chronicles of eden - act I (13 page)

“I don’t think she would have done that, she seems like she really wants to come with us,” Daniel reasoned.

“She just wants you to come in
her
,” Triska argued with a dull expression.

“If she really wanted to I’m sure she would genuinely be trying right now. I hate to say it, but if she really did try I doubt either of us could stop her,” Daniel pointed out. Triska growled with frustration then looked down.

“I don’t like this, we can’t trust her for a second,” Triska cautioned.

“Well… she didn’t do anything when I was getting changed this morning,” Daniel pointed out.

“That’s because she was busy with me and my sword,” Triska said with a glare at Alyssa. She had been constantly trying to cut down the witch the entire time Daniel was getting changed into new clothing, both to distract her and to actually kill her.

“I think she was only playing with you. If she really wanted you gone she could have used more force,” Daniel said simply. Triska shook a bit with anger then looked away.

“You want her to come with, don’t you?” she said bitterly. Daniel looked to her with worry as he struggled to keep pace while holding her bag.

“Like I said, we could use her help,” he said gently.

“Did you like the way she was acting with you? Is that it?” Triska said while looking away.

“What? No, that’s not it at all,” Daniel pleaded.

“Would you have stopped her if I didn’t wake up?” Triska asked glancing back to him.

“Of course I would have, why would you think I wouldn’t?” he asked.

“Then what got you going this morning? What were you dreaming about, or was that from
her
?” Triska asked looking away again. Daniel opened his mouth to speak, trying to think of an explanation.

“I don’t know, probably the dream I guess. I don’t remember what it was about. Honest,” he said softly. Triska glanced back to him worriedly for a moment then forward to see Alyssa hopping backwards while smiling at them.

“Whatchya talking about?” she asked playfully.

“You,” Triska said flatly.

“Me? What about me? Good things I hope. Or naughty things, those can be good too. Hee hee,” Alyssa said with a giggle.

“You just love playing the part of a little girl, don’t you?” Triska asked with narrowed eyes. Alyssa laughed a bit then looked at Daniel curiously.

“Hey, are you ok, Daniel? Is that bag too heavy?” she asked as she saw the boy struggling to walk steady with it.

“It’s ok, I’ve got it,” he said as he breathed heavily. Triska looked to him worriedly then to the bag. Before she could say a word it lifted out of the boy’s arms and floated in the air. Daniel looked at it with awe then to Alyssa who had her staff pointed towards it, the relic again glowing with a soft orange hue.

“You shouldn’t have to carry her stuff, Daniel, especially if it’s too heavy,” Alyssa said happily. She waved the staff and the bag flew over to Triska, the girl catching it and stumbling off to the side. Triska held the duffel bag then looked to Alyssa who walked up to Daniel.

“Thank you, Alyssa, but it’s alright. I don’t mind helping out, I can manage carrying it just fine,” he said with a gentle smile. Triska looked at him then to her bag with concern. It was nothing for her to carry, but anybody else who tried seemed to nearly break their back. She bit her lip then glanced to Daniel.

“Well… if it really is that heavy, I can carry it, Daniel,” she said softly. He looked to her and shook his head as he held out his arms.

“I don’t mind being chivalrous, it’s a curse I have, remember? It’s alright, it’s the least I can do for you helping me,” he said kindly. Triska looked at him with a soft smile then down at her bag, holding it close to her chest.

‘He really is so caring… I shouldn’t be so tough on him like this.’

“No, it’s fine, Daniel. I can-”

“Carry me then, Daniel!” Alyssa cheered as she hopped up into his arms. He stumbled back a step then watched with surprise as the witch was looking up at him with a timid smile. She giggled then nuzzled against his chest.

“I’ll protect you out there, so you can carry me in exchange. Everybody wins!” she said happily. Daniel looked with surprise at the girl then smiled weakly.

“Um… I don’t think
everybody
wins with this,” he said nervously. She and Daniel looked over to see Triska glaring with fire in her eyes as she clutched her duffel bag tightly. Alyssa giggled then showed a smug smile while gently holding into Daniel’s chest with her hand.

“Something wrong?” she asked innocently.

