Chapter 43

Chapter 43
Chapter 43

“Canyons like this are common ambush spots,” Oliver said, glancing up at the overhanging rocks. “Rogue wolves, bandits, even wild beasts sometimes nest around places like this. Not to mention the poisonous insects that hide in the crevices. It’s too enclosed. We’ll have no room to maneuver if something goes wrong.”

Samuel, riding just behind them, nodded in agreement. “He’s right. It’s risky.”

Isabella sighed but didn’t slow her pace. “Taking a detour would cost us hundreds of miles,” she said. “That’s time we don’t have.”

Nova, riding quietly between Lestat and James, looked up at that. “You mean because of the dream?”

Isabella gave a slight nod. “Samuel’s prophetic dream wasn’t just a warning—it was a sign of how quickly the situation is worsening. The demon god isn’t waiting anymore. He’s already sending his minions after the candidates.”

Samuel’s jaw tightened, and he shifted in his saddle. “They were being hunted in the dream. All of them. One by one.”

Oliver frowned. “But we’ve handled his servants before.”

“That was different,” Isabella replied. “The ones you’ve faced until now were scouts—testing your strength, delaying you. But now he’s sending killers. Creatures with one purpose—to eliminate the Sons of Light before they awaken fully.”

A quiet tension settled over the group.

James glanced around uneasily. “And you think those killers are already nearby?”

“I can’t say for sure,” Isabella said. “But I do know they’re not far behind us. Every moment we delay gives them time to catch up.”

Oliver hesitated, then said, “Still, if we’re attacked in that canyon—”

“Then we deal with it,” Isabella interrupted, her voice calm but firm. “I’d rather face rogue wolves and poisonous insects than walk blindly into a trap laid by the demon god.”

Lestat let out a slow breath. “She has a point.”

They all looked ahead toward the looming entrance of the canyon, the rocky walls seeming to close the farther they went.

Isabella turned in her saddle and addressed them all. “This isn’t ideal. I know that. But it’s the best option we have. The teleportation point isn’t far from here. Once we reach it, we’ll be in the human kingdom—and safer, at least for a while.”

She glanced around the group.

“Stay close. Stay alert. No wandering off. If you see or hear anything suspicious, say it immediately. We move together.”

Everyone gave a nod. Though unease hung over them, none of them argued further.

She faced forward again, urging her horse into a steady pace as the group followed her deeper into the canyon.

The canyon path grew more difficult the farther they walked. The rocky ground was uneven, full of jagged stones that jutted out at awkward angles. Thick, thorny bushes clustered along the narrow trail, snagging at their clothes and scraping their arms. It quickly became clear that riding was impossible. They dismounted, guiding the horses by their reins, leading them slowly through the narrowest stretches.

Dust rose with each step, and loose gravel made the footing unstable. The sound of their movement echoed faintly off the canyon walls, giving an eerie sense of being surrounded. Every now and then, a small stone would tumble from the cliffs above, making them pause and glance upward.

Despite the tension, they pressed forward. The sun beat down from above, but the shadows of the canyon walls kept parts of the trail cool and damp. Around midday, Isabella called for a short break. They found a large, flat rock near the bend of the trail and gathered around it to eat.

Nova sat quietly, still not speaking much to James. The air between them remained strained. Samuel tried to keep the mood light, offering pieces of dried fruit and jokes that fell mostly flat. Oliver leaned against the canyon wall, watching the sky carefully.

Lestat stood up suddenly, stretching. “I need to take a piss,” he said casually, heading toward a rock formation not far from the group.

Aurora rose at the same time, brushing off her dress. “I’ll take a short walk. I want to check the terrain ahead,” she said, her tone light and unbothered.

Isabella looked up sharply. “Don’t go far,” she warned. “This area isn’t safe.”

Nova added, “Be quick. We still need to make it to the teleportation point before nightfall.”

Aurora gave a small wave of her hand in acknowledgment, already walking away. Lestat disappeared behind a tall boulder in the other direction.

The rest of the group remained seated, chewing in silence, the tension never fully leaving.
But the remaining few people waited for half an hour, and neither Lestat nor Aurora had returned. The canyon was quiet except for the occasional gust of wind that rustled the dry leaves and the soft clatter of loose stones shifting. The horses shuffled uneasily, sensing the same tension that hung in the air.

Isabella glanced at the sun, now dipping lower in the sky. “This is taking too long,” she said, her brow furrowed.

Nova folded her arms tightly, her expression unreadable. “They should have been back by now.”

Oliver stood up, brushing crumbs from his lap. “Something might have happened,” he said. “We’re in a canyon surrounded by cliffs and brush—perfect for an ambush. I’ll go check.”

James stood as well. “I’ll go with you,” he said quickly, already tightening the straps of his gauntlets. He glanced at Nova, who looked away without a word.

The two men moved through the thick brush, stepping over broken branches and loose stones as they followed the path Lestat had taken. They passed narrow clefts between rocks and dry patches where the dust clung to their boots. Soon, they reached the area where Lestat had gone to relieve himself. The scent of urine lingered faintly, and there were wet markings on the dirt to confirm it.

But Lestat was nowhere in sight.

James scanned the area. “He was here,” he said, his voice low. “But not anymore.”

“Let’s keep moving,” Oliver replied. “Aurora couldn’t have gone far, either.”

They pushed deeper into the bushes, ducking under low branches and stepping over gnarled roots. The undergrowth thickened, making movement more difficult. Just as Oliver was about to call out, they both froze.

From somewhere ahead came the unmistakable sounds of panting. Not from exertion or fear—these were low, breathy gasps, mixed with the soft rustle of movement. The sounds of a man and a woman. James and Oliver looked at each other, their expressions tightening with realization. Neither of them spoke, but the unspoken question passed between
them.

Carefully, they crept forward, pushing aside the leaves and following the sound.