The Hunt of the Grimalkin (Erresuma Book 1) by Dani Swanson (books to read romance TXT) 📗

the little houses as she waved at them innocently. She scooped up the cat and continued on her way.

“Watch where you step seems to be sound advice,” Thea said to Fig. The cat turned and looked her in the face, he tilted his head to the side and responded with a sweet meow.

As the pair continued through the field of flowers, the trees were starting to come into view, and back into the woods they were headed. Thea had no idea where they were going, but Fig seemed confident on where he was walking. She followed mindlessly, pondering where she may have come from and where she may have met the witch before.  The forest foliage grew thicker the deeper they went into the woods.

Thea started to feel as though they were being watched again. She saw the glowing eyes of beings unknown off in the distance, which seemed to disappear when eye contact was made. She felt on edge and unnerved. She hoped she was overreacting. With no other choices they walked until they found a brick road that ran north to south. There was a directional sign with arrows pointing either way. To the left the jaunty, hand painted sign in bright colors stated, “Dragon’s Tooth Lake” and to the right, in the splintered wood was etched, “Monkey Tree Village”.

“Well Fig?” she questioned her little cat. “Where are we headed to?” They both paused for a moment with their heads cocked to one side, indecisive looks upon their faces.

“Meow.” Fig stood up from where he sat and started to walk down the road to the left.

“The happy looking sign is what did it for me too,” she said with relief as she quickly followed after her cat friend in a hurried step, away from the more menacing sign.

She heard the cackle of a crow far off in the distance coming from behind them. This caused a shiver to run down her spine, as she quickly looked over her shoulder and they walked a little faster down the road. The heels of her boots were lightly clicking on the bricks. Click-clack, click-clack down the road. She walked faster to try to catch up to the swift cat. Then she heard it. Click-click, clack-clack. There were extra footsteps on the road. Without slowing her steps, Thea looked over her shoulder to see a cloaked figure walking behind her. Her heart started to beat faster as she walked. Picking up her pace, Thea started to pass the cat. “Let’s go Fig. We’re being followed.”

The stranger had also picked up their pace, walking faster down the road. Thea went from a fast walk, to a sprint, then started to run, with Fig in tow. Her hood fell back and her hair was dancing in the wind behind her. Her chest was pumping hard as she panted, sweat was rolling down her brow. She ran and ran, but the figure kept in stride. Her headache started to rage behind her eyes. Just when she thought she could run no more, the footsteps suddenly stopped behind her. She slowed her pace and looked over her shoulder. Fig was the only being in sight.

Thea scooped up Fig and stepped off the brick path into a thicket. She bent over and rested her hands on her knees as she heaved, trying to catch her breath and not puke after running so far. She couldn’t see any sign of the cloaked individual as she peered out of the trees and down the road. Thea yanked her own cloak off from around her neck, feeling suffocated and warm, she stuffed it in her bag. She was in a panic as she didn’t know why this person started to chase her.

Was that the witch? Where did they go? What am I supposed to be doing? Thea shut her eyes as these questions raced through her brain. She started letting out long breaths from her mouth as she was trying to calm her heartbeat.

When she popped her head out of the trees she saw an empty road that lead down to the blue waters of a lake. Within a few minutes they were standing on the bank, looking at the clear water. At least the run got them down to the path quickly; she kicked off her shoes and waded in the cool water. Still on edge, she continued to look back at the road expecting to see the cloaked figure, but there was nothing there but the bricks. Fig sat on the bank and slowly lapped up the water as he watched Thea pace back and forth. She was still hot from her unexpected run, but couldn’t tell if the sweat was from exertion or nerves. She dropped her bag next to the cat and jumped fully into the water, diving down to the deep end of the lake, trying to cleanse her intricate thoughts. She treaded water and pushed her hair back out of her face.

“Be careful of the Water Nymphs; they don’t like it when you swim in their lake,” a soft voice said from the bank. She slowly turned around to where she had left Fig. There was the cloaked figure, sitting on the bank, with Fig on her lap – purring and showing his stomach up to the air to be scratched. Thea’s panic showed on her face. “Thea? Why are you looking at me like that?” The voice was a whimsical song that floated through the air. Thea squinted at the cloaked figure as she pushed the hood back.

The girl was on the bank, with her legs crossed out in front of her. Fig clearly seemed to know who she was as he was purring and nudging her hand with his head. The girl had the same green eyes, and round face as Thea but had fiery red hair that glowed in the sunshine. “Thea! It’s Robin, why are you looking