Queen Of Adis

Pieces of frozen twigs and thick snow crunched beneath their feet as Haru and Vladimir cautiously walked towards the endless trees covered in blankets of snow.

She stopped for a moment and examined the woods up ahead. Centuries-old trees with skeleton-like branches guarded the entrance, glaring at her like a stern sentinel. The haunting hues of the darkish-brown leaves, mottled tree barks, and shadowy groves amplified its dreary atmosphere.

The wind brought with it a suffocating aura and decaying scent from inside the woods, indicating that days or even months old corpses hid in its murky shrubs.

Haru narrowed her eyes and swallowed hard when she felt her hair raised just by looking at the otherworldly facade of the Atlantis woods. She gazed up into the chilly winter sky as a delicate patterned snowflakes landed on her nose. Once she saw the dark clouds hung above their heads, she instantly knew that a storm was about to come once they entered the frozen forest.

Wind and ghosts howled as they swished around her, nudging her to turn around and to never step foot on the path of no return.

"Well, isn't this a perfect setting for a haunted forest? What a great start for our thrilling adventure, right?" she nervously quipped.

"Mother, my ghost friends said that this woods is home to many who worship the darkness but refuse to be under the Demon King's control," Vladimir warned and tugged his mother's hand. "But don't be afraid, Vladimir is used to seeing these things and most of them are weaker beings. As long as you stay with me, they will not touch you."

"Aww, my Vlad is really strong and reliable. Mother feels safe with you." Haru smiled and squatted in front of the kid.

She fixed his scarf and coat that she pulled out from her space ring earlier. Despite not being affected by the cold wind, she still bought winter clothes for the child to blend in with the crowd. Even Mr. Bear was wearing a scarf and a winter cap.

Speaking of Mr. Bear, he was currently slouching on top of Vladimir's shoulder while looking around the place. "Geez, this place is creeping the old life out me," he muttered to himself.

When he remembered something, he suddenly stood up straight and loudly cleared his throat, mimicking a deep heroic voice, as he declared with much bravado. "Fear not, my fellow warriors, for I, the strong and wise Mr. Bear, shall brave this dangerous woods and abandon my life with you!"

Haru rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You are so dramatic, Mr. Bear!"

Mr. Bear scratched his head and reasoned out. "Hahaha, mademoiselle, it was a line from the operetta I once watched in the olden days. This old man thought it will make me look cool if I utter its famous line."

Vladimir giggled from his silliness while Haru just wrinkled her nose.

"Let us make haste before the night catches to us," Haru exclaimed afterward and started to walk forward.

"Mademoiselle, do you know where we can find the bud of Chloris in here?" Mr. Bear quietly asked, afraid to provoke the predatory eyes that were silently observing them as soon as they entered the dark woods.

Various screech and sounds of creatures resonated throughout the dense shadows, while venomous snakes hissed and owls let out their distinct hoot.

"Grandfather only mentioned that it's within the Atlantis woods, but he didn't say where or how I can find it. I am also not allowed to ask, so I guess we'll just have to look around." Haru nonchalantly answered as she climbed up the fallen trunk and extended her hands to pull up Vladimir.

"Eh? B-but t-this place is sooo huge that it takes days to see the entire woods, provided that you don't get lost or get eaten by the monsters around." Mr. Bear faltered in disbelief. "Moreover, I heard that the closer you get to the center of the woods, the stronger the monster you get."

Haru stopped in her tracks and contemplated with her fingers beneath her chin. "Hmm? If powerful monsters dwell in the middle of this woods, then perhaps... they are guarding something? Could it be the bud of Chloris?"

"What do you want?"

Haru snapped around and looked at Vladimir when she heard the child spoke coldly.

The kid was standing straight and his eyes glowed as it changed its color to a bloody red. He was intently looking into the dark bushes nearby as he continued in a voice laced with authority, like a prince to its lowly subject. "Did you not feel my presence? This human is mine, so out of my sight, at once!"

Haru, despite the whiff of danger, swooned at the sudden display of power. It was like watching a little Adis oppress the weak with his strength. She remembered what Adis told her on their way to visit Vladimir the other day.

Vampires, regardless of their almost extinct numbers, were still considered as one of the powerful demon clans. Pureblooded vampires were regarded as royalties in the olden days and the only clan that could compete to the royal throne with the Delacroix's. Even with the lack of education and years of deprivation, a vampire's noble bearing and authority were already etched in Vladimir's blood as soon as he was born.

