“I broke our caravan, I set that town over there on fire, and no witch in the world will ever listen to Daniel as long as I’m with him! I’m nothing but a curse!” she yelled out.
“No you’re not,” Daniel argued.
“Yes I am; if it wasn’t for me you might have been able to talk to Charlotte, you might have gotten them to listen to you. Instead they’ll never want to see you again because you know me, because I’m with you right now. I ruined everything for you,” Alyssa sobbed with a devastated expression at him.
“Please don’t think that, Alyssa, you haven’t done anything wrong,” Daniel pleaded.
“I killed my own kind with my fire, I’m the curse of the witch world because of what I did, I’m nothing but a mistake, that’s all there is to it. I had hoped I wouldn’t have gotten in your way like this, that I wouldn’t have held you back by being who I am, but I was wrong. I’m so sorry, Daniel, I’m so sorry,” Alyssa cried as she looked down and held a hand over her eyes. Daniel watched her cry as he couldn’t think of how to comfort her, not wishing to believe that she might have been a cause for why Charlotte refused to accept his idea.
Daniel looked around at the girls, seeing them all falling into despair about the turn of events. Triska looked at Alyssa with growing concern then down at the ground, wishing to comfort the witch but not knowing how she could. Falla looked down to Luna with worried eyes as her sister slept in her lap, feeling hurt inside knowing she left Luna with Emily which led to this. Squeak finally finished licking Specca’s legs, the ant girl then sitting up and looking to Alyssa with worry while Specca slowly regained her senses and sat up as well. Alyssa slumped down on the rock she was sitting on and wept quietly while dropping her staff to the ground, her heart aching at knowing she cost Daniel so much just by being herself.
Kroanette looked around at the girls with concern then smiled worriedly again with a small shrug.
“The important thing is that you’re all alive and safe now, right? That’s something to be grateful for, right?” she tried to reason with, getting no reaction from any of the girls. Specca breathed out slowly as her senses came back to her then looked to Daniel with distress.
“Daniel, what should we do now?” she asked. Triska shrugged slightly while still looking down at the ground.
“We could try talking to the centaurs, or go try to reach the elves, provided we had a ride to get to them,” she said before holding a hand over her eyes.
“I’m sorry, alright? I’m sorry!” Alyssa cried out.
“I wasn’t blaming you for that!” Triska barked out at her.
“But it’s my fault; you were even blaming me earlier for it!” Alyssa shot back.
“Yeah, but I didn’t want to blame you for it now, so just drop it, alright?” Triska snapped with frustration while grabbing her hair.
“Stop fighting, we need to figure out a plan here,” Specca pleaded. Squeak pointed around at them while squeaking something before Alyssa yelled out and grabbed her hat with both hands.
“I just wanted to help you, Daniel, I’m so sorry for everything!” she cried out desperately.
“Quit blaming yourself for everything and help us think of what to do here!” Triska shouted out at her.
“Stop yelling at her, you’re not helping with this,” Specca insisted while watching Alyssa crying and shaking her head. Squeak shook her head and squeaked something else at the girls, but of course wasn’t understood or even noticed by them.
“Enough!” Daniel shouted as he stood up. The group looked to him as he held his head with both hands and showed a frustrated expression.
“Stop, just stop it,” he pleaded before holding a hand over his eyes as he tried to calm his breathing. The girls all watched him with remorse as he slowly breathed out before looking up at the sky with growing concern.
“We’re out here for a purpose, to put a stop to the senseless fighting and raping in this world. We have to be stronger than this, we can’t let this one chance at peace slip away,” he stated.
“And just what do you intend to do about it then?” Kroanette asked curiously. Daniel looked towards Eston with a determined expression, and then glanced around to all the girls as they waited for his answer. The boy then quickly walked over to the caravan and hopped inside, the girls watching curiously as a rustling sound was heard within the cabin.
“Daniel? What are you doing?” Triska called out.
After a moment Daniel climbed out of the overturned caravan holding his carrying bag, the boy walking over towards the others with a firm expression on his face.
