The Real You

38. The Empire

Skylar

Dexter was right. This is nothing like the British counterpart. We knew the men were waiting for us when we first saw them at the airport. Alex walked right to them and they didn't utter a word. And now we are standing in front of an underground cave...?? Tunnel??

"What is this?" I dared to ask one of them.

"Grhhhrmm" is all he said.

"Yeah, totally" I rolled my eyes and felt Delan nudge me disapprovingly. I know what he meant - don't draw attention. You are human.

If Delan thought what I did was out of line, Sandy took it to a whole other level. 

"I don't want to walk in that slime" She rubbed her nose like she smelled something rotten. To be honest, there was no smell. 

I haven't noticed until then that the mouth of the cave was the only dry part. As I looked ahead, there was a slimey black fluid, like melted tar on the path. 

"You should," One of the men said in a heavy Russian accent. 

"Umm...any alternative?" Lola asked, smiling hesitantly.

"No, Ved'ma. This is the way" He used the Russian term for a witch and that word came out so bitter that I couldn't help but snicker. At least, that hatred is universal. 

There were three of them. The shortest one wouldn't stop glaring at Sandy like she were a threat. And Alex noticed too. He stood like a protective shield, blocking her from everyone else. But Sandy...she wouldn't stop eyeing Alex like he were a pigeon that she'd like to shoot with her pistol. 

"Walk or Go back" The tallest Russian said and went ahead into the cave.

None of us trusted the slimy stuff.

"I have an idea" Delan said

-x-x-x-x

"This is terrific!!" Alex laughed and Lola joined him.

"Yes!! This is woow!!" She giggled and they both fist-bumped.

"What's terrific about being carried by invisible shadows?" I shuddered and felt the tingles on my feet get more intense

We all sat on the shoulders of the shadows and they got a hold of our legs so that we don't fall. I would have walked down that Tar. The Russians were looking at Delan like he were....umm...Superman. They were smiling for the first time and that made me more uncomfortable. They are supposed to be hostile. Will they want Delan too now? 

"You are not bad, I suppose?" I said to the shadow, I don't know if it is hearing me or not.

"I am just scared of you but Delan says you are...very different. He loves you for some reason. He calls you one of his own...a part of him. So, I should like you too...it goes without saying."

Surprisingly, the shadow responded. I felt the grip on my leg tighten and it brushed my skin there. It was supposed to be loving but I felt the hair on my hand stand. I ignored my fight-or-flight response and smiled.

"I am trying to get used to you. Don't get offended" The shadow brushed again in agreement.

I sighed and relaxed a little bit. We walked a long way in. Sometimes I could see things and other times, it's a blank screen. On our way, we noticed a small opening and the sunlight seeped in, illuminating the spot that it landed on. A little forward, we saw a waterfall that looked soo magical. The water was like melted silver sliding down the stones. There was no sound and some kind of weird fishes that looked like platinum-plated artifacts, swum around. You wouldn't notice them until you look closer.