The Necromancers

Chapter ten

I ran faster.

My breaths coming out in pants, my feet aching and my thighs and calves burned. But stopping was not an option. If I stopped, it would kill me. I couldn't die before getting my answers.

Worst of all my spells seemed to have stopped working ever since I stepped inside this godforsaken forest. My whole life flashed in front of my eyes. I know this wasn't supposed to be easy, but it wasn't supposed to be this hard either. It was easy for me, or so I thought. Simply go in and find the book then run out and hide until I get at least one answer.

Three days had passed since I had left the palace. I was looking forward to this almost as much as I was looking forward to living among the humans. Never. My first day was spent in me asking around the locals about the surroundings and the creatures of the night. The next day I got ready and visited the local temple. Asking around to the priest there I got barely any answers. Though I did get judged.

And then now I was running away from a strange faced monster. Now I don't judge a book by its cover. But if the book looked like a badly beaten snake with the body of an ape, with drool running down their mouth? I'd not be just judging I would be fleeing away like I currently was. Just another day at a few towns ahead from my previous location, I had just gone out that evening into the jungle. A place the locals told me was the main place in the entire kingdom for making sacrifices. A very important site for me to miss. What a big mistake that turned out to be!

I had just stopped by and used one spell, just one spell to tell me if there was anything of importance around and lo and behold, now I'm being chased by two hideous monsters. Adventure pro max.

Quickly I threw out another spell but to no avail. I was still being chased by the two monsters and I was still running to save my life.

Stopping for a second to recollect my breath, I noticed that the two of them had stopped too. Now I wasn't stupid enough to turn around and have a heart attack by looking at their faces so I began walking a few steps ahead only to have them walking behind me too. I stopped. They stopped. I walked. They walked.

What in the name of sorcery is this?!

It looked like I had summoned them and they were my little pets. The kind that would walk with me at night so I can avoid getting killed by others. Obedient to a fault.

Having no other choice I slowly turned around and found the two of them staring at me with their horrid green eyes. Waiting, as if for a command.

"Go climb that tree." I pointed to the tree. They both stared at the tree as if confused. Oh well, it was worth a shot. And then the world slipped from beneath my feet as they moved forward to climb the tree. And actually fucking climbed it! "Woah. I didn't sign up for this."

Stating that I began walking away and heard the rustling of the tree behind me. Okay maybe I really shouldn't have judged the book by its cover. But how was this possible? I have neither heard nor seen this creature in any of the myths that I've spent my years soaring.

As if these creatures were solely made by some unknown force. Made to trail after me.

A shrill cry broke out in the silent jungle. I quickly fished out my phone from my pocket and saw an unknown number but it didn't take a genius to figure out that the number belonged to a royal family member.

"What?" I barked into the phone, assuming it to be Drystan.

"Astoria?" Ophelia's soft voice rang in my ears, making me go pale. "Are you okay? Do you need any help?"

"My lady, my apologies-"

"No no. I just called to ask if you were okay. I understand." She said assuring-ly.

"Yes. Thank you very much. I am okay. Was just returning to my room." I told her as I quickened my pace. Surely these creatures have never followed me into the public so the best way to steer clear of them was by getting to a place where there are people around.

"Sweetheart it's late. You shouldn't be out so late. You know what creatures lurk in the dark." Ophelia said in a motherly tone.

She has been very caring towards me ever since I've gotten to the palace. At first I believed that it was fueled by guilt but maybe she was just a nice person. For her to call me at this hour to make sure I was safe warmed a part of me that I didn't know existed anymore. She had no relations with me and yet she asked me of my well being. I felt warm and loved. My cheeks heated up at that.

Glancing behind me at the two creatures, I spoke into the phone, "Trust me Ophelia, I'm safe. I promise." I felt so safe and wanted that nothing could ever compare to this feeling.

"Okay baby, just reach your destination on time. Here, talk to Sorin."

"Hello?" The king spoke into the phone. I didn't know what to say or feel. This was new to me. More than two people care for me to such an extent that despite their busy day, they still make time for me. "Astoria dear? How are you?"

"I'm fine my lord. How are you?" I asked with my voice heavy with emotion. The king and the queen are amazing people. They care so much about their people, I wish everyone was like them, Nyx had told me and I didn't pay heed to her words. I was drowning in my hate for these people. But I see it now. Oh I see it all crystal clear.

"I'm good. And you know you can call me Sorin." He said softly. "You know I have connections everywhere here so if you need any help don't hesitate okay?" He joked.

With a breathy laugh I mumbled something which I couldn't understand myself. I heard him sigh on the other end and wondered if this is how it is like to have a father. Ma never talked about who my father was. She never even dated anyone else. It was just her, me and aunt Morana. And though it felt enough, I always needed a father figure in my life cause ma was always busy, aunt Morana moved away and I would see all my schoolmates be dropped and picked up by their fathers, it used to hurt. And now listening to Sorin talk so warmly to me all the emotions that I have bottled up inside me were about to burst.

Drsytan was one lucky bastard.

"Come back soon child. It doesn't feel okay to have you so far away without any guidance." He spoke again and I swear my eyes began sweating from all the running I did earlier.

"I'll be back in no time." I said just barely loud enough for him to hear the words.

Hopefully nothing is snatched away from me again.