Behind My Shadow - Book Three

50. I Try Not to Fall Apart

I hurry over the skull of the Jabberwocky, inwardly flinching at the idea of walking past all those sharp fangs...but I shrug this off and boldly walk through the parted jaws and make my way down the throat.

Very little light is allowed past all of the layers of bones, and I have to use my heighten senses to make sure that I don't trip or fall on any of the bones that cover the floors.

It's hard to breathe in here, I feel like I'm being suffocate the farther in I wander.

But I keep urging myself forward, imagining I'll find the heartstones somewhere in the chest or spine. Jabberwockies have two hearts and -just like any creature with magical blood- when they die the magic in their hearts transform into powerful gemstones.

It feels like I am walking on a treadmill, I mean nothing changes. I just keep walking and walking and walking and the bones remain the same and unchanged. How much farther until I get to the middle? I can't help but wonder. I'm feeling a little lightheaded now, it's hot as hell in here, it stinks, it's dark and -

I sense suddenly danger behind me, but it just as quickly alters its way and is now coming from up above me.

I quickly lift my shield over my head and hear something like water trickle down onto my shield. I grimace as I see thick, clear liquid run down the edge of my shield. Gross. I step away and lower my shield slightly, angling it away from me so the liquid runs off the other side.

My eyes widen at the sight of a grotesque little creature dangling upside down by its toes from one of the ribs bones high above my head.

It cocks its gray, hairless head and squawks like a baby raptor. It looks like a sickly, hairless monkey from the torso up, but the lower body looks like a gecko with sticky toes, suction pads, a tail and everything. Its forked tongue flicks out and now it smiles and I see row after row of crooked, rotten brown fangs.

I snatch the golden machete strapped to my gauntlet and point the blade as the little monster as I back up a step.

It shakes its head and now suddenly speaks to me in a croaking yet high-pitched voice. "No need for violence," its squeak tapers into a hiss.

"What are you?" I demand, still pointing the blade at the creature. I can still sense danger emitting from it so I'm not fool by its small size.

It tilts its head and smiles again, drool gushes from its mouth like it just bit down on a water balloon and falls to the ground in a steaming puddle. Eww. The little monster stops salivating long enough to respond. "I'm a Hexmitch!" Its round eyes shine like a cat's. "You're lossst," it hisses in an eerie whisper and scrambles up to the top of the Jabberwocky's spine high above my head. "I can help you find what you sssseek."

"How?" I demand again.

"I live amongst these bonesss," it purrs darkly. "I know where the heartstonessss are," it smiles eerily again.

"How'd you know I want the heartstones?" I furrow my brow.

"Sssso I'm not wrong then?" It sneers. "Come along! I can help you!" It scrambles farther along the spine. "Thisss way!" It croaks.

I hesitate. I mean, obviously I can't trust this thing but on the other hand...I can sense it isn't lying about knowing where the stones are. I relent a little bit. "Fine. Take me to them. But no tricks!" I add, brandishing my machete again.

"No need for violence..." it purrs as it drops down on the floor. It waddles on its stumpy lizard legs over to one of the rib bones. "Besssst way to get there isss through here..." It hisses. "Through the bonessss like blood we'll move..." the Hexmitch hops between the layers of bones.