Hello, everyone. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Darkness still envelopes me. Stars shine brightly above. The river is hushed, only a background noise. Warmth and care are wrapped tightly around me. I bury deeper into it.
I move my hand, my joints arguing. My fingertips run over cloth, a different texture compared to the blankets. The shape of it feels odd. I peek open my eyes and look up. Trenton’s smile responds to my movement. “Good morning, Elle. Or should I say, good night?”
Panicked, I shift slightly until I understand where I am. Trenton’s arm is wrapped around me, a comforting touch. I know this may be wrong, but I can’t help it. Instead of moving away, I curl in closer. I love this feeling of love and welcome.
“I didn’t want to move. Afraid you would wake up,” Trenton says.
I moan, wanting to dig deeper into him. Not wanting this moment to end. A short distance away, I hear a snap. Another one, louder this time. My eyes snap open, focusing on the sound. Another.
Trenton hears it too. He whispers, “Act normal.”
My eyes scan the dark, searching for a silhouette. Another crack.
Trenton picks up his sword silently, watching. I sit up, creeping slowly. Trenton follows, sword pointed into the shadows. My heart pounds, clouding all other feelings. The moment is gone.
“There they are! Kill the boy, capture the girl!” A dark voice yells from within the trees. I look up and metal glints from within the forest. Out of the bushes, a sword tip points at me. I now can see who it is. Servants.
“Run,” Trenton yells at me. “Elle, go! Now!” I look back once my feet are touching the water. Trenton looks at me, pleading for me to run.
Servants charge out of the bushes. Trenton lunges at the first, killing the man. I refuse to leave Trenton here, alone. I let the water flow through me, allowing me to gain control. Hurtling out of the river, ice daggers cut through a servant’s armor, penetrating the person’s chest. They fall.
Another is hit by the daggers. Trenton gets close enough to me and shoves me away, telling me to run. I scan the river for a way to get across. No luck. Instead, I part a path down the center, the water curling from the divide. I run down the center, yelling for Trenton to follow. He glances at me, then throws a death blow.
Trenton darts into the passageway. Once he is across, I close the gap, the river flowing again. The last three servants fall back. I count the dead, coming up with twelve. My gut twists. “Come on, we need to hurry.” Trenton hooks his arm around me, forcing me to run. Helpless, powerless, alone all boil up in me. “Elle, we need to hurry! Now! They can be tracking us this very moment.” Trenton pushes me further.
Everything is blanketed in black, dark shadows playing across the ground. Nothing makes a sound. Despair strangles me, suffocating. We need to hurry... They can easily catch up...
Besides me, Trenton speeds up, passing me. I look behind, seeing only darkness. Without a second glance, I catch up to Trenton. Everything is a blur.
I run into him accidently, knocking us both over. My breathing is rapid, uncontrollable. Trenton helps me up, panting as well. “We did it. They surely can’t catch up to us now,” Trenton says between pants. He holds me tight, protecting me from anything. Trenton, still suspicious and cautious, hides us away from the overgrown trail into darkness. My back is up against a tree, his arms on either side of me, caging me.
My eyes observe his face, his expression. Fear and anger cover his face, replacing that look from just not too long ago. Blood drips down from his arm. Over these past couple days, Trenton has been receiving the worst of everything. Trenton is doing everything to keep me safe while not making sure he is as well. His eyes flicker around us, watching the shadows.
“Thank you,” I blurt out.
Trenton blinks at me, watching, his breathing slowing.
“Thank you for everything. For saving my life numerous times, making sure I’m safe. For coming along on this journey to make sure I would be alright. Risking your life all the while. I already owe you everything. You are my only... friend,” I say, all coming out in a rush of words and emotions. Few tears escape, dripping down my cheek.
Trenton smiles, brushing away the tears. His gaze burns into mine. Hope, want, determination all flicker across his eyes. Under that gaze, everything vanishes, all fear disappears. He leans in close to me, and I understand. Love is the hidden emotion. Allowing my heart to lead, I close the distance between us. His lips brush against mine, giving me space to pull back. I don’t. My arms wrap tightly around his neck, fingers entangling in his damp hair.
I feel free, no responsibilities to worry about. Everything is perfect. Trenton’s hands caress my face, smooth to the touch. I pull away slightly, forehead resting against his. My eyes look into his, and he kisses me again. I don’t want this moment to end. Why does it have to end? His hands slip to my back, forcing me to come closer. I don’t object
Don’t do this... It may come back to haunt you... You have only known him for a few days... How can you love him that quickly? I pause, rethinking everything. Looking up at his emerald eyes changes my cautious thinking.
“How lovely, the fey boy and the half-blood girl.” The voice sounds like a snake’s last hiss before it lunges at it’s prey. My body shivers, a cold enveloping us. Trenton breaks off, and I watch him. His face turns from love to hate. Fear deludes his hate as his gaze wavers. I follow his look to a cloaked figure, watching us with intent eyes.
