Chapter 24
Istep back a few paces. “What did you just say?”
Larkin lowers his head. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“Repeat your fucking words.”
“I sold it to him, Briar. Your brother asked for it, and being his friend, I gave it to him.”
My mouth falls open, and tears begin to well in my eyes. I shake my head and continue to step backward, desperate to move away from him. Why the fuck did I agree to come out here with him.
I trusted him. Silas trusted him.
No. No. This can’t be happening.
“Briar,” Larkin starts, reaching for me.
I widen my stance outside of his grasp, and narrow my eyes.
“I would have never given it to him had I known what would happen. Please, believe me. I cared for your brother.”
“Liar.”
“We were friends.”
“Get the fuck away from me,” I rage.
“Briar, please just listen to me,” he says, as he reaches for me again.
“You fucking killed him. You killed my brother.”
“I didn’t know that would happen. I...I was trying to help him.” The color drains from his face. “He told me he needed to be prepared to return to Daramveer.”
“For what?” I shout.
“He was going to kill your father, and now, knowing what I know, it was to protect you. I swear.”
“Shut the fuck up!”
“Please don’t yell. We aren’t safe out here,” he begs, in a failed attempt to calm me.
I continue to backpedal. “You are the only reason I’m not safe out here.”
Shadows start to swirl around me, like a thick fog spreading across the forest floor, and an uncontrollable sensation starts to rise in my throat. My tattoo throbs with pain, and I grit my teeth, trying to ignore it.
I slam my eyes closed.
Breathe.
One.
Two.
Three.
Fuck. It’s not working.
Larkin whispers, “Just let me talk.”
A deep, thunderous scream breaks me from my daze.
The forest seems to pulse like a slow heartbeat, and unease rises around us.
Larkin rushes forward and grabs my arm, pulling me back into the small pocket of trees.
He claps a hand over my mouth and crouches behind a large tree trunk.
His large body presses against my back, and I can feel his rapidly beating heart.
I attempt to slap his hand away, but he holds me tight.
“Get off me,” I mumble under his hold.
His gaze snaps in all directions, and tears flow from my eyes and onto the back of his hand. I relax my jaw to bite down on his hand, but he pulls it tighter, stopping me.
“Be quiet,” he whispers.
The clearing before us seems to pause, and a single crow squawks as it flies from a nearby treetop. The sun overhead dims, allowing more shadows to pour from the tightly packed trees across the clearing, and a horrifying darkness settles into my chest.
My eyes widen when I see it, and I fight the urge to whimper against Larkin's grip.
A creature that would stand three heads taller than Larkin if it weren't for its hunched back crawls into the clearing.
Tattered white fabric clings to its lanky body, and its skin appears cracked, as if over time, the creature has slowly started to shatter from despair.
Black, hollow eyes slowly scan the clearing for any signs of life, and it sniffs the air.
Its movements are fidgety and unnatural—like the muscles in its body are also screaming—as it stalks forward.
I dip my head against Larkin, no longer caring about the news and instead fearing for our lives.
The creature gradually turns toward us and points a long, clawed finger.
A tear rolls down my cheek, and I feel Larkin behind me holding his breath.
He slowly removes his hand from my mouth and places both hands on my shoulder, demanding my attention, as he spins me to face him.
“When I say run,” Larkin pauses, glancing at the creature, “run as fast as you can to the right. When we make it past that sixth tree, I’ll shift us to the mouth of the mountain. There’s a spot we can hide there.”
I stare into his dark eyes, allowing the tears to fall from a mix of fear and betrayal.
“I know you don’t trust me right now, Briar, but please listen.” He leans closer. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, but we cannot fight this thing.”
“Maybe we can,” I say.
“We can’t.”
I turn my gaze toward the creature and flinch when I see it has moved closer, much closer.
Its towering body looms over us like the tallest tree, blending into the gray sky, and trees that remain breathless in the dead breeze.
Its body slumps forward, curling its bony back, and its head rolls around its long neck, scanning for us.
I slowly nod in understanding to Larkin. My mind snaps back to the trial: the darkness of the forest, the creatures, and my fear that I would never make it back to the castle alive that night.
The creature starts to lean forward through the dense trees we hide behind.
Its long fingers grip completely around the large trees as its head peers between the branches toward us.
