Payton trudged along, trying to keep a steady pace and stay alert at the same time. It was quiet in the woods. She was beginning to realize it was a little too quiet when she heard a twig snap. She turned toward the sound.
“Hello,” said a stranger with a large grin on his face.
Payton stepped back.
“Who are you?” She asked, trying not to sound scared out of her wits. “Are you following me? Why are you following me?”
“Don’t be afraid,” the stranger replied, “you are on my land. I saw you from a distance and decided to investigate. You are trespassing. Who are you?” He asked.
She glared at the stranger, now standing only a few feet away from her. He was a striking figure. Tall, blonde, and hot! ‘Oh crap!’ She thought. ‘Stop it. Payton Just stop it! You’re married, remember?’ She stared, he was almost god-like. Her eyes widened as the thoughts entered her mind. ‘God-like!’ She stepped back a few more paces.
“I asked you first,” she said. “Who are you?”
“Ah, where are my manners? I am Aurel.” He answered, then asked “And you are?
“Payton.”
“Very nice to meet you, Payton.” Aurel said, then bowing slightly.
Chapter 27
Aurel walked around Payton slowly, examining her closely. At first, puzzled, wondering who this person was. She looked different; no aura, she smelled different; curious. He had never had any problem figuring out a mortal before. No fear either, really, she is cautious though. Curious.
Payton was watching Aurel very closely also. Who is this? Looks like he could be a god, yet his name was not familiar to her. Maybe he was a god in another realm. He seemed different.
“So,” Payton started. “Um, so where are you from and why were you watching me?”
“I live here.” Aurel answered.
“In this forest?” she asked.
“In this land.” Aurel said.
“You could be more specific … Aurel.” Payton said, annoyance now apparent in her voice.
“This is my homeland – Romania. I live here.” He said, then asked, “And yourself? What brings you here?”
“Um … I’m looking for someone.” Payton answered.
“May I be of some assistance?” he offered.
“Why? I don’t know you, we just met and you’re offering to help? Okay, buddy, what’s going on here?” She questioned again.
“You are very suspicious, woman,” he said. “There is nothing ‘going on.’ I thought I might point you in the right direction, if I can.”
“Oh.” She blushed a bit. “Sorry.”
“Very defensive, I must say. But it is a good character to have in these lands. One must defend one’s self, especially … a woman.” He said, a slight grin appearing.
“Fine,” she retorted, “this ‘woman’ is looking for …,” she broke off. Why the hell should she ask a total stranger where the Anords could be? If they’re hiding out in Romania, around the Carpathians, they are a long way from home. She was getting lost in her thoughts, her suspicions …
“Payton?”
She blinked. “I don’t think you can help, but thank you.” She said and started to walk on.
“Perhaps I can help.” He said, following her. “I’ve lived here for many years. I know the land. All of it.”
Payton thought for a moment, then said, “oOkay. So, say I let you help me. How do I know I can trust you?”
“You do not know,” he answered, “but, I’m sure you trust your instincts. What do they tell you?”
“If I go on that,” she said, “I’d have to say … you aren’t a threat to me, but, there is something about you that’s not – for lack of a better word – normal.”
Aurel laughed. It was a genuine laugh. Not menacing.
“Perhaps we will figure each other out as we travel along.” He said.
They both walked along a path Payton found. It looked well-travelled. It was a beautiful forest. She could really lose herself here. No worries, leave things behind her for a while. Why did she have to be a god? So called ‘Chosen.’ Argh! So much had been dumped on her shoulders in such a short time. She was trying so hard to get some answers and hoping to find them here. They walked for some time before Aurel spoke, “May I ask, what you are looking for Payton?”
“It’s ‘who’ actually.” She said.
“Alright, who?”
She continued “Her name is Lilith. From what I can deduce, she must be here somewhere. My gut tells me she’s in the mountains. She’s with …,” Payton didn’t want to say Lilith was with the ‘evil’ gods of her realm and … oh man. “There’s some group, sect, whatever you’d call it, called the Anords. I’m sure I’ll find her there.”
