Page 39 of Isle of Beasts and Shadows

Chapter 24

Airella awoke the next morning with a start, feeling the rhythmic movements of the horse beneath her. Startled, she realized she had been leaning against Sirius while unconscious, a wave of gratitude washing over her for his support. As she straightened up, she took a moment to gather her thoughts, reflecting on the events of the previous night.

“About time,” Sirius remarked, breaking the silence that hung between them.

Airella remained silent, her attention drawn to the gentle patter of rain around them. She then noticed the dark cloth that bellowed around her, feeling the softness of the fabric and catching a faint whiff of his lingering scent. Sirius had given her his cloak, a protective gesture that caused her face to grow warm, a blush creeping up as she realized the depth of his kindness. She shook away the feeling and observed the familiar trail they traversed.

Suddenly, an inexplicable sensation swept over Airella, causing her to scan the surrounding tree line for any signs of movement. Though she only caught glimpses of birds darting among the branches, an eerie feeling of being watched persisted for what felt like an eternity. Unable to shake the unease, she mustered the courage to voice her concerns.

“Sirius—”

“I know,” Sirius responded, his voice laced with a hint of growling intensity that hinted at underlying frustration or anger.

Airella’s mind raced to decipher the source of Sirius’s agitation, realizing that only one person had the power to incite such a reaction besides Duran. Confusion clouded her thoughts. How could this be possible? Hadn’t they left everything behind on the island?

“Are you sure we’re heading in the right direction?” Sirius questioned warily, his voice laced with a hint of uncertainty, as he guided the dark horse along the winding trail. Riding was not his favored means of travel, a fact made clear by the absence of any untamed horses roaming the secluded island. With Airella visibly weakened by the effects of the enigmatic drug, Sirius took it upon himself to lead the horse, while she, with a determined look in her eyes, provided him with directions towards her village, nestled on between a great lake and the shoreline, far removed from the imposing castle they had left behind.

“We’re here!” Airella cheered as she gracefully slid off the horse.

Sirius followed suit, his landing a tad less graceful. Airella removed his cloak from her shoulders and quickly handed it to him. He brushed the dirt from it with a sheepish grin. Together, they made their way to the weathered old door of the small cottage.

Just as Airella raised her hand to knock on the door, a raspy voice pierced through the air from inside the cottage, announcing the imminent arrival of its occupant. The aged woman, her hair a faded blonde, swung the door open, her green eyes wide with disbelief as she laid them on Airella.

Sirius observed the unfolding scene, his gaze shifting between the two women. In one swift motion, the woman enveloped Airella in a tight embrace, her voice filled with a mix of relief and overwhelming joy.

“Oh, Airella! We were so worried! It’s a blessing to see you safe and sound,” she exclaimed, her grip almost suffocating Airella.

Struggling to catch her breath amidst the intense hug, Airella managed a smile, her words slightly muffled. “Mother, we need to lie low and seek refuge here for a while.” The weight of their situation hung heavy in the air, shrouding the small cottage in an aura of secrecy and uncertainty.

“Of course. What is going on? Who is this?” Elizabeth looked towards Sirius, her brow furrowing in confusion as he drove his scythe into the hard ground, the metallic clang echoing faintly in the air.

“My name is Sirius,” he stated, a hint of solemnity in his voice, nodding respectfully towards the woman.

His gaze shifted down, landing on a small boy peeking out timidly from behind Airella’s frail mother, his eyes wide with curiosity. Meanwhile, Airella and her mother engaged in a hushed conversation, their words blending into a soft murmur in the background. Airella was catching her mother up to speed, no doubt.

The entire exchange swiftly faded from Sirius’s consciousness as his attention became fixated on the blonde child standing before him. A peculiar sensation washed over him, like a whisper of foreboding brushing against his senses.

In a sudden vision, Sirius witnessed a younger boy, tears glistening in his eyes as he gazed up at a towering, shadowy figure shrouded in mist. The creature’s eyes glowed with a mesmerizing violet hue that seemed to cut through the surrounding darkness. The damp walls of a cavern dripped with cold water, the stale scent of mildew lingering in the air. Empty barrels and a tray of untouched bread and food items lay scattered nearby, while an old, straw-filled bed occupied one corner of the cave.

“Are you afraid?” the figure inquired in a deep, unsettling voice, its words resonating with an otherworldly quality as it circled around the boy.

The young child, around eight years old, shook his head slowly. His pallid skin bore the marks of neglect, a stark contrast against his unkempt, dark black hair that fell in disarray over his shoulders. Malnourishment had left him frail and weak, his yellow eyes reflecting a sense of weariness beyond his years.

“Is that so?” the figure intoned, its misty hand gently resting on the boy’s slender shoulder. “Tell me, are you afraid of Miscreants?” The question hung in the air, its weight suffusing the dimly lit cavern with an aura of uncertainty and dread.

The boy shook his head again in silence, a gesture that had become almost second nature to him. He slowly looked down at his shoeless feet, feeling the rough ground beneath them. All that he wore was a worn-out pair of black trousers, the fabric frayed at the edges from years of use.

His mother had disappeared just months after he was born, leaving behind a void he could never fill, and he had never known who his father was. He only had access to small amounts of food, just enough to survive, and learned to talk by listening to various conversations he had overheard in the past, absorbing words and phrases like a sponge. Moreover, he lacked any education and, above all, he lacked any emotions. He was nothing but a boy who lacked the knowledge of how to cry. Although, deep within him, he found a simmering hatred for his parents. How could they have just abandoned him to this harsh world? The unknown answer to this question was the only thing that drove this child to continue on with living.

“You are something else, boy,” the shadowy figure laughed with a voice that sent shivers down the boy’s spine. The young boy watched as the figure hovered in front of him, a dark silhouette against the dim light.

“What’s your name?” The frail boy watched the creature with wide and curious eyes, trying to make sense of the strange encounter. The black mist shifted closer to him, tendrils reaching out like wisps of smoke.

“My name is Conivx,” the figure declared in a low, ominous tone, “but you, Alikad... can just call me Father.”

Sirius shook his head, his mind racing with confusion and uncertainty, as he turned to face Airella. Her expression had shown that she had just asked him a question, her eyes reflecting concern and curiosity. What type of vision had just washed over him? Unfortunately for Sirius, he had recalled none of the fragments of his childhood, a mystery that haunted him to this day.

The image of the peculiar child and the enigmatic figure known as Father lingered in his thoughts, casting a shadow ofdoubt over his memories. The child in the vision resembled a young dark-haired Sirius, and the connection felt inexplicably strong. However, Sirius couldn’t help but wonder why this peculiar child was with Father, and what role they played in the intricate tapestry of his past.

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