37. Dark Places

It smelled like rot the ground I stood on was wet and muddy and a putrid odor hit my nose with every step I took. I couldn’t hear a sound it was silent I don’t think there was one living creature, but the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. The trees stood tall the canopy completely blocked out the sun black looking moss covered them. Then I started to hear scratching, hissing, and growling. I frantically looked around I couldn’t see anything I couldn’t smell anything the rotten forest completely mask any scent that might have been around. Where the hell was I, Ezra said think of home and I did but then all of a sudden I thought about my mother and ended up here. What dose this place have to do with my mother?

“This is a Stygian forest Solaris. Don’t you remember covering it in mythology.”

“Aurora so now you are talking to me. I guess I remember it’s a place where all nasty things make camp after something pure evil happens. How did thinking of home and Mother bring us here.”

This place doesn’t even look like something that’s on earth.

“We can’t stay here we need to get moving shift I will get us out faster.”

She was right but if something attacked us my light magic would be very helpful. We can’t access it in Wolf form.

“Give it a minute Aurora lets get a feel for this place besides the smell is so strong it’s burning my nose you won’t be able to guide us out.”

She wasn’t happy about my choice scratching at the walls in my head trying to get out. I continued to walk finding rocks and logs to walk on to avoid the quick sand like mud. It felt like someone or something was watching me. Looking around I could see eyes everywhere red yellow shadows moving in between the trees.

“Whatever is watching us isn’t human the smell in this forest is coming from them.”

“Yes I get that too but what are they Aurora. Why haven’t the attacked us?”

I keep walking everything looked the same the eyes keep fallowing. So I did the only thing I could think of I tried to contact Azrael I’m not sure if it works over long distance I can barely get it to work with him next to me but it’s all I got. So I concentrated focused on him picturing his face his body the sound of his voice the aura I felt when we connected in my mind. So I just called out to him.

“Azrael I’m not sure if you can hear me but I’m kind lost in some stygian forest there are things here I don’t know what they are I need help please come find me.”

I said it like a pray feeling nothing in return. Shit! Then behind me the sound of foot steps light barley making a sound. Turning on my heals to find a woman standing behind me.

“You seemed lost?”

Her voice was quite but she looked familiar. It was hard to see in the dark but I could make out a little bit. Light brown hair in waves passed her shoulders pointed nose and chin all covered in shadow I couldn’t make out her eyes.

“I may have taken a wrong turn but I’m fine thanks.”

She took a step towards me there was something dark about her and powerful.

“Solaris she’s a demon and a powerful one.”

Aurora rang in my head what I was already thinking. I stepped back she only moved closer and more swiftly.

“I’ll never know what he saw in you. His light bringer, so powerful once now look at you a half-breed a freak useless. How’s it feel being in the place of your birth. ”

She spat the words at me. Who the hell was this bitch?

“You got the wrong girl crazy lady, but I'm not useless and I was born in a house not some haunted forest. It would be best for you to stay away from me if you want to keep breathing.”

She keep coming towards me so I did the only thing I could do I let the heat and light come to my hands. The space around me glowed with the light of the sun it had made its way into this dark place. The creatures around me screamed growled and hissed making my ears ring. I could barely hear what the woman was saying.

“You think your little light show is going to scare me. All your light causes is death just look at this place. You killed everything here just by being born. Things this dark that live in theses woods are only attracted to death. He really thinks you can rule at his side a sad lost little girl. The world was perfect before you he was perfect before you. You destroyed him then and you will do the same now I can’t let that happen.”

I could see her face now dark blue eyes the women from the woods that appeared in front of Azrael. She knows him? How dose she know him?

“I have no clue what or who you are talking about lady who are you?”

“I’ll let your lover tell you if there is anything left of you.”

Suddenly she disappeared what the hell then the next thing I know I’m surrounded by hundreds of shadows big small round slim eyes all around me. The light I was projecting was slowly being snuffed out the creatures was sucking the light from me just like the Silks. I started screaming for Azrael as loud as I could calling to him out loud and in my head. I was loosing there was just to many pulling me down it felt like that first dream I had of him. Howls broke out around me lots of them I had to cover my ears the creatures started backing away I caught a glimpse of a wolf then another and another, but not one of them was my beloved blacked furred wolf. They circled me lots of them I could barely keep my head up one of them shifted he called to me a unfamiliar voice arms wrapped around me picking me up holding me bridal style. I didn’t Know his scent but it was Lycian I rested against his chest and passed out.

“We will take you home Luna.”