Chapter 12: The Crystal Desert
The figure stood motionless among the crystal dunes.
Kin stared at it from several dozen yards away, his eyes narrowing as the sunlight scattered across the enormous formations surrounding them. The stranger appeared humanoid, dressed in what looked like a long traveler's cloak, its face partially hidden beneath a hood. There was nothing immediately threatening about it.
Which was exactly what made Mira uncomfortable.
She remained crouched beside one of the larger crystals, one hand resting near the hilt of her Blooddagger.
"Don't move," she whispered.
Kin glanced at her.
"You said that about the werewolf too."
"And it worked."
"We almost died."
"Exactly."
Kin looked back toward the stranger.
It was walking toward them now.
Slowly.
Its feet pressed into the crystalline sand, but something about the movement bothered Mira. There was no sound. Not even the faint crunch of sand beneath its boots.
Kin didn't seem to notice.
"Maybe it's friendly."
Mira gave him a look.
"Nothing in this place is friendly."
"You've been here for about five minutes."
"Five minutes was enough."
The stranger stopped.
Its head tilted slightly.
Then it smiled.
"Are you lost?"
Kin stood.
Mira immediately grabbed his arm.
"Kin."
"What?"
"Don't."
He looked at her hand, then back at the stranger.
"We kind of are."
Mira slowly released him.
The stranger's smile widened.
"I can help you."
Something about the voice made Mira's instincts flare.
It sounded human.
Too human.
There was warmth in it, but no breath behind the words.
No heartbeat, Or scent.
Mira's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?"
The stranger looked at her.
"My name is…"
It paused.
"…Eren."
Mira's expression didn't change.
"Where are you from?"
"The desert."
"That's not what I asked."
The stranger tilted its head again.
Kin laughed nervously.
"Okay, this is getting weird."
Mira stepped slightly in front of him.
"How long have you been traveling?"
"Long enough."
"How did you survive the storm?"
"I remained within the crystals."
Mira's eyes flicked toward the surrounding formations.
"And you don't have a heartbeat."
The stranger became completely still.
Kin frowned.
"What?"
Mira's voice dropped.
"Something is wrong."
The stranger's face suddenly changed.
Not dramatically.
It simply… shifted. Its smile disappeared.All of its features became unnaturally smooth.
The skin around its neck rippled like liquid glass.
Kin's shadows flickered.
He grabbed his arm.
"What the hell?"
The crystals around them began glowing.
Mira drew both Blooddaggers.
The blades gleamed crimson as she coated them in hardened vampiric blood.
The stranger took one step forward.
"Interesting."
Its voice had changed.
It no longer sounded human.
"Your blood is strong."
Mira's eyes turned blood red.
Her fangs extended.
"Take one more step."
The creature did.
Mira vanished.
Kin barely saw her move.
One moment she was standing beside him.
The next, the stranger was on its knees with Mira behind it, one arm locked around its throat and a Blooddagger pressed against its neck.
Kin's jaw dropped.
"Mira…"
She didn't look at him.
"What?"
"You just…"
"I know."
"…Never mind."
The creature tried to move.
Mira tightened her grip.
"You won't."
For the first time, fear appeared on its face.
Not ordinary fear.
Recognition.
"Vampire…"
The word came out almost as a whisper.
Then three voices echoed from behind them.
"Release him!"
Kin turned.
Three figures stood atop a nearby crystal ridge.
They were unmistakably Fae.
Their pointed ears were visible beneath their hair, and their eyes glowed with supernatural light. One carried a curved blade surrounded by faint flames. Another had bands of water spiraling around both arms. The third stood with the wind twisting around her feet.
Their clothing was unlike anything Kin had seen outside the Veil.
Elegant but practical, woven from materials that seemed almost alive.
The fire Fae stepped forward.
"You have no right to be here."
Kin raised both hands.
"Okay, listen—"
"Silence, human."
The Fae's eyes moved toward his shadows.
Then his expression hardened.
"Especially you."
Kin glanced down.
His shadows were barely moving.
Normally they would have already reacted to the threat.
Here, they dragged sluggishly across the crystal sand like they were fighting against invisible chains.
Mira noticed.
So did the Fae.
"The darkness…" the water Fae whispered.
"What are you?"
Kin frowned.
"Human."
The three Fae exchanged uneasy looks.
Then the wind Fae raised her hand.
The air around her began twisting.
Mira moved instantly.
She pulled her hostage backward and placed her dagger against his throat.
The wind stopped.
Everyone froze.
The Fae's face changed.
"Don't."
Mira's red eyes burned through the darkness.
"Then don't make me."
The fire Fae swallowed.
Kin could almost feel the shift in the atmosphere.
They had been prepared to fight.
Now they were afraid.
Not of him.
Of her.
The Fae looked at Mira's fangs.
"You are a vampire."
Mira said nothing.
The water Fae slowly lowered his hands.
"Our ancestors…"
His voice trembled.
"They said your kind nearly destroyed us."
Mira's expression became colder.
"Your ancestors were probably right."
The three Fae stiffened.
Kin looked at her.
"Mira…"
She ignored him.
"But I'm not here to kill anyone."
The Fae holding the curved blade stared at her hostage.
"Then why take him?"
"Because you were about to attack us."
"We thought you were protecting the human."
Mira glanced at Kin.
"I am."
Kin smiled slightly.
"That's actually kind of sweet."
Mira looked at him.
"Don't ruin the moment."
He shut his mouth.
The Fae slowly lowered their weapons.
Mira released their companion, who immediately stumbled several feet away.
She didn't pursue him.
Instead, she sheathed one Blooddagger.
"We're looking for our friends."
The Fae remained cautious.
"Who?"
Kin stepped forward.
"We came here with six others. A storm separated us."
The wind Fae frowned.
"Humans cannot enter the Veil."
"We know."
"Then why are you here?"
Kin hesitated.
Because the truth sounded insane even to him.
"Our friend is dying."
That changed something.
The Fae exchanged another look.
Kin continued.
"We need a cure. It's somewhere deeper in the Veil."
The fire Fae studied him.
"And you entered willingly?"
"Through a portal."
"From the human world?"
"Yes."
The Fae's expression darkened.
"Then you don't understand what you've done."
Mira stepped closer.
"Explain."
The Fae looked toward the endless desert.
"This land isn't merely a wilderness. Every region of the Veil belongs to someone."
"Some clans."
"Some kingdoms."
"Some creatures."
"And some things that existed before any of them."
Kin looked around.
"So we're basically trespassing."
The Fae stared at him.
"Yes."
Kin sighed.
"Yeah. I was afraid of that."
The Fae's eyes shifted toward Mira.
"And a vampire…"
He looked genuinely unsettled.
"…has entered with you."
Mira's expression didn't change.
"We're together."
The Fae didn't respond.
But he didn't raise his weapon either.
For now, that was enough.
Then something behind them moved.
Mira turned.
The stranger was gone.
Her eyes narrowed.
She looked toward the crystal formations.
Nothing.
Kin noticed her expression.
"What?"
Mira didn't answer.
Far across the desert, something moved between the towering crystals.
A humanoid silhouette.
Watching.
And when Mira looked directly at it…
It wore her face.
A perfect copy.
Standing motionless beneath the crystalline sky.
Then it smiled.
Mira's grip tightened around her Blooddagger.
"…Kin."
He turned toward her.
"What?"
"Don't look behind me."
Kin frowned.
"Why?"
Mira's voice became barely audible.
"Because I don't think we're the only ones being watched."
The crystal desert remained silent.
And somewhere beyond the shimmering dunes, something that had learned her face began watching them again.