Chapter 64- Whispers In The Wind

Levi had been traveling for two days. In the hours he spent alone within the trees he once loved he had time to think. Look back on his life and the mistakes he had made. As he thought about them, he came to the conclusion that his and the witches exile from Athens wasn’t a mistake. Maybe he shouldn’t have seduced Enchilada, but he didn’t regret it like he did back then.
He was glad he had made that mistake. It had turned him into a better man. Showed him another way of life, one where not everything he wanted was handed to him on a plate. For the first time in his life, he had to work to gain the respect and trust of others.
Feelings he had never experienced invaded his heart. Levi Carmichael felt human, and he liked it.
Yet it wasn’t being exiled that had brought on those feeling, rather a stubborn and crazy witch. Crystal Hudson. She had looked right through him from the start. Never backed down and had the roar of a lion. Her beauty and inner strength continued to surprise him with each new day. No matter what life threw at that girl she came out on top and with her head held high.
When he was around her, he was the man he wanted to be. Not the monster everyone expected him to be. He could be himself around her. If anything happened to her, he dreaded to think of what he would do or the person he would become. Crystal was his light, without her the future looked dark and bleak. She had chased away the shadows and fought off his loneness.
She had to be alive, if not he would destroy Athens even if that meant it destroyed him.
Lost in his thoughts he followed the small mud path. It was a path he had ventured on plenty of times. It led to the castle that once was his kingdom. However, it was now home to Enchilada and her army.
The hoofs of horses pounded on the ground. Quickly Levi shifted and dove into the cover of nearby hedges. He watched the horses and Enchilada’s men dart by. The crack of their whips sounded hollow as it echoed through the forest.
“The queen is dead!” he heard them chant and his heart leapt. Crystal? Keeping low to the ground in wolf form he crawled. When the last of the men went by, he ran full speed towards the castle.
For the first time in history the wooden bridge that crossed the river to the castle was unguarded. He made his way across, and the bridge swayed from side to side. Once he had safely made it to the other side he sniffed the ground, his heartbeat frantically as he could smell dried blood. Enchilada’s sour blood was the strongest, yet he could pick up the sweet scent of Crystals, he quickly followed the scent until he came to a cave.
The cave had been used to hold the strongest of the creatures who were sentenced to death. The stone door was wide open, and the smell of blood was over pouring.
Nothing could have prepared him for the sight. Blood splattered the floor and the walls. Enchilada lay in a pool of her own blood with her tail missing and her face unrecognizable. He had to turn away from the once beautiful mythical creature, what caught his eye sent a chill through his body and terror glued his feet to the ground.
“Tails are much better than legs. A gift from Crystal,” the words were written in blood. Underneath those words was another message. “Crystal Hudson is mine; her legs will give me new life. New legs, new Teke. Mine!” Levi shivered and left the cave. His hope vanished. The message was clear. Teke wanted Crystal’s legs so she could live again. Once marked by a demon you couldn’t run from them. They could find you in an instant. How do you kill something that is already dead? It was one question he didn’t know the answer too.
***
Yawning, Crystal got to her feet. The sun was already high. The Giant Peter sat crossed legged a few feet away.
“Morning!” he sang, and she fell over as the ground moved under her feet. “Whisper Peter!” she shouted. He smiles and put his finger to his lips.
“Good morning, Peter,” she sighed feeling terrible about snapping at him. Scooping up some water she washed her face then gulped down the cool liquid.
“Peter there is a lady that lives within this forest. Her name is Margon. Can you take me to her?” it was a long shot, and she knew it. But it was worth asking.
“Margon. Yes, I take you,” Peter cupped her in his hand.
“You know where she lives?” she couldn’t hold back the excitement in her voice.
“The Wise one,” Peter sang in a soft whisper. Crystal closed her eyes as the forest sped by them, with her eyes closed her stomach still flipped and turned with the movement.
It felt like hours before he stopped. When she peaked from behind his fingers she squealed in delight. The little cottage stood before her with smoke rising from the chimney.
