Chapter 13

Lyla and Lupita had spent most of the night trying to escape. The only window was at Lupita’s cell so while she tried to loosen the rusty tainted bars, Lyla tried to dig a hole under her bed which would tunnel through the dry wall.

“Do you think it actually works?” Lupita asked. “What if you get trapped?”

Lyla shrugged.

“Better than staying here.”

She had done quite well actually, deep enough to bury a body. She gulped. Suddenly a flash caught their eyes across the dark room and the smashing of glass.

“He’s back” Lupita gasped, jumping into her bed and pretending to be asleep.

The sickly surprise stabbed Lyla right in the heart when she realised the hole was deeper than she expected. She jumped up and tried pulling herself to the top. After three tries she finally scarped herself up, ignoring the pain from her sore fingers. She caught her arm on a sharp rock and thick dark blood instantly trickled out. Suddenly footsteps echoed through the rooms and she heard Lupita silently beg her to hurry up. The heavy breathing haunted the air, getting closer and closer. Lyla heaved the bed back over the hole and threw herself on the bed. She sat up and practiced her smirk.

“Didn’t hear the door” she informed, breaking the tension.

The heavy breathing went sharp and then ceased.

“Let me guess, it too early.” Lyla sighed.

Nobody replied but Lyla was sure she heard a blast of air and hands collapsing on the sand floor.

“Bloodbeam?” she whispered climbing out of bed and cautiously approaching the edge of the cage. The breathing was weak yet hoarse.

“Bloodbeam” she repeated, bending down to his level.

Suddenly, the breathing turned into a snarl and they saw glowing grey eyes in the darkness. She pushed herself away with such force; she banged her head on a hard rock. The beast attacked her gate with full force, bending and dinting the iron bars. Lupita tried not to scream and buried her head under her pillow. Lyla gazed in horror at the monster, desperate to get to her. There was no doubt about it. The shaggy grey fur piled against its enormous wolf like body, the big grey eyes, the huge yellow teeth poked out of its thin black lips. It was a dweller.

“BLOODBEAM!” Lyla screamed over the snaps of the dweller.

The dwellers started to attack the cage with its huge tiger like paws, the thick black nails gnashing through the rust and sending small sparks across its eerie eyes, still bobbing excitedly. Rubbing her agonizing head, she realised a small puddle of blood in the palm of her hand. The blood. That’s what the dweller could smell. She wiped her hand on her stained dress and pulled her bed to one side. She couldn’t wait for the dweller to find its way into the cage and Bloodbeam was unreliable.

‘Dwellers can’t understand English in beast form.’ she remembered.

“Lupita, stay where you are. I’ll bring help!” she yelled and jumped into the dark cool hole she had started on. The dirt underneath was now soft and damp. The tunnel could easily be finished with a little haste. With no last thought, she ripped away the unwanted mud and stumbled through the tunnel.

‘I hope to god, I don’t get stuck’ she prayed.

Finally, her hand burst the surface and pushed away the rock and soil above. The cold ice and snow surrounded her instantly. Tear streaming down her face, she climbed out of her hole and stumbled through the snow.

‘I’m lost!’ her mind screamed ‘and now there’s a dweller hunting me’

The air felt sharp and raw as if entered her lungs.

Running through the naked trees, she felt a stab of guilt take over her.

“I need to find Riley” she cried out loud.

Suddenly, her foot wedged in between a small crevasse and her ankle snapped like a twig. She screamed out in pain, rolling on the icy sharp snow. A couple of seconds later she collapsed from the agonizing pain.

Abi and Loriei didn’t have long to wait before another fairy joined them. By then, they were both used to the bright light. The floor also began to grow a thick greyish mist that lingered around their feet. The fairy that entered the room was about their own age yet smaller than Loriei, even with her small heels lifting her from the ground. She was wearing a tiny silver dress with a small hint of blue. Her bleach blonde hair was curved around her porcelain face. Her eyes twinkled like small sapphire gems, similar to Tory’s, Loriei remembered, only her were much softer and paler. She slowly walked over to them, stopped in front of them and waved one hand over the mist. Instantly, a thick white cloud rose from the floor and took the shape of a chair. The fairy sat on the cloud without any worry. Abi gazed in amazement but stopped when she saw the stern expression on Loriei’s face.

“Wow, a Bloomie and Elf in a fairy’s headquarters. That’s a new one” she smirked.

Loriei smirked back. Abi looked at Loriei, confused.

Actually it was rare that a Bloomie would meet with an Elf. Bloomies come from the south while Elves come from central Ylddion. Also the Pixies come from the East and Fairies came from the west. Only in the North near Dwellers land, races were mixed and creatures not even from Ylddion roamed. Bloomies and Pixies were hanging about a lot more often recently. Both loved bright colours and generally got on well. The fairies liked to keep themselves to themselves. They lived in white cities and held big balls and meetings. Elves were mischievous and liked playing tricks on people. They normally had light brown hair or red locks.

“I’m sorry if our hospitality is rather bitter at the moment” she scorned. “Can’t trust you folk”

Loriei screwed up her face in disgust.

“Then let us go, you witch” Loriei snapped, acidly.

But her angry only made the fairy smirk more.

Suddenly a cold silver trail slithered around their hands and grasped them tightly in their seats. They both struggled to pull themselves from the chair as the silver trail grabbed their feet hastily.

“What do you want from us?” Abi cried, fighting for her legs freedom again.

“Oh, we haven’t been introduced have we?” the fairy gasped, sarcastically. “My name is Juliet, cousin to the Leader of the White realm. But since she is temporary unavailable I guess I’m in charge.”

“Ok Juliet, my name is Abi and this is Loriei” Abi introduced, giving up on her strength and starting up her persuasive speaking.

“You have civil tongue for an Elf” Juliet remarked.

“Yes, we’re not here to harm you or spy on you. We got lost in Marisa” Abi answered, trying to stay calm.

Loriei seemed impressed with her memory of Marisa and maturity. Juliet, on the other hand, had a lingering suspicion.

“You’re going after Lyla” she declared.

Loriei looked up at her in surprise.

“Yes I know her.” Juliet smiled “You should also be familiar with Lupita Rose.”

“The missing fairy from Mediala” Loriei whispered to herself.

“They appear to be in company with each other.”

There was silence.

“I tell you what, if you bring me back Lupita Rose, you will be freed and have full protection on your journey”

Loriei’s eyebrow raised a mile above her chocolate brown eyes.

Juliet’s eye caught hers and smiled in knowledge.

“Ok, we promise” Abi swore, breaking up their staring competition.

Juliet hesitated and then clicked her fingers. The silver hand cuffs dropped limp and were pushed away eagerly by Abi and Loriei. The doors burst open and the same two fairies took them away, through a different passage way and left them outside the back of the castle. It took a while to get used to the darkness but finally they got their sight back and ventured on silently through the rest of the forest.

To be continued...