The walk through the forest at night had to be one of the worst things Ezekiel has ever done. The trees creaked with every gust of wind that made its way through. There were various nocturnal creatures making their calls. He wished that they would succumb to the silver sap, so he didn’t have to hear them any longer. Every bush that moved made Ezekiel jump slightly. It wasn’t like Emry or him could light a torch. That’d risk burning the trees around them. If it weren’t for the deadly sap, these trees would have made great firewood.

Ezekiel had set one on fire once, as an experiment. In the book he loved so dearly, there was a drawing of one of those pictures lit ablaze. He hoped it would offer some sort of knowledge to him, but instead it just burned like it was a normal tree. He pictured the tree from the book clearly. There had to be something about it that it was different that it burned purple instead of orange and red. The rune that Emry drew on the sheet of paper! That’s why it looked familiar. It was in his book he read on that tree.

“We have to find a tree,” Ezekiel blurted.

Emry stopped in her tracks and turned towards Ezekiel. “A tree? In a place filled with them?” The sarcasm rolled off her tongue like another language.

“Not just any tree, one that burns purple.” Ezekiel walked right past Emry, getting a hint of vanilla and cinnamon from her.

“What do you mean burns purple?”

“Exactly as I said. Do you need me to describe the colour purple to you?” He glared.

“Please do,” Emry said with a smirk on her face.

“Purple is like grapes before they are turned into wine. It’s like the flowers on a lilac bush. It is the colour of those who are of noble blood.” Ezekiel smiled. “It’s a colour that would suit you better than the light blue you don.” A blush tinged his cheeks as he realised what he said. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then what did you mean it like?” Emry walked up to him, stopping right in front of him. Her gaze drifted upwards and met his eyes.

Butterflies fluttered around in Ezekiel’s stomach. His cheeks reddened with embarrassment. “Simply that that blue is not your colour and you would look much better in a royal purple. You’re of noble descent, are you not?”

She pressed her lips together in a tight line. “How do you figure that?”

“Your clothes are far too fine, the dagger too nice, and the way you treat everything like a game.” Ezekiel glanced at her lips. He thought about the drunken kiss where she kissed him sloppily. Could it even be called a kiss when it was done terribly? Although, he supposed there were no real rules to a kiss, just that it was two people’s lips touching each other’s.

“I was one,” she whispered. “Before this adventure I took that is.” She brushed past Ezekiel. Her shoulders drooped so low that the sack on them started to fall off. Her head was angled towards the ground. The confidence she once had disappeared in mere seconds.

Ezekiel opened his mouth to say something, but he knew the feeling all too well. He shut his mouth and followed after. He didn’t say anything wrong, did he? He hoped he didn’t. It would be a long journey with a human that tried to kill him over far less. He rubbed his neck. The feel of the dagger pricking his skin ever so slightly lingered there. The cold feel of its blade was there too. It was like a ghost that haunted him, and a very unpleasant ghost at that.

The silver trees creaked in the wind, and their golden leaves fell to the ground. The minute the leaves touched the ground, they shrivelled up and turned into dust. The fine gold powder wasn’t salvageable in any way as it would take hours to pluck each speck from the blades of grass. Ezekiel also dared not touch it on the off chance it would kill him. Though money paid for his way of life, it was not worth dying for.

The cold gust blew through. His cloak did nothing to shield him from the blast of air. His teeth clattered together. He rubbed his arms up and down. He longed for a nice and warm meal right now. If he was at home and the restaurant, he would have been eating at this time. If only. A disheartened sigh escaped his lips. If there were rabbits around, he could have hunted it down and killed it. A small fire would have been nice as well. A warm meal, a blazing fire. Just something to keep him from freezing to death.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Emry came to an abrupt stop. She set her backpack down and pulled out some kindling.

“Are we really camping out here tonight, in the wide open?” Ezekiel furrowed his brow.

“I don’t want to risk silver sap turning me into a tree,” Emry responded.

The idea was appealing to Ezekiel. He cocked his head to the side and thought about it, except he wouldn’t get what he wanted if she was turned into silver.

Emry pulled two stones out and struck them together, lighting the fire on the first try. “Besides, I’m done walking for the day. I’m sure you are too.”

