The Forgotten Island

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX:

MALAKAI

-Malakai-

Her scent surrounded the rose in an infuriatingly intoxicating aroma. That whole house had reeked of her, putting my emotions on edge from the moment I stepped onto the front porch. The mother put up a good fight, I was not expecting to deal with a witch in the human domain, a mistake I wouldn’t make again. I stared at the rose with distaste as I drank a glass of scotch, a human beverage I had taken a liking to during my time with the humans. This...female, was an obstacle between myself and my throne. My dark thoughts swirled in the empty chamber, my only company the cracks of the fire in the fireplace and the occasional scraping of glass on wood as I drank. Sitting in a worn armchair, I wore my usual outfit of a loose cloth tunic, tight black leggings and thick leather boots.

A curvaceous demon interrupted my thoughts when she entered the room, the creaking of the large door the only clue to her arrival. “My dearest Malakai” she practically purred, a habit which irritated me “I would have thought you would be happier, not sitting here sulking like a babe. We nearly have the girl, after all.” I downed the remainder of my drink in one gulp, eyeing the sorceress that had saved both my brother and I from a terrible fate. “Tell me, Eupixa, what thrill is in the hunt, when the prey is weak?” She eyed me with amusement, her full red lips curving into a half smile. It felt like she knew something and wasn’t telling me. Yes, she could be a cruel enemy, like a siren calling men to the ocean’s depths. “We will know soon enough, my prince. The last ingredients have been acquired and are in transit to our location. We can perform the ritual under the next full moon. I am confident in my abilities and will make sure to prepare as best I can for unforeseen obstacles.” I nodded to her in both acknowledgement and dismissal, turning my thoughts back inward.

“Before I go, I have a gift for you.” I raised an eyebrow at her quizzically. She wasn’t the gift giving type. From her skirts she brought forth a small orb, a dim light swirling within. “This will allow you to enter her dreams for a night. Perhaps seeing her will bring you a different... perspective.” She handed me the orb along with a small, folded piece of parchment with instructions on how to use the device. I listened to the soft swishing of her skirts as she exited, the heavy chamber door falling back into place with a sigh. Eupixa was right, I should be more excited, but my sour move didn’t improve. It seems I have been in this agitated state for a lifetime, the looming battle against the Queen creating a permanent scowl on my face. Sighing, I got up to pour another glass of scotch, trying to ignore the scent suffocating me. Sitting back down I eyed the orb.

**Arya’s POV**

We have been in the tree for two days now, and while we feel safe, the time in isolation is taking its toll. Fish has yet to wake up and I have fallen into a deep depression. The faces of my friends haunt me, and I cannot sleep, their dead eyes begging me to save them. Though the insomnia has had its perks, I suppose. I kept myself busy by molding us a bathroom inside the tree, complete with a toilet where waste fell into a deep hole I opened in the earth. I formed beds in the walls, with deep dips and a wide girth for comfort. They reminded me of floating shelves I saw in a magazine once. I added some extra holes in the walls to being in added light and circulation, and a table with two chairs. I made shelves to hold our supplies. Anything to help stave off the numbness, regardless of how unnecessary it seemed. I wasn’t the only one lost in my own darkness; Darnell stayed by Fish’s side at all times, so much so that I eventually widened her bed to accommodate him sleeping next to her. Her endless sleep worried me, along with a fever that Val developed seemingly overnight. Val’s leg didn’t seem to be healing well either, pointing to infection as the cause of fever. We had all taken small medical kits on our scouting excursions, so luckily we had a small stash of Tylenol between both my pack and Reggie’s. I was giving Val one dose every six hours, but of course we didn’t have a clock, so I was guessing on the time intervals. Tylenol wouldn’t help with the infection, and Reggie and I would occasionally share a knowing look: she wouldn’t survive without antibiotics. I was sitting with my back against the wall, watching the rise and fall of Val’s chest as she slept, sweat glistening on her brow. My eyes burned from lack of sleep, and I struggled to keep my emotions in check as I festered in my own pity party. Sadness had seeped into my heart and taken hold, and I wasn’t sure if it would ever fade.

Rise and fall, rise and fall. Val’s breathing had a hypnotizing effect, and my eyelids grew heavy.