Don't need the Alpha

Chapter 26 The legend

            We’ve been traveling for a while now. Phoebe could’ve transported us in a flash, if she had her powers that is. As it is she’s drained and all current powers she has are limited to simple protective and healing spells. Not that I’m complaining. In fact I would be really appreciative if I was wounded and she was able to heal me with a spell, even if it’s something as simple as healing my current aching throbbing feet. I find myself very tempted to use one of those spells at the moment, but me and my damn conscience, it won’t allow me to ask her for help when she’s looking so pale and frail.

            “Toss me a water bottle.” Hera ordered from her kneeling position near the bonfire. She was too close to the fire if you ask me. It looked dangerous, but Hera was too entranced by the dancing flames to care, it seems. I watch as Christy takes out a bottle of water from one of the huge backpacks we had prepared for the hiking/journey/hell, and she tosses the water at Hera without looking her way, and I thought I saw a hint of annoyance on Christy’s face. 

          We were all sitting around the fire resting for the rest of the journey that awaited us. The woods we found ourselves in were obscure and eerie. I haven’t seen the sun for days now, giving its name more meaning. Yup! We’re in “The Dark Woods.” Talk about originality. Tsk. There’s never sun in these parts of Limbo. I find that extremely unnerving. Especially since we’ve been here for four days now, or is that nights…

           I was minding my own business, lost in thought that it took me a while to feel the sudden quiet that fell over us, and not just from my group but the woods felt silent as well. I look up to find Christy, Hera, and Phoebe looking at me. Well more like somewhere or something behind me.

            “There’s a big monster behind me, isn’t it?” I tried to make a joke out of it, but the tremble in my voice gave my panic away.

           “Hush child!” Phoebe commanded sternly. It only made me more nervous. It felt like when someone sees a roach near you and they’re looking all freaked out but are afraid to let you know, either scared of your reaction or that the roach will go to them. Yes that about sums it up. And trust me between a monster and a roach, I think I rather be killed by a monster, unless the monster resembles said bug. Although that would make it an alien, wouldn’t it? What the hell am I thinking? Monster behind you, do something!

            I turn very, very slowly, holding my breath in the process. When I catch a glimpse of what they were looking at I gasp, and then I fall not so gracefully on my behind with a loud thud that echoes through the quiet woods. Red demon-like eyes were glowing in the darkness of the woods. The creature they belonged to was concealed by the trees and the dark, but as soon as it had heard the noise from my graceful act, it had vanished. Not noise in bushes, or crunching of leaves or twigs on the ground. The thing had either transported itself with magic just like Phoebe and Nightshade were able to, or it was a skillful hunter that knew how to move soundlessly. Either are scary thoughts.

           “Did you feel it before?” Hera was the first to break the silence. Her question was directed at Christy who in turn nods, but she looked out of sorts. Christy’s stare was still on the spot where the red eyes had been, as if she was expecting it to come back, or was that longing in her eyes…?

            “What do you mean? Have you guys felt the creature’s presence before?” I felt confused, and if I was being honest, I felt scared as hell.

            Hera nods. “It has been following us for a while now. At first it was too far and I thought it was just a creature from the dark woods, but then it was keeping up with us. It’s been watching us the whole time.” Hera’s words gives me the chills and I rub my hands up and down my arms, wanting warmth, or to keep myself from giving in to fear. The last thing we needed was me screaming and running off like a crazy person.