Page 12 of Of Shadow and Moon

I wear it still, hidden under the sleeve of my leathers. It’s fraying now, the cord worn from years of wear, but it’s one of the few things I have that’s just mine, untouched by Alexander’s reach.

I take one last look at Mara. She gives me a sharp nod. She knows I have no choice; I don’t know how, but she does. I place a fist over my heart and nod back at her. Knowing I will see her again, just not when.

The air shifts as I take my first step beyondthe edge of the city, a strange weight settling on my shoulders. The world here is different, quieter, yet full of a life that feels ancient, untouched by the structures and order of the city. The forest looms ahead, its trees stretching up like skeletal fingers reaching for the clouds. Branches twist and curve in impossible shapes, forming a tangled web that blocks most of the light, casting the ground in perpetual twilight.

The path narrows as I approach the outskirts, the city behind me growing smaller, less distinct. I feel the first stirrings of unease as I cross an invisible threshold. The sounds of the city fade, replaced by a silence that feels oppressive, as though the forest itself is watching, waiting. Even the air seems heavier, thick with the scent of moss and damp earth.

I took most of the day gathering supplies for my journey, even though I really should’ve left this morning after my encounter at the tavern. I grabbed a fresh waterskin, since my old one had started to leak. A bundle of dried meat and fruit, enough to last several days if I ration properly. A small pouch of healing salves and bandages, just in case the forest’s dangers are exactly what I’m expecting them to be. A new flint for starting a fire, tucked carefully beside the small knife at my belt. Even a handful of iron shavings, a precaution against creatures that lurk where the light does not reach.

In all my years of service to Alexander, he never once paid me. Over the years, I realized I needed to do odd jobs or trading what I’ve collected from missions. Nothing to get me noticed, but enough to give me a small sense of security in times exactly like this.

I walk forward, my heart hammering in my chest, the weight of the journey pressing down on me. The forest lies ahead, its secrets hidden behind walls of twisted branchesand shadows. I tighten my grip on my bag, the weight of Mara’s vial pressing reassuringly against my leg.

I take a deep breath, taking the vial out of my pocket, and down the vial of liquid luck. Who knows if it’ll work or if it’s straight bullshit, but as I look at what’s to come, I’m going to need anything I can get.

I don’t know if even luck will save me.

I take a step forward, the darkness of the trees swallowing me whole. The path to Obsidian Academy awaits, somewhere beyond the depths of the Dark Forest.

Chapter 6

Selestina

The trees tower above me, their trunks thick and gnarled, roots snaking across the forest floor like veins. Shadows settle heavily between the twisted shapes of the trees, pressing in around me. As I step forward, the last trace of daylight fades, leaving only slivers of moonlight that barely pierce the dense canopy above. It’s hardly enough to see where I’m going, just enough to hint at the path ahead and deepen the darkness. I can’t lie and say I’m not nervous or scared, because I totally am, I just don’t really have another choice.

The smell is almost overwhelming, cloying as it fills my lungs. Beneath it is something sharper, metallic, a subtle scent of blood, though I try not to dwell on why that scent lingers in this place. Every breath is a mix of rotting wood and old stone, bringing me back to my time in the morgue. It smells like death here, just like it did there.

The only sound at first is my own footsteps, muffled by the layer of leaves and moss beneath me. As I move deeper, the forest begins to wake. Branches creak overhead, a cacophony in the dead of night. Somewhere to my left,there’s a rustling, leaves shifting as if something is moving through them, unseen. Scratching follows, like claws dragging lightly against bark.

I freeze with my heart pounding and the sound fades away, but I can’t shake the feeling that I’m not alone. I can almost hear Alexander’s cold and sharp voice, warning me to keep my focus, to push through the pain.

His voice brings back memories I’d rather forget, but the forest doesn’t let me. One moment, I’d been in the training room, fighting to catch my breath under Alexander’s cold gaze; the next, everything had gone dark. When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on the cold, damp ground, surrounded by trees like these, their trunks thick and twisted, looming over me.

He’d never force me to trek through the entire forest; it’s far too dangerous. No one survives a journey like that. Usually, he’d drop me about ten miles south of whichever kingdom I was expected to return to. Hard? Definitely. But at least it was survivable. The forest itself stretches about one hundred and twenty-five miles, give or take, depending on the direction you take, with the academy dead center.

From Tepetl to the academy, it’s roughly seventy-five miles. This will be a brutal journey, and there’s a real chance I won’t make it.

Had I taken the main roads, the story would’ve been different. They’re enchanted, making the distance much shorter and providing some measure of protection. But, of fucking course, those roads weren’t an option for me.

I look up to the stars to make sure I am following Tzitzimitl’s, the goddess of stars, path. Her Estrella de Norte shines bright above Obsidian Academy. A beacon to anyone in Tonalli.

A low growl pulls me back to my surroundings, myhand instinctively moving to the hilt of my dagger. The sound fades, but it’s enough to remind me to keep moving, to stay sharp. I press forward, each step slower and more careful.

The wind rustles through the branches above, but there’s something unnatural about it. It’s a sound that seems to carry voices, whispers I can’t quite make out, murmurs that make the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

A snapping twig sends a jolt through me, and I spin around, but there's nothing there. Just darkness and the slow, steady hum of insects hidden in the underbrush. The silence stretches, and I force myself to breathe, to focus. I am not allowed to get lost in memories.

The trees grow closer together as I go deeper, their branches weaving a dense, tangled barrier that blocks out almost all the light. The ground grows uneven, roots jutting out like traps, waiting for a misstep. My foot catches on one, and I stumble, catching myself just before I fall. I bite back a curse, my fingers closing around the nearest trunk to steady myself. The bark is rough and digs into my skin. I pull my hand back to see a line of small scratches up the palm, beads of blood welling in the wounds.

I’m not even going to worry about the blood drawing in the monsters that lurk here, because this is only the beginning.

I push through a thicket of thorns, their pointed edges snagging my skin, leaving lines of shallow cuts along my arms and face. The pain stings, it’s familiar, grounding, and I welcome it; let it remind me I'm still here, still fighting.

Another sound, closer, too close, and I whip around, dagger at the ready, but once more, nothing.

I take another step forward, ignoring the fear chewing at the edges of my mind.

Sunlight peaks through the trees above. Damn it, I hadn't even noticed how close we were getting to morning. This forest twists time in just such a way to make reality seem like something far away.

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