Una Of The Way

A solo traveler banished from the place he once called home, wonders aimlessly thru a dense forest. All that used to be is a hollow mountain in the rearview mirror. Now he is a run a way brute tarnished by Fae blood.

The Fae are a magical race that helped turn the tide on the blood letters of the underworld. The brutes also known as the coneganti were there to aid in the fight, but when the war was won the Fae turned on the coneganti.

Since Willow is a hybrid coneganti with fae heritage, he has both positive and negative magic. With his shield arm he can draw resin from the earth and cancel our magic, unlike the coneganti who have resin reinforced arms only good for blocking magic.

Willow can both block magic and manipulate it by fusing it with resin. Which is the residue of burnt up magic. And that’s what ultimately led him to be exiled as soon as they found out what he could do.

Thanks to his elf side he is tall and lanky with a agility the coneganti lack, they are large warriors well versed with a blade. There low temperamental attitudes make them easy to predict giving Willow enough time to escape. Since he isnt as bulky he can live off minimum supplies, if only he knew where he was going.

Soon the weather takes a turn for the worse and rain begins to fall. Picking up the pace Willow looks for a place to hide. Stumbling over a sharp hill, Willow slides down a shallow slope landing in a puddle of mudd.

Crawling thru the filth Willow scrapes the mud off his face and squints thru the heavy downpour. Just before him the mouth of a cave opens up with a dark invitation.

With no other option Willow pursues the cave with restored vigor. Slipping in the mud Willow claws his way forward the opening. Just when it seems like he’s gonna make the mud gets deeper and Willow sinks up to his waist.

Fear and adrenaline clash and Willow begins to thrash which only makes him sink faster. Quickly the mud reaches his chest and Willow begins to get desperate and starts to yell for help. It doesn’t matter if it the coneganti or the elves Willow just doesn’t wanna die.

The mud reaches his neck and Willow finds himself thinking of the mother he never knew, his father stole him a way fearing the elves would use him to kill the coneganti. Now Willow is fated for a death worse than the coneganti would have offered him.

Willow takes a deep breath as the rising earth swallows him whole and darkness surrounds him.

When all hope seems gone and willows lungs beg for air. Something magical happens. A pair of strong hands pull at his feet dragging him deeper into the ground.

Willow startles, shouldn’t he be pulled the other way, who would be beneath him. Unless it’s the blood letters of the underworld. With no other option Willow gives in to the mercy of the grip on his legs.

Darkness turns to light as Willow is yanked out of the mud and onto solid ground. Or he thought it was solid ground. His hands land on something soft and he squeezes without thought.” What are you doing? Get off!”

Willow sits up and wipes his eyes. A female with long hair like fire lays beneath him staring up at him, her sharp brows are turned up as she boars into his soul with her piercing green eyes.” I’m sorry” is all Willow can think to say as he climbs off the petite girl.

She is his age and as slender as she is beautiful, but her face is always tight as if she is always ready to scold. Her arms are covered in slop, tarnishing the dark leather suit that hugs her body tightly.

Looking him up and down she doesn’t seem impressed as she Climbs to her feet. ” Your too small to be a coneganti, and your too tall to be one of the Fae. So who are you? There’s no way you could be the una of the way. So what are you doing here?” The girl asks without giving her name.

Willow looks around the room. They are alone in a round chamber with a fire roaring in the middle, casting the girl in a red haze that only gives light to her beauty.

Willow shakes the dreamy thoughts from his mind.” My name is Willow. I was just trying to escape my people, I didn’t really know where I was going. But why would you think I was trying to come here? I don’t even know what a una way is.” Willow admits, not even knowing if he said it right. This is always how he is awkward around girls.

The girl shakes her head with an annoyed look. ” Listen, my name is Katrina. This is my home, I am the blood letter of time. I have been here trapped in a prison of clay guarding the compass, in waiting of the one who could free the compass from its place and break the curse. You are the only person I have seen here and forever feels like a minute and every minute never ends. So your gonna get me out of here or I’m cooking you on that fire. I can’t take another eternity down here.” Katrina admits giving him no room to talk.

Willow wants to laugh, but it is clear that she is not joking. So Willow looks around for the compass. ” Why would someone trap a compass and imprison you? ” Willow asks crossing the room he veers away from Katrina.

Katrina follows him on the other side of the fire ” there’s more to it. The compass holds great power. Raylon sealed it in here with me, he said that there was only one person to be trusted with the compass. And that it could be used to prevent the war that already happen from ever beginning.” Katrina states as if her statement makes perfect sense.

Willow just bites his tongue and follows Katrina to a smooth clay wall. Engraved in the wall at his chest, is a black compress that stares him in the face.

Tracing the foggy lens, Willow can hardly see the needle on the inside.” This thing is impossible to read, what are we gonna do with this if I get it out. It’s just a useless. Piece of metal.” Willow admits with dismay for his luck.

Out of nowhere Katrina grabs a chunk of his hair with her fist.” Many of my family died in battle fighting your people in a senseless war. It doesn’t matter if you are a part of both, because they were both wrong to kill us.” Katrina puts her lips up to his ear.“We were betrayed and they couldn’t see reason. Arakna and her sworm of abominations scorched the earth, and it was us that payed the biggest price. Just because she came from our world doesn’t mean it was all our fault. So when you speak of my people, it better to be to say that you found a way to save them. Otherwise don’t say anything about them” Katrina let’s his head go with a shove.

Wither catches himself on the wall.” Sorry, I guess I don’t really know about the war. I can only tell you what I have heard. And my people believe that I was the weapon made to destroy the coneganti, but really all I wanna do is find my mother. And if I can help you at the same time then I will do what I can. But I don’t know what I’m doing.” Willow admits back tracking in his mind how he got here.

