The Shadowfjord stretched out before us, silent and endless. The stars above mirrored in the dark waters below, creating an illusion that made it hard to tell where the sky ended and the fjord began. It was beautiful, in a way, but unsettling—like walking into a dream you couldn't wake up from.
Ghost stopped beside me, his head tilting as he studied the water. "This place gives me the creeps," he said, his voice low. "Feels like we're being watched."
He wasn't wrong. There was something about the fjord—the way the darkness pressed in, the way the reflections seemed to ripple without reason—that made my skin crawl. I tried to shake off the feeling, but it clung to me, heavy and suffocating.
"We should keep moving," I said, more to myself than to Ghost. The faster we got out of here, the better.
Ghost shrugged but followed as I stepped carefully along the narrow path that hugged the water's edge. Somewhere ahead, we were supposed to find Cain—a name that meant little to me but seemed to carry weight in Ghost's mind. He hadn't said much about him, but the way he tensed every time the name came up told me enough.
The silence was broken by a faint ripple in the water, followed by a soft, almost imperceptible sound—like a whisper carried on the wind. I froze, my heart hammering in my chest as my eyes darted to the fjord.
"Did you hear that?" I whispered.
Ghost nodded, his hand moving to the blade at his side. "Yeah. And it's coming this way."
We both turned toward the sound as a figure stepped out of the shadows, his movements smooth and deliberate. He was tall, his presence commanding, with sharp features that seemed to be carved from the very cliffs surrounding the fjord. He stopped a few feet from us, his gaze cold and calculating.
"You're Daggs," he said, his voice as still as the air around us. It wasn't a question.
I swallowed hard, my mouth dry. "Yeah," I managed, my voice cracking slightly. "And you're... Cain?"
He nodded once, his eyes narrowing as they flicked to Ghost. "I see you brought company."
Ghost shifted beside me, his stance guarded. "You Cain or not?"
Cain's lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. "I am. And if you want to make it through my fjord alive, you'll listen carefully."
Cain's eyes lingered on Ghost for a moment longer than I was comfortable with, as if he were sizing him up—or deciding if he was worth the trouble. I shifted uneasily, the weight of the silence pressing down on me like the fjord's endless darkness.
"You've come a long way for answers," Cain said finally, his voice as cold and steady as the air around us. "But answers don't come cheap here."
"We're not looking for handouts," Ghost shot back, his tone sharp. I could see the tension in his posture, the way his hand hovered near the hilt of his blade. "Just point us in the right direction, and we'll be out of your hair."
Cain's lips twitched, almost like he was amused, but it didn't reach his eyes. "The right direction," he repeated, his voice dripping with disdain. "You think the fjord is as simple as a map and a compass? You have no idea what you've walked into."
I opened my mouth to respond, but Cain held up a hand to silence me. "You want safe passage? You'll have to prove you're worth my time. The Shadowfjord doesn't tolerate weakness."
"Is that why you're here?" Ghost snapped. "Guard dog for a glorified puddle?"
Cain's gaze darkened, and I stepped between them before things could escalate. "We'll do whatever it takes," I said quickly, my voice steady despite the lump in my throat. "Just tell us what you need."
For a moment, Cain said nothing, his piercing eyes boring into mine like he could see straight through me. Then he turned on his heel, his coat billowing behind him as he strode toward the edge of the water.
"Follow me," he said over his shoulder. "And try not to fall behind. The fjord doesn't take kindly to stragglers."
Ghost muttered something under his breath, but he followed, and I fell into step beside him. The path Cain led us on was narrow, barely wide enough for two people, with the fjord's dark waters lapping at the edges. The stars reflected in the water seemed to shimmer and ripple as we walked, creating an eerie illusion that made my head spin if I looked too long.
"Careful where you step," Cain warned, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade. "The fjord has a way of swallowing those who aren't paying attention."
I didn't need to be told twice. Every step felt precarious, like the ground beneath me might give way at any moment. Ghost stayed close, his usual bravado replaced by a wary silence that only made the tension worse.
