Page 25 of Once Upon a Demon’s Heart
Chapter Fourteen
ALIRA
Kalel’s grip around my wrist is firm, and he practically drags me behind him. The blood drains from my face as he leads me away from the bonfire and into the dark corner of camp.
He hasn’t said a single word to me this entire time.
When his tent is in view, I jerk my arm from his hold. He whirls on me—teeth grit together tightly.
“What’s your fucking problem?!” I snap, leveling him with a lethal glare. I credit the charmed ale for my bravery tonight.
Kalel’s eyes are empty. He’s the most frightening when he’s like this. There’s no telling what he’ll do when he gets that blank look.
“ My problem?” He says it with a sarcastic laugh, his fangs showing from his manic smile. “My fucking problem?” he shouts. It makes me shake, but I hold firm, fisting my hands at my sides and staring up at him defiantly.
“That’s what I asked you.”
Kalel works his jaw, veins protruding from his neck. “How dare you participate in our ritual.” His voice is lower now, yet no less horrifying.
My lips press together. “Nikolai said I?—”
“How dare you, when you… You’re the reason so many of my knights are dead.” He swallows the rest of the words he wants to say. The reason his mother is dead.
A knot forms in my throat. “Kalel, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
His eyes are unwavering and cold. “No. You weren’t. You never do.” He bites out and sharply looks away from me.
“Don’t act like it was all me. Nikolai and Tessa?—”
He cuts me off again, pushing me back with his chest. “They were baiting you. They knew I’d get pissed off. Stupid little godling.”
My eyes widen. They were baiting me? Is that why Nikolai said he was sorry?
My cheeks warm with the ale and the heat of their antics.
I doubt it was meant to be malicious. My eyes trail back up to the dancing and I catch Tessa and Nikolai watching, big grins on their faces before they laugh at my scowl.
They’re worse than the knights in Alzhor. I hold back the smile that threatens to pull at my lips, because Kalel certainly doesn’t find any part of this to be entertaining.
He didn’t miss them laughing either. After a moment, he lets out a long sigh. “Let’s just get some rest for the night. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.” Kalel drags a weary hand down his neck before letting it fall to his side.
We’re a few feet from our tent when a small orange orb forms in the distance, uncomfortably close to the forest line where the dire wolves dwell. At first, I think it’s a torch from one of the patrolling knights, but the light is too soft and moves oddly through the field.
My chest flutters. A will-o’-the-wisp? I’ve heard tales of them and how they flourish out here in the Eastern plains, leading souls to their doom or salvation.
Either way, it’s usually to enlighten their chosen traveler.
At least, that’s what I’ve read. I’ve never actually seen one before, though.
A strange magnetic pull from within beckons me to follow it.
What strange magic. Ever since entering Devicit territory, we’ve been met with many magical forces. Both horrifying and enchanting.
The warmth of the pull makes it feel right to follow the wisp.
I take a step towards it. Kalel’s hand snaps down to mine and brings me to a halt.
“Ignore it,” he states flatly.
Gods, of course he wants me to ignore it. “It might be important.” I tug against his hold, but his hand is firmly connected to mine.
“Oh, it certainly is, but no good ever comes from the wisps. They always have something bad to guide you toward. Always bringing you there too late to do anything about it.” He walks steadily.
I can only see the back of his head. He sounds remorseful when he speaks about the wisps. What’s that about?
“You speak from experience?” I stop resisting his pull and walk alongside him. His grip loosens, but he doesn’t release my hand. I try not to focus on how warm it is.
He side-eyes me and grunts. “Twice, actually.” He keeps it brief.
I squeeze his hand, and it makes his back straighten a bit. “But did they lead you to consequential things?” My tone is barely above pleading. “I want to know.”
If there’s even a chance that it might enlighten me to the reason for the time loop I was trapped in, I have to follow it.
Kalel stops and faces me. “No.” His eyes flick untrustingly up toward the wisp, still waiting at the edge of the forest for us.
“What if it’s for you and not me?” The question makes his brows pull together. Got him.
He works his jaw and groans. “Fine, but we stay like this.” He lifts my hand for emphasis. “Will-o’-the-wisps are powerful beings. There’s no telling what will happen once we start following it.”
I nod nervously.
We get within ten feet of the wisp before it flickers—happily, almost. Then it goes out completely, drawing a gasp from me before it pops back up farther into the forest. Moss and creaking branches make the night seem more sinister than it originally was.
A dreadful feeling replaces the warmth that the wisp initially gave me.
Kalel lightly tugs my hand. “We cannot go back now, once you follow it, you must see it through to the end.” He nods behind us.
I glance over my shoulder and flinch at the darkness at our backs. No field, bonfire in the distance, or smoky scent in the air from camp. Only shadows and ominous pines. A chill crawls up my neck.
“Where is it taking us?” I whisper, uneasy now that the magic in the forest seems to breathe.
Kalel walks slowly, minding where he steps as if he’s anticipating traps or creatures below. I follow his lead and stay vigilant.
“It could be somewhere now. Somewhere yesterday. A glimpse of tomorrow. It depends on the strength of the wisp and who sent it.” His voice is gravelly. I focus on his warm hand wrapped around mine. I’m actually glad he suggested it because I don’t want to know what happens if we let go.
I wasn’t aware that wisps could transcend time, giving us small glimpses into ripples that only gods should know. “Wait—did you say who sent it? ”
Kalel nods. “They don’t just appear randomly, little godling. Mercy , what do they teach you half-gods in Alzhor? Do you know nothing of the world you live in?” His brows pinch together, and he gives me a pitiful, sarcastic look.
“Can you skip the part where you make me feel dumb and just tell me?” I glower at him.
That gets him to crack a grin. It takes me by surprise, and I find myself memorizing the way his fangs barely hang over his lower lip when he smirks like this.
“It could be a god that has sent it, or sometimes forest spirits, like that of the dire wolf. Although I doubt this wisp was sent by her.” He comes to a stop as the wisp vanishes completely, leaving us in the dark, eerie forest.
I fall silent and listen to our surroundings, where not even a squirrel stirs in the underbrush. Kalel’s hand tightens around mine.
I inhale sharply and look up at him. “Now what?” I whisper.
He stays quiet for a few seconds before shaking his head. “I’ve never had one disappear without showing me the message it wanted to convey.”
That doesn’t sound good at all. I swallow the nerves building in my stomach.
“Could it be here, in the dark of the wood?” I glance at our feet, something sticky is covering the forest floor.
Kalel lets go of my hand and bends at the knee to inspect the substance like I am. A metallic sting hits the back of my throat, making my eyes flash wide.
“ Blood .” We both say simultaneously.
The underbrush reaches our eyes, and as the word leaves our lips something races through the ferns. Loud, fear-filled steps that thunder on the ground as if they are fleeing danger.
I’m standing to chase after them before Kalel can stop me. I hear him mutter a curse as we trample through the dark.
I can barely see the figure of a smaller male. Perhaps a young human. He’s fast, breathing heavily, and with a bit of a pained whimper. He’s hurt.
“Alira, wait!” Kalel calls out, seeming further away in the forest than he was a moment ago. Fear strikes me as I cast a look over my shoulder for him. He should be right behind me, but there are only shadows. The wisp wants us apart, but why? I worry my lower lip and continue following the boy.
I’ll have to do this alone.