“Thank you, Peter. Thank you so much!” she hugged his finger and he lowered her to the ground.
“Peter, I guess it is time to say goodbye,” she fidgeted with the hem of her t-shirt and kept her gaze directed at the ground. She could see it in Peter’s eyes. The loneliness and need for friendship. She had given him hope and led him on. Now she was telling him goodbye and sending him away alone. She wanted to take him home. Strip the hurt and pain from his eyes. However, she knew that wasn’t possible.
“Wise One said I find you and bring you here. You need me,” Crystal peaked up at him from her long lashes and watched as he gently placed himself on the ground and crossed both his arms and legs like a child in a huff.
“Margon said that?” she asked him to place her tiny hand on his foot.
“Margon, Wise One. I stay with you until no longer needed,” he gave her a smile and she smiled back.
“Thank you, Peter,” she said looking at the beast in awe.
“We friends,” Peter replied.
“That we are,” Crystal headed up the small narrow path and knocked on the door.
“Bout time you got her girl,” Margon whipped the door open which was followed by a gust of wind. She saw the glimmer of her wings and smiled.
“You knew I was coming?” it wasn’t a question rather a statement.
“Of course, child. Now come on in and let’s get some food in you before you become skin and bones,” Crystal let out a small laugh as she followed the old woman into the warmth of the cottage. She took a seat at the kitchen table while Margon pottered around the kitchen fixing a meal.
She placed a bowl of what looked like stew and bread in front of her and Crystal wasted no time digging into the food. The meat was tender and juicy. It seemed to melt in her mouth.
“This is amazing. What meat is this?” Crystal asked in-between mouthfuls of food
“Something’s better off not known girl,” Margon winked as she dipped her own bread into the golden-brown broth. The last of her food felt heavy in her mouth and Crystal had to force herself to swallow the last few bites.
“Margon….”
“Please child. Call me Gran,”
“Gran, Peter the giant, did you send him?” The word Gran felt strange leavening her lips.
“The universe works in strange and mysterious ways. One day you will understand,” Crystal rolled her eyes at her cryptic words.
“Can you help me find the vortex?” Crystal asked her, she was too tried to push for more information.
“No,” Margon replied and began to wash the pots.
“But you know where it is,” panic flooded her heart as she stared at the old woman in shock. She was sure she would help her.
“Yes, indeed I do,”
“Then why?” she was aware the words had come out in a whine, but she didn’t care.
“Crystal dear, there is so much you must learn,”
“That doesn’t help me,” Crystal snapped.
“Now, now child. I said that I wouldn’t help you. But I know someone who will. But first please bring in some logs for the fire.”
Crystal roughly pushed her chair out, stood and slammed the chair back under the table before storming out of the house. Peter of course. If she knew that in the first place, she would have asked him to take her there. Instead, she had wasted too much time. The old woman that was supposed to be her Gran had let her down. The disappointment she felt from yet another family member was a blow that she was struggling to cope with. Her father was the only family she could ever rely on. Even Ruby had disappeared for a few weeks leaving her alone when she needed her.
When she walked to the log shed, she kicked the wooden structure. Of course, it was empty having logs already chopped would have been too simple for her complicated life.
***
Levi didn’t rush. He walked slowly dragging his feet. Inside he felt nothing. Crystal would be long gone by now. He had never heard of anyone defeating a demon. He couldn’t bear the thought of her facing such horrors alone and scared. He stepped out of the foliage of trees and froze. Sat in front of Margon’s home was a Giant. That woman was as crazy as Crystal. The company she kept was bizarre to say the least. A slight smile pulled at his lips. Crystal was like Margon in some ways. Both of them were stubborn and fighters.
“Emmm, Lunch!” the Giant said jumping to his feet. Levi was ready for the shaking of the ground and jumped out of the way of a tree that toppled over.
“Hey! I am here to see Margon!” he yelled up to the giant who was licking his lips.