Chapter 7: Somewhere Else
Avelyne stirred, her eyelids fluttering open to the dim, familiar glow of candlelight. She blinked, her vision blurring as she tried to focus on the vaulted ceiling above her, the intricate carvings of Luxoriel's radiant form casting long, dancing shadows across the stone. She was lying on something hard, cold—an altar, she realized, her heart pounding in her chest as the memories of the previous night came rushing back.
She pushed herself up, her body protesting the sudden movement, and looked around the small chapel. It was a place she had never been before, the air thick with the scent of old incense and the faint, metallic tang of blood.
The chapel was small, its stone walls worn smooth by centuries of prayer and devotion. A single stained-glass window cast fractured light across the altar, where she now lay, her body aching from the night’s ordeal. The wound on her throat pulsed faintly, a reminder of what had nearly happened. She pressed a hand to it, her fingers coming away damp with blood.
The altar was different from the ones in the Sanctum—this one was narrower, its surface carved with intricate designs that seemed to shift when she looked at them too long. The air hummed faintly, as if the chapel itself were breathing. Avelyne swallowed hard, her pulse quickening.
"Where am I?" she whispered, her voice echoing in the small, silent chapel. She pushed herself up, her body protesting the sudden movement, and looked around. The place was unfamiliar, the air thick with the scent of old incense and something else—something metallic and faintly acrid. Her fingers found the cut on her throat, tracing the shallow, precise line with a shiver. "What happened to me?" she murmured, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns on the altar's surface. She pushed herself to her feet, her body protesting the sudden movement, and looked down at her attire. Her eyes widened in shock as she took in the sight of her robe—her usual modest habit replaced by a striking ensemble that seemed to defy the very vows she had taken.
She quickly cleared up her robe, smoothing out the fabric of her tight, strapless crop top that bared her midriff completely. She adjusted the extremely long, flowing white skirt, featuring dramatic high side slits that reached her hips on both sides. The skirt was secured by a wide, ornate belt of dark snakeskin leather, adorned with heavy silver chains, small crosses, and dangling blue crystal pendants.
The fabric whispered against her skin as she turned, the hem brushing her calves with an unsettling intimacy.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead, and stepped off the altar. Her high heels touched the ground. She moved toward the heavy wooden door, her heart pounding in her chest, and pushed it open. The hinges creaked in protest, the sound echoing through the silent chapel like a scream.
Avelyne stepped out into the night, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the sight before her. The chapel was not in the heart of the Sanctum, as she had expected, but deep in the heart of a jungle, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and exotic flowers. The moon hung low in the sky, its light filtering through the dense canopy above, casting dappled shadows on the ground below. She could hear the distant calls of unseen creatures, their voices echoing through the night like a symphony of the unknown.
"It's already late night," she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible over the hum of the jungle. "I should stay in the chapel for the night to sleep." The thought of venturing into the dense, unfamiliar foliage sent a shiver down her spine, and she quickly turned back, pushing the heavy door closed behind her. The chapel was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of old incense and the faint, lingering aroma of blood. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes scanning the small, silent space, before making her way back to the altar. It was not the most comfortable of beds, but it would have to do. She climbed onto it, her body protesting the unfamiliar surface, and lay down, her eyes fixed on the vaulted ceiling above.
The shadows cast by the flickering candles danced across the stone, their movements hypnotic. She took a deep breath, the scent of old incense filling her lungs, and closed her eyes.
After quite a while, she woke up, feeling recharged, her body no longer protesting the unfamiliar surface. She sat up, her eyes adjusting to the dim light of the chapel. She swung her legs over the edge of the altar, her high heels clicking softly against the stone floor. She stood up, her body still aching slightly, and made her way back to the heavy wooden door. She pushed it open, the hinges creaking softly in protest, and stepped out into the night.
To her surprise, the moon still hung high in the sky, its light casting long, dancing shadows across the jungle floor. She had expected to find the first light of dawn breaking through the dense canopy, but the night was still deep, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and exotic flowers.
Avelyne exhaled sharply, her breath curling in the cool night air as she stared up at the moon, its silver glow casting jagged shadows across the jungle floor. "I must have slept for hours," she murmured to herself, her voice barely above a whisper, "but it's still midnight." She shook her head, her fingers brushing against the smooth, cold stone of the chapel wall behind her. "How is this even possible?" she wondered aloud, her voice filled with a mix of confusion and growing unease. The jungle seemed to hum around her, the distant calls of nocturnal creatures echoing through the trees like a chorus of unseen voices.
Avelyne pressed her lips together, her breath shallow. "I can't stay here," she told herself, her voice barely above a whisper. "I have to find someone. I have to find a village, a road, anything that will lead me back to the Sanctum." Her fingers tightened around the hilt of the small dagger she had found tucked into the belt of her unfamiliar dress. "I have to be brave," she repeated, her voice steadier now, though her heart still pounded in her chest. "I can't just sit here and wait for whatever comes next."
