Chương 50: Chapter Forty Six: First Bite And A Final Serenade

"..." Lowell stopped breathing and stepped back. What? Now she lets me go? Great timing. Not. He refused to break eye contact with the shadowy creature—a hulking wolf. Six-feet-tall canine with powerful muscles rippling underneath its sleek raven fur. Every hot breath it took served to speed up his heart beat to a deadly rate.

"Ria? On the count of three I want you to—" The beast suddenly roared in pain and Lowell ducked out of the way. His eyes landed on the mischievous little imp.

"What are you doing?!" He lost all of his typical cool and boomed in her direction. The imp in question was nestled in the creature's lethal embrace, a paw helplessly tried to press down on her chest but she paid it no mind as she drank from its… Oh Lord. Oh someone help me. He begged internally, Eric's going to kill me. Her newly sharp teeth were firmly latched in the canine's leg. Her eyes narrowed shut as she drank greedily with delight. Lowell watched in shock as the little cherub.

The granddaughter of the monarch. His lord's beloved sister. Took the first drink of fresh blood in her life. But from the wrong source! Not only was it from an animal. But it was from that animal's leg! Do you even know where that's been?! There are no chamber pots in the wild, Ria!

"Miseria stop!" The wolf growled and pressed down harder on his supposed prey. Yet it was no use. She drank greedily from his foreleg with no care for his protests. His lips curled back and he barked at the small girl. Yet she paid him no mind. All she had in mind was the delicious liquid that flowed from him to her. Her first meal. Lowell got closer and unsheathed a dagger, preparing to battle the creature. However, he was rendered speechless by the wolf's sudden decision to stop snarling in her direction.

It just seemed to freeze up suddenly. Ria threw herself at the wolf again and continued to drink but with more gusto, making wet gulping sounds as it silently tried to bite the air in agony. Teeth snapping and claiming nothing. Lowell twirled his knife and studied it. Oh? You're getting the special treatment too? Lowell stepped towards the two of them tentatively. Neither of them reacted. He stepped closer again. The wolf howled and he smacked it on the nose in an attempt to keep its mouth shut.

Don't you dare call reinforcements. He inched forward again. Until he was finally within reach of her. You little troublemaker. With a swipe he pulled at her little boot. He pulled with all his might but she was firmly latched onto the canine's leg. He growled lowly and started shouting for help.

"Eric?! Kissae? Hello? Help! Where–Where did they all go?" He continued pulling but eventually gave up upon realizing how strong she was. Fine. He crossed his arms ready to strike at a moments notice. I'll wait until you're full. Lowell waited patiently and avoided the jaws of death while she drank. A century later she finally seemed satisfied and even gave a little burp upon unlatching. She blinked and yawned lazily. Cute as a button if she weren't covered in blood dripping from her mouth.

Lowell watched with an impatient glint in his eyes and his ears twitched impatiently.

"Satisfied now you little fiend?" His foot tapped against the ground hurriedly. Lowell uncrossed his arms and noted that her eyes were dulling at a significant pace. It should be mostly over by now. That's the fastest shifting I have ever seen. I think the triplets started when they were six. Days even weeks of transformation shortened to hours. That's just ungodly. Practically devilish speed. Figures. She is the daughter of that woman. I wonder if she knows we're here? Maybe she'll come to save us?

Miseria patted the wolf that had been reduced to a bloodbag on its torn leg. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work. Wobbling on her both feet and plopping down on the ground exhausted at all the hard work she had done. Hunting is a sport I suppose. Their new friend the wolf shook out his fur and puffed out a gust of warm air when he realized he could. Now that it had regained autonomy of its body from Miseria. Lowell studied the mutt with caution.

The wolf, however, refused to take a second look at the two and stepped back into the woods before bolting off into the darkness. Good. I would run too if I had any idea where to run to. Lowell clutched at his ears in frustration and took stock of his surroundings. That settles it. The forest definitely changed and that's most likely why they're nowhere to be found. That tree that I was communicating with earlier is gone. Trees don't just move without any help.

Unless they're in an enchanted forest full of mysteries from the old age. The rumors say that there are even things in here that are estimated to be as old as the dragon lady in the palace. All around him were dense groups of trees that were covered in mushrooms and leaves of every color. Yet nowhere did he see any markers that hinted at where they were. Even the log Miseria and Kissae had to hop over was gone. They were officialy screwed. He whined and pawed at his ears from the stress.

This is not how my day was supposed to go. Burp"..." Lowell glared at the unladylike action and gasped when he saw what she was trying to do.

