Anthera Chapter 3 "The Hidden World"
Chapter 3
"The Hidden World"
The hard thump turned into nearly quiet steps as he turned his eyes. His body slowly turned as the creature came into view. He froze in place as she looked him in the eyes, no kindness was present in her red eyes. He tried to back up but he knew that if tried to make any sudden move she would attack like last night, and this time not be so friendly.
"Please don't eat me face." he said in a quiet voice.
Her top lip lifted up in the left side revealing her sharp fang. She narrowed her eyes on him as she walked lose to him. His heart was beating faster and faster, not because there was a naked she creature in front of him, but because he was afraid that those few moments would be his last. He closed his eyes tight as he prepared, but what happened next he didn't expect.
"What is wrong with you! Spying on a young woman while she is bathing, what a poor excuse for a man you are."
She spoke, she actually spoke?! She didn't speak to him last night, most likely she didn't want to get caught by the other hunters.
"Well speak up! I know you humans can speak."
Dare he say a word?
"S~Sorry, I was just out sketching some local wildlife and I came upon you. I swear I~I didn't mean to see you naked."
Without a word she swiped the leather bound book from his hand and flipped the pages until she saw the picture he had drawn of her.
"Explain this then." she said in a much quieter voice.
He shook a bit, seeing now that he was caught up in a lie.
"It's just I haven't seen anything like you. Not in any books or scriptures."
His hand shook as he stood still. Her eyes looked into his as if she was looking straight into his soul to see if he was lying or not.
"You are a truthful person, very well I accept your apology." she said, throwing his book back at his chest.
As she walked back to her clothes that laid on the side of the lake he watched as her hips moved as her tail wagged back and forth. She placed her dark red dress back on before she walked back over. He wondered how she got clothes, of course she probably got them from the market she robbed.
"What is your name?" she asked in a demanding tone.
"G~Gerald."
His shaking stopped as he told her what his name was, his eyes couldn't help but look over her. She looked quite cute in the dress. Wait, what was he saying, she was part wolf for goodness sake.
"My name is Nika, I humbly ask for your forgiveness for last night Gerald." she asked, bowing to him.
He was about to say "ok" but something else came out.
"Why's that, you were just defending yourself." he said.
She blinked before she raised her body back up.
"But I bit you, and you were bleeding." she said, confused.
"Yeah, but I threw the knife first. It's all ok."
Something seemed to bother her as she looked at his arm. Before she said anything she grabbed his arm and started pulling him east of their location.
"I need you to come back with me to my world, it's of the utmost importance." she said.
He didn't resist as he stumbled along behind her. Her eyes kept looking back at his arm as if something was going to happen. They stopped near the biggest tree in the forest, he watched as she bent down and grabbed, what looked like a handle of a hidden door. She pulled as he watched the door open up, nothing but a flight of stairs and darkness below.
"Quickly." she said, pulling him in.
"Hey wait!" he yelled, but before he could protest the door slammed behind him.
Nothing was visible in the darkness as they both walked down the flight of wooden steps. As they descended farther he could heard running water and some voices getting closer.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"Don't worry Gerald, my people are very kind and will treat you with respect as long as you do the same back."
Well he had no problem with that, of course it could all be a trap just to get fresh meat.
"We are here." she said, reaching forward.
She pushed the door open and in came the sunlight. The rays blasted his eyes, making him grunt. She took his hand as she helped him out. As he opened his eyes he could see a small pond beside them and laughter, children's laughter. His vision finally came back into focus as he looked around, His eyes widened as he saw many more creatures like Nika.
"Stay calm Gerald, we are a peaceful race, we don't wish you any hard." she said.
No one else seemed to notice them as he looked over all of them.