Teeth glint in the shadow, each one like a ragged dagger. All uneven with the other. Yellow, cat-like eyes shine menacingly. One look at him, and my hope falls.
Trenton pulls me behind him, sword drawn. “Lucidius,” Trenton says, making it sound like a forbidden language.
“Now, now. Don’t act hasty.” He paces around us, Trenton keeping his body between me and Lucidius. “We can make a simple... trade. You can keep your life if you hand over the half-blood. Or,” Lucidius taps his fingers together, “your life ends and we will take her unwillingly. Your choice.” His looks like a wild cat, ready to pounce.
Trenton looks back at me, my heart breaking. Don’t do it. Please... Trenton’s muscles tighten for an attack. Before he has a chance, I jump in front of him, ignoring the doubts in my mind. Lucidius’ mouth curls into a dangerous smile. “Don’t hurt him. I will go with you as long as Trenton is unharmed,” I say, purposefully trying not to stutter.
“Elle! What are you doing!” Trenton says behind me.
I turn to him, “It’s either you or me. I don’t want you to die for me.”
“He will kill you, Elle. You are our last hope,” Trenton begs.
“I have to do this! I will be okay,” I say, hoping to convince him. I sure hope this isn’t a stupid, rushed decision. No, Trenton is important. I will escape. Trenton will be safe.
I face Lucidius, ready for anything. A small tear falls down. Lucidius laughs, sounding like millions of spiders crawling over the forest floor. My body tenses. Around me, black smoke swirls and suffocates. I try to let out a shriek, but it’s cut short, and everything fades from me.
I cough and gasp for air, dampness closing around me. Stone is laid randomly around me, creating walls, floor, and ceiling. Iron cuffs are clamped around my ankles, preventing any movement. The skin under them is open and festering, red from infection.
I try to rip them off, exceeding. Dried blood coats my hands, hair knotted and damp. Water droplets drip off the ceiling onto the floor. Everything is silent. A rodent scurries across into a hole. Thick iron bars stand straight, blocking me from escape into the hallway. Torches light the cells, creating an eerie dim.
I have to get out of here... Trying to stay quiet, I Move the water around me and create a saw. I strike the iron, hoping it will collapse. Sparks come up from it, but nothing else happens. It still stands. I try with earth, then air. Fire is too risky.
In the corner, I notice a tray that has a half a loaf of bread and a pitcher of water. My eyes glance to the hallway, making sure it’s not a trap, and I slump down next to it. In my hands, I tear the bread into a smaller piece. I roll it around in my palm, then bite into it. My stomach twists from hunger.
Hunger overwhelms me, and I ignore any doubts that it’s poisoned. Soon, everything is gone, but my body still tightens, wanting more. I dig my face into my knees, racking sobs erupting through me.
I push the tray away from me, not wanting it anymore. Why? Why me? I don’t want this. At least Trenton’s still alive. Trenton... Trenton, he must feel miserable. Maybe I shouldn’t have gave up easily. Maybe I wouldn’t be here.
“I expected so much more from you.” I turn abruptly, tears still running down my face.
A young girl watches me intently. Black hair hangs around her face down to the middle of her back. Her eyes show a dark, unforgiving soul, standing out against her white skin. Draped over her is a black dress, worn and old.
“Who... Who are you?” I shudder, backing away from her.
“Amelie. Now, don’t be afraid. If you obey, you will continue to live. Lucidius sent me to check on you.” The girl collects her hands in front of her, clenching them together.
“What do you want from me?”
“You to turn your loyalties over to us. Your grandmother has done so already. We only hope you will do the same,” Amelie says, smile spreading across her face. “Trenton, on the other hand, I’m not too sure about. He doesn’t have much use to us, except we figure it will be easy to convince you of anything if his life is on the line.”
Trenton... “What did you do to him?” I launch at Amelie, clenching the iron bars, ignoring the searing of my skin.
Amelie stares, malicious grin on her young face. “Hear that? That’s you. The iron is burning you, killing you. You have no strength.”
I tear my hands away from the bars. My palms have burns etched into them. The seared skin quickly heals. “Let Trenton go.”
“No, I think my mind is changed. I can convince Lucidius, or maybe the King to keep him. Maybe as a slave? A pet? What do you think?” Amelie laughs. The torches flicker.
In a second, ice daggers fly out at Amelie. Her hand flies up, stopping them. They fall to the ground in a dust. Her malicious grin turns into a scowl, Amelie’s glare directed at me. Coldness creeps up my back and into my mouth. I can feel myself being strangled, the air cutting off. My nails try to claw off the hands, but there is nothing there.
“Don’t you ever attack me. You will die.” Amelie’s voice radiates through the cells. She releases me, my body falling to the floor. I lay, gasping for air. I watch Amelie, a smirk on her face. My peripherals turn black, closing around Amelie. Soon, everything surrenders to the dark.
Thanks for reading! That's all for now, folks!(:
