Crescent got out of his hold. "What now? We are going to stand here while you iterate the tale to me?" She was scanning the surroundings. Maybe at some point in the past, it had people staying here.
But over the centuries, coming back to the same place and finding out just trees, bushes, weeds, and all the dangerous animals here did not seem appealing to her.
Because she did wonder if the origin of it all held any significance or not.
"Move straight." A low command came.
"To the front?" Crescent began walking. It was very daring of her to obey his every little command sincerely.
He brought her to the middle of nowhere.
Damn!
Was she stupid or what? Even if she was desperate, she should have analysed the person also!
He did not seem trustworthy from any angle. At least, not to her.
Even then she continued walking. A hand passed by her neck, caressing and moving the falling branches aside, clearing the view.
Crescent stopped at once as she gasped at what opened before her.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Even the word beautiful couldn't describe what stood in front.
It was magical!
Uncountable butterflies fluttered around the trees with thick and long branches. There was a sharp greenery in this part of the forest, almost enchanting.
The waterfall cascaded down the hill, weaving a stream which went as wide as a lake. The gentle chime of the wind mixed up with the sound of water hitting the stones before calm enveloping it and moving forward in a soft flow.
In the middle of the stream was a small ait, harbouring a small plant. However what stood it out was it's silver color.
It was not green or brown.
Pure silver, shimmering even in the absence of sunlight.
"I haven't seen anything like that before." After a long while, a soft whisper escaped her lips.
"This was the beginning of it all."
Crescent turned to him. "What?"
"Telling you what those books won't." He walked a bit forward, took a small box out of his pocket. He opened it and a cockroach was there, enclosed in a small glass shield.
Crescent did not understand his actions.
He looked back at her and signalled her to come forward. Just as Crescent reached, she noticed him throwing the cockroach into the water.
She gasped when the cockroach was burned instantly as it came in contact with the water.
He stepped back and explained. "The lake is poisonous. So are the fruits of the trees here and even the flowers."
Crescent gazed at the flowers she had mind to touch before. Even the ripened peaches on the tree...too bewitching!
They did not look virulent at all.
Crescent did not realise that he had come behind her.
"And what I mean is what would happen if, " He did not even give her the chance to react as he swiftly held her arm and pushed her forward, "you were to be thrown into water?"
A shriek came out as Crescent was positioned almost hanging above the water. Her body was just inches away from touching the water. That man had not left his hold onto her...yet.
Crescent caught his hand between hers, tightening the clutch over them. "Are you insane?" She couldn't hide the panic.
Her heart, which had already been racing fast, was thumping hard against her chest. It was uncontrollably fast.
He smiled, amusement reflecting from his eyes. "Even you are scared of death? This is the first time I can see you struggling."
She was not afraid of death... she was afraid of dying without fulfilling her purpose. Crescent couldn't afford death yet.
Not here.
Not like this.
"Pull me up. Now!" His one hand was in his pocket while the other was holding her hand, casually maintaining her entire weight above the surface of the water. Instead of pulling her up, he pushed her a little more towards the water.
Crescent was sure that if she were to loosen her hold, she would be taking her last breath in a few seconds. Because his hold onto her was already too loose.
"Oh no no, my dear." He shook his head. "I did not bring you all the way here just to save you in the end."
"You brought me here so you could kill me?" She couldn't believe it.
"Not really." He smacked his lips. "I originally held no such intentions."
This man was a total bastard!
Her struggling form pushed her feet more into the mud, to solidify the hold. "Then what are you up to now?"
"You." His reply came without any delay. "You have been intriguing me a lot since the first meeting."
That caused her breath to hitch. Intriguing... in what manner? Could it be that she was giving away hints of what she was?
"What do you mean?"
"I never had this many coincidental meetings with anyone before."
"Believe me when I say that even I don't feel honoured." Crescent looked at him with contempt.
"This is what is intriguing me. Had it been some other person where you are, they would already be in tears and begging to save their life."
Crescent scoffed. "Do you want me to beg now?" Was that what it was all about?
He let a crooked smile come over his lips. "Your eyes hold determination. The way you are glaring at me right now is as if I am at your mercy rather than vice-versa."
Crescent listened as he pointed out the observations.
"You are scared but still don't want it to come to the surface. Persistent but why? It makes me wonder if you do have some hidden agenda or what?"
He gazed into her eyes while she did the same. None of them wanting to be the first one to pull away.
Crescent stayed quiet for a long while before finally parting her lips. "Since we are already in this, why don't we talk more straightforwardly?" She offered, her eyes burning with unwavering focus.
He nodded, delighted. "Please." No matter what he did or spoke, that slight presence of amusement never left his eyes. It was almost as if whatever he did was just for fun.
However Crescent felt that he had a disguised depth in him.