The sky was darkening when Seth, Gloria, and Elias reached the opposite side of the wood. As they exited the forest, the village of Giantstoe came into view. Giantstoe was much smaller than Northhorn and the wooden houses were clustered together. The sound of thundering drums echoed from the town.

Seth looked at the village warily. Something felt off here…something magical? Seth focused and felt strands of magic being dragged towards Giantstoe. Before Seth could turn back and say anything to Gloria and Elias, the boy bolted ahead and waved behind him. “Come on slowpokes!” he called, “Last one to the inn is a rotten egg!”

“Elias!” Seth cried, “Wait!” But Elias didn’t hear him and was already out of earshot. Seth started to run after Elias when he suddenly felt a sharp yank in his chest and stumbled into the snow.

“Seth!” Gloria cried running to his side. She reached out to help him but hesitated. “Are you alright?” she asked.

Seth panted and rubbed his chest. “I’m…I think I’m fine.” he looked up and saw Elias disappear into the village.

“What happened?” Gloria asked, looking him over.

“I don’t know,” Seth answered struggling to his feet. Gloria reached out and helped pull him up. “Something’s not right,” he said and started to run towards Giantstoe. “We need to find Elias and get out of here!”

“What?” Gloria cried, hurrying after him. “Why? We just got here!”

Seth looked back at Gloria. “Can’t you feel it?” he said. The pull in his chest felt stronger now. “Focus! Can you feel the magic?”

Gloria closed her eyes, then recoiled back. “Crim almighty! What is that?” she cried.

A loud horn blasted out from Giantstoe. Seth whipped his head back towards the village. He gritted his teeth. Something dark was brewing and Seth had a feeling he really didn’t want to be here for it. But Elias is in there! Seth held out his hand to Gloria. “Come on!” he cried.

Gloria stared at Seth’s hand and shrank back. “Gloria!” Seth shouted, reaching his hand out further. “We don’t have time for this! We need to find Elias!”

Gloria screwed up her face then squeezed her eyes shut and took Seth’s hand. He gripped it tight and took off towards the village, bounding through the snow like a deer. Behind him, crunching snow and Gloria’s heavy breathing roared in his ears. His heart pounded with the drums and Seth could see faint lights flickering in the center of the village.

As Seth and Gloria reached Giantstoe, chanting began to float to their ears. Heavy percussion boomed in Seth’s chest and deep-throated horns growled. Seth and Gloria reached a house and leaned against the wall panting.

The air felt heavy and thick. Seth put a hand to his head, he was starting to get a headache, and everything was getting fuzzy. He glanced over at Gloria who was holding her head as well. “Are you alright?” he whispered.

Gloria groaned. “It’s…hard to think.”

Within him, Seth felt The Lady chuckle and watch eagerly. Blood drained from his face, and he whipped towards her. What are you planning? he demanded, What’s going on?

The Lady grinned gleefully and shook her head. I can't tell you. That would ruin the surprise. Just wait…

Seth shuddered and peered around the corner into the village square. There were two rings of dancers, the outer ring swayed to the drums and the inner ring danced around an iron cauldron set on a wooden platform. Standing on the platform was an old shaman with greying eyebrows whose hands were lifted high in prayer.

Seth frowned. There was something familiar about this, something he had read during his studies once, but the heavy air made it difficult for him to recall.

“Do you see Elias?” Seth heard Gloria behind him.

Seth surveyed the village square but didn’t see the boy in the crowd. He kept scanning until his attention was caught by five men bringing buckets up to the iron cauldron. He curiously watched them empty water and ice into the cauldron. He blinked and furrowed his brows; there was no fire underneath the cauldron; not even a wood pile. What are you doing? he wondered.

Gloria nudged him. “Seth,” she hissed. “Do you see him?”

Seth started, then looked around the square again. “No,” he shook his head. “I don’t-” There was a flicker of movement between the buildings on the other side of the square. Seth squinted and caught a brief glimpse of Elias running before he hid in an alley between two houses.

Seth’s heart lifted and he whispered back to Gloria. “I see him!”

