The forest hummed with an eerie silence, as Quantum, Nhea, Nekea and Roe'nika moved quietly through the forest. The night darkness had settled in the forest not too long ago, the dim moonlight being the only source of illumination. The forest trees stood ominously in patches of darkness. They were still, frozen alongside the cool air. The rhythm of their footsteps rung gently in the forest.
Occasionally, they would spot orange glows of firelight, pushing them to they would hide themselves.
The guards patrolled endlessly.
Quantum's heightened vision was their only direction. His blue eyes pierced through the darkness. The glow of his gaze brought a mild calm into the hearts of Nhea and Nekea.
Nekea walked alongside Quantum, Nhea following close and Roe'nika trailing back.
Nhea's steps were sluggish. They had walked for quite a while, dodging the eyes of countless guards.
In one instance, Nhea had almost sneezed as a pair of guards passed by. It took Quantum's quick senses to stop her, clamping her mouth with his hands. The sneeze was muffled, barely audible. The soldiers had soon passed by and the group continued north.
Roe'nika's unblinking gaze was locked onto Quantum's back. Deep within her, many voices had arisen in defiance of the awakened man. Every fibre of her being was against him. It was not for her own sake, but for her Mistress'. She couldn't stop glaring at him. Peaceful memories occasionally came to mind, singing within the silence of the night. They were quickly shut out by the dark figure that walked ahead of them.
Soon, the group came to a hollow underneath a mighty tree. It was near pitch black within it. Quantum's eyes saw through t however; his blue gaze glowed brighter than ever.
Turning to Nekea, he said, "We can rest here. The hollow's structure will hide us from any patrolling guards."
A breath of relief escaped Nekea's lips. Quantum's gaze scanned her tired countenance. Her bright crimson eyes had dimmed. Nhea was even worse off. Her legs seemed to shake as she stood. Her feet were dirty, trudging hours across the forest floor.
Her dress had become tattered, being caught in brambles and passing through thick bushes. She blinked unceasingly, struggling to keep her worn out eyes open.
Roe'nika wished to speak against Quantum's reasoning. But a darkness silenced her.
The four entered the hollow.
It was a small space within. The four of them managed to cram themselves inside. Quantum gathered shrubbery and fallen leaves, placing them at the entrance of the hollow. He didn't show the slightest signs of fatigue. It brought awe to Nekea who watched him as he worked.
Nhea fell into a deep slumber almost the moment she sat. Sitting on Quantum's lap, she slept deeply, Quantum's cloak wrapped around her. Her head lay limp against his chest. Nekea watched her little chest heave gently as she breathed.
"You look like her father," Nekea said, sitting away from him.
She had been through much indeed. She recounted when Quantum had caught up with them.
The evening sun beat gently on the forest, whispers of ash dancing through the air. The three had left the Blood Witch's abode through a small exit within a hidden chamber. Quantum emerged silently from the silent trees, almost startling them.
"You're back," Nhea beamed.
The three pairs of eyes looked at him in anticipation.
"So," Nekea began, "What did you learn from them?"
Quantum turned to Nhea, staring deep onto her amber eyes. His expression was that like a concerned father, his brows furrowed. The last bird calls filled the forest as they flew from a distant turmoil.
He didn't beat around the bush.
"They seek Nhea," he said. He knew not to worry; his creator was as interested in him, as she was in Nhea. However, a slight frustration had welled within him.
Nhea's eyes widened in shock as she heard it. Her breathing became erratic as she stared back at Quantum. She didn't want to believe that she was the cause of all of the turmoil they faced.
However, it rang within her like the sudden toll of a clock tower bell.
Approaching Nhea, Quantum bent to her height. She was small, seemingly younger than ten.
"What…wait…what do you mean? W-Why would they want her?," Nekea exclaimed.
Roe'nika stared with shock. It began to dawn on her. After all, she had allowed the girl to follow.
Quantum's voice was as calm as ever. It only had a hint of concern within it.
"Her blood," Quantum continued, "…is royal blood. She is a child of the Emperor."
Nheas eyes were wild with confusion
"No…no…they're lying! I'm not…no!," she argued her voice shaking.
Quantum looked at her unblinking. Truth boiled, in his gaze.
Nhea resisted.
"No! They're lying! They're lying!," she screamed.
She clenched her fists and glared at Quantum.
Quantum stared back. Open and without deceit.
An expression of horror drew on her face. She stepped back from Quantum, almost reeling.
"No way…," she voiced.
"They want you, Nhea. They know there is a child with me; a little girl. It is none other than you."
Quantum's truth hit Nhea hard. No one would break a mythical barrier, searching for her, if she wasn't thst important.
It began to cascade.
Quantum rushed forwards and hugged her, holding her tight. Muffled cries escaped her lips, as she tried to hold back the tears. She hugged him back, light whimpers coming from her throat. In her little mind, she was sharp enough to understand the implications. She didn't believe it. However, the possibility of truth hit her hard. She wondered how much her mother had hidden from her.
Nekea remained silent, watching the girl.
Roe'nika desired to lash out. She had bore a severe loss. She and Nekea. She almost did. Turning to her Mistress, she saw the composure with which she stood. She was like a deity. There was no anger.
No pain.
No darkness.
There was only compassion.
By this, Roe'nika was silenced.
The silence had remained till now, as they were in the hollow.
Nhea's little frame was curled upon Quantum's chest.
Athens. A little laugh came from Quantum.
