Chapter Twenty-Six
As we move quickly through the dark forest I start to wonder why I’m finding it more difficult to ride than usual, until I remember that I’m still clasping one of Nyx’s swords in my hand.
I’m hoping that I won’t need to use it now but I also know that if I do they will appear instead of trying to awkwardly reach behind me to put it in the spare sheathe on my back, which is almost guaranteed to end in me falling off of this horse, I decide to try and willingly turn them back into tattoos on my wrists.
So far they have had minds of their own and haven’t done what I’ve asked at all, appearing and disappearing at will. We’ve fought together now though, hell we cut a guy in half if they don’t work for me now then they aren’t ever going to work.
Finding my centre I pull my magic forward and into my hands asking my sword to return to me.
To my complete and utter surprise it actually does as I’ve asked it to for a change, the purple magic surrounding it and snaking up my arm.
Not only that but I also feel the weight of my other sword disappear from my back.
Thank you, I think to the swords. It may be a completely inane thing to do but they do seem to have a mind of their own so I’m going to thank them when they behave and tell them off when they don’t, we’ve already discovered that I’m nuts, as that girl said before I may as well just roll with it.
Speaking of.
“How’re you guys doing down there?” I call back to the supernaturals on the cart. Having to raise my voice to be heard over the thundering of horses hooves on the hard packed dirt.
“Bumpy!” One of them yells back and I smirk.
“We’re nearly there, five more minutes max!” Jax tells them.
I hope that this track leads out near the edge of town because otherwise we’re going to wake the entire place up and I’m not sure that, that would be a good idea.
We’ve had less trouble here than we’ve had in any other town in the Demon realm but I don’t want to risk it or risk pissing everyone off.
Of course that’s not including watching the murder of Monty, technically I think that was more to do with him than it was to do with us.
Up ahead Levi and the others start to disappear through a gap in the tall trees and I start to slow down a bit, trying to give the people on the cart a break, that cannot have been a nice experience.
When we emerge through the gap in the trees, my eyebrows rise in shock and my heart fills with gratitude.
We’ve come out near the pub that we stayed in, just from a different direction. Lined up outside the pub are long tables a couple of them filled with giant pots of what look like stew and soft looking rolls and the other ones have necessities on them like clothing, toiletries and medical supplies.
Toby and his brothers are moving through the crowd of horses and leading them into the stables, where its obvious that they’ve prepared to look after the horses as well. behind each of the tables are people that I haven’t met before but I’m assuming that they are villagers.
“Why don’t you go and join the others? Have something to eat, change, do whatever you need to. It’s going to take us a while to set up the portal to get everyone to the Blood Moon Academy as quickly as possible.” I say softly to everyone on the cart.
They nod and get up slowly, cautiously making their way over to the food and where the rest of the Centre’s and their Bonded are.
I should probably go and try to find my parents but I’m not really sure how I feel about them right now.
Obviously I’m glad they’re safe but when it really comes down to it they still didn’t give me important information that I needed and for whatever reason whether it was blackmail or not they were still inadvertently responsible for many Enforcers deaths thanks to lack of proper training.
I think I’m just going to keep my distance for the minute and focus on getting us all to the safety of the Blood Moon Academy then I can deal with that whole shit show.
I hop off my horse and Dave nudges my chest gently with his head, I run my hand down his soft nose, incredibly grateful that all of our horses are safe.
“I missed you buddy.” I say softly to him and he snorts in response.
Well ok then, I’m going to take that as an I missed you too and not that he’s laughing at me.
I give him one last stroke before I walk over to Levi, who’s talking to Toby and one of his brothers.
Dave follows me walking a couple of steps behind and I feel like some sort of twisted Disney princess or some shit.
I have to admit though, I don’t hate it!
Now that we’re out of immediate danger the pain from my peeled arm is starting to make itself known but once again I push it away.
My father start to approach me as I walk towards Toby and Levi but I shake my head.
“Not now. We have a lot that we need to talk about but I need to get everyone to safety first.” I say firmly, when he’s close enough.
His eyes fill with sadness and he looks like he’s going to argue for a moment before he sighs in defeat.
“Ok Sage, if that’s what you want.”
