by A. M Martin
I get up and do as she says. I've learned the hard way, a bucket of cold ass water dumped on my head the hard way.
When my bare feet touch the hardwood floor, I get a full body shiver all over and start venting my dislike for this whole ordeal. But not too much. Remembering the water.
"Mom, what's going on?" I slip my tennis shoes on, sans socks. It’s too early. "We've already done this. Plus, I'm freakin sleepy and have a test first block."
My words go through one ear and out the other as she grabs my hand and drags me down the stairs speaking at the same time.
"They found us. Listen to me very carefully, if we get separated at any time, I need you to run and run fast as you can to the meadow at the edge, to the old giant oak." She hands me her necklace as we go running out the back door. The screen door banging shut after us.
I grip her necklace in my right fist. My knuckles are turning white for how hard I hold it. Praying my heart won't beat out of my chest. Hoping the pain in my hand will ground me through all this craziness.
They found us. Who is she talking about? She's finally flipped her lid and scaring the carp out of me.
"Mom, what's going on? Who found us?" I ask with fear lacing my tone and a sickness in my belly.
She snaps back, "Listen. Take my pendent and slam it in the middle of the old oak. When you get to the other side, I need you to say 'Custodia. Advoco Ignis Dux ducis', Do not say anything else. Understand?"
Well, this part is new.
"No not okay. What is going on? What other side?" I yell.
She’s crazy. Finally flipped her led. I jerk my sweaty hand out of hers. We're at the edge of the yard just a few feet away is the lush forest. Dense and dark. I really hate the dark.
Her mouth opens, when a noise from the house causes her to close it making both of us spin around facing the back side of the old two-story farm house.
It feels like my heart jumps out of my chest. Saliva pools in my mouth as I hear muffled voices and stomping feet. She's not paranoid after all. She knew this was coming and our weekly runs through the woods actually meant something. Everything meant something.
She grabs my hand again and starts pulling me through the trees. I think my legs forgot how to move.
"Basil baby listen. You need do as I said. They can't find you. After you say those words a man will come, he'll be in armor and have either red, blue, or purple on him, somewhere. Once he gets there, you need to say, 'Expeto Ignis Eligere.'"
"What does that even mean?!" I screech out already pass my crazy limit as tears start their slow track down my cheeks.
"I'm your Cutos. I must protect you, and I want you to know that I love you with all my heart. Sorry I never taught you everything you needed to know." She says with tears streaming down her tanned face.
This is bad. Really bad.
God's, I don't know what she's talking about. Other than this time it's real, and we're in danger. With that running through my mind, my pulse speeds up, my legs move faster, my breathing harder.
We reach a close grouping of trees when she pulls out two daggers from her back.
"Mom." I look at her with huge eyes and astonishment going through my face along with the fear that never goes away. The daggers just came out of nowhere. I’m mean poof. Nothing then small swords.
"Another group of people will come. It may only be one or four but once they get there to ask, 'Ignis Eligere' If they give the nod say, ' Custodia. Flamma. Cell.', Remember that baby and let them see your ring.”
I give her a slow nod while I repeat all the strange words over and over in my head.
"Then what?" I choke out.
She gives me a sad look, "All will be as it is meant to be."
"What?" I say even more dumbfounded than before. I definitely don’t like the sound of that.
"Come out come out." A man's harsh voice rings out through the trees.
I think my heart stopped for a second.
Frightened blue eyes snap on me, "Run Basil Baby run. Do what I told you."
I just stare at her not moving. This isn't real. This is some crazy ass night mare, and I’m still tucked into my warm queen-sized bed. Just dreaming. Just having a nightmare.
Shaking my shoulders, she says fiercely, "Run Ba." She pushes me behind her when a tall, bulky man steps through the trees. "RUN!"
Heart pounding tears are streaming down my face, I take off running through the dark, dense forest. Doing as she told me and trying not to panic too much.
I veer around trees and jump over stumps, my legs and arms getting scratched as I try to avoid tree limbs and fail. I'm almost there when I trip over something and fall flat on my face. Wonderful.
A groan slips out as I move. Trying to set up. My shoulder and cheek hurt other than that I'm fine. I go to get up when someone skids to a stop beside me. I try to move backwards as a scream flies from my lips.
"Shhh. It's me."
Mom. She helps me off the damp forest floor and starts dragging me behind her once more.
The trees start to then out letting the pale glow of the moon to shine down. My eyes widen as I get a good look at her.
It looks like she's been in a fight with a tree. Leaves are in her hair. Her face and arms are sporting thin bloody scratches. She looks awful.
"Are you alright?" I ask breathlessly.
She gives me a nod as we splash through a small stream. The cold water floods my shoes, sending cold bumps all over my body.
We're close now, just beyond the cluster of trees and boulders is the meadow.
I started threading my way through the boulders when I'm hit by a powerful gust of wind. It sends me flying backwards, hitting one of the larger rocks. I slid down the rock, hitting the ground with a thud. Pain slashes through my body as I try to suck in air. I feel blood running down my neck. My pulse beats loud in my ears.
Gods, I'm sick of falling and what the hell was that?
When I'm no longer gasping for air, I sit up and see mom crouched down in front of me in a fighting stance. The mysterious daggers at her sides. Her head is snapping in every direction, looking for a threat.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. What was that?" I ask still tiring to catch my breath.
