In the pitch-black darkness of a starless night, the fire crackled softly. Its warm light cast long, dancing shadows that flickered against the twisted trunks of the trees in the forest, creating eerie shapes that seemed to move and breathe with a life of their own. Vre sat as close as she could to the flames, the warmth a small comfort against the creeping chill of the woods. Xerith sat cross-legged beside her, his golden eyes nearly as bright as the firelight, casting an otherworldly glow on his face. The cold pressed around her, a tangible force despite the perimeter of warmth.
Drake and Jonah had seemingly managed to fall asleep, their backs positioned toward the fire, their breaths slow and steady in the still night. The smell of the campfire smoke made Vre's mind a little hazy. She had camped before, in her world, but it was not necessarily something she liked to do. She was definitely more of an indoor kind of person, especially now as she pulled her jacket tighter around herself, trying to ward off the cold. Her hair was a wavy mess, and she had it pushed to one side to better manage it.
Xerith was looking at her. His gaze was intense and unwavering, the firelight reflecting in his golden eyes. “Would you like me to help you keep warm?” he asked, unabashed, breaking the heavy silence that had settled over them. He scooted a little closer so that his arm was touching hers.
She glanced at him, trying to read him. He was so intent on her, especially when left alone. His advances were a little strong, not just because of him being inhuman but also that he knew she still had a boyfriend back home. There was something undeniably charming about his assertiveness, though.
She shook her head, unable to accept. “No…I haven’t given up hope yet on seeing Liam again, so that... that wouldn’t be right of me. Even if it was just for warmth, that would be cheating.”
“Not to be a downer, but it has been several months now since you first came to the World Between, right, Vre? What will you do if he’s forgotten about you or moved on?”
His words stung in her heart. “Why would you say something like that? Do you think if you plant that thought in my head that I’ll just immediately fall for you instead? That would hurt, Xerith. Liam is one of the few thoughts that has brought me comfort since I came here. I hope he hasn’t forgotten about me so soon.”
“Ah…” Xerith winced, his expression softening. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Vre. That was rather cruel of me to say.”
She met his gaze and saw what she took for honest remorse there. She gave him a small smile. “What are you looking at me like that for?”
“I’m trying to memorize how you look right now. You’re always a little different… Over the years I’ve enjoyed getting to know the things that are new about you and some things that remain the same.”
“Oh?” She felt herself blush, despite what she had just said. His attention was still flattering.
“Mhm. Like right here…” He reached a long hand up to her face, moving slowly as if not to startle her. His fingers, cool and smooth, brushed against her cheek, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The touch sent a shiver down her spine, and she found herself leaning into it ever so slightly.
A hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth. “You have the same determined look in your eyes. It’s something that never changes, no matter what form you take.”
Vre felt a mix of emotions swirl within her—confusion, curiosity, and a reluctant attraction. “You speak as if you’ve known me forever.”
“In a way, I have,” Xerith replied, his voice a low, soothing murmur. “Each time I see you, it feels like rediscovering an old friend. A friend I’ve sworn to protect. I never get tired of seeing you again. It’s always a challenge to get you to remember me, but it's also always exciting. Every time is different and new…but some things stay the same.”
The sincerity in his words touched her, and for a moment, she allowed herself to believe in the possibility that their connection that spanned lifetimes. The fire crackled beside them, the warmth battling the encroaching cold of the night.
“Tell me more about these memories,” she asked quietly, her curiosity getting the better of her. “What else do you remember about me?”
Xerith’s eyes gleamed with a mixture of sadness and fondness. “I remember your laughter. There is not much to laugh about here in the World Between, but there were times you and I had the most joyous adventures. I remember the way you care for others--how you always want to make sure everyone is always included. And I remember the times we fought side by side, facing dangers you can’t yet recall.”
Vre’s heart ached with the weight of his words, the possibility of a shared history she couldn’t remember. “I wish I could remember, too.”
“In time, you will,” Xerith assured her, his voice steady and comforting. “For now, let’s focus on the journey ahead. The Silver Cathedral holds the answers you seek, and this world is dangerous. I’ll be by your side every step you take, but it’s up to you to keep going, Vre.”
She nodded, listening to him speak, her eyelids growing heavier despite the chill and the fear of the dark woods surrounding them. She hadn’t moved away from him—she was still very aware that her arm was touching his in an almost nervous, schoolgirl-like way. "Will you keep talking to me?” she asked quietly. “Tell me about your world. The place you come from."