In the firelight willows shield arm glows looking like a rusty clay, but really it is condensed resin that always resides as a solid replica of his sword arm. Summoning resin into his body Willow activates his arm and raises it to the compass.

A auburn aura radiates off his arm bathing the compass in a warm glow. As he nears the clay begins to melt as the resin fights it. The compass begins to move with the clay melting like wax around it.

Willow grabs it before the clay can harden again. In his hand the compass burns with a power he can’t describe, but somehow it’s familiar and he doesn’t know why.

When Willow holds it out for Katrina to inspect her scold is gone, and yet she refuses to touch it. ” I can’t believe you did it. I thought we would be stuck here forever, and I was looking forward to roasting you on a fire.” Katrina admits licking her lips.

Willow pretends her comment is a joke, but it is hard to tell by the glimmer in her eyes. There’s a darkness in her beauty that he can’t identify. ” Now what? ” Willow asks hoping she knows something other than how to cook meat and bully him. Yet there is something less degrading than when his people use to harass him. It doesn’t bother him as much. Katrina just shrugs her shoulders” I never been this far” Katrina admits pointing a finger at the foggy lens of the Black compass in his hand.

Soon as her hand touches the compass a spark of magic ignites the Fae magic in willows body. The positive magic that he suppresses for so long comes to life.

Katrina blood letter magic flows into the compass and willows resin shapes it fusing it into the compass. The magic keeps pouring in bathing them in a white glow. With nowhere to funnel the magic it backlashes and the room explodes with a bright light.

The room turns upside down, and they become disoriented as the light picks them up and tosses them around in a paralysing glow. It’s like being sucked into a blinding vortex, your body loses all weight but you know your moving.

Willow and Katrina collide, but it only feels like a dull thud as the compass pulls them within its warm embrace.Clasing, the two come apart as they meet for the final time and they are thrown apart landing in a field and reality comes back into view.

Willow lands on his back with the compass gone from his hand. The bright blue sky swims in the background as he stares up at his resin speckled shield arm. The smell of early autumn fills his nostrils with a keen alertness he never senses before. Is this the land of the Fae?

Willow climbs to his feet surprised to find that he is unharmed. Looking around Willow sees the distant land of mount hollow, somewhere on the otherside is the place he used to call home.

Not for a way Katrina kneels on the ground with her face buried in the thick grass. Her fists are clenched with bunches of the grass.

Willow walks to her side wondering what she is upset about, maybe she is hurt. Willow hustles. ” Are you alright? ” Willow asks moving to kneel beside her.

Katrina sniffles and looks a way. ” Yeah I’m fine. Leave me alone” Katrina climbs to her feet hiding her face, but Willow could of sworn he saw a smile on her scolding face.

Facing a way from Willow, Katrina studies a large castle in the distance. It’s made of a smooth stone that pierces the sky and casts a large shadow over the surrounding village.

Following the thick field, a dirt road gives way to a line of homes. They look like wood cabins with stone chimneys. The people outside stare at the intruders with looks of bewilderment. They are definitely Fae with there pointed ears and earthly colors they wear.

Luckily they take Katrina as a human, maybe it’s best they don’t know she is a blood letter. Willow on the other hand just looks like a large Fae. Then Willow remembers his arm and panics.“what about my arm?” Willow asks with a look of panic.

Katrina matches his look with a hint of mockery. ” This isn’t the same time you remember, the coneganti are not a enemy to the Fae right now. This is before the war ” Katrina admits knowing that the king Friik is still alive.

Willow relaxes, but at the same time he can’t help but feel let down. Will they ever make it back? What if he makes things worse for his mother? All he wanted was to meet her, but how can he tell a girl that she’s his mother if she never had a child.

Still wither hides his shield arm. Pulling his sleeve over his hand he notices something he didn’t see before, the compass is embedded into the top of his hand. Weird, wither ignores the anomaly for the time being, he will figure out how to get rid of it later.

The castle comes into view and the guards block there way, around them civilians gather around watching from a distance. The two guards framed before the castle doors are young, while the one in the middle much older.

Walking with a staff he leans on, the older guard hobbles in a dark leather adorned like a light armor. Still his face is fierce with a scar across his angular nose, hidden beneath a layer of thick white hair his black eyes are faded by age. ” Can I help you?” Surprisingly the fierce man smiles after a quick critical look.

Willow relaxes. ” Yes we are here from”. Willow pauses, if he says the future these people will thing there crazy. Luckily Katrina steps forward bridging the gap in his failure to communicate.

" We believe there is a threat on the horizon, and we want to help resolve it before it can become serious.” Katrina admits looking surprisingly pleasant in her wording.

Willow takes a deep breath and watches as the lead guard studies Katrina silently. ” I am Elder powder. I will take you to princess Selene, my grand daughter, She is the queens daughter in a rebellious phase. I believe you guys can help each other.” Elder powder admits with a look that says he knows more than he is letting on, but there is no way he can know that they are from the future.

Katrina nods tossing her sun burnt hair in the process. When Katrina catches him watching her, she shakes her head with a look of disgust. “Come on, I can still cook you. So put your tongue back in your mouth we got a war to stop.” Katrina takes the lead following the Elder into the castle. Willow can’t help but marvel at Katrina, what happen to her scold. And why does his heart race Everytime she ridicules him.

Shaking his thoughts Willow chases after Katrina to gather more information. Then it dawned on him as he enters the castle. There going to see princess Selene, that his the girl his father Gard stole him from. That can only mean that she is his mother.

Willow pales, feet stopping on the marble floors. Looking around he is in a vast chamber of stone ceiling higher than he has ever seen. A porcelain staircase swirls into the ceiling.

Elder Powder stops at the bottom of the staircase as two people come charging down the stairs. A queenly female in a gorgeous gown hustles down the stairs with a gold crown sitting upon her sjet black hair striped with lines of grey. Yet she is still beautiful with fair skin like the Fae.

