part0013

Kelia shifted her weight beside Drew, eyeing a parchment hanging from her door, which Daniella was strolling up to retreive.

Drew frowned at Emma. “What do you mean ’not magicked anymore’?”

“Kelia and Daniella can see the cottage,” Emma said. “If they can see it, despite the fact they know nothing of your aunt, what do you think that means?”

While the two were squabbling, Daniella had grabbed the note from the door. Her gaze focused down on the page as she walked back, and her lips curled into a frown.

When she handed it to Drew, Kelia peeked over his shoulder to read.

Kelia frowned. That was a strange note.

“She knew we were coming,” Drew muttered.

“Of course she did,” Wendy said, snatching the note from Drew. “Adelaide knows everything.” She scanned the note quickly before looking back at her brother and shaking her head. “Christ, you know where she is, don’t you?”

He sighed. “Yes.”

“With Shadows running around, it’s even more dangerous crossing than it already would be.” She crumpled the parchment in her fist. “Why does she make everything more difficult?”

“Because she’s Adelaide Knight.” Drew spun on the heel of his boot and proceeded away from the cottage. “Let’s make a move, hmm? Kelia only has so much time and we only have so much moonlight.”

“Where is more dangerous?” Kelia asked. “Where are we going?”

Drew didn’t even look at her as he stormed ahead. “Through the badlands.”

She looked to Emma for more information, but Emma just shook her head and looked down, her face paling at the mention of the place.

The glow of the moon provided the only light, but with Kelia’s enhanced Shadow eyesight, it was enough to still see the ash floating to the ground like leaves falling from trees. Sulfur caressed her nose, giving her that odd sensation of wanting to sneeze without being able to.

Kelia followed a few meters away behind Drew and Wendy, while Emma and Daniella followed behind Kelia, sidled together and speaking in hushed voices.

She was not certain where they were going, other than away from the destination they had originally intended. ‘Badlands’ could mean anything, but if even Drew, Wendy, and Emma were shaken simply by the mention of them, it would not be an easy trek.

The silence felt as thick as the smoke that had captured the island and choked the life out of the inhabitants. She wanted to take Drew’s hand in hers. She wanted to touch him, because touching him always made her feel safe and she needed that right now. From the ingestion of the Siren’s blood to the fact she was now a monster, Kelia needed something to anchor her in place. Someone to tell her everything was going to be all right.

And yet, even though she wanted nothing more than to take Drew’s hand in hers, she could not do it. She didn’t even know why. Perhaps some of it was because she was not certain how he was going to react. Another part of it had to do with the fact that there was still something between them, something that prevented her from reaching out and seeking comfort from a friend.

Was he her friend anymore? Was he her lover? Was he her savior or her murderer?

Could he be all of them at once?

“Tell me about your aunt,” Kelia decided to say, coming up behind him. Her voice was raw and cracked, unsure if this was the proper thing to be discussing now. At least it was something. “I didn’t realize you had one until you mentioned her recently.”

She felt her body work harder simply walking, and she wondered if that was an effect of the poison inside of her.

“She is a curse on this land as she puts curses on this land,” Drew commented. He didn’t look back. “I need you to remain quiet as to not draw any attention to us. We are still exposed, and the badlands will be much worse.”

The moon was high in the sky, only a quarter of its light shining down amongst the stars as they continued across the terrain. Kelia’s feet were starting to pinch in her boots, and she was suddenly thirsty for some water. That, or blood.

The minute she thought about blood, she pushed the thought away. She refused to let her mind dwell on the crimson liquid. As a Shadow, her body had started to equate the same sensations she received when she thought about Drew’s touch with blood, as though they both produced the same sexually charged feelings.

Where were these badlands anyway? And how did they differentiate from the terrain they walked through now? What made them bad ?

She would ask, but Drew had made it clear that silence was imperative.

She looked around for anything that might give her some sort of clue, but there was nothing but the gentle sway of tall grass….and something rustling inside.

The hair on Kelia’s body stood at attention. She wanted to think it was an animal, but there was something inside of her that knew that wasn’t the case.

Drew must have heard it, too.