Aurel stopped. Anords. He had heard of them. He had heard, through gossip from some of the old people in the villages around the country. He thought it was just that – gossip. Payton turned around. Aurel was several feet behind her, not following as before.
“Something wrong?” she asked.
Aurel said, “These Anords – they are real?” Payton nodded.
“I have heard the old people of the villages talk of them, I thought it was idle gossip, and did not pay any attention to it. But, the villagers, they seem afraid. They do not venture far from home. They are afraid.”
“Have you seen them?” Payton asked.
“I cannot say that I have,” he answered, “but I have seen unusual activity in the mountains recently. It seems there were more storms and very bright lightening; more than I have ever known. Perhaps, your Anords?”
“They are not ‘My Anords’ Aurel, but I am looking for a woman I believe is with them. Her name is Lilith,” she said.
“This is intriguing,” said Aurel, “now you must follow me instead. I believe I can show you where the storms and lightening were coming from.”
“Okay.” Payton replied.
Aurel went ahead of Payton, his walk was very graceful. Almost as if he floated.
______________________________
Flash!
Terran examined the landscape. Romania, he knew it. He looked up at the majestic mountains. He saw the storms brewing and the bright lightening. They were brighter than usual. His heart sank, his stomach ached. He knew Payton was on her way toward the storms. He had to find her, had to stop her. She wasn’t ready.
Chapter 28
Payton continued to follow Aurel through the forest until they came to the edge of a clearing. Aurel stopped, held his hand up for Payton to stop.
“Someone is here,” he whispered.
Payton moved around Aurel slowly to see what he was seeing.
Two people fighting. One was a very large man and the other, a woman. The man looked very familiar. She’d seen him before too, she was sure of it. But, where? And the woman – something about seeing her, her chest hurt. Like a sharp pain.
They weren’t fighting either. They were sparring. Practicing! Oh no!
“Well, well! Look who we have here!” a voice from behind Payton said. Payton jumped and Aurel merely turned, gracefully to see her.
Lyradis smiled at seeing Payton’s reaction.
“Payton, beloved daughter of Liesson and Ardaria.” She said. “Trying to sneak up on us? Spy? No matter. You’re here. This saves us so much time. So nice of you! But that is your nature, isn’t it my dear?”
Payton stared at this woman in front of her, mouth slightly open. ‘She knows who I am,’ she thought. But Payton didn’t know her. A small dark aura began to form around Lyradis. A darkness was starting to spread. Even the illusion of small twinkling stars appeared.
“Lyradis.” Payton said firmly.
“I see you have regained some of your memories” Lyradis replied.
“Aurel, run!” Payton shouted.
Aurel seemed to disappear right in front of her. Payton started to run through the dense forest, trying to out-run the darkness she knew was behind her, closing in.
“O
rkat!”
Payton heard the shout for him from Lyradis. Orkat! No! She had to get away, to hide and give herself a minute to think of her next move. The villagers were right about the storms, the lightning. What they didn’t know is that it was a god, an Anord, who was responsible for it. And there it was, a storm brewing, and a big one! Bright flashes of lightning lit up the sky. With the darkness behind her, the mix of the forces would make it difficult for her to find her way. That was the idea, she knew. She could flash, but that would weaken her once again. She couldn’t take that chance. She continued to run, every few yards, zigzagging, trying to get away. From out of nowhere, someone grabbed her hand and turned her in a different direction. It was so fast; she hardly knew what was happening.
When they stopped, Payton looked up to see Aurel, still holding her hand, looking down at her.
“I saw that you were in danger,” he said, “and perhaps you needed my help.”
“Yeah” Payton said, still panting from her desperate run to getaway. “Thanks.”
“Come on,” she said, “we have to go, get away.”