I nod and carry on walking towards Levi and Toby, I can’t deal with that right now.
“Hey, Toby. This is amazing thank you so much.” I say as soon as I’m within hearing distance of them.
“It’s no trouble at all, it’s the least we could do. I just can’t believe that they’ve been held there all this time.” He replies anger starting to swirl in his eyes.
“Sage!” Maverick calls coming up, interrupting me before I can reply.
“Excuse me.” I say to Toby and Levi squeezes my hand gently as I walk past.
I feel like I haven’t spent any proper time with them at all since this whole thing began and I guess that’s because we haven’t really.
Apart from stolen moments in between shit, we haven’t really been together.
I’m aware that probably doesn’t make sense.
As soon as all of the Centre’s and Bonded are at the academy I’m going to find any free room I can and lock us in it for at least a week.
Unfortunately we won’t be able to get to know each other better in the one way I really, really fucking want to thanks to our gifts not fucking behaving themselves but still.
“Harry is working on the portal now,” Levi says before I walk to Maverick, “He might need help but he’s going to let us know.”
“Got it.” I reply to Levi before turning back to face Mav, “Yes?”
“I need to heal your arm.” He says, his tone leaving no room for argument as he takes my hand and pulls me off to the side.
He gently takes off the gauze and I wince as it sticks to the wound below where the blood has started to dry.
“Fuck me that hurts.” I curse.
“I know, Titch. But it wont for much longer, I just need to see what I’m working with so that I can heal it.” He replies and I kiss his cheek, whilst he’s working making him grin and two pink spots appear on his cheeks.
He makes short work of removing the gauze and is so freaking gentle that it melts my heart.
Then just like when he’s healed me before he holds his hands over my arm that honestly looks so damn gross in the flickering light from the fire and the torches that it makes me feel freaking nauseous.
Magic surrounds Maverick’s hands as he heals me and within a couple of seconds its already feeling infinitely better.
Less than a minute after he’s started he pulls back and I look down to see fresh and completely healed skin not even a scar.
“You’re getting really good at that.” I compliment and he grins.
“Thanks. Come on lets go and see the others.” He replies.
We find them gathered off to the side stood separately from everyone else.
“Hey, what’s going on?” I ask.
“I’m not going to be strong enough to keep it open long enough to get everyone through. I’ve never made a portal this big.” Harry says, sounding stressed and clutching Cole’s hand.
“We should all be able to give you enough power to get everyone through. Like we did for Erin to help her put that shield up.” Levi says.
“In theory that should work but it means that we are all linked and can’t protect everyone if the Order manage to locate us.” Maverick says, bring up something that hadn’t even crossed my mind.
“I don’t think it would work with less of us either. In order to keep it open long enough to get everyone, our horses and us through its going to take a hell of a lot of power. I’m not certain that just us alone will be enough if I’m being completely honest.” Harry says, frowning.
“The Centre’s won’t be able to help either, they’ve all had their gifts blocked so they’ve got no power to give.” Dash says.
“Guys I think I might be able to help. Just me like with Erin.” I say following my instincts.
“Goddess?” Jax asks.
“I’m just following my instincts right now but I think so.” I reply.
“Ok, well it’s worth a shot. You’re instincts haven’t led us wrong yet.” Kysen says.
“We need to send word to the academy that we’re coming.” Kai reminds us.
“Shit I almost forgot. Does anyone have a pencil and some paper?” Dash asks.
“Sure, here.” Kysen replies handing Dash what he asked for, curiously.
Dash quickly scribbles something on the paper and then turns to me.
“Do you think you can get Knot to do her disappearing thing and take this note to the Director at the academy?”
“Yeah sure. Well I’ll ask.” I reply. “Knot!” I call out and she flies over from where she’s been letting the younger Centre’s pet her.
“We’re almost ready to take the Centre’s through the portal.
Would you be able to take this note to the Director at the Blood Moon academy as quickly as possible please? ”
She nods her agreement and holds up her leg in my direction, it takes me a second to realise that its because she wants me to attach the note to it.
“Here.” Erin says handing me a small piece of red ribbon.
“Thanks!” I reply taking it from her and rolling the small bit of paper up so I can attach it to her leg.