Hungry is the heart

Chapter 17. Almost friends

The monster she had briefly considered a friend, stared at her like a statue.  Had he returned to see her drown? Eleanor was to exhausted to feel the pain of betrayel. All she could do was stare back.

It almost looked like he was floating above the lake, but his wings weren't moving. Where the lilies strong enough to carry him? His glowing eyes were like a beacon. When she looked closer, she noticed the grass underneath his feet. He was standing on the shore.

She didn't know if it was hope or desperation that gave her the strength to fight. The line between those was blurry, and she was far too tired to think straight. All she could concentrate on, was the figure cloaked in fog.

With unhandy strokes, she pulled her body forward. Her muscles ached and water flowed freely in her mouth. She wasn't sure if she still breathed. The next moment Daveny was gone. Replace by a green-yellow mass with bubbles and roots. One that dragged her down quickly.

Something sharp cut her arm. Fingers folded around her wrist. A strong force pulled her up. Suddenly air entered her lungs again. Hard ground bumped against her knees. Coughing, Eleanor gasped for air. A hand patted her back.

Confused she looked up at Daveny. Had he saved her? Didn't he want her dead after all? The expression on his face seemed concerned, but he didn't speak.

'W-why did you do that?' She asked once she had enough air to speak. Her body trembled because of the cold.

'Because the goddess order it.' He handed her a brown blanket. 'Dry yourself.'

It wasn't an excuse, but she didn't dare to tell him. She was still to close to the water's edge. She accepted the blanket and rubbed it over her legs. She couldn't feel the fabric on her cold skin.
Daveny turned and walked up to the foggy forest. Branches snapped under his weight.

'W-wait.' She fought against tears. 'Please don't leave me alone.'

He looked back. 'El, you've always been alone. I am not a friend.'

Eleanor swallowed. 'I know, but you are my ally right?' The cold air felt heavy in her lungs. She needed him to survive. If he left her here, she would die.

He sighed. 'As long as you remember, thisss will end. Today I sssaved you, but tomorrow my hand won't be there. That isss the game you choossse to play.'

'I-I-I can't do this.' She let go of the blanket. Tears now streamed freely over her cheeks. Eleanor was too tired to fight them.

'You can ssstill go back. You can pretend. Eat what ssshe offersss, take your ssseat at her table and act like you are hersss. Then thisss will all be over.'

'But that is not the right thing to do, is it?' Her voice trembled. Did it matter what was right and wrong? How did she even know it was a bad thing? Only her feeling told her.

Daveny walked back to her. 'You ask the one who volunteered to be in her service. I am in no position to judge you.'

She nodded. 'J-just give me a reason to fight. That is all I need.'

He stared at the water blankly. 'Is the one whose heart you ate reason enough?'

'She's gone.'

'No, her soul moved on, but her heart is part of you. I can't call that gone.'

'Is that how this works?' She looked up at him.'

'Somewhat.' He sat down next to her. 'Most hearts do nothing but still our hunger. However, when you eat the heart of a human or a stronger being, it will change you. You will become stronger though it.'

That explained a lot. That was why the goddess had used it against her. She was hungry, but not like humans were. 'Is this how Soliste came to be?'

He shrugged. 'It could be, but there are many tales about how and why she is. She claims to be a fragment of a fallen moon god, but I doubt she knows her own story. I am pretty sure she too is part of the circle of life. She is now, and once she will stop being.'

Soliste being mortal felt strange. Eleanor had seen her bleed, but that someone who could bend time would be killed by it felt insane. 'Do you really think so?'

'Eventually, yes.' He threw a twig into the water. 'But don't think you will win thisss from her. If she dies, it is because she surrenders. Not because she lacks the power to safe herself.'

Eleanor swallowed. Was this the world she had found herself in? One easily destroyed by its maker. That this could end, should be a relief, but it wasn't. Eleanor was confused, exhausted and scared she understood the goddess. She never wanted to destroy something before, but now she wished for it. She wanted to see these trees fall and tear this little world apart, like you ripped a paper out of the book.

Those thoughts scared her. If this ended, would she still be? Was it a bad thing to fade from existence? Wasn't she already losing herself?

She stared at the water, just like Daveny did. Would he have the answers? Or was he lost like she? She didn't dare to ask. His empty expression made her nervous. What was holding him back from pushing her back into the water?

After a few minutes, he stood up. 'It's time to go.' He offered his hand.

She accepted and walked with him, back into the fog.