Chapter 10 #2
Ashavee leans in and takes in the aroma. With a nod of approval, she says, “It’s not perfect, but good enough.” Taking a coal pencil from her pocket, she grips my chin and tilts my face up. “You need a little extra to disguise you. Everyone has seen you in court. Close your eyes.”
I do as she demands, and she sets to work lining my eyes in black.
Each stroke of the pencil is hard, leaving greasy marks on my skin.
“Hold your heads high and show no signs of submission. Acting cocky is the key to passing as a shifter. No animal wants to submit to another unless they must in order to survive.” She looks Ulric up and down.
“Not that you will have any issues with the cocky part.”
“Is that what you think of me?” he asks, already displaying the attitude she knew he could pull off.
“It is. How so much arrogance fits into such a puny frame is beyond me.”
“Arrogance? You think I’m arrogant?” He leans in until his cheek almost brushes hers and deepens his voice. “Give me a chance, pretty hellcat, and I’ll prove that my self-confidence is purely based in truth.”
Her eyes narrow and one side of her full lips curls up. “I’ll pass.”
Ulric snickers, not at all bothered by the way she blew him off.
“If you two are done, can we attempt to get out of here?” I ask, spitting the words in a whisper.
Their gazes dart to me, then back at each other. Like an electric current zaps them, they jump apart. Ashavee runs her palms down her thighs, and Ulric rubs the back of his head.
“Aye, let’s get this done with,” he says.
Ashavee lifts her chin, walks between Ulric and me, and takes our hands. Her hips sway with a sensual saunter as she leads us toward the lift. The guards turn in our direction as we get closer, but she captures their full attention, saying, “Eyes off, gentlemen. These two are with me tonight.”
“Not your normal premium meat, Ash,” says a guard. He rubs the stubble on his jaw while dragging his gaze over Ashavee’s lean form. “You know you don’t have to settle for the bottom of the barrel. I’m willing to show you a good time.”
She slides the lift gate to the side and tugs us in with her.
Wrapping her arms around mine and Ulric’s waist, she pulls us into her sides.
“It’s not about what you can offer, Ephrin.
It’s about what I want to give.” She wiggles her brows as the other guard closes us in the cart.
Ashavee reaches around me and pulls the lever on the wall.
Gears grind with a continuous click, and the floor shifts as it starts its journey to the ground.
“That was simple and dare I say it… slightly enjoyable,” Ulric says, easing away from Ashavee.
She gives a quick laugh that sounds more like a snort. “My plan wasn’t to bring you joy.”
“All the same, ya did.”
I pull out of her embrace and press my palm to my chest. I’m unsure if it’s our slow descent toward the village or the close encounter with the guards that has my heart pounding.
We’re one step closer to freedom, but we haven’t faced the most challenging part of our escape.
From my prison in the trees, I know the layout of what lies before us.
Especially with an Outlander ship at port, the village will be swarming with those who are hungry, desperate for a pint, and those looking to fuck.
It will be impossible for us to go unseen.
The lift shudders to a stop, and we fall silent.
“Are you ready, Elle?” Ulric asks.
I grip the pummel of the sword through my pocket so hard that my fingers ache. “Yeah. I’m ready.”
With that, he slides the grated gate to the side.
Fresh soil fills my lungs, and for the first time in months, I don’t feel like I’m swaying on my legs.
Excitement grips me. I’ve thought about the moment my feet would touch solid ground for weeks.
I step off the lift, followed by my friends.
It takes every ounce of self-control not to sprint forward and discard my coat. I’m no longer a captive of the sky.
“Walk,” Ulric hisses, nudging me from behind. “Don’t slow down until we get on that ship.”
With purposeful steps, I make my way into the crowd.
Ulric and Ashavee match my every move, flanking me on either side.
The Allaji and Outlanders loiter in the streets, laughing and singing with large steins of beer in their hands.
The hot press of bodies, both flesh and fur, next to mine has beads of sweat pebbling my brow and sliding down my spine.