She took a deep breath, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and exotic flowers. The moon cast an eerie glow through the canopy above, illuminating the path ahead. She stepped out of the chapel, her high heels clicking softly against the damp earth. The jungle was alive with sounds—rustling leaves, distant chatter, the occasional hoot of an owl.
Avelyne had no experience in navigating such dense wilderness, her steps faltering as she stumbled over roots hidden beneath the damp earth. The unfamiliar terrain twisted around her like a living thing, its shadows shifting with every step, and she found herself disoriented within minutes.
She could feel the cold of the night through her exposed midriff, the thin fabric of her crop top doing little to shield her from the damp chill seeping through. Her thighs pressed together involuntarily as she moved, the high slits of her skirt brushing against her sensitive skin, and she could feel the cool night air seeping into the gap between her thighs, sending a shiver down her spine. The sensation was both unsettling and strangely intimate, as if the jungle itself was probing her boundaries.
Avelyne wrapped her arms around her exposed midriff, the thin fabric of her crop top doing little to shield her from the damp chill. She hugged herself tightly, her breath misting in the cool night air as she tried to focus on the path ahead.
Her fingers found the cool metal of the rosario cross hanging around her neck, a familiar comfort amidst the unfamiliar jungle. She clutched it tightly, her knuckles turning white as she began to pray, her voice barely above a whisper, "Luxoriel, guide me. Show me the way back to the Sanctum. Help me find my path again." The cross felt cold against her skin, the metal seeming to absorb the chill of the night, but she held onto it tightly, as if it were a lifeline in the dense, shadowy jungle.
As she prayed, she noticed something strange.
A small shadow darted between the trees, barely visible in the dappled moonlight. Avelyne paused, her eyes narrowing as she tried to make out the shape. "Hello?" she called out, her voice barely above a whisper. "Who's there?" The shadow paused for a moment, as if considering her words, before darting off again, disappearing into the dense foliage. Avelyne's heart pounded in her chest as she hesitated, torn between the desire to follow and the fear of what she might find. "Wait!" she called out, her voice louder this time. "Please, I need help." But the shadow was gone, swallowed by the jungle, leaving her alone in the darkness. Avelyne hugged herself tighter, her breath misting in the cool night air as she stared into the shadows, her heart pounding in her chest.
The jungle seemed to breathe around her, the distant calls of nocturnal creatures weaving through the silence like a haunting melody. She took a step forward, her high heels sinking slightly into the damp earth, and then another, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her dagger. The path ahead seemed to twist and turn unpredictably, the moonlight filtering through the canopy casting eerie patterns on the ground.
She walked further, the dense foliage parting slightly to reveal a small, still pond nestled between towering ferns. Its surface was a mirror of silver moonlight, rippling gently with the faintest breeze. Avelyne hesitated for a moment, her eyes drawn to the water's surface, before kneeling down beside it. The coolness of the earth seeped through the thin fabric of her skirt, and she reached out, dipping her fingers into the water. It was icy cold, refreshing against her skin.
Avelyne cupped her hands around the surface, her breath catching as the water sloshed against her fingers—then she brought it to her lips and drank deeply, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat. The taste was strange, faintly mineral, with an undercurrent of something sweet that made her pause. She swallowed again, her pulse quickening as the water slid down her throat, leaving a strange, electric warmth in its wake.
She stood up, her breath catching in her throat as she realized she had no idea which path she had taken to reach the pond. Panic surged through her, her heart pounding in her chest as she looked around, her eyes wide with fear. "I don't know which way I came from," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the jungle. She hugged herself tightly, her fingers digging into the soft flesh of her arms as she tried to remember the way back to the chapel. But the jungle was a maze, its paths twisting and turning unpredictably, and she had no idea which one led back to safety.
The electric warmth in her veins seemed to pulse with her heartbeat, a strange, unsettling sensation that made her feel both alive and terrified. She took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the dense foliage around her, searching for any sign of the path she had taken.
"Luxoriel," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the jungle, "I'm lost. I need your guidance. Show me the way back to the chapel." She clutched the rosario cross tightly, her knuckles turning white as she closed her eyes, her heart pounding in her chest. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her racing thoughts, before opening her eyes and setting off in what she hoped was the right direction. The jungle seemed to close in around her, the shadows shifting and changing with every step she took. She walked for what felt like hours, her high heels sinking into the damp earth, her breath misting in the cool night air. The jungle was a labyrinth, its paths twisting and turning unpredictably, and she had no idea if she was any closer to the chapel. But she pressed on, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her dagger, her eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of danger.