5

Erick stood above the small creek that ran right in the outskirts between the Elven and Werewolf lands. Matrix was busy drinking the water form a water cup. Farrow sat by a fire, attempting to cook them a meal. Vladimir was standing in the creek, busy watching all of the creatures that were swimming about.

Erick watched Vladimir smile at a fish. The fish was swimming over his toes. Vladimir laughed a bit, but not too loud, as if he had been trained not to laugh. Erick smiled.

Vladimir noticed Erick watching him. He went still, then straightened himself and cleared his throat. He walked past Erick. Erick sighed.

He turned around. Farrow was grinning at three freshly cooked fish. Vladimir mumbled. "I don't eat anything."

Farrow nodded. "I figured."

Vladimir looked up at Erick. His pale eyes were creamy and looked like they were moving, almost as if someone was stirring a jug of milk. His hair was white as powder and his skin was pale and looked sort of see through. His clothes were white, but dirty from falling in mud earlier. Erick thought of the many curses he heard in only one minute then he had in his whole life.

Vladimir bit his bottom lip, then looked away. Even his teeth were pearly white. Erick wondered why he seemed to hate him. Vladimir was careful to be studious and confident around Erick. Plus, he never spoke with him unless it was necessary.

Erick was cut out of his thoughts by Matrix talking to him. "Erick, what's this sack for?"

Matrix was holding the sack that held the table. Erick felt the color drain from his cheeks. How was he going to explain to Vladimir about the sack? The merchant was human, and the magical kingdom only traded with its allies, Erick knew that. Why did he excepted it? He was too curious.

Erick cleared his throat. "It's an empty sack, just in case."

Matrix raided an eyebrow. "Empty? It feels like it has a whole table in it."

Erick shook his head. "Table? Why would I bring a table with me? Plus, the sack is too small to hold one, unless it was miniature."

"Some sacks are enchanted. Too bad this is compressed material and not fully natural, I can't tell if it has magic on it."

Erick felt himself sigh with relief. Vladimir gave a sly smile. "Was that a sigh of relief, Erick?"

Erick shook his head. Matrix looked at Erick. "Erick...are you sure it's...empty?"

Erick nodded. Farrow even started questioning him. "Erick, tell us the truth, please?"

"Listen to the fairy..." Vladimir said, his voice growing whispery.

Erick felt a twinge of pain on the right of his brain. Vladimir was reading him again. Erick felt anger boiling up in him. "No!" He cried out, spreading his arms wide.

Everyone's eyes widened and Vladimir was rocketed backward, slamming into a tree, knocking it out of the ground. Erick breathed heavily.

Farrow quickly looked away. Was he scared of Erick? Matrix looked toward Vladimir, but made no move to help him. Erick looked down as this hands. Why did they have the same blue aura that the table had once Erick performed the spell on it? Erick clenched his fists and put them to his side. He had no idea what that outburst was. He wondered...

Erick looked up. Matrix was waving his hand in front if his face. "Erick? Oh good, your awake."

"What happened?" Farrow asked Erick. "The, um, outburst, I mean."

Erick shrugged. "I don't know...I was really mad at you guys for prying me when I said the truth."

Erick looked at Vladimir. He was busy trying to wrap a band-aid around his arms. His tongue was sticking out in concentration, but it looked like a normal tongue. Maybe he wasn't fully born dead. What was Erick thinking, he was almost certainly not fully dead. Weren't all the people they were trying to find hybrids? At least, that's what it seemed like.

Erick felt the twinge of pain on his brain again. He glared at Vladimir. "Stop. Reading. Me. Vladimir!" Erick cried.

Vladimir flinched, as if he wasn't expecting that reaction. Matrix and Farrow even looked shocked. "Erick, someone is indefinitely wrong with you." Farrow said, his face full of worry. Erick turned away. He wondered if he was sick or something. "I'm going to lie down. Feel free to eat the food, I'm not hungry." He said calmly.

Erick wandered over to the sleeping arrangements they had prepared. Erick lied down on one of the beds. Exhaustion started filling his body, taking over his limbs until he could move them no more. His eyelids grew heavy. He fell asleep, dreaming of milky eyes and opening a boo with himself on the cover.