A Shade of Vampire 39: A Rip of Realms(50)

I wondered if Abelle would have even bothered to go so far into the woods—what herbs would grow in the constant shade of the dense trees? But she was nowhere else. She had to be around here somewhere.

“Abelle?” I called out into the night.

No reply. I tried a couple more times, but felt like my voice was being drowned by the heavy clusters of trees and dank mists. The only other option I had was to try to use my faulty True Sight skills to see into the forest.

I leaned against the trunk of a tree, closing my eyes briefly to calm myself and summon the energy I needed. I took a few deep breaths, determined to make this work, and reopened my eyes. Trying to follow Tejus’s instructions, I fixed my gaze way ahead in the distance—acting as if the shroud of the forest wasn’t really there, like a curtain I could part and reveal what lay behind it.

It took a while. I could feel perspiration beading on my forehead, and my breaths becoming heavier and more labored as the mental energy took its toll. Even my eyes started to ache, growing dry and uncomfortable. Eventually I was rewarded with a slight wavering of the scene before me, and my sight extended to see past the first cluster of trees, then the second, and then on beyond that. The outlines of objects grew more blurry the further my sight reached, but still just about distinguishable.

Slowly I started to move my head, taking in more of the forest.

Where are you?

I couldn’t see anything other than trees, rocks and thick clusters of undergrowth, none of it stirring. The complete absence of wildlife, and the strange trance-like state that using True Sight created, made me feel totally isolated, like I was the only person left alive in a dead world.

Just when I was about to give up and return to the palace, I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye. Turning, I could see the blurry outlines of two figures. I still couldn’t see in color, which made it harder for me to make out who they were. I started to move closer, not wanting to call out just yet—there was something shifty about the way they were moving through the forest, slow and warily, as if they didn’t want to be seen.

Trying not to make a sound, I reached a point where I could make out one of the figures—it was definitely Abelle, the large and slightly rotund silhouette was unmistakable. The second figure was just as tall as Abelle, and dressed in a black robe with the hood entirely covering the sentry’s face.

Acolyte?

They were the only sentries I knew who dressed that way…

I moved even closer, straining to hear their conversation.

“He’ll know!” Abelle was saying to the black hooded figure. “If I give her anymore, or make the dosage stronger, they’ll guess—one of the kitchen workers is already suspicious.”

The hooded figure was silent, his concealed face turning toward Abelle as she seemed to tremble in fear.

Are they talking about me?

Abelle was meant to be helping all the Acolyte-syphoning victims, but as far as I was aware, I was the only one that Abelle was giving remedies to on a regular basis.

“This isn’t a request, Abelle,” the cloaked figure replied. “If you don’t continue to weaken the girl, we will expose you—there will be no doubt as to what you truly are, and who you’ve been working for. I imagine Ashbik would be so very disappointed.”

“Please don’t,” Abelle replied. “I’ve done all that you have asked so far—”

“It is not enough!” the figure hissed.

I now had no doubt whatsoever that the figure was an Acolyte, and presumably Abelle had been working for them all this time—right under our noses.

“Fine! Fine…I will increase the dosage. They are leaving soon—I will slip something in her drink, something more potent.” Abelle hastened to reassure the Acolyte, clutching her robe around her as she started to slowly back away. Clearly she wanted out of the conversation, to be a million miles away from the cloaked figure.

“Make sure you do,” the Acolyte replied. “This is a personal vendetta of Queen Trina’s—if anything were to go wrong, the consequences would be severe.”

“What if Tejus questions me? What do I say?”

“That is not my concern. Say anything you want. It is too late for them all anyway, the entity will rise and their end shall come.”

“Then…then why am I doing this? What difference does it make?” Abelle trembled more obviously now, as if afraid of the wrath her questioning might elicit.

There was a long pause before the Acolyte replied. When he did, it was not with anger, but instead a satisfied purr.

“Queen Trina has particular plans for Hazel.”

My heart seemed to stop beating as my name rolled off the Acolyte’s tongue.