The Enchantments: Book 3 - The Key of Sorcen

Chapter 44: The Steps

Simeneon hit the wooden floors of the cabin with a tumultuous thud after rolling from the portal. She sat shaking as she tried desperately to get her nerve back as the sounds of the bayou filtered around her. She wiped the sweat that had built up on the side of her brow and slowly got to her feet.

"LET ME AT HER!!!!" Came a frantic voice from outside.

She had forgotten about Marlanda and her angry outbursts. If she had her way she would have gone out the back door and taken off, but since she was her friend she had to confront her. She had to at least try, to give her side of the story but she knew it wouldn't be easy. People who had suddenly lost someone special to them would do anything that would put the blame on others. And at this point she at the right, at the wrong time.

This should have been a time of great joy, but with all that had happened it was turning into something that resembled a nightmare. She proceeded to the door, took a deep breath then stepped out into the sweaty air of the bayou.

The 'Brothers of the Light' were the first to greet her as she walked down the stairs to the front of the cabin. They wanted to run and hug her, congratulating her for completing the task of retrieving the artifact, which sat, buried behind her arms strewn across her chest. But they took one look at her hurt eyes and waited for the turmoil to begin.

Marlanda pushed a member of the 'Brotherhood' aside and rushed forward to Simeneon.

"Marlanda I-"

"SHUT UP!!!" She screamed.

"Huh-"

"YOU HELPED TO KILL MY BOYFRIEND!!"

"-But there was nothing I-"

"-WHY DIDN'T YOU STAY!!!"

"Stay? But Fin told me-" She looked over at her friend standing soaked amongst the pouring rain trying desperately to avoid her gaze.

Marlanda moved dangerously close where Simeneon could feel the hatred radiating from her.

"If we hadn't got involved in this whole charade you call an adventure we never would have lost –" Marlanda finally lost her power of anger and the fears and deep felt loss began to pour out of her faster then the rain. She fell to her knees and covered her eyes with her hands.

Simeneon felt helpless as she looked around the group. The darkness made it tough to see their faces but the way the light shone off them they looked angry as well. She finally caught Fins gaze and felt him bore into her as well. He finally turned away as Marlanda began to shake.

Simeneon placed her hand upon her friends shoulder and tried to comfort her as best she could but Marlanda surprised her. With quickness she wasn't expecting Marlanda swung her arm around and knocked Simeneon's hand from her shoulder.

"YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR LETTING THIS HAPPEN-"

"-But-" Simeneon tried to say weakly.

"NO!!!"

Simeneon sensed the worse was about to come.

"Leave, we never want to see you again!!!" Marlanda whispered.

Simeneon felt her world drop out from under her. She looked upon the others and waited for one of them to stand up and say something but they were none responsive.

She felt very alone and here, was the last place she wanted to be right now. Without thinking she sidestepped Marlanda and raced through the group of people she had once called her friends.