“Calm yourself Payton,” Aurel soothed. “Look, you are far away from your foes.”
Payton followed Aurel’s gaze to see that they were at least half a mile away from the darkness and storms.
“How did you do that?” she asked.
“I am … fast,” he answered.
“These Anords, that was them?” he asked. Payton nodded. “Only two of them.”
“There are more?” Aurel asked.
“Yes.” Payton answered. “There are ten more.”
“And they are all after you?” His questions kept coming. “Why? You are important to them? That woman – she knew you and your parents?”
“Yes, yes,” she said. “Man, I thought I had questions. Yes, she knows who I am, and I now know who she is, from what I’ve been told and from what I’ve read, and no, before you ask, I don’t really know why they’re after me.” They stood in silence for a few seconds. Payton could see that Aurel was contemplating what to do next.
“We should go,” Payton said, and started walking. She had not taken three steps when she heard, “Go where? My dear.”
She spun around. Aurel was on his knees, agony in his face. A gold vine, with thorns was wrapped around his neck.
“Aurel!” She shouted and reached back for him. She felt a large hand grab her arm, holding her back. Vladok.
Payton tried to struggle. It was no use.
She saw them appear one by one. The Anords. All of them. Twelve gods of chaos. She looked down at Aurel again; he vanished. What? What the hell! How did he get out of that?
“Well, well,” Lis spoke up. “We have another immortal to deal with, don’t we? Krerok, Ulgor, scan the area. Find him!” She ordered. Krerok and Ulgor vanished.
Ten Anords left. ‘I’ve got to get away,’ Payton thought. She scanned the ten left, encircling her, taking in the appearance of each god to her memory.
“So, this is the famous Payton.” Payton heard a voice. Her voice. But she wasn’t speaking. Then she saw her approachingcoming toward Payton. Can’t be! Payton was looking at herself. It was like looking in a mirror.
“Let me introduce myself. Since I know who you are, you should know me. I am Lilith,” she said. Lilith smiled sweetly. Payton could see her eyes. They were green, not blue, like her own. She could see the evil.
Chapter 29
Terran moved quickly down the path. It was the same path Payton was on, he was sure of it. No sign of her.
Such a beautiful land, he thought. Too bad he couldn’t enjoy it. He longed for the days before the battle when Payton was beside him, enjoying each other, happy. ‘Now why did you have to fall in love with a woman, destined to be the most powerful god in the world?’ He asked himself. He smiled. How could he not? It was Payton, and he loved her more than life itself. He was a half-breed. She could have chosen anyone. A son of gods. A full god. She chose Terran, knowing he was half mortal. The thought of Payton made him smile, if only for a moment. He continued on – he had to find her. He could almost smell her scent. Wait, that was her scent. Terran stopped. Saw a figure on the ground several yards away. He raced toward it. Payton! Wait! This wasn’t Payton. It was a man. He has a vine of thorns around his neck! How? Terran kneeled beside him.
“Please … I beg you … help me,” the man gasped.
“Okay, okay” Terran said. He pulled out the leather gloves his father had given him. Being half mortal, he could not touch the vine with bare hands. but Wwith gloves on, he could. He carefully un-wrapped the vine from the man’s neck. It left behind bloody puncture wounds that were already healing rapidly. The vine now clear from the man’s neck, Terran carefully wound it up and put it in a leather pouch.
“Thank you,” the man said.
“No problem,” Terran said, then asked, “How did you wind up with the vine of thorns around your neck? How are you still alive? That thing is fatal to mortals.”
“I am not mortal, sir,” he answered. “I was helping a young woman find her way and came upon others. I am Aurel.”
Terran helped Aurel to his feet. ‘Helping a woman find her way.’ Terran thought.
“This woman you were helping, was her name Payton?” Terran asked.
“Yes” Aurel answered.
“What happened? Where is she?” Terran asked, the panic starting to rise in him.