“Wendy, take everyone to the Point of Passage,” he said, stopping short and looking around. “Kelia—”

“I’m staying with you.” She didn’t even look at Drew. Her eyes scanned the darkness. She couldn’t necessarily see anything, but she could hear movement. It was hard to narrow in on, considering it was coming from everywhere at one time.

“Being a Shadow didn’t diminish your stubbornness, did it?” Drew asked.

“You wouldn’t like me as much if it did.”

Kelia was on her back before she even had a chance to realize what happened. Another Shadow knocked the wind out of her by pouncing on her and gripping her throat with his hand. She could feel how strong he was—Bert, she decided to name him. She knew a Slayer named Bert from before, someone she didn’t like very much.

All he needed to do was apply that pressure to her throat a little harder and she would be no more than dust. However, she knew he could not. It was her one advantage - knowing Shadows could not actually harm her because the Queen wanted her alive. She did not plan to waste it.

Except, he was not releasing his hold on her. If anything, he was tightening his grip.

“’Ello, poppet,” he whispered. “I’m going to enjoy tasting your ash.”

“You can’t—” She couldn’t get out more than what she already said.

“You think I won’t kill you?” He was so close, she could feel his fangs dance across her cheek. “You think just because the Queen wants you means I have to listen? You think I give a shit about her? Grayson was the one who took care of me. Not her. Grayson. And I will make Drew pay dearly for what he took from me.”

Kelia couldn’t breathe. She needed to do something—anything —to get him to let go.

She kicked out her foot and managed to connect with his stomach. He grunted. His grip on her throat only tightened. She clawed at his hands and wiggled her body. No luck.

From behind her, she heard Drew fighting with another Shadow. Kelia was too incapacitated to see for herself, but there had to be three attacking Drew at one time, which was probably the only reason why Drew had not finished them off and come to her.

"I’m enjoying your pain, your fear," Bert said, each word low and precise. “I wish I could bathe in it.”

Kelia continued to thrash on the ground, trying to get him to release her. He leaned closer, a strand of black hair falling into his face, in order to laugh.

"I have been plotting this since I saw Grayson’s body," Bert continued.

He opened his mouth, ready to speak further, but Kelia finally got him where she wanted him. She kicked his face with her boot, putting every last ounce of strength she had behind the impact. She knew she was not as strong as he was, and she did not expect to be, but she hoped to surprise him.

His grip loosened substantially to the point where Kelia broke free from it. Using her new speed, she ran around him and lifted her arm so her palm came in contact with his back. The force propelled him hard into the ground. He grunted but picked himself back up.

"Already breathing heavy, Infant?" Bert said with a sneer. "My, my, where is your stamina? If Drew taught you anything, I would have assumed it was to keep up."

He lunged. Kelia managed to step out of the way just in time. Her heart hammered in her chest. The word run echoed in her head. She was scared, which floored her because she did not think Sea Shadows were capable of fear.

Her eyes frantically searched her immediate surroundings. Her body stayed in front of her attacker, positioned in case he attacked again.

She needed a weapon. She didn’t know how else she was going to beat him. She had Sea Shadow strength, but so did he. And unlike her, he knew how to use it. He beat her before she even got the opportunity to go on the offense.

“Oy, Kelia.” Wendy’s voice pierced the air and a couple of birds in a nearby tree shot into the sky, their feathers trailing downward. “Use the dirt to blind him. Take him by surprise. How do you not know this? Reach into him and break his heart with your hand. Don’t tell me you don’t have the stomach for it! You’re a beast, not a princess. Embrace it.”

Bert tossed his head back and laughed. “Listen to the witch,” he said. “Before I kill you, you might as well learn something. I’ll even give you a chance to attack me. It will be an educational experience, something you need. Drew hasn’t seen it in him to teach you. Perhaps he does not want to waste his time, knowing you will never amount to much? That you weren’t a good Slayer and you’re an even more pathetic Shadow."

Stinging heat pierced her side. The words had more truth than she cared to admit.

Bert was right. There was no way she was going to be able to defeat him. She had no idea what she was doing. Possessing power meant nothing without the education to actually do something about it.

