Chapter 21

"I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles." - Anne Frank

"Hey! Hey! Easy there will you? You didn't agree with me or anything so you better sit back and listen."

Snarls and threatening growls shook the forest. Hollow eyes board down at the ground, fixated on a dark smiling face.

"I gave you some proof. Now you have to help me if you want to get more."

~~~

News of the five missing fairies got out quickly. The King and Queen were worried. Nothing like this ever happened. But the fact there are no clues as to where they could've been going or had gone to, makes this whole situation for everyone worse.

"Father," Dorian spoke up. He was aiding in the help of looking for the missing fairies.

"Do you think Seraphina coming here could be the reason? The forest door did bring her here, so what if it allows certain ones of us to leave?"

The King pondered on his son's words. Dorian did have a point, but no fairy would travel that far from the village to seek out the door like that. Seraphina coming here was an accident, truly a great one, but the door wasn't opening for anyone on purpose.

"We will keep that idea in thought. But a farfetched one, but I don't think it is the main one."

Dorian nodded.

Seraphina was worried. She even thought about it as well. Maybe the door could be the reason and it's her fault. She was brought here so who's to say the door was giving certain fairies the chance to leave to balance out their world?

The doors to the throne room flew open and Elvina came marking in, '"If it is about the door, then it is totally Seraphina's fault. Think about it. We have never had anyone go missing before. Especially in large numbers like this. What's next? Does half the village clutter into the door into the human world? Please!"

Seraphina felt a sharp stab in her heart. Dorian glared at Elvina for coming in so rudely and then bashed Seraphina.

"The door is not the problem," The King spoke up. He was just as annoyed with Elvina's appearance in his throne room. "Nor is it Seraphina's fault. If it was the door, there would be signs of it and no one in their right mind would not tell their family where they were going. The door scares my people."

Elvina scuffed at the King's save on Seraphina.

"Aren't you supposed to be getting ready to leave yourself?" Rowan came in with papers, pushing Elvina out of the way, and made his way to the royal family.

"Yeah yeah I'm leaving! I just had to do some things first and say some goodbyes! I still think it's cheating though. She had help."

"You didn't say she couldn't have help. All you said was that Seraphina had to survive."

Elvina went to protest but Rowan had a point. She growled to herself.

"If you are done here, please leave," The Queen gestured to the door. Elvina turned on her heel and stormed out.

"I feel bad, she shouldn't have to leave though," Seraphina sighed as the throne room doors closed. "I know she made the rules and she has to keep her end of the deal, but what if making her leave is a bit much? Where would she even go?"

Everyone looked at Seraphina. Her kind heart was nearly too much to handle, but even she knew this had to be done. Elvina made the rules, and both of them agreed to the rules. Now they must go through with it.

"Let's keep going with the search now. We aren't done."

~~~

Elvina marched herself away from the castle. Her blood was boiling and she had enough. Everything was about Seraphina the moment that girl got here.

Oh, Dorian's mate Seraphina! Seraphina is such a pretty girl! Seraphina is perfect for the royal family's son!

"Ugh! No! I was supposed to be with him! Dorian was supposed to be mine! But the human bitch just HAD to show up!"

The Forbidden forest was closing in on her sight now. Low growls and scratches were surround her as she stood at the entrance.

"Let's go. This will be my final departing gift and goodbye."

~~~

Screams and running feet took the town. Growls and angered roars shook the ground beneath everyone as fairies were tossed around and homes were destroyed.

Wendigos had flooded the village. About twenty had taken over the place and nothing was stopping them.

"What is going on here!?" Guards and the royal family had shown up now. The King was in shock and fear at the sight before him. His townspeople were being tossed around and eaten like they were just small snacks for these beasts.

"Help us please!" Villagers that ran toward them cried out. Their arms waving, some flying too. But it wasn't a fast enough effort. A Wendigo grabbed them, crushing them in its palm, and snapped its skull jaw around their heads and ripped. Blood rained out from their necks, splattering the ground as the hungry beast swallowed their bodies.

"Father...," Dorian was pale and sickly. His stomach turned at the sight he just saw before him. Seraphina was in tears and terrified.

"We must attack! Go!" The King yelled, ordering the army that stood behind him. They all rushed in, attacking the beasts head-on. Soldiers were crushed in seconds. Blood smearing the walls of homes and stores. Just the same as they were also too many that were destroyed and taken away with attacks from both good and bad.

The air sunk of death and iron. In the middle of it all, Elvina was laughing. She was unharmed as the battle that went on around her seemed to be protecting her at the same time. What was going on?

Seraphina ran, dodging the beasts and dead fairies and broken pieces. She tackled Elvina to the ground yelling, "What have you done!? Did you do this!?"

Elvina only laughed, a dark twisted look on her face as she saw her own kind get eaten and treated like toys.

"Yes! I promised them many more fairies to eat and take! Those five missing fairies? That was all me as well! I drugged them and took them to the Forbidden forest, letting the Wendigos eat them to gain their trust and promised more! And it worked! And now this happened because it was your fault."

"My fault!? What the hell are you talking about!?"

"Had you not come here none of this would have happened! This village would be alive and happy! Dorian would be with me and things would be just great! But you! You just had to show up and ruin everything for me!"

Elvina shoved Seraphina off and jumped her. Elvina threw punches but Seraphina was quick to dodge.

"You should have just died in that forest!"

"The King! The King is hurt!"

Voices cried out as the King was fighting. He was wounded badly. Deep claw marks were embedded into the side of his body as blood soaked his clothes and pooled around him. He was paler than normal. His breathing was heavier as he sounded to be at his end.

Roars from the Wendigos all around him shook the village. They charged him.

"Father!" Dorian rushed to his aid only to be tackled by Rowan.

"If you die then everything here is done for!"

"I need to help my father!" Dorian wrestled with Rowan, kicking him off as he scrambled to get back to his feet.