“We’re not going to just sit around and do nothing while the world turns its back on us. We’re going to be heard, we’re going to be seen, we’re going to make a difference,” he said in a commanding voice, with girls watching him with wonder as they noticed his change in personality.
“Um, great, but how are we going to do that?” Triska asked with a shrug. Daniel tossed his bag down in front of Specca with a thump, the nixie looking to it then to him curiously.
“Specca, you’re our monster expert here, so I need your help with finding out what the hell Jovian and Jacqueline were. Those two are extremely dangerous, and if we ever come across them again I want us to be prepared. So, do you have any idea what they were?” Daniel asked. Specca looked to the bag which had his books in it then down while thinking hard about something.
“I’m not sure, I can’t remember what kind of monster can live through anything like they can, but right before Charlotte killed Tora she said something to Katie about them, that she should ‘fight over the witch’s remains with those gemini dogs’,” she remembered.
“Gemini?” Triska asked. Alyssa looked at them worriedly then down.
“I don’t know what kind of monster that is, it doesn’t sound familiar,” she remorsefully admitted. Daniel nodded and pointed to his bag.
“Specca, I want you to go through my monster book and anything else I have that could be of use to you. Those two are not ones we can talk to peace about, and we need to know how to get rid of them should they ever come back,” he ordered. Specca nodded and looked to him with a worried expression.
“Alright, I’ll try to figure it out. I’m sorry, I wish I could remember what they are, I feel as though I’ve read about them somewhere before, I’m just so shaken up right now it’s not connecting. I’m so sorry,” she pleaded.
“Don’t apologize, you haven’t done anything wrong. If anything you’ve done more than your fair share with being our guide and it is I who needs to apologize to you for tasking you with this,” Daniel reasoned with a small smile. Specca looked at him curiously as he then turned to Triska.
“Triska, I want you and Alyssa to please prepare dinner for everybody, it’s been a long night and we need to be going soon, so everyone could use their strength back. Please, you two are the only cooks we have, I need your help with this,” he requested, with Triska and Alyssa looking to each other then to him again.
“Well, I guess we could do that,” Triska reasoned with a small shrug. Alyssa nodded slowly with a worried expression.
“Ok, Daniel, I’ll try not to screw it up,” she whimpered before looking down.
“Alyssa, don’t talk like that, I know I can count on you to help me. I’ve always known that, and tonight does nothing to change that,” Daniel assured firmly at her. The witch looked to him with wonder as the boy then turned to Squeak.
“Squeak, you’re our best nurse, so make sure everybody is ok and fit to go, especially Luna, keep an eye on her,” he asked kindly before looking to Luna. Falla held her sister dearly and looked to the ant girl, with Squeak squeaking something softly at Daniel with a curious expression.
“Daniel? What’s our plan here, to just eat and read tonight?” Triska asked. Daniel shook his head and looked to Kroanette with a small smile.
“Kroanette, could I please trouble you for a ride into the village?” he asked. The girls looked at him puzzled as the centa
ur showed a curious smile at him.
“You have a horse, why not ride him?” she asked.
“Because you’re faster than a horse by far, and I need to be quick tonight. Please, I know you don’t know us that well, and you aren’t obligated to help us with our troubles, but I’m asking you, would you please help me tonight?” Daniel requested gently. Kroanette held a finger to her chin and let out an interested murmur before nodding slowly.
“Alright, Daniel, since you asked so nicely, though may I ask what it is you need to return to that town for? It is burning to the ground as we speak after all,” she mused.
“I’ll explain on the way,” Daniel answered, with Kroanette raising an eyebrow at him with a curious smile.
“Daniel? What are you going there to get?” Triska asked. Daniel looked around at the other girls with a reassuring smile and shook his head.
“I need to check on something before we go anywhere. Please, just focus on your tasks for the night, I’m counting on all of you,” he said gently. Then he showed a concerned expression and walked over to Triska, kneeling down in front of her and placing his hand on her cheek. The girl stared at him with wonder as he smiled kindly at her.
