Walking Delusions

a/n: Thanks to everyone who reads and rates! I'm glad to see that there are still those enjoying this! Especially Amanda and all her support.

Enjoy!

Chapter Eight: Kiss of the Mist

I crave him, burning deep down like a pure blue fire.
He avoids but watches,
Eyes like the falling suns.
My delusions, my world,
It’s merging, it’s falling.
I’m sinking into his touch but the arms are wrong,
The scent sweet but I’m lost.
My sanity has become my enemy
Humanity the last wall to fall.

I’ll never understand why it was always that the more I was lost in thought; the more time seemed to fly by as we walked. But one moment I was contemplating eating my sandals because my stomach had begun to grumble so loud, the next I had crashed into Lalil’s back. The waif-like woman had stopped so suddenly, without any kind of warning and I wasn’t paying her the least bit of attention. I got a mouthful of her lavender hair, surprised that it tasted like blueberries rather than, well, hair.

“We’re here,” she intoned softly as I extricated myself from the web of her braids and peeked over her shoulder.

She was gesturing with one pale hand towards a wall of thickly woven vines in front of us. For the life of me, I couldn’t make out anything that even resembled a king of the forest.

“Here the mist cannot touch us.” She turned and looked at me expectantly, as if I were supposed to say something. I gave her a weary smile, unsure of what else she wanted from me.

“That’s good, I suppose,” I responded with a hesitant laugh.

Lalil beamed in response before returning her attention to the wall of vines in front of us. She took a step forward then waved her palm in front of her. “Open, friends, for the cailan n’enon n’ahlam.”

I watched with mouth agape as there was a whooshing among the trees and a slight creak of wood scraping against itself before the vines slowly began to untangle and pull off to the side. The dark green, smooth bark of the vegetation dimly reminded me of a pack of writhing snakes and I shivered at the mere thought. Not that I don’t like the reptiles, but a mass of them curling and turning about each other gave me chills. It was not a situation I wanted to be in.

Within moments, the barrier was completely gone, the vines scattered in many directions. Just beyond the plant gate was a tunnel of sorts, darkened and made of more of the same vines. I was hesitant about wandering in there but Lalil barged right on forward and I made every effort to follow her. I was a bit afraid of the dark of the vine tunnel but buried my fear. After all it was nothing but vegetation, was it not?

As I stepped into the cool darkness, passing beneath the arch that signified the tunnel’s beginnings, I was startled by a rustling sound just behind me. I turned in time to see the vines moving back across the opening, weaving together thickly, sinuous in their path. One of the creeper’s reached out with a leafless body and caressed my cheek. I jumped back with a startled gasp; surprised by the tingling feeling the plant had left in its wake.

I heard Lalil chuckle from just beside me. “The Guardians like you.”

“That’s a good thing, right?” I squeaked, still a bit shaken by the sight of a vine moving on its own, and to caress my cheek no less.

“Of course it is.” She chuckled. “Now you shall have their protection. That is a great gift. Come, ‘he’ is waiting.” Without further explanation, she turned and started to head down the tunnel.

I darted forward and latched onto her clothing, surprised at the wispy feeling to it, as if it would crumble away in my grasp. I couldn’t see anything in the dark tunnel, save Lalil’s eyes shining and was afraid I would get left behind.

Being in the dark was an interesting experience. There were at first the initial emotions: fear, trepidation and apprehension. The darkness seemed to cloak all about me, grabbing onto my skin and trying to force its way into my lungs as I sucked in deep, calming breaths. My unseeing eyes could make out images and forms that I was sure weren’t really there but my imagination was running rampant.

Yet, despite all that, the longer I walked in the dark, the more I became accompanied to it. My body compensated for the lack of sight. All of the sudden I could hear and smell much better. The slight scruff of my shoes across the ground and the gentle pitter-patter of Lalil’s small feet were the most evident sounds. In the distance I could hear the sound of water dripping and the familiar creak of vines rubbing against each other. I smelt earth, fresh and unpolluted, as if it had been tilled directly after a summer rain. And the distinct scent of plants still filled with life also imbued my senses. I relaxed in the gloom, finally feeling safe enough to let go of Lalil’s clothing and walk on my own.

We continued walking, the both of us silent. It was odd. As full of questions as I had been earlier, all escaped me now as I considered what it would be to face the king of the forest. Would he be a lion? They are majestic creatures. Or even an unicorn? In this world that was so different from my own, it was possible. Or would he be as I originally suspected, some golden god of a man?

