The Skull In The Water - Part 4

The following is a short story revolving around the fantasy story 'The Wall Outside'. There will be serveral parts. It uses some of the characters of 'The Wall Outside', but is not part of main book. 'The Wall Outside' is currently available in digital format at http://www.amazon.com/The-Wall-Outside-Series-ebook/dp/B009FLOMLI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350814435&sr=8-1&keywords=the+wall+outside+by+james

The Skull In The Water - Part 4

Branches whip against your skin, but despite the poor lighting, you push on.  As your vision adjusts, you feel the hairs standing up on your arms.

"So you follow the dark lady too?"  A broken voice comes out of the darkness; it is beside you just short of a wail.

Eyes go wide as you realize the reason.  "You are a Banshee.  You are an omen of death!"

"I search for another lead by a dream," the banshee nods.  "If death is to come, you will hear my scream."

"Then hurry!"  You scan the forest floor looking for the way Bob The Pixie went.  "We must save him!"

The Banshee nods, casting a tiny bit of sparkles.  They attach to something in the air, making it glow a dull red.  "He is that way."

You run, the cold feeling of the night seeping into your bones.  The motion warms your extremities, but not your heart.  It is then you spot the fire in the middle of a clearing.  Four-footed beasts with red eyes surround the perimeter.  In a cage by the center is Bob.  His bag of pixie dust has been removed and placed just out of reach.

"Feeling better, my pretty?" the dark lady slips from the darkness toward Bob.  "Is not the fire warm?  Is not there food to eat?"  She cackles.  "To taste the blood of a pixie, it has never been done by my kind.  For each species I draw from, the strength and power are mine."

The Banshee appears beside you.  "Quickly, enter the circle!"

Red eyes; the four-footed beasts are everywhere, though they have not seen you yet.  Do you dare?


~ James William Peercy

For those interested, what is 'The Wall Outside' about?

Step across the barrier and what will you find?
A place of magic just out of sight?
A pixie, a leprechaun, or even a sprite?

What starts as a vacation, turns into a mess. For Jonna, there's
more at stake than meets the eye. Through pouring rain,
misdirection, and a curious mind, Jonna crossed the barrier
between our world and magic.

Now forced to return across the barrier, Jonna battles Dark Mages, angry leprechauns, and a ruthless Minotaur, all in an effort to find his wife. To do this, he must locate the stolen Rune Blade and rescue a beautiful elvish princess.

But what can a human do when faced with a world of magic?