Chasing Demons

CHAPTER 4

Elf-talk

We traveled for a few days managing to dodge the military's patrols in the area. Still, I knew our luck was not going to last. Honestly, I have no idea how we got as far as we did, but when we had just passed the bigger town of Grand New Castle, the gig was up. We were sneaking a bit close to a road, hiding in the nearby bushes. It was evening and the road had been mostly empty. I had not wanted to travel this close to a road, but Ilynia had pointed out it was either that or doing mountain climbing. The soldier had been patrolling the road and had spotted us somehow I am sure Ilynia would say it was my fault, but I am not sure how.

"State your business why are you hiding?" the man readied his gun at us while talking. I took my hands up in a surrender gesture as I slowly stepped out from the bush. I wanted to explain and come up with something clever to say, but the words were all stuck in my throat. "Remove your hood" he ordered, fuck, I did not need to be recognized here, but what else could I do? While I was slowly complying with his demand, he meanwhile started reporting over his COMS.

My companion took that moment to strike and before I knew it we were in the middle of a firefight, to which Ilynia had brought a sword. I squinted my eyes trying to get a clear shot of the soldier nearby. The gun was sweaty and I had to tighten my grip to not lose it, this was nothing like neither the shooting range nor fighting the occasional wildlife. I took a deep breath, here goes nothing, I had to do this otherwise he would kill Ilynia. Fuck the actual shot I fired hit me like a small explosion. It did not kill the soldier, but I got his attention long enough for Ilynia to do him in with her sword.

"You are freezing up" the words felt far away. I was not freezing up, I was just a bit stiff, and maybe I just needed a moment to process where the head laying over there had used to be. Fuck, ok, maybe I was freezing up but having Ilynia so close when her sword was covered in blood and there was a dead man was just a bit much. "We cannot stay here he was out on patrol so I am sure others are nearby" as soon as she reached out for me I took a step back it was not on purpose, but when a tiger moves closer to you, well you step back. "I am not going to hurt you," I knew that logically, if Ilynia had wanted me dead she could have killed me plenty of times already or just left me stranded, to begin with, yet my body still refused to calm down, as she stepped closer again. "Just give me a moment," I said as I tried to force my legs to work again, it took a few tries, but I managed and as soon as I did, I started running. Luckily Ilynia did not waste time talking more and just took the lead instead.

We ran for a while until we had the forest to cover us again, and then Ilynia finally allowed me to try and catch my breath. Forget training centers and diets, running for your life regularly will get you in shape like nothing else. My heart barely got to calm down before an arrow was shot an inch from my foot. Then a group of elves came out from the nearby forest it was like they just manifested from the trees because suddenly they would just appear. The air was heavy with the underlying threat just posed and I stood awkwardly and watched as Ilynia and the other elves started speaking with each other. My knowledge of India's mother tongue is not the best and these elves were talking way too fast for me to make that much sense of what they were saying, there was one word I picked up on though "outsider". It was stated more than once, while I was given glares. I had to fight the urge to hide behind my companion, as the conversation seemed to be getting more heated, and I was pointed at a couple of times. Finally, they seemed to have reached an agreement, but I was not sure what, as Ilynia gestured for me to follow her and the other elves further into the forest. I was not thrilled by the idea, but it was either that or die because there was no fucking way I would be able to outrun a group of elves in a forest.

The elves had set up camp in the thick of the forest, seeming to have actively used their strange abilities to get trees to shield them as well. Their version of tents was more like very specifically shaped bushes and as we made our way there, I knew there would be no way I would be able to navigate this area, as trees and branches moved out of our way as we arrived. I was banished to a bush tent as the elves needed to have an important conversation, it was pretty clear to me that I was not wanted company, and the guard stationed to look after me, made it rather obvious he rather not talk, as he kept pretending not to understand me. I spent hours like that, and my body became quite persistent about reminding me I had not been sleeping enough lately. Still, I did my best to keep awake not at all feeling safe here. I must have dozed off at some point anyway because I had a creepily vivid dream.

I was sitting at a table, no, not just a table but the table from the bar I played cards with the demon at. In front of me was a set of playing cards, "Bit rude to put me here and not even give me a beer" I commented not expecting an answer "I got the impression from your face that you do not like the beer served at this establishment" came a smooth reply from behind me. I turned around to face a familiar demon "You are not supposed to be here" because well this was my dream and he was not invited. "I am exactly where I am meant to be" I glared at him, smug fucker "No, you are uninvited from my dream, get lost" the demon laughed "I am not leaving and I doubt you can get me to leave. You, humans, are rather weak when it comes to matters of the mind." I stood up and immediately grabbed out after the demon, holding him at his coat collar. He must have been surprised because he did nothing to stop me. "Fuck you" I spat as I dragged him to the exit of the bar, he started struggling against me, but I ignored him and pushed on. This was my dream, and in my dream, I have the strength to throw this demon bastard out. "You will regret this soon enough, Caleb," he threatened me as I pushed him out of the door and closed it.

I never got to savor that moment, because right after I was shaken awake by Ilynia. "It is time for you to get your verdict" I stared at her confused "verdict? What crime have I committed?" She gave me a tired look "well, first of all, you have entered a sacred grove as a non-elf" what the hell? "I was told to go here how is that, me doing something wrong?" She grabbed my arm impatiently "stalling your verdict is also a crime by the way." Of course, it was, I got up annoyed and followed her to the biggest bush tent. Inside was a group of unfriendly-looking elves gathered, and as soon as I entered then the bush grew shut behind me. They were all standing and there was no chair so I elected to stand as well, giving Ilynia a few looks of; what the hell am I supposed to do? I was coldly ignored as the elves once again excluded me from the conversation; a conversation that was meant to be about a verdict against me. But was I allowed to know anything about it? No. So after a good 30 minutes of elf-talk, I was finally allowed to know what had been decided for me. "It has been decided that the human will be under the charge of Ilynia Shadowspeaker," the other elves nodded in agreement "Shadowspeaker it is your duty" she nodded more words were exchanged, but they were sadly not translated for my benefit.

As the verdict came to an end we were finally allowed to leave the bush and as soon as we did I looked to Ilynia "so what exactly just happened?" "Nothing you need to worry about," she replied using her long legs to force me to run to catch up with her "you do not get to say that, what does it mean that I am under your charge?" I refused to let this topic go, my knowledge of elf laws was extremely limited and she was my only source to get anything clarified. "In simple human terms it means I am in charge of you," the fuck I hope that does not mean what I fear; "and what does that mean? Because that sounds like something that could be bad for me, like very bad." "It is fine, just means I legally represent you and you follow my authority" she sighed, fine? No, that was anything but fine, "so you are telling me you own me?" All I got was a shrug in response. First the demon-fucker and now apparently I was a fucking slave because of elves. Why did I ever think leaving New York was a brilliant idea? "They had news about my brother he has been taken prisoner, but they cannot break him out, because of the security of the place. But they have heard rumors he might be moved soon, but they are not sure where to, so I was hoping you could help figure that out." I nodded, feeling oddly numb, because yes, this might as well be what is happening.