Gloria gasped. “Where is he? Is he okay?”

“I think so,” Seth whispered, then he looked back and tried to get Elias’s attention. The boy looked up and met his eyes. Elias’s face lit up for a moment, then he anxiously looked over his shoulder.

Seth frowned. Is someone looking for him?

Seth scanned the town square again and noticed a group of five men dart into the square, their heads swiveling around. Seth looked back up at Elias. The boy’s face had paled. He grimaced and frantically waved his hands back while mouthing something that Seth couldn’t read.

“Someone’s looking for him!” Seth hissed, watching the group of men turn back and disappear among the buildings on the opposite of the square. “I think he’s trying to tell us to leave!”

Gloria gripped Seth’s arm. “I’m not leaving without him!” she growled.

“Don’t worry,” he assured her, “We won’t. Stay put, I’m going to go get him.”

Seth looked up, but just as he motioned to Elias to stay put, the group of men appeared in the alley where Elias hid.

“No!” Seth gripped the corner of the house and watched helplessly as they trapped Elias and dragged him out of the alley. They quickly surrounded him and beat him. Seth could faintly hear Elias’s cries of pain over the music. He had to do something!

Seth started to turn the corner when Gloria grabbed Seth’s arm. He whipped back. “What are you doing? I need to get to Elias!”

Gloria’s face was pale, and she pointed to the square. The drums beat faster, and the chanting intensified. Seth looked back to the cauldron and saw a young woman with two attendants passing through the crowd in a robe. She wobbled and was propped up by the two attendants who guided her up the platform towards the cauldron. When she got to the top, the attendants undressed her.

Seth looked away, embarrassed, and scanned the edges of the village square to see if he could find Elias, but the boy and his captors had vanished. No! he panicked, darting his eyes around. Where is he?

“Oh Crim!” Gloria exclaimed. “What are they doing to her?” Seth risked a glance up and saw the young woman sitting in the cauldron. Her attendants gripped her arms and exposed her wrists. Then the shaman stepped forward and drew a gleaming knife from his belt.

Blood drained from Seth’s face – he finally realized what was happening. It’s a dark ritual! Why did it take him so long to figure it out? Seth’s head ached again, he rubbed his forehead and frantically reached behind him to grab Gloria’s hand. “We need to leave!” he panicked and tried to retreat from their hiding place.

Gloria fought his grip. “Wait!” she cried, “What about Elias? We can’t leave him!”

“We don’t have time!” Seth said glancing back. “There’s no telling what that ritual is for! We can’t stay!”

“But!”

Over Gloria’s shoulder, Seth saw the Shaman slit the young woman’s wrists. His eyes widened and her screams pierced the air. Seth tightened his grip and pulled on Gloria. “There’s no time! We’ll come back for him!”

Gloria started to look back, but Seth tugged on her. “Do not look back!” he said then turned to run through the snow. Images of Elias dead in the snow flashed into his mind. Seth gritted his teeth. Oh Crim, he found himself praying, please let Elias be okay!

The Lady chuckled. No need to beg Crim to save your friend, she whispered in his ear. I can assure you that you’ll be seeing sweet Elias very shortly.

Suddenly, there was a loud cry from the villagers of Giantstoe and Seth’s feet stopped dead in the snow. An overwhelming power tugged in his chest and compelled him to turn back to the village. He shook and tried to fight against the fierce pulling to return.

“No…” he groaned, his head beginning to feel heavy. He turned and took a step back towards Giantstoe.

“Seth?” Gloria cried. “Seth! What’s wrong?”

Seth shook violently as The Lady slowly crept up to him and gently pried him away from his body. Seth dropped Gloria’s hand and tried to step away from her. “Gloria…” he gritted through his teeth, trying to fight against her.

Oh Seth, The Lady purred, running fingers down his face. I would’ve hoped that by now you would’ve realized that struggling is a waste of your precious strength.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Seth pulled himself back to his body and caught Gloria's shaking eyes. “Go!” he managed to cry, “Run!”