“Alyssa, get off him right now!” Triska yelled as she dropped her bag, which kicked up a small dust cloud on impact to the ground, then drew out her sword quickly. Alyssa smirked then held her staff towards her.

“What’s wrong with him carrying a young girl out here in the wilderness? Besides, it’s better than you having him carry your luggage,” she said simply. Triska growled then glanced to the heavy bag on the ground.

“Honestly, making him carry your stuff around like a pack mule, so rude. He’s such a cutie after all, why have him suffer so much?” Alyssa asked sweetly. Triska looked at the bag then to Daniel with worry, remembering how he used that reference before.

“It’s not like… I wanted him to suffer,” she said softly. Shaking her head she then aimed her blade at Alyssa.

“Besides, you’re not a young girl, you’re a 72 year old witch!” she shouted out. Alyssa giggled as her staff gave off an orange hue, with Triska’s blade again shooting down into the dirt and taking the teen with it.

“That’s 72 years
young
, right, Daniel?” Alyssa asked as she looked back to the boy. He sighed and set the girl down on the ground as Triska scrambled back to her feet.

“C’mon you two, don’t start another fight again. We haven’t even gotten to the city yet,” Daniel said tiredly. Triska yanked her sword from the ground then pointed it at the witch. Alyssa merely held out her staff and smiled arrogantly at the teen. Daniel looked between the two worriedly as they stared at each other intently.

“Please, just put down your weapons. We’re trying to get along out here, remember?” he pleaded.

“I’m getting along just fine, it’s her that has the problem,” Alyssa said smugly.

“My only problem is that you won’t go away,” Triska growled.

“Triska, put your sword away, we’re trying to coexist with them remember?” Daniel said worriedly.

“And she tried to rape you yesterday and this morning, remember?” Triska barked back.

“I wasn’t going to do…
much
this morning,” Alyssa said glancing away.

“All you monsters just want one thing with our men. There may be others out there that can be trusted but you’re not one of them,” Triska said sternly. Alyssa looked at her curiously then to Daniel.

“He may trust you after what you did but I don’t! You’re just like all those other lustful monsters out there!” Triska yelled out. Alyssa looked at the girl with a dull expression then glanced away.

“Triska, please calm down, she’s not doing anything wrong. She’s not like that now,” Daniel reasoned. Triska shook her head and looked to him with worried eyes while keeping her sword pointed at the witch.

“I don’t trust her, Daniel, I can’t. Not after she took you from me like that, not after what she was about to do to you. Can’t you see that she’s just another monster who wants to breed?” she asked desperately

“Alyssa,” the witch said softly while looking down, her hat covering the view of her eyes. Daniel and Triska looked over to her as she had her staff lowered.

“What?” Triska asked.

“Alyssa. My name is Alyssa. Stop treating me like some common, nameless monster,” Alyssa said shaking her head. Triska narrowed her eyes at the girl.

“That’s what you are, witch, you’re just another monster who-” she started before her sword yanked up into the air out of her hands and turned to point at her. Alyssa looked up with a glare as she held her staff outward.

“My name is Alyssa,
human
. Alyssa. And for your information I can’t help how I feel. It’s our natural instinct to mate with humans as much as we can. It’s what we live for, what we’re born to do,” she said with discontent. Shaking her head she waved her staff down, and in doing so Triska’s blade shot down and struck into the ground.

“Do you see me raping him? Do you see me killing you and taking him away? His pants are still on aren’t they?” she pointed out angrily. Daniel looked at her curiously then over to see Triska watching the witch cautiously.

“Daniel is a very desirable mate. There’s no doubt about that. But I’m not doing anything to him am I?” Alyssa said looking down with frustration. She growled then glanced back to the girl.

“You wanted to find those that would coexist with you, right? To be your allies? Well dammit, I’m trying!” she shouted out. Triska stepped back as Daniel looked at the witch with a bit of wonder. Triska’s blade yanked out of the ground and faced the teen again.

“So stop treating me like I’m one of those lesser demons out there, or a Darker One. I’m going with you to make sure Daniel stays safe out here, from the real monsters that can’t be trusted. Got that?” Alyssa demanded as the floating blade moved closer to Triska, the teen’s eyes staring at her own weapon being aimed at her. Alyssa looked down and waved her staff, causing Triska’s blade to whip around behind the teen and slide back into its sheath. Triska looked back to it then to Alyssa with surprise.

