Shadows, Sheets, and Secrets

The forest closed in around us, and the chaotic noise of the village was long behind us, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the holy warriors weren't far enough away. Mara trudged alongside me, her usual demeanor paled after the events of the night. She would want answers, and I didn't have any to give her. All I knew was that some divine entities who visited me in a dream might be responsible for the mortals that pursued me, and even though I lived it, it sounded insane.

"We need to find somewhere to rest," I said, my voice low. My body felt like it was dragging dead weight, the interrupted sleep and fight sapping my energy more than I wanted to admit. "We can't go much farther like this."

Mara nodded, glancing around nervously. "Do you think they'll come after us out here?"

"Not immediately. They'll be searching the village first, trying to squeeze answers out of anyone they can. But we can't risk staying close."

The forest seemed endless at night, every path blending into the next. I was just about to suggest that we just set up camp here in the woods when we stumbled upon it—a small, dilapidated cabin nestled among the trees. Its roof sagged in the middle, the windows were clouded with grime, and the door hung slightly ajar on rusted hinges. It wasn't much, but it was shelter.

"This will have to do," I said, nodding toward the cabin, taking note of the small stockpile of firewood set against the structure.

Mara wrinkled her nose as we stepped inside, the stale air heavy with the scent of mold and neglect. The single room was sparsely furnished: a crooked table, a pair of mismatched chairs, and a bed frame with a thin, dusty mattress that looked like it hadn't been touched in years. A small fireplace sat against one wall, with a stack of firewood tucked into a corner nearby. 

Mara brushed a strand of hair from her face and set her hands on her hips. "It's… rustic."

"That's certainly one way to describe it", I was already moving to check the corners of the room for anything that might have been left behind. "Think you can clear off the bed and see what we have for food? I'll get the fire going if that works for you?"

She shot me a mock glare but nodded, her adorable smile breaking through the ruse before she got to work, dragging the mattress off the bed frame and beating the dust out of it with an old broom she found propped in a corner. Clouds of particles filled the air, catching the faint moonlight that slipped through the gaps in the wooden walls.

Outside, I found more firewood stacked behind the cabin that was miraculously dry thanks to the overhanging on the roof above. I hauled an armful back inside, setting it by the hearth, figuring we would do best to use some of the stores outside before digging into what we had indoors. I knew when we finally woke up in the morning, I wouldn't want to trudge out into the crisp morning air to bring in more wood.

Mara had already cleared off the table and spread a cleanish sheet over the mattress, which looked slightly less likely to give us some strange disease.

"Not bad," I said, arranging the logs in the fireplace.

"Not bad?" she repeated with mock indignation. "Do you know how hard it is to beat the life—or death—out of a mattress? You're welcome, by the way."

I smirked but didn't reply, focusing on lighting the fire. Sparks caught on the kindling, and soon the room was bathed in the warm, flickering glow of the flames. The tension in my shoulders eased slightly as the heat seeped into the air.

Mara busied herself unpacking the rations we'd purchased the day before. She laid out a small spread of dried meat, hard cheese, and bread that was still surprisingly edible, thanks to Mara's insistence that we buy fresh bread.

"Dinner's served," she said with a grin, gesturing to the table.

We ate in relative silence, trying to brush away the events that occurred mere hours ago. Every now and then, Mara would glance toward the window, as if expecting armored figures to burst through at any moment, and I couldn't blame her, I had done that twice as many times already.

When the food was gone, and the fire crackled softly in the hearth, I leaned back in my chair, exhaustion washing over me like a tide. Mara was fussing with the sheets again, smoothing them out and fluffing the meager pillow as best she could.

"Get some rest," I said, standing and stretching.

"What about you?" she asked, her brows furrowed.

"I'll take the first watch."

She looked like she wanted to argue, but instead, she nodded, sitting on the edge of the mattress and pulling the blanket around her shoulders. "Wake me if anything happens, and if you get lonely, I wouldn't mind a few minutes of cuddling."

My body filled with warmth as I imagined wrapping my arms around her petite form, tracing her curves, and grasping her flesh in my hands. I would be lying if it didn't rile me up a bit, but I needed to keep us safe. 

"Of course, if you can promise to get up and take second watch after a few minutes of me at your back."

She pouted but relented, "We'll see, by the time you get to bed, that fire will have you glowing like a furnace, and I can't say for sure that I could pull myself away from you after soaking up that heat," her smile was soft, faint, sleep weighing heavily in her eyes before she rested her head down on the pillow and watched me for a few moments. I maintained eye contact, but she didn't last long, her eyelids flickering before falling shut as she drifted off.

The firelight danced across the walls as I worked my way over to the window, peering out and scanning the forest for any signs of pursuers.

Mara's quiet breathing filled the room, and for the first time in hours, I felt like we might be safe. The paladins would be a problem tomorrow. For now, I needed to stay vigilant.

I stayed by the window, the cold of the glass seeping into my palms as I scanned the forest. Shadows danced among the trees, twisting and shifting with the flicker of the fire behind me. Every creak of wood or rustle of leaves sent a jolt of tension through me, but the forest remained still.

