The Faerie Slayer
Chapter 13

After school, I was still in a bit of a daze. I had opened the book briefly during last period, read the first line written and slammed it back shut. It had began with something like;

Do you ever wonder what exists beyond the realm of your reality, somewhere between right and wrong, yes and no, are questions we have not yet found logical answers for-

Had the book not accompanied the memory of Caleb blossoming that tulip into full growth, my skin may have not littered with goosebumps. In the train again, I attempted to read the book again. I had made it as far as two more sentences before rolling my eyes out of frustration and slight fear of the unknown. Back home, my father was pulling into the driveway and from a distance I could see Snowball yapping at his car door. I smiled to myself when he'd stepped out off the car. I hadn't realized but I missed him.

When I neared, I pecked him on the cheek a top the porch and we both headed inside. The left over scent of the raspberry scones lingered heavenly making my mouth water.

"If I eat anymore of these, they'd better cancel the summer," my father hoisted two scones into his mouth.

"What are you talking about dad, you're in great shape," I interjected as I grabbed a plate and filled it with pastries.

"Not for long if your mom keeps cooking like this."

I laughed out loud and headed up the stairs and into my room. I sprawled on my bed after a change of clothes, I wore shorts and a sleeping tank. I laid the book alongside my plate of scones and imagined I'd reach for one whenever I felt slight discomfort whilst reading. Snowball was curled at my feet, the often spur of his fur against my foot provided added comfort. I could not describe the discomfort I felt resulted by this book. It was almost as if this book bore hidden secrets that were meant to be locked away but I had it now at my grasp.

I flipped to the first page and began to read.

Do you ever wonder what exists beyond the realm of your reality, somewhere between right and wrong, yes and no, are questions we have not yet found logical answers for. Your religions will offer you no sustenance, nor will your scientists and researchers. As you enter this new reality, be prepared to abandon all that you have been taught to believe.

It is often said or-rather confirmed, that within this lifetime, we will never make it to the stars. We, being us. You and I, human to human, mortal to mortal. I will teach you that sometimes, dear reader, you cannot enter someone's home without an invitation first. These invites are rare and hard to obtain and to be quite frank, if a creature of the Stars were to extend one to you, my only advice would be to run.

I know what's gotten your attention ; creature of the Stars. What happens when a creature is formed atop a star, four light years away? Magic happens.

Power happens, unexplainable events, dents in your timeline, in mine, logic suddenly seems so foolish in comparison, doesn't it?

Ding! I jumped up in alarm. My phone had gone off.

I slammed the book closed and reached for the item to discover that it was Caleb.

'Did you start to read it yet?'

'Yes. What are you trying to tell me? That you were born on a star, lol.'

'Just keep reading.'

'Fine. Only if you come to the Snake Pit with me tomorrow at seven to watch Matt's band play.'

'I'll be there.'

I hid the book under my bed. I decided that it was enough for tonight. Any more reading and I would result myself a sleepless night. I got rid of some homework, read a few more chapters of The Tempest and by the time it was around eight, the sun was beginning to veil itself once again. I hurried to my feet and wore on my shoulders a flimsy sweater. Snowball followed and once we were downstairs, I attached his leash and harness and grabbed a plastic bag. Outside, I could not leave my thoughts behind. They followed me forcefully, within every side thought was a battle to linger back to the fact that my new boyfriend was more then just a little different. Sure, I liked Caleb, but was it enough? Part of me felt bad, like I would be proving his point if I were to abandon him now. Part of me begged to stick around and hear the rest of him out. Whatever it is, it's not like he can control it. Would it be so bad? To be dating someone with powers?

The truth is it wouldn't be bad at all and I was sure of it, that when I'd finally surpassed the stage of being utterly shocked, I will be able to more embrace him and maybe perhaps love him. It was the fear of the unknown, a certain unsettlement that homed my brain to discover that I-in fact know nothing.