“Don’t listen to that horse shit!” Daniella shouted. “You must be worth something if that Queen wants you, hmm?”

Except Bert was not planning on taking Kelia to the Queen. Bert wanted to make Drew suffer for what he did to Grayson.

From beside her, there was a loud pop. One of the Shadows turned to ash, which meant Drew was down to two. If Drew could fend off three powerful Shadows, the least Kelia could do was handle one.

“Ready, then?” Bert asked, grinning.

Kelia said nothing. She didn’t even nod. She just waited.

The Shadow darted straight for her. Kelia knelt to the ground, picked up dirt in her hand, and threw it so it puffed in the Shadow’s eyes.

He didn’t seem to be affected by it, likely because he saw it coming, but it was enough to allow Kelia to maneuver behind him quickly and find his back.

Wendy had instructed her to reach through his body and grab his heart as it beat in his chest. The only time she had done something remotely close to that was with the Siren she had feasted on.

It’s not who Kelia was.

“Do it!” Wendy roared.

As if driven by instinct, Kelia’s arm shot out, and her fingers balled tightly into a fist. She had no idea what a beating heart felt like. She just knew she had to open her hand and squeeze something that moved.

It all happened so quickly. The minute she connected with Bert’s back, her hand shot through his skin, cracked his bone, and brushed something rubbery. She flexed her fingers and took the rubbery thing in her hand and squeezed as hard she could.

She heard something drip onto the dirt and looked to where the Shadow stood. She saw blood dripping to the ground between his feet.

Suddenly, the Shadow disintegrated, and ash smacked Kelia in the face. She was so startled, she forgot to ensure her mouth was closed so ash sprayed in her mouth, causing her to cough.

“For the love of Christ,” Wendy muttered.

“Drew needs help,” Daniella said with annoyed urgency.

Kelia shook her head. Daniella was right. She turned her attention to Drew and forced herself to focus. He seemed to be keeping both Shadows off of him, but his slowed movements revealed he was getting tired.

Kelia jumped and landed on the back of one—Horace, she thought. There was something about giving them a name before she killed them, even if she was wrong.

She managed to knock him down and straddle him. He was so surprised, he did not think to defend himself. She did the same thing she had to the other Shadow: reached through his body and squeezed his heart. This time, before the ash exploded everywhere, Kelia pressed her lips into a tight line.

There was a telling pop, and she was misted by ash.

Another one was heard just after, and the third attacker was gone.

“Well, it appears I’m okay for now,” Drew said, his voice ragged.

Kelia knew what that meant. She knew he was asking if she was okay. Before she could respond, Emma cut him off.

“She’s bloody fine. She’s breathing, is she not? We have to cross the badlands, and that is already dangerous enough! Now, let’s go before we get attacked again ."

With that, she turned and continued to stomp through the island terrain. Kelia and the rest of the group had no choice but to follow.

Drew was still silent beside her. She hated it. Hated the fact that he would not even look at her. And yet, she knew that she bore some responsibility. There was still some anger she had when it came to him and what he did to her. It would be so much easier to simply forgive him and move on, and yet there was a small part of her that worried someone might take advantage of her again. Someone might do something unspeakable to her if she did not make it plain that, weeks after the act, she was still unhappy about it.

Emma stopped abruptly, causing Wendy to nearly run into her back. Kelia continued until she was by Emma’s side, Drew on her other side.

Instead of being surrounded by a field of grass, there was nothing but dirt. It was open and exposed. There was mist surrounding this portion of the island. Kelia could see ash and charcoal littering the ground.

“Welcome to the badlands,” Emma muttered.

“Your aunt crossed through this place and survived?” Daniella asked, vocalizing Kelia’s concern precisely.

“We do not know she’s still alive,” Wendy said.

“Yes, we do.” Drew didn’t bother to hide his snark. “That wench won’t die.”

Kelia chewed on her bottom lip. “Will we ?"

“Unfortunately, I do not think we have the same luck as she,” Drew said. “But as long as we keep a sharp eye and we’re at the ready…we should be fine….”