The fire Nix had conjured flickered, as though it would die at any moment. He kept fidgeting. His feet moved quickly, forcing Valerie to hurry behind him to keep up. Earlier, they had noticed bones littered across the cave, though neither could tell whether they belonged to man or beast. The deeper they went, the more Valerie was reminded of something that had happened nearly six years ago. She had been fourteen then, while Nix was sixteen and his powers had just newly manifested. Eager to show her, he took her deep into the forest where the mountains met the sky and the trees rose like ancient pillars from the earth. She remembered the wonder on her face when he bent mist and light, painting a massive rainbow across the heavens. She was proud of him.
But something growled behind them, loud and terrifying. One bear emerged from the trees, then more followed. It was then that it dawned on them that they had wandered unknowingly to a settlement. All the spells he tried to cast failed. Paxton showed up in time and distracted the bears, allowing them a chance to flee. Paxton evaded the bears and caught up with them on another road.
On the journey home, Valerie remembered noticing the same nervous fidgeting she now saw in him again. If only her powers had manifested too, perhaps she'd be helpful. Her gaze fell briefly to her magic-less hands before her thoughts drifted again.
"There!" Nix shouted suddenly.
Valerie turned toward where he pointed. Light poured in through an opening. They raced toward it and emerged in a forest. Vast. Its trees grew from the soil like a giant's leg.
"Do you remember—"
"The bear territory we accidentally walked into six years ago?" She nodded. "Yeah. This place looks exactly like it."
"Like a twisted version of our world."
They heard guttural growling. Their eyes instantly began searching the forest. "I know a way. Come." Nix said in almost a whisper and Valerie followed him.
Nix tightened his grip around Valerie's hand as they hiked through the forest. Sweat lined the side of his face despite the cold breeze. "We're close." He muttered. His pace quickened again.
Close to where?
She wondered whether he even knows the exact place they could find a vaesroot in the Loop.
His hand shook against hers.
She sighed, glancing away from the path and into the woods. Something hanging from the trees caught her attention. Large rib cages hung from branches with vines wrapped through them. She slowed her movements, her eyes sweeping through more trees, and she noticed the same pattern. Nix suddenly halted. A few feet ahead, he pointed at skulls that rested at the foot of massive trees like offerings. Claw marks etched on the trees' trunks.
A man stepped out from behind the trees. He looked only a bit older than Nix. Skinny and tall. Black veins zigzagged across his pale skin like cracks spreading through stone. "It's been a while since we've had a visitor in The Loop." His gaze shifted toward Nix. "Your little friend came to cure you and take you home?" He laughed dryly. "You underestimate the power of dark magic."
With eyes wide with awe, Valerie stared. She had never seen a demon up close, but she grew up hearing stories about how stunning and seductive they looked. But the thing before her was neither.
All she saw was a blurry movement and before she could react, her feet had suddenly left the ground, dangling in the air as she fought to free the strong grasp on her neck. Nix lifted his hands swiftly and the demon's neck snapped. Valerie fell to the ground alongside the subdued demon. She coughed hard, gasping for breath. Nix scurried to her side.
Other demons revealed themselves from the trees around them, forming a circle, closing in on them like predators stalking their wounded prey.
They rose to their feet. Valerie still gripped his arm tightly. Her body trembled with fear.
He felt power surge through him suddenly, like a flood breaking through weakened walls. He immediately tried the portal spell again and, surprisingly, the wind picked up dust, spiraling in the air into a big ring.
The demons charged.
Nix thrust out one hand instinctively. Blue light exuded from him in a violent wave, causing a blast that threw the demons backwards through the trees.
He was bewildered, as he had never wielded that much force before. "Go, Valerie." He pushed her gently toward the portal. "I'll be behind you."
"No." She shook her head quickly. "We go together."
The demons had gotten to their feet and charged again. With the power he felt within him, he attempted a powerful spell, one he had memorized from his father's grimoire. He strengthened his stance, and he held his hands apart as if trying to push out an invisible force.
The air distorted.
Shockwaves erupted from him in formidable pulses and it seemed to warp time as Valerie watched as the demons ran at a very slow pace, as though they were running through heavy water. "Go!" He shouted. "I can't hold them much longer!"
After a moment of hesitation, she reluctantly gathered the hem of her gown and stumbled towards the portal.
When she had crossed it, she could still see Nix standing there. She yelled out to him.