She was right. His feet ached, and he was hungry. He was certain he could feel blisters forming on his feet already. He’d never been this far away from his house or the library before. But the reward that awaited him made this all the sweeter. Ezekiel would finally have what he’s been craving. Nothing else would be able to satiate him.

He sat on the cold ground, looking at the meal Emry was preparing. It was impressive she came this prepared for a journey when she didn’t know how long it would last. She was no ordinary human though, well at least noble-born human. She was always moving and speaking with confidence. Although it was annoying at times when she spoke like it was the absolute truth, it was a welcome change of pace from other humans who lied and tried to ensnare others in traps.

“Brr, it’s chilly out. Is it always this cold when nighttime comes around?” Emry said between her teeth chattering.

Ezekiel nodded and eyed the rabbit Emry was preparing. “Why do you feel sad when the trees take the rabbit’s life, but not when you take the rabbit’s life?” He hugged his knees.

“Because I do not know if the trees respect the kill or not. I feel empathy towards the rabbit, knowing it could happen to me anytime I slip up.” She turned the rabbit around; its skin a perfect golden brown. “What piece of the rabbit would you like?” She drew out her dagger.

“A leg please,” Ezekiel responded.

Emry sliced a hind leg off with ease and passed it to him. He bit into the perfect piece of meat. It was crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. It tasted like the smoke that cooked it, but it wasn’t overwhelmingly smoky.

“This is really good. Who taught you to cook?” Ezekiel said with his mouth full. He bit again into the meat.

“The cooks that lived at the mansion with my family and I. I would sneak into their area before meals. They would teach me whatever meal that they were preparing,” Emry responded. “Why do you ask? You’re not falling for me, are you?”

Ezekiel choked on rabbit leg. He hit his chest a few times and coughed, clearing his throat. “What kind of question is that?” Heat rose to his cheeks. He tossed the bones of his meal into the fire.

“An honest one.” Emry did the same. She rubbed her arms up and down. Her teeth chattered together.

“If we sit next to each other, we’ll be warmer.” Ezekiel opened his cape up and jerked his head to the open side. “Just for the night though.”

Emry smiled and scooched in right next to him. “Why thank you.” She rested her head on his shoulder.

Butterflies flittered about in Ezekiel’s stomach. Her shivering came to a quick end as he embraced her. Her skin was soft and smooth, like a delicate petal of a flower. She smelled like vanilla and cinnamon, strong but not overwhelming. She was perfect.

“I think I am,” Ezekiel whispered. He looked into her eyes.

“What was that?” She asked, a smirk lining her face.

“Good night.” Ezekiel closed his eyes, pretending to drift off to sleep.

“Good night, Ezekiel.” She shifted in closer to him.

This whole situation was perfect, and most of all, nice. Ezekiel never knew such a feeling like this existed before. He wondered if this is what immortality would feel like. Warm and perfect and fulfilling. He opened his eyes and watched Emry sleep. She breathed in and out steadily. Disappointment filled him as he realised this wasn’t going to last forever. As soon as he got what he wanted, he was going to ditch her.

===

Ezekiel woke up before Emry. He watched her sleep for a few more minutes. Her head rested on his lap, and for once she seemed relaxed. She was completely different than she was when she was awake. This entire journey with her has been nice. It was a shame it was coming to an end soon. But maybe it was better that way? He wouldn’t have to deal with her any longer, and it meant that he didn’t have to act on his feelings for her.

“Good morning,” Emry mumbled. She yawned. “It’s nice to see that you’re still here. I half-expected you to steal the map and run off into the night.”

He did consider it. It certainly would have made the journey a lot easier. One person to take care of instead of two. Except guilt tugged at his heart when he thought of just abandoning her here. There were so many things that could have happened to her that he would blame himself for.

“I thought about it, but you’re a better cook than I,” Ezekiel responded.

“I’m grateful you didn’t run off just because of my cooking.” Emry sat up. “You make an excellent pillow, and that’s why I didn’t leave you.”

Ezekiel’s cheeks flushed red. The tip of his tail flicked back and forth. “Thanks, I think.” He rose to his feet and held out his hand to Emry. “Shall we go?”

“Yes.” She smiled brightly at Ezekiel as she gripped his hand.

I think I am in love with her.