xx There’s no more escape

- So the photos look like the people here is not coincidence.

- Coincidences do not exist. And the fact that you're here is not by chance too, since I brought you here.

 I froze where I was and took a step back, not taking my eyes off him. Rathal gave a half smile and fixed his eyes on the book in my hands.

- What happened? If you do not believe me, read the whole story.

- I know the whole story and every character of it.

- Then you should not be looking at me like that. Let's go, otherwise you'll catch a cold.

 I took another step back and ran back into the forest. How could I not realize that what was happening to me was the sequence of the story of the book? However, the characters were somewhat different. It was as if they had a personality beyond what I already knew.

 I collided with someone and fell on my back. Looking up, I saw Rathal approaching and helping me to stand up.

- You should not be afraid of me. As you said it yourself, if I wanted to do something, I would have done it.

- Unless you're playing with me

- And I am indeed. There is nowhere to run.

 He grabbed my arm and dragged me along the way to his house as I struggled and screamed, trying to escape. It was useless. Nothing I did would be enough and my strength was ridiculous compared to someone who was not human. Ivory was certainly far away and could not hear me, and even if he could, I doubt he would save me.

 Rathal released me when we were at his house, where I began to feel sleepy and without strength. I staggered toward the door, but my vision was blurred and darkened before I could approach the exit.

 When I finally woke up, I was tied with silver chains to a white marble stone that was even bigger than me. The room was very clear, which even hurt my eyes. My mouth was covered with a piece of cloth and I could not shout so that someone nearby would hear me.

- Good morning, flower of the day. How was your night? I hope this simple room has been enough.

 Rathal was standing in the doorway, with a book in his hands. He walked slowly towards me, but propped the object on a plataform near me. I grunted and struggled, but it was useless and my wrists were starting to ache.

- I must admit I would not want to do any of this with you, but I had no choice. I need your human vital energy to complete my plans for me to become a vampire altogether. And it had to be a girl descended from Ivory's family, which has special may for transformations.

- I'm not related to him!

- Of course you are. Sorenna, you are the reincarnation of his mother, could not be better for my plans. But unfortunately, you deserve to die for a noble purpose, feel honored.

xx A Book

- Is this some kind of joke?

- And why the hell would I play with that sort of thing? - He looked upset, but restrained himself.- Come on, you had better stay close to us.

- Are you being kind now? What is it? Your mother told you to be nice to the visitor, was it?

- Be squiet and just come. If she brought me to you then it means something important.

 He would not let me say anything else. He simply began to walk through the darkness of the middle of the forest with enviable ease. I had to effort myself  to see better around me and I almost hit him several times on the way because I could not see what was in front of me.

 Soon, we were on a stretch of the path that was illuminated by the moon and where I finally saw something. I was really close to him, and if I took a step a little higher, I would certainly hit my forehead on his back.

- How did you end up there? You were following the map, were not?

 Ivory broke the silence.

- I do not know the way so well to get around by myself.

- I told you the map is fake. Why do not you believe me? You seem to trust Rathal more than you trust me.

- That's because he treated me well since the first time. But you ...

 I did not complete the sentence on purpose. Surely he knew what I was talking about.

- Not everything is always what it seems. Rathal is half vampire, if you do not remember.

- I know. The other half of him is elf. But what does one have to do with the other?

- How long do you think it will take for him to drink every drop of your blood? After all, you are human.

- Do not you think if he wanted to do that he would have done it already? After all, he gave me these clothes and gave me what to eat at his house, then I don't believe he's so evil as you say.

- Rathal is a box of surprises. I would not be surprised if he was playing with his food. Besides, do you really think it was kind of him to give you these clothes?

- Yes...

- If that's what you think ...

 I pulled his arm, making him turning toward me. Ivory did not seem happy that I did it, but I did not care.

- What is the problem?

- What do you have against Rathal? And what do you know to be able to say all this?

- I know more about him than you know. And I've told you all this before, remember? I do not need to repeat more than that. If you do not want to trust me, just see for yourself. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think it's unlikely.

- Actually, my ears were not burning by chance, were they? Know that it is lack of courtesy to speak ill of one who is not present to defend himself.

 Rathal was walking toward us calmly, with something in his hands, but by the precarious light I could not see what it was. He smiled at me and looked back at Ivory with a mortal expression.

- Making people feel hatred of others for no apparent reason is a bit childish, do not you think, Ivory?

- And getting in on other people's conversations is even worse. This is something that a refined person would not do.

 Rathal rolled his eyes at him and looked at me again.

- You look tired, Sorenna. You can spend the night at my house if you want. At least I will not let you sleep in the floor.

- I do not want to bother...

