The window in the lake

Chapter 4

I was at my happy place. I was already starting to feel calmer. I hadn't realized how stressed I had been around Jax. He seemed nice, but I could not get past the uneasy feeling I got when I was around him. Which was strange because he had not done anything that would make me feel so off when with him.

I jumped and looked around at the sound of a stick breaking not too far from me, but didn't see anyone. I scanned the woods a few more times, but still saw nothing. I guess I was more on edge than I thought. I had never stayed in the woods overnight and now that I am thinking about it, I probably should have stayed at Jax's house.

What if my stepdad comes looking for me? What if he comes into the woods? I was starting to panic. I scanned the woods again and froze at the huge shadowy figure coming towards me.

Whatever it was, was way too big to be Jax. I hurried to my feet, preparing to run. But I was frozen. I couldn't take my eyes off the figure that was now out of the shadows and in full view of the light from the moon. I know I should be scared, but everything in my body felt relaxed. He was standing directly in front of me and looking down on me. Everything about him screamed run. But I was frozen and could not take my eyes off him.

He had wings. Huge black wings. It was hard to tell in this light, but it looked like they had black feathers on them. But not like a bird, it was like nothing I had ever seen before. They looked like they were only on the top of his wings. His arms were huge, but his wings stuck out past them. He was definitely someone I should be scared of, but even as I looked into his gray eyes that reminded me of steel, I didn't feel fear.

"My Queen," he said as he bowed to me. "I didn't mean to frighten you, my apologies," he said as he stood to his full height and slowly walked closer to me. "Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Draven, I am Deacon to the Lord of night." He said, stretching out his big hand to me. I didn't hesitate to shake it.

"It's nice to meet you Draven, but I think you have me confused with someone else. I am not anyone's queen." I said, shaking my head at the thought.

"Yes, well, that is a conversation you will have to have with my Lord. He will be able to explain it much better than myself. Speaking of my Lord, he has sent me here to find you. I have been searching these woods every night for the last 3 months. I was starting to give up on ever finding you. I can't tell you how relieved I was to see you sitting here tonight beside the lake."

"Well, today is the first time I have ever been in the woods at night. You were lucky because if I was able to reset the pull of the lake I would still be at Jax's house, probably sleeping on his vein couch. But the pull of the lake was very strong tonight. I had to be close to it." I said, then worried I might have said too much.

"Ahh, well, today is the day of the Spring Equinox. One of the four days when our magic is at its strongest. You probably feel the pull of the magic. Speaking of the Equinox, we have to go. I have to get back to my realm. My Lord will be waiting." He said, now standing on the edge of the lake. I walked to his side.

"How do we get to your realm?" I asked, now standing close enough, I could easily touch one of his wings. I wanted to know if it was as soft as it looked. But I thought it might be rude, so I held my hands close to my sides and kept a far enough distance.

"As soon as I find them, AHH," Draven yelled as a blade of silver came down on one of his wings.

Standing behind Draven holding what looked like a very sharp ax was Jax. "Princess, run hurry." He said, now running toward me and grabbing my arm and pulling me away.

"Jax what are you doing? Why did you do that?" I yelled, stumbling behind him, as he pulled me further away from Draven and the lake.

"We have to go. I have to get you to my Lady. The dark Lord found you. I have to get you somewhere safe." He said like that explained everything.

"Who is the dark Lord?" I asked, trying to pull him to a stop. I was not going anywhere with him. I was feeling that uneasy feeling again. I could feel the panic rising in me once more. Something was not right.

"Princess please, we don't have much time. The dark Lords Deacon will be coming any minute. I was sent here by the Lady of light to save you. To protect you from the dark Lord. He has been searching for you. Once he finds you, he will make you his prisoner. I know this does not make a lot of scene right now, but I promise once I get you to my Lady she can explain everything. But we have to go now. I can't protect you from the dark Lord and his forces. Please trust me." He said, now holding his hand out for me to take it. Everything in me was saying run. But he looked so sincere. I could see the fear in his eyes. Maybe I was in trouble. Maybe the feeling in my stomach was something else. Maybe everything that happened with my stepfather earlier had me all tied up.

I didn't have time to figure it out. If what Jax was saying was right. Draven would be coming through the trees any second and if I was in danger, we needed to go now. I took Jax's hand and ran with him.

"We're almost there, princess." He said, pulling me toward a huge tree bigger and older than any of the trees in the woods. We stopped in front of the ancient tree and Jax put his free hand on the huge trunk." The trunk opened up and Jax walked into it, pulling me inside with him. The truck closed behind us, and we were in the dark. I waved my hand in front of my face but could not see anything.

"Jax, What's going on? Where are we?" I asked, trying not to sound panicked.

"We are in the hidden doorway to the day realm."

"How do we get out? I can't see anything." Just then a crack formed in front of us and light started to shine in. The crack grew bigger and bigger until the opening was big enough for us to walk out. Jax pulled me out of the tree.

When I stepped out, I was surrounded by trees again, but they looked different. Everything looked different.