novelCONFUSING ANSWER
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Kace sharpened his hearing as he heard the strange sounds of the insects and other animals that resided there. The smell of rich soil, and vegetation permeated the air as he watched the large green leaves and twisted trunks of this part of the forest.
Kace became restless and impatient. The fact that he couldn't shift was a cherry on top of his anxiousness. He could do more than this if only he could transform to his beast form.
And then it hit him gently, the wind that carried the scent he longed for. It was her scent, no doubt about it.
Gritting his teeth, he picked the faint scent and let his instinct take control. He couldn't lose it.
The wind that carried Hope's scent, led Kace to the other part of the waterfall. The place he had passed twice when he was looking for Hope.
Her pleasing scent grew stronger when Kace came near a strange cave. He sniffed the air and without any doubt, Hope was there not so long ago. She was close.
Without a second thought, Kace went into the cave. Only he didn't know that it wasn't the wind that brought Hope's scent to him, but the thousands of fireflies that surrounded the beast, which he was not able to see.
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"Where are you taking me?" Hope followed the priestess, she was a step behind her, surrounded by the children whose bodies are translucent. She could see the other children behind the other one through their being.
It was frightening enough for one to see it, but at the same time fascinating in a strange way. They looked like smoke that usually came from boiling water.
Yet, their eyes... the way they stared at her... the sadness in those innocent eyes were palpable.
Hope was trying hard to not look at them, but there was something that forced her to turn her head again and again.
Curiosity? Hope was unsure.
There was a part of her that wanted to console the children. Yet, she didn't know how, and what should she say? She was sorry for what had happened to them?
Hope shook her head and focused on the answer from the priestess for her question.
"To your friends, " the priestess turned around and grinned."I saved your friend when I still had enough energy to roam outside of the barrier."
Her smile was contagious as Hope reciprocated it without even realizing it. The priestess looked so young, no older than twenty five years old. How cruel the demon woman was to kill her.
"How do you fight the demon?" Hope asked, she was curious. Maybe she could use her method instead of her blood when the time needed, just in case.
At least, she knew how to protect herself instead of waiting for someone to save her ass.
She tapped her chin with her forefinger and smiled softly at Hope as she slowed down her paces, even though it actually looked more like she was floating.
Despite the fact that Hope had just met with her for less than ten minutes, she could tell from her gesture alone about how beautiful and warm her personality was. No wonder the whole village loved her.
"Every creature... or human, " she added, "had their own spirit, this is the power that comes from inside of you." the priestess touched Hope's chest."Something that the demons don't have. The true battle with the demon was a battle of will. So, if you ask me how I fought her, actually, even you have been fighting your own demon."
Hope frowned."I don't think I understand what you are saying..."
The priestess chuckled, the sound was like a chirping bird in the morning.
"The demon or the devil will always feed you with fear, anxiety, doubt, distrust and all the negative feelings. It is up to you whether you will surrender to that or you will fight for your own light."
She continued to talk to her as they walked deeper into the cave.
"In times of desperation, the devil will grow stronger, and do you know why you are still able to see me and these children? Even though we are no longer in this world, and our souls should have perished and disappeared." she asked rhetorically.
Hope shook her head, actually, she was not sure that she could grasp half of her explanation.
"Because these children still hope that one day they can meet their families again, " the priestess waved her hands towards the children around them, "they are the children who went missing during the last year, both from this realm and from your realm."
Hope looked at her surroundings."Your answer confuses me, " she mumbled, yet she felt the sadness that was not her own feeling. Ever since she saw the children, she had been feeling that way."So, what do you want me to do? You will not ask me to resurrect them, won't you?"
The priestess giggled and shook her head."Of course not, you will not be able to do that even if I ask."
"Glad you know that, " Hope muttered. They had reached the end of the tunnel that Hope could see. There was another flickering light from its left side, it seemed there was another space there."The devil woman doesn't know about this place?"
"She knows, but she can't enter." The priestess turned to the direction of the light, as Hope jogged after her."I personally guard this place, and used my last strength to cast a spell around this cave."
"You casted the spell around this cave to prevent the devil from coming inside, but the devil casted the spell around this mountain to prevent anyone from helping you, " Hope stated.
"That is not true, " she looked at Hope meaningfully."You are here to help me, to help these children. Chiron told me that you will come."
And when Hope walked into a bigger space after the long tunnel, her sight fell on Lydia's body, lying on the ground.
But, not only her, there were also two other people beside the witch.
Abby and Leon.
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