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“I’m serious, Amelia. You have no idea what this Dark Elder has in mind for you. You know what the Elders say about them,” she admonishes me.
I bite my lip and nod. The thought had crossed my mind, sure, but something in me keeps telling me that I have nothing to fear. There’s no point in trying to explain that to Olivia, though, so I promise her and then sneak out the opening.
The first thing I notice is the difference in the air. It feels…lighter than inside the barriers. The ground even looks different, a bit wilder and more unkempt. I smile to myself. I can’t believe it. I’moutsidethe Society.
I laugh and take off running, enjoying the feel of freedom. I’m still in a wooded area, though the trees are sparser, but soon I find myself at the edge and in another type of society all together.
About a hundred feet in front of me, the sand- and grass-covered land gives way to a road leading to a lit-up town. There are clay buildings large and small, and a twinge of excitement fills me as I hear laughter and music coming from within. I smile to myself, wanting to go join the fun, but I know I can’t just simply waltz in and expect a warm welcome. I need to find the Dark Elder, first.
This is where my plan begins to falter. I have absolutely no idea how to reach the Dark Elder. I don’t even know if the Dark Elders are in this town; after all, I’m going off rumors and mythology alone. I look around and see a brick pathway off to the right. It seems to be more obscure than the main road, so I choose to start there. No matter how much I want to enjoy this new environment, I need to remain on guard, and staying in the shadows is the best way to do so.
The pathway takes me through a quiet neighborhood with darkened houses to my left and a mixture of parks and horse ranches to the right. It looks so…normal. If it weren’t for the music still in the air, I would think I was back home.
There’s nobody on the pathway, and for that I’m somewhat grateful. I still have no idea how someone on the outside will react to me being here; in reality, I have no idea how theDark Elderwould react to me being here. Why am I not more worried again?
I walk down the path for another fifteen minutes, feeling less excited with every step. I’m getting nowhere, and I only have forty more minutes before I need to get back. I know I could have decided to just forgo fear and walk through the main town, but I’m unable to work up the courage to do so. Before I turn to go back the way I came, something catches my eye. Quite a way up ahead I see the mountain, much larger and more visible than from inside the Society, but that’s not what stops me.
It’s the beautiful dark castle built within its side, gleaming in the moonlight, that has my breath catching. I know what it is before I even fully process it: the home of a Dark Elder. The rumors are right: they’re here. I contemplate going that way, but the journey on foot will take me at least a couple hours, if not more. I can’t do that to Olivia, not after all she’s risking for me. I can’t do that tomyself, knowing I won’t make it back to the Society on time.
With one last glance, I reluctantly head back down the quiet path and to the sparse woods. I’ve gotten absolutely nowhere with this trip, but at least I now have an idea of the layout. Well, partly. The journey seems quicker now that I have some familiarity, and before I know it, I’ve found the jagged opening to the Society.
Once I’m back through the barrier, Olivia is on me in an instant. “What did you see? Did you meet him? What’s it like out there?”
It occurs to me that perhaps Olivia isn’t only doing this to help me, but because she’s curious, too.
I smile at her and shrug. “It was…amazing, but short-lived. At least, what I saw of it was amazing. The main town was open, even at this time at night.”
I grab her hand and guide her away from the edge and back through the woods to home while I talk. Both spells will begin to wear off soon, so we need to hurry. “I…I didn’t find him. I mean, I had no idea where to even start!” Disappointment begins to set in now that I’m more relaxed. I begin to regret my own cowardice. What would I have found if I had just gone for it and went into town?
Olivia squeezes my hand in a reassuring manner. “Don’t worry, Amelia. You can always try again.”
I smile at her in gratitude, and we begin to talk about taking another journey in the next couple of days. Now that I understand that Olivia wants to do this for more than just me, I’m not as reluctant to let her join again. I tell myself that next time I will be braver, though, because I will not let Olivia risk herself again in vain.
Once I’m back home, I give Olivia one last hug and thank her for her help. The climb up the side of the house is always harder than going down, but I manage with little difficulty. A testament to my training, I suppose.
Once I’m back in the safety of my bedroom, I sigh and slide down the wall. I was so close, yet still so far away. Though Olivia’s words helped to placate me, dismay still settles deep in my core. Why, once I was so close, did I become such a coward? I sit there for a few minutes before getting up and stripping offmy clothes, then moving toward my bed; a couple hours sleep should help clear my head.
Just as I reach for my comforter, I pause.
What the hell?
My heart starts beating rapidly as I see a small, folded piece of paper on my pillow with my name scrawled on the front in intricate penmanship.
I swallow and grab the paper with a shaking hand, opening it slowly.
Meet me tomorrow night. Take the same path, you will know where to go.
The paper flutters from my hands as I startle. He knew I was out all along, but he didn’t come to find me. Instead, he went to my home.
Fear begins to rear its ugly head as I stare down at the note. I start to feel conflicted, regardless of that deep knowing that I’m safe; what am I doing? Do I truly realize the danger of the situation?
Stories of Dark Elders circulate through my mind, especially the stories relating to their love of chaos and destruction. How, if a Dark Elder were to catch a Society member, there was little chance they would get back home alive.
No, Amelia. Stop.
I take a deep breath and push these thoughts back. I start to think of the alternative: maybe he thinks this will be less frightening for me. After all, he didn’t come to my room while I was here.
I groan, confused, and climb into bed, hiding the note under my pillow. I can’t handle anymore pieces of the puzzle right now; my mind is too much of a jumbled mess as it is.
