Labyrinth: Into the Malignant Book 2

Manipulation

I found a small pool where Elliana was laying next to and when I put my finger in the liquid, it burned and started to roll up my arm. I sucked in a breath through my teeth and jerked my hand away. I had read about this liquid. It was called Malvant, and it absorbs into the victims skin and attacks their body. It goes straight to the victim's brain and starts shutting down the body. Malvant has the capability to paralyze its victim so it can keep absorbing into their bodies. It is the most lethal and painful poison there is. To die from Malvant, the victim will have suffered for hours.

My chest tightened and I knew Elliana had come in contact with the water. I stood up and pulled out my sword in a flash. My strength on the sword slammed into a tree and it cracked under the force. I was about to lose it when I saw the thrashing marks where she was being poisoned. She got away. How did she manage to survive? Not only did she survive, but she was running away.

After I took a couple samples of the Malvant for later, I followed the impressions as if they were my own. It took me a while to understand how she ran, because she had climbed over trees sporadically and under others. I followed the trail to a cliff. "Why do you always make it look like you died?" I mumbled. I searched the bottom of the cliff to see if there was a body. When I didn't see one, I looked around for a way down.

Thick vines covered the sides of the cliff, so I took hold of one and scaled down to another. I continued down by vine and jumped the last ten feet. I hit the ground and followed the path. I heard something in the distance and snuck up. I caught a glimpse of a retreating figure retreating into the woods. My throat closed and I jumped onto the thick branches. I followed the person and saw a large person holding something in his arms. I didn't recognize the person until her head rolled back. Elliana.

I pulled out my knife and aimed it directly at the guy holding her. I aimed to where I would hit him and he would slump into the tree. When I threw the knife, he moved just in time. I cried out for Elliana, but she was unconscious. The boy holding her fell backwards and took the knife with him. They fell from the trees and got lost in the branches. I moved quickly to where they fell, but they were already gone. I punched my right hand into a tree and it splintered.

***

I had searched for hours for Elliana in the trees. Nothing was working, so I decided to take the path. I had searched through the night and managed to stay away from the beasts that roamed the grounds. Out of anger, I stepped in and cut one of the huge creatures down within seconds. He fell hard and I continued without a glance back.

I found a marking on a tree and read it. It was a warning. I moved to the next tree and it was a signature. People were warning outsiders. I looked closely at where the context could come from. I heard a twig snap behind me. It couldn't be possible. I turned slowly and say a man with dark blue, glowing eyes. He was smaller than the one who has Elliana, but quite a bit chubbier. If I was right, this species of fae should've been extinct. "Are you lost?" The man asked. It wasn't to help me find my way. He was teasing me.

I glared and he walked closer. Just a little closer... I urged in my head. He took one more step and I pulled out my sword. Within seconds, I had him defenseless with him painfully twisted on the ground with a sword to his thick neck. "A large male traveling with a young girl" I hissed. The man reached for me, but I pressed the sword into his throat to draw a drop of blood. "Where did they go?" I ground out. The man's eyes were murderous. "Take me to them, or I'll kill you right where your pathetic body lies" I sneered.

"Death doesn't scare me. Down here you're already dead" He replied. I pulled out one of the vials of Malvant and leaned over him. "Are you sure? Because this stuff seems to make people... come alive" I said, my eyes dancing with anticipation. The man had nervous sweat dripping down his face and I smiled. "Let's see what this can do!" I said, letting a single drop fall from the vial and land on his heart. He screamed and I could see the suffering pass through his eyes. I smiled and tilted my head while he writhed on the ground. "Are you ready to take me... or do you want another go with Malvant?" I asked. His pained eyes narrowed and I shrugged and let another drip over his neck. His scream was gargled and I waited for his panting scream to cease. "I think you need one more dr-" "I'll take you!" He cried.