Chapter Ten #5
“You can’t make someone love you. You can’t make them stay.” I looked upon Alisdair as his grin faded. “In the end, instinct always leads you to the place you’re meant to be... and the person you’re meant to be with.”
Giving him my back, I walked off alone into the dark.
After a beat they all caught up to me, and then pulled ahead, leaving Alisdair and me trailing behind.
I felt him watching me out of the corner of my eye.
“Something has happened,” he said. It was a statement, not a question.
“No.”
“Yes. You’re making that face again. You’re seconds away from bawling to put Treasa’s younglings to shame, so out with it. What’s wrong with you?”
I faced away, expression blank. “There’s nothing wrong with me, Alisdair. I don’t know what’s led you to believe otherwise, but everything’s the same as it was yesterday. And the day before that. And the day before that one. I suspect it will be the same tomorrow and the next too.”
We left Bevin behind, setting off down the frosted path.
“You should be happy, husband.” I pulled my hood up against the falling snow, further concealing my face. “Your little bird has finally accepted her fate.”
He grasped my shoulder. “Ana— Foalan, on your left!”
Figures exploded out of the trees, trapping my scream in my throat, then ripping it back out.
Horrible, mangled accidents of Meya poured out of the shadows, pouncing on Foalan, Eadaoin, and the guards. Yellowed fangs, foot-long claws, tangled patches of fur stretched over leathery, black skin.
Taken.
“Ana, get down!”
Movement flickered out of the corner of my eye. Even as I spun and was blasted in the face with foul, rank breath, I knew it was too late. Claws fell from above, eager for the spray of blood my severed head would bring.
“Ugh!” A force slammed me from behind, burying me under body and snow. Alisdair’s roar shredded my eardrum, letting me know he took the hit that was meant for me.
“Stay here,” Alisdair bit out.
“What? What are you—? Alisdair!”
He climbed off me, heading straight for the mass of claws and fangs that claimed our friends. Leaving me behind.
“Alisdair?” I flipped on my back, terror flooded my senses and whiting out my mind as more, more, and more Taken burst out of the trees—descending on me. “Alisdair!”
“Argh!” They pounced on me, drooling jaws glistening, and smacked hard—cracking their noses and spurting oozing, black blood on the barrier.
Heart yammering, I reached out, my fingers tracing the cool glass. He protected me. Alisdair saved me.
The creature leaned over me, looking straight into my eyes as its lips peeled back. The first time I saw the Taken, I saw madness in their orbs. This time... I saw intelligence.
Fear flooded me deeper and more chilling than the cold. I wasn’t safe. We weren’t safe. No one in Elva or beyond was safe as long as these beings roamed the world. Trapping my gaze, the monster looked directly at me as it raised its fists, and smashed it on the glass.
The first strike sounded the call. The Taken went wild—pounding, kicking, scratching, punching, and attacking the thin barrier protecting my life.
“Alisdair!” I strained to find him through the chaos. It was so dark— Why was it so fucking dark in this cursed hell forsaken by the sun! I couldn’t see where Alisdair was, or if he’d gotten to Foalan, Eadaoin, or the others in time.
Bang! Bang! Craackkk!
I snapped up, alighting on the long crack spiderwebbing over my head.
Their leader shoved one away from the pack. I thought it was to stop anyone else from getting to me first, until the creature came back with a branch.
Yes, very intelligent.
The branch fell in an arc, pounding the crack wider, wider, wider.
“Alisdair!” One final scream, and the glass shattered.
“Ana!” His voice found me as claws encircled my throat, hauling me off my feet. “Shut your eyes!”
I snapped my lids shut, screams leaking through my teeth.
“Anchana!”
The sun exploded.
Light burst before my lids, assaulting the thin, sensitive barrier and flooding my irises. Bright spots stunned me, throwing my head back—and finding myself falling.
I crashed to the snow, the claws around my neck gone. I peeled my lids open and white-hot light blazed my eyes to dust.
No. That was the sight of the horrid, unnatural creatures before me—exposed and laid bare.
I took one look at them and screamed. Almost as loud as they did.
Dropping on all fours, the Taken fled before the light, the fight, and all—racing into the thick and twisting trees.
My chest heaved, rocked by ragged, rapid breaths that wouldn’t come in fast enough, and left too quickly. I dropped to my knees, my hand falling beside a pretty, purple flower—sprouting rapidly, as if wanting to gift me beauty after witnessing hideousness.
“I—I—” I willed moisture into my dry mouth. “Is everyone okay?” I croaked.
“We’re alive.” I turned to see Foalan staggering to his feet—a sword clutched in one hand, and his bleeding arm clutched by the other. “That’ll do for now.”
“What was that!” Eadaoin had to be helped up. A long, vicious gash split her cheek. “The Taken have never attacked in such large numbers before. We’ve only ever dealt with stragglers and opportunists. That was an ambush!”
“Not... only.” I made to stand and promptly tipped over.
Alisdair was there in a blink. Catching me under the arms, he held me up and steady.
“They ambushed our carriage when I first arrived in Lumenfell. I’m starting to think they’ve taken a particular dislike to me. ” I forced a laugh, no one joined in.
Foalan shared a grim look with Alisdair. “They didn’t chase after you, my lord. They stayed behind, tearing and fighting to get Lady Ana.”
Alisdair nodded—curt. “I assumed they would follow me. I was attempting to draw them off, but as you said, they were fixed on another prize.”
“Me?” My voice was barely higher than a squeak. “Why would they want me?”
“I couldn’t begin to guess. They do have some sense of intelligence,” Alisdair admitted.
“They always go for the strongest in a group, killing them first and then taking out the rest. But this time, they separated you from help, and focused their bloodthirst. Why not give their attention to the strongest?” He eyed me.
“Unless they believe the strongest in our party is you.”
I looked around as though he was talking about someone else. “Me? Obviously not. They must’ve thought I was an easy meal, and then rage took them when that meal was put under glass.”
“Hmm.” Alisdair did not look convinced. “Further your mystery deepens, little bird.”
“There is no mystery. Nothing is— Look out!”
The lone Taken surged out of the dark, proving he hadn’t forgotten his ways after all. He lunged straight at Alisdair’s back.
I didn’t think, I moved. Snatching up the fallen branch, I shot around Alisdair and struck—plunging the jagged wood into his chest. The creature clutched his downfall, and laughed.
Fear flooded me, weakening my knees. It wasn’t their presence that struck fear into the souls of faemen, it was that awful, high-pitched laugh.
“Agh!” Alisdair clamped his face, claws piercing his skull. Fire poured out his palm and into the Taken’s open mouth—burning it from the inside out.
Its charred, mangled corpse fell to the ground—the smile etched on his face.
“Ana.” Alisdair spun me around and kissed me so hard, my toes curled. I broke away flushed and panting. “Your boundless mystery is only outpaced by your bravery.”
“I—uh—”
Alisdair walked off, my time of praise over. “The flowers,” he barked. “Destroy them. Every one.”
I kept a look out as little fires erupted all over the path, turning his one weakness into ash.
“Let’s go,” Alisdair said when they were done. “We’ve been here too long. And from now on, Lady Ana travels with a full guard.”
“I’ll protect her.” Eadaoin moved to my side and took my hand, staining it with blood. “I’ll never leave her side again.”
“Thank you,” I said simply, seeing no need for argument.
I glanced down as we walked off, my fingers curling around the delicate, purple flower.
Go ahead and fall for the woman who jammed her soul down my throat, you obstinate bastard. Nothing will stop me from getting home to my mother and sisters.
I tried every method there was, now it was time for the one that works. As Alisdair said, a general doesn’t go to war without a plan B.