The Wailing Grove

As Oliver and Lilith left the bustling Halloween-esque town behind, the two walked along a dirty path that wound between the twisted blackened trees that seemed dead and alive at the same time. Whenever he turned his back, he felt as if one was snagging on his clothes. Oliver assumed he was clumsy except he heard the succubus leading him shoo something away. The moon that hung in the sky felt as if it never moved from its place, casting silvery beams through the grotesque branches in beams of scintillating light. It seemed brighter than he would have thought but he was in another world. Oliver felt a mix of excitement and dread as he followed Lilith, deeper into the heart of this bizarre world. The atmosphere was heavy with an ethereal mist that clung to his skin like a shroud, amplifying the eerie sounds of the forest—rustling leaves, distant whispers, and the occasional mournful wail that sent a shiver down his spine.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” he asked, glancing behind him then back at Lilith.

“Of course! Trust me! You are my prize after all, and I am your mistress. You must obey me like the good, little slave you are,” she replied, in her attempt to be condescending. But even as she said it, he could sense a slight hesitation in her voice. Now that the city of Gore Gut was not longer visible and they were on this lonely path by themselves, her eyes seemed to dart around at the deep woods along the path. “We just gotta watch out for the Tanglebeasts.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Oliver said, eyes a bit wider.

“Oh, don’t worry about it. Your master has it. Tanglebeasts usually don’t come out when there is a Silver Moon. They prefer to hunt around a blood moon or an Amber Moon. Even once in a Blue Moon.”

The young man blinked at the succubus wondering the last one was a joke, but he had a feeling it was not.

As they reached the end of the path, the ground became softer, and the shimmering waters came into view. It was a breathtaking sight: the water glimmered like liquid silver, surrounded by lush foliage and illuminated by the moonlight. It felt otherworldly, almost like a portal to another realm though he was already in another realm. Oliver couldn't help but be captivated, but there was an undeniable tension in the air, as if the very land were holding their breath.

“Here we are! Welcome to the Wailing Grove. Since I got you hear, you will be required to service me when we get back to my home,” Lilith announced, just above a whisper. She looked about and then lowered her voice a bit more. “Just…try not to be loud.”

“Yeah, sure,” Oliver murmured, ignoring her last remark. She was a succubus after all. He peered around taking in the sight, but his heart started beating faster when he spotted a figure hovering above the lagoon. It appeared to be some sort of ghost or spirit of a woman, transparent enough that he could see the forest through her on the other side of the lagoon.

At first, he was entranced by her ethereal beauty. But as the realization hit him—the ghost girl was stark naked—Of course she was.

“What is all of you and your lack of clothes?” Oliver muttered. Half of him didn’t mind seeing such beauty but on the other hand, he felt like a voyeur.

Misty floated closer, her long, flowing hair cascading around her like a silken curtain. She had been studying something in the water, looked up, saw them and the blank eyes focused. Like a leaf on the wind, she floated towards them. “Guests? Why do I have guests? Is there a party that I forgot? I have not prepared a single thing.”

“This is Oliver,” Lilith started eyeing the ghost that floated near him, her ample assets fully present. “He is from the human world and I am giving him a tour of our realm before he goes back.”

“It’s a very beautiful lagoon you have here,” Oliver said looking past her so he didn’t get caught staring at the amazing view in front of him. “Do you…by any chance…have some clothes you could put on?

Misty stared at him, her gaze seemingly cutting through him. Her face had gone blank but then it lit up again. “I am a spirit. I don’t wear clothes. I left the mortal realm with my death while swimming free. I was taken by a surge of water and washed upon the shores of The Breach Between,” She spoke as if reciting a lesson or a parable. “I cannot cover myself so you must grow accustomed to the body of a woman unclothed in your presence.”

“You didn’t have to put it that way,” Oliver muttered.

Lilith sighed and tugged on his arm. “Stop staring. I don’t care of hers are bigger. You are my trophy.”

“Trophy?” Misty said, her curiosity piqued.

“Yes,” Lilith said puffing up her chest proudly. “I captured this mortal with my allure and sexual prowess. He has been bent to my whim and will.”

Sexual prowess? The succubus has flashed him. Twice.

“I see,” Misty responded though her tone sounded as if she did not believe her friend.

“Enough about me,” Lilith said quickly before things spiraled. “Tell Oliver about your lagoon.”

“This lagoon is special,” The ghost said turning to face the lagoon and making sure Oliver got to see the other side of perfection. She gestured to the expanse in front of them “It is a scrying mirror. It shows me the things that are to come, that happened, and things that never happened.

“Sounds…complicated.”

“It has shown me your face, Olive Fairchild.”

The tone the ghost took changed to one of dark foreboding as she turned back to her. The eyes that had been there had been consumed by light, a strange aura causing his stomach to churn. Lilith gripped his arm as they both stepped back.

“You are not of this realm. The Breach Between does not favor those who are not of its cloth. You area virus that has invaded.”

“It’s not like I did it on purpose,” Oliver said wondering if he could make a run for the path if this got out of control. “What do you mean?”

Misty frowned, her expression grave. “The Pale Wraith is looking for you. It senses your malignance and comes to cleanse you.”

“Really? Can we stop calling me diseases?”

Misty just stared at him as if the words went in one ear and out the other. There is a good chance they did.

“What am I supposed to do about that? I’m not here on my own volition.”

“Yes you are,” Lilith interjected. “I asked you to come and you chose to.”

“Because I didn’t think I was going to be hunted by Ghost Rider.”

“Pale Wraith,” the spirit girl corrected.

Misty clapped her hands together all of a sudden startling Lilith and Oliver, making her ghostly chest bounce in an unexpected and distracting manner. “You will need to see the Bone Lord to go home. Only he can grant you the way back.”

“Bone Lord?” Oliver echoed incredulously, shaking his head in disbelief. This just keeps getting better and better.

“Yes!” Misty insisted with a solemn nod. “You’re tainted now. Only the Bone Lord can free you or feed you to the wraith”

“Do I really have to?” Lilith whined. “He’s still mad at me for that little incident in the Dread Meadows.”

“You angered the entire Glass Commune,” Misty deadpanned. “What did you expect?”

Oliver sighed, the reality of his situation sinking in. His curiosity had gotten him into this situation.

“Since Lilith is the one who has damned your soul, I shall escort you through the Gray Wilds to the domain of the Bone Lord. Once there, he will decide your fate.”

This was not going to go well.