Chapter 12

(Hope)

Hope didn't trust Huan— but she would rather fight another river monster in her underwear than admit it.

She had wanted to trust him; it would have been nice to have someone else to talk to, but something felt... off.

When he had first come stumbling out of the woods, it was hard not to feel sympathy for him. He had been bleeding profusely from a gash across his chest, seemingly steps from death's door. But when she had healed him, she noticed something strange— his skin was hot, burning hot.

It was different from the warmth she felt from Clarke— this was like touching a hot pan, her instinct was to pull away rather than move closer.

She tried to dismiss it as being tied to his injuries somehow, but she noticed it again later when she had touched his arm, feigning amusement at a joke at Clarke's expense.

She wasn't an idiot, she knew Clarke and Huan were having some sort of pissing match, which was the absolute last thing she wanted to get involved with. She had spent enough time around temperamental men to last a lifetime.

It was infuriating, really. Before Huan had showed up, she could have sworn Clarke was finally being real with her. He had been genuine, compassionate.

For a moment, when he had helped her with her necklace, she could have sworn she felt something—emotions that weren't hers.

It was as if... She chased the unfinished thought from her mind.

It didn't matter.

That man had just been a mirage, replaced by the selfish and sarcastic individual she had come to know all too well.

She turned to look at Huan, who was walking beside her on the narrow trail. He was tall, athletic, and he carried himself with an undeniable air of confidence—definitely someone Lizzie would find sexy.

He turned to meet her gaze, flashing a smile of perfectly white teeth. "So, Hope, how did you end up here?" he asked, turning his full attention to her.

"That's a bit of a long story," she answered carefully. She turned to see if Clarke was in earshot, but he remained several paces behind them.

"We've got time. Plus, I'd love to learn more about you," he pressed, bumping his shoulder playfully into hers.

"Well, I guess I didn't have much of a choice…" she said. It was true— if she was going to destroy Malivore, coming here was the only way.

"Did that goon drag you here?" he asked, shooting Clarke a glare over his shoulder.

Suddenly, she felt a flash of anger, but the feeling was not her own. She turned to see Agent Clarke much closer than he was a few moments ago.

"Quite the opposite," Clarke said bitterly. "But that doesn't exactly paint our dear Hope in the best light."

For some reason, his words stung. When she turned to meet his gaze, she could have sworn she saw him wince momentarily.

"Is that so?" Huan asked, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Good for you, Hope."

She ignored the odd pang of guilt in her chest.

"How much longer until we reach the rock formations?" she asked, changing the subject. "We were using the forest as cover, but recently got a bit turned around."

"Did you encounter a monster too?" Huan asked, quirking an eyebrow. "Was someone looking for you?"

"Yes, we've encountered monsters," she said. "And no, no one is looking for me...not anymore."

"No one is looking for you?" Huan asked. Something about the way he asked the question unsettled her. He was almost... pleased.

"No one's looking for any of us," Clarke said. "That's the deal. You enter the pit and no one remembers you ever existed."

Hope watched Huan's face carefully, searching for signs of shock or distress. But he seemed strangely calm.

"Really?" Huan asked neutrally.

"Yeah, really," Clarke answered. "But you don't seem too surprised— Why's that?"

"I don't believe you," Huan answered lightly. "Plus, even if it's true, I didn't leave anyone important behind."

"I'm sorry," said Hope. Even if Huan wasn't trustworthy, no one deserved to be alone in the world.

She rubbed her pendant between her fingers thoughtfully. Besides Landon, she supposed Clarke didn't have any family on the other side either.

"No worries," Huan said a bit too cheerfully. "I have a feeling I may have found someone new," he finished with a smile.

Hope felt another spike of anger and she had a feeling she knew where it was coming from... Sure enough, when she turned to Clarke, his expression was dark and stormy. He was clearly not pleased with their new companion.

"So, Huan, how much farther?" she asked for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Not too far," he said. As if to prove his point, the trees did appear to be thinning around them.

"So you never told me, who are you looking for out here?" Huan asked. "I have to say, I'm a bit jealous of whoever it is."

Clarke let out a bark of laughter. "Oh, if you only knew!"

"We're looking for Clarke's father," Hope said, rolling her eyes.

Huan grinned, a look of understanding flashed across his face. It was just one more out of place thing she'd noticed about him.

Clarke seemed confused by Huan's reaction as well. "I can assure you, he's no one you want to meet," he said darkly.

"I'm sure you're right," Huan answered. "Perhaps, I can point you in the right direction and Hope and I can be on our way."

"That's not how this is going to work," she said. "Clarke and I have… an understanding."

"I see," said Huan thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose we'll continue on together...for now."

"That's really not your call," said Clarke irritably. "And I don't know who you think you are, but Hope isn't looking for a new friend or companion or—whatever else you may be thinking ."

"Oh? Have you told yourself that, pal?" Huan asked.

"Excuse me!" Hope interjected. "But I'm right here, and I don't think either of you are grasping the seriousness of our situation right now!"

"I'm sorry, Hope," said Huan, flashing her an apologetic look. "I guess I'm just really grateful for your help... Plus, you're the most incredible girl I've ever met."

She felt a flush creeping up her neck, but she was more uncomfortable than flattered. There was something magnetic about Huan, but for all the warmth he exuded, something about him sent a shiver down her spine.

Clarke was uncharacteristically quiet— she looked back to see him studiously examining his shoes.

She felt an urge to reach out to him, but furiously pushed the feeling down. She hadn't had time to consider Gwyllion's words about their connection yet, but she certainly wasn't going to do that now.

"We're here," said Huan, pulling her from her thoughts. She followed him to the treeline, revealing the sharp cliffs and rock formations just ahead of them.