“These Anords, they have her” Aurel said.
The Anords! Damn! He should have kept a better eye on her. What will the Anords do? They might try to kill her. No. They can’t. It would kill Lilith too. They would never take that chance. But they may try to keep her, imprison her for eternity. It can’t happen.
“Tell me what happened, Aurel,” said Terran.
“Don’t have time for you – I must try to help Payton,” Aurel said, now fully recovered. Aurel turned and started toward the direction he last saw Payton.
Terran followed, “Aurel! Stop!”
Aurel stopped, turned to face Terran. “Sir, I thank you for your assistance, but I must go.” Aurel said.
“No, please,” Terran was pleading. “Payton, I must find her – Please!”
Aurel looked at Terran’s face. It was sad, frightened, and frantic.
“What would you want with her, sir?” he asked.
“She’s … she’s my wife.” Terran answered.
Aurel said nothing. The one woman he had met in many years and she was married. Great!
“Will you tell me what happened?” Terran asked.
Aurel let out a sigh. “Follow me. I will tell you as we go.”
They walked quickly along, although not as quickly as Aurel would have liked. He had to slow down so the mortal could keep up. Aurel told Terran the full account of things, from his meeting with Payton until her capture by the Anords, and finally when Terran found him.
“The vine around your neck would have killed a mortal.” Terran said. “You mentioned you were immortal – a god maybe? But from what realm? I’ve never seen you before, and I thought I had met all the gods.”
“I am not a god,” Aurel said. “I am different. I am between worlds, you might say. It is a long story. I just am. Perhaps one day, we will have time for me to tell you. But not now. We are here.”
Terran looked around. Nothing. According to Aurel, this was the spot Payton was when the Anords surrounded her.
“Unfortunately, I could not help her,” Aurel whispered. “That vine, I’ve never experienced that before. There is very little in this world that can harm me. That vine …”
“Yes, well, you are now dealing with a very different world,” Terran said. “The world of gods, good and bad. Your first encounter was with the bad. The Anords are a nasty bunch.”
“Perhaps I may still help?” Aurel asked.
“There are things you can do, I’m sure, that I can’t. Right now, I have a feeling I’ll need all the help I can get.” Terran answered.
/>
Chapter 30
The fortress was huge. Ugly. There was an air of evil, despair, darkness. It was built into the cliffs of the Carpathians. No towers, no shiny glints of gold sparkling in the sunlight. In fact, there was no sunlight – just clouds, wind and constant drizzle of rain. Miserable. That’s what they were about, the Anords, pure misery.
Orkat pushed Payton down the steps to the large double doors, the entry to the fortress. The rest followed in a line. Payton looked back. They had this look on their faces … smug. All of them.
‘The arrogance.’ Payton thought. The pain around her wrists was hard to endure., but Sshe was adamant., Sshe wasn’t going to let them win. She was Payton, destined to be all- powerful. ‘They won’t break me.’ She learned quickly that to resist the vine of thorns only made the vine tighter. Orkat enjoyed seeing her wince at every tug. They opened the doors. and Orkat pushed Payton through.
“Put her in the deepest, darkest cell we have, Orkat.” Dichune ordered.
Orkat’s smile widened. “With pleasure Dichune!” He said, and once again, pushed Payton forward. She stumbled, almost fell, but retained her composure. Lilith ran up to Orkat.
“Wait!” She shouted. “I want to talk to her.”
Orkat stopped pulling the end of the vine to make Payton stop. She winced. The vine tightened its grip slightly. Enough to shoot pain through her hands again. Payton felt herself weaken with every jolt of pain. She needed to rest. Regain her strength.
Lilith came up behind Orkat and stopped just inches in front of Payton.
“You will tell me all I need to know,” Lilith whispered. “I want answers, and,…” Lilith was getting closer to Payton. …
“Lilith, stop!” Dichune shouted. “You must not touch her! Not yet!”