"No, no, no. Don't go to sleep. No. Miseria, open your eyes." She blinked lazily at him and he almost felt bad for shaking her so roughly. But now was not the time to slip into a food coma. They were in the most dangerous forest known to Fae. With no supplies or— Wait a minute. Lowell grabbed the sleepy princess and turned her around. Thank the gods. Erichean still had my bag but this was better than nothing. Let's see here. Lowell rummaged through her things while she squirmed around and shifted from foot to foot.

Bandages, food, more jam, more food, milk, and… accessories. Of course. This little foodie. Not a single tent or useful thing in sight. He let out a frustrated breath. Oh. His hand touched something cold and he pulled it out of the tiny bulging bag. Knives? Finally something useful. Serrated and blunt. I'll sharpen them on a rock and they'll be good to go. He confiscated the knives and a cookie from her bag. It's a shame most of the food she packed is meat, otherwise I could've eaten something else.

But beggars can't be choosers. Miseria tilted over and he caught her snoring body in a single hand. She was out. Finally her seemingly endless stamina is exhausted, but at the worst possible time. Lowell sighed once more for good measure and used a long piece of cloth from her bag to make a makeshift baby sling across his chest. It was snug and would hold the babe while he tried to make it out of here. She snuggled in closer to him and blinked her pretty eyes slowly before closing them.

He prayed to the heavens with his eyes closed, "Gods help me and give me strength." Lowell trekked his way out of their original spot unaware that he was still being watched by piercing cold eyes. Now I would have remembered if we had walked past here before. Scratching his ears he turned every which way cradling the toasty package. A swampland unveiled itself before him and fog rolled over the water that would have been imperceptible to the human eye, especially at night.

Reeds swayed in the wind and an eerie whistle lifted over the swamp. It sounded less like the wind and more like— No Lowell rushed around and looked for anything. A place to hide. Something! His bare hand touched a tree. Quickly they're coming. I know! Godsdamn it! Wait. He looked up and decided it was the best he could do. The ground wasn't safe. He dug his hands into the bark and climbed the aged, decaying tree with care. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. It's bark groaned and cracked under his weight.

His boot slipped and he cursed under his breath. No. Not like this. He scurried up the tree and finally made it to where the foliage was the densest. All was silent for a while and he held his breath. A hand came up to cover the girl in his embrace's mouth and he felt it. The chill that ran down his spine caused his stomach to clench nervously. Several women in white dresses walked out of the fog and danced like willow branches come alive to the shore.

Their bare feet touched the surface and they span out of control. Truly a sight to see. Their lithe figures and perfect movements. They were perfect artists. Master's of their craft. Any noble in the capital would have filled an opera house with gold to see them... If it weren't for their missing eyes. The forgotten followers. The silent parade. The deathly procession. Their lips turned up in placid smiles and they danced away into the night. Until a branch snapped.

All of their heads turned towards a tree not far from the bog. All at once their spectral countenances turned sinister and they cackled in delight. One by one they leapt forward and pranced towards the offender that had interrupted their worship. Lowell's ears pressed against his head. He kept his mouth shut and refused to make a sound as they ate the deer alive. Trampled it. Tore it apart. Dragged it down until the bubbles stopped rising to the surface. Its black eyes were torn out and swallowed whole.

Miseria snored peacefully in his arms and he hugged her so close to his chest that she almost woke up from the thundering sound coming from his heart. He stayed the entire night like that. Night in the forest was strange. Filled with odd sounds and equally odd things. Darkness still ruled over its every corner and blanketed all of the living things under its umbrella. The only reason that he could tell that it was all over. That he could finally move his tingling legs from the position they had stayed in all night.

It was when those white dresses dissipated into the fog covering the water. Their hair-raising serenade was finally finished and they would rest for tomorrow. They would dance once more. Over and over. Until... The end. Shaking legs carefully lowered themselves to the ground and almost faltered from the painful imaginary pins and needles stabbing at the nerves. Lowell limped away and didn't look back until the fog was finally gone. Until he was finally in a new area of the forest.

A bright light whizzed by his face and he reared back.

'Hello!' He frowned and looked closer. His eyebrows raised and he sighed with relief.

"Hello miss." A glowing figure the size of an index finger giggled and twirled around him. He followed her with his eyes and noted she wasn't alone. Several other pixies flew from tree to tree with tiny items in their hands. Cheerful squeals too low for anyone else to hear originated from them and he relaxed a little.

'Why are you here stranger?' His russet eyes lit up and he asked her eagerly.

"I'm here to find my friends. Have you seen anyone about this high. Light hair." He gestured wildly with his hands and made a hissing noise with two fingers curled in front of his mouth. The tiny winged creature bobbed up and down enthusiastically.

"Yes?" Suddenly excited he creeped a little closer about to shed tears.

'Is that him?' Lowell frowned and turned around on his heel. Oh... You.