The Eating Woods, #2
Eldritch
by Keri Lake
Contents
Chapter 22
Overview
Zevander suffers a vivid hallucination of General Loyce while lying beside Maevyth and nearly stabs Maevyth in his panic. Realizing the danger he poses, he recoils in horror. He discovers Aleysia terrified by an eldritch spider-faced creature at the window and shields her view. Determined to prevent further harm, Zevander decides to leave alone to acquire the vivicantem.
Summary
Before dawn, Zevander lies awake beside Maevyth, unsettled by a resurfacing whisper from General Loyce that declares he was born to suffer. Fighting arousal and vigilance, he tries to steady himself, but a waking nightmare overtakes him: he sees General Loyce in Maevyth’s place and believes Maevyth has been taken.
In a panic, Zevander seizes his dagger and repeatedly stabs at the apparition. The blade meets unnatural resistance, and whispers beyond the door break his frenzy. The vision vanishes, revealing Maevyth peacefully asleep and unhurt. Horrified, Zevander notices deep gouges in the floorboards, like those near Aleysia’s bed, and realizes he might have made them during his episode.
Following the whispers, Zevander checks on Aleysia and finds her curled in a corner, compulsively counting as she stares at a spider clinging to the outside wall—its grotesque underside bearing a human face. He blocks the window with a blanket, stopping her counting though her fear remains fixed on the spot.
Shaken by how close he came to harming Maevyth and how destabilized Aleysia is, Zevander clutches his scorpion necklace to regain focus. Accepting that his instability endangers the others, he resolves to obtain the vivicantem immediately. Despite hating to leave Maevyth, he decides to go alone to prevent further risk to her and Aleysia.
Who Appears
- ZevanderHaunted by Loyce’s voice, hallucinates and nearly stabs Maevyth; helps Aleysia; decides to leave alone for vivicantem.
- MaevythAsleeps beside Zevander, unaware he nearly attacked her during a hallucination; her safety motivates his decision.
- AleysiaTerrified and compulsively counting; fixates on a spider with a human face at the window; calmed when Zevander blocks it.
- General LoyceAppears as a tormenting voice and hallucination, triggering Zevander’s violent episode and trauma.