~ Rhaenys Vissera, blood witch ~
The beasts all around us launch themselves forward. Their eyes glow neon green as they slash at us, long, bloody claws dipped in poison. There are so many of them, and I know that we are likely far too outnumbered. We are going to die, here, now, in this cave.
As if reading my mind, Krihla shoves a coyote-like beast off her arm, then whirls around. "Zunera, gather the mortals!"
Haakon, who's cutting through the demonic beasts, whips his head up. "Wait, what?"
Zunera grabs him, then Callidora, then Mithra. Then Mithra grabs my arm before Zunera can, but even then, Zunera latches her sharp nailed hand around my wrist.
"Stay strong, my love," says Krihla, who then raises a shaking hand. It glows a bright silvery blue, and just as Zunera yells her name, the portal consumes all of us.
We appear in a field, far enough away from the mountains that hid the tunnels, that even if we ran, it would take all day to reach it. Zunera screams, running after the portal as Krihla closes it up before she can leap back into the Caves.
I look around anxiously, the sky too bright to look directly at it. I am shaking with exhaustion, and my mouth is dry and hunger prods at me. Callidora groans, leaning forward, hands on her knees.
"You okay?" Haakon asks, brushing the green blood from his arms.
"No, I'm very hungry," she says.
"Me too," murmurs Mithra. She turns to me, and I nod. "So is Rhaen. What's happening?"
"Are we not in the Darkscape anymore?" Callidora asks.
"We are still inside them, yes. But the caves must have concealed your bodily needs while there, as a further way to kill you slowly," explains an angry and shaking Zunera.
"We need to find food and water," says Haakon.
Zunera points toward the east. "Follow me."
Exhausted and all in pain, we follow Zunera. The woods are thick and silent, save for our footsteps and the crunching of leaves and other foliage below our shoes. Zunera guides us to a small, trickling river, which is icy cold as we kneel by it and drink.
"We make camp here," says Haakon.
Zunera nods. "Indeed. Haakon, come. We should hunt for some food for each of you."
"What, goddesses don't eat?" I ask.
Eyes flashing, she turns to me. "We do. But we don't eat anything you do." She turns and vanishes into the trees.
Haakon sighs. "I'll.... help her catch some good food for us."
Callidora sits down hard beside the river, her hands shaking a bit. Mithra sits on a nearby fallen log, watching the sky, one hand on her necklace.
I sit down, too. I'm so tired that sleep drags at me, heavy and dark. I try not to sleep, but soon enough, the exhaustion gets to me. I lean against a log, laying down as best I can on the floor of the forest. With Callidora beside me, wide awake, and Mithra awake, too, I fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.
YOU ARE READING
The Blood Witch
FantasyWhen you come from the bloodthirsty gods and goddesses, you become bloodthirsty yourself. When they force you to feel their power, or either make your life a hellish experience in order to get what they want from you, chances are, you'll do what the...
