It's been a few days since the moment with Alex in the cavern and the instant in Phillip's arms near the cliff's edge. I don't really know what I'm feeling right now.
To add to this inner battle I'm fighting, we've been lost for the past week in the Black Woods. It is a dark, long unmapped forest. No one has been able to navigate safely through, but our deadline was fast approaching, so the group agreed to try and make it through the dense woods. Unfortunately, our decision has put our mission to a screeching halt.
"This is useless! We've been walking in circles for days!" Alex shouts.
The men are tired and we all feel like Alex - completely defeated, but I feel as if I am the only one on edge. I know our men have all heard the myths of the Fairies. As a child, I remember mother reading me tales of them. The Fairies were magical beings with glowing wings and beautiful shimmering skin. When I grew older, I learned the tales told to children were far from the truth. Fairies are beautiful but they have a far darker purpose than frolicking in the woods. They can shapeshift into any person or creature...they transform into something that embodies what you love - with this, they lure you deep into the woods until you are lost wandering alone with no chance of ever escaping. They tempt you to your death.
I haven't seen anything and I am sure I am just worrying myself for no reason...but I am afraid.
We've spent the last day in the same spot. It is evening and some of the men have resorted to drinking to pass the time. The only two who have not partaken are Sir Henry and Phillip. Both stand at the edge of our camp watching the woods intently.
I find myself a cup hoping it will lull me to sleep quicker. I know I should resist...but I can't stand another moment in these dark twisted woods. I drink down the bitter taste quickly and find myself slowly falling into a deep slumber.
Then a voice echoing...
"Katia...Katia...wake up, my sweet Katia..."
"Father...?" I sleepily mutter with my eyes half open.
"Follow me, my Katia...Mother is waiting for us..."
I pick myself up out of my bed and exit my tent. I see my Father at the edge of the camp. He is smiling at me...that soft smile...that kind face...I thought I had forgotten. As I inch closer to him, he walks further into the woods.
"Father, wait...Don't leave me!" I yell as I begin to run.
"Hurry Katia...hurry..." the voice is moving faster...further away from me.
I am running through the woods too quickly to shield the sharp branches from cutting into my arms and face. I am numb to the scratches and blood dripping from the cuts. I can't lose him...not again! Suddenly, someone grabs me right before I am about to fall into a large deep jagged hole in the ground I had not seen.
"KATIA!" Alex yells as he turns me around to face him.
"My father...let me go after him! I need to find him!" I cry.
"Katia! You need to snap out of it! It was not your father. You know he's dead, Katia."
"But he...he was there! I saw him! I saw him!" I scream shaking.
Alex grabs me and pulls me tightly into his arms as I continue to cry tears washing the blood from my face.
"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry Katia. They tried to get me too."
"He was so real, Alex...it looked just like him...I...if you didn't come after me ...I would have..."
"I was lucky, thank God, I was lucky." He whispers as he kisses my forehead.
I look up at Alex through my wet eyes as he takes his hand and rests it softly on the back of my neck with his fingers woven through my long silver hair. Is this really happening...?
We both lean in together...and I suddenly realize I want this. Our lips finally meet. I feel like all of the blood is rushing to my cheeks. I feel so light-headed as if I have no control...
"Well isn't this sweet! Two young royals sharing cupid's arrow." A familiar voice laughs behind us.
As we pull away quickly, Alex steps in front of me as I cling to his arm. IT'S ZELENE.
"Oh no! Don't stop on my account. I do enjoy young love...so innocent, so pure...so VULNERABLE." Zelene hisses.
"What are you doing here?" Alex spits.
"Did you not think I wouldn't be watching? It was rather wonderfully entertaining to see those beautiful arachnids rip apart and devour those stupid men," she cackles.
"They were people, you witch!" I scream.
"They were merely tools to get you to the stone."
"No, they gave their lives to help save our people!" Alex shouts.
"Nonetheless they are dead. You two best keep on living...because if I do not have that stone in ten days...your world will die!"
"We are trying our best!" I wail.
"TRY HARDER. You will see a white slithering line near your camp when dawn breaks. I SUGGEST YOU FOLLOW IT." And in a flash, Zelene disappears.
Alex and I both look at each other and we understand. Zelene is helping us escape the Black Woods.
