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Last night he had felt some strange pull to protect her when the silver serpents showed up.

Even though she exasperated him, riled him, he’d gone to her side without consideration.

When she’d been cornered by that soldier, Aro had told him she was in danger.

Unable to disengage from the fight he was in, he’d sent Raine to get her.

Though he was still furious she had brought their enemies to their doorstep, he would guard her. Keep her safe.

The mist grew heavier, completely blotting out the sun, and made it difficult to see even a few feet in front of them.

“Stay close,” he whispered to Ava.

All was eerily quiet as they continued. Too quiet. The group remained together as the mist closed in, but it was too dense and Casimir lost visual on Thorne and Quinn in front of them. When he turned, he could no longer see Raine or Jorrar either.

“Shit,” he whispered.

“What?” Ava asked.

“We lost the others. Thorne? Raine?” he tried calling quietly to see if they could hear him, but no answer came through the mist.

He could smell Ava’s fear as she inched closer to him, seeking safety in his presence. He let her and they stopped, looking around for the others.

“What do we do?” she asked.

Before he could answer, a splash sounded from a pool next to them.

“What is that?” she whispered.

“I don’t know but do exactly as I say. Keep your back to mine. Draw your bow and be ready to shoot, if necessary,” he instructed as he drew his sword.

Her back was flush against his, muscles moving as she nocked the arrow and drew her bow. The splash sounded again, and they remained back-to-back, looking around for the source of the noise. To his left, something growled and came slithering in their direction.

It was scaly and gray, with eight legs and a long wide mouth revealing hundreds of teeth. They both turned to the creature as it scurried toward them, tail whipping as it closed in.

Casimir lunged, slicing with his sword, cutting off one of its legs but it wasn’t deterred.

One of Ava’s arrows shot through the air, but the creature moved at the last minute and dodged it swiftly.

The creature lunged again, but this time he was ready.

He waited as its mouth opened and then shoved his sword into the top of its head through the open jaws.

The creature collapsed, and Casimir turned back to Ava.

“We need to find the others,” he said as he looked off into the mist, hoping to catch a glimpse of his friends.

He turned back to Ava. She had her bow drawn again, eyes wide and aiming at something behind him.

Before he had a chance to turn around, she released the arrow, and he heard the sound hit its mark.

He whipped around to see another creature like the one he had killed, only slightly smaller, lying on the ground twitching with an arrow through its eye.

He raised his sword and severed its head to ensure its death .

He turned, a thank you on his lips, only to find she was gone.

Ava, the voice whispered from the mist. Ava, honey. It’s me, little bird.

“Mom?” She followed the voice. “Mom, where are you?”

She couldn’t see anything but swirling mist and vague shadows of trees.

How did she get separated from Casimir? He had been right there in front of her and then he’d disappeared.

Her mother’s voice had sounded, and she couldn’t help but follow, couldn’t control her legs as they walked toward the sound, as if her body wouldn’t listen.

Ava. Please, dear. Help! I need your help.

“Mom, I’m coming. Where are you?” she pleaded.

I’m over here. Hurry! They’re coming. They’re going to hurt me.

Panicking, she picked up her pace. “Mom! Mom, I’m coming!”

Here I am, said the voice from behind her.

She stopped and turned around, unable to discern the direction it was coming from. The voice surrounded her now, whispering from everywhere at once.

Ava! It floated around her in the breeze.

“Mom. I can’t find you. Where are you?”

I’m here. I’m here!

Another voice sounded. This one younger.

Ava. What did you do? You killed me!

“Eleanor?” she whispered, heart racing.

It’s your fault I’m dead! It’s all your fault! The voice screamed.

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “I know it was my fault.”

The two voices continued to yell at her. One begging for help, the other screaming at her in anger. Her eyes blurred with tears as she searched the thick mist .

Lost and confused she had no idea where she was. Why was there so much fog? What was this place? She started to run, trying to get away. She just had to keep going. Had to get out of here. The voices screamed at her even louder, when she tripped and plunged into a deep abyss.

Ice cold, she couldn’t breathe. Was she in water? She tried to swim to the surface, but she didn’t know which way was up. She couldn’t see anything in the black pool, as if the light had been devoured.

Something grabbed her ankle and pulled.

Down down down, she went.

The water pressed in on her, pressure increasing as something continued to pull her to the bottom, pulling her to nowhere.

She tried yanking away, tried to swim, tried to kick whatever it was holding her, but it was too strong. More hands grabbed her, pulling at her arms and hair and waist. She was going to die down here. Drown a horrible death and then the creatures of the swamp would devour her remains.

She couldn’t hold her breath much longer. Her head felt light and body heavy. She was running out of time and exhaustion was setting in. Energy spent; she couldn’t fight any more as the corners of her vision faded.

A faint splash sounded in the distance and then a soft glowing light appeared, approaching closer and closer. As the light brightened, the creatures let go, seemingly scared of this ethereal glow. Strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her up and up, faster and faster to the surface.

