Vre's heart was in turmoil. The past 24 hours had been a whirlwind since Xerith had come into her life, filled with frantic escapes, a freezing night in the woods, and the revelation of the Cathedral and the key. Amidst it all, she couldn’t ignore the overwhelming emotions that flooded her whenever Xerith was near. It was irrational, she told herself—he wasn’t human, he was not Liam, and he could be dangerous. Yet, here she was, enveloped in his arms, feeling a sense of belonging that defied logic.

His body was solid and warm. As his arms wrapped around her, she felt a mix of comfort and shame. She knew, the moment she touched him, that she shouldn't be doing this. His arms so easily folded around her shoulders, and his fingers brushed through her hair. Her hands rested on his back, feeling the strength in his muscles with every movement.

She tried to rationalize her actions. This was just relief that he wasn’t injured, right? He had fought off that beast, and she was just glad he was safe. But the rapid beat of her heart and the warmth spreading through her body betrayed deeper feelings. The way his presence quickened her pulse couldn’t be meaningless.

"How did you find me?" she asked, her voice a whisper even though they were alone.

"Oh, that's easy, Vre. I've told you. There is a connection between us that transcends any time or space.. I will always find you."

How could he say those words with such a straight face? A surge of confusion washed over her. Memories of her childhood, this strange familiarity with him, and the reality of their perilous journey weighed heavily on her mind. Slowly, she pulled back from him, though both of them seemed reluctant to let go. Her eyes searched his face for any sign of injury or exhaustion, but he looked as strong and composed as ever.

"I remembered something," she said. "When I was a child, I had what I thought was an imaginary friend who looked a lot like you. I remember it now, but I hadn't thought about that in years. Was that... was that you?"

An affectionate smile crept onto his face, and he gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Indeed, Vre. I've been with you longer than you could possibly comprehend. You are a woman now, though. Do you still think I am imaginary?”

Her heart pounded in her chest as she looked into his golden eyes. There was a depth there, a connection that she couldn’t deny. She was close enough that she could feel the heat of his breath against her skin. Xerith's fingers trailed down her cheek, his touch sending shivers down her spine.

“I don’t think you’re imaginary,” she breathed. “You’re as real as this place is, but now I’m terrified that everything you’ve said might be true. It’s a lot to process. I feel like I know you, and even though you’re frightening and strange I’m not so much afraid of you as I am that you might actually be exactly who you say you are. Someone really important to me.”

She reached up to touch the skin along his alien-like jaw. The skin there was smooth like rubber, a darker color than the rest of his sharply contoured face. As her fingers ran over his skin, he parted his lips slightly, revealing his wicked teeth. She touched her fingertip to the point of his teeth, feeling the prick of them, a tangible reminder of his otherworldly nature.

His expression remained gentle, his touch tender as he handled her like the greatest treasure. The way he looked at her, with such reverence and affection, made her heart clench.

“I’ve waited a long time to see you again.” Xerith murmured.

Her mind was a whirlwind. She was undeniably drawn to Xerith, the pull between them almost magnetic. She couldn't remember anyone ever looking at her like that way he was doing so now. She felt so...wanted. Yet, the thought of Liam, her boyfriend from the world she had left behind, gnawed at her conscience. She couldn’t just abandon the memory of him, even if she might never see him again.

“I… I need to rest,” she said, stepping back reluctantly. “I’m exhausted, and my mind is spinning. I need time to think about all of this. It’s been a really long night, and I’m just happy we all made it through the forest alive. We’ve just started this journey though, right? I’ve got to stay focused.”

Xerith’s eyes held a mix of understanding and regret as he released her from his embrace. “Of course, Vre. Take all the time you need. I’ll be here.”

She nodded, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. With a final glance at his comforting yet alien presence, Vre forced herself to return to the bed that had been set aside for travelers in this halfway town of Regnum, as Xerith faded into the shadows. She wondered if he was still there, watching her. She wondered how many other people had come through this way, headed towards the Cathedral in the World Between looking for a key to get home. She sighed, forcing herself to lay back down, her clothes still a modicum damp after last night. Her tired body sank into the mattress and pulled the blanket up with force.

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

She couldn’t afford to be distracted. They needed to get to the Cathedral, find the key, and understand this cursed world if she ever hoped to return home. Resolutely, she pushed aside her swirling emotions and closed her eyes, allowing exhaustion to pull her into a restless sleep.

Her thoughts drifted to Liam. Simple, kind Liam. She had to stay loyal to him, didn’t she? Even though he was so far away, even though she might never see him again. The guilt twisted inside her.