“Brothers, let us pass,” I heard Lalil murmur as I absorbed the sound of her moving her arm, the swish of the light, web-like material loud in my ears.

Her feet had stopped and I joined her, looking over to see her strangely glowing eyes watching me intently. But before I could utter a word, a brilliant light began to assail my vision.

The vines that had been covering the other end of the tunnel began to move away and my pupils couldn’t react fast enough to the change. I covered my eyes with my hand until the creepers had completely uncovered the entrance. I felt Lalil grasp my free-hanging hand and allowed her to pull me out of the tunnel until I felt I could look around on my own, slowly adjusting to the sudden change in light.

After a moment of waiting, I removed my hand and gasped at where I had been lead. If I were king of the forest, I would live here as well. The Tunnel had opened into a small glade, that was nothing if not green. I mean it; the place literally glowed with life and light.

It was surrounded on all sides by tall, wide trees of the same beautiful golden-green tone. Small bushes, in varying shades of green from emerald to jade to sea grew along the base of the trees that stretched to the sky. On the far end, nestled in a small depression, a crystal clear pond of sorts resided, populated by what I took to be lily pads with beautiful amethyst and cerulean flowers. The ground was covered with fine grass and blanketed by all kinds of flowers. But for all intents and purposes, the glade was empty.

Well, save for the lone creature that was standing on the banks of the pool, gazing down at its depths. This animal was very much like a chipmunk in its fine sepia fur with a small line of pure white down its back all the way to the tip of its fluffy tail. Except for the fact that chipmunks didn't have a pair of beautiful white wings sprouting from their thin shoulders. The strange animal was hardly bigger than my hands standing end to end but still managed to have an effective presence. The tail twitched slightly in the breeze and in the reflection from the still pool I could just barely make out solemn grey eyes that seemed fathomless.

“I have brought her as you requested, Great One,” Lalil intoned bowing deeply.

I looked at her in astonishment. This tiny creature was the great king of the forest? A large part of my mind couldn’t comprehend that fact as my mouth gaped open and I stared at the brown-furred animal, that for the sake of my sanity, I will just call a winged chipmunk.

There was a twitch of movement and suddenly the Great One turned around, ever so gracefully. Those granite eyes fell on me and I instantly knew I truly was in the presence of the king. I felt as if I were being looked through in just a moment and that the winged squirrel could see straight through all my lies, all my insecurities, to the bare, shivering child beneath the sarcasm. My knees weakened and I fell to them, landing gently on the cushioning grass. My hands shot out to the ground to catch me before I fell flat on my face as I bowed my head before him.

I wanted to cry, and I wasn’t even sure I could understand why. I wanted to sob and tell him everything that had happened to me. I wanted to explain everything and confess to all the dirty deeds that I knew he already knew but I felt I needed to say anyway. It was a discomfiting feeling and I had to bite my lip to keep from spilling every secret.

“You needn’t bow to me child,” came the voice, like a gentle river pouring over rocks worn smooth with time. “In truth, it is I who should bow to you.”

I looked up through a veil of hair to see the Great One standing before me, nose twitching in solemnity. I heard a soft gasp, one that must have come from Lalil. I ignored it, instead choosing to gaze into those grey orbs. It was like staring into forever: I saw ageless wisdom and a knowledge that I would never possess on my own. I felt completely unworthy despite his assurance of it.

Then without my knowledge, my speech pattern became like his and I felt compelled to respond. “You do me too much honor. I am but a human and lowly in your regards.”

He laughed then, deep and mellifluous, the sound easing down my chest like cool water and alleviating the great need within me to kneel before this regal creature. I slowly sat back on my heels as I watched him, just about eye to eye now that we were no longer standing.

“Lalil, the cailan is starving,” the Great One mused aloud, turning his attention away from me just long enough to berate his servant. I felt lost without that gaze though I couldn’t even begin to explain why. “Go and fetch her some food.”

I heard the scrabbling of feet and knew that the waif-like woman had hurried to do so but I couldn’t take my eyes off of the beautiful creature who was king of the forest. Once she was gone from sight, the king heaved a great sigh and returned his attentions to me.

“I am going to speak quickly because this is for your ears alone,” he said to me, voice soft as if he feared being overheard.

I nodded numbly, too afraid to interrupt the beauty of the surroundings by saying anything else.

