A World Away

52. The prey and the predator

Eve entered the tent last, closing the flap after she came in. Everyone was present- herself, Azriel, Cass who looked haggard, Rhys, Feyre, Amren who had just come and Nesta- and Eve knew what the meeting was about.

"You ready?" Eve asked, going to stand beside her. "One step closer," she replied. Eve nodded. One step closer to destroying Hybern.

"The second and penultimate pages," Feyre said. "The Suriel claimed the key you were looking for is there. To nullify the Cauldron's power."

"Did you bring them?" Rhys asked Amren. Bring what? Eve wondered. Her question was soon answered when Amren chucked a small pouch towards Rhys, "bones and stones."

"So, what to do we do now? Scatter them like a game of dice?" Eve asked. Amren nodded, "try to feel that connect to the Cauldron. Find the bond."

"Are we supposed to touch it?" Nesta asked. Amren shook her head sharply, "Just come close. Find it, but do not interact."

Nesta nodded, taking in a breath. "We can do this," Eve said confidently as a shadow curled near her neck. Nesta still didn't move to Eve' side who had come up to the table where the map lay. Cassian said to her then, "Nothing can harm you here." He sucked in a breath, groaning softly, and rose to his feet. Azriel tried to stop him, but Cassian brushed him off and strode to the eldest sister's side. He braced a hand on the desk when he at last stopped. "Nothing can harm you," he repeated. Nesta was still looking at him when she finally took a step forward, held Eve' hand and shut her eyes.

Darkness. They were met with utter darkness. Only Nesta' tight grip was the indication that she wasn't all lost. Or maybe, she was not lost alone.

"Find the tether," some voice urged them. Taking in a breath, Eve let herself call out to the Cauldron. "There," a light was coming, beckoning them to go further. Hand in hand, they walked and stopped short at the sight in front of them.

Someone called their names, but Eve paid no heed. She walked to where the Cauldron was now looking at her. "Go back," she demanded to Nesta for the Cauldron had only seen her; Nesta could make it out.

"No," the reply came. "Go," Eve demanded. Nesta was adamant. "I am sorry," Eve said at last and broke the connection between herself and Nesta. Only her and the Cauldron remained now.

Gasping, Nesta came back to the reality. "Where is Eve," Az demanded. "The Cauldron saw her only so she broke the connection. The size of the army it showed though-" Nesta sucked in a breath.

"Eve," Az said, now turning to where her figure stood tall and as stiff as a statue. "EVE." He hollered but no response came. "Do something," he begged to Rhys and Feyre. Their eyes glazed for a second before they shook their heads- horrified. "She has blocked us out. Her walls are too strong and too stubborn."

Az' shadows surrounded him and Eve. People shouted outside but he paid no heed- he was panicking openly. His only priority being Eve's safety.

********

We meet again. The Cauldron mused. Cauldron, what are you hiding? You said you wanted to meet again. Well, here I am, come out and play. Eve crooned.

She tried going back but, it as if she was stuck there. Horror started creeping in her bones but she pushed it down. Selecting an objective, she focused again making sure her walls were intact in case the Cauldron decided to do something. Next, she let go of the stones and bones she held in her hand. Letting the others know how big Hybern' army was and where exactly it was. If nothing, at least Eve had done her job.

You were prying. Hasn't anyone told you that is a bad habit? Cauldron mused.

You shoved me into a body I did not want, I think, I will not take advice of proprietary from you, Eve countered and the Cauldron chuckled. What do you want to know? It asked. Show me Hybern. Eve demanded.

The Cauldron did nothing for a whole minute in which time, Eve felt someone attack her mind viciously. She hissed and glared at the Cauldron. You are some friend, Eve told It. The Cauldron chuckled but retracted, gaining what it had come for.

Tell me, who is the prey here and who is the predator? The Cauldron asked her. The jury is still out, Eve replied, angling her head as the smoke around the Cauldron cleared, showing her a scenery of the queens. They were near the sister's manor. One of them remained her human self while the youngest had seemed to grow old with age.

I cannot show you the king. Instead, here is my return gift to you. Beware of the youngest queen who seeks revenge. Hybern is not the only thing you need to worry about it seems. The other queens are all dead. The Cauldron sounded genuinely sorry, if that was possible.

Why show me this? Eve demanded, while simultaneously trying to break free of the Cauldron's hold on her. Because, I am curious about you, it has been some time since a world-walker came to this realm. I will see you soon, for now, you can go.

And with that, the Cauldron pushed her back to reality.

*********

"Az, let me in," Mor shouted but he paid no heed. Eve was the only person on his mind, his light- Eve. She let go of the bones and stones she had been holding which formed a tight but huge circle that had Az' eyes widen a fraction.

He let his shadows thin a bit so others could see the size. "Holy mother," Rhysand cursed, then turning back to Eve demanded, "open your eyes. Come back." Yet, no response.

A whimper escaped her lips making Az more frenzied than he was ever before. Rhys was about to take her hand which had Az growling when Eve's eyes opened.

Everyone seemed to be frozen as they cautiously observed Eve. "Oh my God-" Eve started hyperventilating. Now that she was not in front of the Cauldron, all her emotions were coming to her in waves.

"Eve? What happened?" Az asked, gripping her by the shoulders, making her look into his eyes. "It saw me," she gasped. Az grip tightened but he didn't say anything. Rhys crouched down and asked her softly, "if you want, I can enter your mind and see, you do not have to relive it this way." Eve shook her head violently and her eyes flashed amber. "No one enters my mind," she snarled. Az gave Rhys a warning look who wisely backed up.

After a few seconds of calming down, Eve started again, "the size is huge. I let go of the stones when It saw me. At least we know where they are now."

"Nesta showed us the scene," Az said and indeed the sheer mass of the soldiers and the weapons were.... Terrifying. Eve looked at Az now. "It showed me where the queens are. And it showed me the queen's next move." Pin drop silence.

Az stiffened as Eve sent him the images with the help of his shadows. No one had been able to do that before, not without him taking the first step and yet, here Eve was doing it as if it was as easy to make his shadows listen to her as it was for her to sing. "Others are dead." Az gulped as others gawked at the scene in front of them. 

Az and Eve. Eve and Az. 

Happy reading :) 

XOXO,

the amazing author 

Uk those days where u r so angry and pissed but don't k the reason so u can't even rage about it openly? Ya... today is one of those days. *Sighs in tomorrow is a Monday*

Btw.... listen to Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List album... it's goooddd I promise