The Facade

Chapter 4

Cold and sweat disturbed my body, all around me was covered in white and soft snow, I have been following the footprints standing out among the untouched glittering snow for about ten minutes now, the night was blooming on the top of my head with nothing but the bright light from a full moon that shadowed my figure and the tall tress all around me.

M

y gaze was locked on the tracks left on the snow, and my ears were focused on some strange sound that could come from a forest, my senses were on full alarm, aware of my surroundings, and who I was following, carefully to not be heard.

The wind was stilled and calmed, which was both an advantage but also a disadvantage altogether. Without the disturbance and clatter from the wind, I could hear his quick pace on the snow better, but he could also be mine, to add to my bad luck, the snow was not entirely soundless, quite the opposite to be honest.

As I followed the only trail of footprints on the snow, I took the freedom to eye the area I was in. It was most definitely a forest, but not one that I have seen before, the paths, and the stream nearby were completely new to my eyes, and had a different scent, like strong pine, and a delightful smell of fresh water coming from the stream, and a robust scent of magic.

All the others forest I have been while in task always gathered to have a disturbing smell of death and blood, covering all the natural smells of the forests, sometimes the air was polluted in a foggy mist damaging our eyes, which was not surprising, the forest I usually went were commonly known among the werewolf, and used for other people when in need. The smell of death, and blood, and deep dark magic was nothing out of ordinary.

This forest was unlike all those forests I’ve been. There were no claw marks on the tree trunks, no blood staining the white of the path, and most definitely, not mist or dark magic pairing in the air.

I raised my gaze from the footprints I was following, and caught a glimpse of platinum blonde hair, almost as white as the snow among him, what was perhaps nonstandard was his black suit standing out in the path.

He fully turned left which made him disappear from my field of vision.

I cursed under my breath and quickened my pace before I lost him, even thought I had the footprints, a simple charm from him in his tracks, and he would lead me away, better be safe than sorry.

As I reached the place where the boy turned, I saw myself with a path clear of tress, I could now see the stream at my right that was closer than I judged it to be, and at my left I saw nothing but vast woods, no footprints.

It was impossible the boy could’ve managed to disappeared as fast as this, he was only out of my field of vision for less than ten seconds, it doesn’t make any sense.

“What the- “The feeling of a cold hilt of a dagger against my throat made my stop my mumbled words.

Before I could do anything else, a strong arm was already in front of me, pulling me backwards where a tall body was standing behind me, and I didn’t even notice any of his movements before he rested his dagger against my throat.

His hot breath was against my neck, his grip on me was strong, and I couldn’t move with his dagger resting against my throat, my breath quickly became heavy as I tried not to be killed. A scent of peppermint and cologne quickly filled my nose despite my difficulty to breath.
 
“Who are you?” The man behind me asked abruptly, I caught a glimpse of his foggy breath from the coldness in the air.

“Edens. Autumn Edens.” I rushed the words out in despair for the feeling of the dagger pressing against my throat.

Sweat dripped down my forehead, hitting his dagger that started to get warm against my skin, but still felt sharp and heavy against my throat, the slightest move from my part and I would end up on the floor, staining the snow red with my blood.