“Since creation myself and the Anoth’di have resided in this forest. We were given a purpose in the prophecy, that on the day that the cailan n’enon n’ahlom dreams we were to give her a message and a gift. That was to be our part in what could be either the restoration or destruction of the world,” he explained, his voice soothing to me. I found myself getting lost in his tale.

“The prophecy that was born on the same day as this world over two and a half million years ago is read as thus:

For love, Tears was born
For love, Tears was chosen
When the winged finds the cailan
Let it be known that love is always true.
And the chosen will have the choice,
For love, Tears was given life,
For love, Tears will fall.

That my child is the prophecy, spoken on the wind and in the hearts of all the ageless. And so I say to you, that love is always true, no matter unrequited, no matter the stillness of the heart. Understand that the emotion is more than a word. It is a hope, a destiny, a chance to live again.” His voice seemed to reverberate through my soul, burning the words into my heart.

Something within me stirred at them, as if I had heard them before, in some deep and forgotten part of myself. I frowned slightly and turned my thoughts inward, trying to discern where I may have learned of such words.

“Go to the place in the memory,” he continued as if reading my mind and knowing the questions I was going to ask before I actually voiced them. “Does not the color of the trees spark something in your mind?”

The color of the trees? I frowned again as I glanced around. They were green and gold; I hadn’t ever seen trees of that color in my life. Then it hit me. The dream, vision, whatever I wished to call it, with the woman and man that I did not know, the forest in the far off background, the trees were of the same color. I gasped with the sudden realization.

“It is close to here?” I questioned aloud, returning my gaze to him.

He nodded slowly. “Lalil will lead you out of the forest and take you there.” It was then that I heard the footsteps on the ground.

I looked up and saw that the Anoth'di had returned. She laid a bowl on the ground between the Great One and I. It was laden with what I could only assume were fruits. I didn’t recognize any of them, not that I expected to.

I mused over the selection, my eyes mulling over the small round greenish fruits with horizontal blue stripes and the large ovaline peach-colored fruits with smooth skin. There was a star-shaped yellow fuzzy fruit and a handful of what appeared to be grape-like limes. I hardly noticed when the Great One waved another hand of dismissal at the waif-like woman and she disappeared.

“The numas are sweet,” the chipmunk suggested waving a paw at the peach-colored fruits. “However, the ish are very tart and tender.” He pointed then at the grape-like limes.

Shrugging my shoulders, I selected one of each and bit into the numa. The sweet flavor splashed over my tongue, something similar to that of a watermelon-apple. It was highly addictive and in my hungry state, I devoured the rest before popping one of the ish in as well. It was as if a lemon had exploded into my mouth, a lemon that was laced with banana juice if that was at all possible. An odd flavor, but definitely satisfying.

I couldn’t help the moan that escaped from the delicious tastes of the fruit before I quickly dove into the rest of the bowl, eagerly devouring everything within grasp. I looked up to see the Great One regarding me with an expression that was a mixture of sadness and amusement. I wiped my chin with the back of my robe, getting rid of the juice that was dribbling down it quite unattractively as I blinked at him.

“Is it true that you are ageless?” I questioned him, noting with some satisfaction that the lost gaze in his grey orbs disappeared as he centered his attention back on me.

“From the day of birth until the day that the world is destroyed, I will live, watching over this forest and its inhabitants.”

“If you are the protector, then is why there the… what were those things?” I pursed my lips as I tried to remember what it was that Lalil had called the monsters in the forest. “You know the ones that come out of the mist.” I reached for another ish, absentmindedly popping it into my mouth and relishing when the flavor melted over my tongue.

“The Visnay?” he posed with an amused look. “Above all else, balance is important. They live here as well and I am not allowed to drive them out.”

I frowned. “Whoever designed that stupid rule?”

He didn’t answer, merely regarded me again with that contemplative look. His tail twitched restlessly behind him as he watched me continue to devour the fruit in the bowl. I hadn’t even realized how hungry I was.

It was the sound of vines scraping against each other that alerted me this time. I looked up from my eating fest and glanced over my shoulder. Lalil was walking in with a rather large bundle covered in sky blue, gossamer cloth. I wondered what was wrapped so tightly even as she came and knelt beside the Great One, presenting the swaddled object to me.

I cocked an eyebrow at the squirrel but he only gestured that I should take it.

“This is the gift that I have chosen to give to you,” he commented.

