chronicles of eden - act I (11 page)

“You! What have you done to him?” she roared as she ran towards her. Alyssa held out her staff as it glowed orange and Triska stopped in place in front of her, her sword and dagger being held in place once again.

“I didn’t do anything to him, wolves did this!” Alyssa yelled out.

“Wolves? Give me a break! I can’t believe you would go this far just to have him all to yourself! He trusted you! You monster!” Triska yelled as she struggled to break free from the witch’s magical hold. Alyssa shook her head and looked back to Daniel with worry.

“But I didn’t-”

“He trusted you! He was the only human that did and you tried to rape and kill him! How could you, Alyssa? The only human that was willing to trust you and you stab him in the back!” Triska yelled out with tears forming. Alyssa looked at the boy then towards the broken window out into the forest.

“How could you, you monster! He wanted to trust you, to be friends with you! He wanted nothing more than for monsters and humans to live together, and you threw that all away just to hump him!” Triska yelled as she started crying. She let go of the weapons that remained frozen in place then lunged towards the witch, tackling her to the ground quickly. The bottle rolled off to the side with the drops of red liquid just barely remaining inside as the two weapons dropped from the air onto the ground. Triska started shaking the witch violently as the girl looked up at her with surprise.

“You monster! You monster! How could you take him like that, how could you take him from me?” she cried out. She growled then started choking her, the witch grabbing her arms while kicking around underneath.

“I’ll kill you… how dare you do this to him! I’ll kill you!” Triska yelled out with tears and anger.

“Stop… I’m trying… to save him…” Alyssa coughed as she gasped for air.

“Save him? He tried to save you… he tried to save all of us, and look at what you did to him!” Triska raged. Alyssa looked at the girl with weary eyes as she choked loudly.

“Please… he needs… to drink… that potion. Quickly…” she coughed as she started blacking out. Triska glanced to the broken bottle that was nearby then over to Daniel.

“Please… don’t let him die…” Alyssa said as her arms started to weaken. Triska looked to the witch then back to the bottle.

“Please…” Alyssa said as she slowly closed her eyes, her arms dropping to her sides. Triska growled then got up off of her, the witch then gasping and holding her throat as she could breathe again. Triska picked up the broken bottle and eyed the red liquid inside carefully. She looked to Daniel then back to Alyssa accusingly.

“What are you trying to pull here?” she asked quickly. Alyssa slowly stood up and leaned against the wall coughing as she looked to Daniel.

“Please… he needs it. It’ll help with his injuries,” she said softly. Triska looked at the bottle then to her friend. He was seriously wounded, and they were far from their hometown. Not even her medical supplies would help with his injuries.

“If you’re lying… if you’re lying to me, Alyssa…” Triska threatened with anger, looking over to the witch with a deep glare. They walked over and knelt down beside Daniel as Triska examined the bottle. She lifted his head gently and poured the red drops into his mouth. The girls watched him with worried expressions as he remained motionless, his breathing ragged and slow.

“Please let it be enough,” Alyssa said softly.

“Can’t you make more? There was hardly any of that left,” Triska asked glancing to her.

“Not now, not fast enough. That was all I had to help with,” Alyssa said with remorse. Triska looked at her friend then up at the opening. She carefully lifted Daniel into her arms then headed up the stairs.

“Where are you going with him?” Alyssa asked out loud.

“I’m getting him out of this place. You’ve done more than enough to him already, witch,” Triska said with a bite as she carried Daniel out of the witch’s home. Alyssa stood up and looked towards the opening then out towards the woods.

Outside in the plains where daylight was shining down from above Triska ran over towards her duffel bag. She gently set Daniel down on the grass then started to rummage through her bag quickly. As she did she glanced to the side to see Alyssa jumping out of the opening with her staff in hand. The witch ran over towards them and looked down at Daniel with concern.

“What are you-” she started before Triska growled loudly at her.

“Shut up, witch, this is all your fault! Just go back into your hole and let me take care of him!” Triska barked out. Alyssa looked at her with worry then to Daniel. Triska resumed going through her bag, quickly pulling out a sleeping blanket, some bandages, ointments, and a pillow.

