Chapter Twenty-two

Once the group hiked up the first hill, they followed a twisting pathway, leading to a large cluster of caves. Once they'd made it past the caverns, another hill bigger than the last.

"I take it they keep this place well hidden." She joked.

"I see you're in a lighter mood," Pandora said.

"I'm still worried."

"I'll rescue you if you get into trouble."

"Thanks."

Climbing up the hill that felt more like a giant mountain, by the time they cleared it, both women had to catch their breath for a minute. Once they kept going it looked to be flat land, she thanked the goddess for that. She could sense they were closer, as her eyes ached and her temples began to pulse and throb, like an enchanted migraine, double the strength.

"Another five miles, we should be there," Kadrid called back to them.

She headed through the lifeless forest with Pandora, who wanted to be there for her. The two had a strong kinship, she wanted to just be a good friend. Ralvania was just glad that if she had to brave it in the dark realms, it wasn't alone. Kadrid led them to the left from the path until a quarter mile later, she stopped.

"What's wrong?"

"There's a pitchfork in the road."

"That's okay."

"No it isn't.. I don't know if we go left, right or forward."

Then the sky lit up a neon blue as a loud ka boom followed. The Empress ran as fast as she could go, to see what had just happened and if anyone had been hurt.