Chapter 14: Chapter 14

When she woke up the next morning, it was to a crackling fire, just as the mysterious Damon had promised.

“Feel better?” he asked.

She sat up, and this time the world did not spin. “Much.”

He handed her a water bladder. She drank, but turned away when she saw him watching her.

“What is your name?” he asked.

She lowered the bladder and wiped her mouth. “Lilitha.”

“Who are your parents?”

“Excuse me?”

“Who are your parents?” he repeated.

“Who are ~your~ parents?”

He frowned. “Why don’t you just answer the question?”

“Because I don’t know who you are.”

“I told you.”

“Well, I’ve told you too.”

They turned away from each other. Damon sniffed and pulled his cloak more tightly around himself.

“We must leave here. I know of a safe place where you can stay. You will have water, food, shelter—”

Lilitha’s heart leapt. “Really? You would help us?”

“For you I would.”

She stood. “I need to find Clara.”

“It’s just for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll help only you. Not your friend. You must leave her.”

Lilitha stared at him. “I can’t do that.”

“You must. I don’t have the room.”

Lilitha knew he was lying. Doubt wove a cold feeling in her chest. “Why don’t you show me your face?”

He didn’t respond. He didn’t move. His big white hands gripped his knees.

“I have to get my friend.” She looked around at the trees. Which way was she supposed to go?

Damon remained seated. “You leave, and you won’t get another chance. You’ll starve. Or the monsters will get you.”

“I thought you said there weren’t any monsters.”

He didn’t speak.

“Please help us,” she said.

“Only you.”

“Why, goddamn it?!” She stomped her foot.

He didn’t answer. Shaking her head, Lilitha turned and walked away. She hoped he would stop her. She hoped he would change his mind.

The last thing she wanted was to be left alone in the dark forest.

She paused long enough to say, “Thank you for saving my life.”

And she left.

She searched for some time, confused and lost. She took note of every tree, listened hard for any sound, tried everything to find her route and retrace her steps. No luck.

It was as though the forest was determined to have her fail.

It felt like hours when she finally came upon their sleeping place. Clara was long gone. Lilitha’s stomach sank. How the heck was she going to find her now?

She slumped to her knees with a sigh.

She turned her head, heart lifting at the sound of a small cough. “Clara?”

A cloaked figure stepped into view.

“Oh, it’s you,” she frowned. How had she not heard him following? “What are you doing here?”

“I’ll take you to your friend.”

She sprang to her feet. “Really?!”

He nodded. With a shout of delight, Lilitha raced over and took his hand in both of hers. “Please, please, please, I will be forever in your debt.”

He eased away his hand. “Come then. She’s not far.”

“Is she okay? How do you know where she is?” she asked as they walked.

“I’ve lived in this forest for many years. I can track a mouse within the turf, a lizard within the leaves.” He pointed at the ground. “See her footprints?”

“No.”

Lilitha wanted to hurry but Damon refused to rush, taking long, measured strides.

“If you’ve been here a long time, then you must know your way out of the forest,” Lilitha said hopefully.

His hooded head turned. “Do you mean to leave the forest?”

A strange question. “Well…yes. I can’t stay here. Nobody…I mean…it’s not safe.”

“You’d be safe with me.”

“The monsters…”

“You have nothing to fear from these ‘monsters.’ They only consume at night, and besides, two scrawny girls wouldn’t be much to their liking.” Again, he sounded annoyed.

“Why would you want me anyway?”

“I wouldn’t mind a partner. Someone to spend my time with.”

“I would annoy you.”

“Perhaps.”

Their conversation dried up, and they spent much of their journey in silence. Though his face was hidden, she sensed his interest like a prickling all over her body.

He was making her feel uncomfortable and awkward. What a thing to ask her—to be his partner. He didn’t even know her. She didn’t even know him! She couldn’t even ~see~ him.

“What crime did you commit?” he suddenly said.

“Oh…uh…why do you think I committed a crime?”

“They only bring out sinners into the woods.”