As we moved deeper into the fjord, the air grew colder, and the sense of unease that had been gnawing at me since we arrived only grew stronger. I glanced at Ghost, hoping for some reassurance, but his jaw was set, his eyes scanning the shadows like he was expecting an ambush.
And then, just when I thought the silence would swallow us whole, a voice echoed through the air—soft, almost melodic, but filled with an edge that made my blood run cold.
"Well, well. Look who's come crawling back."
I froze, my breath catching in my throat as the voice sent a shiver down my spine. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. The venom in her tone was all too familiar.
Amdis.
Ghost's hand shot to his blade, his body tensing like a coiled spring. I could feel the shift in the air around us—sharp, electric, and dangerous. Cain stopped in his tracks but didn't turn around, his shoulders stiff as if bracing for what was coming.
The sound of footsteps echoed softly along the narrow path, growing louder with each passing second. Amdis stepped out of the shadows, her sharp features illuminated by the faint light of the stars reflected in the fjord. Her smile was anything but kind.
"Well, look who decided to come crawling back," she said, her voice dripping with venom. Her gaze locked onto me, and I felt the weight of her presence like a physical force. "I didn't think you'd be stupid enough to show your face here again."
"Amdis," Cain said, his tone a warning. "Stand down."
She laughed, a cold, bitter sound that echoed in the stillness. "Stand down? Really, Cain? You think I'm just going to let this little pest waltz through my fjord after what happened last time?"
I swallowed hard, my palms clammy as memories of our last encounter surged to the surface. The fight. Her laughter. The searing pain of betrayal. Ghost shifted closer to me, his presence grounding me even as my heart raced.
"We're not here to cause trouble," I managed to say, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at the edges of my resolve. "We just need safe passage."
Amdis' smile widened, though it held no warmth. "Safe passage?" she echoed mockingly. "You think you can just ask nicely and I'll let you go? Oh, Daggs, you've always been so naïve."
Cain took a step forward, placing himself between me and Amdis. "Enough," he said sharply. "They're under my protection."
Her eyes flicked to him, her expression hardening. "Your protection? Don't make me laugh, Cain. You think you can just make decisions for me? For this realm?"
The tension crackled in the air like static before a storm. Ghost's grip on his blade tightened, his knuckles white, but he didn't move. I could feel the weight of his focus on Amdis, his entire body ready to spring into action.
Amdis took a step toward me, her movements slow and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey. "You don't belong here, Daggs," she said, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous whisper. "You never did."
Cain stepped forward, his stance rigid as his sharp gaze locked onto Amdis. "Enough, Amdis. We don't have time for your personal vendettas."
Her eyes flicked to him, burning with defiance. "Vendettas?" she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. "You think this is a petty grudge? You have no idea what he's done, what he's capable of."
Ghost bristled at her words, taking a step closer to me as if to shield me from her. "Daggs hasn't done anything to you," he snapped. "Maybe it's time you let it go."
Amdis' laughter was sharp, cutting through the tense air like a blade. "Let it go?" she repeated mockingly. "How quaint. I wonder if you'd feel the same if you knew the truth about him."
My chest tightened, my heart racing as her words hung heavy in the air. I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to meet her gaze. "Whatever you think you know, it doesn't matter anymore," I said, my voice steady despite the knot in my stomach. "I'm not the same person I was back then."
Amdis raised an eyebrow, her smile curving into something cold and predatory. "We'll see about that," she said, and before anyone could react, she lunged.
It happened so fast that I barely had time to process it. One moment, she was standing a few feet away, and the next, she was inches from me, a wicked blade gleaming in her hand. I stumbled back, barely avoiding the strike, my breath catching as the edge of the blade grazed my arm.
"Amdis!" Cain barked, his voice like thunder, but she didn't stop.
Ghost was on her in an instant, his blade clashing against hers with a metallic ring that echoed through the fjord. The force of their clash sent a shockwave through the air, the reflections in the water rippling violently.
"Stay out of this!" Amdis snarled, her movements swift and deadly as she aimed for Ghost. He blocked each strike with practiced ease, his expression set in grim determination.