But withers eyes are glued to the you get girl she chases down the stairs trying to to get her to put on a dress. The girl shares the queens inky black hair and queenly beauty. But she refuses to put ont he dress the queen holds, instead she stops before the Elder in a black leather suit fitted with two long daggers along her thighs.

Wither can’t look a way, she can’t be much older than him, and yet she is his mother. He can tell by the features of her face are soft like his, and she has the same soulful grey eyes as his.

Wither tries to move but his legs don’t work. This is the girl he was robbed of a future with, did she really want to turn him into a weapon.

Katrina nudges him forcing him to follow her. Making himself as small as possible he puts his shield arm behind his back and stands behind Katrina.

Selene seems relieved to see Elder Powder. ” Grandpa, tell mother I don’t have to be a princess. If I wear something like that I’ll never be a part of the calorion legion. ” Selene confesses pretty face turned up in disgust as she looks over the dress.

The queen cringes looking hurt. ” You have royal blood, it’s not a choice to be made it is something you are born into. And your to beautiful to go out and get all scarred up. Please just try on the dress.” The queen pleads holding out for her to take.

Selene crosses her arms and turns to her grandpa. ” Era, let me have some time with Selene. Givens omw time I think I can get her to see reason.” Elder admits seeming more wise than the eyes will have you believe.

Queen Era turns on her heels with a look of defiance, she wears the same pose as Selene as she stalks back up the stairs.selene relaxes. “Thanks gramps” Selene moves to bolt around him and the Elder stops her.

Catching his granddaughter by the arms he holds her in place.” I have a job for you, its a secret mission of the royal guard. If you succeed I will find you a place on the royal guard. Fail and you will take your place as queen beside your mother” Elder Powder offers with a dangerous smile.

Selene looks between Katrina and her grandpa. ” What’s the mission? ” Selene asks knowing how her grandfather likes to trick people into playing into his hands.

The Elder let’s his grand daughter go. ” According to these two there is a war on the horizon. And you already know that are alliance with the coneganti is fragile. I want you to meet with the coneganti’s commander. Take him with you and reassure him we are not there enemy. Get him to trust you, if there isn’t a strong bond then one day there will be a war between us and the coneganti. Aid them and support this commander, and I will grant you what you want. ” The Elder proposes with a reassuring smile.

Selene turns to Katrina and Willow. When her eyes meet Willow his palms get sweaty and avoids her gaze. “Your on old man.” Selene smiles brightly and yet there is a dangerous storm brewing behind her eyes. It’s as if she is ready for danger.

The Elder turns Willow and Katrina.” Make sure you guys look out for each other. Whatever happens here has a ripple effect, so it’s best to move methodically. Allow the natural events to occur and change as you must. ” Elder powder winks and taps his staff on the ground in farewell.

Selene watches him go before turning to regard her new companions. ” Did you guys understand that last part? he’s always talking cryptically. Selene points out with her eyes lingering on Willow.

Katrina takes the lead.” Yes, he was talking about the dimwit here. He has trouble talking to girls.” Katrina admits with mischief. Willow pales and elbows Katrina’s arm.

Selene just keeps trying to capture his eyes. ” Why do I feel like I know you? Have we met? ” Katrina asks peering up into his face, being a head taller than Selene he’s still shorter than his father.

Willow shakes his head and meets her gaze for the first time. It is like peering into his own soul, a invisible mirror must reflect it back because selenes eyes widen.” No, we have not met, at least not until now. I can tell you that I am not from around here.” Willow admits wondering if he should tell her about his shield arm.

Katrina steps between them looking inconvenienced by Willow.” What he is trying to say is that we are allies, and there is a threat that you have not heard of yet. And I am gonna tell you all about them. ” Katrina leads Selene a way while giving Willow a dirty look behind selenes back.

Willow follows with his head hung. If Katrina knew that Selene was his mother what would she think, can he trust her enough to ensure she won’t try to ruin his future. Afterall in the end she is a blood letter. And there the enemy. Right?

Selene and Katrina take the lead looking like nature born leaders. They do a lot of talking on the way out of the Fae kingdom of caloria. Occasionally they look back to see that Willow still follows. It’s not like he can turn around now, his future and his mother’s is on the line.

Somehow ironically, Willow finds himself heading in a direction he never thought he would go again, home. The mountains get larger as they near, and out of nowhere Katrina stops and sniffs the air.

Selene reaches for a dagger becoming more alert. Willow just looks around seeing nothing. Being raised by the coneganti Willow is well versed with a blade, but due to pretense he lost his blade in the struggle for his life.what happen between his mother and father, will he be as villainous as Willow remembers him turning into?

With no weapon Willow relies on Selene and Katrina, can he really expect them to do everything. He’s never even seen one of Arakna’s devilish spawns.

Watching closely Katrina creeps forward a opening in the ground. As Katrina gets closer a red aura begins to radiate off her skin, raising her hands she brings them together directing them at the hole.

A ladies face appears peeking out of the hole. Black hair sways around her yellow eyes. She doesn’t move from her post, watching from a distance her face seems emotionless and cold. It’s as if she is a empty husk unable to express anything.

Without warning Katrina fires. A concentrated burst of energy gathers dripping off the end of Katrina’s hand, like a bullet the red energy takes the form of a red cell as it strikes the creature in the head.

A hollow thud and splash of blood, the creature squeals falling into the abyss of the hole.Selene startles and turns her dagger on Katrina.“why did you do that? You don’t know what they are or that they are hostile. You just made us there enemy without cause ” Selene snarls coming to the vacant creatures defense.

Meanwhile, willow creeps closer to the hole wanting to investigate and make sure the threat is gone, selene just doesn’t understand anything about the blood letters.