“What all do you have in there anyway?” Alyssa asked curiously as she watched all the items being pulled out of a simple duffel bag. Triska didn’t reply or even give the witch a second glance, having a focused expression as she quickly scrambled to get her supplies out. She unfolded the blanket and laid the wounded Daniel down on it, looking at his bloodied clothing with remorseful eyes. Her heart ached at seeing him like this as she blamed herself for not being there to protect him. She rested his head on the pillow then started taking off his shirt, then paused and glanced to Alyssa.

“I’m only taking off his shirt to treat his wounds, don’t get any ideas,” she hissed. Alyssa nodded slowly as Triska took off the bloodied shirt. She looked with sorrow at all the bite marks and blood that were on his body, holding a hand to her mouth with a quiet gasp.

“My god… you were telling the truth,” she said softly as she saw that wolves did indeed cause this, the bite and claw marks being seen on his arms and shoulders.

“He saved me,” Alyssa said quietly. Triska looked to her with surprise as the witch was watching Daniel with gentle eyes.

“He could have left me out there… out there with those things. He could have fended them off and ran away… but he… he didn’t,” she said shakily. Triska looked at her then to Daniel.

“Even after he chased them away… he still carried me back. He could have left me out there…” Alyssa said looking down with closed eyes.

“He’s too kindhearted that way,” Triska said softly as she started to wrap the arms and shoulders with bandages. She sighed and glanced to the witch.

“He is after all stuck in his beliefs that you monsters can be trusted,” she said flatly. Alyssa looked to her with remorse then down at Daniel.

“I wouldn’t have been so kind out there, Alyssa. I would have killed those wolves, then you. I would have hacked you into pieces for taking him from me like that,” Triska said harshly. She glared over to the witch who backed up a bit.

“I’m not saving him so he can be used as your source for children. He may have shown kindness to you by saving you, but that doesn’t change the fact you’re still nothing more than a lustful monster. Go back into your hole, Alyssa, and don’t ever crawl out. You helped save his life, so in return I’ll spare yours this one time. Now go!” Triska yelled out at the witch. Alyssa trembled slightly and backed up, her eyes watching Daniel as he lay there.

“I said go!” Triska yelled out again. Alyssa looked down with her hat hiding her eyes as she remained silent. After a pause she held her staff back towards the opening in the ground surrounded by twisted vines. From the opening Triska’s sword and dagger shot out, the weapons flying up into the air then down towards them. They raced downward then slowed down, the blades slowly floating over to Triska handles first. She looked at them then to the witch cautiously. After a moment’s hesitation she slowly reached out and grabbed them, the weapons being released from the magic as she held them at her sides. Alyssa looked at Daniel again with a gentle gaze as she lowered her staff.

“Go. Now,” Triska said sternly as she held her weapons at the ready. Alyssa shook her head slowly then kneeled down next to the boy.

“Get away from him, Alyssa,” Triska said with a sharp tone. The witch looked up to her with a worried glance.

“Giving me back my weapons won’t fool me. Giving him that potion won’t fool me. I can’t trust you, Alyssa. Now go!” Triska yelled out with anger. Alyssa looked down with her hat covering her eyes and shook her head.

“I won’t…” she said softly. Triska held her sword up as she kept the dagger ready to strike with.

“Alyssa,” she hissed.

“He needs me,” Alyssa said gently. Triska looked at her with narrowed eyes as the witch glanced up to her.

“He needs me,” she repeated.

“Needs you? All he needs from you is for you to stay the hell away from him!” Triska yelled out. Alyssa shook her head and held up her staff. Triska’s sword whipped out of her hand and swung around behind her, the blade sliding into the sheath. Her dagger flipped out of her hand and slid back into its sheath as well. Triska looked at the two then to Alyssa with caution.

“Daniel will need help with his journey. Your sword alone won’t do at all. He won’t survive without me,” Alyssa said looking back down to Daniel.

“What? What are you talking about?” Triska demanded as she kept a hand on her dagger’s handle.

“I’m talking about me going with you. It’s obvious he’s going to need protection after all,” Alyssa explained. Triska looked at the witch with surprise then growled loudly at her.

“What? Like bloody hell you’ll be going with us! Why in the world would I let some sneaky, underhanded, horny witch near him after what you just did?” she roared.