“Keep everyone safe while I’m gone, Triska,” he said before he kissed her, the girl then closing her eyes with a quiet sigh as she relished the gesture. To her surprise he even used his tongue with the token of affection, with her heart beating faster as he truly gave her a real kiss. The other girls watched with surprise before he leaned back and gently caressed the girl’s cheek.
“Daniel,” Triska breathed out. Daniel then moved over to kneel in front of Specca and held a hand to her cheek.
“I know you can solve the mystery of what they are, we’re in good hands with you guiding us,” he said before kissing her, the nixie’s eyes fluttering before closing as she got lost with the feeling. Her tail slowly swayed behind her along the ground as she felt the boy’s tongue slowly rolling over hers. The other girls watched him with wonder as he then leaned back and winked at the nixie before moving over in front of Squeak. He held a hand to her cheek as the ant girl watched him with adoring eyes and squeaked quietly.
“Make sure everyone stays here and safe until I return, I know I can count on you while I’m gone,” he said before kissing her, the ant girl closing her eyes as the other girls watched with puzzlement as he kissed her. Daniel felt the powerful euphoric sensation of her saliva washing through his mouth, his mind struggling to remain focused as Squeak sighed happily from the tender kiss. The boy then leaned back and blinked a few times before smiling kindly and rubbing her cheek gently.
“Daniel, what’s this all about?” Triska asked as the boy then walked over and knelt down in front of Alyssa, the witch watching him with worried eyes while she wiped her tears away.
“Don’t you ever think for a second that I regret having you with us, with me, or that you came with us on this journey. I’m thankful you did, and wouldn’t have wanted it any other way,” Daniel assured before he held her cheek, the witch taking hold of his hand with hers as she sniffled.
“But, Daniel, I’m-”
“You are the famous and powerful Wildfire Witch, and I’m damn grateful to have you by my side,” Daniel said before he kissed her, the witch then holding onto his shoulder as she closed her eyes and relished the sensation. She felt her heart beating faster as the boy actually used some tongue with her, taking her by surprise a bit as he was being more forward than he had been in the past. Daniel then leaned back and smiled gently at her, the girl slowly opening her eyes and looking at him with wonder and a small blush on her face.
“Daniel,” she breathed out. Daniel stood up and walked over to Kroanette before he glanced back to the girls, all of them staring at him with wonder while Falla was just watching him curiously.
“Stay here until I get back, I shouldn’t be long,” he said, the other girls just slowly nodding while they were rendered speechless by his actions. Daniel then looked to Kroanette while gesturing to her back.
“May I?” he kindly asked.
“Oh, you have the decency to ask first, I’m impressed,” Kroanette mused before lowering down on her legs onto the ground. Daniel smirked and carefully got onto her back, holding onto her human waist with both hands as she stood up again. The boy then glanced to the other girls and nodded before they took off towards Eston at high speed, with Daniel then having to hold his arms around Kroanette’s waist to keep from falling off.
“Ok, that was weird, right?” Triska asked unsurely.
“What got into him?” Alyssa asked looking back to the others. Specca slowly shook her head then reached into Daniel’s bag and took out the monster book.
“I’m not sure, but he’s counting on us to do our part here. This quest isn’t over yet, and I’m not going to give up now if Daniel isn’t,” she reasoned before quickly looking through the pages, desperately trying to figure out what Jovian and Jacqueline were before Daniel returned. Triska nodded then looked to Alyssa with a small smile and shrug.
“Well then, want to give me a hand with dinner?” she asked. Alyssa glanced to her as the teen waved back to the caravan.
“I’ve got my supplies in my bag still, we could use those and anything you could think of to get something ready for everyone, what do you say?” she asked gently. Alyssa looked down for a moment then nodded slowly.
“Sure,” she replied softly. The two stood up and walked towards the caravan while Squeak moved over to sit next to Falla and Luna, the ant girl watching as Luna remained asleep in her sister’s lap. Falla gently brushed her hair then glanced to Squeak, with the ant girl smiling worriedly at her then looking to Luna with concern.