Sleep came, and the warmth of Xerith's presence lingered, but the urgency of their quest pressed heavily on Vre's mind. When she woke, the room was empty, and hunger gnawed at her. She straightened herself out as best she could and descended the creaky wooden staircase to see if she could find Jonah or Drake. The morning light filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow on the rustic interior. Knowing she was just a traveler in this place, she tidied the makeshift room on her way out, grateful for the town's hospitality.

Downstairs, the large room was bathed in the glow of the fireplace. Drake sat at a table, his surly presence contrasting with the room's cozy atmosphere. He was straightening out several books that looked water-damaged—likely the journals he had mentioned before. Jonah was nowhere to be found.

“Hi, Drake,” Vre said as she approached. She tried to tidy her hair, feeling the tangles and smoothing out her wrinkled clothes. “Did you get some rest? Where’s Jonah?”

Drake shook his head glumly. “No, we’ve been up for the day talking to Regnum’s chieftain about all sorts of messed up news. You don’t want to know. It’s nothing that concerns us, really, but Jonah got dragged into some politics regarding the increasing frequency of war attacks near here and the angels needing assistance. That girl—Isabel, the one that helped us find this place—she came by with that angel she was chasing and explained the whole thing. Might be a change of plans. That Anka girl might come with us the rest of the way to the Cathedral.”

Vre lifted her eyebrows as she listened to him. “That’s a lot to have happened. Anka is an angel, right? Sorry I missed it.”

“It’s fine. And yeah. Flighty little thing. You look like you could use a change of clothes before we head out again. There’s a guy here that can help with that—Henry was his name. Jonah went and bought us some morsels we can have as rations, so let’s get you a meal, too. Haven’t seen any sign of the Annunaki though.” He gave her a look. “Don’t suppose you have?”

Vre wasn’t sure if she should lie or tell the truth but decided on the latter. “He’s okay. He disappeared after he came to see me right before I fell asleep, but he made it through the battle unscathed.”

“Mmm.” Drake acknowledged her words but didn’t look either pleased or displeased.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you, why don’t you like the Annunaki? What is an Annunaki? I’ve never heard of that term before.”

Drake considered her carefully before deciding to answer. “The term Annunaki translates to ‘those who from heaven to earth came.’ Some of the earliest writings we have on earth tell tales of the Annunaki architecting our physical and spiritual world from the cosmos where their kingdom lay. That being said, there’s a lot more to them than just being a ‘guardian’... our ancestors revered them as deities.”

He paused, his expression darkening. “That being said, they are notorious for playing with mankind. They are not just simple one-dimensional entities. I wouldn’t trust one. Xerith said he wants to try to find a way to seal up the taint, which might be true. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he has another motive for being here, too, and especially with him seeming to have such an interest in you. Be careful, especially as we get to whatever this key is that he told us about.”

Vre frowned deeply. “I see.”

“Anyway, you asked, so that’s my reasoning. When you’re ready, let’s proceed towards this damn Cathedral so we can figure out what this key is he was talking about and see if it can really help us get outta this godforsaken in-between world.”

She had to bury her emotions and doubt for now. Obediently, she sought out Henry, the caretaker for the travelers' group house, and was able to trade her dirty clothes for some fresh ones. They didn’t fit her quite as snugly as her previous clothes, but they were fully dry and clean. She received a long-sleeve tan cotton blouse and a heavy linen skirt that tied around her waist. It was double-layered, and she was quite pleased with it because it was so warm. Henry gave her a sweater, too, which she pulled over her shirt. The bad part was though, she had to give up her boots for new ones. These new boots were not like her combat, sturdy boots from before. They were flat soled and made of leather, but at least they were warm.

She went back to join Drake. He was packing his bags now but had a bowl of soup and a loaf of bread set out for her to eat.

Next to him sat a small, blinding figure that she couldn’t look at directly. It was the angel she had seen before—a petite woman with breathtaking ebony black hair that fell to her waist. She was sitting at the table, humming a small tune and rocking left and right in her seat.

Vre felt someone materialize behind her.

“This will get interesting,” Xerith’s smooth voice said, close to her ear.

Drake and the little angel stood as they approached.

“So Jonah won’t be coming with us, then?” Vre asked, looking between them.

“No, no,” the angel replied with a melodic voice. “Jonah is needed at the northern ramparts. I will take you to the Cathedral. Hurry, hurry—if you eat quickly, we can make it there by midday!”

Xerith gave Drake a cool glance before focusing his attention on the small angel with the black hair. The angel did not seem too concerned about him, nor did he seem concerned about her—they seemed indifferent towards each other.

Vre quickly ate the meal Drake had prepared for her, feeling the warmth of the soup spread through her tired body. The bread was rough and dense, but it filled her stomach and gave her the energy she needed.

Once she was ready, they gathered their belongings and followed the angel, Anka, out of the village and onto the path that would lead them to the Cathedral.