung in a curtain around his face. “Tran Chiton, or more commonly known as the Black Bard.”
I couldn’t believe it. Thad hadn’t been telling stories.
“That’s not possible,” Alex whispered.
“I assure you, it is.”
“You’re real, then?” I asked.
The man laughed, a light melodic laugh. “I certainly hope so.”
“Thank the elements she’s safe!” Cicero arrived out of breath with Sonya sprinting through the forest right behind him.
They both stopped in their tracks and Sonya looked like she’d just seen a ghost. “Master Tran?”
Alex studied his mom. “You know this man?”
Sonya walked to Tran with a light in her eyes. She stopped a few feet before him and threw her arms around him.
“Careful, dear Sonya.” The man chuckled. “My bones aren’t what they once were. My spine upsets easily these days.”
Sonya backed away, the smile of a little girl spread across her face. Alex looked between his mom and the old man; Cicero stood back just as baffled.
“I can’t believe it’s you!” she said. “You’re really—“
“Now, now, there’s time for this later. We must see to the girl.” The man stared at my ankles like he was deciding what ankles were used for.
Sonya looked down at my legs. “What’s wrong?”
“I think her ankles are broken,” Alex answered for me.
Sonya crouched at my side and placed a hand gently on my ankles. She took a deep breath and looked back at me with a frown.
“There was some kind of root wrapped around them,” I said. “I don’t think they’re broken, just sprained.”
“We’ll see about that.” She pressed gently on my ankles and I cried out in pain.
“And what, exactly, were you doing out here?” Cicero asked.
Everyone was studying me and I looked away. “I don’t know what happened.” I couldn’t tell them what that creature said. I was still sorting it out myself. “I went…for a walk, and— “
“It seems Daria was lured away,” the old man answered.
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