I was at edge of the trees that bordered my home. Inside were woods that I used to often stumble into as a kid. More times then I could remember, I'd chased Ben through them and if we would run far enough, we'd make it to the very beginning of Deadwood Creek. Snowball was barking at something in the trees and I decided that before the sun would go down completely to take a quick stroll inside. When I was deep enough to be surrounded with nothing but the greenery of the hunching trees, I found a certain serenity.

I inhaled and exhaled. I watched with bliss as Snowball sniffed around at the base of a trunk. I admitted to myself that although I found it strange, Caleb's confinement in me with his secrets offered me a feeling of reassurance.

I think he likes me and I think that he hesitates sometimes because he's afraid of how I'll react once's he's fully confided in me.

In some ways, his choice to take it slow, to reveal one thing at a time to me is actually quite flattering. The book, the flower, he'd thought this out carefully. How to reveal to me his most vulnerable secrets without scaring me away too quickly?

I felt my chest soften at the image of anxious Caleb sitting at home wondering how he was going to break the news to me.

I will reassure him tomorrow, I thought, I will kiss him and let him know that I don't care if he can move flowers or grow trees.

Part of me, a deep untouched part of me always knew that if it wasn't me that was slightly different, then I was at least bound to fall in love with some who is.

Tomorrow I will also read, at least three or four more pages.

Snowball's impulsive barking snapped me out of my trance. He tugged on his leash, bringing me forward just a little bit. I studied the directions of his gaze but within sight there was nothing that I could identity that posed as a trigger.

Maybe he'd seen a squirrel somewhere.

Snowball's barking only became louder and more hurdling. He yanked as hard as he could, now balancing on his two back legs, arms up in the air as if to attack.

"Snowball, relax," I kneeled to pet his back. He did not even acknowledge me. Almost as if something had gotten into him, he growled as aggressively as I had ever seen. He pulled and pulled and I thought to pick him up to bring him back but I could not get my arms to wrap around his squirming body.

It was right then, when I was kneeled down at Snowballs height did I finally catch sight of what it was that my dog had seen before me.

A snake, with a head as thick and big as a tigers and silver eyes that locked with mines. I could not tell how long it was from here, but it must have been at least a few meters. It's body was as wide as one of my thigh's and although it was slow and far, I could hear the haunting hiss from behind its forked tongue. I finally managed to grab a hold of Snowball now but my feet were failing me. As if the ground itself had magically prisoned me, I could not blame it on fear or panic. Physically I was trapped. I was stuck in a battle of sight with the snake, eyes fixated on its circling pupils, I suddenly almost felt hypnotized. The creature looked to me as if it were from a fairy tale. It could not be real, this perfect, this big.

How could this thing exist, just miles from the city?

I was still stuck, seconds later, I mentally debated whether I should let Snowball go.

I'd hoped that he'd run back, barking helplessly to alert my mother or father but I feared he'd do the exact opposite and run towards the snake, triggering it further.

I did not have to make the decision because it was Snowball that leaped out of my reach. I screamed out loud and tried to catch hold of the end of the leash but he was too fast.

"Snowball! Come back, now!" I couldn't recall a time in my life that I had screamed this loud and with this much panic.He dashed for the snack, barking his head off and that's when it finally took its gaze off of me. I waved my arms in an attempt to reestablish eye contact but it was fixated on my dog. I felt the tears stream down my face in rivers. I was able to move now , it was almost as if it were the snakes gaze that kept me interlocked. I ran to grab Snowball who might have been already dead in my subconsciousness, because my heart was at my feet and the sound of my sobbing was as loud as his growls. The snake opened its mouth wide and hissed at the face of my dog who now stood still and began to whimper.

"Snowball, here!" Through tears, I patted my knees to signal where he should return. He ran back, and I help my arms open wide, but Snowball kept going.

I turned to look for him, but he had disappeared in the direction of my home.

"Snowball!" I began in his direction with a jog," Snowball!"

