Far away from Elaine, Lorcan still sat on a boulder. The darkness blanketed over the faery wood enabled him to see the trail of faery dust the woman left behind like bread crumbs. Lorcan wanted to wait for her to call for him. 

He would be able to hear. Not enough time had elapsed since she ran off for her to be out of hearing distance, especially, since he was beginning to suspect she had no idea what she was.

She was unclaimed, or as many of his kind referred to the single members of their species, unmated. For her safety, and other reasons, he felt inclined to begin the process. If she grew to hate him she could weasel her way out of it. He didn't really care about any of that right now though. 

He was too busy playing cat and mouse. The woman interested him and it didn't hurt either that she was easy on the eyes.

Her parents were not the only reason he was sent to fetch her. Something dark had set its heart on latching onto her for reasons unknown to his people. The faery city court had alerted no one to this, but those of high royalty such as himself. Today, he saw first hand the rumors were true. 

He knew a demon was after Elaine. A demon had escaped hell. He even heard it speak in his mind.

The court would be pleased with his findings.

***

Elaine hated the fact that she was tempted to yell for help or go running back the way she came - to her kidnapper.

She leaned further into the tree, but felt it give way as if she weren't leaning against the tree anymore, but a thin piece of parchment. Her eyes widened in surprise as she fell backward beneath the tree. Down, down, she went as air passed by her face. She plunged into what felt like cold water, but when she stood, she saw it to be black and sticking to her nightgown.

Where am I? Elaine wondered.

She looked up expecting to see some amount of moonlight peaking into the gap at the bottom in the trunk at which she fell. However, the ceiling above her showed her no such thing. Roots hung from the ceiling though and she wrinkled her nose when a piece of dirt landed on her forehead. 

Elaine thought she must be underground. The walls around were lit with torches and her feet sunk further into the murky dark water. The bottom of the sludge pool felt like mud and Elaine huffed with fury while looking around in panic.

The black sticky liquid was up to her knees when she spotted an old arched wooden door to her right. 

"Hello?" Elaine called out frantically while tugging at the material of her gown.

Something moved to her left and her heart raced seeing a bulk tall shadow that appeared very alive. Was it a shadow? Elaine squinted and saw it turn toward her approaching the pool. She screamed to the top of her lungs not knowing what the thing to be.

It wore a black cloak with a tall pointed hood that stood on end. And it was massive being nearly the size of the wall in width which was at least fifteen feet wide. The top of its hood reached the ceiling and Elaine thought this could be the end.

Elaine woke up from the nightmare and sat up against her napping position from the tree. It was still night. She hadn't even noticed before the trail of red glittery dust she left behind. A twig snapped beneath Lorcan's boot as he approached her looking grim. His wings created a light of their own and despite her feelings toward him she smiled for the light he literally brought.

"You look afraid," Lorcan spoke, "Bad dream?"

"Why wouldn't I be afraid? I've been kidnapped! You aren't a human like me. I have no idea what's happening. If this is a dream, it's one terrible nightmare!" she spat back with fury.

There was no point in explaining her night terror to a stranger. What she said she felt was true, anyway. Whether she was awake or asleep, it felt like the nightmare didn't end. 

"I promise you are in good hands. Come on," Lorcan offered her his hand, he was expecting her take it. "Let's go."

She still didn't.

🦋