Hungry is the heart

Chapter 12. Cold amber

Eleanor's wings carried her back to the centre of Soliste's garden. The space was cloaked in darkness, but the blue moonlight made it easy enough to see the silhouettes of the trees and their reflections on the water. A white fabric drifted in the air under one of the trees. Slowly moving back and forth. 'Hello,' a hissing voice said. It almost sounded like Daveny, but the voice was higher. 'Can I have a word?'

Eleanor's eyes followed the white fabric up until she saw the ghostly form of a woman sitting in the tree. Her dark hair flowed over her shoulders like water. In the place where her eyes should have been, there were just two dark orbs. 'Eleanor.' She jumped down and stepped towards her. The quickness in her pace caught Eleanor by surprise. 'Did she give you a nice gift?' Slim fingers folded themselves around her necklace.

Eleanor yanked the necklace loose and stepped back. 'What do you want from me? Who even are you?' She heard her own voice shake.

'Nox.' The lady followed her steps. Her pale dress dragged over the grass. 'Where are you from?'

'Does it matter?'

'Everything matters.' Nox loomed over her. 'A sacrifice like you can't walk in like this and think you own the place.'

'Who says that's what I am.' Eleanor walked backwards. She felt the ground lower.

'We all saw your robe.' She stared at her blankly. 'You should know that the goddess doesn't care about you. That neckless means nothing.'

'I know.' She looked around the silent garden. She needed to get herself out of this conversation. Nox couldn't have good intentions.

'Then why are you wearing it?' Nox extended her clawed hand. 'I could throw it away for you.'

'No!' She turned and rushed away from Nox and the water's edge. 'Leave me alone.'

'Hush, don't be loud. You're waking up the monsters.' Nox swiftly walked next to her, seemingly having no trouble keeping up.

'What monsters?' Eleanor was pretty sure the woman was the only danger here.
'Didn't you see them?' Nox pointed at the leaves above the exit.

Eleanor looked up. Her eyes tracing the branches. Just like she expected, there were no figures in the shadow. The leaves barely moved. There were no monsters here. 'Stop trying to scare me,' she warned, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling in her chest.

'I'm being serious. Haven't they warned you, sweetheart?' Nox grabbed her arm tightly. 'Look closer.'

A cold feeling spread across Eleanor's skin. Instead of looking up, she looked at Nox' dark eyes. The shadows behind the woman seemed to move. The moonlight reflected in an extra set of eyes in the night behind her.

You are in big trouble, a voice in her head said before the adrenaline kicked in. Eleanor jerked her arm back. 'Let me go!'

Nox' held on so firmly it hurt. She didn't speak as the being behind her closed in. It seemed to be made out of a black fog, but possessed two white eyes and a row of sharp teeth. It growled as it lunged forward.

Sharp nails scratch across her throat. Eleanor punched at the space in front of her, trying to stop the power that pushed her to the ground. Her hands reached flesh and bone, but it didn't stop her body from hitting the hard tiles. The scream that left her mouth, was stopped by Nox' fingers that pushed against her mouth. 'I'm sorry, it will be over soon.'

Pain overwhelmed her like a big wave. It shot through her chest. They were going to kill her. Soliste had tricked her with that stupid necklace. She didn't grant her safety, she made everyone believe Eleanor was a threat.

This wasn't how she was going to die. She covered her chest with her arms, trying to stop the teeth and claws coming in her directions. Her wings struggled to push her off the ground. With each of her movements, there was more pain. The world started to blur as a warmth spread across her chest.

She wouldn't win this. She needed to scream. Maybe if someone heard her, they would help. Or was everyone in this cursed house heartless? Eleanor refused to believe that. With all the anger and pain she had in her, she yanked Nox' arm downwards. As soon as her fingers slipped off her mouth, Eleanor let out a scream.

The sound echoed through the dark hallway, until Nox' fingers silenced her once again. Eleanor tried to fight them, but her arms refused to move from the ground. All she had left, were her wings, now shielding her body. Claws tore through them as if they were paper.

Then it was over. The weight pushing against her lifted and the room fell silent. With an empty stare, she looked the branches moving above her. The moonlight that peered through the leaves burned in her eyes. Had they left? Or had she? Was this what dying felt like? Eleanor had expected something more painful, but somehow she felt nothing at all.

There were distant sounds and a voice, but it didn't feel real. A hiss made its way to her, like a snake crawling on her limp body. A shadow covered the bright moon. 'Eleanor.' Six eyes looked down at her. 'Get up.'