The ground dips as the hole becomes totally visible and another creature pounces out of the hole. It may have looked human, that is until you witness the bottom half. Unevolved and only half human the creature lands on top of him with the body of a spider.

Bare breast sway below a vacant face eliminates any chance of beauty. It’s left are bonie and sharp as it pins it’s self to the ground trapping Willow beneath.

Frozen in place the creature doesn’t attack yet, it surveys willows companions looking for the one who killed her sister. Spotting Katrina, it raises its human hand in her direction. And when it speaks is slurs around a mouth of barbed teeth and a forked tongue. Thisterr... The arakna being screeches in anger and raises a fuzzy leg, and hovers the pointy stem above willows throat ready to silence him.

Without warning the creature attacks and stabs at willows throat. With no weapon Willow is forced to catch the leg with his shield arm, the leg collides against the hardened clay of his arm, and it takes both hands to hold back the strength the fuzz balls weight a top him.

When all hope seems gone a dagger cuts thru the air piercing the creature between the eyes. It’s a perfect shot that bursts out the back of the creatures skull. Tethered to the blade a white line of energy connects the dagger to Selenes palm.

With a yank the energy obeys returning to Selenes hand, along with it the dagger pulls free trailing blood on the ground.

The lifeless body slumps falling back into the hole. With it more screeches and more Arakna’s come climbing out of the hole.

As the creatures come, red blood filled cells greet the Webber’s tearing holes into there bodies. Katrina stands behind him with smoke pouring off her pointed fingers directing the projectiles at the creatures.

In fear of losing his life Willow stays on the ground to avoid friendly fire. While down he notices that there are black tattoos swirling around on Katrina’s skin. They seem to be alive sinuousley wrapped around her arms they trigger some kind of power, or maybe they are feeding off the dead. But they look like venomous snakes.

Selene joins in flinging her daggers like bullets, they seem to bend air and defy reality, cutting two sometimes three creatures at a time.

The combo tire, and it is clear that the creatures aren’t going to stop there pursuit Willow sneaks behind Katrina careful not to get caught in the cross fire.

The dead climb over the dead building quickly, and all at once a group of ten come popping over the mound in an attempt to overwhelm them. Willow tugs on Katrina’s arm trying to pull her free. But she seems to be in some kind of bloodlust.

Pulling her arm free she snarls at him.“just leave . I got this.” Katrina lowers her hands and the red light fades. Beside her Selene backs a way thinking Katrina is crazy to remain so close.

But Katrina remains her ground as the group get closer , scurrying on all eight they attack as one. Katrina throws her arms wide and a white light radiates from her body, and all at once her tattoos converge to her chest in the shape of a giant snake head.

The snakes mouth is barred just above her ample breast. Glowing, the tattoo screams and the white light grows potent to the point of exploding.

The white energy converges and erupts in a wide berth, and greets the valley with a thunderous roar of energy that floods the hole like a river.

The creatures squeal as the white light scorches there vacant bodies leaving nothing but ash in its wake. A small gust of wind kicks up ash and all is silent when Katrina collapses.

Willow is there to catch her when she falls. But just when they thought they were in the clear more screeches sound in the distance. ” Get her out of here. There can’t be that many left.” Selene reasons with a determined look on her face, this is her chance to prove herself as a warrior.

Katrina is light in his arms, but her skin is hot pressed against his.“go, before they come” Selene demands sounding like a queen.

Wither studies her face wondering if he can even leave her behind if he wanted to. Making his decision Willow takes off, for a moment he could of sworn that Selene flinches when he actually left her alone. He didn’t even offer to take her place.

Throwing insecurities to the side wither runs looking for a place to conceal Katrina. Finding a small divot Willow sets her down a little more roughly than he would have liked. And as soon as he looks up Selene is being over powered by the Arakna’s.

Willow moves to help any way he can. But something he didn’t expect stops him in his tracks. A man enters the frey from the other side of the hole, he cuts his way thru the mob to get to Selene.“father.” Willow pales watching the burly man in his youth, shaggy hair and a dark eyed stare that could cut anyone down with a single glance.

Gard cuts his way thru bathing the ground in gore. Blocking with his shield arm he cuts them down with his sword arm making short work of the monsters. Smacking creatures aside with his shield arm it is clear that Gard is much stronger than he is.

Selene can’t help but smile when the commander of the coneganti comes to Selenes rescue, but all Willow can think of is his last conversation with his father.

There was a fight and Willow got in trouble, and Gard took the heat when there leader found Gards alcohol that he brewed from the towns crops. When he got caught, Gard blamed Wither and to punish both of them they wanted to break willows shield arm. That way Willow could never be a weapon used against them, and Gard would have more work in the fields and less time to drink there crops.

Either way something happen later on between Gard and Selene after they had wither, and he is determined to change it. No matter the cost. This must be one of the moments Elder powder was talking about. Is this how Selena and Gard meet. What would of happen if Willow intervened?

Pushing the thought of his father agreeing to let the coneganti destroy his shieldarm a way, Wither chooses to watch. There are things he can change, he doesn’t need to be the hero he just need to keep people alive and allow things to happen naturally, don’t cause any incursions.

Katrina peers over his shoulder.“why are you staring like that, you should of helped. Do you have a thing for Selene? ” Katrina asks looking serious.

Willow snorts.” You couldn’t be farther from the truth” is all Willow is willing to say, even if he trusts Katrina he can’t let anything happen to his mother.

Katrina rolls her eyes.” Then tell your eyes that, your looking at her with lust” Katrina says looking haggard in the states she’s in, Willow could probably push her over.

Willows facade softens when he glimpses the pain she suppresses in her piercing green eyes. ” Why don’t you sit down before you fall down” Willow suggests trying to sneak around her ego.

