by K.L. Bauman
Heavy clouds and strong winds pressed against six companions as they trekked uphill along a wide-cut path through the Forgotten Forest of Shae Vale. Ayden hated this forest. The trees were small and spaced too far apart. The wide spaces let the full force of the wind beat against them, and the path was covered with loose stones, causing frequent stumbling. Nya held her bird gently beneath her arm, its colorful tail feathers curling around her body from the wind. Flight would've been impossible. In fact, Ayden hadn't seen or heard another single bird the entire time they'd been traveling through the Forgotten Forest. Maybe that's why it was called that--any creature would be crazy to live here. Even the trees forgot to grow here. Ayden was sure he'd make a point of forgetting it himself as soon as they were through.
He was glad for the clouds. The sun would've been stifling without the shade from the trees. Plus, the clouds helped him feel less exposed. Even though he'd grown up surrounded by the wide open spaces around Freya's farm, he now missed the comfortable feeling of dozens of trees hiding their bodies from invisible eyes.
There was another reason he was thankful for the clouds. Tonight would be a full moon. And, if he was right about Sabina, they definitely did not need a full moon to appear any time soon. He'd kept his ideas about the subject to himself, even from Pax. His friend knew more than a little about vampires and had flooded Ayden's mind with information.
Pax had relayed various types of vampires and their origins. He learned that it was actually a type of virus that began in Shae Vale and had somehow found its way into the Other World as well. Experiments were being done with vampires by less than civil beings--some vampires had acquired wings by having their blood mixed with fairy blood. The victims of the newer strains of the virus were able to keep their natural form during the day, but were transformed into the vampire state at night. Also, the moon seemed to now affect them in ways similar to the werewolf--their transformation was at its strongest during a full moon.
Pax had told Ayden of many forms of defense against these creatures; anything from silver stakes in the heart to hypnosis. Most of the defenses he spoke of were horribly unpleasant, and Ayden prayed he wouldn't have to use any of them on Sabina. In fact, he hoped he was totally wrong and Sabina was nothing more than the girl he used to know. But instinct warned him against such false hopes.
Ayden was still confused about Nya, though. How did she fit into the picture? Was she some breed of vampire herself and that was why they traveled together? And what was with that crazy, beautiful bird? She seemed to have a strong connection with it.
He'd have to soon test another of his theories and try to converse with the girl. If he could learn a language just by listening as it was spoken, could he also speak it himself? He wasn't sure. He'd tried to have a conversation in his mind using her words, but it was difficult without someone to respond. He wondered what other abilities he might have gained from his parents--what else had Freya hidden from him?
Ayden thought of grandmother as he leaned into the wind and gritted bits of dirt that had forced their way between his teeth. It had been a few days since any messengers had brought word of her condition. The last he knew, she hadn't improved. He hoped with all his heart that their journey wouldn't last much longer and he'd be able to put a stop to his grandmother's sickness.
Finally and thankfully, they reached the end of the Forgotten Forest and found shelter from the incessant wind against a clay and sandstone ledge. The formation resembled a giant wave frozen at its height of glory, its crest suspended over their camp. Years of wind had carved the amazing sculpture. A small stream rested nearby, and they were able to refresh their water pouches. Ayden drank deeply and felt the soothing water cure his wind-burned lips and face. Fatigue overwhelmed him; he wanted nothing more than to surrender to sleep. But it was his turn to patrol the area before dinner, so he set down his gear and wearily walked around the campsite.
Ayden tried to keep his senses alert as he surveyed the area first with his eyes, then his ears and nose. There were some new sounds and smells here, but nothing that seemed threatening. He could still hear the wind blasting in the open area behind them. A softer breeze whistled through the trees and holes in the large clay formations that surrounded him. Sandstone boulders littered the area where chunks of the surrounding cliffs had deteriorated. He finally heard the songs of various birds as they sang farewell to the day.
Ayden returned to camp to the smell of food cooking over a warm fire. He found Pax frying strips of salted pork and boiling water for tea and gave him a questioning look.
"V-Volos s-said it w-would be okay," Pax said as he looked up at Ayden.
Ayden looked to Volos for conformation. "I'm tired of eating cold food. Besides, I think these rocks should hide the light well enough," Volos said.
Everyone ate their supper that night as if they hadn't eaten in days. Everyone, that is, except Sabina. Ayden watched her from the corner of his eye. If anyone looked her way, she'd pretend to take a bite of food; but as soon as no one was looking, she'd spit the food in the grass behind her and look as if she were about to hurl. Ayden's heart sank. Things were pointing more and more toward his theory, and he wasn't sure how to handle the situation. He just hoped none of the others had noticed.
Pax had walked closer to Sabina and was jangling the marbles in the pouch. He shifted back and forth from one foot to the other as he attempted to muster some courage. Not tonight, you idiot! Ayden thought. Sabina seemed more agitated with Pax coming near. Ayden didn't want anything getting her riled up. He walked over to his friend, grabbed the pouch, and tore it from his belt.
"H-Hey!" Pax yelled out in protest.
"Sorry, but I WILL NOT listen to that another minute," Ayden said, not completely feigning his irritation, and then he turned away. Pax would be mad, but at least he was distracted from Sabina.
Ayden went to sleep as soon as he was finished with his meal. He was on second watch that night and wanted to get some rest before it was his turn. He wanted to keep an eye on Sabina in case anything strange happened-for her protection as well as everyone else's.
