Shadowburn (2)

Chapter 16

It felt wrong against his skin, a sense of emptiness echoing through every pore. We don't belong here, Thorn thought, but didn't say. He could just hear Raiden's condescending ideas on that subject. Not that it mattered--they'd be gone from this world soon.

Then--a gasp, and a strange feeling... Thorn turned slowly, looking around. The area was stunning, a mountaintop, more a cliff top. Stretching out as far as he could see was a world entirely foreign to his Fae senses.

Behind them, before a path leading down the mountain, was a very big tree. Words were etched on it in a language Thorn didn't know--with marks beneath it, ten of them. Thorn strode toward it, forgetting the sound for a moment in the wake of a sudden idea.

He placed two fingers against the words, reaching into the tree, praying that his Faen senses would still work... they did. The bit of nature responded, wrapping around his mind comfortingly, and in moments, the words in the bark were no longer a mystery to him.

Dylan Christophe Grigoli. A name. Thorn stood, realizing that it was probably a gravesite or a memorial for some dead person. He turned away, glanced around again--and there, on the other side of the tree, was a girl.

A nymph, in fact--a naiad, judging by the scent of her--and she did not look happy. At the same time, she looked... surprised. And a bit excited.

Thorn scowled. Raiden, what is that?

... I don't know. Be more specific, Faeling.

Quiet, contained, steady... Thorn could not afford to rage at the man, not yet. You don't know? That girl, right there--the one who you dragged through a portal with us! Are you really that clumsy? No, breathe. No raging. Raging was bad... Thorn struggled to control his emotions, teeth gritted.

Perhaps she wanted to come along. Raiden shrugged one shoulder, as if it didn't matter that this innocent bystander had somehow gotten sucked along with them to another world.

How stupid-- Thorn growled, then swiped a hand through his hair, frustrated. You know, never mind. We don't have time for this. We need to find Sin.

I agree. Which is why I'm slightly confused as to why you're just standing around, Faeling.

The gods-blasted shifter sounded amused. Thorn forced himself to ignore it. "And you would be...?" He managed a small, tight smile in the nymph's direction.

She straightened, shooting a glance at him. Her dark, dark eyes traced him assessingly, and her eyebrows drew together. Thorn sighed. "I'm sorry about this. You must've gotten caught in the backdraft..." he shot a glare at Raiden, standing off to the side, nearer the cliff's edge. "This idiot doesn't have very good control."

Raiden arched a single silver brow--still seeming amused, not that his expression changed to give that impression. The infuriating elf was just as impassive as ever--only a glint in those calm amber eyes belying any emotion. Sometimes Thorn thought he was an automaton.

"Apologies," Raiden intoned, inclining his head to the nymph. He didn't sound very sorry. And they didn't have time for this.

"Oh, hello, I'm Caelei," the nymph said as she turned to Raiden, watching him curiously. "And I don't mind. Somehow this has allowed me to travel further from my estuary." Thorn noticed, to his surprise, that her eyes were beaming with excitement.

If he'd had the time to truly look at her, he'd have thought her pretty--and might have acted on his usual impulses.

But he didn't have the time. "Forgive me, Lady Caelei," he said, bowing--making sure to speak before Raiden could do anything stupid. Her eyes darted to him as he straightened. "I am sorry for this--though grateful that you aren't upset--and I apologize that I can't express that more thoroughly at the moment. We're short on time."