Its stench fills my nostrils, and I fight not to gag.
The smell of rotten flesh overwhelms my senses, making my eyes water.
My vision blurs with tears, and I wipe away what I can, preparing to make a run for my life.
I watch Larkin steady his breath and nod, signaling that it’s almost time. He observes the creature moving deeper into the tightly packed trees, and that’s when I realize he’s hoping the creature gets stuck once we bolt.
“Be swift,” Larkin mouths, and squeezes my hand.
I reply silently, “You too.”
“Ready?”
I nod.
Larkin springs from behind the tree and blasts a surge of light toward the creature of darkness. A deadly scream fills the air as the attack momentarily blinds the creature, sending it stepping backward slightly. Its shriek rattles around us, and I clasp my hands over my ears.
“Run!” Larkin shouts.
I dash through the trees, heading precisely in the direction he indicated.
Larkin quickly catches up, and we rush forward together.
Larkin is quicker, but he doesn’t rush ahead, only sprinting a few steps in front as we race toward the far clearing of the forest. The trees behind us begin to snap, and I know the beast is breaking them with its sheer power and determination to catch us.
Terror fills me, propelling me faster around every tree in my path.
“Keep going,” Larkin yells.
My hair whips behind me as my lungs begin to burn from the surge of power coursing through my muscles.
With each pounding step, the cracking of the trees grows louder.
A growl fills my ears, momentarily overwhelming my senses and prompting me to look behind me.
The large creature propels itself forward with its long, thin arms—breaking through the trees as if they weigh nothing.
My eyes meet the creature’s devious, glowing eyes, and a rattling shock moves through me.
It can’t be.
I know those eyes.
A distressed scream escapes my lips as the creature closes in, and I reach behind me, still in motion, desperately trying to grab one of my axes. The stuttering of my steps makes me clumsy, preventing me from fully grasping the axe for my defense.
Larkin dashes ahead into the clearing, and that’s when I notice it.
Death’s Opening.
The vast space before us is both beautiful and horrifying. A broad opening rests at the base of two twin peaks, and thankfully, it is only a few hundred yards away.
Not much longer.
Larkin spins ahead of me, opening his arms for me to crash against him, and I keep pushing, faster than before.
His eyes widen, and once again, horror fills me.
A low growl reverberates in my mind, and I know the creature is right behind me from the rancid, hot breath that moves my hair.
I lunge forward out of the trees and into the clearing.
Larkin stands, opening his arms wider, and steps forward, ready to shift as soon as our hands touch.
I leap forward, and time appears to slow down. Larkin reaches out his hand, and that’s when I feel it. A sharp pain strikes my shoulder, and I hear my flesh rip open like rushing water.
The scream that leaves my throat could crack the mountains around us. Adrenaline keeps me going, but I feel a hot liquid quickly soak into my clothes. Larkin’s eyes go wild, and the smell of iron fills the air, drowning out the stench from the creature behind me.
“Don’t fucking stop!” Larkin screams.
My hand finds his, and we shift into a brilliant light of mist.
We land in a dark, musty opening just a few yards inside the mountain's mouth. Before I have time to react, Larkin is on his feet, pulling me into his arms. He moves in quick bursts deeper into the mountain, carrying us as far away from the opening as he can. The darkness envelops me, and I feel myself slipping away, each movement tearing my shoulder more. My eyes can’t focus, but I can see shapes of jagged rocks warped by time deep within the mountain.
I’m not sure how, but a light aura cloaks me, and I feel warmth even against the cold stones.
“Fuck, Briar,” Larkin mumbles. “Hang on.”
Pain surges through my entire body, and even though he holds me tight, my body trembles.
Screaming isn’t an option anymore. I’m too tired, but I can’t help whimpering against the pain.
I glance down to ensure my arm is still there, and luckily it is—although I can’t feel it.
The weight of my axes on my back sends an additional shock through my system, and my head slumps forward.
“My arm,” I call to Larkin, my voice barely a whisper.
“I know.” He offers a reassuring smile that I don’t believe. “We’re almost there.”
The passing seconds feel like hours as the agony sets into my bones. I can’t help but thrash against the pain and grind my teeth, not caring if they shatter any moment. The darkness of the mountain starts to take over, and I close my eyes.
“Don’t close your eyes, Briar,” Larkin orders. “Keep them open.”