Page 40 of The Endless Dance

With that goal in mind, I turn away from my tree and walk.

Within seconds, a gentle humming fills the air. Heart leaping into my throat, I freeze. The hairs on my arms rise as the humming echoes through the otherwise quiet forest.

When nothing else happens for several minutes, I force myself to walk again.

“Delta…”

It’s barely a breath on the wind. I pause, head tilting. I know that voice… How did I know that voice? Who…?

“It’s time for breakfast, my precious plum…” the voice coos even as tears spring to my eyes.

My mother used to call me that, before she was taken. Her precious plum.

“Mum?” I breathe, all common sense leaving me in an instant.

“Come, Delta,” she sings.

My legs move of their own accord, and I follow the voice as it breaks back into its gentle humming. My mother, singing a lullaby.

Time loses all meaning as I stumble after the ghost of my mother. She alternates between calling, humming and singing, but no matter how close her voice appears to be, I never quite catch up to her. Once, I even hear my father’s laughter. This has me pausing. My father didn’t laugh like that. Not anymore. Not since… But his voice falters before disappearing entirely, and my mother’s returns.

“Delta, catch me,” she whispers, closer than ever. I break into a jog, crashing through the underbrush of the forest, not caring how much noise I was making. In the back of my mind nestled a nugget of doubt and horror. I had to be quiet. What was I doing? But my mother’s voice hummed again, and the thought disappears.

Then, all at once, silence.

Like a fog clearing from my mind, I blink and suddenly awaken from the drug-like hold that had swept me up.

I gasp, eyes darting. Where was I? How long had I been following that voice? What had been calling to me? What the fuck had happened?

ClickClickClick

Every hair on my body stands on end as I swing around, trying to spot the creature I know hides just out of sight.

It giggles and then—there. The Skraeming Dhevilkin emerges from the shadows, hood hiding the grotesque features I know hide beneath it. My body trembles and my throat closes up in terror.

This was it, then. No way was I going to meet the Skraeming Dhevilkin head-on for a third time and walk away to tell the tale. Even as my bladder threatens to betray me, I tilt my chin to the sky and take a steadying breath.

I could do this. I could face my death with a locked spine and a brave face.

ClickClickClick.

Just then, I remember the gift the High Lord presented me the night we… Well, the night we fucked like desperate, horny teenagers.

I hold out my hand quickly and whisper, “Galloria.”

The blade appears instantly in my palm, and I grip it firmly.

Oh, my sweeting, you are positively glowing, the Skraeming Dhevilkin hisses into my mind, edging closer.

“I wish I could say the same to you,” I say, proud that my voice only stutters once.

The Skraeming Dhevilkin giggles.

Sweeting, as much as I missed your clever tongue and charming games, we have much more important things to attend to.

I nod stiffly. The creature was hungry. Galloria feels heavy in my palm as I raise her in front of me.

But then…