My hand shakes around my sword as my anxiety escalates.
It’s not only the proximity of so many shifters in their animal forms that has me on edge, but the chance of being recognized that I fear. Someone is bound to know who we are.
We push on, not bothering to apologize as we shoulder our way through.
The scent of grilled fruits and vegetables mingles with the salty scent of skin.
My world is closing in on me. I can’t see further than the person in front of me, and every breath I take is thick with the tropical moisture.
Trying to find even a hint of a breeze, I flap the ends of my coat like wings to fan myself. It’s too crowded, too hot.
Sweat drips from my forehead into my eyes, blurring my vision. I drag my hand down my face and pause when I pull away with the cat’s nose I glued to mine in my palm. Panic overtakes my common sense, and I fumble to press it to my face, but it’s too late.
“What the fuck?” barks a man next to me.
I glance at him, and my heart moves to my throat, pounding away and blocking the air. His bushy eyebrows dart up and recognition flashes in his eyes. I know the guard. He’s held the throne room doors open for me many times.
“Run,” I choke out, reaching back and grasping whatever body part I can on Ulric and Ashavee.
“What?” Ashavee asks, leaning over my shoulder. She stiffens as the guard takes her in. “Shit.”
“Run!” I say again, finding my voice.
The guard grabs the arm of my coat, and I claw at the material until I’m free.
We weave through the throng of people, shoving them out of the way.
They’re so caught up in the festivities that none of them think to stop us.
From behind, the guard’s voice carries over all the others, calling for backup.
The tops of the trees that line the shore grow closer.
I pick up my pace. Once we’re out of the village, the tropical forest will give us room to move and dark places to hide.
We just need to stay together. I look behind me and find Ashavee on my heels.
Ulric keeps up, but he is panting like an old dog on a hot summer day.
And beyond him, two giant birds soar straight for us.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck,” I chant, pushing my body to move faster.
A massive crow swoops down. Ulric and I duck, but the quick motion has Ashavee stumbling to her hands and knees.
She curses, dividing her attention between the distance we still have to go and the birds.
The crowd closes in on her, and fear rips through me.
I turn to go back, but Ulric snatches my hand and tugs me along with him.
“She’s a smart one, Elle. Don’t worry about her.”
I struggle to rip my hand free. “Don’t worry? Ulric, if they—”
A spine shivering roar rips through the chaos around us.
A large black cat with even darker ebony spots jumps ahead of us.
It glances over its shoulder, and I stumble back.
The animal holds me with fierce golden eyes.
Eyes I’ve looked into before. I nod at Ashavee, and she bounds forward, parting those blocking our way.
We run after her, toward the haven made of trees that grows closer.
I stretch my hand out, reaching for the leaves.
Knowing once I touch them, we’ll be closer to safety.
Ashavee breaks through the tree line and then the tips of my fingers brush the closest waxy leaf.
At the same time, my world sets into slow motion.
Ulric pushes me into the brush as his pain-filled cry blasts in my ear.
I skid across the muddy ground and watch with wide eyes as Ashavee leaps over me, heading back the way we came.
I follow her movement to find the bird has sunk its talons into Ulric’s arm.
His toes sweep across the ground as he is lifted into the air.
A single thought repeats in my mind: No, no, not again.
I can’t lose another person I love this way.
The jaguar latches her sharp teeth to the bird’s leg, and it screams. Ulric falls to his knees and scrambles toward me.
I grab his wrist and together we rush deep into the thick forest. The leafy canopy protects us from anything in the sky, but it also lets in hardly any light from the moon.
We stumble over unearthed roots and vines roped across the ground.
With every fumble, the rustling of leaves behind us moves closer.
The multitude of steps is more than just one sleek cat who wants to defend us. No, the Allaji are on the hunt.
From high above, the path to the coastline was a straight line.
We have to forge our way through trees and brush—a natural labyrinth which forces us to take unwanted turns and spins us around.
I try to keep a close eye on the moon, using it as our guide, but it’s impossible.
