Shelter Me From Darkness

Chapter 2

Piper 

The Between was a place where all worlds met. Edges of boundaries collided together to make a mesh of something other. Something new. Merged worlds, realms, and endless possibilities. Giving birth to both dreams and nightmares. The Between was a dangerous and savage place.

I was one of the lucky few whose magic allowed them to cross that thin veil that kept all the realms separate and slip into the Between. No portal needed.

All I needed was a doorway, my magic and sheer willpower. Lucky me.

It wasn't a skill I had much knowledge about or something I had practised. Slipping into the Between was about all I could do with it. Only the experienced or the powerful dared to travel through the Between, especially with the type of creatures and gods that called this place home.

I hadn't prepared for the little venture today and only used it as my last resort, as it was the one place, I knew Edmund wouldn't be able to follow me. Relief crashed through me when I arrived at a dirt road intersection with hedges and trees. The roads were usually safe for a short time, and I wasn't stupid enough to venture into the trees. The dangers of the Between were all too familiar to me from previous visits. I sat on the edge of the dirt road.

I couldn't stay here forever. Eventually, something would cross my path, and I wasn't prepared magically to fight. With physical fighting, I was more likely to cause myself harm than anything else.

The initial urgency to get away from the mages Edmund sent after me waned. Leaving me shaking as the adrenaline wore off. Not that crashing here with empty fumes was a good idea.

Taking a slow, deep breath, I closed my eyes and focused on keeping my pulse steady. The danger wasn't over, and I needed to keep my wits about me. I couldn't stay in the Between for long.

Five seconds. I get Five seconds and then I need to pull myself together and think of a way out of this.

Five.

I took a breath.

Four.

And another.

Three.

I clenched and unclenched my hands, pushing the cold fear as deep down as it would go, locking it into a box and throwing chains over it. Another day's problem.

Two.

I opened my eyes.

One.

Edmund had a way of tracking me. I needed to discover it and try to block it. It was the only way I could lose my tail.

There was only one place I could have missed a tracking spell. Before I'd left, I'd cleansed myself of all possible magic, not my own. There was only one thing I hadn't been able to get rid of.

My pulse jumped as I rolled up my left arm's sleeve. The mark was red and swollen, an ugly reminder of Edmund's cruelty.

Do as I say or die.

How had I been so blind to his true self? How had I missed the red flags?

Hot bile rose in my throat. It had been subtle at first. Comments had me changing things about myself without me realising I was doing it. I hadn't been enough before in a past relationship and I'd been desperate to make sure I was enough for this one. Add in the soft touch of Edmund's compulsion magic tying me to him I became more a loyal dog and less of a girlfriend.