Holding my breath in anticipation, I slowly peeled away the flimsy blue cloth until the object was laid bare before my eyes. It was a bow, made of strong but thin wood, I couldn’t even begin to hazard a guess, and a quiver filled with at least two dozen arrows. The bow had intricate designs carved into it, and each was filled with color. It was a beautiful weapon, a weapon that I had no clue how to use.

“It’s beautiful.” I commented, running a finger over the carvings. “But, I don’t know how to use a bow.”

The Great One waved a hand at me, dismissing that fact. “You will learn as with all things.” His eyes narrowed at me, a wave of darkness crossing over his features. “These times are quickly become unsafe. You will need to know how to protect yourself.”

I shivered at the warning tone in his voice, images of all sorts assailing my mind. Horrible images of blood and destruction, fear and pain, all flashed in my mind. I nodded dumbly as I struggled to sling the quiver around my chest. Lalil stood up to assist me and soon it was strung as it was supposed to be.

“I fear that I cannot keep you here.” He watched me lovingly trace the cravings with a finger. “Time is running short. You must go.”

“I still don’t understand anything,” I protested. I didn’t want to leave the relative safety of the small glade nor did I want to leave the presence of the king. For some reason, I felt that was where I belonged.

He smiled at me, a movement of the lips that was saddened and tinged with another emotion I couldn’t understand. “You have been here far too long already. Any longer and you would never leave. That is the effect this place has on mortals, even the cailan. Lalil will guide you to the place of your memory.”

I took those words for what they were, a dismissal. I nodded slowly, acquiescing to what he asked of me. I lifted a leg, preparing to get to my feet when a sudden idea struck me. I knelt back down and brought my face in close range to those solemn grey eyes.

“I thank you, King of the Forest,” I murmured softly, before giving him the most gentlest of kisses to his forehead. I pulled back and noted that his eyes had closed and his face had relaxed, as if peace had been bestowed upon him.

I allowed myself a small smile as I stood to my feet, bow clutched tight in my hands. I looked over at Lalil and saw that her mouth was hanging open. She was probably shocked because I dared touch the Great One.

“You are indeed the child,” gasped out the chipmunk, eyes sliding open to reveal an all new clarity. I don’t know how, but I had in some way brought a measure of peace to the troubled King.

“Was there any doubt?” My question was sarcastic at best considering the fact that I didn’t know.

Lalil tugged on my sleeve and I turned to give her a questioning glance. She was motioning for me to follow her. I complied, remembering the Great One’s words of haste.

I chanced one look back as I stood in the tunnel. I glanced through the reweaving vines to see the chipmunk, sepia fur glinting in the light streaming through the branches above. He had returned to his place at the water’s edge, and peering forever in its crystalline depths. But the reflection was no longer one of sorrow, but one of hope. I heard the sound of songbirds twitter in the glade that I left behind as the creepers sealed off the last of my view.

My mind whirled with all that I had discovered as I distractedly followed Lalil through the tunnel. Apparently in this world or dream or whatever it was; I wasn’t as normal as I thought. All this talk of being an abomination and power was shocking.

And then it hit me at how adapted I had already become. Though some things still managed to surprise me, I was slowly numbing myself and my senses to events. I suppose that was the resiliency of the human race in effect. The ability to react to any new situation and eventually adapt was a characteristic I was glad that I had inherited. Of course, if I had known all the horrible things that were in store for me, I would have thought differently.

We passed back through the tunnel entrance. I no longer even noticed the slithering of the vines. My mind had already accepted this event as normal. I couldn’t say why I didn’t speak to Lalil. I supposed that I didn’t have anything to say. The words of the prophecy were still fresh in my mind. I contemplated what it meant for me to be the cailan n’enon n’ahlam, whatever the hell that was.

After being in the small glade, I noticed how truly more dismal the forest outside was. The mist seemed thicker and more clinging. The trees were darker and far more foreboding. A shiver of apprehension raced down my spine and I suddenly felt like eyes were watching me. I froze, my limbs feeling as if they didn’t want to move.

“Anne?” Lalil had sensed my lack of movement and turned to look at me, a question on her face. The widening of her eyes was the only warning that I had.

A heavy weight slammed into my back in the same moment that strong arms wrapped around me, pinning my own arms to my side. I crashed to the ground, my attacker landing on top of me and momentarily knocking the breath from my body. I tasted dirt and frantically tried to spit it out as I wriggled in that grasp.

A most familiar scent enveloped my senses. Spicy and exotic, my body tingled as it recognized who had attacked me. Though I hadn’t expected to ever see him again, here he was in the flesh, and tackling me no less.