Katrina smirks hiding her discomfort. ” I’ll welcome pain over oblivion. Sit behind walls with no edge and tell me the difference between night and day. ” Katrina walks a way making no sense.

Willow just frowns at her back, how long was she trapped in that curse? The train of thought to reason nonsense must be the outcome of a fragmented mind secluded for too long.

Hiding his shield arm Willow follows Katrina. As they near. Selene is deep in conversation with Gard as she cleans her daggers. With his blade at his side ,Gard smiles down at Selene with a look Willow doesn’t think he’s ever seen on Gards face.

The two turn to regard Katrina, and Selene is all praise as she welcomes Katrina with a pleasant smile. ” I don’t think I have ever seen anyone use magic like that, are you sure your human? ” Selene asks jokingly.

Katrina doesn’t miss a beat. “I am a blood letter, and we’re gonna kill my sister.” Katrina states with all seriousness.

Selene pales and Gard puts a hand on his sword, as if his overwhelming presence isn’t enough. ” Your related to them beasts? ” Gard asks with a dangerous glimmer in his dark eyes.

Katrina nods.” Yes, we are not all bad though. So careful who you call monster. I am here to save my family from a date worse than death.“Katrina states being a little easier on them than with Willow.

Gard doesn’t flinch when he turns to regard Willow. ” Are you the same as her? ” When Gard sees the ears he laughs at himself. Which startles Willow more than the arakna that nearly killed him. Did his father just laugh?

With a humility Willow never witnessed from one of the coneganti,Gard smiles brightly and taps Selene playfully on the head.” He is one of you, kind of looks like you too” Gard insinuates earning a blush from Selene.

Willow can’t look a way from the happy version of his father. Ever since Willow was little , all we can remember is the temperamental Gard who didn’t like being bothered. What happen?

In the original war with Arakna, the coneganti went into hiding following Lord Varus. Did he have something to do with Gard turning on the Fae, he was the one who suggested they break willows shield arm. Maybe he was angry with Gard for having a Hybrid ride and twisted his mind to hate the Fae. Either way Willow needs more time to figure it out.

Gard removes his hand from Selenes head.” Well if we are going after this blood letter we should probably let you guys rest. I can watch the opening. Gard suggests seeming high spirited.

Katrina shakes her head. ” There is more.” Katrina points to willows arm, which only makes him want to hide more. She doesn’t know that she is putting him out there and revealing him to his parents before he is born. This could change there future choices.

Katrina angers and avoids his look ai discomfort. Grabbing his arm she forces him to show it. ” He is the Una Of The Way. He has to take us there using the compass. We could never survive the fall and its to far to climb. ” Katrina admits still holding up his arm.

Selene squints and Gard grabs his arm roughly to inspect it.” How could this be, are people have never revealed ourselves to your kind” Gard asks using his eyes to get the information that he seems.

Willow pulls his arm free hating that all he gets from his father is anger.“all you need to know is that I’m a hybrid, I cannot tell you who my parents are nor would I ever. And I don’t appreciate being put on blast.” Willow admits with more anger than he thought he had.

Gard relaxes. ” I never seen a coneganti without a weapon. I kind of like the way that sounds.” Gard states with a wink aimed at Selene.

Selene pretends she didn’t notice and looks at Willow.” One of your parents must be Fae. Is she at the kingdom right now.? ” Selene asks with a guarded face.

Willow shakes his head and Selene nods comparionately.” I think I understand now. And I’m sorry I won’t bring them up again.” Selene promises with a smile that shows her k9s.

Willow pales, she thinks his parents are dead. The compass engraved in his arm grows hot. Not knowing what he was doing the compass took him right to the person he was subconsciously looking for. So that must be how he finds the blood letter.

Gard smacks willow on the back. ” Just let us know when you know how to get us there.” Gard walks a way following Selene with a look of lust in his eyes.

Katrina bumps his arm.“sorry. I didn’t know about your parents.” Katrina admits with a soft look on her face. Willow almost gets lost in her beauty when she isn’t scolding.

Grabbing Katrina by the arm he makes a bold decision as he pulls her to the side. ” My parents aren’t dead. I said neither one was in the kingdom with the Fae. That’s because there both here with us. ” Willow admits feeling a heavy weight life from his shoulders.

Katrina pales. ” Both of them? . ” Katrina face is turned up in disbelief. Willow nods feeling the way her face looks. ” Why don’t you tell them the truth?” Katrina asks and begins to walk toward them.

Willow panics and grabs her arm. Katrina flinches from the hard grip of his shield arm. ” I’m sorry” Willow let’s go. ” Please don’t say anything. If they know about me, it could change there resolve. You know that they become enemies later on. And something happen between my parents, its a darkness that tore them apart and my father took me a way from Selene.he believed I was a weapon the Fae wanted to use to destroy the coneganti. So they can’t know about any of this.” Willow pleads pointing between them.

Katrina rubs the pain from her arm and turns to regard the burly man making Selene giggle. ” You mean he becomes despiteful torward the Fae? Seems to like them to me. ” Katrina admits with a hard to read expression. Maybe she is imagining something she never had.

Willows eyes are on the marks on her arm when she turns around. His marks, it’s clear he didn’t mean anything by it . But why does he seem so bothered by it? ” Relax I won’t say anything, and you didn’t hurt me.” Katrina admits feeling foolish for saying something so bland out loud.

Willow doesn’t mind though. Now that she knows the truth she can see the resemblance of both of them in him. But why did he wait until now to admit it, did he not trust her? Ha how wrong he can be. Katrina laughs earning a frown from Willow. ” I don’t know why your laughing, but I think I know how the compass works.” Willow admits showing her the compass he was hiding. ” It can locate anything on your mind, the only problem is. I don’t know anything about Arakna other than the creatures she creates.

