AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I followed the mist and the gently pulsing light, moving through the tents until I saw the source of the mist and the light. There was an opening in the side of the mountain, at the outermost edge of the village. The opening sparkled and shimmered with purple light, but also green, now. Little dancing motes of emerald, and jade, and lilac ducked in and out of the mist emanating from the mouth of the cave.
“This is a bad idea,” I said, and I shook my head as hard as I could, trying to jerk myself awake.
“You are not dreaming, Amara,” came the voice. The shimmering lights sparkled more brightly as she spoke.
“Who are you?” I called out.
“A friend. You need not fear me.”
“I’m not afraid of you.”
“Then come and join me. We have much to discuss.”
“Down there? You must think I’m an idiot.”
“You are right to be wary, Princess. But I have something you want.”
I paused. “And what’s that?”
“A way out.”
I didn’t have to ask for more information. The tone of her voice, the intensity of her words, I knew what she meant. Even though this only served to make me even more suspicious, I couldn’t deny I felt almost entirely drawn to it now. It was as if that cave opening had its own gravity, and I was being pulled toward it, inevitably, inexorably, and totally.
I couldn’t help myself, I approached the opening of the cave and carefully stepped through. The mist was thicker, here. It filled the space I was walking through, making it difficult to see where I was going.
The little balls of light danced around me, caressing the edges of my skin. As they went past my ears, I thought I could hear them humming, singing, maybe even giggling. They calmed me, disarmed me a little—just enough to help me make the rest of the trip into this cave.
The tunnel opened up ahead, leading me into a chamber lit by torches that burned with purple light. The mist that had been clinging to me fell, all at once, and pooled at my feet where it was so thick, I couldn’t see the ground I was walking on. A scent tickled my nostrils; something familiar that I knew I should be able to place, but for some reason, I couldn’t.
“Hello?” I asked, looking around me. All I could see were the torches. Occasionally, a small ball of green or pink light would jump out of the mist around me, only to dip right back into it a moment later.
“Welcome, Princess,” came the voice. It came from behind me, and caused every single one of the hairs on my arms to stand on their ends.
I spun around, my heart wedged inside of my throat, and there I saw a woman. She was standing at the entrance to this cavern, as if she had climbed out of the mist. The woman was shorter than I was, and yet she seemed to fill the entire room. She had dark hair, and even darker eyes, lips that were painted black, and skin as white as snow itself. Around her neck and wrist hung items of jewelry that looked entirely handmade—bones, leather throngs, and even animal teeth.
She pulled down the hood of the furry white cloak she was wearing, and I realized she had no antlers, but she had pointed ears. One of those ears looked like it was missing a tip, as if it had been cut off, or bitten off. A line of gnarly, scar tissue ran down along the side of her face, from her cheek all the way down to her collarbone. She made no attempts at hiding any of this.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Like I said… a friend.”
“I would like to know your name.”
“What is a name but another shackle keeping us tied to a place, or aperson?” Whenever she spoke, it was with soft, strong confidence. Every word carefully chosen, every sentence well crafted, every important word emphasized. She spoke like a noble, like a diplomat, but she looked like a Moon Child.
“That’s not cryptic at all.”
“I don’t mean to misdirect, Princess. I have many names, none of which are important right now.”
“I feel like I should be the judge of that.”
“Judge all you like… regardless, I am at your service.”
I frowned. “What are you talking about? And what is this place?”
“This…” said the woman, “Is a place ofpower. It is my sacred place.”
“Where is everyone? Why is the Moon Child village quiet?”