He nodded, poking the fire with a long stick to make it spark. “Of course, Vre. The place I come from is a place much different than this, and much different than your world. It is not so much a ‘place’ as it is a boundary… The abyss I guard has many names, but it is a place where nothing can escape from. Think of a black hole, like in your earthly science classes. The Abyss is like that…a terrible, awful, dark and crushing place that even devils fear. I was fashioned, among many others, to guard the boundary to that place. A place between that and here.”
“How do you guard it? And is it okay that you’re gone from there? How is it if nothing can escape, that the taint is spreading?”
Xerith shot her a grin, his mouth widening. Something in his eyes looked playful, mischievous as he looked at her. “Guarding the abyss is no simple task. The boundary is a threshold between realms, a place where the fabric of reality is thin, where the pull of the abyss can draw in not just light, but souls, dreams, and even the essence of life itself. My presence there acts as a ward, a living barrier that strengthens the boundary, ensuring nothing escapes its pull.”
He paused, his eyes reflecting the flickering flames. “However, the radiation, or the taint as you call it, is a different matter. It seeps through the cracks, like a miasma, an invisible toxin that corrupts everything it touches. This taint is analogous to what your kind might call a 'spiritual virus'. It spreads insidiously, often unnoticed until it has taken root, corrupting the purity of the spirit.”
Vre listened intently, picking her head up, her eyes wide with fascination. “So, you’re fighting something you can’t see?”
“Precisely,” Xerith nodded. “The taint is an energy, a dark resonance that can warp and twist both the mind and spirit. It’s not just about keeping entities from escaping the abyss; it’s also about preventing this corrupting influence from spreading. The taint seeks to weaken the boundary, to make it porous so that the horrors within the abyss might one day break free.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
He leaned closer to her, his expression serious. “My absence from the boundary is temporary, and I am not the only guardian. There are others like me, maintaining the vigil. However, my mission here is crucial. The taint is over capacity in this realm, and if it is not contained, it could unravel the very fabric of this world, turning it into a mirror of the abyss.”
Vre shivered, not from the cold, but from the weight of Xerith’s words. “What can we do to stop it?”
Xerith’s eyes glowed with an inner light. “Understanding is the first step. Recognizing the signs of corruption, the subtle changes in behavior, the growing darkness in one’s heart. Everything has a source—a root. Once we get the key from the Cathedral, it will be easier to understand. It’s a battle fought on many fronts, both seen and unseen. I could do it alone, but I would much rather do this battle with you.”
Everything he said made her head swim with more questions. As she watched him explaining to her the mysteries of the cosmos and spirituality, she wondered if she was dreaming.
“Have you explained all of this stuff to me before?” she asked, her voice quiet now.
He smiled, as gently as a being like him could. “Many times, Vre. Each time, it’s like telling you a story anew, and each time, you listen with the same wonder in your eyes.”
The fire crackled softly beside them, the warmth a small comfort against the encroaching cold.
“Thanks, Xerith. For explaining.” She whispered. She wanted to believe him, to believe all of the things he was saying. It was too good to be true though, wasn’t it? The more she thought about it all, the more her head and her heart hurt. She’d only known Xerith for a day now, but he spoke as if he’d known her forever. It was confusing. Terrifying.
But the thought of someone watching over you was very comforting, too.
It wasn’t cheating if she didn’t do anything romantic, right? She tried to reason with herself. She could let him watch over her…care for her. As long as she didn’t overstep the boundaries…right? Her heart hurt. Her loneliness hurt.
Apprehensively, she leaned her head against his shoulder with her heart in her throat, blinking her eyes as she stared at the fire. He didn’t move--didn’t react at all. He sat there as her support, unwavering in his steadiness.
They sat there for a long moment, listening to the soft rustle of the wind in the branches. The forest had been mostly quiet, to her relief. But as they sat there, she felt something cold and wet strike her cheek.
She reached to touch her face and realized it was a drop of water. A light one, but then followed by another. She heard the drops starting to hit the forest floor around them too.
Rain.
Rain would not be so bad, despite that it would make them even colder and possibly put out their fire. Except for what it might bring with it.
Vre picked her head up off Xerith’s shoulder and went on high alert. The droplets were falling at a steady but light rhythm now, but she wasn’t sure what to do.
“Xerith,” she began, her voice tense, “Do you think it’s safe to stay here?”
The rain had also begun to stir both Jonah and Drake, who were starting to rise from their sleep.
“Shit,” she heard Drake grumble darkly. Jonah stretched his shoulders out from where he’d been sleeping in the dirt.
“Was hopin’ we’d get through the night without rain…” Jonah sighed. “Was sincerely prayin’ for it.”
