AURORA

Chapter 9: Part II

 

             I stand in front of the forest that lies off into the distance of Denmar. It was one crawling with sunlight. Now bright green eyes pierce from the darkness. A cold, icy rush flows outwards from the trees. The air is thick and suffocating. Large, blood thirsty wolves are sure to infest its soul. Owl's hoots fill the air. They linger in the shadows, hiding. Black widows lie in their masterpiece of web, waiting to devour their next victim. Pools of tar cover the grounds. Black bubbles grow and pop vigorously, waiting for something to fall in so that it can consume its soul.

            Poisonous frogs infest the deep dark waters. Popping their colorful heads out with every noise that disturbs the waters. I shall name it the Dead Forest. Come to life from my imagination. My dangerous mind. If the forest is entered, there is no coming back. I am the only one who can walk in and freely walk out. I take a step in and the world behind me disappears. Vanishing behind prickly branches.

         Every inch of the forest is intriguing to me. I admire its dark beauty. My feet brush against hundreds of dead roses as I walk. I pick one up and sniff its wilted petals. Black roses symbolize beauty in its purest form. Dark beauty. Absent of color. Absent of life. But filled with death. As I continue to walk, the trees braches move throughout the canopies. Creating a slow creaking sound. The trees are aware of my presence. They feel my cold skin brush the air. They follow my every move.

          The forest and I are one. Our souls intertwined into one another. I walk forward with the black rose in my hand still. I come to a halt. I look at the rose with pure admiration. I begin to crumple it in my hands and let it drift towards the ground. As I stare at the falling rose petals, I hear large thumps. The ground quivers. The trees sway back and forth. Birds fly away and the poisonous frogs disappear into the water. Something very large is coming. All the noise suddenly stops. A pair of bright red eyes appear ahead of me. So red, the sun lives in them. I can hear it breathing deeply. Grunting. Its presence doesn't faze me. I created everything here. I have no reason to fear, because I am fear itself.

         Well step forward, show yourself. Show me what has been brewing in this forest. I slowly tilt my head down and close my eyes. Hoping my sightlessness will lure him out. The trees in front of me crack and fall towards the ground. Creating a large reverberation. I slowly open my eyes, exposing my red, hearty eyes. A large, gray figure emerges before me. Something I've only heard about in books back home. A Jinsu. A pre-historic, colossal, looking creature. Two large tusks flow from his head. His overgrown teeth crowd his mouth. His skin looks like the same skin from a black cobra. Rubbery, scaly, and with little diamond formations hiding on them.

        "Well aren't you just a beauty. Do you speak Jinsu? If so what is your name?" A deep bellow ensues. "Yes, my queen. I am Agnar, protector of this forest. We have awaited your arrival. You've taken your first kingdom. It will not be your last. We know of your glory. It has no end. Your beauty. It will never wane. You are the evil queen. The one true queen. This is your forest. We answer to you and only you." He prepares himself for a bow. All the creatures of the forest come to life. Ravens align atop the tree branches above us. Black hares hop and surround the troll. The poisonous frogs spew from the murky waters and join.

         The trees talk to each other. Their leaves rustle and shake. Large, overgrown wolves rush from the darkness. Golden owls reveal themselves and place themselves in between each raven. A peculiar, but stunning creature steps forward from the mist. He looks like a giant bird. Its two horn curves towards the skies. His wings engulf the air. He doesn't have skin; rather feathers. Dark black feathers and apple green eyes. His name shall be Fury. A large group of caribou gallop from the trees and take their place. Their antlers long and majestic. Every animal in the forest gathers and takes a powerful bow. Their bows makes my body cold and potent.

          "You may rise. My creatures. My spawn. Your beauty pleases me. Your wickedness is paradise. Walk with me and aid me to my kingdom." They immediately follow me. We walk blending in with the forest. It would be a days' journey before I reach Dubar. I anticipate going to see Cara. There's no doubt that she has changed. Sitting in that dungeon wasting away. Barely eating. No communication with the outside world. She has no family. No one in this world loves her and she loves no one. She is surely a broken spirit. Revenge is the only thing that will ease her mind.

         I will use her to my advantage. Her built up tension will make her more than suitable for my task. The task I have planned for her will not go undone. This will be the first time she will be of any service, unless I have to kill her due to her unwillingness. It would please me to end her, but I need her. My eyes begin staring into the black misty view ahead. A wicked, foul laugh fills the air and echoes in the atmosphere.