- And you will not. In fact, the house will be all yours, since I take advantage of the night to take care of my chores. My skin is sensitive to the sun and so I stay out of the house when the sun goes down.

- If you go with him you'll be signing your death sentence. Besides, only a stupid person would go with him after all I said.

- Did you see! I pointed to Ivory. You always find a way to offend me. Also, between sleeping in the cold and on the floor again, I prefer a ceiling. At least I'll be safe.

 Ivory laughed and started to walk away from us.

- Are you serious? Take the time to say goodbye to every drop of your blood from now on. How dumb you are ... It was good to meet you.

- Do not pay attention on him. You will be in complete safety. Come on, you need to rest and feed yourself right. I can even help you get back home this time.

- Really?

- Yeah. I'll have some free time for that. Besides, I imagine you must miss home.

- A little. But sometimes I feel like I'm part of here.

- That's because this world is a book. And a book you know very well.

xx Guided by the stars

 My sense of direction was really lousy. With each step I tried to give looking at the map, the more lost I became. The afternoon was falling and my stomach made that raucous noise of hunger again. I picked up the apple and ate, making some of the hunger disappear and kept walking, ignoring the map this time. Already lost, what could get worse?

 I decided to sit near a tree to rest. The sun was setting and something told me that it would not be good to be walking around during the night. My stomach still complained and I ate half of the bread Rathal had given me. The food was running out and I should look for more early tomorrow, otherwise I would be in serious trouble.

 I looked at the book, which was in front of me and I decided to look at its pages, as it was customary to do. It was true that some prints looked like some creatures here, and they really looked like the ones I saw around here. For the first time I stopped to pay attention to them for real and it really was strange. That woman Ivory said to be his mother was somehow like me and he was right: if it was not for the hair, we'd both be identical. It scared me for a moment and left me confused at the same time: how could I not realize this before I came to stop here? What was happening?

- Lost again?

 Rathal startled me as I stepped out from behind the tree I was in. It even looked like he was following me.

- How did you find me?

- I smelled human and came to see what it was. So Ivory kicked you out of his camp, too?

- No, I decided to follow the map you gave me to go home, but I can not guide myself at all and now I'm here.

 He sat down beside me and looked at the book.

- Ivory's mother really looks like you.

- You noticed, too?

- How can you not understand? Everyone who has known his family can see the resemblance.

- Why are you in this book?

- It's a book that humans have made about our world, right? - Rathal looked at me and I nodded. - It's not because you do not believe in a fairy tale that they are not real. Maybe someone who managed to come here recorded everything in book form.

 His hypothesis made sense, but how could a person do that if even I do not know how I got here?

- Do you have any idea who it might be, Rathal?

- None. It could be a human who came here or a creature that went there. - He shrugged, standing up. - Would you like to spend the night at my house?

- Thank you, but I'll keep here.

- Right. Just be careful not to get lost, okay?

- Thanks.

 He walked toward the forest and disappeared completely. I closed the book, after all everything was very confusing now. I kept looking at the sky and at the same stars that guided me to Ivory that time. I really wanted them to help me find the right way to go home.

 I began to hear laughter not far from me and a soft light was in the middle of the trees. I saw a girl dressed in a long, simple dress and long loose hair. She walked through the forest as if to draw my attention.

- Follow me. I heard her say it in my head.

 I looked around and looked at the woman again. I do not think she would do me any harm and so I picked up my things before following her wherever I was going. She walked fast and I had to run not to get lost, but it did not help. I did not see the light anymore and the woman disappeared. He was in a place he did not know again in another forest, not knowing how to get back.

- Anybody there? Please!

- Sorenna? - I knew that voice - Where are you?

- I wanted to know...

 I saw that light again and the woman walking toward me, followed by Ivory, who was again in the shape of an elf. So she disappeared to bring him here? But why? That did not make sense.

"Did she bring you here too?"

"I mean ...- He did not finish the sentence, once he was surprised.

- What is it, Ivory?

- She does not appear to anyone but me. Why did she bring you here?

- I do not know. She just told me to follow her. Why are you so surprised? Who is she?

- She's my mother's ghost.

xx Made of Ice

 I woke up with the sunshine on my face. I admit that I was not at all comfortable lying on that floor, with absolutely nothing soft. Besides, it was cold all night, because the fire was gone and only the ashes were left there. My back hurt a lot and I struggled to get up. I stretched my muscles for a moment and looked around. I was not really at home, and it saddened me for a moment. The door of the Ivory's house opened and Rathal really was telling the truth about what happened during the day. His eyes were the same, but his hair was brown and his pointy ears were gone. He was really human. He had a reliever on his back and a bow in his hands. 
- You're going to stare at me for a long time, huh? 
 - Look who's talking ...
 He did not like my answer and closed the door harder than necessary, without taking his eyes off me. - Do not think I'm going to look for food for you, so I suggest you pack up what to do.
 - I'm going, I'm going ...
 I raised my hands in peace and began to walk back into the forest. I was not sure which way to go to find more food, though I did not have many choices at the moment.