“Don’t move,” I heard Melath’s voice, like water racing down my spine. I could only assume that he was speaking to Lalil.

With my face pressed to the ground and very little room to move, it was hard to tell. I heard the creak of wood and string and knew that Melath had nocked an arrow.

I struggled to get free from Vincent’s grasp though it was of no use. He was not only taller and heavier but also much stronger. It was hard to breathe with his weight on top of me and as such I could only take in shallow breaths. I couldn’t even speak because that would have cost too much air. As it were, I could only whimper, quite pathetic really. And my back ached where the quiver was being pushed down into my spine with his chest.

“Cursed one!!” Lalil hissed.

I did not know whom she was referring to, but almost immediately, I heard the familiar slither of vines and the weight on my back vanished. I heaved a few deep breaths before I gingerly pushed myself to my feet, shaking my head to clear away the dizziness.

Another creak of bow strings and I turned to see Melath increasing the strain on the arrow as he glared at Lalil. “Let him go!” he ordered, more firmly this time.

Lalil merely smiled and inclined her head slightly. Melath’s blue eyes widened in surprise as climber vines appeared out of seemingly nowhere, quickly restraining him. My mouth dropped open in surprise as I took in the sight of both my stalkers raised up off the ground by the strength of the vines. The green creeper’s had woven about their limbs and even circled around their necks. It was a warning of sorts. I was surprised that Lalil had this sort of power.

And though the two men were restrained before me, the feeling of observance and apprehension did not fade. If anything, it grew stronger as a light wind blew into the air, slightly chilly and causing me to shiver.

“Release me!” Melath ordered as he struggled against the vines. This only made them tighter. His face had reddened with anger and he glared maliciously at the waif-like woman. Vincent was surprisingly silent. “You have no right to--”

“Silence!” Lalil’s snapped reply interrupted his and caused me to glance at her in surprise. The kind and gentle Anoth’di had morphed into something entirely different at the sight of the silver-haired man. Her calm demeanor was replaced with thinly veiled rage and something else… perhaps a hint of longing?

“You lost your right when you took human form and name, Lathme. You have forsaken us.”

Melath narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to reply but a vine snaked its way around his face and gagged him, effectively cutting off his speech. It was then that I realized he probably wasn’t elven like I had originally thought.

I had watched the events with a stunned eye, frozen in place. It was almost as if I wasn’t there the way that the two pale beauties glared at each other. But feeling the pain in my lower back from my unwelcome hello with the ground, I decided it was time I said something as well. I bent down and picked up my bow, it having fallen when I was tackled. Luckily, it did not appear to be broken.

Frowning, anger beginning to creep at me, I walked up to the restrained Vincent and looked him in the eye. He stared unflinching, not at all intimidated by me. The very fact that he considered me anything but a threat made my hackles rise. Just because I wasn’t originally from this world or whatever and I couldn’t use a sword worth a damn didn’t mean that I couldn’t cause some serious damage.

Idly picking a leaf from my hair, I glared intently at him. “Why did you follow me?” I demanded. That was what had confused me about the entire event. By all accounts, enough time had passed. The four should have been well on their way as far from me as they were able.

Vincent sneered. “I have no need to explain myself to you.”

Hot fire raged through me. My fists clenched and the sudden urge to shake him raced through my mind. But just as quickly, the anger was replaced with flashes of images. The blood on my hands, the desolate world, and Ryou after I had drunk of him, these were prominent among others. Constance had been right, foul traitor that he was.

Shame colored my cheeks, a response that Vincent did not fail to miss, and I turned away from him, lowering the tone of my voice to something that was gentler. “Do not follow me again,” I murmured as a warning.

Another chilly wind blew through the air. I shivered visibly, suddenly feeling as if my personal space was being invaded. It was eerie and I didn’t like it. I wanted to get out of the forest, and as soon as possible. Although I wasn’t well versed in the way of this place, something was going on that I couldn’t understand.

I inclined my head at Lalil who nodded in understanding. She started to move forward as I readjusted the quiver on my back. It had shifted in all the commotion. It was my idea to have Lalil release the two men once I was far enough away. I didn’t want to risk hurting someone else again, not like I had Ryou.

On the first step forward, I tripped, probably over something that wasn’t there as usual. I frowned as I looked at my feet, surprised to find the smallest tendril of mist wrapped around my right ankle.

