He seems kind, and respectful, but it’s still not impossible that he convinced me to believe his delusion, and once we are hidden from view, he could break my neck and sacrifice me to Satan. Just because the police would later find him and put him in prison wouldn’t make me any less dead.
“I don’t want to be rude,” I say as it becomes too dark for me to comfortably see everything around me. “But where will we be crossing into the Nightmare Realm? This place is deserted.”
Tristan rubs my chest reassuringly. “It won’t be too long now. I just need to find the right cave,” he says, once more pulling out what looks like a compass, but its golden dial doesn’t act like one. At least I’m dressed warm.
My large backpack is attached to the horse, and contains some extra clothes, vegan snacks, and a couple of books I wanted to read for a while. I also bought, or rather allowed Tristan to buy, canned peaches as a gift for the Lord of the Nocturne Court, because apparently, I will be ‘officially presented’ to him.
Is it really so strange that after years of reading fantasy and romance Iwantto believe Tristan? Or will following him tonight be the last terrible decision I ever make by trusting my heart?
“A cave? That’s where the palace is?” I ask, now worried Tristan’s a member of a cult, and the lord he’s taking me to is their guru.
Despite it being so dark, neither my knight, nor his horse seem bothered, and the animal calmly climbs the incline, maneuvering a narrow path with dense bushes on either side. At least I don’t have to walk this path in the dark. It’s worrying how much reassurance Tristan’s arm around my waist gives me. I’m melting into him and his fantasy world already, and I won’t evenbehisDark Companion, which… taints the whole experience a little bit.
“No, but it’s where the crossing is hidden. We still don’t know for sure how these gates between our worlds appear. Most elves think it’s a question of star alignment. A crossing that has been there for years can sometimes just disappear. Last year, I was summoned to a village, because an old human lady was found in the woods. She was helpless and confused. Apparently, she went out to forage for mushrooms, slid down a hill, and the next thing she knew, she was wandering a forest in our realm. If you ask me, she was one of the lucky ones. Humans unaware of the dangers they can encounter are sadly most likely to perish devoured by a beast or poisoned by plants they shouldn’t have eaten.”
“Oh, my God. She must have been terrified. Is she okay?”
“She’s fine, I escorted her home personally. One of my more exciting jobs to date.”
“Really? Escorting someone home was exciting?” I ask with a frown, and Tristan sighs.
“Oh, I know. When I signed up to the Nightcloaks, I thought I’d be visiting the human realm every week. Instead, I’m dealing with lots of paperwork.”
“So… is it really this dangerous out there? Should I be worried?” I ask, sinking deeper into Tristan’s chest. He picks up the sides of his cloak and covers us both with it.
“I’m by your side, so no. You don’t have to worry about a thing.” He kisses the side of my neck, making me all warm and gooey inside. Tristan is so affectionate and open. So unlike any of my past boyfriends who dreaded romantic gestures and promises.
I must have terrible taste in guys, since obviously happy couples exist. They get married and always support one another. I just never found anyone who’d want to share that with me.
I exhale, letting my head loll over his shoulder. “Hm? You’d protect me even from a wolf like this one?” I ask, opening the duffel bag in front of me a bit wider to pet Lady, who’s sleeping soundly, lulled by the horse’s rocking gait. Half of all my shopping was supplies for her.
I’m surprised by a moment of prolonged silence before he speaks. “Yes. I am your escort, and I take that very seriously. Here we are.”
I can barely see in the darkness, but there’s a rock wall next to us, and when Tristan helps me off the horse, my boots meet soft moss.
“Who goes there!?” A raspy old man’s voice assaults me from the side, and when that combines with the stranger turning on a flashlight, I yelp at the sight of his long beard and bulging eyes.
“Good evening,Earl,” Tristan says and flashes me a smile as if he were expecting praise for remembering a human name.
The old man stands in our way with his chest puffed. “I advise you to turn around now. There’s evil in this cave more ancient than this country!”
My knees go a bit weak, because there are far too many things trying to warn me away from the path I’m on. Sure, the man appears to have lost his mind a bit, but Tristan has shown me impossible things, so why wouldn’t Earl have something important to say about the Nightmare Realm?
“What do you mean?” I ask while Tristan fiddles with one of his saddlebags.
Earl’s eyes narrow in the shadow of his thick brows. “This is one of the entrances to the secret city of the lizard people. Those who enter never come out. That’s why so many people disappear in National Parks.”
Oh-kay…
Tristan pulls something out of the inner pocket of his cloak. “And…?” He raises his eyebrows at Earl as he shows him a palm-sized metal brooch of a crab framed by seaweed. “Toxi…”
Earl bows so deeply I take a step back in shock. “Toxic gasses. Yes. I didn’t forget. Just wanted to build it up, you know? Sir. Your Highness.”
It’s baffling to see the man drop his act. How deep does this rabbit hole go?
“Is everything all right?” I ask, but Earl offers me a bow too.
“Absolutely. I am… how to say it… a professional hermit. As long as I stay in my role, people keep away from the cave,” he explains and pulls out an energy bar. “Best job I ever had, young man.”
