Chapter 13

W hen I stepped out of the portal, I knew Del had probably jinxed me. That would have been the only way to explain how I, Kaydian Thibodeaux, landed in a dark alleyway. The smell permeating from the area smelled like rotten meat and death. Covering my nose with my free hand only made matters worse as I breathed the rancid air into my mouth.

The blaring sounds from the streets beckoned me toward the bright exit. I emerged from the seedy alleyway, squinting my eyes as they adjusted to the bright lights. People buzzed around the busy street even though it was late at night. With their heads straight, caught up in their own world, not paying attention to anyone but their accompanying party.

“Move!” someone yelled as I moved closer to the curb to avoid being mowed down by an older woman with a steel cart.

I’ve never been to New York City before. It was the one place Del, and I always wanted to visit. But we were afraid to travel too far, even with using the portal. The surrounding chatter was so palpable I could reach out and touch it. Those mini billboards in Houston were nothing compared to the ones here. Instead of the dull, faded prints, it was vibrant and massive, with a variety of colorful lights that decorated several blocks of the long fork road—walking in a trance, taking in the different stores that lined the streets. As I finally got to the end of the long street, I noticed the long street sign that read Broadway and Times Square.

I thought all the humans would be asleep by now.

Honestly, standing in the corner with my blue overalls and my belongings under my arms, that creeping sensation returned to the pit of my stomach as I watched several people pass. Their faces pinched as if they smelled something bad. Their judgmental eyes did a once over of me. Pulling the book in front of me, shielding the offending clothing, my skin felt tight. Everyone I passed looked put together, and then there was me. I appeared as if I just stepped out of the farm. My face warmed when I saw a couple from across the street point and giggle at me.

Shame propelled me as my legs finally got the message that we needed to move, and quickly. As I ran across the street when the coast was clear, I tried to watch where I was going, but the front of my sneakers caught onto the streetcar tracks, which sent me stumbling over my feet. Pain radiated up and down my arms as my hands broke my fall. The people on the other side of the street stopped and stared at me like I was a complete and utter fool.

A blaring sound pierced my ears as I got up from the wet street and scurried to the other side of the road. I dodged the impatient driver as he drove off, leaving me pondering my life decisions. With me standing there, with the front of my overalls damp, matching my armpits, which made the shirt cling onto me like a second skin, I was truly a fish out of the sea. The only thing I could hope for was that my accident hadn’t ruined my drawing pad.

I needed to regroup somewhere as I looked up and saw the Macy’s store.

My mother’s emerald eyes always glazed over when she spoke about her trip to the store, and I could see why, as the eight-story store was a fashion lover’s wet dream. I couldn’t help myself as my feet led the way to the sandy-colored store.

Too bad they’re closed.

I was about to turn around and leave, but out of the corner of my eyes, a beautiful gold-tiered dress. Which that sat on display in the window beckoned me. It had to be magic. My wide eyes roamed the metallic piece of art…for thirty dollars! Digging into the small bag, I felt around for the human money I normally stored in this purse. Of course, I left home with only five dollars. Great Kaydian!

“Move it along! You couldn’t afford it, anyway.” The police officer said as his hand turned an angry red as he gripped his baton. He waited patiently, staring down his nose at me like I was nothing more than a discarded bottle on the ground.

Disrespectful bastard…let’s squeeze his neck till he’s dead!

For fuck’s sake! I don’t need anything else to worry about, and I can’t do anything to draw attention to myself. My magic raced through me, waiting at the edge of my fingertips for its chance to strike and kill the imbecile in front of me. The overpowering need to crush him with my magic wouldn’t be enough. I feared I would find myself on top of the bastard with my hands wrapped around his fat throat, choking the simple, pathetic human life out of him. So, I tucked my tail in between my legs and speed-walked to the corner and into the nearest alleyway.

New York would have been perfect if Del was here with me. She would thrive in the fast-paced environment. I craved to be somewhere I could just paint and work my demons out without the background noise.

Opening up the portal again. Except for his time, I picked where I wanted to go and did not let my magic drop me anywhere. Maybe in Florida, I always wanted to visit that peculiar state.

The humid air smacked me in my face, and sweat gathered on my upper lip the moment my feet touched the grassy ground. Is this weather even real? I couldn’t bear this heat. I can only imagine how humans live in this condition. It’s like I had visited the underworld again.

Luckily, no one was around, the lights were too dim. There weren’t any benches along the path around the lake. My feet ached and throbbed against my sneakers’ hard insole that provided little to no comfort. I took a break by the small lake and laid on the plush lawn.

