Stefan’s POV
When Stefan got back to the campsite, it was trashed. The fire looked like it was lit for less than 5 minutes. The track marks across the dirt filled him with worry.
He bit down on his bottom lip, as he followed both Clarissa and the demon across the forest floor. Blood dripped across the ground, leaving a sick feeling in his stomach. The blood itself did not bother him.
It was the thought of Clarissa injured, lost and afraid. There was not enough blood for her wound to be fatal though. Judging by the tracks in the dirt, Goristro had run off in one direction. But Clarissa fell afterwards and someone picked her up, carrying her out of the campsite.
Several feet outside the perimeter of the campsite, all signs went cold. There wa
Don't mess with Prince Ammon Ipos? Will he be able to save Clarissa?
Stefan Stefan resisted the urge to pull the other arrow out. It was amazing the man stayed awake this long. But it was obvious Jimmy couldn’t leave his well being in the hands of the ‘dullard’ he associated with. “Give me something to go on. How can I find her?” Stefan asked, feeling his impatience reaching its tipping point. Jimmy was shaking now. His body would go into shock, if it wasn't already. His death seemed imminent unless Stefan sent him back to town right now. When Jimmy spoke again his speech was slurred and heavily accented, “I think… I think there was another adventurer after her. We saw him in town. He wore a dark cloak. We didn’t get a good look at him. Maybe his hearthstone left traces of magic? You could trace it.”
Clarissa’s POV Clarissa embraced the darkness. It was quiet and unexpecting. The darkness understood her. It knew how to ease her stress and comfort her. It did not hound her for a necklace or pressure her for.. anything. She rolled over on the incredible softness the darkness offered her. “Clarissa…” The voice was distant and floated to her like a melody. It added to the undeniable comfort she found herself in. “Clarissa.” The voice said again in a patient sing-song voice. “Oh, my friend.” Imaginary or not, Mimi was always there with her. Usually, when Clarissa called Mimi imaginary, Mimi got mad. But right now, his concern was elsewhere. “I want
Righ’s POV Righ was waiting impatiently to hear any news about the relic's location. The giant throne room was located at the center of his loathsome, gloomy castle, which held none of the glory of his past accomplishments. The few servants scuttling around were mere shadows of the throngs that had once followed him. The iron castle, built into the side of a volcano, was a shell of a monument from a time before the great wars. After which, he was banished to the abandoned areas of the world that grew untamed with monsters and flourishing wildlife. There were constant thunderstorms. Red dirt kicked up in the wind and swirled around the castle in thick clouds, making it impossible to see at times. Sunlight reflected off the dirt and gave an u
Clarissa Blake was the first to step away from the tender moment they shared. Clarissa giggled as he held a set of plain wooden doors open for her. Blinding sunlight filled the corridor. She stepped through into a small private garden. The flowers were brightly colored and beautiful. Their aroma permeated the air heavily. It felt like a slice of heaven. A quick glance revealed they were alone. Her heartbeat swiftly in the cage of her ribs. She already shared an intimate connection with her tall, dark friend. He led her to a nearby bench and took her hands as they sat down. Once again, his entire focus was on her. She fought the urge to squirm under his scrutiny.
Clarissa’s POV Clarissa followed Blake quietly to her room. She was disappointed he was leaving her. But a part of her was relieved. It was a whirlwind of a day, and she needed to process everything. Maybe she could make sense of her emotions. Possibly, a nap would make her feel better. Her mind returned to the bed, filling up most of the room the monks provided for her stay. She had never felt such luxury and wanted to use it while she could. “But I will see you at dinner?” She asked. Clarissa wanted to spend more time with him before continuing her journey to Bright Moon. But she was afraid of the consequences should she ask. He nodded, holding h
Blake’s POV After leaving Clarissa in her room, Blake went to his own. He paced back and forth. His emotions were a mess. She was such an enchantress! Memories of them playing and sneaking off into the forest assaulted him. He worked so hard to push them back for so long, until the day he told Blake to capture her and bring her to his people. He sighed and plopped down on his bed. What was he going to do? What would he do with her if he allowed his benefactor to keep Clarissa? What did he want with her? After everything that Blake had been through, he asked himself why he still cared. The sight of her sitting in the garden swam before him, and he groaned. She was so beautiful
Clarissa Once in the solitude of her room, Clarissa slammed her bedroom door. Her father's death and the purple sage came back to her with a vengeance. She fell on her bed, sobbing with an unbearably aching heart. Where was Stefan when she needed him? How was she supposed to save her mother without him? She couldn’t stay with Blake, and she couldn’t stay here! Mimi soothed her in her mind before speaking, “you can stay the night and rest. Attend dinner. It would be rude not to attend after all they have done for you. Tomorrow, Blake said you could be on your way. He could summon Stefan with what is in your bags because Stefan gave them to you. It will provide enough connection to him.”
Stefan’s POV After discovering where the stranger took Clarissa, Stefan forced his horse into a full-speed gallop the entire way and made it to the Olc monastery outskirts before the sun went down that day. As he entered town, the sun was setting. He slid adeptly from his horse in the center of the crowded huts outside the gates. If there were that many people living outside the walls, he could imagine how populated it was inside the gates. How long would it take to find Clarissa? He had to decide where to start looking for her. If she was still here, she could be outside the gates. Looking around, he quickly determined how unlikely that was. Outside, all the buildings were domestic mud huts. Not likely to house an adventurer