The Afterlife Academy Saga

Chapter 14

14

The silence of the forest was deafening. There were no birds, no beasts, nothing but the wind ritsling through the trees. I didn’t know where I was going or where I came from, but I trusted the Keeper’s mark to bring me exactly where I needed to go. After all, this was the Forest of Illusions. Anything could happen, anything could become reality.

I pushed through low-hanging branches and vines, daring to go further into the woods than I’d have thought was sensible. But I had no fear. After all, how could I get lost if I was looking for exactly that?

The lack of noise and cursing reassured me that Ryuga had lost my trail. In his seething anger, there was no way he wouldn’t make a whole lot of ruckus while stomping through the thickening forest.

Even so, I couldn’t let my guard down. Not until I was sure I was no longer on the Academy grounds. And the only way to be certain of that was to find Var and his little hut.

I still didn’t trust him, but I’d choose his company over the raging Dragon trying to steal the Shadow magic from me. I didn’t even want it, but I wasn’t going to let him take it. Who knew what it would be capable of in his hands?

And so, I pushed further into the forest. Constantly looking over my shoulder, hyper-aware of any unexpected noise or tiny crack. Deeper and deeper, I allowed the woods to swallow me. Until I recognised some of the chunky and wobbly trees that surrounded Var’s grounds. A little circle of smoke gave his camouflaged hut away and I couldn’t be happier to see it.

I rushed forwards, through the small gardening beds that I hadn’t noticed the first time I was here.

Even if I was chased by a mad man, I knocked politely on the door. I wouldn’t want to catch Var off guard in his own home.

There was some stumbling and clanking from inside the hut, a low growl of a dusk wolf, and finally, the door swung open.

“You.” Var’s face fell into a frown. “You’re late.”

“I was held up.”

“What’s that on your head?” he gestured.

My hands flew to my forehead. s**t. I lost the bandage in my struggle with Ryuga, but I couldn’t tell Var the truth. I’d have to hope he didn’t know what it was.

“Just a bruise,” I lied.

“Strange bruise,” he remarked. “Wait here.”

Before I could reply, he slammed the door shut and left me standing on the doorstep. There was more rummaging and grumbling inside the hut, followed by the dull thud of his cane and the clacking of nails on the floor.

The door swung open again and Var whirled past me with his dusk wolf in tow. Lick shot me another unimpressed look as he ran after his master.

“Keep up,” Var called, surprisingly nimble for a man that needed a cane.

“Where are we going?” I asked, hurrying to catch up with him.

“To practice. Or have you learned how to bring souls to Valhalla?”

I pulled a face. “...No.”

“Then you’re no use of me yet.” From his pocket, he conjured a piece of jerky that he threw at Lick. “Good boy.”

“I want to see Hyde.”

Var adjusted his moss green cape. “All in due time.”

“No, I want to see him now.” I halted, my hands balling into fists. I was sick of adults making decisions for me.

He furrowed his bushy eyebrows into a frown. His dark eyes flickered menacingly as a sudden gust of wind rushed through his hair. “And I said, not now.”

I gulped, intimidated by the power he emitted. His fake-limp and wobbly way of walking didn’t fool me. He wasn’t an old or feeble man, even if he was pretending to be.

“So when can I see him?”

He sighed as he ran a hand through his thinning hair. “You ask a lot of questions.”

“Because I want answers.”

Var paused and poked my shoulder with his cane. “You’ll see him when you see him.”

“Why won’t you let me see him? Do you not have him? Are you just using me?”

He chuckled darkly. “You accused me of stealing your wolf. I don’t need to prove anything to you.”

“I— But.” Damn, he had a point there. “Fine.”

“Save your anger. You’ll need it.”

He tightened his cape and trekked deeper into the heart of the forest. Even without looking, he hopped over roots growing out of the ground and dodged low-hanging branches. There were smooth patches in the rough ground, all around the size of his footsteps. The stones were worn, the bushes thinned. How often had he traced the same paths? Where was he taking me?

In silence, I followed him along these man-made paths. If he hadn’t taken me, I’d never have noticed the small notches in the trees or the cairns on the side.

“Keep up,” Var scolded.

Ugh. I wasn’t even that far behind him. “I am.”

I had more physical exercise in the past days than in years, and even if my muscles were crying murder, a part of me was really enjoying it. It reminded me of the days of my youth, when there were no obligations or rules. When there was just me, the cliffs, and the wind in my hair. My worst injury a scrape on my knee and the best cure a kiss from Mamma or a lick from Azur.

Things weren’t all that different now. I was here, I was alive. My body was scathed and battered, speckled with black bruises and fresh wounds, but I was still standing.

Lost in thought, I almost bumped into Var.

He loosened his cape and dropped the satchel I didn’t even notice he was carrying.

“We’re here.”

I looked around the open circle, not noticing anything remarkable about the space. A circular tree line with some random pine trees, a small patch of grass, and some brown mushrooms.

I gestured around me. “Where is here?”

A devious smirk curled around his lips. “The place of your nightmares.”

“Cryptic.”

He rummaged through his bag and held out a piece of rope. “Hold out your hands.”

“Why?”

“I’m going to tie you up.”

I tweaked an eyebrow. “Funny. So, really, why?”

“I told you. To tie you up.”

“Oh, you’re serious?”

The old man nodded as he wound the rope around his wrists and snapped it tight. “I am. You’ll need it.”