My head snapped up and I glanced around in surprise. The fog had crept up on us, completely surrounding the entire area and obscuring the surrounding vegetation. I remembered Lalil’s words of foreboding and a small wisp of fear began to creep into my heart. I didn’t know what to expect. The waif-like pale woman gasped in astonishment and took an involuntary step back, away from the fog nipping at her feet.

One small tendril of haze snaked out from the main body. I froze as it headed out straight towards me not sure if I should consider it a threat or not. It wasn’t poisonous to my knowledge; Lalil had only said that I should be wary. Then again, it was not like I had somewhere to run.

The single thread aimed for my mouth, caressing my slightly parted lips as gently as a lover might. An involuntary shudder wracked my body and I felt both sickened and strangely aroused. I closed my eyes and moaned as whispered words slithered across my mind.

“They’re coming,” Vincent muttered, straining against the strength of the veins.

Come with us… Stay with us… Your fantasies… Your realities…

We are here…

Leave with us…

I shook my head at the raven-haired man’s words. “Wrong,” I moaned, trying to clear the seductive whisper from my mind. “They are here.”

The sound of a woman’s scream pierced the air and my eyes snapped open, locking on Lalil… or to be more precise where she once stood.

The Anoth’di had fallen to the ground, some kind of creature far bigger than her sitting on top of her body. She screamed as it began to bite and claw at her until another appeared, massive jaw effectively silencing her.

Absolute horror filled me to the bone as I took in the appearance of these creatures from every person’s nightmare. These monsters were nothing like I had ever seen before. They resembled oversized, fur-covered ants with lupine jaws and huge, soulless, black eyes. On each limb, they walked upon huge claws, cracked and stained with blood and grime. They were a sickly green color that instantly rolled my stomach.

Fear welled up in my heart, causing it to begin to pound at abnormal rates. My palms sweated and my knees felt like jelly. It was almost as if I couldn’t move though I longed to tear myself from the sight of Lalil’s mutilated body. Bile was rising in my throat and I fought to push it down as getting sick would do nothing to help my situation. I wanted to scream or say anything but the words were caught in my throat and I could only whimper with fear.

More of the creatures began to appear and advance on my immobile form. My bow dropped from my hand, useless in my hold. I shook with fear and took an uncertain step backwards and ran right into Vincent’s body. I could feel his warmth even through my robes and it was vaguely comforting.

“Wha… what are they?” The urge to run in me was so strong I had to clench my fists to keep from madly fleeing. My instincts screamed for me to save myself.

I turned to look over Vincent’s shoulder but the creatures were on that side as well. It was far too late. There was nowhere for me to run.

“They’re the Visnay,” Vincent confirmed, almost in my ear as I stared in horror over his shoulder.

He grunted as he struggled against the vines, which had taken a path of their own now that Lalil had died. I heard the creak of the creepers and looked over to see that Melath was struggling to get free as well. I supposed neither of them wanted to get eaten alive without at least being allowed to fight for their lives. I wasn’t too partial to that myself.

I trembled with fear as they grew closer. Vincent had reason not to be afraid of me; I couldn’t hurt anything and was completely useless in battle. But he and Melath weren’t. If I wanted to come out of that alive, I was going to have to somehow get them free. I grasped at the vines restraining Vincent, fiercely wishing that they would just let go. To my surprise, the moment my hand touched the vegetation it began to shrivel up and die, dropping the dark-haired man to the ground.

I wasted no time in running to Melath even as I heard Vincent draw his sword. As much as I wanted to see what I was sure was a magnificent sight, self-preservation was more important to me. And freeing Melath so that I could be protected was top on my list. Just as before, the moment I put my hands on the vines, they shriveled and fell, releasing their captive.

Melath picked himself up off the ground, immediately reaching for the bow that had fallen when he was grabbed. He nocked an arrow without delay and I moved straight to his side, hoping he would protect me. By my count there were at least ten in front of us and an unknown number behind. Vincent had already started to attack and was locked in a two-on-one fight with the creatures.

The Visnay snarled as they met with two armed men and one frightened female. My eyes cast across the ground, finally settling on a rather convenient large log. It was better than nothing and I knew that I could swing it and hopefully protect myself from getting my throat slashed out. I dove for it and sprung back up even as Melath started rapidly firing off arrow after arrow into the mass of the swarming Visnay.

I stood at the back of the silver-haired man and stared with horror as I came face to face with three of the monsters. I gasped with horror and gulped nervously. I tightened my grip on the log, my palms sweating profusely.

