The Thief (A Tale of Heroes & Demons Book 2)

Chapter 6

Changing Paths

"Useless. Absolutely useless." Declan dropped onto the boulder, his head in his hands.

Sunlight streamed through the trees, glittering across the river at his feet. He had tried following the stone for days now, tracking Demonica through the forest, but nothing. He scratched the back of his head.

He was following it as best he could to no avail. Although sometimes the glow helped indicate which direction to go, for the most part he was going in circles.

So much time wasted.

With a growl he stuffed the tracking stone back into his pocket and dumped his hands into the river, bringing the cool liquid up to his lips. The soothing water poured down his throat. He sighed. He brought more water up and poured it over his head, a small groan escaping his lips as his mind slowed.

"What do I do now?"

He lifted his head to stare at the branches and leaves as they rustled in the breeze. "Demonica isn't following the same pattern anymore, and since she travels underground so often, I can't pick up a trail." He shook his head. "If only that witch had created a tracking device that actually worked."

Declan stopped.

Wait.

The witch.

Netta.

He jumped up and grabbed his sword that he had sat on the ground next to the boulder.

"You wanted to see me?"

Declan twirled, sword before him. Standing not ten feet away was Netta. "H...how?"

Netta smiled, the wrinkles creasing around her mouth. "What do you mean?" When he didn't answer she continued. "Is everything alright, dear? Where's Katherine?" Her eyes locked onto his, ageless years piercing his soul.

"I left her. As I thought before, this is all far to dangerous for a young girl."

She scoffed. "Fool." Her voice, so kind and warm before, turned venomous. "Stubborn, damned fool." She sighed and shook her head. "When I tell someone to do something, such as when I you to take Katherine, there was a reason. Everything I do always has a reason."

"You knew." Declan shifted his jaw, rubbing it with a hand. "You knew she was a witch."

Netta shrugged. "I trained her myself."

"Why? Why did you send her with me?'

"Because nobody can do something like this on their own." Netta brought a small satchel forward. "And because you will all play and integral role in what is to come." She pulled out a small, cloth covered object. "But to do this, it appears you need more...direction."

"Speak plainly."

"The beginning is the end, but to find it you must first wake." She whipped the cloth away and blew a powder towards him.

***

Air rushed into his lungs as his eyes snapped open. Heart beating widely, Declan scrambled to his feet.

Sweat poured from his brow, blurring his vision. It took his nearly a minute to remember where he was and where he had napped against a tree near the river.

He was alone.

Heart slowing, Declan sighed and rubbed a hand across his face. "Only a dream." But when he looked down his heart skipped a beat.

There, sitting on the ground next to tree was a small bag and note.

The beginning is the end.