Vianna darted between the trees, her long red-and-gold braids unraveling in the wind. Her grey-blue eyes gleamed with mischief as the pulse of the forest matched her heartbeat. Finally, freedom from endless training, from her mother's suffocating plans to mold her into someone's perfect wife.
"Ha! You'll never catch me!" she shouted over her shoulder.
"Wait until I do," Alaric snapped, his voice full of irritation. "I'll tie you up and leave you for supper!"
Vianna laughed. She lived to get under his skin. He hated losing, and she loved proving she could outrun him every time.
But then, something shifted. She slowed, frowning. After years of exploring this forest, she knew every root and stone by heart, yet now…something felt different. The air was heavier. The birds had gone silent.
Her eyes landed on a curtain of moss and vines draped across a stone wall. Curious, she tugged the greenery aside. A narrow opening yawned beyond, dark and inviting. A faint glow flickered from deep inside. Candles.
Alaric forgotten, Vianna slipped through the vines.
Inside, the walls were lined with skulls, decorations, as if arranged. Jars of writhing insects and serpents gleamed in the firelight. The cave smelled of damp earth and something sweet…too sweet. Her skin prickled. Every instinct told her to turn back. Instead, she pressed forward.
Laughter drifted through the shadows. Children's laughter. She pressed herself against the wall and peered ahead. Three children danced around a small fire: a boy with long brown braids, a freckled redhead girl, and another boy with dimples and bright blue eyes. They looked carefree. Free in the way she longed to be.
A loose rock betrayed her. She stumbled, the crash echoing through the cavern. The children scattered.
"Hello, little one."
Vianna froze.
The woman who stepped forward was beautiful in a way that didn't make sense. Long hair, silver and white, framed a face far too young. Catlike green eyes glowed in the firelight, her smile soft but…hungry.
"I-I'm sorry," Vianna stammered. "I didn't mean to intrude. I was just playing."
"It's alright, child." The woman's voice was velvet, coaxing. "The others are shy, but they'd love to play with you. Come tomorrow, a little earlier, and I'll make sure they're here."
Vianna's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Of course. Only..." The woman leaned in, her green eyes gleaming. "You mustn't tell anyone you've seen us. Freedom is rare. Best to keep it hidden."
Vianna nodded eagerly. "I understand."
"Good girl. Now go. Before your family worries."
Vianna skipped back through the vines, covering the entrance carefully. Alaric's voice cut through the forest as soon as she emerged.
"Where were you? We're late! Dinner's ruined, and we're in trouble!"
She lied without blinking. "I got lost."
Alaric folded his arms, brow raised. "You should've yelled. I can find anything. I'm like a walking compass."
She smirked. "Well then, maybe you should've found me faster."
He grabbed her arm and tugged her along. "I'm blaming you when we get scolded."
Vianna laughed, letting him drag her home, but her mind was already on tomorrow and the children in the cave.