“Ryou and Ivory should show up any minute now,” Melath growled under his breath. “We just have to hold out until then.”

I nodded dumbly although he couldn’t see my face and steadied my stance, hoping that I would be able to stay alive until then. I had no longer to ponder as a Visnay suddenly leapt at me, mouth agape and its breath assailing my nostrils. I screeched with fear and brought up the log in front of me. It crashed into me, knocking me backwards into Melath and putting him off balance.

The log ended up between the Visnay’s teeth and I fought to push it off of me, kicking up with my feet and hollering as loudly as I could. Red eyes bore into my soul as it tried to force its jaw through the log to get at my tender skin. I was so afraid that I was merely fighting desperately, lashing out with my feet until they slammed into the underbelly of the Visnay. It yelped and struck out at me with one of its claws but I twisted my body to the side, nimbly avoiding the limb. My eyes widened in fright.

Then as abruptly as the weight had appeared, it vanished and I looked up to see Vincent slashing down at the creature, its orange, acrid blood splashing down on me. I coughed and rolled over, struggling to get to my feet. Vincent leaned down and yanked me to my feet. I didn’t have any time to thank him because the moment I looked into his eyes, they bugged out in surprise and he coughed.

I screamed when I saw the claw jutting through his chest as the face of a Visnay appeared behind him and clamped down on his shoulder. He grunted in pain as his gold eyes glazed with agony. He reversed the sword in his hand and jabbed the blade backwards even as another claw burst through his abdomen, spraying me with his blood. I stepped backwards in my horror and tripped over the body of the Visnay that he had slain.

I tumbled to the ground on my back, showing just how useless and clumsy I truly was. I saw the glowing red coals of the monsters and heard their threatening growls and I just knew I was in for it. I threw my hands up in front of my face as if that would really protect me as the Visnay sprang at me. I expected to be slashed and bitten, that my death would be horrible and painful. But when nothing happened a few seconds later, I peeked out through the web of my fingers and found that a new creature was standing above me, grappling with the two Visnay and easily throttling them.

I scrambled out from beneath the monster and ended up with my back to a tree as I gaped open-mouthed at it. The beast walked on two legs and had enormous bat-like wings sprouting from its shoulders. It had two arms each with massive paws and claws. The talons on its feet were extremely deadly. I could not see the type of face the monster had but it almost seemed like it was protecting me. My widened eyes took in the scene before me.

Vincent had collapsed to the ground, on his hands and knees as he coughed up blood and fought to remain semi-upright. He looked up at me, eyes locking on me. His lips moved and I barely picked out what it was he was saying.

“Command him.” With that said, the dark-haired man collapsed forward on his face.

“I… I don’t know how,” I protested weakly as I stared at the powerful guardian that was slowly but surely destroying all of the Visnay that threatened to pounce on me.

Melath moved to his friend’s side and picked up Vincent’s sword, having run out of arrows. I hadn't even noticed that he was no longer carrying his. He must have left it behind.

He started swinging it fluidly at a few of the remaining Visnay whilst the strange demonic monster was slashing its way through the rest. I wished that I could tell you better what was going on but as such my mind was numb and I had gone into shock. My adrenaline was still pumping but I felt frozen.

Within seconds, the battle was won. The creature that had saved my life turned to look at me and I saw that its face was almost human, with loose jet black hair and shining golden eyes, reminiscent of Vincent. A smile graced those human-like lips before it abruptly vanished into thin air. A great, invisible weight pressed itself against me in that same instant. The odd feeling lasted for all of two seconds before it also disappeared. My head reeled with dizziness but I pushed myself to my feet.

I stumbled over to Vincent’s side and hurriedly turned him over on his back. Blood, there was so much of it. His eyes were open but they had no clarity. There was a gaping wound in his shoulder plus the two, no, actually there were three, holes through his torso. His shirt was stained crimson and I was at a loss what to do. He moaned and coughed weakly, blood flecking on his lips.

“Oh my god,” I breathed horrified. It was my fault, all of mine.

If I hadn’t been so useless, I would have never needed him to save me. His blood, oh god. I went to cover my face with my hands but they were coated with his blood. He was going to die and it would be on my soul, another one injured because of me.

“No,” I moaned as Melath suddenly appeared at my side. I frantically tried to do something, put my palms over his wounds, seal them, something. I tried to mimic what I had seen on TV. “He’s going to die. It’s all my fault.”

