Chapter 35 VOL II : The Trip to Calma (2)

Chapter 35 VOL II : The Trip to Calma (2)

VOL II: The Trip to Calma (2)

“Hello, Luana. We need to talk.”

“What the hell are you doing here? How dare you show your face here? Get out, now!”

How dare he set foot in my house?

“But we need to talk. It's important,” he said. His voice was low and calm. Somehow, that irritated me.

“I don't care. Get out.”

“Luana—”

“Get out now! Or I won't be kind the next time I say it. I'll scream and wake my father.”

His fists balled as I mentioned Papa.

He nodded and pulled his cloak back on.

“We'll meet again, Luana.”

“It's Marcella. My name is Marcella. And the next time I see you, I'll stick a dagger to your throat.”

“Marcella? Marcella, where are you?” Lily called from inside.

“I'm outside,” I said, turning toward the backyard door.

When I turned back, he was gone.

“What are you doing here, Sister?” she asked.

She was wearing a shawl over her nightdress.

“I couldn't sleep, so I came out to get some air. What about you?”

“You didn't come back on time, and I slept off waiting for you. When I woke up to drink some water, I stopped by your room, but you weren't there.”

She yawned. I smiled.

“I'm here. Come on, let's go back inside.”

She nodded.

I took one last look at the backyard and left.

\~~~~~~~

That morning, Papa told Lily everything. She was hell-bent on going with me, but Papa refused.

“My child, it pains my heart that I can't go with you. But since we are both powerless, I will only weigh you down. You need this, to grow and to be able to receive the magic you need.”

My hands tightened around my traveling bag as I remembered why I was leaving in the first place.

“Yes, Papa. I won't let you down. I'll be back before you even know it.”

Papa placed a soft kiss on my forehead.

“Stay safe. Let the stars be with you.”

“Papa? Why can't I go with her?” Lily cried.

“Your sister needs to do this alone,” Papa said with a smile.

Then he went inside and brought out a hooded coat.

“Calma is cold. You'll need this.”

“Thank you, Papa.”

I had to get this right and bring back my mother so that we could all be together again.

\~~~~~~

The map said I had to reach Calma through three routes:

Argento, Oro, and Diamon.

Argento was first. It was a small village in the mountains.

To get there, I had to pass through the woods.
Thanks to the map, the paths I had to take were clearly marked, helping me avoid getting lost.

“Okay, so I need to go over that creek, then down through the bulrushes before getting to the lake at the center of the woods.”

I studied the map and walked deeper into the forest, following its instructions.

It was fine at first. Everything seemed peaceful. I even had small stops, admiring some plants and flowers.

Until later, when I kept getting the feeling that I was being followed.

I thought I was being paranoid until I noticed a dark shadow looming behind the bushes.

My grip on my bag strap tightened, and the water in the lake seemed to flow faster.

“Who's there?”

I crouched down and picked up a stick.

“Come out now!”

I walked closer to the bush, my steps slow but steady.

“Come out now, or I'll hit you so hard it'll hurt.”

Nothing.

I raised my arm, ready to strike with all my strength.

A small chuckle echoed from behind the tall bushes.

“You still haven't lost your feistiness, it seems.”

That voice!

No!

It can't be!

He stepped out, his hood falling to his shoulders and a smirk dancing on his lips.

“I told you we would meet again.”

I took a couple of steps back. Not in fear, but with caution.

This was the Demon King. I had to be careful and smart while dealing with him.

“Why are you following me? What do you want, Demon King?”

He walked closer to me, and I moved back in equal measure.

He stopped when he was only a few inches away.

His blue eyes had a slight shimmer in them. They were still like the ocean.

“I want you, Luana.”

I pushed him away with all my strength.

“Are you serious right now? Is everything a joke to you?”

I was furious.

He had the nerve to show up here when his mother was the cause of my mother's illness.

I took a deep breath and turned away from him.

Looking at the map, there were still a few more miles to cover before reaching Argento.

“Don't follow me. Stay away.”

I walked off, moving deeper into the woods.

“Luana, please wait. We can discuss—”

“Stop following me, and stop calling me that name!”

But he kept following me, and my footsteps quickened.

All of a sudden, he appeared in front of me, startling me and causing me to halt.

“Stop... please.”

“Move.”

“No.”

“I said move.”

What was wrong with him?

In a flash, he snatched the map from my hands.

“Hey! Give it back!”

“Not until you hear what I have to say.”

I tried to take it from him, but he was too tall and kept raising his arm higher.

As he moved the map to his other hand, it slipped from his fingers and fell into the flowing lake.

“Oh no!”