Hidden Hallows

It"s fine, it"s totally fine! After ensuring that it won"t come back up, I sit back down and try to rest for a little. I try to pretend that I"m sunbathing at a pool or at the beach but there isn"t any insect sounds or bird sounds... nothing.

It"s just HOT! I try to look for shade but because the trees are dead, they offer no shade! This truly is h.e.l.l!! I try to lay down for a little but I feel like it could be dangerous. The tree blood did little to help but it was something... Right?

I force myself to stand again and start walking as Binx says "Are you okay?" I suddenly feel my stomach clench and before I have a chance to lean over, I"m throwing up the tree blood. I gag until everything is up and then some.

My body really didn"t like that! My arms and legs shake as I struggle to stand back up and say "Oh yeah... I"m doing great. I feel like I"m on vacation." Binx is silent for a long time before saying "You"re dying... We"re dying."

I growl at no one in particular as I say "The h.e.l.l we are! It"s just extreme training... that"s all." Binx is silent for a while longer before asking "Are you sure I shouldn"t come to you?" I sigh and say "Even if you did, there"s nothing you can do for me here. I"ll figure it out, I always do."

This time Binx sighs before leaving me alone again. That"s what I said but... When I finally reach what looks like the end of the dead woods, I look over to see another village but this one seemed to be a little bigger and a little better.

As I approach the village, I try to keep my head from spinning. I need to find something to help me with this heat. As I pa.s.s by the first few houses, I see a thin black blanket. I grab it and keep going, wrapping it around me like a cloak or something.

Every demon I"ve seen so far has had black hair, every single one of them so I know if they saw me, my hair would give me away. As I was pa.s.sing the village, I see a broken down and abandoned slate home on the outside of the village.

After checking to see if anyone was looking, I quickly run over and find a way in. One side was completely collapsed but it was shade. I sigh in relief and nearly weep when the non-existing sun can no longer cook me.

When I pull the blanket off and sit on the cool sand, I look to my arms and shoulders with a cringe. I"m literally burning alive out there! I try to ignore my burns and relax a little. I don"t know how long I"ll be able to stay here so I need to be careful.

When I start looking around the broken home, I nearly jump clean out of my skin when I see someone looking at me! I reach up and hold my chest as I quickly realize that it"s just a mirror. It"s cracked and sideways but something about my reflection seems... off.

I struggle to stand up and walk over to the mirror but when I do, I reach up and touch my hair. My roots... they"re black! I turn my head to the side to see that the black is spreading downwards and my eyes!!

I practically attack the mirror as I look to my eyes and see that they"re starting to turn red!! What the h.e.l.l is happening!?!? I struggle to keep myself from having a mental breakdown and start checking my burns, what I see has me confused.

The crescent moon is now almost a full moon!?! I look to my red eyes in the mirror and then my hair before going back to the moon on my shoulder. That"s right... My changes started to happen when the moon started growing.

"Binx!" I call and within a second, he"s in my mind. "Are you okay?" He asks with concern but I push it away and ask "Is there a full moon?" Binx is quiet for a while and then says "Almost... why?" I feel his confusion through our bond but I"m almost just as confused. I slowly step back and sit back down on the ground before saying "I think I turn into a demon every full moon..."

Binx sounds like he"s choking on something before asking "Is that what I"m feeling!? Oh, man... you just had to go and mess with time!" I bitterly laugh as I lay back and mumble "By messing with time, I may have just saved our lives..."

Exhaustion hits me full force and before I realize it, I"ve drifted off. I"m suddenly awakened by yelling and screaming and to my horror, I can understand what"s being said now even though it"s not English. "Bring all your women here!" A male demon demands with anger.

I quickly get up and wrap the black blanket around me, effectively hiding my hair before sneaking out of the back of the broken home. It feels like it"s ten times hotter when the sun hits me but I ignore the feeling and keep going.

That was close... I struggle to catch my breath as I try to keep a steady pace. I have no idea where I"m going but I know I have to keep moving. After a few hours of wandering, I feel like I"m reaching my breaking point.

I find a tree that looks the nicest and lean against it while saying "Do you mind if I die on you? My body will probably be good fertilizer... maybe." I slide down until I"m on my b.u.t.t again and struggle to breathe.

It"s so hot... after a while, I lean over and lay down, draping the blanket over me to give me shade as I drift in and out. Maybe if I just rest for a little bit... I might get some energy back. Ah... now I"m dreaming of drinking water.

Or maybe I"m already dead... somehow, that doesn"t seem so bad especially when I get water. Suddenly, I choke! I cough and gasp for air and realize that I"m in someone"s lap! I reach up to hit them but they quickly catch my fist and say "Easy, I"ve got you. It"s okay."

When my eyes finally adjust, I see Kain looking down at me with worry and fear. He looks like a dark angel...