"The cries of the dead," Ryden whispered, pressing her little body against my neck.
"Let's go," Gabriel said, taking the lead, but immediately stopped.
A group of six elven guards approached, swords drawn, blocking us from going further.
"Put those away, my friends," I said, but heard the edge in my voice. "My name is Silindra, Queen of the vampires. I'm here to see Devoran. Take me to him at once."
One guard came forward. "Apologies, my lady. I didn't recognize you." He gave a slight bow.
I regarded him deliberately. He and the others tried not to gawk. It was understandable. I was a grand creature. But, I was also a vanishing breed. Most of the original vampires were gone, or had done like my sister, Sharra, and pilfered a new body. A human body. Though I felt my form aging, I would not lower myself as Sharra and the others had. Humans couldn't fly! I would die before giving up my wings.
"It's alright." I stepped forward.
The elves were slight creatures. Their frames tall and thin, like the branches on a willow tree. Skin and hair the color of silver dust. Eyes as deep blue as the Sea. They were dressed in tunics, two in black, two in green, and two in blue.
I never did understand the need for clothing. They were binding, uncomfortable. The humans wore them, as did many others. I couldn't be bothered. I had my fur.
A squeal resonated through my mind.
She's excited, I thought, and then caught myself. Who was this she? Maybe my mind was going. Shaking my head, I cleared my throat.
"I am Veb," one of the guards in black said. He came forward as he spoke, placing a fisted hand to his chest.
"Good to know you, Veb. Now, if you please, I'm in a hurry." I waved my hand toward the dark forest, motioning for him to lead us in. I didn't want to be impolite, but he seemed leery of us, especially Gabriel. I didn't have the time for his internal debate.
Veb shuffled his feet, a frown on his feminine face. "Silindra, I can take you and the pixilette to Crystal City, but I've been given strict instructions that I must never, under any circumstances, allow one of his kind in." He bowed low, but kept his steely gaze fixed on Gabriel. "Again, apologies."
My insides burned with anger. "Listen, Veb. I don't care what you were told. This Hunter is with me, and I am the Queen-"
Gabriel placed a hand on my shoulder, and spoke in my ear. "Can I have a minute?"
"Excuse us," I said, and stomped away, following Gabriel. When we were a ways off, I said, "Gabriel, if you think I'm going to cow to these elves, you can think again."
Gabriel smiled. "The thought never crossed my mind." He discreetly kissed my cheek. "Your sister has called me to her side. I'm sorry, but I must go. We can't let her know we are together."
A sickness formed in my stomach. I didn't want him to leave. Having him near brought me contentment. But I knew he was right. "Go," I said, and turned away.
"It's better this way. We don't want word to get back to Sharra that the two of you were on the Isle of Rhue together. That would raise too many questions."
Ryden was right, of course. I just didn't like that the elves questioned my authority.
When I turned back, the guards were all smiles.
"Follow us."
Two guards walked ahead, and two brought up the rear. The other two disappeared into the trees. As we walked I couldn't help but wonder about the arbitrary groaning, like a sigh of relief and a cry of agony combined. The noises seemed to be coming from the trees, but when I looked I didn't see anything.
"Are the stories about the phantoms real?" I asked, curious.
"Yes, they are," Veb said.
I waited for him to continue, give me a more thorough explanation, but he didn't. Had we been at the castle, he would've been flogged for his insubordination, or drank dry. No, definitely flogged. The idea of drinking elven blood was off putting. Their blood tasted like moldy tree sap.
Ugh, I thought with a shudder.
A voice inside my head shuddered as well.
Grounding my teeth in frustration, I asked, "Can the phantoms do any harm?"
He glanced back, and then said, "To the body, no. But the mind..." He let his words trail off. "They are excellent at getting inside here." He pointed at his head. "They spin tales you can't help but believe. Until it's too late."
"What do you mean?" I asked. We were walking, and the more I knew the better. Though I knew the phantoms couldn't bother me, I whispered to Ryden, "Plug your ears."
"On it."
Veb said, "Three full moons ago, a couple of humans stumbled into the forest by accident. They had a measure of magic, though they didn't know it, but it was enough that the trees within our forest opened to them. Within moments of entering, their minds were altered. The phantoms twisted the thoughts of the humans, made them believe they were on a boat, stranded at sea. For days they rowed, until the female died."
"Why didn't you meet them as they entered, the way you did with us?" Had they wanted the humans to suffer? Some of the magical creatures believed humans to be less than the animals.
"They had magic, but it wasn't enough to alert us. The magic you and the others possess is much stronger, so we keep the phantoms at bay. We sensed you way before you crossed into our domain."
I huffed internally. If what they said was true, then Ryden should be okay. Still, I hoped she kept her ears plugged. Pushing down a retort, I asked, "What happened to the man? Did he escape?"
"We found the male, about to expire, and asked what his business within the forest was. He said he didn't know. Asked me if I was an angel come to take him to Heaven.
'No,' I replied.
'Then how do you walk on the water?' he asked with weary shock.
'There is no water. Is that what you see?'
'Yes. It's very deep. Sirens circle the boat, whispering that I should jump. Telling me to join them at the bottom of the sea. But I can't. My wife, I can't leave her.'
We calmed him and took him to the Healers, but he died anyway." Veb shrugged.
The story saddened me. It could have been Gabriel, before he became a vampire, who stumbled into the forest.
"There are other stories if you'd like to hear them," Veb continued.
"No thank you. Perhaps silence is better." I searched the forest for any sign of a phantom. The only movement was an occasional falling pinecone. "Can't we go any faster?" I asked, frustrated the elves couldn't fly or move at incredible speeds the way vampires could.