* * *
What Bre saw in the Nemeton made her vomit. Bodies of Celtic warriors layered the ground of the beautiful grove. Sticky, crimson blood coated the earth and trees. Bodies hung from tree canopies, impaled by the limbs. The screams from the women made the scene all the more horrific.
“Whatever did this is not human,” Bre said in disbelief. “Can you smell Eoghan?” Bre asked.
No. He could be anywhere, Clover broke the bad news.
Bre stepped lightly and respectfully over the dead as she walked through the nemeton. She covered her face with her sleeve, trying not to gag on the thick, metallic stench of blood and decaying flesh. Every few steps she called out Eoghan’s name, praying she would not find him among the dead. The longer she walked without hearing Eoghan, the more her eyes watered and her heart sank into her stomach.
“Eoghan!” Bre cried. “Eoghan, please answer me!”
“Breanna! Bre, over here!” Eoghan screamed, half desperate and half elated at seeing her again.
Eoghan’s voice filled her ears like music. All noise around them silenced in her head…He was alive.
Bre spotted him facing the forest.
“Eoghan! What happened? Are you ok?” Bre ran to him and placed her hands on either side of his face, caressing his skin with her thumb. She checked him over to make sure he was uninjured. She rambled on, throwing apologies in between questions and hugs.
“Bre, it’s ok. I’m unharmed, but…” Eoghan tried to cut her off but she kept apologizing.
After a moment, Bre stopped talking, realizing something was wrong. He did not hold her like he usually did when greeting her. “Why aren’t you moving?”
“Finally, she notices!” Caedmon snapped angrily.
“It’s Eversor. He did this. Hurry and break the spell he cast on us so we can help Haley,” Eoghan demanded.
“Who is Haley?” Bre answered, slightly jealous.
Suddenly, it was too silent in the nemeton. The screaming had stopped. Clover lifted her nose, sniffing the air.
“Oh, gods no. Haley!” Caedmon called out.
The Phoinix: Age of Demigods Page 56