" Willow admits deflating he expects Katrina to get angry at him. Surprisingly she just sighs. ” There are twenty seven blood letters. They reside in the underworld. Long ago they were formed to guard the world above from the creatures of the underworld. Some have been around so long that they want to be free, that is Arakna’s goal. But she wants to be free and have the world above to herself, and you have seen her wags for yourself. I’m sure there are more who would do the same but not all blood letters are evil.” Katrina admits speaking with a little aggression a s a painful memory comes to mind.

Taking a deep breath Katrina gets back on track. ” I am the blood letter b for blood, one of the originals. My father was the alpha blood letter. He was the one who put me in the curse forever trapped. He was willing to imprison me to keep me alive, and now my time has come to resent him for locking me up, or I can save them all. That is the bitter truth. For years I cursed my father for what he did to me . Alone in silence. The only comforting thought I ever got was knowing that my family was all dead. That empty space changed me. So it’s up to you if you trust me or not, but I will get us to the underworld.” Katrina admits putting it all on the line for him to decide.

An eternity passes as they hold each other’s stares, it’s as if a battle wages between them. Katrina doesn’t show any sign of pressure or even seem to judge him for not deciding right a way. ” How do you plan to do it? ” Willow asks decided that he will trust her until she gives him a reason not to.

Katrina smirks.” Well the ways are kind of old, but it works. If we lock lips I can share my memories with you. It just requires a little thought and a time of life force.” Katrina admits loving the awkward expression on his face when he doesn’t know what to say.

Katrina punches him in the chest.” Relax I’m joking, don’t look so disgusted.” Katrina admits only driving him deeper into despair.

Willow reels and follows Katrina. ” I didn’t say that, so don’t put words in my mouth.” Something about the way Katrina downplays herself with words he didn’t say makes Willow angry.

Katrina stops and frowns up at him. ” Why are you getting defensive?” Soon as the words are out Willow startles and blushes. Was he defending himself or the crude comment she made about herself.

Willow shrugs awkwardly.” Just don’t say something on my behalf, you don’t know what I’m thinking.” Is all Willow says before he walks a way trying to get his heart to stop racing.

Katrina follows looking at the man before her differently. There’s a warm feeling in her chest that she hasn’t felt in a long time. Willow stops before his mother, and yet he has the will to restrain himself from revealing that he is her son. All his life he never knew her, and here he stands before her just as far a way as he ever was. He might as well not even be here. For some reason this upsets Katrina, he should be aloud to meet his mother. What if he never gets a chance after all this.

Willow shows the compass on his arm, and points to Katrina when she pulls up before them. ” This is gonna take us where we need to go, Katrina gonna lead us.” Willow admits putting all his trust in to Katrina.

When Willow smiles down at her, all his trust falls in her lap, and it takes all her concentration not to fumble beneath his soulful gaze.” This should work, I just need to concentrate.” Katrina admits taking Willow hand in hers.

This time, when Willow squeezes her hand it is gentle, almost protective like she is fragile. Yet it is only warm and more comforting giving Katrina butterflies she can’t shake.

Focusing, she stares at the compass. Gard and Selene do the same, Selene puting her hand on Katrina’s and Gards on top of Selenes.

Altogether they stand joined by willows shield arm using him as a catalyst to the compass. Katrina focuses on the girl she wants trained with calling her sister in battle. As she gets the picture down she begins to emmit her power into the compass.

Soon as her white aura gets a little wobbly, Willow is there with his power steadying her and reinforcing them with resin. His power is a lifeline she holds on to, giving her power form he adds structure to her life.

Katrina suppresses a moan as his power completely embraces her. A gust of wind tickles her nose and then the world turns black and she is lifted off her feet. This time there is no bumping of head or colliding. There souls align and begin to move sinuousley as one as the compass consumes them.

The wind settles and her feet touch down on solid ground, light as a feather she lands like the tender touch of willows shield arm in her hand. Slowly she opens her eyes and Willow does the same, there eyes lock and they both look a way sheepishly completely oblivious to the world around them.

There’s a loud grunt and a discharge of air as Selene touches down on top of Gard. As big as he is he doesn’t seem to mind much. Selene just apologized and pulls herself off the guy. ” Thanks for breaking my fall.” Selene admits helping Gard to his feet.

Gard just smirks holding onto her hand his is twice as big as Selenes. ” There’s no need to thank me, it was my pleasure” Gard winks forcing Selene to blush.

Katrina and Willow share a frown. ” So far so good. I wonder what could of made them despise each other.” Willow points out and Katrina just raises her brows.

Behind Katrina, Willow notices athat they are in a rocky chamber that disappears into the abyss above. The only light comes from the ground, it’s as if there is a warm energy beneath there feet giving off a warm glow. Katrina notices him staring.” That’s myst, it is the source of our power and the vital element of life. It created everything that is, turning us into what we are. Being the first to come down here we were changed by it’s presence.” Katrina admits proud of the power she has.

Gard appears at willows shoulder startling him.” Where are we headed?“Gard asks with a crease between his brows.

Katrina leads the way.” This is the dark side of the underworld, beware of any creatures born of the Ebb, they can be troublesome. “Katrina admits resonating a warm aura that Willow doesn’t want to be parted from.

The chamber opens and so far there are no monsters.” The only ones who hang out around here are the ones who favor darkness, some say there is a presence down here that darkens peoples souls, they call her the murk. And she doesn’t have a body, she is a celestial spirit that claims weak souls. ” Katrina tells them using a ominous voice.

Willow stays close to her side. Almost scared enough to admit it. ” Do you think we will see any of the other blood letters down here?” Willow asks trying to distract himself.

Katrina smirks noticing his fear by the way she keeps bumping into her side, she should be mad but she just favors his touch secretly wishing for more. ” I don’t remember there being any others that were exiled, so it should just be Charlotte, which is her original name Charlotte of the web.” Katrina explains remembering a time when Charlotte used to weave some of the most beautiful armor in the underworld.

