but it will not be an easy thing.” My rescuer stops, and I almost run into him. “And for Heaven’s sake, don’t try to use your power. Play human, or all of the talk in the world will not save either of us.”
The little man starts crawling again and I follow, confused by how he knows I am not human. I do not suppose I should be surprised, since most supernatural creatures can sense it in others, and given my use of the power to break the door, I was probably glowing with the after-image of its use. I am uncertain where I am heading, and I am putting my trust in someone I do not know. I have to trust things will work out. A little leap of faith is a good place to start I guess, but I wish I had a little more to hang on to.
The tunnel opens up gradually, becoming wide enough for two people to walk side by side, and high enough that I am able to stand without hitting my head on the ceiling. My guide does the same, but he is no taller than four foot. We look like a parent and child walking through the darkness. "Okay, we can talk now," he says with a whisper, "but you'll still want to keep it quiet, and remember to shut up when we leave the tunnel."
"Okay," I whisper back. The lights grow brighter, and I get my first good look at my rescuer.
When he first rescued me, I thought that perhaps he was a human dwarf, but I realize now that he is nothing of the sort. He is small, by human standards, but completely proportionate to a human. His stride is light, like a dancer's, but there is strength behind every motion. I catch glimpses of his face beneath the hood of his cloak as he walks. His appearance brings to mind a beautiful child that was caught in a fire. There is something sweet there, but it is corrupted by darkness.
"Don't stare," he says. "I am not the only one who has been tainted, and most of my people are not nearly as forgiving as I am." A wicked looking, curved blade appears in his hand and disappears just as quickly. "They will stare at you. They will look hard, and they will look close. You look nearly perfect as far as humans go, so you will draw much attention, possibly even after we leave." My rescuer sighs, and says, "let them look, let them touch, let them do what they will, and do not complain. Act as if none of it bothers you, and they will tire of you eventually."
"And who are your people?" I ask. I hate looking ignorant amongst the supernatural people of the world; it has a way of coming back to haunt you.
"We are known by a number of names," he says. "Our most recent, and most popular, is elf, but we no longer fit the stereotype." He grumbles and turns to me. "Look, I'll tell you all about it once we're out of here okay, but until then, you must call us by the name we have given ourselves: the Cursed."
"Seems rather melodramatic," I suggest as he turns back to the front.
"I suppose it is, but we have always been a rather dramatic people at heart," he says. "Our current condition has given us a somewhat...darker perspective." He turns his head, and smiles as he walks. "When I was younger, I wished for a little more darkness in our lives, and time has granted it. I try to think of it as a lesson of some sort, but I've not been able to put my fingers on what it is."
"Be careful what you wish for," I say.
He stops and looks at me again. "Be careful what you wish for," he says. I can almost see the words rolling around in his mind. "Yes, I think that will work nicely. Thank you."
"My name is Justin, by the way," I say, and offer my hand.
My rescuer looks at my hand, at me, and back again. His little hand makes mine look enormous as he takes it, and gives it a firm shake. "You may call me Julius."
"Nice to meet you, Julius," I say as we begin to walk again.
"Alright, I think that's enough chat for now," he says. "We need to work on silence now, and don't forget what I've told you."
I nod my head in agreement, and return to silence, left with more questions, and not caring for it one bit.
We
The little man starts crawling again and I follow, confused by how he knows I am not human. I do not suppose I should be surprised, since most supernatural creatures can sense it in others, and given my use of the power to break the door, I was probably glowing with the after-image of its use. I am uncertain where I am heading, and I am putting my trust in someone I do not know. I have to trust things will work out. A little leap of faith is a good place to start I guess, but I wish I had a little more to hang on to.
The tunnel opens up gradually, becoming wide enough for two people to walk side by side, and high enough that I am able to stand without hitting my head on the ceiling. My guide does the same, but he is no taller than four foot. We look like a parent and child walking through the darkness. "Okay, we can talk now," he says with a whisper, "but you'll still want to keep it quiet, and remember to shut up when we leave the tunnel."
"Okay," I whisper back. The lights grow brighter, and I get my first good look at my rescuer.
When he first rescued me, I thought that perhaps he was a human dwarf, but I realize now that he is nothing of the sort. He is small, by human standards, but completely proportionate to a human. His stride is light, like a dancer's, but there is strength behind every motion. I catch glimpses of his face beneath the hood of his cloak as he walks. His appearance brings to mind a beautiful child that was caught in a fire. There is something sweet there, but it is corrupted by darkness.
"Don't stare," he says. "I am not the only one who has been tainted, and most of my people are not nearly as forgiving as I am." A wicked looking, curved blade appears in his hand and disappears just as quickly. "They will stare at you. They will look hard, and they will look close. You look nearly perfect as far as humans go, so you will draw much attention, possibly even after we leave." My rescuer sighs, and says, "let them look, let them touch, let them do what they will, and do not complain. Act as if none of it bothers you, and they will tire of you eventually."
"And who are your people?" I ask. I hate looking ignorant amongst the supernatural people of the world; it has a way of coming back to haunt you.
"We are known by a number of names," he says. "Our most recent, and most popular, is elf, but we no longer fit the stereotype." He grumbles and turns to me. "Look, I'll tell you all about it once we're out of here okay, but until then, you must call us by the name we have given ourselves: the Cursed."
"Seems rather melodramatic," I suggest as he turns back to the front.
"I suppose it is, but we have always been a rather dramatic people at heart," he says. "Our current condition has given us a somewhat...darker perspective." He turns his head, and smiles as he walks. "When I was younger, I wished for a little more darkness in our lives, and time has granted it. I try to think of it as a lesson of some sort, but I've not been able to put my fingers on what it is."
"Be careful what you wish for," I say.
He stops and looks at me again. "Be careful what you wish for," he says. I can almost see the words rolling around in his mind. "Yes, I think that will work nicely. Thank you."
"My name is Justin, by the way," I say, and offer my hand.
My rescuer looks at my hand, at me, and back again. His little hand makes mine look enormous as he takes it, and gives it a firm shake. "You may call me Julius."
"Nice to meet you, Julius," I say as we begin to walk again.
"Alright, I think that's enough chat for now," he says. "We need to work on silence now, and don't forget what I've told you."
I nod my head in agreement, and return to silence, left with more questions, and not caring for it one bit.
We
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