Chittering noises come from below us as the Abuhuku start to follow the path Bas just climbed. A scream is ripped from me as his left leg slips and my screams are echoed as electricity rolls down the rocks, electrocuting our pursuers as it travels down.
He doesn’t stick around to watch the aftermath, and I decide it’s better to just bury my face into his wet fur as he starts moving along nature's sick version of a tightrope.
His climbing skills are impressive, but terrifying. After a few minutes of nothing but smooth riding, I decide to test the Fates and take in my surroundings. It’s still dark as hell, but it looks like he’s found a trail along the mountain. Now that the adrenaline has worn off, I’m cold, hungry, and my body aches. My fingers have been holding onto Bas’s antlers so hard that a whimper escapes me as I try to release my grip and sit up straight.
Basilicus stops suddenly and I instantly go on alert until he lays down and wiggles, sliding me off of him before standing back up. I look around and notice a break in between two stones and I look back at my savior. “Um, I’m not going in there. I mean, I appreciate you saving my life, but me in dark places is a no go.”
He snorts his disapproval and proceeds to gently nudge me out of the way before walking in, leaving me in a dark place but out in the open.
Okay, smartass. I get your point.
I cautiously follow him into the dry cave and at least breathe a little easier when I see his hooves are lighting up the room.
“You’re a great nightlight,” I tease and he snorts again. Picking up that he’s not exactly pleased with me, I walk over to him and bend down slightly into a bow.
“I’m sorry. I tend to joke when I’m scared. Thank you for helping me back there. You are definitely a magnificent stag, and I owe you my life, Bas.”
He nuzzles against me, and I carefully wrap my arms around his neck, making sure I don’t stab myself. He’s already proven he’s deadly in more than one way, I don’t need him to accidentally take me out too.
Before I can back up too far, he grabs the sleeve of my jacket and pulls me to the wall where he stomps his foot, illuminating dried sticks and leaves scattered around.
“Oh my God! I could kiss you right now!” I exclaim and do just that, planting a kiss on his wet nose. Grabbing up some debris that I feel around for, I shuffle closer to the entrance waiting for the sky to light up once again.
Just like clock work, lightning screams across the sky and I take a quick look at my shelter. It’s a decent size and from what I saw, we’re the only creatures in here, so I move in a little further and gather everything in a pile.
“I lost my backpack, Bas, so I don’t know how to light this,” I admit but I shouldn’t have worried.
Bas walks over and stomps on my nice neat pile of sticks, setting it on fire.
“Yes!” I quickly sit down and get as close as I can to warm myself up. Bas walks out of the cave and a spike of fear shoots through me as my body starts to shake violently.Is he coming back? Did he just leave me?I have no idea where I am or how to get back home from here.Oh wait. I have my phone!I pull it out once again to check the battery only to find it dead.Well there goes that idea to use it later to call for help.
A noise from outside of the cave pulls my attention again and I scoot back from the fire so hopefully whatever it is doesn’t spot me. But it’s just Bas walking in backwards, dragging what looks like a bush or tree limb. Taking a closer look I see cloudberries or salmon berries because of their color. I didn’t even know they had them here. Picking a handful of berries I pop them in my mouth and grab a few leaves and place them close enough to the fire to dry out. They can be eaten, but it’s best if they are completely dried out first.
Bas comes over behind me and lays down, plucking a few berries for himself. I take a few minutes and divide up the berries and set out the leaves to dry before I decide to lay down, using Bas as my pillow. There’s not much to do until the rain lets up or Bas guides me out of here. I was hoping to be a badass hero, and all I’ve managed to do is lose and endanger Moni's and Chester’s lives, lose Lynx’s trail, lose my backpack, and get lost myself. Maybe when I wake up from a nap, things will be better. Someone tell me that I’m right.
ChapterFifty-Six
I’M THE GOOD WITCH
Anwen
Walking out from the veil, I look around at the destruction laid out before me. This is not at all what was in the stars. None of this has been painted along the heavens. It all started with the death of my sister who should never have died. Now our fates depend on my dear Nerezza, who is in more trouble than even I could have foreseen.
Through the downpour, a greenish-black fireball soars through the air and slams into Death’s tower, rocking the foundation. Screams carry through the wind as the Rebels and Chief Cloak’s soldiers collide on Purgatory Preps field. Many lives will be maimed but none taken. Not today, for today is just a distraction.
I scan the grounds and see the Council Leaders running out of the Administration building and into the fray of the storm. Since the Fates are the ones that picked their statues, they would normally sense my presence, though I’ve left myself cloaked because I’m not here for them. I hear the faint footsteps of a very devoted young man, protecting his mate running through the woods behind me. I send up a wish that my favorite little ‘pimp’ will forgive me for what I'm about to let happen, since even Fates wish on stars.
In my mind’s eye, I see the two lesser Demons flank poor Chester right as he reaches the woods edge and knock him out. Not killing him, oh no, that is not their order today, only to take Moni alive and not harm her. They carefully put her into an unbreakable jar, because their leader knows her strength and thinks he’s prepared, though he does not know my Moni. No one will be prepared for her, not even herself.
The men I’m here for finally appear at the top of the steps of the Administration building, and I step across the distance to appear in front of them, looking like a cloaked figure with glowing white hair stepping out of thin air.
“What the fuck?” Zeke hisses and bares his fangs. Levi, my stoic leader, simply stands up straighter and gazes at me with those piercing hazel eyes. JP instantly goes on the attack and tries to dive into my thoughts.
‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Jacques. The knowledge and power I hold would simply kill you, like shredding wet paper.’
His eyes go wide, and he immediately drops to his knee and bows his head.
“Wanna share with the class?” Zeke scoffs, but he purses his lips and gives me a nervous look.
