Sephira

Alnwick

The green scenery of the forest turned to an infinite blue hue; the river had run its course and disembarked in what seemed never-ending water. The journey had guided us near the Greek Islands and we now flew over the Mediterranean Sea, the climate perfect in all aspects. It wasn't long before we neared the desolate island where Alnwick was.

Before my feet touched the ground I felt something strange in the atmosphere, I couldn't comprehend the view before my eyes. Instead of the green vines one would expect to see in this tropical weather stood hills filled of hollow trees with bare branches, gray and brown, forking out like skeleton fingers - and looking just as alive. Other than the wind-caused movement, the place was static.

"Quite a lovely place this is, is it not?" Felicity scoffed. I turned my head towards her in look for an explanation for this. The place looked like it could hold no life whatsoever. "Welcome to the land of the dead, Alnwick, where only a group of sirens reside to ensure passage to the once living."

We started walking, waiting for any movement that might catch our attention. As soon as we were beside the trees I noticed just how big the dead forest was, maybe a couple of acres. Yet the trees were tall with sturdy trunks, packed tightly together. A twig snapped somewhere to our right, causing all of our heads to jerk to that direction. I held my breath, trying to listen to any other sound. Nothing.

"Who's there?" Neve yelled out, a tingle of anxiety shooting across her slim shoulders. Her voice boomed everywhere, sounding as if we were inside an insulated cave. She took a step forward, hesitantly, ready for anything that might spring. We waited to see if anything happened but there was no change in our surroundings, no sound that might inform us of a presence among the trees.

Shaking my head, I continued walking. "We should continue, the faster we find Alnwick the faster we get warm food and a bed." I had barely taken two steps when the noise of something snapping made me stop. Then another snap. Then another. Whatever was out there, was coming closer. "Who's out there?" I called out. The sun was starting to set and with its departure a sea of mist had started to fall over the island, making visibility limited to a few inches beyond you.

Instead of answering, the person gave up all pretense of stealth and started running, the noise so loud it sounded as if an army was coming our way. Only a few feet away from us, the visitor grew louder and louder until Felicity brought us back from our reverie. "Prepare to fight!"

"Who the he-" Something burst through the trees before I could take out my sword. I only saw a flash of dark skin and enormous dark eyes. I turned around to lunge at it but it was too late. The figure leaped into the air and pushed me to the ground. I felt something dig into my arm before it snapped in two -a branch probably-, burning a slight scratch along my flesh.

I swatted my attacker as hard as I could, a relentless jumble of skin and bones cavorting on top of me as I tried to gain purchase. It seemed like a monster, a horror from a children's nightmare, and I knew, deep inside me, this was no siren. I heard teeth snapping open and closed. Moments later I felt a jarring dagger of pain as the thing's mouth found place in my shoulder.

I screamed, more in anger than in pain, yet the pain was like a burst of adrenaline through my blood. I planted the palms of my hands against my attacker's chest and pushed with all my strength, straightening my arms until my muscles strained against the struggling figure above me. Finally it fell back, leaving a small moment for me to get up, sucking in breaths of air, and got the first good look at the berserk attacker.

It looked like a giant humanoid bull, standing on two legs with horns protruding from the side of its head. It was three times my size, completely toned with plenty of muscle underneath it brown fur. I had never seen anything like it; it amazes me how I managed to move such an enormous creature from on top of me.