Xerith’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the dark forest, his heightened senses probing the shadows for any sign of danger.
As the rain intensified, the fire began to sputter and hiss, struggling to maintain its life against the onslaught of water. Vre shivered, pulling her jacket tighter around herself, the cold seeping deeper into her bones. The once comforting crackle of the fire was now a desperate struggle for survival.
A distant howl echoed through the forest, a mournful sound that sent a chill down Vre’s spine. She glanced at Xerith, who was now on his feet, his golden eyes scanning the darkness with a predatory intensity.
Taking a cue from his stance, Jonah stood and readied his hand at his weapon. “What is it?” he whispered, his voice barely heard above the rain.
“The forest moves,” Xerith said. “But there is nothing there. Nothing except ghosts, anyway.”
Vre’s heart pounded in her chest as she stood, her muscles tense with anxiety. “Ghosts?”
“They are harmless. Phantoms, nothing more. But they’re there.”
The rain continued to fall, a relentless curtain that blurred her vision and muffled the sounds of the forest. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, made her jump, her imagination conjuring all manner of horrors lurking just beyond the firelight.
“We should go. Should try to find shelter. Stay together. Don’t get separated, or I might not be able to find you.” Jonah motioned for them to grab their belongings from under the tarp. “The rain ain’t goin’ up so it’s just a normal rainstorm for now. But we’ll freeze to death if we just sit here. We gotta get somewhere dry. Follow me.”
Without another word, they began to gather their belongings, their movements hurried and tense. The forest around them seemed to close in, the darkness pressing down on them with an almost tangible weight. Vre’s hands trembled as she packed her bag, her mind racing with fear and uncertainty.
Jonah led the way back towards the main path, followed closely by Drake and Xerith. Xerith moved silently, his presence a steady anchor in the growing storm. Vre followed him closely, her eyes darting nervously around the woods. She could hardly see anything. She pulled out her lamplight, but even it was pathetic against the gloom. The rain was now a steady downpour, drenching them completely and extinguishing the last embers of their fire.
Suddenly, a flash of movement caught her eye. She turned, her breath catching in her throat as she saw a shadowy figure slip between the trees. It was gone in an instant, but the brief glimpse was enough to send her heart racing.
“Did you see that?” she whispered urgently to Xerith.
He nodded, his expression dark. The rain dripped from his hair and made his skin gleam. “It’s okay, Vre. I'm surprised you can see them, but they can't hurt you. You will get through this—just stay close and trust me.”
But as they pressed onward, the forest seemed to grow more oppressive. The once faint howls grew louder, more frequent, a chorus of mournful wails that seemed to come from all directions. Vre’s breath quickened, her heart pounding in her ears. She could feel the weight of unseen eyes watching them, a malevolent presence lurking just beyond the reach of their lamplight.
Xerith paused, his golden eyes narrowing as he scanned the darkness. “We need to move faster,” he urged. “There’s something... more out there. Not just phantoms.”
Jonah and Drake exchanged uneasy glances, their grips tightening on their weapons. The group quickened their pace, the rain-soaked ground making their steps treacherous. Vre stumbled, her foot catching on a hidden root, but Xerith’s steady hand caught her before she could fall.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“Stay close,” he repeated, his gaze never leaving the shadows.
They pushed forward, the rain pounding down around them, a relentless drumbeat that masked the sounds of their pursuers. The path twisted and turned, the trees closing in like a labyrinth. Vre’s lamplight flickered, its weak glow barely cutting through the gloom.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, Vre saw it—a figure, pale and ghostly, standing just off the path. Its eyes glowed with an eerie light, its mouth twisted into a silent scream. She gasped, clutching at Xerith’s arm.
“There!” she cried, pointing towards the apparition.
The figure vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving nothing but the dark, rain-soaked forest in its wake.
“We’re being hunted,” he said grimly. “I do not know what that was, but I doubt it’s going to let us go easily.”
Fear clawed at Vre’s heart, but she forced herself to stay focused. “What do we do?” she asked, her voice barely audible over the rain.
“We keep moving,” Jonah replied. “We find shelter and make a stand. Together, we can face whatever comes. We’re probably about halfway to the next town. This is the worst of it. If we stick together, we have a guardian on our side. Surely we can take it on. Right, guardian?” He called out Xerith specifically.
Drake scowled, his face deep set in fury. “The ghosts and the phantoms are just distractions. Don’t let it scare you. I’ve heard tales of these woods trying to separate its travelers. We need to find shelter and hope to bloody hell that the rain stays falling down and doesn’t switch directions.”
“Right.” Jonah nodded. “Let’s go.”