My body was sore, my head fogged with fatigue, but I forced myself to stay alert. I couldn't let my guard down, not when the holy warriors were likely combing the village, questioning the innkeeper, and maybe even setting up a perimeter.

The quiet breathing from behind me soothed my thoughts. I turned slightly, glancing at Mara's sleeping form on the bed. The soft rise and fall of her chest was the only sign of movement. Her golden hair spilled over her face, catching the warm glow of the firelight, and the faintest hint of a smile tugged at her lips as she slept. I couldn't help but wonder what she was dreaming of.

The minutes stretched into an hour, then longer. My legs ached from standing, and my eyelids grew heavier with each passing moment. I leaned against the window frame, trying to fight off the pull of sleep.

But I couldn't keep going. My head nodded forward, and I caught myself before I fully slipped. I needed rest. Just a little. Just enough to be useful when morning came.

I turned back to the room, my gaze falling on the bed where Mara lay. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, and the bed was warm and inviting. She had taken up most of the mattress, as was her usual prerogative. Her legs stretched out under the blanket, revealing her ivory-white skin. All I wanted to do was caress it, and as I stood there watching, I figured there was just enough space for me to fit beside her.

I hesitated. Waking her felt wrong—she'd earned this moment of peace—but the floor wasn't an option. My body needed the comfort and the warmth. Moving quietly, I padded over to the bed and slipped in beside her, the mattress dipping under my weight. The blanket barely covered me, but with the heat of the fire, I didn't really need it. I tried not to jostle her too much as I settled in.

As I lay down, I felt her shift beside me. Her body instinctively moved toward mine, her arm draping over my chest as she nestled against me. A quiet, contented sigh escaped her lips, and she murmured something incomprehensible but undeniably happy.

I wrapped an arm around her gently, holding her close as my eyes drifted shut. Whatever tomorrow held, we'd face it together. For now, in the soft glow of the fire, with Mara's steady breathing filling the space, I allowed myself to let go. We could go a few hours without someone watching for intruders. If they hadn't come after us by now, they likely wouldn't be coming after us in the early hours of the morning.

The warmth of the cabin melted away, and I found myself suspended in the familiar yet disorienting void of Morgana's realm. Shadows swirled around me, curling and twisting, their edges tinged with faint glimmers of light. The heavy, intoxicating scent of her presence enveloped me, and a faint laugh echoed through the nothingness.

"Well, well, well," her voice purred, rich and teasing. "Look at my little champion, finally discovering the joys of companionship."

I stiffened, trying to anchor myself to something in the void. "Morgana…"

"Don't sound so serious, darling," she chided, her form beginning to coalesce from the shadows. Her emerald eyes gleamed as her lips curled into a knowing smirk. "You've done well tonight, evading those self-righteous zealots. But what really warms my heart is seeing you and your lovely little companion so… close."

Her words dripped with amusement, and the image of Mara sleeping peacefully beside me flickered through my mind, unbidden. My face burned, but I forced myself to meet Morgana's gaze.

"She's… just someone I'm traveling with," I said, clearly not convinced by my words.

Morgana's laugh was musical."Oh, Lucian, you can't lie to me. I felt the way your thoughts lingered on her, the way your heart softened when you held her. It's adorable, really. But don't mistake my approval for indulgence. She can be your solace, your anchor, but your purpose remains."

"I know," I said, my voice steady despite the swirl of emotions within me. "I haven't forgotten why I'm here, or what you've asked of me."

"Good," Morgana said, stepping closer, her hand reaching out to trace the air near my face. "I don't mind if you indulge in a bit of… humanity, my dear. In fact, I encourage it. Love, loyalty, and desire, all make you stronger in ways you don't yet realize. Just don't let her distract you from our goal."

Her gaze softened for a moment, a rare vulnerability flickering across her features. "I do envy her, you know," she murmured, her voice quieter now. "She gets to feel the warmth of your arms, the steadiness of your heartbeat. I only have these fleeting moments with you, in this realm."

It was odd, this sense of jealousy from the goddess of death. For a brief moment, she seemed almost human to me.

"She doesn't know," I said, changing the subject slightly. "About me, about you, about any of this. And I don't know if I can tell her."

Morgana tilted her head, considering me. "Perhaps not yet. But secrets have a way of unraveling, Lucian. She'll find out eventually. When she does, make sure you're ready to handle the consequences."

"Go back to her, Lucian," she said, her voice a soft command. "Hold her close, cherish her warmth. I hate to tell you this, but I will not lie to you. When she finds out what you really are, she may not forgive you, she may leave you, but she will always love you."

Before I could respond, the void shattered, and I was yanked back to the waking world. The warmth of the fire greeted me, the weight of Mara's arm still draped over my chest. For a moment, I stared at the ceiling, a pang of fear in my heart. I hadn't thought about what I really was since taking this host, but it was true. I was a parasite, an invader in this body. Whomever this boy was, it wasn't me, and would Mara still care for me if she knew the truth?