entwined

Part 3

Alina chased after the Erebus and caught it by her flaming whip ,killing it at an instant.Pushing her aside, the people rushed to safety and Alina hastened back to Darya. By the time ,she reached back,Darya was nowhere to be found and the only thing left was the Bible. Wiping the tears from her cheeks,Alina started to move ahead in search of the others.She understood the effects of being a Santeri, the protectors of mankind from the darkness.She walked on for miles,past the abandoned towns and villages ravaged by the Erebus. Growing wearier, Alina  decided to rest for a while when she came across a water-hole. 

Sometime later,she woke up to sounds nearby with her whip in hand ready to strike.Just as she turned around to fight, she stopped. In front of her stood Colt and Ermir worn out."What are you doing here?  Weren't you both supposed to be on the other side by now?"Alina asked in despair."The path is closed, we tried to save as much of them as we can."I have never so many of them at once.The others escaped to other side,we weren't able to reach it on time. I think we are the only ones left."as Ermir replied and put down his bow and arrow and moved ahead to the water-hole." Are you okay?Where is Darya? Weren't you two together?"he asked hesitantly. Alina didn't say a word but handed him the Bible."We don't have much time, we must reach the next town before it's late."Alina proceeded to walk ahead.Colt looked up the sky, whispered some words and along with Ermir followed Alina.

Colt,Darya and Orinda sat down at the table for breakfast the next morning."Is she a Santeri like us ? doubted Orinda as she gobbled a couple of toast down her throat. "I am not sure. I don't remember seeing her name on the list."said Darya as she got up to fill her coffee cup."Even if she was one of us, we have to be careful. It seems like she doesn't know who she is." All the while, Alina was eavesdropping the conversation when she suddenly got pulled through the door by Orinda."I think we need to set up another chair at our table. We got a guest."Alina stepped forward confused with a slight pain in her hands."Don't worry we are not going to hurt you.You're fine,sit down and let's talk."as Orinda grabbed another plate, Alina sat beside Colt,scared that she might get hurt if she disobeyed them.

"So, how long have you been spying on us? Are you working for the enemy?"Colt questioned her intensely . Alina pointed out his tattoos and said "That's what led me here. Darya and Orinda looked  at Colt perplexed. "What do you mean? Have you seen him before?"Darya gave a stare at Colt. Alina then narrated the story how she saw Colt at the bookstore and how she saw his tattoos moving and his sudden disappearance from the bookstore."I couldn't sleep for two months thinking about it." Colt felt a loud slap on his head."Idiot! No wonder the Erebus appeared that night. "Orinda  rebuked him." Owww... you know I can't control them. Alina continued gulping down the coffee and bread,"One night,sleepless, I decided to check if what I saw was real or a dream.And it was."

Darya pulled Orinda aside and whispered to her while Colt kept her company." Gather the others and tell them to bring the box.We need to find out if she is really one of us."Darya ordered Orinda as both of them moved further away from the table ."Is it true? Do your tattoos really move.How did you get them?Do they hurt when they move?" Alina exploded with questions."Woah, slow down. I don't think  you should be the one asking the questions."Colt moved and sat two steps away from her and began to munch on his bread.Alina continued to stare at his tattoos when,"Look its moving again"Alina pointed out.Colt got up hurriedly and called out the girls and they came rushing in."We got to move.They are coming." "How did you...."Darya was interuppted by Alina." You guys can't see it....wait a minute....what do you mean they are coming? Who are 'they'? Are you referring to the creature that you chased that night? "

None of them answered her.Each of them grabbed their own weapons."We don't have the time to explain.Just come with us for now."Darya grabbed Alina's hands and pulled her closer."What are you saying?I got to go back, my aunt will be worried." "I wouldn't be concerned about your aunt right now?" replied Orinda and got out a compass.It was an odd looking and had no markings of that of an ordinary one. Orinda nodded her head at them and in a moment the compass blazed with fire and all of them vaporized.