Chapter Ten
My breathing hitched, my footing faltering as I leaned more weight on Alaric, who swore under his breath when his gaze fixed on mine through the mirror.
“Keep walking, one foot in front of the other.” He ordered, pulling on my arm tightly.
“It . . . found me.” I fought the sob that was building in the back of my throat, as my gaze stayed fixated on the Stonebound as it weaved easily between tables and patrons, its eyes fixed on me in curiosity.
“It doesn’t know you’re a Bloodwright,” Alaric whispered. “It can only sense vibrations and auras. Right now your ring is masking yours.”
“What about you?”
“I’m fully awakened and trained. It won’t see me unless I allow it,” Alaric replied tersely, pushing the door open, leading me down the street.
I thought maybe the Stonebound would lose interest once we crossed the threshold, somehow thinking that this particular Stonebound would be limited to the restaurant.
Yet, as Alaric pulled me deeper into the late-night crowds, I had the sneaking suspicion that the Stonebound weren’t as bound as I had originally assumed.
“Aren’t they bound to specific places? Or areas?” I asked, my throat feeling tight, my limbs going numb.
“Not necessarily,” he replied, leading me down the steps of the next subway entrance, the smell of trash and urine strong. “Stone, concrete, bones can connect them to a specific place. But considering New York is practically made of concrete . . .”
“They can follow us anywhere.” I started to check over my shoulder when Alaric yanked on my arm painfully, pulling me deeper into the subway, towards the turnstile.
He hopped the barrier, turning to lift me as if I weighed nothing over it as well, ignoring the glares and irritated exclamations of other subway riders.
His voice was hot in my ear as he continued to zig-zag and weave us through the thinning subway crowd. “Do not turn around. Do not acknowledge it. Right now, it’s curious. The moment you make it clear you can see it, we’re fucked.”
I nodded, my own grip on Alaric’s hand tightening ever sharper.
As we came to the edge of the subway platform, we had to stop, waiting for the next train.
The neon flashing light indicating the next train was less than a minute out.
The ring throbbed an incessant tune, similar to what it had done when I had walked into that old church.
But instead of turning hot, it was turning icy cold.
My finger, then my hand, and eventually my entire arm went numb from the cold; my shivers shaking me so violently, Alaric had to slip his jacket off and wrap it around me, pulling me tighter against him.
“I’m so cold.” I could even see my breath.
“I know.” His voice whispered in my ear as he pushed me onto the train as soon as it stopped, its doors sliding open.
Alaric wove through the crowd, his tall, muscular build pushing people out of the way like a linebacker.
A few turned, irritation clear in their eyes, but as soon as they made eye contact with Alaric, they scurried away, eyes downcast.
As we made our way onto the train, he pushed me to the other side of the train, attempting to put as much distance between us and the Stonebound as possible.
He caged me in between his arms, but I could still catch a glimpse of the creature as it stood on the edge of the platform, its head cocking to the side in curiosity, its slits for its nose seeming to suck in air, as if it were tasting it.
I tried to look away, but felt spellbound by it: the way its chest heaved with each breath, the dark void where its eyes should be, and how its skin crackled like broken stone.
The instinct to yell at the other passengers to run and hide grew stronger and stronger, until the train finally took off, thrusting us into the underground darkness, away from the Stonebound as it stood on the platform.
But another thought broke through the panic and chaos running through my mind. Why wasn’t the Stonebound attacking? Yes, there were people around, but I had to believe that if magic existed, they could simply take me away. But this one seemed more curious than vengeful.
I finally released my breath, resting my forehead against Alaric’s chest, finding my strength was already waning. Tears stung my eyes as he gently stroked my hair, his other arm coming around my waist in a protective embrace.
“You’re okay, Mari. You’re okay.” He hummed gently, rubbing my back in gentle circles.
I choked back a sob, sniffling against his nice shirt, my mascara already making dark black stains. To his credit, Alaric didn’t make note of it but rather continued to hold me close while pulling his phone out of his pocket, quickly texting someone.
“We’re going to ride this for two more stops, and then my driver is going to pick us up and take you home,” he assured me.
