Faery Island

A Dangerous Line

Chapter XXIV - A Dangerous Line

Erin

The inner gates were sealed shut and guards covered it. The city of Amarathine gathered around in the courtyard, waiting.

"It's been a while sense anyone's gone through those gates," Ztnook committed. He settled a hand on Erin's shoulder.

"Who do you think it is?"

"I'm not sure, I guess we'll see."

A loud chatter grew as the minutes passed and every waited for the new visitors. Would they be dead? Emotionally crushed? No one's exactly sane after the trails. Erin wouldn't know from experience, but rumor was it was your worse, darkest inner fears.

Something didn't feel right and she scanned the crowd. She shivered, feeling eyes on her.

"You okay?"

She found the shimmer of red hair in the light, then as quickly as it appeared it vanished.

The boy.

"Yeah I'm fine, I'm going to get a closer look. . ." Ztnook began to follow. "I'll, uh be back in a minute."

He reluctantly stayed behind. Erin pushed her way through the crowded street to the place she had seen the fire red hair.

She was grabbed and pulled into the shadows of an ally.

"Let me go!"

"Shhhh!" The red headed boy said, holding her by both shoulders. She struggled to get away. He let her go, surprising her. "Why are you following me?"

"I want answers." Erin demanded. She felt unease demanding anything, especially from a lunatic.

"Look, you know more than I do." He said crossing his arms. His eyes flew to the gate and back at her. "What the Hell is going on?"

"The trails. Someone is trying to enter the city." She almost forgot about them. "And no I don't. Who are you?"

The red headed boy paled, his facial features hardened. "Doesn't matter. Who are you?"

Anger flared inside Erin. "Doesn't matter," she mocked. "Why do I look like your mom?"

"It was a mistake," he gritted out, but it was obviously not. He turned to leave.

"No it wasn't! Tell me!"

"No!" He shouted back. "I don't know you! She's not my mom anymore! She never even had an older daughter!"

A man in black appeared, his aurora menacing, shadows gathered around him. He looked like a nightmare walking.

"That's where you were wrong, Ricalos."

The red headed boy stiffed.

"I told you not to go near her again," the man in black said. Erin began to back away but she was stuck where she stood. Cold shadow like limbs wrapped themselves around her.

"Now she must die. Kill her."