“I don’t care what happens to you, Triska, I’m not here to help save you. But I won’t let any other monster take Daniel away,” Alyssa said softly. She trembled a bit then glanced to him.

“It’s so hard… being near him like this. You have no idea. Every fiber of my being wants to mate with him, to get his seed however I can. Just seeing him close by gets my mind going, I can’t help it,” she said worriedly. Daniel watched her curiously, seeing her watching him with a deep gaze. She shook her head then glared back at Triska.

“I’m using all my willpower to be here to make sure he stays safe. I’m going against my desire to take him by force, isn’t that enough, 
human
?” she demanded. Triska looked at her with wonder then to Daniel.

“I still want him. I really do. You have no idea, Triska, you don’t know what it feels like to be so close to him like this and not being able to do anything,” Alyssa said looking down with a saddened expression. Triska looked at the girl with worry then glanced to Daniel.

‘Actually… I do…’

Alyssa smiled softly then looked to Daniel again.

“It’s so hard. It really is, just seeing a human male nearby gets my blood going. But I promise I will try to use self-control when around you. I’ll be one of those that you wanted to meet, one that will live with you peacefully,” she said gently.

“Alyssa…” Daniel said with wonder.

“You saved my life, Daniel. I owe you mine, it’s the least I can do,” she said looking down with closed eyes.

“You’re serious… aren’t you?” Triska asked watching the witch closely. Alyssa nodded and took a calm breath.

“Just promise me one thing, Daniel,” she said softly. He watched her curiously as she looked up to him with a warm smile.

“Just consider me, ok?” she asked.

“Consider you? For what?” he asked curiously.

“For a mate,” she answered. The two looked at her with surprise as she glanced away.

“What? For a mate?” Triska yelled out.

“Like I said, Daniel, you’re a very desirable mate. So… if you ever
did
want to… please let me know,” Alyssa said softly. Daniel looked at her carefully as Triska narrowed her eyes. Alyssa giggled and looked up to the boy with a cheery smile.

“Just think about it, that’s all,” she said with a wink. He smiled nervously as Triska just stared at the witch with a glare. Alyssa nodded and tilted her head curiously. Daniel looked at her for a moment as she seemed to be waiting for something.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Are you thinking about it yet?” she asked softly.

“Um… no,” Daniel said shaking his head. She licked her lips and leaned in closer.

“Think harder,” she said with a purr at the end.

“ALYSSA!” Triska yelled out again.

*****

The three travelers were walking down the path as the sun was high in the sky. Daniel was looking between his two female companions with a worried expression after he glanced up from his monster book. He only had his own backpack to carry now as Triska insisted on carrying her duffel bag herself. She kept pace next to him with her bag slung over her shoulder with one hand, looking ahead with a dull expression as her other hand rested on her dagger’s handle. She glanced to the side and narrowed her eyes as she growled quietly. Daniel traced her eye line over to Alyssa who was skipping playfully next to him, having a happy smile on her face as she was humming a simple tune again. After yet another fight between the two, which ended with Triska coughing out dirt and Alyssa giggling happily while she hid behind Daniel, they had resumed their journey towards the city of Ashwood. Daniel sighed and looked back to his book, knowing full well that the girls weren’t getting along at all. But he did feel Alyssa could be trusted. After all she obviously had the ability to kill Triska if she wanted to, and even take him by force should she so desire. However what she said earlier did seem to be true, she was fighting her inner nature to breed to accompany him on his quest. Although her constant advances on him, subtle though they may be, were reminders that she was indeed still thinking about mating with him as her body was telling her to do. It was only a question now if she could control her urges or if she would succumb to them and take him by force.

“So how far is Ashwood from here anyway?” Daniel asked curiously, hoping to keep the girls focusing on the task at hand rather than fighting each other.

“At the rate we’re going we should be there in about four days,” Triska said with a shrug.

“Four days huh?” he said looking up at the sky.

“Why don’t we just use a horse and carriage? That would be a lot faster,” Alyssa pointed out.

“We don’t
have
one,” Triska growled. She then looked to Daniel and smiled slightly.