Chapter 21- From a past into future

The human heart,

is a chamber for horrors.

~ Aristotle.

***

 Few minutes after Elvera had vanished, the Dark Lichs appeared in thin air, sniffing the spot she had been before. "Now where the hell is she?!" growled Leon, the Lich Elvera encountered earlier. His bony fingers curled into a fist in response to his words.

 Ever since she had stolen the Book and disappeared, he was stripped out of his title and lost his favor from the Lord. Not only that, his life was hanging on a thin rope that if stretched for too long, would cut loose; his death would be torturous if he doesn't provide this God forsaking Key!

He knew it! He knew that something was definitely off with the human. To think she was one of those façade humans often wore masked faces to get what they want. To think he thought of she being a spy. Worst of it all, he had mistaken the lady for human breed when all those while, she had been the missing piece that had been lost! The damned Key! 

Right now, Leon felt so agitated and embarrassed as he watched that KEY strip his right that he worked hard to earn. His title that was now muddled to the floor and stained to the core.

 He swore that if he finds her, he would strip her flesh into pieces, even before the Lord finds out.

 "Sire… I don't think she might have gone anywhere if her scent stopped at this spot as it looks she had been injured, verifying from the blood stains and scent lingering here," one of the guards with skeletal withered flesh stretched tight across his horribly visible bones, reasoned and Leon gave growl in displeasure.

 "Split out! Look for the lady!" Leon shouted, so angry, so distracted that he cared nothing for his dignity or the inevitable distortions of his face. They all scattered, wild, in the darkness, as per his instruction.

 "Sire," spoke another that drew near. "Sire."

 Leon held his fists even tighter, prepared to fend them off, to beat them, and lift them hurl them to left and right, if it needs to be.

 "What is it?"

 "I think you need to see this," he prompted, pushing his hand to his side, a gesture leading the way. "This sire…" It was the piece of paper that fell of a page Elvera had flipped.

 Squatting, he picked the piece of paper and sniffed it, taking note of its old dusty smell and something else. The Book.

 Grunting in displeasure, he disappeared and teleported into a court room, and seated from far, a mighty Lich whose chin rested on his knuckles with a staff besides him. His aura emitted darkness, a kind that could suffocate anyone under his presence.

That same darkness that illuminated the hall like torches burning, sending shivers down one's spine.

 "M-my l-lord… t-there i-is a p-problem," Leon reported, stammering in fear all the way his words, as his face never left the ground he stared. His rage earlier suddenly melted to fear.

 "Speak."

 His hoarse voice resounded in his ears, causing Leon to gulp. Hard. Summoning every bit of courage in him, he opened his mouth to speak. "W-we lost the girl… w-we have searched everywhere and tried tracing her with her scent b-but i-it…" he paused, frightened to say more. Nonetheless, he continued. "… s-she had vani-"

 Before he could complete his sentence, the Lord teleported, ignoring the words of his incompetent servant and grabbed him by the neck, lifting him.

 Leon's legs dangled mid-air, with guttural cries when he tried to speak.

 "How dare you stand before me with failure!" His raged voice belittled in torment, so rough and unpleasing like an angered beast.

 Leon still struggled. His face was twisted with the pain he felt. He opened his mouth and muttered with great difficulty, "t-the-bu-k-" he fell on his knees with one harsh push and rolled to the floor when the latter caught a bit of Leon's words.

 Leon sank to his knees again, with greater pressure. Coughing, he drew in harsh breaths to fill his lungs. He didn't know what to say anymore, before he heard his last command;

 "FIND HER… AND THE BOOK!"

 ***

Year 2000…

 A pristine-like portal appeared out of nowhere, circulating in another world, like a loch shinning with pale illumination of the moon, creating a sudden harsh wind to accompany the vortex in a forest.

 Elvera was thrown out of the portal, rolling to the end of a tree with a loud grunt at the pain. It… worked! She couldn't help but smile over her life at the moment. She supported her body with her hands to get on her feet after much struggle. The Book suddenly flew out of the portal, flying towards her direction and ended up smacking her head that she fell.

 Elvera grunted. Her hair looked tattered resembling that of an unkempt woman, as tiny pieces of dried leaves kissed it. The moment the Book appeared from the portal, it mysteriously closed itself, disappearing from there as if it never existed in the first place.

 As difficult as it had been, Elvera's face kissed the orange tinge of sunlight that brought warmth to her whole body. She felt refreshed and replenished by the feeling, as her body gave way for total surrender.

 But still, she was still conscious. Elvera grabbed her injured feet to inspect the wound, just to realize it had disappeared.

 She released a long sigh. That was so close, she thought.

 Holding the tree for support, she stood on her feet and surveyed the forest. The only thing on her mind now was to find her way out of this forest and make way to the Order. She was certain it would be the only way she could rest her exhausted body in peace, without worrying for her safety.

 And she made her way out. She walked into the high dark trees, mixture of spruce and oaks it seemed, with even some light flowering fruit trees that she could not clearly see. The wood grew thicker. Maybe this was the remnant of an ancient forest that had cleared away with ruthless conviction, she thought.

 After walking nearly half an hour in slow pace, it was already dark. The sky clobbered with silvery cloud and a drowsy look coming over the great expanses of tall hills and green farmland.

 Her legs quivered as she thrived to make way to the streets of a village with several half-timbered houses and a small overgrown cemetery.

 The moon was fairly bright. She could see a little bridge now as she drew closer and then came another turn and she was moving along the borders of a small and peaceful lake.

 ***