The night sky reminded me of back home. But tonight, there seemed to be billions of shiny diamonds in the sky. Not even a single cloud dared to disrupt them. Even through the heat, you can smell the grass. Although it was peaceful, all I could wonder was if Del was still in my room in her nightgown or whether my mother checked up on me. A deep sigh left my lips.

“Well, at least it’s quiet,” I said out loud.

I scoffed. Now I’m talking to myself. Why delay the inevitable? I had already started my demented downfall. I might as well get used to talking to myself until my parents came to off my head and burn my body. Good riddance! Maybe I will be reincarnated as a famous singer.

A crawling sensation worked its way across my legs. I thought was just from my bag that I threw down when I found the cleared spot. Unfortunately for me, I should have paid much more attention to my surroundings because a pinching sensation started in my lower leg, causing my head to spin as much as my leg throbbed. When I looked down, the black, red, and yellow snake was poised to strike my injured leg again. Without thinking, I bolted up and ran to the paved pathway. Unfortunately, my sneakers caught onto the edge of the pavement, and I went tumbling face-first into the concrete. My hands barely had enough time to break my fall, leaving me to flop like a fish out of water onto the pathway.

Amazing! Falling twice in one night. Wasn’t I so lucky?

If Sir Reid were here, he would definitely just stare at me pathetically with his cold black eyes and shake his head.

Snakes were the second thing I hated more than mermaids.

After what seemed like an eternity, I pulled myself up from the cold floor. When I lifted the overalls leg to examine the aftermath, the small puncture wound had already closed, and all that was left was the brown tint of the snake venom mixed with my dried blood…. and my dignity, which, if we’re being honest, was gone.

“Why can’t I do anything right?” I said out loud.

This wasn’t supposed to be difficult. The familiar lull of sleep tugged from deep within me as I wrapped my arms around myself. Goosebumps formed on my arms as I rubbed away the shiver. It was clear as the midnight sky that I needed to trust my magic because I couldn’t find a place to land on my own. Pitiful, if you ask me.

I grabbed the book and my bag after I made sure the snake was gone.

“Please lead me to where I need to be. Somewhere I can find peace,” I pleaded to my magic with exhaustion on the tip of my tongue.

My magic flickered and waned as it opened up the white slit, breaking the dark-shrouded greenery. This time, it felt different. My green aura wrapped around me, almost as if my magic were pushing me into the portal. This was a first for me, and I wasn’t sure if it was normal for our magic to act in such a way.

When I stepped through the slit, I grunted and cursed. The pad under my arm was ruined as blades of grass were encrusted on the book with muddy dirt. I’ve ruined the last drawing pad I owned. Stomping the muddy ground did nothing but add more dirt to my clothing.

“My magic is out to drive me insane before my curse hits me,” I said out loud.

That had to be the only explanation as I stared at the old wooden sign with the words “Sacramento Woods.” The overwhelming cedar scent assaulted my nose. My shoulders slumped. I wanted to curse, scream…to do something, but my body was weak, and I was hungry. Del was right. And now my magic had recoiled to the center of my body in protest. Sleep was inevitable, and if I didn’t find somewhere to rest soon, I would find myself face first in the dirt…again.

“Out of all the places my magic could take me. It chooses the woods. Great! Just fucking great.” I said out loud.

When I looked around the long stretch of road, I couldn’t see a home or store in sight. Just the towering pine trees with the rustling sounds of the many critters in the woods. Which reminded me of Sera and Luc. I missed them as I stood by the old rickety sign. Emptiness greeted me like an old lover. I had no one else to blame but myself.

“I guess I’m sleeping in the woods.”

The rustling of leaves intensified the crawling sensation.

“I won’t be foolish again.”

The throb made me slam my sore eyes shut. I just needed it to sweep the area and maybe clean my dirt-covered overalls. The last thing I needed was for me to be eaten alive by a bear. My magic, which had retreated, fought me tooth and nail until my will to do anything else dwindled along with my confidence.

I stood by the side of the road for ten minutes, shaking my right hand as if that may solve the problem. If someone were to pass by me right now, they would surely think I was insane. A picture of me in a straight white jacket popped into my head. With a half smirk on my face, I decided to just bite the bullet and head into the dense woods.

“Well, if I’m eaten, my mother won’t have to behead me. So, I guess that was a plus.”

Luckily for me, there wasn’t any pathway for me to follow. I bite on my lip, looking at the thick bushes. One can just hope for a clearing. Stepping into the bushes, I asked Juna, the Goddess of judgment, to guide me through the forest. Every snap and crunch of the twigs and branches made me jump out of my skin. The poor overalls I wore had several tears in them as the branches from the overgrown shrubs caught on the fabric. Perfect! Not only was I covered in dirt, but now I had added holes to the design.

