She pauses but doesn’t look back at me as she calls out, “Meet me in the courtyard in ten minutes if you want to learn how to control your power,” and then walks out of the room.
Is there an unspoken rule in the Shadow Realm that you should leave people gaping when you walk away from them? Maybe it’s a power play. Either way, I’m getting tired of always being left with more questions.
I finish my dinner, considering Morgana’s offer. Pro, learning to control my powers might significantly increase my chances of not dying. Con, Morgana is the reason I died in the first place. Mind you, being kept asan immortal prisoner by the Council sounds worse than death. Still, I’m not ready to go on coffee dates with this woman. If she was willing to kill me once, who’s to say she won’t do it again?
Which brings me back to the pro. Learning how to control my powers will probably increase my chances of surviving this.
Sighing, I move my wine over in favor of a glass of water.
A late-night meeting with my murderer – what could go wrong?
An icy chill clings to the air tonight, mirroring my feelings of trepidation. After quickly stopping in my room for my fighting leathers and weapons, I find Morgana in the courtyard as expected. While getting ready, I also took the time to devise a few ‘don’t die’ strategies.
Strategy one, when meeting with your murderer, always be prepared.
The added weight of my blades gives me some comfort.
I passed Magnus and Damien, snuggled up together in the sitting room when heading down to the courtyard. As an added precaution, I took a moment to give them the heads up that I accidentally almost blew up the realm, so Morgana was going to teach me tocontrol my powers.
Strategy two, when meeting with your murderer, tell a friend where you’re going – so they know to check on you.
I am nailing this.
Magnus and Damien wanted to question me more about my realm-breaking energy, but I hurried on, not wanting to be late for my training.
I walk to her now, rubbing the cold from my arms and cursing myself for not bringing a cloak. Morgana is unmoving as she waits for me. The effect is a bit creepy. She looks like a Halloween animatronic, with her black eyes and long black dress. Her outfit is complete with a warm-looking cloak.
Jealous.
“So, how are we going to do this?” I ask as I reach her.
Morgana grabs my arm, and in a blink, we’re no longer in the courtyard. When I see where we are, the cold of the night air has nothing on the feeling of icy dread that washes over me.
We’re standing in front of the off-limits death forest. And, to make things worse, there’s a path leading in.
Oh no. No, no, no.
I don’t like where this is going.
Morgana lets me go as soon as I’ve caught my balance. And without hesitating, she starts down the path.
“This is where you’ll be learning to control your powers,” she calls before turning to see me still hesitating at the forest’s edge. “Nothing here will hurt you as long as you’re with me.”
That should make me feel better.
It doesn’t.
Still, I weighed my options at the table, so I follow.
The darkness in the forest is thicker, but contrary to my expectations, moonlight does manage to filter in. Silver linings, as always.
I walk beside Morgana, focusing on the eerie screeches coming from all around us. The hairs on my arms rise at the sound. The screeches are precisely like the calls from the forsaken in the parking garage, though I’m not entirely convinced there aren’t killer clowns in here, too. Still, the forsaken stay away, and I see no sign of them or any other creatures that might want to tear us to pieces.
We walk in silence, following the winding path. Finally, when I’m convinced we’re going in circles, Morgana stops.
We’re still surrounded by the same forest. I was expecting maybe a secret laboratory. Or a magical obstacle course.
Things are taking a disappointing turn.
