Chapter 17
Stolen
Pink and orange hues dotted the night sky, indicating that dawn was here. I had changed into my hunting gear, feeling the weight of the blades strapped to me in a comforting embrace. Some had to be secured to the stallion I was given as I did not realize I had packed too much.
I paid attention to the gold and yellow cloaks swarming the premises and moving about with purpose.
I could not trust any of his people, especially him.
His silver-white hair was dishevelled from the cool breeze that swept past every few moments, he moved along his white stallion to where I was brushing through my horse’s dark hair.
"Seems you did not have much to pack." He observed and looked down. "Except for those weapons. You will be getting new ones, leave some behind, it will be weighing you down too much."
"I'm fine." I clenched my jaw. Hating the fact that he could be right.
"Suit yourself. You will be riding in the middle. Not in front, because you will distract my trackers." He then gripped my chin to look at him. My heart froze. "And not in the back, in case you feel like running." His grip tightened to make his point.
"Your Highness," Fala's stern voice warned.
"Say your goodbyes. Be quick about it, I'm not usually this generous." The prince muttered and kicked off with his stallion into the forest.
"Fala..." I whispered, feeling so many emotions at once. "I can't leave. How could you let this happen, you knew who was going to spectate, and you kept it from me."
"You will be going." It was as if she had stabbed me. The shock must have been evident in my face because she instantly looked away from my eyes.
"My family is the arena," I stated while clenching my fists.
"You must go, Morana." Her words kept doing more damage.
"You know my past. More than anyone. Bad things have been happening... these things speak to me, the shadows—"
"Lower your voice! They might hear and then we will both be dead.
" The silver in her eyes flashed. "It is part of you.
You are part of the Neander and Corvus. Remember that.
" She was not making any sense. "Everything that has happened was needed, Morana.
I knew the prince coming would be a bad omen, but it was necessary.
It had to be done," she spoke with a type of harshness that was low enough for none to hear, gripping onto my cloak.
I had no response. Tears began to form until I felt a searing hot anger bubble in my chest. I tore my cloak out from her hold and pushed up to mount the grey stallion I had been given.
"I guess this is goodbye then," I spoke coldly. She didn't show any emotion as she said, "We’ll perform at the Golden Palace when the season changes; I will see you there."
I couldn't help but scoff. "You were always after fame; I shouldn't have expected more from you.
" I left before she could reply. Not that she would anyway.
She wouldn't have said anything meaningful that could settle the throbbing ache embedded in my chest. I pulled the hood of my cloak further down my face, catching a glimpse of the burning red locks shifting from underneath.
I could not risk my hair being seen for what it is, so I decided against carrying my diok that might unravel in travel and thanked the gods I listened to Kya about using wilderberries to dye my hair into a dark berry red last night.
It would last me a few weeks before I'd need to colour my hair again.
"Morana! Wait!" a desperate voice called into my mind.
"Kya? Oh my god, Kya!" With everything that had happened, I had nearly forgotten about them, guilt covered me like slick oil.
"Mor, you need to take Red with you." Her curly hair bounced as she took deep breaths.
"What? You know I can't. It's going to be too dangerous!" I exclaimed.
"Mor... He's going to be used in service." Kya broke down. My throat closed up.
"Ezra knows where my savings are, for the both of you. For your freedom." Kya just shook her head, hopelessly crying.
"Madam de Trix already received payment from a duchess who wants to purchase me," Red spoke up, walking around Kya. I bit the inside of my cheek.
"Please, Mor," Kya begged.
***
"I'm enjoying this, so very much. I don't think I have ever been this happy." I grit my teeth as Red's hands tighten around my waist.
"I will push you off this horse, Red, I swear to Nocturna, I will."
"Okay, okay. Just excited for the adventure." Red's arms loosened. We had made it to a clearing where a flurry of yellow capes and silver armour brushed past us.
"This is not an adventure, Red. This is dangerous and very soon, we will need to plan an escape," I roughly whispered.
"Sounds like an adventure to me; a royal prince, knights in shining armour, one cool warrior and an incredibly handsome sidekick," Red flourished his hands in wonder, as if to show me the vision.
I rolled my eyes, "First things first, the sidekick needs his own horse." I looked around the chaos of yellow cloaks until I spotted a grey mare unmounted and tethered to a tree.
"There." I nodded to Red, jumping off my stallion to untangle the knot.
"What's he doing here?" The tall guardsman looked down at us. Inanov.
"He is my carrier of weapons. I am to be the prince's bodyguard, am I not?"