“No, he’s not,” Melath snapped, pushing me aside. He peeled off Vincent’s shirt and sucked in a breath at the horrible wounds that were turning green as if he had been poisoned and still bleeding horribly.

“That bastard had better not.” Blue eyes turned towards Vincent, hardening. “I forbid it.”

I wrung my hands together, lack of sanity preventing me from concentrating on the enigmatic words that poured from Melath’s mouth. “My fault… my fault.” I began to lose myself in my guilt as I started to hyperventilate.

Slap! My head snapped to the side and I felt fire spread across my right cheek. I stared horrified off into the forest with the realization that the silver-haired man had just struck me. But he accomplished what he intended, bringing me to my senses.

“I’m going to find Ryou for this poison,” he said abruptly as he stood, hands covered in blood like my own were.

I turned back to him, realizing that he was going to leave. “What?”

Melath turned to me, cerulean eyes accusing. “Give him your blood. He needs it to heal. The poison is stronger than his instincts and it’s been a long time since he has acted on his call.”

My face blanched. Vincent sucked blood, too? Was everyone a vampire on this world? Would Ivory be trying to eat me next? “What? Why can’t you?”

“Too pure,” Vincent gasped, bringing my eyes down to him. He was coherent but just barely. His body had already started to shake and was paling. “Too fresh, tastes like forest... dust in my mouth.”

Blood trickled out the corner of his mouth. One of the claws must have punctured his lung. For a moment, I briefly wondered how Vincent knew what Melath’s blood tasted like.

But my ponderings were interrupted when Melath grabbed my arm and slashed at my wrist with the knife he kept in his boot. He jerked my arm towards Vincent and pressed the bleeding cut to the dark-haired man’s lips.

“Ryou was man enough to share,” Melath hissed. “So can you.”

My eyes widened at his words, the care, that I caught in his gaze, but I did not pull away. He was right. Without another word, Melath stood. His eyes flickered once to Vincent, a look I wasn’t quite sure how to decipher before he promptly disappeared. I would have gaped at this feat of speed had Vincent not chosen that moment to swipe his tongue over the wound on my wrist.

My attention reverted to him and I groaned. Him feeding from me was far different than when it had been the other way around. It felt as if every nerve ending inside of me were on fire with feelings and lust settled into my heart. He was not tentative like I, greedily swallowing and swiping at the slash with his tongue. It made me weak-kneed and I couldn’t help the moan that escaped from my mouth.

I glanced at his wounds and found that they were healing, and quite rapidly. Far more so in fact, than my own when the situation had been forced on me. His shoulder was already whole and slowly the gaping holes in his abdomen and chest were beginning to knit themselves back together.

I felt dizzy and completely aroused, wondering why he had that effect on me. I was no stranger to desire, not exactly a virgin myself. But I never knew such pleasure could come from that type of event. It was no wonder Ryou reacted the way he had when I drank from him if it was anything close to what I was experiencing.

It was odd but strangely pleasing. It felt too damn good to have his lips on my wrist… not exactly an erogenous zone. And with each pull of his mouth, I wanted him to throw me to the ground and ravish me. A heavy ache was beginning to settle within me and I longed to satisfy it. I reached out with my free hand and placed it on his chest, moaning at the feel of the warm skin and tight muscle beneath my fingertips. I moved restlessly where I sat, seeking friction of some kind.

The bushes rustled and I heard the sound of the other three returning, apparently Ryou and Ivory had not been that far after all. I wasn’t given any time to react to their appearance as Vincent rudely shoved me away in the same moment that the three arrived. I moved back to just one foot but managed to stay upright this time as he rolled over on his side and coughed a couple of times. I didn’t even notice that the wound on my wrist had sealed itself.

The moment I saw Melath, it was like something within me clicked and I had to do something. There was a pressure that had built. A lust lit a fire deep inside me and I could no longer control my actions. It was almost as if I was watching every moment from a third person’s point of view.

I scrambled to my feet and dove at Melath. His eyes widened as I crashed into him though he managed to stay on his feet. Without thought or preamble, I grabbed his face with both my hands and directed it towards my own. Eager to please the fiery ache inside my body, I fiercely pressed my lips to his and kissed him.

*****

a/n: Mwa ha ha! Cliffhanger. Boy do I love these. I promise I won't make you wait too long for the next little bit. I would just like to reiterate that I don't have a beta so all mistakes are my own.

Thanks for reading!