Without a second thought, Gloria turned and started to run. For a sliver of a second, Seth was relieved - at least she would escape. In that moment, The Lady overshadowed him and dragged him down a passage away from his body.

“Don’t go, Gloria,” The Lady’s voice sang through his throat. “I have much planned for the two of you.” Seth watched in horror as his body took two leaps and snatched Gloria’s arm. Gloria’s scream pierced Seth’s heart.

He wrenched himself from her grip and took off down the passage in his mind towards an iron curtain. Don’t you dare touch her! he cried.

Before he could push his way through and return to his body, The Lady cackled and gripped him firmly. Oh, don’t you worry about dear, sweet Gloria, The Lady trilled in his ear, I will take care of her. Then she dragged him away again and tossed him into a box, deep within the depths of his mind

“Come now Gloria,” Seth heard The Lady say as he fell. “It’s time to reunite with Elias…”

----------------------------------------

Gloria struggled against The Lady’s grip. A blind panic went through her and memories flashed into her mind: Water, laughter, pain. Gloria pulled and jerked like a wild animal. “Let me go!” she screamed.

Then Seth’s body yanked her to his chest and gripped her face. “We can either do this the easy way or the hard way,” The Lady hissed in her ear, “You get to make the choice.”

Gloria trembled and relented, then she obediently followed Seth’s body back into the village. The drums began to fade, and the dancers parted before Seth’s body. The shaman looked up and frowned. “Who are you?” he demanded, “And why are you interrupting our ritual!”

Gloria saw Seth’s body straighten and level a dark gaze at the shaman. “You not recognize your lady, Shaman Fen?”

“My Lady!” Shaman Fen gasped, and he dropped to his knees. There were gasps of awe and Gloria saw the rest of the village drop and bow with their foreheads to the ground. The square was quiet except for the whimpering of the woman in the cauldron.

Gloria gulped and peeked back at Seth’s body. There was a satisfied smirk on his face. Gloria shuddered and tried to stare up at the darkening sky. “You have done well and obeyed all that I have commanded.” The Lady purred.

“Of course, my lady,” Shaman Fen answered, “Please forgive my earlier remark, I did not recognize you.”

“You are forgiven shaman,” The Lady answered. “I neglected to inform you of my current state.” Seth’s body stepped forward towards the cauldron, Gloria shuffled along with him.

Gloria heard the woman in the cauldron whimper. From the corner of her eye, Gloria saw Seth’s hand stroke her head. “A pity that you should die so slowly now that you’ve served your purpose…” The Lady whispered. “Finish the job, Shaman Fen.”

“As you wish, my lady,” and he stepped forward with his bloodied dagger.

“Wait,” The Lady said, then Seth’s hand roughly forced Gloria’s face towards the woman in the cauldron. “Watch…” she commanded with gleeful cruelty. Gloria struggled and tried to turn her head away, but his grip tightened.

The woman in the cauldron moaned as Shaman Fen approached. Gloria fought even harder, but she was pinned to the spot. “It’ll be over quickly,” The Lady whispered in her ear, “hopefully…” she chuckled.

The gleaming knife plunged down and in a final moment of rebellion, Gloria squeezed her eyes shut and tried to block out the moan and cries of pain. Thankfully for the woman, it was over quickly.

There was a satisfied sigh from The Lady. “Take away the body,” she said.

Gloria shivered and kept her eyes closed. Will I be put into the cauldron next? she wondered.

“My lady!” A voice from the crowd called. The grip on Gloria loosened enough for her to turn her head and look towards the voice. She gasped and saw a group of young men toss a bloodied and limp Elias to the ground.

Oh Crim, please still be alive! She pleaded, looking Elias over. She saw Elias’s cracked lips part a little and his chest rise and fall in a shudder.

“We caught this boy spying on our ritual,” The leader said, stepping forward. “By his clothing, we believe he is a servant of Crim. Shall we dispose of him?”

The Lady cackled and Seth’s head shook. “Oh, no, that would be much too quick for me. I have plans for him and for her too.” Seth’s body shook Gloria. “They will both pay for their interference,” Seth’s dark eyes met Gloria’s and his face twisted into a grin. “By the time, I’m done with you, you will wish your death had been as quick as hers.” Gloria shuddered.

