War Child

Chapter VIII

Just as I had thought we headed to the creepy shop that I saw in my dream. 

I tried to tell Orchid and Josh about my dream and how we definitely should not go there, but they did not listen to me.

"We have to it's on the mark it will lead us to the cave and maybe even the lost campers if they're still alive,"

We made it over the hill and right there the shop stood.  It was exactly like in my dreams which did not make me feel better. 

We walked to the doors and opened them, no one was inside.  I was happy, maybe it was just a dream nothing bad could happen here. 

One of the doors in the back opened and out walked a tall woman with blonde hair, hazel eyes, and a weird glow to her skin, she looked great, but I knew there was something odd about her.

  I felt drawn to her it was kind of like talking with Aphrodite she gave off an intimidating energy, but you also wanted to make her happy and do as she said.

Orchid didn't seem all that fazed with the woman.  "Noah, Josh, get away from her!" she said in a voice of concern.

I snapped out of it for a second, but then looked back at the woman.  "Come along with me and we will work together.  Your friend over there is just jealous of me that's all," the woman spoke in a soft voice.

"Stop! I am far from jealous over some empusa! Now let go of my friends and tell us how to get to the purple creep!" Orchid demanded.

"Well, you sure do yell a lot.  Why should I give you your friends back? They would make a lovely meal and after all, I don't get many visitors anymore."

The women handed me a drink "Here you look like you could use a little something after the long walk here," before Orchid could stop me I drank half the cup. 

I fell to the ground unable to move within a few minutes, whatever was in that drink was powerful.  "What did you give him?!" Orchid screamed.

"Just a little potion no worries he'll just awake up once a true love kisses him.  So never," she laughed evilly.

Great, I'm going to stay like this forever, what a great son of Ares.  I get defeated by a milkshake.

Orchid pulled two twin daggers off her belt "You're going to pay!" she ran towards the empusa. 

"Now young child, has anyone told you it is not nice to fight a lady?"

"Good thing you're not a lady then!" Orchid yelled as she tried to slash the woman's face. Orchid missed and the empusa showed her true form. 

She was no longer beautiful, she had chalky white skin, red eyes, and what happened to her feet?!

Before I could question her . . . look, she hit Orchid out of her way knocking her to the ground "See girl! I am far too powerful for you to stop me!" The empusa was walking away.  Orchid jumped up and slashed the woman's back.

Which was all she needed because of the celestial bronze the daggers were made from.

The woman let out a scream then went up in flames and turned to ash. 

Josh went back to normal "What happened?" he questioned.

I still couldn't move I could only hear what was going on.  Even my vision was blurry I could barely make out the shadows in the room.

I heard footstep coming closer to me till Orchid was by my side.  She leaded down and kissed me.  I was shocked why did she do that?! And why could I move again?! 

"Wow," Josh let out.

"Well, we should be going now, there is a map on the desk.  I think it is to the cave."  she walked out of the store and waited for Josh and me.

"Dude I did not see that happening," Josh said as he helped me up and out of the store.  "Me either," I mumbled.

We walked out of the shop just in time to see it crumble to the ground.  Josh handed the map to Orchid.

As they looked at the map I couldn't help but feel like we were being watched.  I looked around, but couldn't find anyone or anything. 

"Keep ye guard up boy!" The voice in my head yelled. 

I listened to the voice seeing how it hasn't failed me yet.  I held my sword close still looking in each direction.

I turned around the last time before following Orchid and Josh to the cave.  Just as I was about to say something I was hit in the head really hard.  I fell to the ground and the last thing I saw was a weird looking face staring right at me. 

I kept waking up but then going unconscious again.  I was being dragged off somewhere.  One of the times I woke up I looked over and seen Josh being dragged beside me, but Orchid was not there.  Did she escape? Did I just not see her? Where were me and Josh being taken to?

Before I could ask more questions I blacked out again.