Chapter 10
Not quite surewhy it’s called the Bleeding Woods. Compared to the forest back home, this place is—Dare I think it?—cheerful. My company notwithstanding, of course.
They talk amongst themselves throughout the day, mostly ignoring me. Davien says little; he leads the pack and broods quite dramatically. Oren also stays out of their discussions, lingering back, closer to me. No doubt to make sure I don’t run. I make sure I keep my distance from even him. Whatever trust he might have earned from me is now gone.
Inevitably, the conversation drifts back to me along with their eyes. They ask how I’m doing. They say I must be tired. They say my weak, frail human body must be breaking down.
Every time, I assure them that I’m more than capable of carrying on. I can go a little farther.
It’s the fourth time they do this that I’m finally worn down. The sun is setting on the other side, the wrong side, of the mountains that loom above us—a strange phenomenon for me, and further evidence that I’m very far from home. The sun rises from the mountains…not sets. I come to a halt, crossing my arms and glaring at them.
“Are you ever going to tell me why exactly I’m going to die in the next three days?”
“Do you really want to know?” Hol asks.
“Oh, can I tell her?” Giles seems a little too eager for my liking. He grins and it’s then that I notice his teeth are just slightly sharper than a normal human’s would be.
“I suppose I’ll let you deny me the pleasure,” Shaye says to Giles.
“Tell her whatever you want,” Davien calls back. “But don’t stop moving.”
We begin our march again. Giles speaks as we do. “Since you’re human, I’m going to assume that you know basically nothing about the world you live in.” I roll my eyes. He ignores it. “What you need to know is this. There are three worlds: the Beyond—where you go when you die; Midscape—where you are now, and where those of us with magic still reside; and the Natural World—the world humans were given after the ancient wars, and where you’re from.
“Between each of these worlds is a barrier. The barrier between Midscape and the Beyond is called the Veil. The barrier between Midscape and the Natural World is called the Fade.”
“All right.” I think I follow. Though it seems too incredible to be real. “We crossed the Fade to get here?”
“Correct,” he says.
“So the people who try and cross the mountains cross the Fade and actually end up here? In Midscape?”
“Not quite.”
“Fortunately not, for them.” Shaye tilts her head back and barks out a laugh. “Death is kinder to a human than accidentally ending up in the fae wilds.”
I cross my arms over my chest and fight a shiver. I’m still in my nightgown and robe. What I wouldn’t give for the dignity of a pair of trousers or a proper dress.
“Humans, and the regular creatures of Midscape, aren’t supposed to be able to cross the Fade. Only a few of the elves can; it’s the Elf King who maintains the barriers between the worlds. By not allowing the majority of people to cross on either side, he keeps his power.”
“Elf King?” I repeat. “There’s more than just fae here?”
“There’s elves, mer, lykin, us… There were dryads long ago, but they died off after they made the humans. There’s also vampir, but they haven’t been seen in centuries. I think they were last heard from a couple hundred years after the Fade was erected. They might have gone the way of the dryads.”
Dryads making humans… All the creatures from the old folktales being real… I feel dizzy and pause to brace myself against a tree and catch my breath. “It’s impossible.”
“What was that?” Giles calls back to me.
“Don’t tell me; she’s finally giving up for the day?” Shaye asks.
“This can’t be real. I have to be dreaming.” I shake my head with a laugh. “Magical creatures? Ancient wars? Barriers between worlds? No. No, this isn’t real.”
“Unfortunately for you, it’s very real.” Giles puts his hands in pockets hidden by the folds of his loose skirt. “Because we haven’t even made it to the part that’s going to kill you.”
“Oh. Good. More things that can kill me other than the villains of all of the stories I was told as a girl.” I scowl at him.
“Keep moving,” Davien shouts. I frown even deeper and push away from the tree. The march is a fairly brisk pace, and while I wouldn’t say I’m tired yet, it’s also a lot more than a stroll in the woods. I glance behind me. It’s like we’re running from something. Whatever would strike fear into the hearts of these people, I know I don’t want to meet. My thoughts go back to the woman that attacked me in the woods. Perhaps there are more like her out here, too.
“Humans aren’t made for this world,” Giles says. “Only one human can survive here—the Human Queen.”