"Listen. When I say go. You run." She doesn't answer my question, her eyes flickering over every little thing around us.
I think we've both have lost our minds this night.
"Basil." Mom snaps at me. While I'm wondering if this is just a nightmare and hopefully I'll wake up soon.
I shake my head no. "I'm not leaving you."
"I’ll be right behind you. Promise."
I ran earlier when she told me to, but something right now is telling my gut if I run again without mom, it'll be the last time I see her. But I'm scared beyond words, and she's never broke a promise to me before. I'm trusting her not to break this one.
"You better be," I whisper out.
She gives me a nod and a small smile. I don't think she’ll be right behind me. Something in my gut and her eyes are telling me another story altogether. A different, sadder story.
"I love you."
Sadness forms in her eyes, "I love you too baby always remember that."
I nod as tears start to fall again. Gods, it sounds like she is saying goodbye, a forever goodbye.
Hearing the snapping of twigs off to the right, my head snaps that way, and I squint my pale blue eyes in the darkness tiring to see.
A different man steps out in front of us, shorter than the last, at least I think he's different. He's too far away to tell. He doesn't get to say anything as a blue flame bursts from mom's hands and hits him in his wide chest.
"What-"
"Go!" Mom's scream cuts off my words.
"You promise," I say before I take off once more with tears on my face. I start my trek through and around the boulders, while a battle is raging on behind me.
Yep. This is a nightmare. People don't throw flames from their hands. Just do as mom
says and eventually, you'll wake up.
At least that's what I'm going to keep telling myself.
It feels like forever, but I finally break through the boulders and trees into the meadow. Gasping for air.
The meadow is huge with tall light green grass that comes up to my knees and flowers of every color litter through it. I pause to catch my breath, holding the sharp pain in my side, only to take off again on shaky legs when I hear gruntle screams coming from behind me.
I reached the giant oak out of breath and tired I don't pause though. I slam the necklace right in the middle of the tree trunk even though it sounds crazy. But this is a nightmare. A bright white light shines from within the oak, and I move backwards away from it. Oh, my gods.
The light gets brighter and brighter till I must shut my eyes. Suddenly in baths me in its hot rays. An electric shock covers me from head to toe along with burning cold heat. I don't know what's going on. I start to panic as my body feels like it's collapsing in on itself and I can no longer breath.
Out now
Sneak Peek
Wintermore by Mark Macky
Under a bright sun in the grassy blue fields of Stonia sat Indian style icicle whiten haired frosty blue skinned shape shifter and current princess of Wintermore, Elemara Ravenstar of the Trazades species.
Her hands gripped her favorite book which detailed the life and exploits of Bathalia Calana, the last known Stermonia - light witches rumored to have possibly survived a centuries old war between heroic light witch Stermonia and villainous dark witches - the Madersine. She wasn’t alone as she sat there, her close friend, morter-dragon Prysers Lightenmore. Also a shapeshifter, the difference between them, unlike her, Prysers had magic.
Close by stood her sister Havens and other friend, fae Sevinka Larkinfied who dueled with Anklers swords. The sounds of the blades as they clanked together filled the air. It had been Havens idea for them to head out here in the first place; no doubt to show off her incredible ability as a sword dueler.
“It appears that once again Havens will claim victory,” Prysers said, her eyes focused on them.
“That’s no surprise Prysers,” Elemara replied and smiled as she glanced up from her book to stare at her. “Haven’s has always been excellent when it comes to swords.”
“And once again I claim victory!” Havens cried in triumph as she delivered a blow to Sevinka’s sword and knocked it from her hand.
“I suggest you give it up Sevinka,” Prysers said. “Havens is much too excellent a swords girl, there’s not a chance you’ll ever come out on top against her.”
“Great way to boost my confidence since we’re supposed to be friends Prysers,” Sevinka grumbled as she reached down to pick up her sword.
“Congratulations on yet another victory Havens,” Elemara said as Sevinka and her sister started to head for them.
As much as Havens was proud of her talent in swordsmanship, she was the best out of the four of them, and recognized for it; that wasn’t enough. She wanted the role Elemara had, and she was selfish enough to take it. Between her sister and the role of princess, Havens would much rather have the latter. This caused Havens to align herself with a hated Madersine named Morelli Nightford. The way she saw it, with Morelli and her magic, she placed in the role of princess she so coveted would almost be certain. Of course, she’d be hated for it. With Elemara and her pristine goodness, there was no way around that. This was why she asked Morelli after she became princess to use her magic to manipulate the minds and hearts of the good citizens of Wintermore to feel the same way about her as they did Elemara.
“Sure, I’d have no difficulty with that,” Morelli replied when she asked this. “But I need you to do something in return.”
It came as no surprise to Havens to have Morelli ask this. After all, she was an evil, dark witch. Still, however, she desperately needed to be princess.
“Fine, what is it you want Morelli?”
“In exchange for my help to make you the next princess Haven Ravenstar, you need to sentence your sister Elemara to death by execution.”
Even though she and Elemara were sisters and shared a strong bond with each other, Haven’s desperate desire to take what Elemara had outweighed the bond of sisters they had. Because of that, she decided to accept Morelli’s request.
“Fine you’ve got it, Elemara is as good as dead.”
“Excellent choice Havens. Lure your sister out to the Stonia field and I’ll manipulate the minds of a pair of Morter-Dragon guards to come arrest her.”
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