Lilitha didn’t know whether she wanted to answer it. She didn’t want to think of Mandalay. She didn’t want to think of him ever again.

She suddenly wondered if he was dead. Maybe the monster had ripped his face off too. Lilitha stifled an evil urge to laugh.

“I’m not a criminal,” she said. “What about you? How did you come to be out here?” She raised her eyebrows. “Were ~you~ a criminal?”

“No.”

She tried to peer inside his hood, but he looked away. “Why do you hide your face?”

“None of your business.”

Lilitha tried to look again.

“Leave it,” he snapped.

Frowning, Lilitha turned away. Such a queer, unlikely man. Grimacing, she rubbed at her stomach.

“You’re in pain,” he observed.

“Only a little. What ~was~ that meat?”

“Something special. A rare animal that roams these woods. I could cook you more if you stay.”

Lilitha gripped at her belly with a wince. “Thank you, but I’m not sure it agrees with me.”

They fell into silence. All was quiet except for the rustle and snap of their steady march and Lilitha’s panting breaths. She was weak and growing tired quickly, tripping and stumbling.

Her stomach ached continuously. Sweat prickled beneath her cloak despite the cold.

“Maybe you should stop for some rest,” Damon said. “I can keep an eye on your friend.”

“No.” She straightened and pushed onward.

They were quiet for some time. It wasn’t long before Damon stopped. “She’s just ahead.”

Lilitha’s heart leapt. “She’s here? Just here?”

He nodded.

“Thank you so much!” She went to hug him, then stopped herself, pulling away with a jerk. She cleared her throat. “Thank you.”

Without looking back, she hurried ahead.

“Clara!” she cried as she broke through the trees.

Clara leapt up from the log she was sitting on. “Thank God!”

They crashed into each other. Lilitha almost lifted her off her feet as she hugged her.

“Are you all right?” Lilitha said.

“I’m fine. Where’d you go? What happened?”

“It’s a long story.”

“I’ve been looking for you. I thought I’d never find you.”

“Me too! I shouldn’t have left. I’m sorry.” And Lilitha hugged her again. “I have some good news.”

“What?”

“We’re not alone.” And she told her about Damon.

“He ~lives~ out here? How?”

Lilitha shrugged. “I’m not sure. But if he can survive, then so can we.”

“Where is he?”

She looked over her shoulder. “Damon?” she called into the trees.

No answer.

“Damon!” Again, no answer. “Maybe he’s left us.”

“I thought you said he was going to help us.”

“I ~thought~ he was…” She suddenly realized he hadn’t actually told Lilitha that. “Damon!” she called a third time. She sighed. “Come on, let’s go.”

They trudged on. They didn’t see the mysterious Damon again and soon, darkness began to fall.

“Is it me or is it hot?” Lilitha said, pulling off her cloak as they hunkered down beneath the twisted branches of an oak. It had been dry and bright all day. A rarity.

Clara’s breath was coming out in a mist. “Are you sick or something? It’s freezing!”

Lilitha pulled her close, trying to spread some of her warmth, but it only made her hotter. “Here, have my cloak.”

A night bird called in the darkness. Lilitha rolled over, trying to get comfortable on the hard ground. She rubbed at her stomach.

With a sigh, she stared into the trees as they rustled in the breeze. Behind her, Clara was breathing gently. Lilitha jerked up her head as a shadow moved. Her heart leapt.

Quietly, she got up, boots sinking in the piles of leaves.

“Were you following us this whole time?” Lilitha whispered.

“I was,” Damon said, hood pulled far over his face as usual.

“Why?”

“To make sure you’re safe, like I said.”

“I thought you said we had nothing to fear from these monsters.”

“It’s not the monsters I worry about.”

“Then what? There’s nothing else out here.”

He ignored her question. “I have decided to help. I will take you out of this forest.”

“You will? Oh, thank you. Thank you!”

Damon did not return her excitement, his voice gruff. “I’ll return come morning. Be ready.”

And he swept away into the trees.