Feral Heart by Duron Crejaro (distant reading .TXT) 📕

was touching a plasma orb. Looking around I saw nothing; I turned around feeling afraid and made to leave. That’s when she materialized before my eyes. A shimmering figure translucent and opaque slowly grew denser, features becoming recognizable as something at least somewhat human.

 

To be honest, the experience was fascinating. She just faded into view, top to bottom as if by magic. Her hair was long, shockingly white trailing all the way down her back. It seemed alive itself, shifting around her in a breeze that wasn’t real. Her eyes were a startling purpling color, dark and deep, with a swirling quality to them that was mesmerizing. She was tall too, near six feet, lithe, with an iridescent forest green dress that hugged her curves. It was cut with a deep v-neck exposing a full chest. She was in a word, breathtaking.

 

Even as I stared, she smiled, and I felt like my mouth must be hanging open in awe. “What are you?” I managed to stutter out.

 

“I’m Aeolia.” Her smile never faltered as she spoke, maybe it was plastered on her face, or she was just always happy I thought. “And as for what I am,” she made a sweeping gesture around herself “I’m what you might call a Fae, or Faerie.”

 

“You mean like Cinderella’s Faerie God Mother?” I asked.

 

She laughed; it was like music sending visible chills through me. “Not quite like that I’m afraid, but don’t think me weak. Do not be alarmed though, I have no intention of harming you.”

 

“You don’t?” I wanted to be skeptical, but for some reason, I knew she was telling the truth, or rather felt it, like she always told the truth regardless.

 

“Of course not, I’m here to collect you. The ‘Wylder’ as you call them have been made aware of you by Tarin and the Wise One wishes to meet you.”

 

I gulped a little, not sure if this was a good idea. “And if I don’t want to go?” I questioned trying to keep the nervousness from my voice.

 

Laughter again musically rolled through the room, “Tarin said you had gumption. Really though, we are not like the humans, we will not force you. It is your choice, though I can feel the choice has already been made.”

 

I nodded unable to tell her otherwise. Cami was in danger; I needed answers. What choice did I have? I knew before she even asked, that I was going to go regardless of the apprehension I felt. “Is it far?”

 

She gave a quick shake of her head, “Maybe if we were going on foot.” A coy smile turned up one side of her lush lips. She floated, or flew? I wasn’t quite sure what to call it. Nevertheless, in seconds she was right in front of me. She reached out with a slender poised hand and rested it on my shoulder. I felt a surge of power; my stomach did a back flip. I felt turned inside out as my vision closed in on itself and went dark. My vision slowly recovered, and the sinking feeling in my stomach grew more intense. No longer was I in the gutted remains of a building in the Old World. Now I was standing in the center of a bustling community. Oh lord I thought to myself, what have I done.

Chapter 10: The New Old World

It was country. That is the only word I can think of to describe it. I didn’t know where I was, just that Aeolia had spirited me away to the Wylder. As if the teleportation wasn’t jarring enough, I now found myself being stared at by passersby’s. I felt out of place, and maybe I was. Who was I to turn up unannounced in their village? A human, one of those that had long persecuted them, I was an enemy in their midst and the looks they were given me ranged from morbid curiosity to downright animosity. For the life of me, I could find no reason to fault them for their views.

 

Looking around, I was surprised by how normal everything was. I guess I expected an overly exotic place filled with exotic beings that I couldn’t begin to describe. Yet, I found myself in an environment that seemed perfectly normal. It of course was not as advanced as our community; it had a rustic feeling to it. Somehow, it still felt like a regular place. People were milling about, after the interest at my arrival faded; they went back to whatever they were doing before. The architecture of the settlement was simple, and looked much like pictures I had seen in history books of small towns in the Old World. Most of them were in fact repaired structures of that era, though some were new but still followed the old style. The main difference I noticed is that no one seemed idle. Every one of them that I could see moved with a sense of purpose, some working on buildings, others moving carts of supplies or food about, and still others on tasks that I didn’t quite fathom. Still, all of them seemed to be working together for the betterment of everyone. It was a harmony that we strove for in our city, yet couldn’t seem to achieve.

