“You can’t ignore him.” The girl’s rasping voice echoed through the hall as she took a step toward Zoelyn. The smell of rot filled the hall and Zoelyn staggered back in revulsion. “There are wards against demons lining your walls. How wrong of you after all he has done for you. You can’t keep me out though, and I won’t let you ignore him.” The child pressed as she continued to approach.
“I didn’t place any wards. I don’t even know what wards you are talking about.” Zoelyn stammered as she took another step back toward her room. She knew this part of the story, and she knew the child would attack. She had to get back inside her room before the child reached her. She knew her curse wouldn’t drain the dead, Seth had taught her that much on her first trip into the Darklands. “Please tell him to stop this, please. I don’t want to live this story.” Zoelyn begged as she bumped against the wooden frame of her bedroom door and fumbled at the door handle behind her without taking her eyes from the dead child.
“There is only one way to stop this and you know it. This is an old story. How far will you let it progress before you face the inevitable. You cannot ignore the Crow King.” The child hissed as the door gave behind her.
Zoelyn stumbled backward into the room and barely managed to close the door before the child reached her. The wood rattled against the child’s assault and Zoelyn took a hasty step back and swallowed heavily. She could feel fear building inside her and threatening to overwhelm her reason. Stumbling back further she caught hold of a chair and braced herself as she forced her breathing back to normal and tried to rein her emotions in. Her eyes were locked on the door and she couldn’t seem to pull her gaze from the rattling wooden frame. How long could something as simple as a wooden door hold the dead at bay? She had locked it when it closed, but how could a lock stop a spirit?
“You can’t ignore him. Will you let your people suffer for your stubbornness?” The child taunted from behind the frame and her assault on the door increased.
Zoelyn took another step back until she was pressed against the cold stone wall. A breeze from the window stirred her hair and she pried her eyes from the shuddering door to gaze out at the moonlit night. There was only one way to end this. She had to face Seth, and if Neph had truly placed wards against demons on their home there was only one way to do it.
Shakily she moved to the window and carefully pulled herself up into the sill. Letting out a nervous breath she stared down over the edge to the ground that seemed too far away to even contemplate climbing down. The door rattled on its frame once more and Zoelyn glanced at it just long enough to decide death by falling was preferable to being ripped apart by an angry child. At least the fall would be a quick death she reasoned as she carefully lowered her legs out the window.
It took a long moment for her to find enough purchase to lower herself down and she silently cursed Neph when she finally managed to. “If you hadn’t put up stupid wards I wouldn’t be doing this.” She hissed to the darkness as she lowered herself toward the ground with agonizing slowness. Each slip of her fingers sent her heart racing and the sheer relief she felt once solid ground was under her feet again was enough to bring laughter bubbling to her lips.
“Oh by the Aspects I am never doing that again.” She whispered as she gazed around the empty outer city. It wouldn’t do to summon him here. There was too much chance that one of the guards might spot her, and she already drew enough suspicious looks in the dining hall to risk anyone seeing her conversing with demons under the moonlight. No one knew who she truly was and she was considered an outsider in the city. She knew the only reason the people of Delvay tolerated her was Neph’s favor.
Silently Zoelyn turned toward the outer gates not daring to look back at the city. She was too afraid she might glimpse the child’s pale face gazing at her from her window, or worse see the child pursuing her into the darkened forest. Her pace increased as that image filled her mind and she had to force herself to not run. The ground beyond the city was treacherous and she only a fool would run there after dark. There was too much chance of a serious fall that could cripple or even kill her depending on where she was along the path.
The forest around her thickened as she drew farther from the city and her frantic pace slowed to a stumbling crawl as the moonlit night faded to shadows. Biting her lip Zoelyn fumbled on and focused herself completely on the path rather than the noises around her. She knew it was likely the creatures of the forest rattling the brush in the pitch black forest, but she couldn’t help imagining the dead child pacing her every step like a hound following a scent.
“You didn’t have to take the story so literal. Are you actually heading for a grove to speak with me?” Seth’s voice rose from the shadows behind her and she barely managed to contain her scream as she whirled on him with wide eyes.
“Damn it!” Zoelyn snapped and slapped him hard on the chest. “My heart was nearly in my throat already and you sneak up behind me without warning. What in the name of the Aspects is wrong with you?” She demanded as she punched him in the arm for good measure.
Seth took a step back and smiled widely at her. “Afraid of little bitty ghosts but willing to slap the Crow King.” He observed with far too much amusement in his voice.
“The little bitty ghost wanted to rip me limb from limb, and if you wanted me dead I’d be buried by now.” Zoelyn hissed irritably.
“She wouldn’t have hurt you.” Seth corrected with an infuriating smile. “She was just trying to get your attention, and apparently she did her job well.”
“That she did.” Zoelyn agreed sourly. “How dare you place me in Karalea’s role? Why would you force this story on me?” she demanded and had to resist the urge to hit him again when his smile widened.