The Omega Princess

Chapter 10

I could hear Hera breathing heavily behind me, as we travelled in down the dark trail that lead to the forest. I hadn’t noticed how sinister it became in the dark, in the light bright flowers led the way but the dark sky had flushed their colour, leaving us with nothing but shadows of grey and black.

I paused looking around me carefully, Hera stopped as well taking the time to catch her breath, when she noticed me staring at her, she sniffed the air.

“We’re not being followed” she said struggling to control her voice so that she didn’t sound so breathless.

I nodded and lifted up my dress, I had searched for something that would allow me more mobility but there had seemed to be none. Instead I settled for a black dress that was loose, ensuring I could move freely but also helping me to blend in with the night. I also wore a black hood which I wrapped rightly around me trying to keep out of the cold.

I walked with a little more purpose. Hera had told me to meet her at her cottage after dinner, I wanted to come sooner but Pietro had wanted to talk to me about Dale, I had been agitated at dinner and he seemed to believe that his absence was distressing me. I guess if it hadn’t been the situation I probably would have been unnerved, but all I could worry about was little Cara out there in the cold and the dark, with a stranger who probably meant to harm her.

After a few more minutes the path ahead of us seemed to be engulfed by the trees, what little light that was piercing through the dark seemed to disappear with each step. My heart raced like a thousand horses galloping but I only took in calm breaths and walked forward as quickly but as quickly as I possibly could. I paused as I felt Hera’s cold hand on my shoulder, with a small turn I faced her. Her eyes were darting around looking panicked, her pupils almost covering her entire iris.

“Here” she pointed to a small break in the beginnings of the forest where the trees seemed to open up, a huge black hole staring right us.

I looked at Hera my heart racing once more, but then I decided that there wasn’t any way I could turn back now.

Come on Izarra

Shakily I took one step towards huge gape, the closer I got the harder my heart beat, until I could hear it roaring in my ears, almost deafening me. A shaky breath left my mouth involuntarily. I turned back and saw Hera leaning against the trees her hands covering her face, in the night she looked all the more vulnerable and I was her last hope.

I tightened my fists and took another deep breath walking with a bold determination. Each step gave me a little more strength and I became bold until I was striding into the forest allowing it to swallow me whole.

I paused for a second looking behind me, the only thing I could see now was trees. I steeled myself once more and began to walk straight ahead, I came to realise that I was not quite sure of where it was that I was headed but nether less  I followed my stomach and allowed it to lead me.

Trees stood in my way, causing me to change direction sometimes but I was sure that I was headed more or less on a northern path, possibly going towards the centre of the forest.

I noted that it was disturbingly quiet in the forest, we didn’t have many forest in Krysta but all the ones that I had visited all seemed to deafen one with noise, I could clearly remember the symphony of sound that had been created by all the animals and also nature itself. But not here, the wind was calm so no leaves rustled and it seemed as though all the animals were asleep… or in hiding.

After walking for 10 minutes or so I stopped, leaning against a tree to get some rest. My legs seemed to ache as they often did when I walked briskly for more than five minutes. I stretched them, massaging them gently in the hopes that they would stop hurting just for a little bit so I could complete my task.