“Isaac,” I tried testing out the bond between us. 

‘Say it in your head. Don’t scream. You can be grating enough as it is without your voice reverberating inside my ears.’

‘Jerk. I don’t know how this works. If this place has been unused since my supposed death, how do you have clothes here?’

‘I stopped here occasionally on treks between border skirmishes. It was easier to rest here than to camp.’

Ok, well I guess that makes sense. 

‘ I want to look around a bit. How long till breakfast?’

‘It’s literally  ready to eat rations. We don’t  have time for you to look around. Come downstairs.’

I left his room and turned towards the stairs.. That uneasy feeling hit me again. Harder this time. 

‘Zac, I think something’s watching me.’ 

I swear, I could feel his eyes roll.

‘Zac, I’m serious. Come up here please. I feel  uneasy.’

‘This better not be some stupid prank.’

“Isaac!”  I panicked and screamed when a knife flew by my head.

“Calling for your guard dog won’t help you,” A haggard, feminine voice laughed at me.

I heard Isaac’s steps as he ran up the stairs. Thank God he wasn’t far. 

“Who are you?” I questioned the old lady. 

“Who am I? Who do I appear to you?” She cackled again. 

“I don’t believe it,” Isaac stood in the hallway, gaping.  

“Hello, little guard dog,” the old lady crooned at Isaac. 

“Vena Blakewood. The, presumed dead, Witch of Blakewood.”

The old lady cackled again. Great, so insanity WAS hereditary.

Vena Blakewood.

Vena was the woman in that painting. How strange to see her as a haggard old woman. Isaac had edged closer to me as the woman had tossed her head back laughing at us.

“Dear little grand-daughter,” she paused, “I sent you away for a reason. Now, you’re back and I have to kill you.”

She laughed as she shifted her hands to Isaac. I back-stepped towards him. This woman was supposed to be my grandma? She’s freaking insane! 

“It's  a mercy, my dear. He’s looking for you. He wants you. I tried to save you, I did. I sent you away. How merciful was I? I sent you to a family and took away your memories. You will be the death and ruin of our world. It’s because of you the world is dying. He knows you’re here. He knows you’re back. He wants to enjoy hunting you down.”

She gurgled a laugh. 

“Who!” Isaac demanded, rather than questioned. 

“Him. The greatest being of our world. The true heir of the realm.”

She smiled at me while throwing another knife. 

I threw myself to the floor and Isaac leapt over me. He growled low.

“My, my, little guard dog. Aren’t you ever so loyal?” She crooned. “Will you defend her, knowing her magic will destroy you and the rest of our world?”

Isaac didn’t say anything, though he continued to stand guard over me as I rose to my feet again.

“What the hell are you blathering about?” I demanded.

She laughed again. This lady was nuts. 

“He’s coming for you,” She repeated in a singsong voice. “You were the reason he was created. You’re the reason for these wars. So much like her, I’m told. So much like the first. Ours is a proud line. The strongest of the clans, our father’s favored. You’re her direct descendant though. Hold your head high and die proudly.” 

She snarled at me and launched another attack, this time, with the spark of magic. I reflexively threw my hands in front of me to block the hit. When I did, sparks showered everywhere. I glanced at my hands, surprised to see the shimmering glow. Remembering Isaac’s words from earlier, I pushed my thoughts through the sheen of magic. Surprisingly, it sent a blast right back at the old woman. I fell backwards and didn’t move. Isaac moved quickly, checking her pulse. 

“She’s still alive.” He told me.

The witch slowly opened her eyes. 

“Nova," Her voice was thin and raspy. “He knows you’re here and will be coming to collect you soon. You need to leave. I sent you to the other place to protect you and our world,” She  gasped,as if in pain. “My dear granddaughter, the day you were born, your soul woke him up. It called to him like none since the first. Your magic is cursed and it calls him,” she coughed a bit. “He’s taken my sanity and my magic to punish me for saving you. But you came back. Because of you, our world will die.” Her eyes began to roll in the back of her head. “Nova. You must leave. You can’t stay here anymore. Go,” Her voice quaked. 

Isaac pulled at me to follow him. 

“Lets go. We can grab the food on the way out. Nightmare can get us far enough from here. Don’t use any more magic and don’t draw attention to yourself.” 

His voice was firm and commanding, like a general commanding an army.

I nodded, unsure of what to say. I grabbed my bundle from the floor and quickly followed him down the stairs. We could hear her crazed laughter again. We didn’t speak as he pulled me into Nightmare’s saddle and urged her onwards. 

We rode in silence for hours. Nightmare’s stamina amazed me, but to Isaac, it was normal. He had told me before that shadowborns were animals bred with demons. Her powerful stride still amazed me. I held onto Isaac as we thundered through the woods and contented myself with being lost in thought. 

Maybe I still felt a little crazy. Things like this didn’t happen in real life. Magic and portals and whatever didn’t exist in real life. Being carried away on horseback by a dark, handsome stranger who was  your long lost friend didn’t happen. This whole scenario was ridiculous. 

It was strange to think that yesterday, I woke up in my own bed, ready to start a new life. Ready to begin a great adventure, and now, here I was in the middle of one and almost regretting it. I shook my head. It’s too late to be worried about it now, I guess. Isaac pulled on Nightmare’s reins, bringing her to a slow trot before halting all together. 

“If you need to stretch your legs and relieve yourself, now would be the time to do it.” 

It’s the first thing he’s said to me all day and I can’t help but feel a little underwhelmed. There’s some scary, unknown bad guy after me and he’s worried about my bladder? Well, I guess I should follow his orders for now. He seems to think this place is safe enough for a break.

“Where are we?” My voice cracked a little from dehydration.

 “We are in what’s known as a blood spot. Supposedly, one of our ancestors gave her life for one of her children and it created little pockets throughout the land. Ill intent cannot come through the border, but they don’t last long. It’s a small barrier that allows the land to heal briefly before fading away.” 

I didn’t understand, though I felt telling him that would cause more irritation. So, instead, I took his advice and took care of my needs. I hesitated a bit before heading back into the clearing with Isaac. Honestly, I felt like throwing a temper tantrum. This whole situation was too much for my anxiety.