Shaking a way her emotion Katrina hardens her resolve. The canyon opens to a atrium of space. In the middle of the room a large fire burns turning to darkness as it burns the sky. Around the fire is a horde of Arakna’s.

Suspended above the flames a beautiful woman walks a tight rope of webs. Her hair is long and beautiful, but wild unlike the soft features of her face and her small upturned nose. The darkness in her eyes matches the lethal edge of her nails.

The most peculiar thing to Willow is the familiar man seated on a throne on the other side of the fire. His hair is long and white bunched in his lap, staining his loose grey robe in the process. ” What is Lord Varus doing here, and where is his shield arm?” Willow asks directing his question at Gard.

Gard just shrugs with his eyes on the many Arakna’s surrounding them. Willow leans down to whisper in Katrina’s ear. ” That man somehow becomes the Lord of the coneganti, what is his power? “Willow asks knowing this is the reason he is here. He needs to kill this man.

Katrina startles.” No. That’s solvieg, he is the blood letter of souls. He can read and control souls with his will. They become his to use as he sees fit, don’t let him glimpse your soul. He will be able to read the future. If he makes you see something don’t let your self be fooled. He is a trickster.” Katrina admits with all seriousness.

Solvieg tsks earning everyone’s stare.” That’s no way to speak of a family member. Then again does family really turn there back on there kin for expressing there thoughts. Your father will pay when I’m done killing you. There is no way I can let you leave and ruin years of planning.” Solvieg admits and rises with a silver spear shiny and pointed at both ends.

Katrina snarls as solvieg makes a simple gesture with his hand. All the Arakna’s react on his accord, the girl above suspended on her webs is no longer in control of her own mind. She shares the same vacant expression as solvieg.

Katrina doesn’t wait as she runs into the masses guns blazing. Red explodes throughout the room and it quickly becomes a blood bath. Right behind her Gard and Selene join the battle taking out the arakna that she can’t see.

Willow watches the battle unfold. This is all wrong, everything is happening to fast. There is no plan in rushing in all wild. Looking around Willow searches for the best course of action.

The arakna are being killed senselessly, as Willow watches Katrina fight it looks as if she flinches after every shot that tears thru the arakna. Soon tears begin to fall and there painted in blood.

Solvieg smiles all the while, and just when Katrina nears, Charlotte makes an appearance. Looking down at Katrina Charlotte swipes her claws at the air. There is a flash of silver reflected from the fire and a handful of hardened webs tear thru Katrina like high powered needles.

Solvieg laughs as Katrina falls to her knees and clutches her chest. Leaning forward she spits up blood.willow can’t move, how can any of this be real?

Selene runs to Katrina’s side and Charlotte swipes at the air again sending another barrage of webs at Selene. In a instant Gard is there, shield arm raised he shields Selene. One of the barbs miss his arm and tear thru his neck, opening a deep gash that bleeds profoundly.

Selene reels from all the gore surrounding her. Still Gard remains standing blocking the duo from anything that comes his way.

Everytime another blade tears thru Gard, Selene cries out. Once she’s had enought she rises, drawing both daggers she flings them at solvieg going right for the source of the violence.

Solvieg laughs and twirls his spear in the air, in the process he severs both lines of power connecting the daggers to Selene. Slamming his staff on the ground solvieg summons magic.” Soul scramble.” Solvieg speaks the trigger and nothing happens, but yet Selene backs a way in fear.

With no daggers she just shrinks in fear as solvieg drives his spear thru her chest. Willows body locks up and a buzzing fills his head, why didn’t he help? And why did he come here in unarmed?

The buzzing increases as the grief piles on, and a warm feeling rises from the ground burning his feet. The myst in the ground mends with the resin filtering it’s way up his body to reside in his arm.

Raising his shield arm Willow remembers the dead around him as they were when they entered. As the memory forms Willow let’s the must in his arm build to the point of pain.

The pent up energy explodes as if it were under pressure, the world explodes with the light of myst and solvieg flinches as time returns to Willow. The world reverses swirling into the palm of his hand and implodes to a single point within the compass.

When Willow opens his eyes Katrina stands in front of him with her eyes on Charlotte above. As she stares she is completely unaware that she was just dead. Right beside him Gard and Selene stand in harmed. Everything is exactly as he remembered it.

But it will not remain the same path as earlier. Katrina tries to walk a way from him again, and his heart won’t allow it. He can’t watch her die again, especially the tears falling from her eyes will forever torment his mind.

Willow stops Katrina by grabbing her hand. When she resists his grip he pulls her close.” Willow you stop fighting me, I’m trying to help. I’m not just gonna watch you die again.“Willow admits with a constricting feeling in his chest.

Katrina studies his face with a emotion she can’t express. ” Why do you care what happens to me” Katrina asks with a emotional pang in her voice.

Willow shuts his eyes and squeezes Katrina hand trying to will himself to speak his hearts desire.” I haven’t known you long, but I know I don’t want a future that your not a part of. So let me help you. ” Willow pleads with a voice lined with pain.

Katrina flinches caught off guard by his confession. ” Why do you want a future with me, I don’t know anything about this.” Katrina admits with a deflated look.

Willow smirks. ” And you think I do? I just know that when I’m around you everything’s gonna be fine. Everytime you get mad at me it feels different, it doesn’t hurt the way it should. It’s a breathe of fresh air when everything seems wrong. It doesn’t hurt it feels good just to be recognized by someone so special. ” Willow admits realizing that he thinks he could love this fiery blood letter. Something he wouldn’t of said before he came here.