She felt anxiety seeping into the back of her mind, cold and cloying. They had been closer than she expected and now that they had arrived, she found herself struggling to keep herself together.

Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder followed by a comforting warmth— she didn't have to turn to know it was Clarke. But as soon as she did look, he pulled back, clenching the hand into a fist at his side.

"Clarke—" she began, but he had already begun marching ahead. It was just as well, she really didn't have an end to that sentence.

Things were getting complicated.

"We have to be careful," said Huan. "I was attacked by that dragon not far from here."

She looked up at the cliffs and felt a sinking feeling in her stomach; she wasn't sure how they were going to find Malivore's lair. She had seriously misjudged the scale of the formations, they were massive.

"Do you know where the suit's father is?" Huan asked.

"No," she said. "I may need to use my magic to find our way." She looked at Clarke, but his back was turned to her. She would likely need to use his blood again as a conduit but it didn't feel right to ask him.

"Cool, more magic!" Huan said enthusiastically.

"Yeah," she said distractedly. "But I need to rest first. I used a lot of energy healing your wound."

Clarke had begun to pace back and forth, running a hand through his hair. He was clearly agitated.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that..." Huan said. "We should probably make camp, then. I was out in the open when the dragon attacked before," he explained.

"Okay," she agreed. "Let's look for an alcove of some kind to spend the night."

They needed to make camp anyway; the dark sky was nearing the pitch black shade it took on every evening.

It was a strange feeling, knowing that time was passing while she was trapped in this dimension. She felt no hunger or thirst, but she still felt tired. She dreaded to think about how much time had passed back at home.

Clarke had come back to join them, but she could see that he was still tense. His jaw was clenched tightly, one of the first quirks she had picked up on.

He was as anxious as she was.

Huan must have picked up on the mood because he said little as they walked between the large rocks, searching for a suitable campsite.

"Over here!" Huan called from a couple of yards away. "This is where we should spend the night."

It was a small cave with a narrow opening— it was dark inside and Hope couldn't tell how deep or far back it may go.

"Fine," said Clarke tightly, heading inside first. She wasn't sure if it was his anxiety or hers, but she felt like choking as she watched him disappear into the darkness.

She forced herself to move, approaching the entrance with trepidation.

"Wait!" shouted Huan. "Let me go in first, to make sure it's safe."

Normally she would have laughed at him. But for some reason, the darkness of the cave unsettled her in a way that she hadn't felt before. So, she nodded, motioning for him to go first.

"I'll catch up with Clarke and call for you if everything checks out alright."

She watched him disappear into the void, just as Clarke had. She held her pendant tightly, trying desperately to shake the uneasy feeling.

The moments passed slowly as she waited.

She felt exposed standing by herself— It was the first time she had been truly alone since she arrived in Malivore, and she found that she didn't particularly enjoy the feeling.

She scanned the area around her, but there wasn't much to see. Sharp and rugged rock face surrounded her on all sides, giving the impression of being trapped in a large cage.

She could hear the wind kicking up, causing a distinct howling sound as it sliced through the canyons around her. It did nothing to soothe her nerves.

Just as she was about to give up on waiting and venture inside, she heard rocks scattering from somewhere nearby.

She spun on her heel, straining to see in the rapidly encroaching darkness.

There. She could just make out a tall shadow slinking out from behind a particularly imposing boulder.

"Hello, treasure of Malivore," the figure greeted her.

She instinctively took a step back— she could feel her magic sparking in warning.

Danger, danger, danger.

"Who are you?" she asked, backing closer to the cave's entrance, preparing to run to the others if needed.

But the shadow drew closer, revealing a familiar face...

It was Huan.

"Huan?" she asked with uncertainty. "How did you get out of the cave? I've been standing right here the whole time…"

The boy stared at her, amusement playing over his features.

"You're— you're not him, are you?" she asked.

"No. My name is Wei," the boy said. "Huan is my brother."

"Twins?" Hope asked, putting the pieces together.

"Very good, little human," Wei answered.

"Human?" she asked. "Then, you're not...?" She knew the question was foolish the moment it left her lips.

Of course they weren't human.

"No. My brother can be quite convincing though. That's why I sent him along first," Wei explained.

"What do you want?" she asked. "I'm not afraid of you," she added quickly.

"No?" Wei asked with a grin. "Then why do you keep looking over your shoulder, little treasure?"

"Little treasure?" she asked. That was the second time he had called her that.

"Us dragons like collecting treasures," he said. "But alas, you're not ours to collect. Despite how much I think Huan would like to keep you…"

"I should have known," Hope said tightly. "You're both dragons—"

Suddenly the realization struck her — Clarke! He was all alone with Huan in the cave.

She turned to face the entrance, it had been silent ever since Huan had followed Clarke inside. She reached for him through whatever their strange connection was, but felt nothing...not even a sliver of emotion.

"Ah, your companion," Wei said with mock consideration. "I hope you weren't too attached to him."

"I'll kill you both," she said with venom. "That's a promise."

Wei just laughed— it was a cruel sound that caused her hair to stand up on end.

"I'd like to see you try. Few people get between a dragon and their collections, and Huan is quite... protective of his."

"Collection? " she asked, attempting to buy time as she desperately racked her brain for a plan. "What the hell is there to collect here?"

At first she thought he wasn't going to answer— then he gave her a terrifying grin, revealing rows of rapidly sharpening teeth.

"Bones," he hissed.

The Huan River (Chinese: 洹河; pinyin: Huán Hé ), or Anyang River (安阳河), is a river in Henan, China, and part of the Hai River basin. The river rises north of Linzhou in northwestern Henan, and joins the Wei River near Neihuang in the northeast of the province.