My heart thrums in my ears, and I wish I had something,anything, to protect myself. Something made from iron, preferably.
The creature doesn’t speak. He just glares, baring his teeth and those terrible fangs. His claws are extended, and I scramble on the furs, trying to get away from him.
His pupils have narrowed to slits, and it’s like gazing into the eyes of death. Shadows rise around him, stretching towards me like talons, and a dreadful lump sticks in my throat.
So, I wasn’t imagining things before. He really did summon shadows. I’m no match for him after all.
“What did you say?”
His voice is cold liquid trickling down my spine, freezing my muscles in place. But I still hold my head high, meeting those murderous eyes. “Monster.”
He takes a moment to respond. Then he whispers, making the hair rise at the back of my neck. “I’m not the monster here.”
I don’t reply. I just continue to stare at him, struggling to breathe. My laboured breaths fill the cave, and I’ve never felt so helpless.
With a final growl, he jerks away, taking his shadows and his pine and woodsmoke scent away with him.
He didn’t even leave the lamp. Now I am left in total darkness.
I lie down on the furs, trying to get as warm as possible. It’s too dark, and if only I could convince myself that monsters aren’t real.
But one just left this cave…
Despite how scared I am, sleep still finds me. It’s been an exhausting day—no, an exhausting week.
I dream about wicked faeries throughout the night.
6
Ivy
Ablackwolfjumpsout from the shadows, snapping its sharp teeth at my face, and I jerk back, yelping in fright.
My thin, rasping breaths echo through the darkness, and I pinch my eyes shut.
It was a dream, just a dream…
As I wake fully, I gaze around, trying to make sense of my surroundings. I’m sitting inside a damp, cold cave, and for a moment I can’t remember how I got here.
But once the memories come crashing back, I roll over onto my side and vomit onto the ground.
How could I have forgotten?
I’m trapped inside that wicked creature’s domicile, and I will probably never see the light of day again.
That’s when I realise…the cave is no longer pitch black. Faint light shines from somewhere, so I search for the source. It looks as if someone sneaked inside the cave while I was asleep and placed an oil lamp down beside my bed.
I don’t understand.
I could have sworn I saw him leaving with the very same lamp the previous evening. Did he have a change of heart?
No, that can’t be right. The Fae don’t do random acts of kindness. Well, not unless there is something in it for them.
So, what did he have to gain by giving me the lamp? Nothing, really.
It doesn’t add up.
Wiping the tear stains from my cheeks, I rise from the furs, limbs stiff as I give an awkward stretch.