Katrina stares with her mouth hanging open. When she tries to speak Willow shakes his head. ” I want a future you think you can’t have. We’re gonna save them all, even Charlotte.” Katrina pales wondering how he knows that she could still love Arakna after everything. Her heart melts out in to the palm of this hybrids hands.

Turning to face solvieg, Willow takes the lead like he should have the first time. The myst beneath his feet is a comforting presence that fills his body with power. Releasing the power outward, Willow walks channeling the myst with resin he directs it before him.

The annulling magic of the resin burns brighter than the light of the myst burning a way the fog solvieg has on the creatures minds. Slowly the cleansing resin of light reaches solvieg washing over Charlotte first.

Charlotte let’s out a gasp that says she is herself again. However solvieg snarls. ” You will not ruin my plans so easily.” Solvieg demands pointing his spear down at willow.

Before he can attack a barrage of webs are propelled down at solvieg. One stabs him in the leg and the other cuts into his side while the rest he blocks with his spear.” You vile beast” solvieg flings a dirty spell at Charlotte and she falls to her knees clenching her chest.

Willow stays concentrated on the myst he gathers and follows his shield arm. However a sudden blast of energy interiors his concentration and the resin holding back the Arakna’s faulters and they all pounce at Willow.

Gard is there slashing into the crowd, Selene appears on his other side, and Katrina remains at his back pressed against him as she unleashes her blood lust on the masses.

Funneled to solviegs doorstop, Willow focuses all his energy on solvieg. The cleansing resin hits solvieg and he cries out in pain, falling to a knee the only thing that holds him up is his spear.

Willow kneels before him.” I want you to read my soul before you die.“Willow admits taking solviegs spear from his hand.

Soon as the spear comes free Katrina falls to the ground laying in solviegs place. The spear falls from willows hand and he takes a step back. ” This can’t be real.” Willow states to himself.

Katrina laughs and picks up the spear to drive it in to his stomach, the spear drives home biting deep into his gut. Willow grabs the spear trying to prevent it from going all the way thru.

Katrina s smile melts a way and solvieg takes her place. ” It took all my magic to get thru your field of resin, and it may have caused me my life but it was worth it.” Solvieg admits leaking blood on the ground just like willow.

Willow laughs sinisterly earning the attention of everyone in the room. Yanking the spear from his gut blood pools on the ground at his feet.

Walking thru his own blood Willow grabs solvieg by the throat with his shield arm. Solvieg pales when he glimpses the compass.” Where are you taking me? “Solvieg demands with something that sounds like fear in his voice.

Katrina cries out from his right.” You can’t leave me, I was just starting to like you” Katrina admits looking distraught. Willow just smiles.” This is the last silly, when I flash forward I promise well be holding hands” Willow admits releasing all the power in his body into the compass.

The world explodes and it all makes sense, the worse place he could take solvieg is the place where Katrina’s father was forced to place katrina , to keep her from falling into solviegs hands.

A small fire blossoms around them and there in Katrina’s former prison. Solvieg falls from his grip and startles at the clay walls around him. ” No you can’t leave me here, it is inhumane ” solvieg pleads laying in his own grotesque.

Willow just laughs as he channels enough power to escape the room, but nothing happens he’s on empty. Startling Willow tries to figure out where he can draw power from before solvieg notices his problem. The only thing here is the fire.

Willow smiles and gathers resin around the fire trapping it within his resin he draws it into his shield arm, and something crazy happens.

It works, fire tears thru his body, and he uses resin as a protective barrier to trap the fire into his arm. As the fire and the resin merge his arm loses the rust colored look, now it’s a clear prism inferno trapped behind a layer of resin.

Willow moves his fingers marveling at the new look, but he’s still not out of danger. Forcing the fire into the compass Willow returns to Katrina who catches him when he falls. ” We need to hurry before your trapped here. ” Willow admits only afraid for Katrina’s life.

Katrina snarls into his ear.” Don’t talk like that were both leaving” Katrina demands with conviction burning in her eyes.

Turning to Gard and Selene drops the anger.” Go with Charlotte, she will get you out safely.” Katrina warns them.

Selene stops her.” You never did tell us who you are.” Selene admits with her eyes on Willow.

Katrina and Willow share a look and Willow smiles at his mother.” I’ll explain when you catch up to me mother.” Willow points out smiling in case he never gets to see his mother again.

Selene and Gard share a look of disbelief, and the room erupts into a red light blazing like a inferno at there escape.

Willow and Katrina jump back to the future and Willow points the compass right where he wants to go.

Two beating hearts sync becoming one wish. And the world take forms as they mend back into there present bodies. With it all the missing memories that changed after the course of there adventure. Everything is so different, and the hardest thing is trying to find fault in there perfect lives.

Willow materialized with Katrina’s hands in his, and she’s smiling in a slender white gown that highlights all her curves, and not to mention that it makes her hair pop like a living flame that flows around her perfect frame of beauty.

Katrina returns his smile burning with the same passion matched by her stare. All his injuries are gone and Katrina looks truly happy. Framed in the background over Katrina’s shoulder Charlotte smiles holding a boquette of flowers.

Then Willow notices all the people gathered before them, there in the Fae castle in the throne room. That’s right Selene lost her bet and became queen. She knew that Gard would trust her over everyone , so she married him uniting there people in a life time treaty of peace. And now Selene stands in the front row of the crowd beside Gard. On her other side there is a smaller version of herself with her hair cut beneath her jaw.

Willow can’t help but keep smiling as he sees his sister for the first time. Soon as he saw her all the memories came rushing in to fill all the blanks, it’s as if he was never gone.

Katrina s hand tightens on his and he returns the embrace and captures her gaze. ” Is the future you wanted?” Katrina asks with a playful edge on her lips.

Willow winks.” The compass was pointing at you all along” Willow admits realizing she was the answer the whole time. This was the one he was looking for.