Kallicantzari

In the wood

~Prium and Miargos~

"What's that up ahead?"

Miargos halted suddenly. He was the one leading the way. Prium was just few steps behind him. She had argued that he kept his distance beyond or behind her else she'd stop him from going with her.

She had a torn part of a cloth wrapped around some object which was clutched to her breast.

She caught up with him,

"Don't tell me that this is your own trick of walking side by side with me."

He glared at her,

"Funny."

That expression seemed to move her.

"You seem to had grown wings now, eh?"

"Look ahead."

He ignored, tossing his head to the front. She shook her head in disbelief,

"Go to hell."

She walked away from him towards the ridge up ahead of them. He grunted,

"There's no winning with her."

"Wait up."

He hurried to catch up with her. But as he did, he stumbled on a long thin creeper which ran through the path. He fell on his face.

She turned,

"Miargos."

She came hurrying to him as he remained on the floor without moving. His face down, buried in the fallen leaves swept about by the whooshing winds, crashing against his body.

"Are you alright?"

She got to him, reaching for his shoulders. He raised his head suddenly and chortled,

"Surprise. You see, you're worried about me. Why don't you just admit it?"

She let go of his shoulders, their faces close enough for the noses to brush. He could feel the warmth from her nostrils washing his face. He looked down her straight nose to her soft lips.

"Foolish."

She pushed him in the chest and stood up. She hurried towards the ridge. He fell on his back remonstrating,

"Goodness."

He sat up,

"At least She's worried. One step closer. But I could had just stolen the kiss. She wouldn't had been able to fight it. Yes! Next time I won't be stupid. No, Miargos! You won't be stupid. You would grab the opportunity."

He stood up,

"Grab the opportunity."

He assured himself and walked on. He noticed her standing by the ridge. He got to her.

"Can't go any further?"

She glared sideways at him,

"Stupid. Hop into the rift."

He chuckled. She sneered.

"What do we do now? Does this make it the end of your long lasting plan? What would you do now? Cast the heart of the lion clutched to those succulent breasts of yours into the rift and forget about killing Athena?"

She turned directly to him now,

"Why do I feel like you knew about this rift? You don't seem to be surprised to had found it. We were here few days ago, and I can swear by all the gods that the road was hale when we made through it."

His face shot a smile,

"Surprise? Only a slow-witted man would fancy that option. What's there to be surprised about? Isn't Athena still the queen of our land."

He took a millisecond break,

"Tell you what. If I see hailstones falling down from the clouds in place of the saline drops, I wouldn't even bat an eye. I would only seek an escape with my lover. See, we no longer live in a normal world. This is a world now hunted by magical creatures and magic itself."

"You mean the likes of me?"

Came the feminine and slightly distorted voice. They both turned in the direction of the voice.

There stood a hairy, Satyr-like humanoids with equine ears and tails, five feet tall. Twas covered with rough shaggy hair, with caprine or canine headsand long, scraggy beards. It has a cloven hoof. A Kallicantzari.

Prium screamed at the sight and hopped on him, into Miargos' arms. He was strong enough to hold her firmly. He pressed her tightly and warmly to his chest, feeling the swell of her titties buried in his hard torso.

"Don't be scared."

The voice came again. But this time twas more of a masculine inflection. Prium wounded her arms around his neck, like you would when you kiss passionately. Her face buried in the space where the neck and shoulders meet.

"Do something, do something."

She kept on muttering, shaking fiercely in his arms.

"You're in my arms. You're safe. Calm down."

He kept on promising, though he knew that he was telling himself quite a lie.

"What do you want?"

He manned up. The creature's long drooping red tongue went by and by.

"Maybe I should go then. I thought you needed a help to cross the rift. I was mistaking."

The creature turned its back but Miragos called,

"Wait."

"Are you stupid?"

Prium argued, fighting herself off his hold. She turned slightly to the creature, still scared enough.

"Let it go."

Her eyes widened but he walked away from her towards the creature,

"How do we cross the rift and who are you? What are you doing here?"

Prium hurried to him, holding unto his left arm from behind.

"You seem to have too many questions. But I'm not sure which is more important to you at the moment."

"How do we cross the rift?"

He chose thoughtfully but Prium pinched his arm. He wrenched in pain as her finger bit through his flesh. He glared at her,

"Are you crazy? What do you think it is that you can trust its words?"

"I love you."

He muttered and looked away. She shook her head,

"Very foolish."

The voice of the Kallicantzari came on.

"I am quite generous and would answer two of your questions even though I'm supposed to answer one."

It paused, its disgustingly long tongue travelled in and out of its crappy mouth stalked by fangs.

"What am I doing here? The rift is an opening between my world and yours. And since the portal had been opened, creatures like me and more would start using the gateway to and fro until the rift closes."

"How then can we close the rift? What other creatures?"

Miargos couldn't tame the curiosity.

"Question upon question."

The creature snarled, letting out a wierd shriek. Prium shook behind him.

"This is what you would do to cross the rift. You would go to seven different trees and dig out their roots. By that you'll earn your passage. I can't work on an empty stomach after all."

"Are you kidding me? How are we supposed to do so?"

Prium shot, but the creature turned its back again. Miargos hastened,

"Don't go. We'll be back."

The creature turned,

"Who said you can give me instructions? Go your way. When you return, you'll meet me here."

"Come."

Miargos looked away from it to Pruim , pulling her with him; he was holding her hands. After they had walked away from the rift to a length, she broke the hold,

"Are you out of your mind? How are you supposed to fall the trees? How would you get the roots and what would the freak do with it?"

He grabbed her shoulders suddenly and pulled her close enough to him.

"You don't have to worry. I don't have to fall the trees. I could make holes around them and cut out the roots. And do not the surprised, I'm familiar with some of the chants of my father used in the woods."

He paused, looking down her nose while she glared with detest,

"You just sit where I could see you and watch me do what has to be done. Then we'll cross the rift and give the heart to Poseidon."

He pulled her even closer till there faces were hovering over each other. He pushed a lump down his throttle.

NOW'S THE TIME.

He thought while she shot,

"What are you doi--"

Before she could close up the syllable, he locked her lips up, a strong wave swept through his stomach. It seemed as though he would explode. He let go suddenly.

"Do you want to die?"

She growled and slapped him. She pushed him out of her way and stomped off.

"What have you done, Miargos?"

He quizzed, watching her walk off.

"Please wait. I'm sorry. I will keep my distance henceforth."

He called, hurrying after her. But she neither stopped nor looked back.