Weaker creatures could easily sense a vampire's formidable aura even from a greater distance. It was the main reason why Adis proposed for Vladimir to go with her. So long as they would not encounter a 'feral being,' they would be safe.

"Tee-hee-hee!"

Vexing laughter echoed and the owner's location seemed to be everywhere. Haru was restless and followed the sound. Vladimir, on the contrary, was motionless and his eyes were still fixed in the dark bushes as though he could see what others couldn't see.

"Stop your madness and come out!" Vladimir barked out his order.

"Aww, that's no fun! I want to play more!" The giggling voice continued to resound and provoke them. "Are you looking for the bud of Chloris? Do you need help?"

"You know where it is?" Haru's eyes grew wide as she yelled out.

"Yes, yes, yes! Tee-hee-hee! I can teach you the way..." A silhouette started to emerge from the dark bushes. Its paws pitter-pattered as it slowly revealed itself. "...but with a small price to pay."

A furry, striped cat with huge unfocused eyes and a distinct broad grin came out, exposing its gums and sharp teeth. It suddenly disappeared and reappeared on top of the tree, sprawling its fat body on a thick branch while swaying its tail. "So what will it be? To help or not to help? To pay or not to pay? Tee-hee-hee."

"A *Cheshire cat in this place?! Should I also expect to see a Mad Hatter and a white rabbit?" Haru looked perplexed as she thought that the entire set up had turned into a bizarre fairytale.

"Young lad, don't believe a feral being's words. It is full of lies and deceit, meant to deliver its victims to their demise." Mr. Bear advised as he climbed on top of Haru's shoulder. "As you already know, feral beings are those who don't care about hierarchy and would attack anyone. But those who have intellect are the most dangerous ones."

"Eh? That is so cruel! This playful cat does not deceive, but does lie. This playful cat does not lie, but does deceive. It's all in the listener's mind. Tee-hee-hee!" The cat played with words as he rolled on the branch and licked its paws.

"It's all in the listener's mind?" Haru tilted her head as she took the cat's words seriously, despite herself. After a brief moment, she looked up at the cat as her eyes glinted in understanding. "Hey, kitty cat, if I ask for your help, what kind of payment will you accept?"

"Mother, no!"

"Mademoiselle, don't!"

Both Vladimir and Mr. Bear yelled out their objection and spun around in incredulity.

"Relax, boys! Trust me on this, okay?" She patted both of their heads before looking at the Cheshire cat again.

The cat's grin became even wider and its eyeballs rolled like a marble. It rubbed its paws together as it licked its large lips. "Tee-hee-hee! Human, you are bold. This playful cat has never seen such dazzling orbs. I will show you the path you d.e.s.i.r.e and you shall let me see what the future holds."

Vladimir snarled and bit his finger to materialize his scythe made of his blood. He gritted at the annoying cat as he skillfully twirled the weapon in his hands. "If you dare make a move on her, I will make sure that your head will roll."

"Tee-hee-hee, demon boy, don't be so cranky, else you might explode again and blow your human into smithereens this time."

"For someone who'd been staying in this woods, you know too much," Mr. Bear commented in a serious voice.

"Tee-hee-hee, perhaps I know too much, perhaps I know not much. My home may be outside of this woods, my home may be in this woods." The cat gave another series of its ludicrous conundrum.

"Very well then," Haru started as she chimed in. "However, do you really know the path that I d.e.s.i.r.e? If so, how can you show it to me if you will take out my eyes? Furthermore, I am just an ordinary human, I don't have the power to see the future."

The cat disappeared from the tree and reappeared right in front of her, on top of the fallen bark. It gracefully sat on the blotched surface and gazed into her eyes.

"Hear me, human, let's play a game.

Should you win, you can take the fame.

If I win, I shall take the prize,

And that is your discerning sights.

In the heart of the darkness, cradle a being

A monster to us that deserves of dying.

Perhaps you can keep it, perhaps you can kill it.

However, in its throat lies what you seek.

Come out alive, it's your win.

And with it a blessing from Yggdrasil."

After the Cheshire cat finished its rhyme, a small path opened from the side, leading into the darkest area of the forest.

"Tee-hee-hee."

When they looked back at the cat's location, it already disappeared again, leaving the eerie sound of its laughter.