Interstellar Ross

Chapter 15 Cautionary Tale

Witch Pocket Realm

Month of the Black Dog

"Are we all ready to go?" Dimitri asked from the living room, a rather small sack over his shoulder filled with his belongings.

"Yep." Tiberius hauled a heavy bag into the room.

"You think you can steal from me?" Circe was quick to untie the bag and start taking back her books and vials of various potions.

"Uh... I admire you so much, I just thought I would help myself to some souvenirs." He answered weakly.

Circe unearthed her golden bow and a single golden arrow.

Tiberius chuckled even more weakly, clearly very nervous at how the Goddess would react.

"I would have thought you would have learned the first time you try to steal from me."

I shared a look with Bryn and Dimitri that conveyed our shared concern.

"In the old days I would have taken your right hand." She threatened. "For now, I will let you go, with the knowledge that I will take something of equal value at some point in the future." The knowledge of mutilation was painful enough to carry in the meantime.

Tiberius looked absolutely mortified, it was brilliant.

"Somebody snap a photo." I had to mock.

Bryn and Dimitri both shared a grin, while Tiberius's expression of horror morphed into fury.

"We can't waste any more time here." Dimitri steered our focus back on track.

Circe glanced out from the front window at the plague of rabbits that had gathered. "You're right." She returned to the centre of the room and dropped to lift up the circular carpet.

Scorched into the wood was a circular symbol of a snake eating itself.

Circe closed her eyes and with a turn of each wrist the snake began to move, spinning in circles until all manner of colours appeared, a portal opening right before our eyes.

"I wish you all the best of luck." Her magical blue irises were on me.

"Thank you, Circe." Dimitri held out his hand for Tiberius to take.

Tiberius took it, followed by Bryn taking his hand.

I reached out to lock hands with Bryn, adrenaline beginning to course through my veins as we formed a tight circle around the portal's edge.

"Ready?" Dimitri didn't bother to count down, simply stepping through.

Tiberius, Bryn and I fell quickly after him, my stomach feeling like it was being launched into my throat as we fell down and down. Bryn and I held onto each other tight, as we were thrown around wildly.

I looked up and my falling seemed to slow down. I could discern each and every star that twinkled, and every colourful cloud and galaxy. I had never seen a universe so mesmerising.

Planet: Meridian

Blood Moon

The poral abruptly spat us out and I actually managed to hit the ground running. I was very proud myself as I managed to slow down and stay standing.

"Good job not puking." Bryn complimented.

"Thank you." I boasted a broad smile.

"Did you know that it's blood moon season?" Tiberius looked from the giant red moon in the sky to Dimitri.