Chapter 12
Jassu’s face suddenly went very ashen..”Oh no....our mission......gah !!! A fine bodyguard I turned out to be” he started pacing up and down the walkway, muttering to himself.....
”Lady Celina!....we. ...we lost her....”
Mia pulled a face..”GOOD!!!” she snapped...Luna touched her arm looking concerned.
“No Mia....our memories are returning now...think hard....she is the reason we are here.”
Mia closed her eyes..Seeing flashes of places...a thriving city..Grand buildings...inside a white room with ornate walls and vaulted ceiling.....
“The high council” She croaked......all her lost memories now seemed to bombard her at once, their mission to investigate criminal activities, all the disappearances...whole villages deserted...the scent of death , slavery and corruption overcame her as she slumped to her knees....
“I can’t believe I forgot....”
Mikki helped her to her feet smiling, “Yeah well we all did....poor Luna was the only one who remembered...just couldn’t tell us..”
“We were all so weak....”Malandra shook her head. “I feel my honour has been damaged...almost beyond repair”......she looked out at the dark forest..”My senses are playing tricks on me....the trees are ancient , yet not born here, they seem displaced and disquieted.....it is...twisted”
“Talking to trees as usual when we have a more pressing purpose” snapped J assu...still pacing , wracked with guilt over succumbing to the mysterious mind control in the first village...he was of the elite warrior caste,...how would he ever face his clan again having failed so incredibly to keep Lady Celina safe.
“A party of us will leave at dawn to begin the search” Mia announced. She felt stronger by the minute..She wondered about Allora too....her oldest and closest friend...what dark magicks had made them forget each other and everything they held dear so completely.
Meanwhile, Allora and Nate trudged on through deeper and deeper undergrowth....
“You know...the lights fading....we should turn back right?” Nate whispered hoarsely, sweat was dripping down his face...heart gripped tight , it felt as though it would burst right in his chest at any moment.
Allora looked at him..”I already tried to retrace our steps....the forest plays tricks with us”
Nate’s felt dizzy..”Oh no...You mean we been going round in circles......or maybe you just don’t want to admit you’re lost”
“I admit freely we are lost Nate....we have no choice but to keep moving.....”
“Harder to hit a moving target right?” Nate was lapsing into sarcasm like he did when he was low...he disliked himself for it...”Ok ok....look...how about we climb up one of these big ass trees and get some sleep for a little”
Allora lowered her head sadly....”There is no more safety in the branches than on the ground in this place.”
“We should remain silent......we must guard against attracting ..anything” Allora added whispering, she took a deep breath and began to pick her way through the waist high plant-life again.
Nate took a couple long careful strides to meet her face to face.
“Look, I apologise for being rude...you have done a lot for me...I appreciate it very much.....I” Nate explained......
Allora was suddenly wide eyed, looking past his right shoulder.........almost inaudibly she breathed
“Nate...do not move...and do not look behind you”
Back in their new found sanctuary, Kai couldn’t sleep...he was trying to remember how he came to this weird place...what creatures made those terrifying sounds in the still of the night...he could remember nothing...what had happened to him that all memories of any family , friends , work...anything..were so deeply erased.
He hadn’t been injured...it didn’t look or feel like there was any damage to his head or anything....he stood up and made his way outside for a breath of fresh air...
Mia was standing still looking out over the forest again.
“So...I like the new outfit” he grinned....Mia snapped into consciousness and blushed, looking down at herself for a moment.....”Oh this old thing” she grinned...
Kai was relieved, it was the first time in ages she’d smiled at him or even looked him in the eye. Her face fell suddenly..
“What’s up...apart from the obvious lost in the spooky woods of doom...” Joked Kai
Mia smiled a little...”Kai, there’s some things I need to explain..some things you may not wish to hear...but I swear they are the truth”
Kai braced himself....”You’re married? Er...you prefer girls? What?”
Mia looked a little shocked...”That was not quite what I meant......and...no...and no.....back to the point...seriously Kai”
“Ok shoot, “ Kai was secretly relieved he still had a chance..but by the look in her eyes, making a move had to wait.
“You are not from here...”
Kai chuckled ..”No shit”
“Kai please....this is difficult” Mia moved closer and touched his arm lightly..
“Ok sorry...”
Mia took a deep breath and looked into his eyes sadly...
“By means I do not yet understand, You and Zephyr ..and no doubt the two missing men in your company were extracted from your world and brought to ours...to the most lawless and mistrusted part of it unfortunately..I am not certain why...the others and myself were on a mission to explore and investigate reports of criminal activity”
Kai said nothing...she seemed to really mean what she was saying...pity it made her sound as crazy as the others..
“I know you don’t believe me Kai...I see it in your face...but believe this...there is no way for you to return to your own world...not ever...for that I am so deeply sorry...and I promise we will help you make a good life here on Desai....I give my word.”
Mia waited for a reply...there was none as she’d expected..save Kai shaking his head and disappearing into the dark.
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