The Sweetest Song

Sara Pov

Gratitude. If I had to put a word about how I felt about Luke for his help on my journey, it has to be grateful. Unfortunately, this time I got to see what Prita warned me about. The journey was not kind. We didn't stop for 2 days straight. I have never felt exhaustion like that in my life. It's not like we didn't want to, we couldn't. If we stopped, we died. There were creatures I could never have conjured up in a million years and most of them I want to burn off my brain. After two days straight, we found ourselves on a new path. That is when Luke and I parted ways, he had to return to his family, and he did more than I could have hoped for. I can't say we connected more as we couldn't chat due to him being shifted, but I do hope one day I can see them again and thank them for all their help. I tried to carry on my journey but I didn't get much further when my legs gave out on me, scratching up my knees as I fell. My options were limited. I was alone, scared, and tired. The thought of resting my eyes was terrifying, but my body took control, demanding sleep, demanding rest. Before I knew I had fallen asleep, I was jumping back awake and continuing my journey. Really, I don't know how long I slept or how long I have been gone now, all of the days were blurring together as the cycle repeated. Walk, collapse, sleep, wake, repeat. The sun and darkness swapped regularly too, so much so I couldn't tell if the 1-day trek I had left had turned into a 2 or 3 day one, and I still had not arrived. My brain was going on autopilot. There were strange creatures I repeatedly saw climbing out of the tree trunks and following me, yet never touching me - it got to the point that I couldn't tell what was real and what was fake anymore. Everything had that foggy dreamlikeness to it, making it impossible to differentiate. My feet felt as though someone had taken a grater to them and my bones felt like concrete, each movement that much more difficult. The brain fog continued as I looked at my hand, the sound of red rain falling on the dirt at my feet. Drip. drip. drip. Stumbling into stone tree trunks, I needed to use my hands to help guide me. When did the trees turn to stone?

Tripping through the middle of the stone trees, I fell on my face, straight onto a stone floor in a stone castle. Metal knights stood perfectly still in each corner and a huge gold and red rug lay on the floor. A guard caught me and pulled me deep into the dungeons. "Get off me! I've done nothing! Helllppp!" I screamed to anyone that would listen. Please someone help me, they are going to torture me. Help! I thrashed as they opened my eyes wide. No, they can't have my eyes, they're mine! "Help!" I screamed repeatedly. The Knight pins me to a seat, forcefully opening my mouth and pouring poison down my throat. The poison burns and bubbles as it blisters my throat, my hands shoot up and claw at my neck trying to allow for some reprieve.

The knight slowly shifts and changes shape, his eyes pitch black peering into my soul. He seems familiar, like maybe he knows me. "Pssst. You gotta get me out of here, I have a job to complete." The knight stares at another who has just joined us, speaking in a language I don't know. My body shakes in the chair as I sob with frustration, letting out a scream. "Why won't you help me? Why won't you help me? Why won't you help me?" The room spins as though I had been drinking heavily, slumping my body forward, allowing my head to fall between my knees, groaning in discomfort. They allowed me no rest as my head was pulled back once more and my torture continued as they poured more liquid down my throat. I tried to spit out the sour substance but they would not allow it. Keeping my mouth open wide, I gargled the liquid as they forced me to swallow. "It's taking more than it should for a human." I heard through cotton ears. My mind was yo-yo-ing in and out of consciousness.

When my mind regained control, I noticed the knight had changed his attire. Now he stood in an intricate dark green cloak with gold details on the cuffs. He seemed familiar. Why does he seem so familiar to me? Blinking my heavy tired eyes, the room started to focus but my brain cannot comprehend. "Sara, can you hear me?" The same sentence I'd heard in the background of my mind since arriving but my body could not respond. "Go find Meridiana." The shooting voice demanded. My body could sense there was movement around me but my mind could not focus. Continuously drifting in and out, I had no idea where I was. A sweet melody sounded in my mind, calling to me, pulling me in. It was the sweetest sound, it beckoned me, I needed to find it. The fog disappeared and the room cleared up instantly. It felt as though I had run into a lamppost and the shock jolted my senses back. In front of me stood Meridiana with a grimace on her face. "She's back. Don't ask that of me again." With a look of disgust, she left the room. Who asked her what? Scanning the room, I found who she had been addressing. "Alwyn." I sighed in relief, "Where are we?" His black eyes gleamed as he slowly approached me. "You have returned to the Omnis, you came through the portal some time ago. What do you remember?" He watched me intently. What did I remember? I wasn't sure. My brain ached as I tried desperately to remember what I had been doing. "I was... I had been...erm... I'm not sure how I got here, Alwyn. I remember riding by wolf back. Then the next few days are a bit of a blur, to be honest." My throat sounded croaky but completely fine, my mind must have been playing tricks on me as there was no pain at all. No poison. "Sara, the Narcissus, did you manage to retrieve one?" He paced the room as he asked. A Narcissus? Oh my gosh, yes! I jumped up with excitement and scrambled to find the bag. Oh, where is it? "Where is my bag, Alwyn?" Startled by the sudden shift in mood, he quickly points to it hanging on a wall hook. Nothing could have stopped me from running to it.

