Chapter Twenty-Two

  My chest heaved with the deep breath I took upon returning to my body. The sun was up by the time I returned. It warmed my limbs, right down to my bones, begging me to rest. I almost relaxed and lay down in the grass right then, but something felt off. Immediately, my skin prickled, an instinctual giveaway that someone was watching me. I groaned internally, (or maybe it was externally,) as I twisted and rose from the ground. I tossed my head back and looked to the side, feeling more annoyed than threatened by whatever had come to stalk me.

  A familiar tall figure sat on the ground with his back leaning against the nearest tree. He was chewing silently, watching me with that shit-eating smirk. “And he returns to the land of the living.” Finnegan teased, and popped another piece of jerky into his mouth. “We were supposed to be Underneath hours ago. How long have you been out here?”

  My shoulders loosened, and I turned to fully face him. He reached into his bag and pulled out a small fruit that he tossed to me. It looked to be some sort of apricot, and I wondered where he’d got it during this time of year. I caught it, rubbed it on my shirt, and took a bite. Juice trickled down my chin and I wiped it with my sleeve. “How long have you been out here?” I retorted once I’d swallowed, avoiding his question. “Just sitting there, watching me? That’s pretty creepy.”

  “Since a little after dawn, when I went to your room and it looked like you left in a hurry.” He shrugged. “I tracked you here, though it wasn’t hard when you tore through the forest like a wild boar. I found you out here meditating, or whatever the blazes you call that. Figured I’d just keep an eye on you.”

  I looked at the ground, embarrassed. “I was training.” I admitted. “I, uh, have a mentor who helps me with my magic.” I almost regretted saying that as soon as the words left my mouth, because the look on his face meant I would have to elaborate. I walked over to him and sat next to him, then took another bite of my fruit.

  “Do you remember when we first started for Ravenwood, when we rested by the river?”

  “The dryad incident, yes.” Finn nodded.

  “Do you remember how you asked what was going on in my head?”

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  “You said it was a long story.”

  I laughed dryly. “Yeah. It’s not, really. I just wasn’t sure how to talk about it.”

  “And now?” Finn swallowed his snack and watched me intently.

  “I have a Guardian in my consciousness.” I finally admitted after what felt like an eternity of silence. I wouldn’t meet his gaze. “It’s apparently a common thing with natural magic wielders. I’ve heard his voice since I was young. We can talk to each other in my mind, and we can meet face to face in the Celestial Planes.”

  “So, just now…” Finn said slowly as he put the pieces together, “You were visiting with this Guardian?”

  I nodded. “His name is August. He’s promised to teach me how to use my magic more proactively. There’s so many things that I’ve been missing out on because I haven’t been practicing my magic.” Once I started talking, I couldn’t stop. “Just today I learned I can manifest physical objects, not just illusions. Hells, I summoned magic weapons from thin air today! And he said if I keep training, I’ll be able to change and create my own physical form individually instead of needing to copy a person’s exact features. Hells, I could conjure myself functional wings or something absurd.”

  Finn nodded slowly as he followed along. “Okay then, let’s make it happen.” When he saw my confused expression, he clarified, “You’re extremely vulnerable when you’re in that state, Rune. You were completely unresponsive. Anyone could’ve come up and pushed you off that cliff.”

  My face fell slightly, and my shoulders sagged. He was right, I knew it. I would be in danger every time I was on the Celestial Plane with August. Finn continued, though. “So if you want to meditate out here, fine, but don’t go it alone. I’ve got your back.”

  I locked eyes with Finn and he stood up, outstretching his hand to me. I clasped his arm and nodded, and he hoisted me to my feet. “Thanks, Finn. But could you not tell Sahara about this yet? I’m not sure I want her to know about the voices in my head just yet.” I mumbled, sheepishly. Finn just chuckled. He smiled and clapped my shoulder with his other hand.

  “Alright brother, let’s go bust into a big can of worms right under the people’s noses.” He released my hand and shifted the weight of his bag on his shoulder before turning his head to make sure I was coming.

  “Right behind you.” I answered. We walked in silence back to town, but the air felt lighter, somehow. Like a pressure on my chest had been lifted, and I could take a full breath without effort. I realised at that moment that I’d started to consider these people actual friends, if not a ragtag family of sorts. I’d bonded more with these people in the last few months than my sister in the ten years we’d been alone together. Honestly, it felt nice to know someone would truly have my back. I didn’t have to spend every second on high alert with Finn. August didn’t argue with this thought, I could tell he secretly enjoyed my partners I’d acquired in Venom. I took a deep breath and steeled my nerves as we prepared to dive into the belly of the Underneath in preparation for the meeting with Roland.