"Really?," he said, looking down at her with eyes like a mighty eagle. He remembered the time Nhea recounted the event involving her father.
Roe'nika spared him a glance, and looked down once more.
Nekea smiled. Her eyes began feeling heavy, as they slowly shut.
Her head hung low, as she fell asleep.
A serenity bloomed even within the darkness of the hollow. Roe'nika looked at Quantum. His eyes burned with a strange warmth. Their blue contrasted heavily with her crimson.
The stage was set.
It was finally just the two of them.
"Quantum"
He turned and looked at her.
Roe'nika's voice was sudden, somewhat scared.
"Can I leave my Mistress in your hands?"
The question was like a sword, its edge sharpened with emotion.
"No."
Roe'nika gasped, alarmed.
"She is already in the hands of someone much, much greater than me." The tension in Roe'nika's heart lightened.
"Her desires, her dreams, her nightmares…every flaw and every imperfection are in the hands of the One.
Roe'nika felt like lashing out once more. She seethed within her. Every time she heard that name, an anger boiled. Many demons screamed, their cries breaking the walls of her heart.
She bit her lip as she stared at the earth.
"Are you hurt?"
The question cut sharper than hers.
It hit her so hard, she didn't know how to answer.
Outside, the chirps of crickets filled the air.
Quantum asked again, his voice low.
"Are you hurt, Roe'nika"
Roe'nika looked at him. Power gazed at her, seemingly consuming her. Her hands began to shake, even as she hugged her thighs. The talisman on her chest glowed slightly, illuminating her chest.
Words rushed to her lips. Many words full of confusion, anger and fear. She didn't want to be scared. She didn't want to think like that. However, she couldn't stop it. The memories of her time with Nekea filled her mind, and in each of them, a pair of blue eyes looked down from the sky.
She opened her mouth to speak.
Suddenly, Quantum silenced her. In a blur, still holding onto a sleeping Nhea, his hands were on her mouth. She was confused. Until she sensed it.
A pair of soldiers were passing, outside.
They were close.
The crunching sound of leaves grew. Gradually, the orange light of torches illuminated the ground outside. The shrubbery Quantum had gathered separated the four of them from disaster.
Quantum had discovered it after studying two pairs of guards. They wore necklaces that pulsed with Malum. They were all connected. The Erref werent taking Rahiel lightly at all. If they looked in the hollow, Quantum would attack. If he attacked, they would alert the others. If they alerted the others, it wouldn't be long before all of them converged on Quantum.
The chirping of the crickets suddenly ceased. Roe'nika could hear her heart beating.
The two soldiers stood right outside the hollow.
"Hmm…nothing here. That damned demon is elusive."
"Don't mind. We'll catch him."
Quantum's eyes had sharpened. He glared at the entrance to the hollow. Waiting for one of them to crouch. The light glowed brighter, as a torch moved closer to the ground.
"I almost didn't notice the hollow.," one of them said.
Roe'nikas heart lurched. And it kept lurching. Her breathing grew desperate. Her chest ached from the beating of her heart. Her eyes widened.
As the light approached the earth, Quantum lowered himself. His left hand left her lips, and moved his hand to her neck, guiding her to lower her head. Nekea would be hidden from the soldier's range of view.
Quantum supported Nhea's head with his right hand
The stale air in the hollow drew towards the light.
A torch came into view, much of its light blocked by the shrubbery.
Shifting shadows cast on Quantum and Roe'nika.
An eye appeared.
It looked straight at Roe'nika.
Squinting, it turned searching the hollow.
The seconds passed like years.
Her hands twitched uncontrollably.
The hollow was silent.
The soldier sighed.
"Nothing here," he said.
Roe'nika almost gasped.
The soldier slowly raised his head. The orange glow shifted past, accompanied with the crunching of leaves.
The footsteps faded away in the distance.
The crickets began chirping again.
As mysteriously as they had come, they left.
Roe'nika gave a loud sigh of relief. Sweat streaked down her neck, as she breathed heavily. The drops fell down to the grass landing silently.
Quantum adjusted himself to his previous position, releasing his hold on Roe'nika's neck.
That unfazed look on his face haunted Roe'nika.
Her own weakness had added to her shock.
She caught her breath as the past events rushed in her mind.
Minutes passed, and Roe'nika calmed herself. A blank expression was on her face. Her mind was like an ugly amalgamation of thoughts.
Quantum looked at her.
He spoke.
"I didn't think those soldiers would suddenly turn. They were moving away…"
She didn't spare him a glance, and kept looking up.
Minutes turned into hours. Each second struck the air like a hammer on anvf.
"I must excuse myself," she said.
Before Quantum could ask she explained herself.
"I must attend to nature's call."
Quantum stared at her.
"I won't go far, and I won't take long either. I'll see when soldiers are close"
Quantum kept quiet, shifting back to give her space. His blue eyes tracked her as she approached the exit to the hollow. Roe'nika could feel the cold from them.
Reaching the exit of the hollow, she hesitated, before she cleared the shrubbery and stepped out.
The grass swished as her boots moved through them. The light from the moon had dimmed even more. Her heightened senses weren't as good as Quantum's, but they were better than the average human.
She could keep herself out of trouble.
In a matter of time, however, she was soon shoulder deep in it.
Roe'nika found herself standing in front if the Erref. She was holding one of the Erref hostage, her sword at his neck. The other Erref had surrounded her, their swords pointed at her. A pair of silver eyes stood tall, glaring at her.