“I just named a very good reason, you can’t protect him,” Alyssa said calmly as she looked back up to the teen. Triska growled then reached for her sword, with Alyssa raising her staff towards her with narrowed eyes. Triska halted and glared at the witch then glanced to the staff.

“He saved my life. I’m going to repay him,” Alyssa stated firmly.

“There is no way you’re coming with us,” Triska said with anger.

“I am if you want to survive out there,” Alyssa said looking back down to the boy as she lowered her staff. Triska glared at the witch with frustration then looked to her friend. Slowly she lowered her hand and then knelt down beside him. She glanced to Alyssa carefully as the witch was watching Daniel sleep with a gentle gaze.

*****

Daniel’s eyes slowly opened, blinking a few times as he started to wake up. He looked up to see the sky turning to night as a few stars were faintly seen above. Slowly he sat up, his shoulder aching as he moved. He cringed slightly then looked over to his side to see Triska smiling at him brightly.

“Daniel! You’re ok!” she cheered as she embraced the boy tightly. He cringed in pain as she hugged him while smiling happily.

“I was so worried about you; don’t scare me like that again. Are you ok now? Are you feeling better?” she asked worriedly.

“I’m sure he would feel a lot better if you let go of him,” Alyssa commented dryly from Daniel’s other side. Triska leaned back and saw him struggling not to cry in pain. She held her hands to her mouth and shook her head as she realized what she just did to him.

“Oh god, I’m sorry, Daniel, I was just worried about you. Are you ok?” she asked franticly. He nodded slowly as he used all his strength not to cry in front of a girl, and then looked over to see Alyssa sitting next to him as well. She was watching him timidly as she held onto her staff in her lap.

“I’m ok… but… where…” he said looking around.

“You’re back outside, Daniel. We brought you here after you… after…” Triska said before looking to Alyssa with a glare. The two travelers looked to her as she showed a remorseful expression.

“Thank you, Daniel… for saving me again,” she said softly. He looked at her carefully then shook his head.

“Actually, I only saved you once. But you’re welcome,” he said gently. She nodded and looked at him curiously.

“Why did you though? You could have run away,” she asked curiously.

“That’s what I want to know. What were you thinking risking your life to save this monster when she tried to rape you?” Triska shouted out in disbelief at her friend. He looked between the two then to the witch again.

“I just couldn’t leave her out there to die alone. She was so scared of those wolves, like a real little girl. I just couldn’t leave her out there alone,” he said with compassion.

“Scared? She was
scared
of wolves?” Triska asked looking to the witch with a raised eyebrow. Daniel nodded and looked at Alyssa curiously.

“Yeah, but I don’t understand why. How come you didn’t just fend them off with your magic, surely you’re powerful enough to do that,” he questioned. Alyssa looked down then away.

“I… don’t like wolves,” she said softly.

“Wait, you’re a monster, and you’re scared of
wolves
?” Triska asked in disbelief. Alyssa trembled a bit and nodded while still looking away.

“Why?” Daniel asked. Alyssa glanced to him then down at her staff, her grip around it tightening.

“You took down those villagers and me without any problem, what’s so bad about a few mangy mutts?” Triska asked puzzled. Alyssa started breathing heavily as she closed her eyes, shaking a bit as the travelers watched her carefully.

“Alyssa?” Daniel asked gently. Alyssa trembled then looked to him with teary eyes.

“They… killed my mother,” she said quietly. She choked back a sob then looked down with closed eyes. Daniel and Triska looked at her with wonder then to each other.

“They… killed her… they tore her to pieces right in front of me!” Alyssa cried out before she broke down sobbing. The two travelers watched her with surprise as the witch cried loudly. She may have been an old witch, at least old in human standards, but she certainly acted like a scared child thinking about the memory again.

“I can’t stand them… I just can’t. They attacked and tore her apart in the forest… I had to hide in a tree and listen to her scream. I couldn’t have done anything; I didn’t have my focuser then. I could only hide while they ate her!” she cried out as she rubbed her eyes with her hands, the memory of her mother’s screams echoing out in her mind along with the howls of the wolves.

“I know they can be dangerous in numbers and everything, but I never thought a monster would be afraid of them. Hell, I thought some monsters kept them as pets and hunters,” Triska said in wonder as she watched the young witch shake with fear. Daniel looked at the witch with gentle eyes then glanced to his friend.