Midnight arrived and Da'ewyn shook Ayden from his sleep. He rose and splashed cool water from the stream against his face. He then turned and looked, making sure Sabina was still sleeping. Her form lay on the edge of camp and Ayden could see her side rise and fall as she breathed deeply. He glanced up and noted that the clouds still hovered, though they were rapidly thinning.
Shaking Sabina from his mind, Ayden walked the perimeter of the camp, looking for any signs of danger. He was about to circle back toward camp when the snapping of a twig grabbed his full attention. He quietly slid Phantom and Whisper from their cases and held them tightly. Forcing himself to breath, he slowly and quietly looked and listened.
Ayden jerked his head and focused where a movement had caught his peripheral vision. He was sure he'd seen something in the shadow of the trees to his right and upwind from him. Squinting, he tried to force his vision to cut through the blackness and reveal what was hidden. The full moon peeked around the edge of a cloud, giving enough light for Ayden to see that a coyote was slinking through the trees, attempting to avoid detection.
Ayden breathed a sigh of relief as he returned his weapons to their cases. The moon hid back behind the clouds, and he could hear the coyote scamper away into the trees.
"Everything okay, Ayden?" Sabina's voice caused Ayden to nearly jump out of his skin. She was standing atop a large boulder a few feet behind him. The fact that she'd arrived at that point without his detection made him uneasy.
"Uh, yes. Yes, everything's fine. There was just a coyote out hunting in the trees over there--startled me a little," he replied. Sabina's wide, unblinking gaze caused his mouth go dry. He chanced a quick glance at the sky to reassure himself that the moon was still covered before he asked her cautiously, "What are you doing up?"
"I couldn't sleep," she said as she continued
to stare at him.
Ayden cleared his throat and replied, "Well, I'd better finish my round?"
The clouds suddenly dissolved and the fury of the full moon bore down on them. Ayden's heart pounded furiously as he watched Sabina, waiting for her to have some sudden reaction to the light. She remained still, staring. When nothing happened, Ayden relaxed. Maybe he'd been wrong after all.
Sabina gave a crooked smile and floated down to Ayden, her silky cloak ruffling against rocks and grass with her movement. The hair on Ayden's neck prickled. There was something different about her--she had a dangerous look in her eyes. In fact, maybe it was his over-active imagination, but he was sure her eyes were beginning to look red, and the pupils took on the sliver-like form of a cat's.
Sabina advanced smoothly on Ayden. Even in the brightness of the full moon, she carried an aura of darkness and drama with her every movement. She reached out and traced Ayden's arm with her fingernail, causing a trail of goose bumps to erupt in its wake. "Do you remember our first kiss, Ayden?" she asked in a voice thick and smooth as molasses. Ayden's heart skipped a beat as he looked at her smile--her dog teeth had become a lot more "doggy"; they were long, pointed, and looked as if they could puncture solid rock!
Subconsciously grabbing the hilt of his sword, Ayden responded, "Uh, well, yes. I guess I do."
"It was a good kiss," she drawled and drew closer. Despite the fact that the wind had completely died away, Sabina's cloak and hair ruffled wildly around her; a sudden coldness enveloped Ayden, paralyzing him. A strange longing pierced his emotions, causing him to want to give in to desires--Sabina's desires. He could picture their first kiss clearly in his mind; the rush of excitement pumped through his body as her soft, warm lips touched his. He subconsciously licked his own lips, remembering the taste of her berry lip gloss.
The sound of Sabina's voice brought him back to the present. She whispered eerily into his ear, "I can feel the beating of your heart, Ayden." She looked seductively into Ayden's eyes.
A strong shiver ran down Ayden's spine. Sabina was getting dangerously close to his neck now, and the coldness of her breath caused his skin to crawl. She touched his arm again, and he felt himself melting into her as his resolved weakened. He had to do something fast!
Ayden shook his head and cleared his throat, attempting to rid his mind and body of Sabina's spell. He spoke, his voice cracking, "Sabina. Don't do this. Y-you don't want?to?" Sabina caressed his neck with the back of her hand while she breathed softly into his ear. His eyes rolled back as he felt himself surrendering. Okay, maybe she does want to. Maybe I want to?
Every muscled tensed against Ayden's flood of heightened emotion. He squeezed his eyes tighter and breathed rapidly as he tried to think. He had to stay calm, stay focused. If he gave in, he'd be lost to her, and to everyone else who was depending on him. This was worse than any battle he'd ever fought before. A physical foe didn't compare to the raging storm of his own emotions.
From somewhere in the depths of his mind, Freya's gentle voice echoed, "Remember, my dear, you are never tempted beyond what you can endure. You always have a choice, and you are always given a way out."
A way out; there had to be some way out of this! Think, you idiot, think! Ayden's body trembled uncontrollably as Sabina's lips touched his neck. Concentrating on anything else was proving difficult as his pulse throbbed under the coldness of her touch. His chest rose and fell in rapid succession as his mind drowned in swirling, seductive images. If he didn't think of something fast, she'd have him.
Ayden's eyes snapped open as he suddenly remembered something Pax had told him--one of the defenses. Reaching into his pocket, he grabbed the leathery pouch full of marbles that he'd torn away from his friend earlier. His hands shook so badly that he was barely able to release the string holding the pouch tightly shut. If this didn't work, he'd either have to let her take him or, worse, he'd have to kill her.
Chapter Twenty One
Sabina's Story