Dark Wreathe

Chapter 3

"Little Dove."
I awoke to the rising of the sun peaking in the distance, slicing through the shadows of the surrounding dead trees. A haunting sight to see, as pinks and soft yellows curled around the spindly and pointed limbs.
I hastily tried to sit up from where I was lain out next to a tree stump, only to fall back down from the shock of pain searing through my body.
Perhaps I will die here, if I haven't died already.
A soft chuckle escaped me at the thought.
The slightest flash of motion from the corner of my eye snapped me back to attention.
I turned my head to the left and squinted against the bright rays coming from that direction.
There, nonchalantly leaning against rough bark, stood a tall being shrouded in complete darkness.
He had a cruel twisted smile on his face, cold and calculating. His eyes were a light blue, like  piercing shards of ice. His pale complexion gave him an almost ethereal look that barely hid the promise of violence that seemed to surround him.
But then I blinked, and suddenly he was gone. I imagined him.
Spooked by what I thought I saw, I hauled myself to my feet ignoring the pain as much as possible and hurriedly dusted myself before scampering off in the nearest direction.
I needed to get as far away as possible.
Where I was going, I had no idea.

I wandered aimlessly for hours and hours, dazed and confused until a thought donned on me. This must be a dream. I'm still in the Tower and I'm dreaming.
It hit me so hard that I collapsed in on myself. I vaguely felt the wet earth as it soaked into my tattered trousers. Shivers rushed over me and I clutched at the useless cloak wrapped around my shoulders.
Panic and fear overtook me, swallowing up any strength I had in my body from the days travel.
My vision blurred and Voices started to whisper in my ears, screaming inside my head.
"You're not there anymore."
I froze abruptly. The Voices immediately started to fade.
"They're all dead you know. You killed them."
More confusing questions and fear swirled around along with the whispers in my head. I slowly lifted my chin towards the only sensible voice I could hear.
I was met with the same cruel eyes that had haunted me all afternoon, the same eyes that have haunted me in my dreams since i went in search of the Mad Queen.
It was the man I had seen in the morning mists.
I forced myself to look away from his eeriness and instead focused on the way his raven black hair hung over his forehead and slightly past his pointed ears.
His seemingly flawless skin was made imperfect by the jagged scar running down from under his chin to just above his collarbone.
He tilted his head to the side as if he, too, was examining me.
"I think it's time we became more acquainted, Little Dove."
My memories stirred at the mention of the name. I felt the wheels turning in my head of the Tower, of the shadows. And the one voice that stood out above all.
"Who...are you?" I quaked.
His smile widened, exposing his too sharp canines and distorting his face in a cruel manner.
"I can grant you your greatest wish, but only on one condition. I need you to help me find something I've lost."
Shadows lapped at his feet wildly at his apparent excitement for my answer.
"And what would that be?" I asked.
"You'll just have to wait and see for yourself."
Suddenly his hands were reaching for mine and he pulled me upright before vanishing into thin air.
Even without his physical presence, I could sense him all around me. A hand clutched my shoulder and out of nowhere his face reappeared by my ear.
"Allow me to be your guide. It's quite a long walk from here Little Dove."