BOOK 3 of the ORPHIC Series
CHURLISH
/ˈCHərliSH/
marked by a lack of civility.
~~~~~
Lucille 'Lucy' Opal Baker finds herself in the 21 century sporting the title of Aunt while lugging along h...
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"The only comfort within chaos is admitting you have no control."
Soul Stone ???
A SOFT CRUNCH ECHOED across the forest. Lucy paused, holding still as she listened to any sounds of breathing. She listened to James's feet behind her, along with the rest of their group. She disregarded the unsure whispers of the alien people behind her, focused more on what was in front of her then behind. Joseph, James Rumlow and Peggy flanked her left side while James remained on her right, shushing Alpine as they walked.
Lucy was certain Loki's voice had come from the direction of the deepest depth of the forest, but she may have been completely and utterly wrong. It wouldn't have been the first time, really, but that playful arrogance and amusing confidence was too akin to Loki for it to not be him. She hadn't seen him in so long, and she did find it rather concerning if he was all alone in the middle of a forest filled with wailing souls of the damned.
Speaking of the souls of the damned, their torn faces howled like the whistle of a wind, clinging to branches and reaching out towards them. The only thing dispelling them was Doctor Strange's magic and Lucy's presence. It seemed like they still feared her, merely by the way she could bend them to her will.
James still stayed close, cringing at the crying ghosts.
Alpine voiced her opinion by hissing angrily every few seconds.
They turned around another forest, guided only by Lucy and her gut feeling as they twisted around a branch. They had been walking for what felt like hours—time was inconsistent and uncertain here—and they hadn't been at all lucky. Peggy looked visibly worried by how deeply they traveled, and how wrongly they traveled as well.
There was no reason to Lucy's path; well, at least no logical one.
"Maybe we should rethink where we're going." The alien woman, Mantis, stated, her voice quiet.
"She's doing her best." Joseph replied quietly, not wanting to bother Lucy as she moved with laser focus.
She wasn't even aware of their conversation, too engrossed in the path that seemed right. No, it had to be right. She could sense something here—a soft lull of magic that shifted just perfectly in the air.
And it was a magic she knew.
They were close.
They had to be.
She took a few more steps forwards, before coming to an abrupt halt.
The string of magic she'd been following was suddenly gone, cut like the end of a rope. She pursed her lips, turning to glance at the people behind her. They'd put their trust in her, but it didn't seem like she'd been right at all. She let out a long exhale, eyes flicking across the barren trees and bushes of turmoil.
