And What I Found There - Book Two

15. Run As Fast As You Can

Or not. Currently they aren't.

Bishop and I are in the middle of the raven people's camp. My wrists are tied behind my neck to a pole and Bishop is still in his cage, sitting in the back of a wagon. One thing that keeps catching my eye are the freshly dug graves surrounding the camp in a semi-circle.

"What happened here?" I ask one of the raven people. They're in the process of packing up their wagons.

"Vampire." One says softly.

My heart skips a few beats. "A Vampire? When? Why?"

"It was about five or so days ago. We kinda were surprised to find a Vampire feeding up here. We're hunters you see, and we foolheartedly attempted to collect on the 50,000 gimbet bounty on its head but...it ended up costing us more than we planned on losing."

I cringe and look away. "I'm sorry."

"Aye, so are we."

I gulp. "Um. Do... do you know where the Vampire went?"

He shrugs. "We seen it leave the mountain and went off in the direction of Ghost Hills. I hope it stays there too, at least there it has a chance of getting killed." He growls darkly.

I frown in puzzlement about what he said but I try to retain everything else. Ghost Hills. I hope Cornelius knows how to get there. "Um, I hate to ask but uh, what's going to happen to me and my friend?"

The guy stares at me for a few minutes and now draws a knife. My heart skips a couple of beats. Oh great way to go out! I wince and close my eyes but a second later, my hands fall free from the bonds. I blink in surprise and rub my wrists. "Th-thanks."

"We don't eat people. Unlike Vampires." He turns to the other hunters. "We'll let this one go."

"What about Bishop?" I ask.

"What?"

"My dog. I can't leave without him -"

Suddenly a giant copper painted horse charges into camp and rears up on its massive hind legs, whinnying loudly and beating its forelegs through the air.

All the bird creatures shriek and dive for cover. And I don't blame them! This animal is bigger than any horse I have ever seen before! It makes the Clydesdales look like goats in comparison!

"Whoa!" I teeter backwards as I stare up into the face of the animal. Now I gasp with disbelief as it lowers its head to face me. Those eyes! I know those bright amber eyes. They're Quill's. OMG, this is his animal soul spirit! "Quill?"

The horse bobs his head and now briefly lowers his neck, I nervously grab onto his mane and with just one toss, the horse lifts me onto his back. I yelp as he springs forward, it feels I'm on the back of a runaway train! I barely manage to reach out and snatch Bishop's cage as we go racing pass the wagons. I hug the cage against me while clinging to the horse's mane for dear life.

A few adrenalized moments later, the horse mercifully canters to a halt back at our camp.

"Whoa!" Adisonia laughs with amazement as she looks the enormous horse over. "Ha! Get a load of your hair!" She cackles at me now as I shakily lift my head.

"Adara!" Quill and Cornelius hurry over to me. "Are you alright?" Quill carefully sweeps me off the back of his animal spirit.

"Y-yeah!" I stammer with a shaky smile. "Whoa, that was a rollercoaster!" I laugh as I watch the horse shimmer away into a mass of vivid green glitter. Quill summons the spirit back into his open hand.

"Oh, so you had fun, did you?" Cornelius demands, crossing his arms as he looks me over with annoyance as much a worry. "Well I'll have you know that the rest of us have been bloody sick with worry over what's become of you! From here on out, I'm not letting you out of my sight and -"

"Hey!" I exclaim. "I didn't purposely wander off just to freak you out! Cut me some slack!"

"Adara, don't you understand how seriously I take your protection? There's a raving mad Vampire out there and I don't want him to hurt you again!"

I open my mouth to retort but I suddenly can't find the words. I heave a sigh and finally lower Bishop's cage. "I'm sorry," I say, trying to set aside my frustration at being scolded in front of Quill and Adisonia, as if Cornelius is my father or something. Mom never scolded me. I cross my arms and look away. "It won't happen again." I mutter.

"I'll see to it that it doesn't," he sniffs dismissively and now summons magic, in a flourish of silverly blue light Bishop's cage deconstructs and my puppy finally springs free.

"Thanks!" He yips and now anxiously dashes into my tent.

"That'll be all," Cornelius dismisses everyone. "Good-night, good-night," he gestures at us to scatter. Adisonia rolls her eyes and heads inside, Quill briefly bows to me and his mentor before he hurries into their tent. Cornelius briefly glances at me, I haven't moved. "My Alice, I suggest you rest -"

"I know where he is." I state, planting my hands on my hips.

"Oh, do you?" He crosses his arms.

"Ghost Hills. Have you heard of it?" I ask even though I'm fairly convinced Cornelius knows something about everything.

His mustache twitches a bit at the mention of Ghost Hills but otherwise his expression remains neutral. "How do you know of this?" He absently strokes his mustache in thought.

I shrug. "Bishop was caught by these hunters that tried to cash in on the bounty on Vyndren's head. It didn't work out so great for them, but they told me he took off in the direction of Ghost Hills."

"Ghost Hills..." Cornelius trails off as he looks in distance, his brow furrowed.

My heart twists a bit with guilt as I see the worry in his bright blue eyes. "Hey," I step closer. "I am sorry I upset you, Cornelius, I... I didn't mean to. I swear!" I insist when he glances me. "I was just so worried about Bishop that I didn't even think about anyone else and I just took off. I'm sorry," I say more meaningfully.

"Adara, your concern and compassion for that little dog is admirable, and understandable. But try to imagine my concern and compassion for my... beloved Alice." He squeezes my shoulders as he looks me over. "I lost you once a very long time ago, I won't lose you again, Adara."

I grin a bit. "Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself. I'm learning from the best." I hug him. He seems a little caught off guard, but he carefully embraces me. I smile, feeling more comforted than I have in a long time.