Chapter 12 #2
Raana stumbled back, away from Nerissa, the shadows keeping her from falling over. She attempted to angle her body to maintain a view of all that surrounded her, but who knew what hid amongst the trees? Where had these beasts even come from?
See the unseen, hear the unheard—that alleged dark fae skill would be helpful right now.
Raana breathed, “You’re the witch who tried to kill Isla… The one who took her mother and killed Kai’s family.”
Nerissa pursed her lips, and Raana chanced one more step, but heard a growl and stopped.
She didn’t know where to look and lifted her arms slightly at her sides as if to raise the shadows if need be.
She tried to recall Adrien’s lessons. She needed to be quick.
She needed not to be predictable. She needed a weapon.
But he hadn’t taught her how to kill bak—only wolves.
“And you’re the fae who saved her. May the realm rejoice,” Nerissa said, uninterested.
The scar across her face, bestowed by Isla, seemed more pronounced now.
“It was never my intention to kill her. It was merely an error in judgment. I thought she was stronger.” She inclined her head.
“What else have they told you about me? What have they left out? Did they mention the prison I escaped? Did they mention the king ripping us from the mountains?”
Raana blinked her eyes wide. “You were in the prison?” At Nerissa’s nod, and with eagerness coloring her tone, she asked, “How did you escape?” If she’d gotten out, maybe the others could, too.
Nerissa glanced up, looked over, and somehow, in this place that seemed devoid of wind, a breeze swept by, rustling her hair. “More stories for another time.”
“There will be no other time,” Raana pressed. “I’m leaving.”
“To go where?”
A taunt lingered in those words as if she knew they would hit Raana like a blow. Knew she had no one. But—
Again, her mind went to Adrien, to last night.
She realized she had no idea what time it was. Everything in here was gray, and barely any sunlight streamed through the trees. He had to be worried.
“He’s in here, you know.”
Raana snapped her head up, seeing Nerissa’s cruel smile. “I don’t know how he found you, but the Prince of Wolves is behind the Wall. Reckless. Foolish.”
Raana’s entire body seized up. He couldn’t be here. Not alone. Not with these beasts lurking around.
As if she could read her thoughts, Nerissa said, “All it will take is one command from me.”
“No.” The word ripped from Raana’s throat.
Nerissa had control of these beasts—they were her eyes and ears.
Her weapons. The darkness on Raana’s arms crept higher, more of it rising from the trees.
She felt sweat bead on her brow as she struggled to get a hold of it. “If you touch him, Spirits help you.”
She took one step towards Nerissa—then barely had time to react.
A blade cut straight through her.
No, not a blade.
Raana screamed as she collapsed to the mud, her hands cradling her torn and bleeding middle as one of the beasts who’d snuck up on her roared in triumph.
Blinding pain seared through her as it lunged again, and Raana called upon the darkness to sweep her up just as its claws went for her head. By the time she realized she’d moved, another beast was waiting. It swiped as shadow rushed for her, nearly too late.
Then, there was another.
Raana’s blood, soaking the earth, marked the path she traveled. Darkness to darkness. Over and over. Each distance shorter as she became weaker, evading death again and again while her fae magic struggled to heal her and move her simultaneously.
She wasn’t sure how many times she’d managed before she could hardly remain upright. Her knees crashed to the ground, and all she could do was brace herself as a bak charged, all snarls from its hungry, drooling maw, its claws raised high to strike—
It froze.
Raana’s breathing sawed and shuddered through her body as she curled into herself, shaking her head. She didn’t even feel like a person. So much of her magic, mortal and immortal, had drained away.
“What do you want?” Raana sobbed through clenched teeth. “What do you want?”
The beast backed away, barely, but enough that Raana managed to breathe one lungful of air. She could feel her wound knitting beneath her fingertips through her tattered shirt.
“Stay.”
Raana struggled to lift her head, only glancing at Nerissa once before resting it again. “Why?” Such a weak, pathetic word.
She flinched as delicate fingers combed over her curls.
“Because it would be an affront to allow you to waste your potential. I may not be fae. I may not possess as strong a gift of divination, but I can teach you so much.” Again, with that soft, motherly tone.
A manipulation, Raana knew. “I will keep you safe, and when it’s time, we’ll both have the retribution we’ve earned. ”
Though Raana despised it, Nerissa’s words struck deep and true. In some twisted way, she felt comfort. She felt understood.
“Then let me get him out.” With the small plea, Raana fought upright, her arm still cradling her stomach. “Let me get him out of here safely, and I’ll stay.”
Nerissa’s eyes glinted, seemingly pleased. “Only him.”
What? Why did that matter? Had Adrien brought others with him?
At Raana’s questioning stare, Nerissa hardened her gaze, signaling she meant what she said, and Raana would come to understand.
With her lip quivering, Raana said, “I—I don’t care. Just let me get him out.”
Nerissa stepped back, gesturing sideways in invitation, allowing her to go.
But Raana did not rise; she let down her defenses and closed her eyes, hoping this hadn’t been a trick as she left herself vulnerable to an attack.
She drove down, deep, deep, deep into whatever dregs of power she had left.
She focused. For several heartbeats, she sorted through death and destruction, rot and rubble for that summer storm, for that flame.
And then let the darkness carry her away.