Seth’s face turned back to the village. “Now, rise my children!” The Lady called out. “There is much that needs to be done.” Seth’s body shoved Gloria down the platform towards the group of men. “Take her and the novice away. Make sure they are locked up tight. Especially her.”

Several pairs of rough hands grabbed Gloria by the collar and dragged her away. Gloria struggled to her feet and tried to meet Seth’s eyes. “Seth!” she screamed. “Please still be in there! Show me you’re still there!”

The Lady’s black eyes met hers and for a brief moment, they flickered blue. Seth’s tender face blinked through for just a moment, then he was reclaimed by The Lady. Gloria heaved a sigh of relief and let herself be dragged away. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for now.

----------------------------------------

Gloria stumbled through the village. When she caught her footing, she looked around for Elias. Two men were dragging him by his legs through the snow. The boy groaned and Gloria saw him bleeding from his head.

She looked up at the man pulling her through the village. “Please, sir!" she cried, "Could someone carry him?”

The man looked down at her and narrowed his eyes. “Shut up!” Then he tightened his grip on her collar and dragged her along.

Gloria scrambled to keep her balance. “Please!” she begged again. “He’s hurt! At least let me take a look at him!”

The man growled and shook her violently. “I said shut up, wench!” he roared in her ear. Gloria screamed and memories of her father flashed into her mind. Stay calm! Gloria tried to tell herself. Stay calm!

“Please! I beg you!” she tried again.

The man raised a hand to hit her when one of the other men called out. “Hey Gunnar! Our Lady wants these two to make it to her temple, I'm not sure how much damage she's okay with them getting.” Gunnar grunted and relented.

An opportunity! Gloria thought. She wriggled to face the man who spoke. “If you want the boy to make it, then someone needs to carry him!” The men looked at Elias and eyed Gloria.

“Please!” Gloria pleaded. “His head has already been hit once!”

One of the men rolled his eyes and groaned. “Fine! If it’ll get you to shut up!” The man lifted Elias and slung him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and strode onward. Elias's limp arms swung with each step. Gloria bit her lip. She didn’t like it, but it was better than being dragged on the ground.

"Get moving!" Gunnar said, pushing Gloria forward.

Gloria obeyed and soon found that she and Elias were being led to a small wooden shed next to a house on the outskirts of the village. At least we’ll be out of the cold. Gloria thought grimly.

“Good thing that Cooper doesn’t need his shed anymore,” someone said. The young men laughed.

One of the men took out a key and unlocked the shed door, then Gloria was dragged forward and tossed into the dark room. She stumbled onto the wooden floor and dropped to her knees. She took a quick glance around; The storehouse was completely bare except for a few shelves and old jars that had been forgotten.

I wonder what happened to Cooper. Gloria wondered, then she shuddered; after what she had seen today, maybe it was better not to know.

Gloria looked back to see Elias dumped unceremoniously onto the floor just after the door. Then the door was slammed shut and locked tight, taking all but a glimmer of light with it.

Gloria waited until the footsteps and laughing of the men receded before she scrambled over to Elias. “Elias!” she cried, “Oh, dear sweet Elias! Are you alright?”

The boy moaned and Gloria gently wrapped her arms around his waist and dragged him from the door. Then she took off one of her coats and laid it under Elias’s head like a pillow.

Gloria drew sigils in the air and the golden glow from her magic gave just enough light for her to see Elias. She gingerly turned his head. It wasn’t pretty. Looks like they hit him pretty hard. Gloria thought, brushing wet strands of hair from his forehead. She focused her magic on the wound on the side of Elias’s head. Mend for me, she whispered. Please mend for me.

Gloria noticed Elias’s hair was beginning to matt from the blood. She groaned. I wish I had some water or snow, something I could clean his hair with!

Elias shifted and groaned. “Gloria…” he mumbled.

“Hush, Elias,” she whispered and continued to work her healing magic. She stroked his head with her free hand and hummed a lullaby.

