Page 8 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

Kaz grabbed me and hugged me tightly, and then Kai did the same, but as Kai released me, he shoved me hard, so I stumbled through the border. I tried to grab the dead branches of trees to stop my falling, but it was no use. A searing pain shot through me as I hit the ground on the other side of the shadow border.

I called out into the night sky and to the stars twinkling above me. My body couldn’t move as the pain coursed deep within my bones. No doubt trying to kill me forcrossing. After a long minute, though, the pain started slowing down. My lungs pulled the cold night air into them, and it was such a pleasant feeling after breathing in the hot air of Exile.

I stared at the stars for a moment, admiring them before rolling onto my stomach and standing. I leaned my body against a large tree that looked like no others around it. My hand traced the large ‘X’ carved into the side. Someone had marked the shadow border. My eyes drifted into the distance. A tall, intimidating black castle sat high on a hill with red light illuminating it.

It was so stunning that I took a step towards it so I could admire it more. The city below was lit up in the night sky, and I tried to remember if I had ever seen anything so breathtaking before.

My instincts were to go toward it, but I stopped myself. I didn’t know where I was or who that kingdom belonged to.

Panic shot through me. I didn’t know where to go or how to stop whatever curse I had. How had Sybil known about my curse, and why couldn’t she tell me more?

Suddenly, I heard a stick break somewhere in the distance, and I held my dagger in my hand tightly. Instead of heading toward the black castle that called to me, I went in the opposite direction and away from the sticks breaking.

I needed a plan. I needed a way to find out information. Where was I from? I knew my name was Thea, but I knew nothing else. I dreamt of nothing but a man whose face I couldn’t even remember. My feet seemed to have a mind of their own as I wandered farther into the woods. I walked for miles in the dark with nothing guiding my way.

Something in front of me caught my eye before I heard the soft voices in the dark. I stood behind one of the trees and held my breath. The voices seemed to be getting closer, but then suddenly they were gone.

I peeked around the tree to see if they were still coming. As my eyes adjusted to the moonlight, I could see a tall man ahead of me. Then a silhouette of a smaller man appeared too. My eyes widened when I saw black shadows swarming around the tall man. I stared, mesmerized by the way they tangled around him angrily. There was a dead body at his feet. I held my breath. It was a woman.

“We can’t cross Cerithia’s boundary until war is officially declared,” one of them said. “We’re running out of time. We need to find her before they do.”

“Did we kill all the witches responsible for the attack?” the man with shadows spoke.

“Yes, there were only six.”

The man with the shadows held his hand up to silence the man next to him. My breath caught when the manturned his head in the direction I was hiding. If he could see me, he didn’t let it be known. After a long moment, they both walked in the opposite direction of me.

Suddenly there was a soft green flame floating above the ground. It mesmerized me as it flickered towards me like it was happy to see me. A moment later, my senses kicked in, and I ran from whatever the creature was.

I didn’t stop until the cool air turned hotter and the trees were different species. Then I kept going until a cave caught my attention. My eyes drifted around me. Someone or something was watching me; I could feel it. I climbed into the cave entrance and found a hidden crevice to squeeze into. Once I was sure that I was completely out of sight, I wrapped my dark green cloak around myself as I curled into the ground and prayed for sleep.

?????

I scanned the darkness surrounding the field of flowers that I found myself standing in. I could feel the waterfall in front of me before I could see or hear it. The power of its roar made the ground vibrate under my feet. It was breathtaking in the moonlight. The field held every shade of red and orange flower I had ever seen. Something moving in the shadows caught my eye.

“Come out, coward.” I smiled.

“Are you flirting with me, little viper?”

I shrugged. His goldeneyes glowed in the darkness. He watched me like prey as he stalked toward me. He only stopped watching me to look at our view. Something tender crossed his features as he gave me a big smile.

“Pretty view."

“Yes, it is.” I smiled. “You didn't visit me last night.”

“You wouldn’t let me.” He frowned. “You put up some sort of wall that wouldn’t let me see you. I thought maybe you were upset with me.”

“How can I be upset with an imaginary man I made up?” I laughed, but he didn’t. His eyes flashed something like hurt in them.

He took a hesitant step towards me and wrapped me in a hug. This is what I had been looking for. I wrapped my arms around his strong body. He smelled like forest and rain.

“Did you miss me, my love?” he whispered next to my ear. “Because I missed you terribly.”

I smiled as I pulled back to see his handsome face.

“Yes. I did miss you, my coward.” His eyes flashed with amusement. “Why can’t I remember what you look like when I’m done dreaming?”

His eyebrows knitted together.

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