Darkness Rising

CHAPTER [ 5 ] WICKED EXISTENCE

Lenore's reality was unraveling and reconstructing itself.

Perhaps she was a loose thread in the tapestry from the beginning – always meant to pluck out and discarded. And now, she was a thread trying to weave itself back into the original design. Lenore sensed the world shudder and bend around her existence as if it labored to make space for her where she no longer belonged.

Before she was unaware, living by the design of some greater force, without the power or will to change destiny. Now things were different. Lenore was an existence that could weave its own destiny. A cursed thread with a will of its own. She suspected that this must be why Kaiser said the gods would kill her if they caught wind of her.

That thought alone was enough to make her grind her teeth. It wasn't as though she had asked to become anything great or demanded the impossible. Was it so wrong for her to simply exist?

"Watch yourself," Kaiser said as he grabbed onto Lenore's elbow and pulled her close. A cyclist released a slew of curses as they rushed by brushing the edges of the trench coat she was drowning in. They would have collided if it weren't for Kaiser, but knowing that didn't stir any feelings of gratitude.

She was still annoyed by the bargain they had struck and how the invisible cord between them appeared to tighten and vibrate whenever they touched. It was an unpleasant and needling sensation – and somehow, at the same time, her body itched to be touched. But the worst of it all was the knowing glances Kaiser kept giving her like he was inside her head, reading every little thought that passed through it.

Lenore yanked her arm free, cheeks burning. "Thanks."

He grunted and continued down the sidewalk. Lenore followed a few steps behind, unable to stop from searching the faces of people that passed by. She kept expecting to see one of her family members. The fear that they would turn up to finish her off wouldn't leave her.

She fixed her gaze on Kaiser, frowning. He didn't appear concerned at all, with anything or anyone. There was no way to know what he was thinking when he had told her they were heading out and tossed the trench coat at her. Lenore had only listened and followed still in a daze. It was when they took a taxi into the heart of the city that she began to grow suspicious. Still, she followed him without voicing her doubts because she didn't trust him or his good will towards her. It was better not to stand out or cause trouble, at least not until she was more certain about the situation.

Lenore nearly crashed into Kaiser when he stopped abruptly. Irritation bubbled in her stomach, tying it further into knots. His face was turned up toward the sky and she followed his line of sight, wondering what could catch his attention to such a degree. Around them glass and steel structures towered, stretching up toward the sky like metallic trees seeking more sunlight. Dark clouds drifted by slowly, leaving only patches of sky visible. There didn't appear to be anything of interest – that was until Lenore spotted something moving towards them.

A single crow.

It flew low, circling over their heads several times. Once. Twice. It released a husky caw that was louder than the sounds of the city around them. Kaiser held out his arm and the bird responded as though he had called it. The wings flapped wildly while it settled itself onto his forearm. Inky black feathers gleamed in the fiery colors of the early evening sky.

Lenore peered around at the people passing by on the sidewalk, but none of them appeared to notice what had happened or they didn't care to acknowledge the odd sight. She turned her attention back to the crow, which on closer inspection was much larger than others she had seen before. It wasn't the size that made her suspicious but the fact it had three legs and three eyes. This was more than a monstrous imitation of the creature Lenore knew.