9. Astraea
Chapter nine
Astraea
Forced onto the horse, I choose to bite my tongue as I let my anger simmer beneath my skin with the new, yet ever-present, flame I feel flickering within the recesses of my soul.
I scowl into the night as we ride through the narrow cobblestone streets of Diemos.
Kyros barks an order at me to pull my hood down as we approach what appears to be a tavern on the left, and as much as I want to respond with a spiteful retort, I do as he says.
He’s right about needing to conceal ourselves.
I know my father has likely paid to have eyes in every kingdom already, and I have no idea what the others who showed up in the dunes wanted, but it is now evident it had something to do with me…
The fear that the nightmare could show up anytime, and the woman who clearly appears to be working with him, is still ever-present.
They had a portal so similar to Kyros’. I make a mental reminder to bring that up the next time we are able to talk about anything.
If we are able to talk about anything without a fight again.
Even if he is right about the situation we find ourselves in, he could be a little less brutish with his orders.
I may be naive, but I am no fool. Though I guess I did make plenty of mistakes the first time I was on the run…
At the very least, I know the importance of not being recognized if we ever want to find our way back to our friends and family.
I have yet to let myself think too much on that night.
Too afraid of what I might see, but I know running from the truth isn’t going to help me.
Clearly, just as it didn’t help me to run from what my father wanted my life to become.
Now everything is a mess, and I have dragged so many people down with me—Sienna, Cole, and Kellan are some of the closest, certainly.
But now there are also Kyros and the people he has introduced me to.
Everyone who accepted me, despite my family ties in the dunes.
Countless others who are nameless but mean just as much.
It’s too many. How does that make me any better than him?
The sun has yet to fully set, giving the streets a deep gray light, but it’s enough that we could still gain attention, and Kyros is already noticeable enough with his size alone.
Kyros clicks his tongue a few times, urging the horse to speed up, as a few men and women stumble out into the street through black, double-swinging doors.
Their boisterous laughter and the scent of ale permeate the early night air before we even get close enough to hear the words they are speaking.
Even when we do come close enough to make out their voices, I am only able to hear bits and pieces of a couple of the men’s hushed conversation as others ignore us completely and continue their raucous gallivanting.
“She is threatening war—”
“Eathian—”
“—could be dead.”
Even though I am only able to hear partial conversations, it’s clear that the news from the dunes has already spread.
Several heads turn in our direction as we pass, but they don’t address us.
Kyros also has his hood pulled low to cover his features.
He looks much like he did in the streets of Eathian when our paths first crossed.
I wonder if he knew who I was the whole time.
As we make it past the people in the street, I let out a heavy sigh.
I'm not sure if it's more sadness or relief, but my body sags with the expelling of my breath. It’s not until we finally breach the last of the clustered buildings that I feel Kyros relax a fraction behind me.
Though his hand is still splayed across my abdomen, as if he is what keeps me firmly seated.
I open my mouth to ask him if he heard what they were saying, but as soon as he realizes, he applies even more pressure against my stomach, quieting me as my body presses harder against his.
“Keep quiet until we get further out. There could still be huntsmen on their way in for the night.” He pulls me further back so he can lean over my shoulder and whisper in my ear.
I nod reluctantly, keeping my eyes trained ahead.
As we approach the tree line, the horse slows into a steady but slower gait.
Careful to avoid the more rocky and loose terrain, we cross a ditch and ease into the shadows of the forest.
As we finally enter the treeline, my eyes immediately trail upward.
Toward the tall, sharp tops of the wicked-looking pines.
This area of forest is what I noticed when we were coming into Diemos just yesterday.
The trees that lined the city like a wall of teeth.
Now, we walk right into the vicious dark maw.
A shiver dances along my arms, and Kyros shifts in the saddle behind me as he notices.
He pulls on my body just enough to let his warmth press into my back, mistaking the shiver for being cold.
I tense and hear his breath come out in a sigh before he eases his grip on me.
The movement makes me release my built-up rigidity a little, but I can't help but feel a longing for comfort I wish he could give me.
His hand relaxes when I do, but he keeps it on my hip. I hate this unease between us.
The horses’ footings are true as we delve deeper into the workings of pines.
The darkness has fully swallowed us now that we are completely surrounded by them.
As the sun takes its final resting place, the moon stays hidden behind clouds and the tall trees.
There is so little light; it's nearly impossible for me to see anything at all. I don’t know how we are going to make this journey when everything in front of us is so dark.
“I can’t see anything,” I whisper low. His fingers dig into my hip with a gentle squeeze.
“Your eyes will adjust.” Kyros responds resolutely, though I’m not so sure.
The childhood fear of the dark creeps in on me, and I know my eyes widen like saucers as I try and fail to see anything in front of us.
I reach forward and place a hand on the side of the horse's muscular neck. Its strong muscles bunch and stretch as it carries us through the dark. It makes me feel a little better knowing that the horse doesn’t seem too concerned, but the anxiety over the situation can only be eased so much.
Even with Kyros behind me in the saddle, I’ve never felt so alone.
Even the air I breathe is a stranger to me.
My life has been nothing but a cavity. Decay building to the point that I knew nothing more but the pain and havoc it wreaked, and now?
Now, the rot that was gathering around my soul has left nothing but ruin in its wake.
A cavernous void of nothing; nothing but lies, betrayals, and promises of punishment.
My eyes are heavy as I watch the shadowed trees pass.
“How long is the ride to where we’re going?
” I weakly demand it as the storm of emotions I had been feeling truly fades away.
I refuse to dwell on the confusion over the kiss Kyros and I shared.
Our anger with each other and everything we are going through is fuel to our ever-growing flame; the combustion was bound to happen one way or another.
Kyros clears his throat after a stretch of thought.
“Well, we will ride through the night. There is a small creek that runs between the edge of the woods here in Diemos and where the Creshian Forest begins. We should reach that by time the sun is rising. That is where we will rest.” Kyros says through a resigned sigh, and I bite my lip.
The thought of staying on the horse’s back all night again reminds me of the last time we did just that.
The last time I saw Kellan. The night I truly got away from Eathian.
“What are we even doing going to the Creshian Forest?” I ask, not even trying to remove the petulance from my tone. If he wants me to just follow along, he needs to offer me some answers. He's not explained anything about this plan he has.
“There is someone there that I trust who may be able to give us some answers. At least, I hope she can. The dwellers are known for their knowledge and magickal abilities. I think there is a good chance she may know something about your nightmares. I think you and I both have come to the conclusion that the nightmares are not something we can ignore.” Just hearing him speak of the nightmare, the creature that has haunted me and has become a very real entity, causes my spine to stiffen.
Kyros notices, and his fingers brush against the skin where my tunic has come untucked from my pants.
A swipe of his thumb, an offering of silent strength.
I swallow hard, trying to ignore my rampant heart that tries to climb up my throat, and nod my head, letting the silence once again fall between us.
Many minutes pass with just our breaths painting the air in front of us in puffs of white, and although my mind is warring on staying awake and alert, I feel my body losing the battle.
“Kyros?” My voice breaks as I say his name.
I don’t mean for it to come out so weakly.
I clear my throat, trying to muster up the courage to ask the question that is burning in my mind.
“Are you going to help me find Colette?” Tingling heat starts low in the center of my chest and slowly expands; it caresses my spine, and the length of my arms and even my thighs feel warmer as I wait for his answer.
My scalp prickles as his words hit the top of my head.