"You can carry it on your own," he snapped.
"Well, it's too heavy and I need to be quick on my feet to protect His Majesty," I pointedly retorted.
"We have men that can hold it for you," he dryly said and grabbed Red by the collar.
"No!" I desperately commanded. "No offence, but I do not trust Apollon brutes to take care of my weaponry, especially the fire blades that are known to kill cliftolights," I explained.
Inanov was getting annoyed and when Red pulled out of his hold, the burned mark of his wrist caught Inanov's eyes.
The proof that he belonged to a brothel.
"Keep him quiet, well-behaved, and out of trouble," Inanov spat and turned to leave.
"And most importantly, keep that mark covered.
There are men here who will have their way with him, even if he is just a boy.
He is pretty enough." He warned with finality and I nodded, even though he wouldn't see it.
I did not trust the Apollons, yet I appreciated his warning and perseverance of Red.
He had no reason to feel sympathy for him and yet he did.
I didn't know if I should be feeling relief or worry if this might be a trap.
"Get on the horse and tie this tightly onto your wrist." I ripped the black scarf from my neck into thin pieces for him to tie and cover the mark.
"I will meet you in the clearing in a few moments," I whispered. Red, quiet, white faced and perhaps scared from the whole ordeal did as asked.
I sighed and lifted my arm to the tree above me. Instantly knowing who was here. Rhey slid onto my arm and then coiled around my neck.
"Run away with me."
"You know I can't," I answered, not turning my back to meet his face.
"Run away with me and let's start a life of our own. Now. While we still can." He reached for my hand. I couldn't see it, but I knew he did. I knew him too well.
"So we could be caught in mere minutes and hung? Then what, Ezra?” I scoffed. “I truly considered it, you know? Leaving with you after the last performance was my plan. So please do not think this is easy." I shook my head as Rhey rubbed his head against my cheek.
“You might not be worthy of happily ever after just yet.” The shadows inside me snickered. Some part of me was sickeningly happy that I wouldn’t get my happy ending and that I deserved this.
"You sound as if we couldn't defeat them all. As if we do not have powers. As if our friends, OUR FAMILY, wouldn't help us, as if we do not have a ragnor snake in our aid." He pulled me by the arm gently to turn me around. I closed my eyes, not wanting to meet his.
"He. Is. The. Prince of Apollo. We cannot, Ezra." My voice thickened.
"His fae blood is weak, he has the good looks and aura of importance, that is it!" Ezra argued. I shook myself away from his arms.
"So we kill him. His guards. We win the fight. And then you know what happens? We start civil WAR. We’d have the whole Apollon army, their fleet, their allies and their royals after our blood.
Do we stand a chance then? Fala won't even fight for me, she doesn't want me anymore," I harshly whispered, tears running down my face.
He cupped my cheek, forcing me too look into his eyes where tears pricked his own.
"I don't want to lose you. Promise me. Promise me you'll come back. Promise me you will stay alive." He leaned closer. My heart ached, knowing I could try my best but had no absolute guarantee.
"I promise." I finally looked into his eyes, shame washing over me from the lie that easily fell. Thinking that this might be the last time I see him. "Dezimus... Elijah," I whispered, completely shattered.
"Dezimus is comforting Elijah, they wanted to see you but the guards wouldn't let them, Rhey and I had to sneak in." Rhey tightened around me as I tried to put him on Ezra.
"I'm sorry, Rhey, you can't come with me. It's too dangerous." I choked, knowing I'd miss him so much. Ezra took him from my arms, and I was shocked when he reached for me instantly and pulled me close.
"I should have done this such a long time ago, Mor..." He caressed my cheek and brought my face closer. My breathing stopped, my emotions all a heaped mess as I let him pull me in. His lips brushed my own…
"Let go of what's officially mine." A vicious voice cut through us like an arrow. Ezra froze and stepped aside by a fraction. The prince prowled around us, his red eyes glowing.
"We are just saying goodbye." Ezra's eyes narrowed.
"Is that how arena partners say goodbye?
Well, let me show you how Apollon men stake their claim.
" The prince then reached for my hip, pulled me into his arms, gripped my chin and pushed his lips against mine.
Shock. Pure and utter shock is what coursed through my body as I pushed my palms into his chest. His big hands held them both as he deepened his kiss.
I bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, and the damned devil smiled, licking his lips. "Get on the horse. We're leaving." He commanded.
I looked to find both Ezra and Rhey gone.
I felt stolen...
"I hate you."
"Get used to it, sweetheart."