OVERLOOKED ㅤkotlc

044. Swept Into Light

"None of your business," Vespera says curtly. She strides to us. "We're lightleaping back."

"But—" I start.

"She's a thief, she has no one to tell." Vespera smiles coldly. "Besides, no one would believe her." She turns. "Stay there."

The girl pauses, as if she's wondering whether to obey, or piss Vespera off for fun. "Or what?" she asks, clearly choosing the latter.

"Did you like what I did to your knife?"

"Not particularly, no. I rather liked that knife, actually."

Vespera narrows her eyes. "Well, I'm sure you'd like it less if I did the same to you."

"You think I care?" The girl's lips curl into a smile. "Man, I didn't know pointed ears made you a psychopath. Are you two magical maniacs too, like Pointy Ears here?"

"Um..."

Vespera shakes her head at me. "Just ignore her."

"'She' has a name, actually," the girl tells Vespera, who doesn't reply.

Instead, she lifts the crystal to the light. "We'll try China or something tomorrow," she says. "Hopefully we don't run into cheeky little brats there."

The girl laughs. "I'm afraid to tell you this, but being a cheeky little brat is a talent that runs in human blood. You'll probably run into one or two."

Rosaleen glances at her. "You should be quiet," she says, and in her eyes are a warning. I think Rosaleen's scared of this stranger getting hurt.

But the girl just shrugs. "We have tongues for a couple of reasons, and one of them is to talk. Just utilizing myself the best I can."

Vespera looks at us. "Come on," she says firmly. "We're going back."

We obey, and the three of us start to step in, but just as I'm about to leave the human world, I feel someone hold onto me.

I'm swept into light, and with me comes someone else—the girl. I instantly rewrap my focus around both of us.

I feel a bit of myself tear away, though, and it hurts so bad that for a moment, it makes me nauseous, and I want to throw up.

But I don't cry out, I can't. We're still inside this loop of light, and my concentration's already stretched thin, and most of it is blanketing a stranger.

It takes forever, but then we finally reach the other side, and my knees buckle from underneath me—but then someone catches me, and then someone else.

Dex! I hear, and I blink, forcing myself to focus.

Rosaleen.

I can't really hear any words, it's just muffled voices, like I'm underwater.

Kind of peaceful, if I'm being honest. But then I hear Rosaleen's voice, and it's terrified; I want to comfort her, but I'm too dizzy.

Time passes, I think; I'm not sure how long, all I can see is blurry colors.

I hear running footsteps, and then I'm forced away from Rosaleen. I think Melia gently pours a serum down my throat, and it makes everything in me burn, and I'm suddenly aware of everything that hurts.

And before I know it, I'm gone, and my last thought lingers on the stranger I brought home, because I know I'm going to be fine.

But what will happen to her?

˚ ༘ 🌷 ── author's note!

i hate this chapter, and it's short, so im gonna give u guys chapter 45 too <//3

but n e ways, tysm for 5k reads!! <333 that's a very Big number, and i appreciate it tons! :] you're all v amazing hehe <3