The wind around the portal started to fade. Its edges were closing inward. He stopped the spell at last and ran toward her. Valerie could barely make out his figure anymore.
The portal slammed shut, and the dust vanished into the wind.
"Nix!"
Thunder rumbled in the night sky. Rain soaked through her clothes as she collapsed into the mud, numb, sobbing. Although she did not recognize where she was, as everything around her was pitch black, it didn't bother her. She had left Nix behind, surrounded by demons.
Few minutes passed, perhaps longer, before she noticed a dull yellow light moving through the darkness. She slowly lifted her head and looked toward the light.
Leaves rustled, and footsteps splashed through puddles. A figure stepped into the clearing, holding a lantern beneath an umbrella. All Valerie saw was a silhouette. Not until he called her name.
She gasped.
Fabian rushed toward her just as she threw her arms around him. She sobbed harder. He just stroked her hair and asked her to be calm.
They managed to slip into the house through the rear entrance without being seen. By the time they reached Valerie's room, the storm outside has worsened. Fabian stood in the middle of the room while Valerie had just finished bathing. She was drying her hair near the partition.
When she was done explaining everything to him, he was thoughtful for a moment. Then he asked, "are you sure?" She turned towards him as if she didn't expect him to doubt her. He continued, "You disappeared the entire day, and you excuse is 'you were in the Loop'?"
"I am serious, Fabian." She said, sternly. "It was daytime until I crossed back over, and suddenly it was night. Father used to tell us stories about that place. The land where night never comes, yet terror walks openly beneath the sun."
He ran a hand through his damp hair. "But…even with vaesroot, Nix shouldn't possess enough power to open a gateway to and from the Loop."
She paused midway through the dressing, a blue gown hanging loosely from her fingers. She peeked from the partition. "You don't believe me."
"I do," he sighed. "Val, I do. I couldn't feel you until an hour ago. I was worried sick." He stepped closer. "But you cannot tell anyone about this."
She stared at him in disbelief. "No, Fabian. We have to tell Father. We have to tell Aurelius. Nix is still there."
"Or he's dead!" He snapped. "You said the demons surrounded him. You know he cannot fight all of them alone."
She stepped out of the partition with a facial expression as hard as rock.
"He saved you," he continued. "He died saving you."
A soft knock interrupted them. She cleared her throat quickly. "Yes?"
The door creaked open and Leonora stepped inside. She wore her golden hair loosely tied behind her neck. Her eyes briefly flickered toward Fabian before she lowered her gaze, her cheeks reddening instantly. The water had made his shirt transparent. Every inch clung to his body. Fabian didn't have large brawns, but he was toned.
"Young master. Young mistress." She bowed politely. "Dinner is served."
"We'll be down shortly," Fabian answered.
Leonora nodded and left the room.
"If getting into trouble is what it takes to save Nix," Valerie said, "then I'll do it." She brushed past him toward the door, but he grabbed her wrist.
"Why are you being so selfish?" he hissed. "Do you realize what could happen if anyone discovers you used vaesroot? They could prosecute you for endangering a warlock—"
"Oh, I did not endanger anyone!" She cut him. "Selfish is when I don't try to get to him. He didn't take us there on purpose."
"You could be banished. Or hanged. Did you, for a minute, think about what that would do to Father? To Mother? To me?"
She pulled her hand free.
He stared at her bitterly. "You've always thought about nobody but yourself, anyway." He walked out.
She remained in the room long after the door shut behind him, alone with her feelings. Ones she couldn't express.
Silence during dinners was a norm in the Oakman household. Tonight, however, it hung with an awkwardness that made the food less enticing to Valerie. She sat across from Fabian at the long table. Their father, Zach Oakman, a stern man with an angular face and graying hair, sat opposite his wife, Lilie, whose soft brown hair cascaded down her back.
Lightning flashed beyond the curtains.
Fabian avoided looking at his sister. She pushed food around her plate. Her mother noticed. "Valerie, darling," Lilie said, "what were you doing all day? You were gone for hours."
She glanced briefly at Fabian before answering.
"I was out near the fields. I wanted to be alone."
Zach studied her carefully. "Is everything okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Don't lie to me, now, child," he said calmly. "Your demeanor tells otherwise,"
Valerie lowered her eyes. "I'm only tired," she murmured. "May I retire early?"
Her father sighed softly before waving a dismissive hand. "You may go."
"But your food—" Lilie began. Valerie was already halfway up the stairs.
Back in her room, she stood beside the window, staring into the endless blackness outside.