CHAPTER 18

I made my way up the creaky stairs to the second floor and found my room. The bed was small but looked comfortable, and I couldn't wait to crawl under the covers and get some rest.

As I lay in bed, I thought about what lay ahead. Retrieving the Book of Shadows was a dangerous mission, and I wasn't sure if Lucian and I were up for it. But I had to try. Adelaide's life was at stake, and I couldn't let her down.

I closed my eyes and let my mind wander, imagining what the journey would be like. I saw myself and Lucian sailing across treacherous waters, battling sea monsters and rival pirates, and finally arriving at the Theocrats' stronghold to retrieve the book.

But I felt a restlessness inside me. What was all this about? What was I doing here? Who knows if the

As I drifted off to sleep, I realized that this adventure was far from over. But I was ready for whatever lay ahead.

***

As I lay there in bed, trying to calm my racing thoughts, I realized that the darkness of the dream was seeping into my reality. Every shadow in my room seemed to be alive, shifting and twisting as if it had a life of its own.

I closed my eyes tightly, hoping to shut out the darkness, but even behind my eyelids, I could see the twisted shapes of the black figures from my nightmare. I was paralyzed with fear, unable to move or even breathe properly.

Suddenly, I heard a faint whisper, a voice so low and guttural that it was barely audible. "We're still here," it said. "We're always here."

I bolted upright, my eyes wide open, and looked around the room. There was nothing there, just the shadows and the faint light seeping in through the curtains. But I could feel their presence, the same ones that haunted my dreams.

I knew then that I couldn't stay in that room, not with those dark figures watching me. I got out of bed and stumbled towards the light switch, flicking it on with shaking hands.

The light flooded the room, dispelling the shadows and the darkness. I felt a sense of relief wash over me, but I also knew that it was only temporary. The black figures would come back, they always did.

As I sat there, huddled in the bright light of the room, I knew that I would have to face them again, to confront the darkness and the shadows. But for now, I was grateful for the light, for the small reprieve from the terrors of the night.

I sat there for what felt like hours, my mind racing with thoughts of the dark figures and what they might do to me if they ever caught me. But as time passed, the brightness of the room began to soothe me, and I began to feel a sense of safety.

Eventually, I knew I had to face my fear head-on. I stood up, slowly making my way towards the door, and hesitantly opened it, expecting the dark figures to be waiting for me on the other side.

But there was nothing there. The hallway was empty, and the only sound I could hear was my own racing heart. I took a deep breath and stepped out into the hallway, cautiously looking around for any sign of danger.

As I walked down the hallway, the shadows seemed to move and shift around me, but I knew it was just my imagination playing tricks on me. I was determined to face my fear, no matter how scared I was.

Finally, I made it to the end of the hallway and pushed open the door to the outside. The fresh air hit me, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I stood there for a moment, breathing in the cool night air and feeling the wind on my face.

I felt a sudden shift in the air. It was as if the darkness had thickened, the shadows becoming deeper and more sinister. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched, that something was waiting for me.

My heart racing, I turned around to look behind me, but there was nothing there. The hallway was empty, and the only sound was the beating of my own heart. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of movement.

I spun around, my heart in my throat, and saw them - the faceless figures from my nightmare. They had materialized out of the shadows, their forms taking on a god-like quality. They were dark and towering, with no discernible features except for the way they seemed to shimmer and twist in the air.

I tried to run, but they were too fast, too powerful. Their voices boomed in my ears, their words incomprehensible but somehow terrifying. I stumbled and fell, and they closed in on me, their facesless faces staring down at me with a kind of cosmic indifference.

It was then that I realized that these were not mere shadows, but gods of darkness and chaos, beings beyond comprehension. They were here to consume me, to absorb me into their formless mass and feed on my fear and terror.

I tried to fight back, but it was like trying to fight a hurricane. Their dark forms were all around me, suffocating me, and I could feel myself slipping away into the void.

But then, something changed. A light appeared, small and flickering at first, but growing stronger with each passing moment. It was a light of hope, a beacon in the darkness, and it filled me with a sudden surge of courage and strength.

With all my might, I pushed back against the darkness, using the light as a weapon. And slowly but surely, the faceless gods began to retreat, their power weakened by the light.

As they faded away, I felt a sense of relief and gratitude wash over me. I had faced my darkest fears and emerged victorious, thanks to the light that had shown me the way.

And as I stood there, catching my breath and basking in the light, I knew that I would never forget this experience. It had shown me that no matter how dark the night may seem, there is always a way out, a light to guide us through the shadows.

***

I woke up. I was in my bedroom, safe and sound, the nightmare nothing but a memory. I lay there for a moment, catching my breath and letting the reality of my waking world seep in.

Slowly, I got out of bed, feeling the solidity of the floor beneath my feet, the warmth of the blankets on my skin. It was all so real, so reassuring.

I got dressed and left the room, making my way down the stairs and towards the inn's dining area. The smell of fresh bread and coffee filled the air, and I could see a man busy setting up tables and chairs for the guests.

Dasha was sitting chipper at one of the tables. "Landlubber, are you finally awake?" she asked and I nodded. How could one be so chipper after so much alcohol.

"There you are! I've been waiting here far too long Snowhead." His deep voice pierced my innermost being. Lucian gave me an annoyed look and I sighed. "I'm here now."