I did not get very far. I felt something wrap around my right leg. The weight of the snake on me was enough to slam my body onto the soil. I fell face first and screamed out in pain as the creature hugged me tighter and tighter. I grabbed at its scaled back but it was littered with prickly thorns. I had never heard of a snake with a throned back. My fingers bled at the first touch. The snakes face was at my thighs, peering up at me in a way that scared me more then the hold it had on my legs. Fangs exposed now, it slashed its mouth for my face but I ducked further into the soil and inches away from its venom. My ears were ringing with chaotic alarm but I could have sworn that the creature was laughing. I searched the ground for a weapon. Flail branches and soils were all that I had to work with. When it slashed its tongue at me again, I threw a fistful of dirt into its mouth. It hackled and chocked, loosening it's grip on me for less then a second. During that time, I was able to inch forward and grab a bigger stick that teased me seconds away at the base of a tree. The snake reclaimed its grip on me. I could not feel my legs anymore and anything below my waist had gone numb. I slammed the snake with the stick over and over and over again. I thought to poke it in the eye but I could not succeed. Eventually, it bit the snake out of my grip and tossed it so it was too far for me to grab. The snake was not wrapped around my waist, creeping higher and higher until it was just an inch from my face. I screamed into the soil and felt it's wet tongue on my neck. My eyes were shut, I awaited to feel the sharp pain from its venomous fangs but instead, I felt the snakes grip loosen. I heard thudding against the soil and felt the earth shake with impact. I opened my eyes the slightest but I could not see. My vision was stained with dirt and burned painfully. I flipped my body around and hoisted myself against a tree trunk. I felt the snake unwrapping forcefully. I struggled to clear my vision and when I was finally able to see, I gasped at the shock. The biggest male wolf I had ever seen wrapped a jaw around the snakes head and was pulling it off of me. The creature was resistant and I could not believe that it was a match for this wolves strength. The animal let go of the snakes head and aimed for its body at my feet. It dug its teeth into the scales as if the thorns were no bother. The snake shrieked in pain and released me completely. The wolf held the snake up and tossed it with force against the trunk of a tree. I watched in horror as it rolled onto the ground and leaped forward. It bit into the wolf resulting it to howl. I felt helpless, I wanted to help the poor shrieking animal. The snake wrapped itself around the wolves throat who squirmed within its grasp. I was slowly regaining feeling of my legs, for now, I watched the wolf lose to the massive reptile. I was now able to stand up on my feet and started to walk backwards. Tears restarted all over again, this time, because I was watching my four legged savour getting suffocated to death. As much as I tried to listen to the voice of reason in the back of my head, there was another that screamed,'you have to help him.'

I could win the attention of the snake, just for a second, just until the wolf were to reclaim his power and for the snake to loosen its grip. I grabbed the stick that was confiscated by the reptile and abandoned all thoughts of reason as I stumbled forward. I watched with my mouth parted as the wolf stared into my soul with hazel eyes. His face seemed to grow less content the closer I got. It was almost as if he'd preferred I ran away.

I did not hesitate when I brought the stick up and slammed it down on the snakes head. I must have blacked out and did it over and over and over again because when my vision returned, the snake was back at the will of the wolves fangs. It slammed the snake down onto the soil and placed a heavy paw atop its skin. He stared at me. I did not want to go until I seen the wolf kill the snake but it would not proceed. The wolf opened its mouth and sent a growl that made me stumble. My heart began to thud at the impact of the brute. I was pushing my luck and I knew it. I watched with regret as the wolf bled red droplets onto my feet. I could not abandon him but I knew that this was an animal that would probably aim to kill me as soon as it were done with the snake. At least that is what I told myself to get myself out of there. I left the scene, letting the wolf deal with the reptile, I ran back towards the border of the trees and looked back every minute or so. When I was far enough that I could not see the two, I stayed for a minute longer.

