Chapter 48
Silan tried to walk over to me but stopped when he saw me shake my head. He opened his mouth but didn't say a word, and he closed his mouth while he pressed his lips into a thin line.
I crawled over to my basket and started to pick everything up, my whole body tense, and I couldn't help but shake. Blood dripped from the cut on my face, but I ignored it and continued to pack up my items as fast as I could.
Silan stayed put and watched over me, and I could tell that he wasn't pleased with me keeping him away but understood.
It was not safe. We could still be watched.
Once everything was packed, and what remained of the broken bread was picked up, I stood and flicked my fingers a little to tell him to meet me at the Pub so that we could talk about what happened, and he slowly nodded but stayed put, waiting until I made it somewhere before he would leave and do what I asked.
I pressed my lips into a thin line and wiped my hands on my skirt before I picked up my basket before I sighed and shook my head, trying to release the anger that I felt but couldn't for some reason.
"Shilan?" I asked, wondering if I could get my dragon to answer me, but unfortunately, I did not.
I pursed my lips in annoyance before I looked around to make sure that I was alone, ignoring Silan because I knew that he wouldn't do anything.
"Where are you? What happened? Why can't I contact you? "
Nothing...
Only silence...
I pursed my lips further in annoyance before I twisted on my heel and darted into the alleyway with Silan watching me but not following.
My whole body was tense, and I couldn't help but start to shake from the anger that I felt.
Stop, I mentally hissed before I took a deep breath and released it, trying to calm myself down to no avail. You can't go through the alleyways this angry, and you know it, Marini. You don't want to create unrest with beings that reside here.
Sure enough, the path around me grew darker with each passing second, feeling the anger and waiting for me to do something, even though I had no idea what.
Nothing moved except for the darkness that waited for my command, but I could still feel the eyes of the outcasts while they waited for me to do something. They knew that I was mad and bleeding, but they didn't act because I didn't give them a signal to act or to attack.
I took a deep breath before I released it, trying to control my nerves. Oh, Gods, I thought while I pressed my lips into a thin line and gritted together. Please help me calm down before I do something stupid.
The feeling didn't leave as fast as I hoped, and it annoyed me no end because they slowly started to stir further.
I took another deep breath and released it, making it to the spot that I wanted to go, the sound of running water soothing me just a bit but not enough to calm the raging anger that I felt.
I set my basket down on the fountain before I sat down, muttering every curse word that I knew, grateful that the people living here wouldn't tell my mother because I knew that she would have my head if she found out.
How dare the king smack me around like I was some sort of fool, not caring that I was still a maiden, even though I was someone they were looking for. How dare he do that, acting like he was some god and could treat me like a piece of dirt.
But what if it was because he wasn't in control of himself..?
What if the Elf is controlling him?
I paused when that thought crossed my mind and slowly blinked, stunned.
Could that be the case? Could he be controlled by the Elf that was closest to him?
I blinked and then blinked again before I shook my head, deciding that I would talk to Arden about it, especially about the bond between me and my dragon disappearing.
I took another deep breath and slowly released it, finally able to calm myself to a level in which the air around me turned lighter.
Oh, thank the Gods, I said while I relaxed a little. Thank the Gods.
I stuck my hands into the fountain and started to clean myself from being beaten by the king, hoping that Shilan would be able to contact me soon, or I would be able to contact him.
What happened? I silently wondered while I pursed my lips into annoyance. Why am I not able to contact him?
I bit back a sigh and shook my head before I started to wash my face with the water, silently cursing my luck. My wounds started to heal, and I paused and looked at myself in the water, my eyes growing wide.
How is this happening? I asked while I watched it heal until there was no mark left, not even a trace of blood was seen.
Why did this happen?
How? How did it happen?
I pressed my lips into a thin line before I took a deep breath and shook my head, releasing it slowly. At least I don't have a mark, I thought while I pursed my lips, slightly worried about whoever saw me with and then without it.
There are going to be questions, and I wonder how I am going to be able to deflect it without getting caught about lying.
Again, I sighed and shook my head before I cleaned my clothes so that there wasn't a lot of blood, even though there was still a spot that could be seen.
Something flickered from the corner of my eye, and I looked that way to see that it was a wraith.
The wraith bowed and cocked their head while they looked at me. They didn't say a word nor try to connect me to them.
The wraith was concerned, and I had a feeling that they felt the darkness that surrounded me before I was able to calm myself and hide it.
"I'm fine," I said and shook my head before I cleared my throat. "There's nothing to be concerned about. The darkness is gone."
The wraith didn't believe me and narrowed their eyes, or what was their eyes. They cocked their head closer to their chest while they stared at me, waiting for me to tell them what happened, but I didn't.
"Did you see what happened?" I asked, changing the subject, and the wraith nodded. "Do you know why it turned darker when I entered the alleyway? Was it because I was angry, or was there something else?" I asked, and the wraith didn't move nor reply to questions.
I bit back an annoyed sigh before I shook my head, knowing full well that they weren't going to answer them. "Has the Witch Master been in the alleyways?" I asked, talking about either of them while I changed the subject again.
The wraith paused before they shook their head no.
"Hmph." I pursed my lips and slowly nodded. "Keep an eye on them. I am fine for right now. I'm not injured as bad as I have been in the past."
The wraith nodded before they gestured to my skirt.
I looked down and pursed my lips further when I saw that there was a huge rip from my fall on the crosswalk. "It's fine," I said while I rubbed the skirt and looked at them. "I'll be able to fix it when I am home and will divert any questions about it until later."
The wraith nodded and stayed close, and I had a feeling that they were going to stay there until I left to make sure that I stayed safe.
"Is there anything else that I need to worry about?" I asked, and the wraith shook their head, indicating that there wasn't. I sighed before I slowly nodded. "Ok."
I stood and grabbed my basket before I cleared my throat. "Keep up the good work."
The wraith nodded and stood taller, and I had a feeling that they were proud of my praise.
"Keep me updated."
The wraith bowed again, silently confirming that they would keep me updated.
"Good. Thank you."
And with that, I grabbed my basket and left the alleyway, praying that no one would try to stop me again until I was able finish what I started and then talk to Jonah about what happened and how it affected me.
Maybe... just maybe... he will have some insight as to why I couldn't contact my dragon while I was with the Elf and king...