Then my gaze fell on Thod, who fixed Lucian with slitted eyes.

"Can you tell this battle dwarf not to stare at me like that? It's getting on my nerves so much!" Lucian returned Throd's stare coolly.

I walked over to the table and took a seat next to Dasha. "Good morning, everyone," I said, trying to break the tension between Lucian and Thod.

Thod snorted. "This city slicker thinks he can just waltz in here and boss us around," he grumbled.

Lucian rolled his eyes. "I'm not trying to boss anyone around. I just want to get out of here."

Dasha looked between the two men and let out a small laugh. "You two are like a couple of old bears fighting over a fish. Can't we all just get along?"

I smiled at her attempt to diffuse the situation. "So, what's the plan for today?" I asked, changing the subject.

"I have already spoken to Lucian about Adelaide and the Book of Shadows. You two should set out and go to the Kingdom of Shadows. Even though I don't like the stinking black bird next to me, unfortunately we have no other choice." Dasha shot Lucian a warning sideways glance.

"We must find a way to save Adelaide, there must be! I will go to her today!"

I listened to Dasha's instructions, feeling a sense of urgency growing within me. The Book of Shadows and the fate of Adelaide were important tasks, and we couldn't afford to waste any time.

Lucian and I finished our breakfast quickly, and we gathered our belongings, ready to leave. As we said our goodbyes, Thod surprised me by giving me a tight hug. It lasted a bit longer than I expected, and I could sense Lucian's irritation from the corner of my eye.

"Take care, Yona," Thod said, his voice low and serious. "Be safe on your journey."

I nodded, feeling touched by his concern. "Thank you, Thod. You take care too."

Lucian cleared his throat, interrupting our moment. "We should get going," he said, his voice clipped.

I could tell he was still annoyed with Thod's prolonged hug, but I chose not to say anything. Instead, I gave Dasha a quick hug and promised to return as soon as we could.

"We'll see you soon, Dasha," I said, hoping to convey the sincerity of my words.

She nodded, her eyes shining with a mixture of sadness and determination. "Take care of each other, you two. And don't forget to come back to me when you're done with your mission."

With one final wave, Lucian and I left the inn and headed towards the city gates. The streets were busy with people, and the air was filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and horses pulling carts.

As we walked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building within me. This was our chance to make a difference, to help save Adelaide and uncover the secrets of the Book of Shadows. I knew it wouldn't be an easy journey, but I was determined to see it through to the end.

Lucian and I had reached the outskirts of the city, and after walking for a few hours, we finally stopped to catch our breath and take in the view of the sprawling countryside. It was a peaceful sight, with rolling hills and green fields stretching as far as the eye could see. The only sounds were the chirping of birds and the rustling of the wind in the trees.

As we stood there, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the beauty of the natural world around us. It was a stark contrast to the chaos and noise of the city we had left behind.

It was then that Lucian turned to me and spoke, his voice serious. "Here is the portal to the shadow realm."

I was astonished. I looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary. "Where is it? I see nothing," I said, my confusion apparent in my tone.

Lucian's expression turned to one of exasperation. "You're not really as stupid as you look, are you?" he said, his words dripping with sarcasm.

I frowned, offended by his insult. "You are stupid! Stop insulting me. You'd better be Mr. Smarty Pants," I retorted.

Lucian grinned slightly, seemingly amused by our banter. "There you go! Finally, someone recognizes my intelligence!" he quipped.

I couldn't help but smile at his wit, despite my annoyance. "That's enough of your self-praise. Where's the portal?" I asked, trying to focus on the task at hand.

"Here," he said simply, his finger pointing to the ground we were standing on.

I looked down at the dirt and grass beneath our feet, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. "How? Where?" I asked, my confusion mounting.

"Here, snowhead," he repeated, his voice now tinged with impatience.

I shook my head in disbelief. "Are you kidding me? There's nothing here but sand, grass, and mud."

I looked at the dirt in disbelief. "There aren't even any signs or anything like that here."

Lucian slapped his hands together over his head. "By the holy gods how could anyone have been blessed with so little intelligence! It wouldn't be a secret portal if you could see it, would it?" he asked me, shaking his head.

I rolled my eyes at his comment, but I understood his point. If the portal was visible, it wouldn't be much of a secret. "Okay, fair enough. So, how do we activate it?" I asked, eager to get started.

Lucian took a deep breath. "With my key, were you not listening when the old man explained everything to us?"

"Of course I did!"

"Great, then shut up and let me handle it."

Lucian reached for a necklace around his neck and unhooked a key from it. The key was small and intricate, with delicate engravings etched into its surface. He held it up to the sky and spoke a few words in a language I didn't understand. Suddenly, the key glowed with a bright blue light, illuminating the area around us.

As the light grew brighter, the ground beneath our feet started to shake, and I heard a deep rumbling sound. I looked around frantically, trying to find the source of the noise, but Lucian grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to him.

"Close your eyes," he ordered.

"I don't want to," I said and Lucian looked at me pleadingly.

"Please." He looked deep into my eyes and for a moment the world around us stopped. His piercing eyes met mine and so we stood close together. He put an arm around my waist and I felt his warmth fill my insides. "Don't you dare scream," he whispered and I nodded in a trance.

"Okay."

All at once the floor opened up beneath us and we fell into the dark depths.