A light breeze brushed her face. Air. She could breathe. She coughed and wretched, spitting out water onto the ground as someone pulled her to the shore. Gasping, she tried to catch her breath as she lay on her back.

But she was still so tired.

“Ava. Ava, can you hear me?” a voice spoke from far away .

“Mom?” she asked, barely able to keep her eyes open.

“No, it’s me. Casimir. Your mother isn’t here,” he said from above.

“What?” she whispered as her eyes tried to close. She wanted to sleep. She’d never been so tired in her life.

A rough hand patted her face. “Eyes on me, Ava.”

“I—” She squinted but everything was still blurry. “I’m so tired,” she whispered. Her body was still heavy. “I just need to take a nap.”

If she could just close her eyes and sleep, she’d feel better. She just needed to rest. Her eyes became almost impossible to open and she let them close, surrendering to the fatigue.

Casimir cursed and lifted her head. “I’m sorry,” he whispered as something bitter was poured into her mouth.

She thrashed as it burned her throat. “You have to swallow this,” he insisted, grasping her face and keeping her mouth closed.

She met his eyes. He looked terrified as his voice rose. “Dammit, Ava. Swallow it. Now.”

She did. The burning sensation coursed through her body. Nausea overwhelmed her as Casimir turned her on her side and she vomited. Over and over, she threw up until she didn’t think she had anything left in her.

She rolled onto her back and took a deep breath, vision clearing, Casimir was still leaning over her, worry in his eyes. He brushed the hair from her face as he evaluated her for injuries.

“Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

She shook her head. “I’m fine,” she said before coughing some more, trying to expel the rest of the water she had inhaled.

She looked up at him, still hovering closely above her, arms braced on either side of her body.

Relief showed on his face as he realized she was alright and they maintained eye contact for a few moments, silent in the murky swamp.

He searched her face and his eyes flared as if he realized something before the expression disappeared just as quickly as it had come.

She reached out and touched his face, noticing he was faintly glowing.

“Are you an angel?” she asked, still slightly delirious.

He smiled and shook his head. “Not sure what that is, but no. Can you stand?”

He sat back as she slowly pushed herself up to a seated position and looked at him, taking a deep breath.

“I think so,” she replied.

He got up then grasped her hand, pulling her to her feet. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes,” she rasped. “I heard voices. I didn’t know what was going on.” She looked around and wrapped her arms around herself, trembling. “What did you give me?”

“Something to make you throw up,” he said. “You swallowed too much water. The swamp was still trying to take you.” He looked at her. “You’re shivering.”

Leaning over, he grabbed his dry cloak from the ground. “Take yours off.”

Fingers numb and shaking, she did as he said and let it fall to the ground. He approached her and wrapped his larger cloak around her, hugging it tightly. She looked up at him as he attached the clasp. “You saved my life.”

He shrugged, as the corner of his lips lifted. “You saved mine first.”

“I take it you aren’t mad at me anymore?” she teased.

He crossed his arms and regarded her. “For the time being, no.”

“Great.” She pursed her lips, pulling the cloak tighter. “What was that a few moments ago?”

“What was what?”

“You had a strange look on your face. ”

He looked away, searching the mist for their party. “No, I didn’t.”

They were interrupted by voices approaching from the mist. Raine and the others appeared, out of breath, and halted as they saw the two of them, standing there drenched.

“Why are you guys wet?” Raine asked, the three others standing behind him.

“I decided to go for a swim,” Ava answered sarcastically. “Then Casimir was jealous, so he decided to join me.”

Casimir laughed quietly beside her and shook his head. Raine looked at the two of them like they had grown an extra head. “I don’t get you two. This morning you were about to attack each other across the table and now you’re laughing at what I assume was a recent brush with death?”

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m sure he’ll piss me off again and we’ll be back to fighting.”

Raine shook his head as Thorne spoke. “I believe we’re close to Nelida’s burrow. Let’s get moving.

Thorne led the way and the rest of the team followed behind him, Ava still walking next to Casimir. The group remained silent as they continued their journey through the swamp, fortunately not experiencing any more incidents along the way.

After another half hour of walking, they stopped in front of a large dead tree, bigger than all the others, with a hole in the root ball appearing to go down into the earth.

Its branches twisted and curled around each other, covered in dark gray bark and the hole swallowed the light as the entrance disappeared into nothing.

“Are we going in there?” Ava whispered as she felt the sense of something powerful within the tree, as if the earth was vibrating beneath her feet.

“No,” Casimir replied. “She’ll come out.”

Still shivering, she pulled the cloak tighter and stood in between Casimir and Thorne while the other three stood behind them.

The group stood silently, as if waiting for something to happen.

No one spoke as the sounds of the swamp buzzed around them.

Then, from deep in the hole, a voice sounded.

It was deep and high-pitched at the same time, and it slithered across Ava’s skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

“It seems someone is here for answers,” the voice echoed.