“I see you, Slaide Elias. I see there is more to you than meets the eye. More than the rumors and the assumptions and the horrible things they’ve made you do. I am sorry your childhood was stripped from you, and that you’ve been forced to live your life as a monster. But you are more than the skin they’ve forced you to wear.”
He closed his eyes and Hazel watched as a layer of the barrier he’d built around himself came down. How long had he waitedfor someone to tell him it was okay? To validate his suffering? To give a name to his inner turmoil?
She leaned in, bringing her soft lips to his cheek, laying a kiss where the tear had been. Slaide flinched, and his eyes shot open, wide with disbelief. Hazel pulled back and ran a hand through his hair. This wasn’t lust or some feral hunger. It was something completely different. Something new. A tender touch for a broken soul.
“I don’t know why the Fates insisted we cross paths,” she said, “but I’m starting to believe it was for a reason.”
All he could do was stare into her eyes, shining more green than brown in the pale moonlight.
Another otherworldly howl shattered the otherwise silent night, interrupting what was quickly becoming something Hazel couldn’t put a name to. She was almost grateful for the distraction. Slaide, however, bristled. She watched as his pupils dilated in an animalistic manner, his features scanning, searching.
“Uh, Slaide?” She questioned uncomfortably, shifting from his lap.
“Shh.” He stood, slowly.
“Mind telling me what’s going on?” She lowered her voice to a whisper.
Slaide ignored her, walking to the cliff’s edge and staring out over the lake. Hazel followed, keeping a respectful distance. She stopped beside him and watched as he looked out over their surroundings. He tipped his head to the sky and closed his eyes, letting the soft breeze blow over him.
When he turned to face her, she noted how he fixed his expression, masking the concern that flickered there.
“What is it?”
“Something that isn’t supposed to be on this side of the Border. It’s… nothing. But we should go.” His voice was lacedwith concern, something Hazel wasn’t used to hearing. And to make matters worse, her locket’s warmth was noticeable again.
“Doesn’t sound like nothing. Why can’t you just tell me what it is?”
“Because I don’t know what it is. You need to stop talking, and we need to head back. Speaking of which, where’d you leave my horse?”
She shrugged. Admittedly, she had forgotten about Phillip, but she was sure he was fine.I hope.But she pushed those thoughts down, instead saying, “Phillip is in a glade in the forest, probably still grazing. That boy doesn’t miss an opportunity to eat.”
“No, he doesn’t.” He began walking down the hill, Hazel taking her cue to follow.
“So, you’re not going after it?” She asked, a little too eagerly. Was she enjoying the danger? Or was it the proximity… the opportunity to get to know this not-so-deadly witch hunter?
“No.” He huffed.
“And why not?” She tried not to sound too disappointed.
“Becauseyou’redead weight.”
Rude.But for once, she wasn’t in the mood to argue. It was getting late, dark, and they had a long ride back through the forest while the night’s creatures began their haunts. She found herself sidling up to him.
He glanced down at her as they walked, a smirk crawling across his face. “You’re notscared, are you? The infallible Hazel Callahan. You’ll take me on, but you’re afraid of the dark?” He put his arm around her then, pulling her a little closer.
“You know as well as anyone it’s not the dark I’m afraid of. It’s what lurks in the shadows.” She frowned up at him.
Slaide let out ahmphin response. “You’ve got a lot to learn if you think your only enemies are the ones hiding in the shadows.Sometimes the ones who don’t hide are the most dangerous of all.”
Hazel didn’t think they were still talking about wild beasts in the night or the monsters crossing the Border. His gaze lingered over her for a moment before he looked away.
They rounded a bend, and sure enough, Phillip was right where she’d left him. Still eating. Much to Phillip’s dismay, Slaide put an end to his extended mealtime and pulled the stubborn horse from his grassy buffet.
Things were almost too quiet on the ride back.
“You know,” Hazel started, breaking the silence, “you’re not the only one struggling with who and what you are. I’ve never felt so lost and alone as I have these past few days. My life was turned upside down before I landed here, after I battled a Striga, of all things.”
He perked up at the name of the monster. “Striga. You’re sure? They generally don’t come that far beyond the Border.”
