He reaches a particularly thick piece of shade, its sharp edges blurring as the nest of night lilies brightens, releasing more of their spicy scent and spilling a soft glow that gives my gaze something to cling to.
There, he hovers—no more than two long steps away.
I lift the mouse higher, bringing him eye level.
Whiskers twitching, the rodent arches his back and reaches for my nose, like he thinks I’m going to save him.
I cock my head to the side and watch him struggle. Watch him stretch and stretch until he’s turned himself into a fluffy pendulum; one that counts down his final heartbeats.
I usually just fling them over the line, but—
I’m not seeing any effort to overcome your fears.
I sigh, failing to tame the heavy roll of my heart.
Dammit, Rhordyn.
Before I can think it through, I grit my teeth and shove my hand across the line of rocks, breath held, body stilled, doing everything in my power not to crumble into a ball and release a sawtooth scream.
I should probably be afraid of the messy shadow inching forward, crouched low and making that clicking sound in the back of his throat ...
I’m not.
My fear is a wild thing pointed in other directions.
I last four seconds before I drop the mouse and snatch my hand back over the line.
Shay pounces in a snap of smoky ribbons and skeletal fingers. There’s a final, tortured squeak before his blackness begins to ebb, and wet, suckling sounds ensue.
I shake my hand, stretch my fingers, inspect my skin ... half-expecting it to bubble and split. Part of mewantsit to—wants the world beyond my Safety Line to be so poisonous the only option is to stay right here forever.
Safe.
I guess I can’t exactly claim this as a victory when I’m hoping for such things.
Shay rears back, and all that’s left of the mouse is fluffy skin sucked close to a small, angular skeleton. I once used a stick to nudge a corpse back over the line so I could inspect the thing, and it was hard like a pebble.
My friend and I watch each other while the moon owl hoots his eerie wake-up call, and I can feel the hum of Shay’s appreciation.
Despite the fact that he can probably hunt his own food, I think he enjoys the fat little gifts I provide. Or perhaps he just enjoys the company while he dines.
Something I can appreciate.
In an unceremonious spurt of movement, he darts off through the darkening forest, leaving a chill that nettles my skin.
I shiver, peering at the path that swallowed Rhordyn whole ...
He could be down there all night.
For not the first time, I wonder where it leads. A curious seed I refuse to plant or water or feed light into.
My world is right here, onthisside of the stones. Out there belongs to the bones of my broken past and beasts that stalk my nightmares.
Pushing to my feet, I brush off my pants and make for the castle, certain dozens of eyes are pinned to my retreating form.
* * *
This stairwell twists deep into the ground, the way lit with torches held by rusty metallic sconces. The flames look like dancing blooms, and the further I descend, the more they hiss; the thicker the air becomes with steam that curls the loose veil of my hair.
