Page 15 of Unbound By Shadows
“I see.” Selene’s head was swimming.I’m talking to the Wampus Cat. Who is sister to Bigfoot and Mothman.
“You must understand that we were all given a sacred duty to guard the crossroads between dimensions. I told you the human plane is a harbor dimension, yes? We make sure that any creatures who go through the veil do not stay.”
“What sort of creatures?”
The queen smiled. “Your innocence is charming. A non-human in the human realm is like—what would your people call it? A child in a candy store. Dwarves covet your gems. Fairies play pranks. Elves leave gifts for children. Demons feed on your faults. It’s all in goodfun until it gets taken too far. And then we intervene to send them back home, or kill them.” Thema paused at Selene’s shocked expression and added, “Perhaps it’s more polite to say we send them to the Underworld.”
“Is that like hell?”
“There is no legendary place where suffering is eternal. Only the Underworld where all dead go to be judged. If they have lived pure, they go to the Afterworld. If not, they arepunisheduntil they repent.”
The vehemence in Thema’s voice at the word “punished” was so unexpected, Selene took a step back. Then she stood motionless, trying to let all that she had been told sink in.
Queen Thema introduced the portrait of a woman with spiky hair and wolfish features as Keebee, Queen of the Lycah people. A woman with eel-like skin posed by a glittering lake bore a plaque below her painting that read,Delphine of the Drago.
“Can your sisters go to any dimension?” Selene asked.
“Any dimension but the Underworld and the Afterworld. However, we are charged to use our powers to protect the human world. So that’s where we spend most of our time outside of Aurelia.”
“But Aurelians can’t leave Aurelia?”
“No. Aurelia is meant to be a sanctuary and refuge from the ills that plague societies like yours. Certain stones allow the bearer to travel to any dimension, though they are very rare. Why would anyone want to leave? Aurelia is a beautiful, peaceful dimension. Everything anyone could ever want is to be found here!” Thema held up her arms to twirl dramatically.
Nibbling on her thumbnail, Selene looked around at the faces in the gallery. This whole thing was a new layer of absurd to already outlandish experience. But also, it made perfect sense—the unreliable sightings, the lack of proof, the conflicting stories. The so-called “cryptids” weren’t aliens, failed science experiments, or evolutionary hiccups, they were inter-dimensional guardians. A week ago, shenever would have believed there were other dimensions, let alone portals to get to them. Yet here she was.
But she only counted portraits of six sisters. Gesturing to the portrait covered by a black sheet, she asked, "And who's this one?”
Dust swirled as the queen ran her hand down the black cloth. “That's the sister that’s lost to us” She looked down at the flowers on the floor and whispered, “I haven’t said her name out loud in years. It was Lilith. It is Lilith.”
Then she wiped her eyes and abruptly brightened. The sadness of her voice was replaced with a jovial tone. “They call her the Jersey Devil in your world! Or sometimes Ahool or Olitiau. They claim she has the body of a goat, the head of a horse, and sickly little wings. Can you imagine? Humans can be so cruel. She’s always had a long face, and her wings are bit bony, but really! ”
Selene smiled tentatively. “What are her people like?”
“Ah, she is a Goblyn and ruled the Goblyn race. Then later she took on ruling the vampire race up north, near Drago lands.”
“She ruled vampires? But aren’t they… dangerous? Arkaya was ready to kill me when she thought I was one.”
Queen Thema tilted her head. “They weren’t always so troublesome, they were human once. Their kind became very lost in your world once they straddled the line between life and death. Dear Lilith took pity on them and arranged to bring them all to live here instead.”
“Why?”
“My sister had a generous nature. At first the vampires were model citizens—grateful and hard-working. But now without their queen, they're like petulant children. Won't listen to their aunties or follow any rules. They are meant to live on donated Aurelian blood, yet they don’t thrive on it as we had hoped. Many are bitter about it and get into trouble.”
“What sort of trouble?”
“Nothing to worry yourself about,” Queen Thema said. “The few that are left are old and weak.”
Selene nodded. She wanted to ask more, but Queen Thema seemed to be holding control of her emotions by a thread so she tucked away her questions for another time. "I'm sorry. I hope your sister comes home soon."
"Yes, as do I, my dear. As do I.” The queen turned to walk out of the gallery and gestured for Selene to follow. “Many think I am a fool for believing that she will, but I know she's alive."
"How?"
“I still see her in my dreams," Queen Thema said. They stepped out of the gallery back into the library with Nim following. From the corner of her eye, Selene saw a dark figure ahead.
“Ah! Samael, I’ve been looking for you,” Queen Thema called out. “Come! Meet our human guest.”
Selene’s heartbeat quickened. It washim.Samael stiffened, then turned to walk toward them. Selene twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, suddenly feeling very self-conscious.
