Page 4 of Wolfsbane

“This.” Hesper moved with a swiftness I had never seen before, kicking my legs out from under me as I fell onto my back, landing in the snow with a heavy thud. She snatched my sword, gathering the overflowing skirts of her gown before rushing around me.

My body rolled as my hand reached out, catching her by the ankle, her body falling forward. She whipped her head around, grunting as she tried to escape my grasp, kicking me with her free leg.

“Let go of me!” Not a chance.

I tugged her body closer as I rolled her torso and pinned her back to the ground. My knees straddled her waist as she struggled, unable to escape my strength. My sword remained tightly in her hand, her feet kicking at air.

“You said you meant no harm,” she gritted out through her teeth.

“And I don’t. But this place is no fit for a lady such as yourself,” I groaned, trying to keep her still. “Would you just?—”

She slammed her head into mine, kicking me from her body as I landed on my ass. Hesper scrambled to her feet, holding mysword, and aimed it at me as I stared up at her, both amused and impressed.

“Despite what you may think, I am no ordinary lady,” she huffed, brushing her hair from her face.

“My king?” Orion’s voice drifted alongside the cold air. “Morel!”

My head snapped back to Hesper, only to find her vanished like a ghost. A playful laugh escaped my mouth as I stood, wiping the snow from my body, brushing my hair back, my forehead aching from the impact.

No, you are most definitely no ordinary lady, Hesper.

My thoughts drifted, haunted by her beauty and temper as I followed the path back to the garden, stopping at the ivy curtain.

“Until we meet again, Hesper.”

HESPER

I watched as the man stepped past the thick ivy curtain. The king of darkness was not at all what I expected. All the stories and tales I had heard of his existence led me to believe he was some menacing evil monster, part demon and part man, not…that. He was nothing like the stories. He was strong and handsome, the embodiment of the night itself.

King of darkness… What a fitting title.

My eyes fell to his sword in my hand, examining the unique black pommel closely. It was covered in a delicately etched constellation, each point of stars represented by a tiny, single diamond.

“Gemini,” I whispered, brushing the design with my fingertip. “Interesting.”

My feet quietly moved as I gathered the many skirts of my shredded dress and followed the trail down the mountain, clutching his sword. I carefully moved past the glowing fungi, smiling at their beauty. They were the reason I had chosen to dwell out here, braving the climate and dangers of the woods. I had never seen such astonishing things before, and I was enamored by their fluorescent color and allure. It was a shame they were tucked away from the rest of the world. Truthfully, though, they were too perfect for the eyes of others.

The sounds of horses caught my attention as I approached the ivy, peeking past it. Just beyond the snow-covered trees, the king was speaking to a man. I gripped the sword, quickly slithered past the vines, and ducked behind a tree, hoping to hear what they were saying.

“Forgive me, but I am to believe that you, Morel, the king of darkness, simply slipped on a death cap and hit your head on a rock?” The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Am I also to believe that you somehow misplaced your sword during the fall?”

Morel shrugged as he glanced in my direction. I quickly shot behind a tree, hoping he did not see me. My heart raced as I closed my eyes and waited, hoping he wouldn’t know I was there or come looking for me.

“My sword is somewhere safe, Orion. Safer than we are about to be.” He was leaving.

The sounds of the horses made me open my eyes. I slowly glanced around the tree and watched as he mounted the beast. Orion tossed a new sword at Morel, the two readying themselves as others joined them. They looked to be preparing for something, decked in all black, weapons secretly hidden amongst their persons. They were prepared to fight.

“It’s a long way to Hellbore, Orion,” Morel smirked. “Try to keep up!” He kicked his horse, the creature rising as it moved its front legs and sped off through the trees. The rest of the menmirrored his actions, chasing after him as they disappeared from view.

Hellbore.

My heart ached as I leaned back against the tree, closing my eyes as my hands squeezed the sword tightly against my chest, a single tear falling down my cheek. The last words I heard before all hell had broken loose echoed in my mind.

Find the kingdom of shadows and trust only the king of darkness.

Be like the sky and remain true; an unchanging symphony of the stars.

FOUR

---