We’re all turned around and losing our lead.
Somewhere in the midst of the confusion, I let go of Ulric.
Panic surges within me. My gaze darts through the trees, searching for the slightest glimpse of him.
I find nothing. Fighting the urge to call his name, I pivot back the way I came.
.. or at least I think I do. I’m lost, absolutely, totally lost.
I maneuver through the tree trunks, working to keep the moon at my back.
Every so often I whisper Ulric’s name, but I’m met with silence.
I’m contemplating heading for the shoreline again, hoping Ulric does the same, when a tug on the back of my skirt jerks me to a stop.
I spin to find a leopard with the fabric in its mouth.
With its golden eyes locked on me, the cat releases a menacing growl.
I stagger back, yanking on the delicate fabric of my skirt.
It rips a little, but the cat doesn’t let go.
“Ashavee! Ulric,” I scream, glancing behind me at the empty forest.
Other than the spotted cat before me, I’m alone. Panic knots in my gut, and I pull harder on my skirt. With its ass in the air and tail swaying side to side, the leopard focuses on me. It studies my every movement, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.
I slip my hand to my side and grip the swords pummel through my skirt. My next move needs to be just as swift and unpredictable, or I’m dead.
My opponent and I go still while staring each other in the eyes. The rattling of the leaves above is the only sound. No pounding feet. No flapping wings. No menacing growls. It’s just the leopard and me.
I bypass my sword and yank free the dagger at my thigh.
Plunging the blade forward, I miss the center of the leopard’s throat and slice the side of its neck.
It roars, releasing my skirt, and I run.
Charged by pure adrenaline, I bolt for the shoreline.
My skin prickles and the short pale hairs on my arms stand on end.
It’s like an electric pulse is buzzing through me, and beneath the sizzle is something warm and dark—a familiar sensation.
It draws me in like an old friend’s embrace. I haven’t felt like this since...
I push the thought away, chalking it up to my fear getting the better of me.
My brain is in survival mode, racing as frantically as my feet.
Trying to guard my mental state, it wants me to believe I stand a chance against the Allaji.
I’m conjuring up memories from when I could hold my own against creatures like the ones stalking me.
The Eporri has been a phantom piece of me for days.
Sometimes I think I feel the tingling sensation it sparked when a Khiros was nearby.
I reveled in those moments until I remembered it’s impossible. I’m powerless, so fucking powerless.
A raspy growl comes from behind me, followed by the slash of claws on my calf.
My feet move faster, hitting the ground hard.
Sticks stab through my slippers’ soft soles, every muscle burns, and each joint screams in pain.
I fight to fill my lungs, but my breathing is so fast that the air is in and out before it fuels me.
The edges of my vision blur, and I fight through the light-headedness.
I only have seconds left before I pass out and the Allaji shreds me to ribbons.
My motions are sloppy as I drop the dagger and draw my sword.
I spin around, slashing the blade in front of me.
The unsuspecting cat charges forward and ducks at the last second.
It swipes at my leg. A scream tears from my throat as the sharp claws tear across my calf.
Before I fall to my knees, I swing my blade.
It slices through the air, hitting the cat with a crack to the skull.
It skitters back, but I only gained seconds to my life.
Three more massive predators step out of the brush.
On trembling legs, I stand and lift my chin.
The hilt of the sword digs into my palm as I clutch it before me.
The blade shakes in my unsteady hold. With a deep breath of sea-salted air, I face my killers.
I call on the power I no longer have, not expecting it to fill me the way it once did.
No, what I need right now is the courage it gave me.
Warmth spreads throughout my body, and a sure caress sweeps over the nape of my neck.
I hold tight to the ghost of that power, a power which always felt like it belonged to me alone.
Cats, wolves, and bears, all have their eyes trained on me. I should run before they pounce, but I smile instead. My strength is not in a stone or a crown. If this is my final battle, I will not fall with my back to my enemy. I will look them in the eyes and fight to the death.