The Night's Curse #3 (Waverly Stump and The 7 Realms)

Chapter 25

The world spun.

Waverly's head remained low as she stared into the stream. A lingering blur was all she that she could glimpse of her reflection because of how her teardrops constantly dropped into the water, causing endless ripples. The lake was almost frozen; thick with forming ice in some places and clear in others.

Winter had taken hold of Alpgeton faster than anyone could fathom. The following morning was like a dreary miracle; everything turned stark white and the air went crisp with cold. Sleet rained down endlessly and concealed colors in the grass, matted flowers and buried tree trunks. Several animals went into hibernation and rendered the forest near empty save for kinds that did not sleep during the season.

The Burrowers built trenches everywhere and because their homes were now hidden under the snow, it caused unsuspecting strollers to trip over on their feet. On any other day, it would have been a very hilarious thing to see but Waverly was in a state of obliviousness and failed to notice.

She had on the white coat Cassiope had given to her as she sat still and almost lifeless in front of the rushing stream, deaf to the serene silence that came with morning. She had not been able to sleep a wink the night before. Her eyes were puffy and red. She had shunned food and people for hours, opting to sit by the lake long before the stroke of dawn.

The weather was cold but her chest was filled with heat; a burning anger.

Dermot was dead and it was not a dream nor was it a hallucination. It was real and Diarmaid's fault.

Brijjet explained to her how it had happened. They were on the battlefield; the Company had been stationed in subtle ranks behind the King's Generals while their brother unit, the troops, would act as reinforcements. They were to lay ambush on the dark army as they pushed past the citadel and take them from both corners. The plan was already underway until Diarmaid was spotted leaving the troops.

Apparently, he had set up a trap that did not work despite having been triggered and was going to check on it. It did not take long before a bunch of She-Monsters found and surrounded him. Brijjet and Dermot kenned the commotion and ran to help.

The fight had been short and went smoothly until a She-Monster took a swipe at Diarmaid who stood with his back to her. Dermot had pushed his unsuspecting brother out of the way and took the fatal blow instead. The She-Monster's blade was revealed to have been dipped in venom and it killed Dermot on the spot.

Waverly tried to put the scenario out of her mind but it proved impossible no matter how hard she tried. It fueled her anger whenever she remembered and hated that it made her furious at Diarmaid.

He has always been reckless to a fault. She thought bitterly.

Waverly felt her chest become heavy again and broke into tears, concealing her face in the warmth of her coat. She shivered in the pouring snow but ignored the gooseflesh that had long invaded her skin. The streamlet felt like a hiding place. Here, she was sure that no one would be able to find her, at least not until she was ready to be found.

An agitated feeling suddenly rushed like exploding lava through her blood stream and forced her to stand up. She angrily took off her coat and tossed it to the side, huffing and puffing cold air as she paced along the bank of the stream.

He cannot be dead. She repeated over and over.

It felt like something sharp edged had briskly and dolefully begun to prick open the fresh hurt in her chest. She screamed and kicked the boulder she had been sitting on and the rock shattered to pieces. She grabbed at her hair, completely blinded by grief, and began to yell and scream. She kicked at everything; the icy water, strewn pebbles and wet soil and even went as far as taking off her boots and throwing them away.