I ran up the porch and into my home. Snowball was waiting eagerly behind the door. I felt a sense of relief and dropped to my knees to kiss him. However, I could not leave behind my hero. I'd hoped to see a victory, the wolf marching closer with the dead snake in its grasp. I wanted to be reassured that he'd made it and so I shut the door and returned to the edge that was lined with trees. I waited and waited, minutes turned into an hour and it were pitch black now. Eventually I headed back inside. I showered, ridding the stench of earth off of my skin. Purple bruises spotted my left leg and ran up my behind and lower back. They burned when I pressed on them. I wondered how I would explain this to anybody. I decided that I wouldn't. I'd wear jeans until the bruises healed and I'd forget about whatever just happened.

How could I ever explain? Who wouldn't think that I'd lost my mind? After the events with Caleb and now this, even I was beginning to doubt myself.

I went to sleep that night with the taunting image of the wolves human eyes. They reminded me of someone, or maybe a time in my life that I could not quite recall. The feeling was not quite deja vu, but something else that I could not seem to get a grip on. I tried not to overthink. I convinced myself that snake was dead and the wolf had made it.

Never did I think I would get to be this close to a wolf, and never would I have ever imagined that in a thousand years I'd be rescued by one.

It was almost pitch black. The sky usually rendered light with the moon and the stars, but that was not the case tonight. I was not sure where I was, but I felt as if I was constantly battling through dark mist with every step forward. I lifted my hands to guide me, used the tips of my fingers to determine what would be next. I thought to stop walking but then what? It wasn't as if I could see anything or anyone. I heard the wind stir the bushes and smelt the scent of the moss. I wonder if I stop and listen, if I stop and smell, perhaps I would know where I am?

I closed my eyes. Although I could not see much of anything anyway, the action might have heightened my senses. I could hear something else, beyond the rattle of the leaves I heard waves. Small simple ones, hardly alive and altered by the same facile wind that teased the tip of my nose. I parted my lips in an attempt to taste the air. As a kid, my parents would bring me to a beach at Maple Woods. Sometimes I'd stand with my mouth open by the edge where the water meets the sand and I could swear I could taste a difference. This air tasted refreshing, sweet but salty, I could almost taste the breeze seasoned with sea on my tastebuds. I opened my eyes. Still, I could see nothing but I was able to conclude that I was nearby a body of water.

I took a step forward, and another and another until my feet were wet at the shore. Beneath my feet I felt the slimy rocks underneath. I felt something wrap at my ankle and attempted to pull away. The grip was tight on my leg, no matter how hard I resisted, I was no match for the creature that was forcing me into the black water. I eventually lost the fight, half of my body was now soaking wet, the other flapped it's arms in hopes of alerting somebody of my distress. I screamed out but I could only hear it in my thoughts. I felt the creature drowning me further down. My face was now levelled with the water. I choked as it rushed down my throat and burned as it came out of my nose. I could see where I'd been standing now just a couple of feet away. I could see an approaching figure. I struggled even harder, kicked my legs and screamed although it was inside of my head.

I think I'm in Deakwood Creek, like really in it.

The figure was Jack. I hoped he remembered me and was fond enough of me to save me. He merely stared and beside him now was Caleb. In his grasp a small tulip. His eyes wouldn't meet mine. I wondered if he knew it was me, if he would try to help me. I spun around and caught sight of Ben. By his side was the brown eyed stranger from the bar whom I sat next to briefly at the bar. Behind him, a big burly creature on four feet. The wolf. I tried to catch the attention of the animal but it seemed as if nobody wanted to step into these haunted waters. Eventually I grew tired and so I sank. I let the persistent snake at my feet drag me to the deepest pits of the lake and gave in as the water stole my consciousness forever.

When I woke up, I immediately sat up, breathing heavily or more like panting. The alarm clock beside my bed read four am. I was soaking wet with sweat. I grabbed at my feet but nothing was there. I gave myself a minute and then I stood up to close my window. My room was now cold, I'd mistakenly left my window open. I splashed some water on my face and under the light in the bathroom, I regarded my bruises. When all traces of the nightmare had left my brain, I went back to sleep.

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