 

Aeolia snapped to get my attention and I jerked my attention back to her, released from my dreamy inspection of my surroundings. “This way please, the Wise One awaits.” She made a quick motion to follow and didn’t wait to see if I did before heading off towards the north end of the village. During the short walk, I indulged myself in the sights smells and sounds of the locality. I had never dreamed something like this existed outside the cruel realities of the home I came from. Everything was so lively and beautiful. These people lived with nature instead of trying to control it.

 

“How long have you lived here? What is this place even called?” I mused aloud to Aeolia as I followed behind her to the left.

 

“Me?” She asked seeming surprised that I was questioning her. “Umm well this is Springwell, and I’ve been here forever I guess. I wasn’t born in your cities.”

 

“Really? Ever been in one?”

 

“No never, I much prefer nature.”

 

“But how old are you?”

 

“I don’t know. I think maybe I have always existed. I don’t reckon time as you folk do.”

 

“Yes but in years I mean.”

 

She shrugged as if the concept perplexed her. “I simply am as I have always been.”

 

I looked at her, wondering exactly what she could do. The teleportation had been awe inspiring in and of itself, and now her convoluted ideation of time. What other secrets lurked beneath that pristine appearance. I had no further time to contemplate the matter, for suddenly she stopped dead in her tracks. “Here we are. The Wise One awaits within.”

 

I started to speak and ask her about this Wise One, only to have her flutter from existence in the blink of an eye. I was left standing at the beginning of a small cobblestone path that led up to a modest single story house. It was elegant and simple at the same time, not somewhere I would expect the head of Springwell to live. Though, as I thought about it more, this place was so unlike Nashboro that I supposed it shouldn’t surprise me at all. I’m not sure why, but my apprehension grew as I forced myself to start down the path. It felt like things were changing fast and my life itself was on a new path. I was sure I liked it. I wasn’t sure it could be stopped.

Chapter 11: The Wise One

I stopped just outside the plain unobtrusive wooden door, lingering on the porch. I pretended to admire the workmanship of the porches pillars, in reality I was hiding. Who was this Wise One. What did he want of me? Only one way to find out I thought as I stepped to the door to knock. I gasped a little, the door slowly slid open ostensible on its own. I didn’t even have time to knock.

 

Inside was an eclectic arrangement of furniture, nothing matched. It was all just thrown together. I heard a voice echo from the back of the house. “Back here. In the Kitchen.” So, I forced myself to tread down the hallway, overcoming the urge to explore the house.

 

With much trepidation, I entered the kitchen. Let me tell you, I was shocked by what awaited me. I scanned the room. Nothing was out of the ordinary, just a normal kitchen. A fridge, stove, dining table with chairs, there was even a microwave. The thing that shocked me was the man though. Once again, I was floored by the outward normality of everything. I expected some weird obtuse being, and was instead confronted with. “Hi, I’m Andrew, but everyone calls me Bobby.”

 

I blinked twice, not sure, I was seeing clearly. In the kitchen, chopping vegetables before me stood an older man, nearing forty years of age, a graying balding head with a wrinkled face, from too much time spent in the sun doing hard work; He had a warm smile and pleasant smile along with a slight stoop to his back which didn’t match his otherwise fit and trim figure. This was the Wise One, I scoffed to myself, and so much for any help I was hoping to get from him. “Uhh Bobby, hi.” I spoke.

 

“So you’re Eliza. Tarin’s told me all, well, what little he knows about you.” He never looked up from his preparations.

 

“Uh hmm,” I replied. “I’ve only met him twice. But he did seem nice, and he did save my life.”

 

“Well let’s have a look at you then, come’re child.” He paused, setting the knife on the cutting board.

 

I moved over to him, and he looked at me from top to bottom, cocking his head to the side as he did. “Well I can understand Tarin’s fascination, and he is absolutely correct. You do smell like us.”

 

I shook my head in disbelief. I wasn’t sure what I found more astounding, that Tarin was fascinated with me, or that I smelled like a Wylder. I mean to ask about the latter, but my mouth overpowered my brain and I found myself asking “Wait, Tarin’s fascinated with me?” A hand shot to cover my mouth; I wished I hadn’t said that.

 

He ignored me, and answered my unspoken question. “You’re not a Wylder though are you? Interesting that you smell like us.