I scrambled to my feet, my arm throbbing where her blade had grazed me, and reached for the only weapon I had—a small dagger Ghost had insisted I carry. My hands trembled as I gripped it tightly, the weight of the moment crashing down on me.
Before I could join the fray, Cain stepped between them, his power radiating like a physical force. "Enough!" he roared, his voice shaking the very ground beneath us.
Amdis froze, her blade poised mid-strike, her chest heaving with the effort of the fight. Her eyes burned with fury as she glared at Cain, but she didn't move.
"This isn't how we do things," Cain said, his tone cold and final. He turned his gaze to me, and for the first time, I saw something resembling curiosity in his eyes. "If he's going to survive the fjord, he'll do it the right way. Not like this."
Amdis' jaw clenched, her grip tightening on her blade before she finally lowered it, though the anger in her eyes didn't waver. "You're making a mistake, Cain," she said, her voice dripping with bitterness. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
With that, she turned and disappeared into the shadows, her footsteps echoing softly until they faded into nothingness.
I let out a shaky breath, my knees threatening to give out beneath me. Ghost was at my side in an instant, his hands steadying me as he looked me over. "You okay?" he asked, his voice softer than I'd ever heard it.
"Yeah," I said, though my voice wavered. "Just... give me a second."
Cain didn't look at me as he turned and began walking again. "Keep up," he said curtly. "If you fall behind, she won't hesitate to finish what she started."
The silence settled heavily after Amdis vanished into the shadows, her bitter words still hanging in the air. My heart was still racing, every nerve in my body on high alert. Ghost hadn't moved from my side, his hand resting lightly on my arm as if anchoring me to the moment.
"You okay?" he asked again, his voice low enough that only I could hear.
I nodded, though the truth was more complicated. I wasn't hurt—not really—but the confrontation had stirred up memories I'd tried to bury. Ghost's sharp gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he seemed satisfied and turned to Cain.
"You always let your second-in-command act like that?" Ghost asked, his tone cutting.
Cain's expression didn't shift, his face a mask of cool indifference. "Amdis is... spirited," he said, brushing past Ghost's accusation. "But she won't interfere again."
"You don't sound so sure," Ghost muttered, but Cain had already turned away, his long strides carrying him back toward the path.
"Keep moving," Cain called over his shoulder. "If you linger here, you'll find the fjord has more to fear than Amdis."
I exchanged a glance with Ghost, neither of us entirely convinced by Cain's assurances, but we followed him anyway. The path wound deeper into the fjord, the reflections in the water growing more distorted, as though the darkness itself were unraveling. The air felt heavier with each step, like the fjord was testing us, watching us.
Cain led us to a narrow ledge that jutted out over the water. He stopped abruptly, his gaze fixed on the shimmering black surface below.
"This is where we part ways," Cain said, his voice flat.
"What do you mean?" I asked, my unease spiking.
"The path ahead is not for me to guide," Cain said, turning to face us. His gaze flicked to me, sharp and unyielding. "The fjord demands proof of your worth. If you want passage, you'll have to earn it."
"What kind of proof?" Ghost asked, his hand once again hovering near his blade.
Cain didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gestured toward the water. "The Shadowfjord shows you what you fear most. What you hide from. If you can face it and walk away, the path will reveal itself."
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. The idea of facing whatever the fjord had in store for me wasn't exactly comforting, but we didn't have a choice. This was the only way forward.
Cain's gaze didn't waver as he added, "And don't think you can rely on him"—he nodded toward Ghost—"to fight your battles for you. The fjord knows who it seeks."
Ghost bristled, but I put a hand on his arm before he could argue. "I can do this," I said quietly, though I wasn't sure if I was convincing him or myself.
Cain nodded once, satisfied, and stepped aside to let me pass. I took a deep breath, steeling myself, and stepped onto the narrow path that led toward the water's edge. The darkness seemed to ripple in response, as if it were alive, waiting for me.
"See you on the other side," Ghost said, his voice steady despite the tension in his jaw.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, and kept moving forward. The last thing I heard before the darkness swallowed me was Cain's warning:
"Remember, Daggs—what you see is only an illusion. But what you feel? That's real."