“Gloria…?” Elias murmured again before groaning.

Gloria sighed gently and relented. “What is it?” she asked. The wound began knitting itself back together.

“There was no inn…” The boy said groggily.

“I know…” Gloria answered. Almost there. She could feel the swelling in his head reducing.

“We…” Elias struggled to get the words out. “We need to warn Master Seth.”

Gloria finished her healing spell. She felt weak now and tried not to wobble. “I will,” she assured him. “Now get some rest,” Gloria whispered.

As the glow from her magic faded, Gloria could see Elias close his eyes. The boy sighed and did as she told him. She smiled, then she pushed Elias’s hair back and kissed his forehead. Then she sighed and leaned against a shelf and closed her own eyes. Oh Crim, she prayed as sleep claimed her. Keep Seth safe…please.

----------------------------------------

Seth returned to himself slowly. Darkness and softness enveloped him. The Lady had possessed him for much longer than she ever had. Seth put a hand to his face and was startled at the weight. He was back in his own body. When did that happen? He wondered. Within him, Seth felt The Lady; she was fatigued.

Seth tried to remember what happened, but it only came in fragments. The Lady was preparing for something. What was it? A ritual? Seth wracked his brain. No! An expedition to the mountains.

“The idiot almost died in the wilderness!” The faint memory of The Lady's conversation with Shaman Fen returned to him. “I need you to make sure he and his obnoxious friends make it to my temple.”

Seth blinked as sight began to return to him. A blue haze was in front of him. He squinted. Did they take my bandages off? He blinked again and his sight became clearer, then his heart froze; the glowing scars on his arm had grown.

Why? Why did they grow? He worried. Is it because her influence is growing? Seth put a hand to his forehead. Am I running out of time? Seth didn’t know.

Seth took in his surroundings. A low light from an oil lamp beside him illuminated the room. It was small and had one window that was crudely boarded over. Probably to stop me from escaping, he thought, grimly.

Seth felt around himself and realized he was on a bed. It soothed his aching muscles. The blanket on him was light and soft and Seth was sure that the pillow cradling his head was filled with down feathers.

Seth tried to sit up, but exhaustion weighed him down. He flopped back on the bed and stared at the dancing shadows on the ceiling. Then he grimaced. Seth was certain that wherever Gloria and Elias were, they weren’t sleeping on any comfortable beds tonight.

If Gloria and Elias are sleeping on the floor tonight, then so am I. Seth summoned his strength and rolled off the bed. He landed on the floor with a thud.

The blanket draped off the bed and tried to tempt Seth to return to its soft folds. Seth inched away from the soft warm bed and ignored its seductive calls. Then he curled up on the wooden floor with his back to the mattress.

Seth sighed and thought of Gloria and Elias. I hope they’re alright, he worried. His last memory of them was Gloria crying out to him and Elias’s limp bleeding body.

Behind him, Seth heard a door unlock and creak open. “My Lord?” A feminine voice peeked through, “Are you alright?”

Seth tried to rise, then dropped down. He had no strength. “My Lord!” the voice called again, and footsteps creaked across the room. “Why are you on the floor? Shall I find someone to help you?”

Seth rolled to his back and saw a woman with blonde hair hovering over him. “Where are my friends?” he demanded.

The woman blinked and looked down at him. “I’m afraid, I can’t tell you that,” the woman answered, “but if you would like-”

“Then get out,” he growled.

“My-?”

“And don’t call me ‘My Lord’!” he spat. “Unless you’re here to free me or bring my friends to me, you have no business here.”

The woman narrowed her eyes. “I’m sorry, my Lord,” she answered with cold spite. “But I cannot fulfill that request,” Then the woman turned back towards the door. The door shut and locked.

Seth eyed the door. So, I am a prisoner then, he thought. It's a nicer cell, but I'm still a prisoner.

His anger dissipated as weariness washed over him. I need to find Gloria and Elias, he thought. He tried to formulate escape plans as he lay on the hard floor, but his eyes drooped. He fought to keep them open, but the heaviness grew and grew until he fell asleep.