Page 15 of Hex
“Feisty little thing, aren’t you.” Not a question, and I move backward into the darkness, away from what feels like danger. “It seems you are in a position we didn’t anticipate. And now, I’ve been called in.” He sighs, picking at his fingernails and pacing as though he’s bored. “Because you,girl, are extremely traceable.” Sharp and fast, he stops pacing and snaps his gaze in my direction, the disturbing snakes on his head hissing. “It’s my job to make you disappear…technically speaking because we still need you until the…” He trails off and clears his throat, bored pacing again.
“What do you need me for?” If I can make him spill even a little more information, then it’ll be more than I currently have.
“Stupid anthros-witchling. It’s not all about you, but you are essential.” His deep chuckle is unsettling.
Stepping forward, he pulls a key from his Hamaka pants’ pocket and unlocks the cell, opening the door of bars with a stiffness I would imagine from someone with a broken neck. Maybe all those snakes on his head are too heavy…
“Get out.” He leaves no room for argument, but that doesn’t mean I’m in the mood to comply.
“Why?” I’ve been here for weeks and this is the first time I’ve been asked to step outside the cell. Well, not that he asked. More like ordered.
“I don’t have time for you to question everything. We are on a deadline. Get. Out. Now.”
“No.” Although, a part of me is curious, because maybe he’s the same guy who took Danika, and she was only here for a few days before she had to leave. But Saffron has remained for years…I don’t understand any of this and I’m torn between staying with Saffron or the chance at a lead on Danika.
The ground vibrates and a deafening growl makes me cover my ears right before a large white paw slams down beside snake-guy. From my position, I can’t see the whole of what it’s attached to, but if I had to guess, I’d say it’s a giant wolf.
“Shall I ask my friend here to pull you out with his teeth, claws…?”
I guess I’m coming out.
The space outside the cell feels smaller with what I guessed correctly to be a giant wolf taking up a whole lotta room. I wonder if it’s a human, like a shifter or something. Hack said they exist, but I didn’t think they were giant.
“Now what?” I’m avoiding making any eye contact with those snakes of his because I’m pretty sure he’s like a gorgon or something, unless I am mixing up my Greek mythology with what’s real…because I have zero idea either way. This is all assumptions here because my supernatural knowledge, in any life, has been minimal.
“If you move, the fenrir has permission to maim you.” He doesn’t wait to see if I’m obeying his command as he steps toward Saffron’s cell and opens that next. “Get out.”
“Well you’re very rude.” A petite woman, shorter than me, with pastel-purple hair that falls in messy knots below her ass, walks out of the cell. There’s a slight wobble in her steps, but with the aid of the wall, she makes her way over toward me and links her arm through mine. “Nice to officially meet you.” She gives my arm a gentle squeeze but keeps her gaze forward. Like me, she’s probably watching for what is going to happen next.
“Now follow me.” His silent threat moves behind us as we obey, its legs as long as we are tall, which means its teeth are definitely not worth starting a fight with. At least not until we have some kind of clue as to what’s going on.
It doesn’t take me long to realize that Saffron’s wobbly legs on exiting her cell is a permanent thing. I don’t know the exactnumber of years she’s been cooped up in that cell because she doesn’t know herself, but it’s been enough that she’s lost count. Her weakened body is a testament to that and it explains why she insisted I regularly exercise and stay on my feet rather than giving in to the boredom and staying seated.
There isn’t much to see, other than rock walls, the occasional damp patch or puddle to step over, until we finally reach an opening. Tall, thin mountains covered in greenery and strange dome-shaped trees of pinkish-red are all I can see, some with doorways, which is kinda cool if those are homes. Disappointing that I won’t get to investigate and explore, seeing as Mr. Gorgon is charging full-speed ahead and there’s a fenrir up our asses.
My energy levels are severely depleted, but considering my diet of bread and water for the last month, I’m doing pretty damn well. It’s my birthday the day after Halloween, and according to Saffron, this close to my thirtieth birthday means I should already be feeling some things. Not that she has any idea what a hybrid witch-goddess will experience. Maybe this strength to continue walking while my legs feel like jelly comes from my kyn side. I really should get used to thinking of the supernatural as kyn.
“Oh my goddess, will I live forever?” I blurt the question out in a loud whisper, just for Saffron, even though she has no idea of my thought process that prompted me to ask.
She chuckles, but before she can answer, Mr. Gorgon stops in his tracks and spins on the spot to face us, making us stop too so we don’t walk into him.
“You will not live forever, no, for you have an expiry date once the seal is opened. Now, do not speak again. Your voices are abhorrent.” He doesn’t raise his voice at all, more of a quiet telling off, before he turns and begins walking again. It looks as though he’s listening for something, searching for something,but he walks with determination all the same, his hair-snakes writhing at all times.
I really want to talk, to ask questions, to delve more into what he said about this seal and yet another expiration date for me. I overcame the before thirty thing…unless fate is playing a cruel trick on me and I’m still going to permanently die before I hit my birthday. Fuck it.
“What seal is going to be opened?” May as well go straight in for a big question. It feels important and if I can feed any of this information back to Hack in our next dream walk, then he may be able to make more sense of everything.
Quicker than I can blink, he spins again and a sharp pain heats my cheek. That fucker just back-handed me. From behind, a large paw pushes me forward when I stop to clutch at my face in shock.
“I said do not speak again. Let that be your only warning.” He continues walking as though he didn’t almost knock me out with one hit.
Me, on the other hand, well, my head is now throbbing, my cheek hot and raw, and I still want to ask questions. But also, I’m not stupid.
The landscape doesn’t change for what feels like hours until we pass through one of the strange dome-shaped trees into…The Shade. The dizzy feeling I get when passing through a portal wasn’t there this time, so maybe I’m getting used to them? But also…we’re in The Shade. I recognize this train station vibe for portals.
If Saffron and I just run off now, we could escape. We could truly make it by going through any one of these portals or screaming for help. It’s too late. We’re pushed through a new portal before I can conduct some kind of plan and now I need to rethink. Escaping feels entirely possible though. Saffron can fly away with her beautiful transparent-purple wings that glitter inthe current moonlight. She can get help and I can run as far as my weak legs will carry me until they inevitably catch me again, awaiting the help Saffron gets. Easy.
In theory.
