Page 7 of Unbound By Shadows
“I don’t have anything. Look,” Selene shook out the contents of her pack at Arkaya’s feet.
“Are they strapped to your body?”
“No!” Selene said. The woman continued to eye her suspiciously, causing Selene to anxiously sweep a lock of hair behind her ear. The movement made Arkaya gasp.
“Your ears,” Arkaya whispered and lowered her staff. She stepped closer to Selene and bent to peer closer at the side of Selene’s head. “Rounded ears. My word,” Arkaya breathed as she ran her hand over the tip.
“What’s wrong with my ears?” Selene said. She had many insecurities about her body, but her ears had never been among them. She stared up at Arkaya, who now held the staff loosely at her side.
“Let me see your teeth,” Arkaya said. Selene dutifully opened her mouth, allowing Arkaya to peer inside. She tilted her head, then said, “You’re not of this world.”
Selene frowned. “What do you mean?”
“What are you?” Arkaya asked.
“I-I’m a human resources coordinator.”
“Human. I thought so.” The suspicion on her face was replaced with joy. “A living human—how marvelous! The queen will be delighted. And what a relief to know vampires haven’t found a way to walk in the day.”
Okay, so I’ve officially entered the Twilight Zone.
Her odd remarks made Selene’s anxiety churn faster, but also gave her a flash of clarity. “Wait! I’m on a reality show, aren’t I?”
The furrow between Arkaya’s brows deepened. “What is your meaning?”
“This place.” Selene gestured to the trees around them as a smile spread across her face. “Your costume and makeup. This is some kind of prank show, right?”
“I wear no costume!” Arkaya said indignantly.
“But—”
“Do you think me human?” Arkaya interrupted. Selene’s mouth went slack as the question shot dread down her spine.
Then Arkaya’s eyes twinkled as she deliberately turned her head to pull back the hair covering her own ear to reveal its shape. When Selene saw the pointed tip, her eyes widened.
“I am no human. I am of the Malkina people,” Arkaya said, as something long and thin flickered out behind her, like a tail. Selene looked down at the bottom of Arkaya’s dress and realized it wasn’t strange boots she had seen. Arkaya walked upright on two paws. An image from the old cartoonThundercatssprang to Selene’s mind.
Slowly Selene asked, “Where am I?”
“You are in the realm of Aurelia. I imagine you went through a portal, which is very rare.”
The memory of a shimmering hole in the rock, plus a mind-scrambling drop, came rushing back. But before Selene could ask more, Arkaya said, “Come. I must take you to our castle to see Queen Thema herself.”
Arkaya had a strong gait and moved easily through the forest. Selene trailed behind, her knuckles white as she clung to the straps of her hiking pack. They walked in silence for what felt like miles until Selene felt as if the way her heart pounded in her ears would undo her.
She cleared her throat. “Do we have much farther to go? Not that I mind the walk. It’s beautiful here in… I'm sorry, where are we again?”
“We are in Aurelia.”
“What is that? Is it a country? A city? A planet?”
“Aurelia is the name of our dimension. It is also known as The Realm of the Seven Sisters. Well, I suppose there are only six sisters now. There are cities and villages throughout the land, but as a whole, it is called Aurelia. Like the chrysalis of a glintfly, this realm is home to our queens when they are not in transformation.” When Selene did not respond, Arkaya turned. “I suspect you believed the human world was the only realm, am I right?”
Selene nodded.
“There are many other worlds besides yours and ours.”
“Okay.”