My sweat dampened the white shirt I had on, and my hair became kinky from the sweat that formed on my head. I could no longer see the dust road from where I started. All I could see were the branches and thick bushes I’d trampled through for the last ten minutes. Off in the far distance, the soft rippling sound of water could be heard.

“Maybe if I find where the water is, I can at least wash the sweat and dirt off of me.”

Absorbed in finding the soft sloshing sound, I forgot to pay attention to my surroundings. When I heard a low howl in the distance. My heart pounded erratically. I paused in the middle of my trek to see if my magic would spare me just enough to protect myself. Not even a whisper of magic to help me. “Youna really hates me,” I said as I ran. Every tendon and muscle screamed as I pushed them to their limit. My calf muscles squeezed, and my heart was in my mouth. I promised Del I would be back. I can’t die in Sacramento. My chest was heavy with exhaustion, causing me to curse my heavy breast. These thick thighs I loved ached and burned, demanding me to rest.

I guess I should have paid more attention to Sir Reid’s advice because I stupidly looked back, and the next thing I knew…I was making out with the floor. My stomach burned from the impact. All of the little air in my overworked lungs was gone. The book I bought was ruined as leaves and mud coated the paper. But I couldn’t stop, as the last of my adrenaline pushed my heavy body up from the floor as I detached my foot from one of the tree's roots.

I pushed myself up after rubbing my sore ankle when the unmistakable scent hit me square in my tight chest. My teeth chattered as I pleaded with Youna.

“I’m not a bad person, Youna! I did nothing... recently. It was all my father’s fault.”

My tears were coming down hard and fast as I tried to get away from the dog scent that filled the air. That can only mean one thing. Werewolves were close. I jogged to the water sound as I tried to think clearly. If they caught me, I would surely die, and it won’t be from my mother but from shifters. This was the only time I wished my father hadn’t allowed some werewolves to remain alive. Now I’ll probably be on the receiving end of my father’s vengeance.

The sound of the river turned into a loud swooshing sound that carried in the light, clean night breeze. Surely, the old saying that dogs hate water holds some truth. I came to a halt in front of a large tree that split the area. Right or left, Kaydian! I chewed on my bottom lip and grimaced. The mineral earthy taste of soil filled my mouth as I spat on the ground. My stomach wanted to throw the contents up, but I swallowed the acid back down.

“Great, what else can go wrong?”

A bright white light lit up the canopy of the trees, causing me to flinch at the cracking sound. The rain didn’t start with the warning sprinkle of rain, which normally comes before the downpour. Nope, the sky opened up, and the heavy rain soaked me and—shit, well, my overalls. Since I lost my purse and book somewhere when I kissed the ground. I had nothing to protect me from the rain.

The downpour made my hair heavy as it fell out of the hair tie, and strands of my now kinky hair were plastered to my face. Grasping my tears mixed with the rainwater and holding my arm over my face, I headed left…to where? My death or my salvation. I wasn’t sure. At this point, does it matter anymore?

My last question was met with a low bark. I stopped the staggered pace to look back, foolishly, as a scream ripped out of my throat. There was a massive black wolf almost the size of me that stood at the entrance of the fork pathway. Its coat was damp from the onslaught of the rain. Those amber eyes glowed in the night’s dark. It did not move, leaving me wondering if it was my imagination playing tricks on me or if it was waiting to pounce on me.

“I fucking hate my father!” I screamed out, and the wolf tilted its enormous head.

Maybe I should feel bad about my words, but it felt good to release my demons after all, since I was facing death. I pulled on my magic once more, but it coiled inside of me and bubbled throughout my body. The feeling was foreign, as I never felt my magic react this way. I guess facing death made my magic happy. That made one of us. The wolf took one step forward, and I took one shaky step back. If I were to die here, then I would die fighting.

I turned and ran as fast as my sore feet would allow me. A loud bark was heard behind me as I made my way into the unknown. As if the weather had a vendetta against me. The rain came down harder. The stinging sensation against my tender skin felt like pellets. I could hear the wolf running behind me, and I picked up my pace.

The roar of the water reached a deafening pitch as I got closer to it, drowning out the wolf's steps behind me. One look back, and it was gone. I was left alone, trapped between the forest and the raging waters of the river.

“Good!” I whispered to myself as I turned back. The heel of my foot slid on the muddy dirt that lined the edge before the water. It wasn’t until I tried to stop my descent with my other foot I knew my mistake. There wasn’t just water to help save me from my impending death, but also a cliff. As my feet disconnected from the edge, I made one last attempt to call on my magic, which was once bubbling inside of my chest, to help, but I pushed my magic too much already. It dimmed quickly as it became dormant.

I closed my eyes, the soft lull of succumbing to my fate, and prepared for the worst as I gave up the struggle.