“We lost it?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
“I think so.” He didn’t sound completely convinced. “I don’t see a reason for it to continue to follow us. You didn’t acknowledge it.”
I nodded, trying to find solace in the warmth of Alaric’s embrace and the dark and familiar scent that was Alaric—like old books and cedarwood.
We came to our stop, my breathing and pulse finally falling to a normal rhythm.
Alaric took my hand and began to lead me out of the subway car once it stopped, the doors sliding open.
We turned right, heading towards the stairs that would open up to 32nd and 7th streets when Alaric stopped suddenly.
I looked up, mortified to find the Stonebound standing at the top of the steps, its head bent in that same curious tilt, its breathing becoming more and more labored with each moment.
“Shit,” Alaric swore, swinging us around to take the other set of steps that would lead us to the other side of the subway towards 33rd street.
I still hadn’t regained feeling in my right arm; the ring’s intense humming only the only indication that my arm was still in fact attached to my body. The cold began to seep further into me, up my shoulder, making its way to my neck and across my chest.
“Alaric.” My voice was tense, a warning that something was not right.
“I know,” he replied. “Just stay with me. I’m going to get you out of here.”
“I thought.” My breathing became labored. “I thought the ring was supposed to . . .”
“Me too,” he answered, almost carrying me up the stairs as we met the frigid open air. Alaric pulled his phone out again, this time making a call.
“I need to take her to you.” His voice was dark and threatening. “It’s following her.”
There was a muffled argument on the other end.
“Fuck that,” Alaric argued, his voice venom. “We’re coming. Get Nico ready. She’s going to need a healer.”
I wanted to argue, to ask questions, but the deep cold was settling deep into my bones, the rattling of my teeth making it clear that if I didn’t get help soon, it might be too late. I could feel my heart beating in my ears, the consistent rhythm slowing as my heart struggled to keep blood pumping.
Alaric turned us down street after street, half dragging, half carrying me.
My vision blurred, but in the reflections of cars, taxis, and glass buildings, I could make out the Stonebound following relentlessly.
It was slow, in no hurry, staying at its steady pace.
It was as if it knew it could catch up easily enough, but was content to watch us, to see where we were heading first before going in for the kill.
Eventually, Alaric pulled me down a dark alley, the kind you see in movies and TV shows while screaming at the top of your lungs for the character to not go down, but to run away instead.
But I had no real breath in my lungs to scream or strength in my legs to run away. I was slipping away. I could feel it.
“Come on, Mari.” Alaric was begging me to move. “Stay with me.”
The icy cold had spread from my chest to my right thigh and leg, making walking, let alone running, out of the question.
I hobbled as best I could before Alaric scooped me into his arms and began to sprint down the alley.
I looked over his shoulder, relieved to find no one behind us.
But within the next blink, the Stonebound appeared, flexing its long talon-like fingers as it took its slow and purposeful steps.
Again, it moved slowly, deliberately, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it was waiting for.
It was the last thought I had before I blacked out completely.
There was a faint humming sound as I came to.
A warm pile of blankets covered me so heavily, I felt like I couldn’t move.
I fluttered my eyes, realizing I was lying on a small cot in a small stone chamber that smelled faintly of copper and herbs.
I stretched out, relieved to find the feeling back in my right arm and my ring sitting quietly on my finger, not icy or burning with heat.
I sat up, pushing the blankets off me as I took in the small space. There were five other empty cots along with a divider between the cots and what looked like a work area for a doctor. This must be a medical bay or infirmary of some kind. I blinked, searching the dim chamber for Alaric.
“Hello?” I mumbled, my throat unbearably dry. I needed water badly.
“Ah,” an aged voice exclaimed from the other side of the divider. “You’re awake.”
I looked up to find a silver-haired woman with dark eyes and full red lips.
She walked over to me, her floor-length red dress covered by a white doctor’s coat, gliding along the floor as her heels clicked against the stone.
She smiled as she drew closer, her dark olive skin illuminated by the candlelight.
“How are you feeling now, Mari?” She asked, pulling my right arm into her hands as she gently prodded and poked. “Got feeling back, right?”
I nodded dumbly, unsure of what else to say.