I open it haphazardly digging in it to locate the flowers. Alwyn's jaw drops as I pull out 4 perfect flowers and the 5th a little battered but still there. "You found them and you survived?" Alwyn was gobsmacked, clearly shocked at my achievement. "I found them, Alwyn. I found them. Will this be enough? Is the alpha still holding on?" a smile spread over Alwyn's face, his pointed teeth sightly popping through. Without any words, someone came into the room, "Give these to ... the bartender, have him extract the liquid. Tell him it's for Katie." The young boy nodded his blonde head and took the flowers, his hooves knocking rhythmically on the stone floor as he left the room. The mention of Katie's name sends another memory flooding back. "Alwyn, Katie! I was told there was a war. How are they? Is it true?" It was as if each word had merged into one I spoke so quickly. "Yes, it is true."

"Tell me more, Alwyn. They say someone died? Is the war ongoing? Where are Arius and Katie anyway?" I had so many questions. I'm sure if anyone knows the answer Alwyn will.

Smoothing down his cloak, he sits on the desk edge and crosses his legs. "A war broke out about a week after you came through here. How it started I cannot say. There have been many fatalities on both sides. At this time, the Vampyres have retreated and have not been seen for a number of days anywhere." Wow, how could so much go wrong in such a short space of time?

"OK, so that explains why Arius isn't here. What about Katie, has she been here recently?" Leaning forward towards him, I'm on the edge of my seat. "She was here, I am told, before the fighting began. The last I heard, she and Arius spent some time together. She never returned after that." He was being cryptic; I could sense there was something amiss. "Tell me." Fear bubbled inside me, as I tried desperately to appear calm. "Rumour has it the fallen child was Katie, by Arius's hand." Ha, no. No, I must have misheard. He said it was Katie, but I'd feel it, surely, with this stupid bond thing. So it can't be her. No. Arius would never - Would he? I ran my thumb and index finger across both eyes, squeezing as if the pressure could push the horror away. "You're wrong." Alwyn tried to speak but I would allow it, "No!" My voice cracked slightly. Standing tall, he looked at me, his black eyes reflecting my own fear at me. "I need to leave Alwyn, I need to get back. Help. I need to go now."

"Sara, it is beyond all reason you sit here now, having collected the Narcissus and returning untouched. The extraction will take a short time, rest up. I will, for now, leave you alone." I felt surprisingly ok, I remember falling down often, yet I cannot see a single scratch on me. My mind, on the other hand, was very tired, but I knew there would be no way to rest now. I just needed to return to Domilia as soon as possible.

The time moved so slowly as I waited for the extract, my legs shook of their own accord whilst waiting. I had been gone almost 4 weeks, Edward shouldn't be alive right now, but from all feedback he is. I cannot waste any time here. I need to get going. Taking things into my own hands, I left the room, searching for the bar.

Following the sound of chatting, I finally located the bar. "Hey, we've met before, right?" A blonde man with ram horns stood behind the bar. "No, not me. You may have met me bruda, he works here too." He comes across as friendly but uninterested. The clinking of glasses grabs my attention as he places 7 vials of the most vivid transparent liquid I have ever seen on top of the bar. "I'm surprised I got so many doses, kept one for myself, I hope you don't mind. Not every day you get an opportunity to have blue narcissus extract." My body stiffened as thoughts ran through my head, I smiled trying to hide that I was overwhelmed. "What do I do with it?" The words stammer out of my mouth like an unsure child. "Notting much. Just needs to be drunk is all. From what I hear, he's been fighting this thing a while - usually, I'd say one dose is enough, but for this time give 'im two. Be careful though, I ain't ever seen this used before." He then moved on and started preparing some other drinks. Without touching the vials, I stood perplexed. Was I dreaming or was this true? Did I really get Edward the cure? What if it doesn't work? Doubt was creeping there, constantly with me like a shadow growing when hope shone brightly. A hand reached out and grasped the vials, startling me as I reached out to stop the thief. A big toothy grin met me when I turned, even with those pointed gnashers you know I would have said something - luckily for me, I wouldn't have to as Alwyn was dropping them carefully into the bag. "You best be getting off Sara, time is short." Handing me the bag as we walked to the exit portal. "I will come and return your bag," I assured him.

"The bag is yours. Keep it."

"Thank you, Alwyn." Stepping into the portal gave me that same feeling I got the first time, as every cell in my body danced as I was spat out on the edge of Domilia, I think.

The place is a mess but quiet, no wolves or vampyres to be seen but lots of blood everywhere. An eery silence coated the land. Wasting no time, I set off on my path. I needed to find Edward and Katie. Believing she was gone was not an option for me. My bones ground in my body with each step, but I kept moving. The more I stopped, the harder it was to start again.

The first people I came across were a few of the pack kids playing. Upon seeing me, they scatter, all but Demetrie. That child has left such an imprint on me, I am so fond of him and I hope the feelings are mutual. It does seem that way. When he notices who I am, a warm smile covers his face, warming my heart. My little friend, I am so thankful he is safe.