 It was already entangled in the trees and the only thing I could find was an apple, but that was not enough to kill my hunger. My stomach made a loud and irritating noise and I could not find anything else there. 
- Look who's here ... Sorenna, is not it? 
- Forgot my name?
- Let's just say I do not pay much attention to these things. - Rathal shrugged. - But what are you doing here? I thought you were with Ivory. 
- He told me to find something to eat. He said I should turn around.
 - But of course. He in the human personality is indeed unpleasant. Sending a human like you  looking for food in a place like this is not sweet at all. - He rummaged in a bag he was carrying while he spoke. - Here it is, I think it might help.
 I took two packages from his hands and a bottle. 
- Are not you going to need it?
- No way. Keep it.
 I did not have time to say anything else, because I did not see him anymore. I approached a tree and opened the packages. In one there were two breads and in the other there were two apples and some blackberries. The bottle was filled with fresh water. I ate only one bread and one more apple and decided to save the rest for later. I did not know if I could get more food on the way, so it would be best to ration it for now. I got up and went back to Ivory's house, where my things were. 
- What happened? You got nothing to eat? You should know that I have nothing to offer here.
 He was back, sitting on the floor finishing the last piece of bread that was in his hands. 
- Do not worry about it. - I answered, taking the map and reaching for my book, which Ivory was able to catch first than me. 
- What is written here? I do not recognize these symbols. What kind of spells can you do? 
-It's not spells. It's a storybook that came with me. 
- And why is there a picture of Rathal here? Wait ... Why do you have pictures of several people here? 
- Like for example...? 
- My two forms, the image of my father and my mother ...- he looked at me suspiciously. - What are you up to? 
- I told you I'm not up to anything! It's just a book of fairy tales, they're common in my world. 
- And why such a resemblance?
- I do not know. Do you want to return it? It is very valuable to me and I will not leave without it.
 He suddenly looked at me, his eyebrows arched. 
- Are you leaving? 
 - Of course. I know when I'm not welcome somewhere. Besides, I have to go home. 
- Wait.
 I looked at him impatiently as I watched him close the book and drop it on his lap. 
- I heard when Rathal asked you how you got here. - Ivory began, and his eyes were still over the book. - And you said it was for the stars of my father and mother. 
-It was those stars, but I did not know they were your parents, Rathal told me that.
- He is right .-  I thought I noticed a certain softness in his tone of voice after that, and then he looked at me softer. - But I've never seen anyone who has been guided by them before. 
- What's that got to do with it? - I asked, impatient that he had not returned my book.
- Maybe you were guided here for some reason.- the book was opened again but on a specific page - You look like my mother's picture, the only difference is that your hair is shorter than hers.

 He looked down, thinking of something. I did not want to know, I did not trust him after all that rudeness with me. I marched toward him and picked up the book, closing it impatiently. Ivory looked startled by my gesture. I made sure that everything I needed was with me and I started to walk away, looking at the map one more time and trying to understand where I was and where I should go. 
- You know you're not going anywhere with this map, are you? And I will not help you. - I could still hear him shout. I didn't pay attention.
  So what if he said the map was fake? Rathal said it wasn't, and I admit to trusting him more than anyone else around here.

▪▫▪▫⊰ Almost d-i-e-d >.< ⊱▪▫▪▫

▪▫▪▫⊰⊱▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫⊰⊱▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫⊰⊱▪▫▪▫

 Adm: *walks back to the blog*

 Sesshoumaru: Hey, human.

Adm:  AAAAHHHH!!! *runs and bows before Sesshoumaru*

Sesshoumaru: Where have you been all this time?

Adm:  W-well... *looks at him, and he's really mad* AAAHH, I am sorry, my lord, the university was killing all my time and the inspiration betrayed me, then...

Sesshoumaru: Silence. And about your vacations? You simply abandoned all here without say any word.

Adm: I...

Sesshoumaru: *use the sword*

Adm:  Uh? *looks around and for my own body, scared* Am I still alive?

Sesshoumaru:  I used Tenseiga to make this blog alive again. Do not dare to disappoint me again, otherwise I will kill you *smiles and walk away*

Adm: AAAAHHH! *bows a thousand times* T-thank you very much, my lord, thank you, thank you!

Sesshoumaru:  Humans...

Adm:: *sighs and tremble* What a creepy smile... 

 ▪▫▪▫⊰⊱▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫⊰⊱▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫⊰⊱▪▫▪▫