Now that sounded all kinds of suspicious. Maybe he was going to kill me. Or leave me abandoned in the woods. Either way, he couldn’t have much good planned, right?

I eyeballed him. “Why?”

“Would you believe my explanation?”

“... No.”

“Then I’m not going to bother. Hold out your arms.”

“You’re insane if you think I’ll let you tie me up.”

He let out an annoyed sigh. “Fine. Then I wish you a lot of luck without a dusk wolf.”

“No!” I balled my hands into fists and ground my teeth together. I didn’t want to give in to his ridiculous demands, but what other choice did I have?

Reluctantly, I held out my hands. “Fine. Tie me up then.”

His devious smirk returned. “Excellent.”

He tugged me towards the edge of the forest and shoved me face first into a tree.

“Hey!” I protested, but he didn’t listen.

He wound the rough rope around my wrists, making sure to tighten it with every loop. The thin strands dug into my flesh, leaving red streaks of irritation on my pale skin. The bark of the trunk was rough against my cheek and smelled rather funny.

“So, what is this for exactly?” I inquired.

“Restraints during your test.”

“What test?”

“There are many ways to the Veil, but the quickest is through great pain.”

I swallowed nervously. “What?”

“You heard me.” He stepped to the side and admired his handy work. Satisfied, he threw another piece of jerky at Lick. “Good boy. Stay.”

“What are you going to do to me?” Despite myself, my voice came out shakier than I wanted.

“At some point, you’re going to want to kill me.” Var threw his cape away and raised his cane. “When you do, I advise you to use that anger to find your inner wings instead of murdering me.”

“Wait, I don’t—”

I heard his cane before I felt it. The length of the rod smacked into my skin, hitting that spot between my shoulders I could never reach. The slow burn spread from one spot to set my entire back on fire.

“f**k!” I collapsed into the tree, panting for breath. This was not what I signed up for!

I fought against the restraints, but Var had made sure the knots were all out of my reach.

“Don’t you dare—” I threatened, but the old man didn’t seem too fazed by my warning.

Whack.

The cane landed on my back, sending agony and horror through me. This wasn’t like any kind of pain I’d ever experienced. Not like the time I twisted my ankle or got kicked in the stomach. Not like falling from the school building or being attacked by a mad Dragon.

This pain was unlike anything. It burned fiercely hot, quickly consuming everything and anything.

Whack.

The third hit knocked the air out of me and filled my mouth with a metallic taste. My chest contracted, my lungs shrieked. I tried to draw another breath, but the cane was faster.

Whack.

The sound of the wood hitting me changed. I was no longer protected by my skin. It was hitting raw flesh.

My hands balled into fists, the pain washing over me like ebb and flow. There was almost no respite between the beatings, not enough to even become angry.

I needed every thought, every breath I had to not pass out. To not give in to the pain and scream. I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction, even if I didn’t know what reaction he wanted out of me.

He said I was going to want to kill him. Did he think he’d get me into a murderous rage by beating me?

Whack.

My thoughts were torn apart with another whip of his cane.

The pain shot straight through me and blood splattered on the tree in front of me. My blood. The droplets oozed down the bark, leaving thin trails of red that marked my agony. Once he untied me, I was going to break that stupid piece of wood in half.

“What’s the matter with you?” Var’s voice sneered. “Got no spirit in you?”

His mockery gave me a small respite to regain my breath. If he thought this was enough to send me into a murderous rage, he seriously underestimated me.

I spat on the ground and wiped the sweat on my forehead on my arms. My legs were trembling, my back was on fire, but this wasn’t enough to break me.

“Is that all you got?” I challenged, my voice squeaky from the lack of air.

“I see.” His voice held some appreciation, but that meant nothing to me. I didn’t need his validation.

Twigs cracked under his boots as he approached me. With a twang, he unsheathed a sharp hunter’s knife and waved it in front of my face.

Terror coursed through me, but I didn’t allow myself to flinch. I wasn’t going to give in to fear.

“You’re a tough one.” Var brought the knife down to my wrists and traced the tip along the bulging veins of my arm. “Now tell me, how much do you like those pretty hands of yours?”

I stared him in the eye, daring to unleash his worst. “Really? Idle threats?”

“What makes you think they’re idle?”

“If you cut off my hands, I’ll pull my arms out of the restraints and knock you out with my stumps.”

I wasn’t sure where my bravery was coming from, but it fuelled my resolve even more.

He chuckled as he let the knife dance over my skin. “I see. Big talk for a child.”

“I’m not a child.”

“Oh, to me, you are.”

The burning pain from the flogging only added to my rebellion. “Then how does it feel to be outdone by a child?”

“Outdone? Hah. Don’t make me laugh.” He jammed the knife down and cut the ropes loose.

My constraints fell down and the blood rushed to my hands. It would’ve have hurt, if it wasn’t drowned out by the stinging agony of my back.

“Why did you cut me loose?” I asked, rubbing the red circles around my wrist.

“I see this isn’t going to work. It’s a good thing I have a plan B.”

“Oh yeah?” I limped away from the bloody tree, towards the middle of the open grass field. “Try me.”

“So arrogant in your ignorance. Ah, to be young.” He jammed his cane into the ground and reached inside his coat. Metal rattled as he pulled a thin, silver chain from his pocket and dangled it in front of my eyes. “Now guess who is on the other end.”

My breath froze. “Hyde.”

“Correct. I wonder how he’ll like his beating.”