Riding further away from them Daniel was holding onto Kroanette tightly as the centaur galloped quickly towards the village. The centaur certainly lived up to her reputation as Daniel could easily tell that she was much faster than Lucky or any horse he had ever been on, which was good in the sense that he was making good time with his errand while also bad in the sense that there were no reins or straps to hold onto with the monster girl as she ran very fast along the dirt road.
“Alright, Daniel, what are we going back here for?” Kroanette asked looking back to Daniel, the boy watching as they passed the sign for Eston and made their way back towards the burning village. The fires had spread throughout the empty town on one side, with the buildings crumbling into fiery piles of ash while smoke and embers were drifting up into the air.
“Head straight down this road, to where we were before,” he said as the centaur galloped along the dirt road. Kroanette raced through the town with a small dust cloud trailing behind her, with Daniel looking around at where he and his friends nearly met their end a little while ago. The two arrived in the middle of the town, with the fires burning nearby while the section of the village that wasn’t cut off by the main roads lighting up the area around them with a warm glow.
“Ok, now where to?” Kroanette asked.
“Head north, that way,” Daniel said pointing down a road. Kroanette quickly raced off in that direction while Daniel looked ahead with a solemn expression, the two passing by darkened and lifeless homes of the village while the roaring of the fires behind them was heard. After a while the two exited the village and continued along a dirt road that stretched out towards a darkened forest up ahead, with Kroanette showing a puzzled expression before she came to a halt.
“Wait, hold on, we just left the village,” she pointed out, looking back to Daniel with confusion.
“I know, keep going this way,” Daniel answered.
“But I thought you wanted to go there for something, is that not true?” Kroanette asked.
“That’s not the village I need to visit, we just needed to pass through here first,” Daniel replied. Kroanette looked forward at the dark and creepy forest ahead of them, then back to Eston as the warm glow from the fires lit up the area around it, and then to Daniel with a careful eye.
; “Daniel, you are certainly not talking about going to the village of Rystone, are you?” she questioned cautiously.
“I am,” Daniel calmly replied, with Kroanette jumping to that and looking at him with surprise.
“What? Are you mad, we’re not going there, are you trying to get us killed?” she cried out as she quickly turned around. She started to run back towards Eston before Daniel slapped her rear, the centaur screeching to a halt with a yelp before looking back to him with surprise and a faint blush.
“I need to go there, please, I have to see Charlotte,” he insisted. The centaur trembled slightly before shaking her head with a flustered expression.
“Ok, first off, don’t you dare spank me again, got that?” Kroanette demanded while glaring at him. Daniel blinked then smiled weakly and nodded.
“Um, right, sorry about that,” he apologized with a small shrug before Kroanette set her hands at her hips with a huff.
“And secondly, Rystone is full of witches, witches who don’t want you there, remember? Why in Eden do you wish to go there?” she questioned.
“Because I have to try to talk to Charlotte again, I have to get them to help us with this,” Daniel explained.
“Daniel, you’re trying to venture into a village full of witches and an alpha witch, how do you not see the stupidity in this?” Kroanette demanded. She then looked at him curiously as he turned to gaze at the forest with a firm expression.
“I know it’s stupid, that I may not ever come back, but dammit, I have to try! I can’t just walk away from this; this is why I’m out here, why all of us are out here. I’m not going to fail in what I started,” he declared, with Kroanette slowly shaking her head to that.
“Daniel, please, reconsider this, if you go-”
“I have to go there, we need this!” Daniel shouted out at her. The centaur watched him with wonder as he seemed to be on the verge of breaking down.
“We’re out here to find monster races to talk to, to gain support for our idea of peaceful coexistence, to have proof to show the queen that this can be done, to enforce great change in this world. It’s a crazy idea, I know, it sounds simply impossible to be realized. We’re fighting against the odds to do this, to put a stop to the fighting, to create real peace in this world, and to do that we need all the help we can get,” he desperately said, then looked towards the knoll further away to the side of Eston, seeing a small flicker of light that he knew was their camp.
Chronicles of Eden - Act 2 Page 70
