Chapter 30 #2
She covered her mouth to contain her scream as she sat up.
It flapped its wings, leaving behind black trails of smoke as it bounced from her blanket to her upright knees.
It opened its beak, but nothing came out of it.
Then it flew while digging its talons into her furs to lift them as if... it wanted her to go with it.
“Kier?” she asked, tilting her head at the illusion, only for her brows to pinch together. “But I thought they were intangible.”
Still, her cheeks warmed at his attempt to garner her attention, and she rose from her bed. When she tried to wiggle her foot into a slipper, it grabbed the skirt of her dress and tugged while flapping backwards. Barefoot, Carwyn stumbled across the cold stone.
It didn’t relent, yank and pulling, and she was swept up by its need for her to hurry.
When she started to follow, wisps trailed behind the raven as it flew with speed. She was forced to sprint to keep up with it. When she noticed her steps weren’t echoing, she looked down. Darkness encased her feet like a pair of shoes, snuffing out the sound.
Even her breaths weren’t loud... and it took her too long to realise something had covered her mouth to keep her quiet. She was descending into the mountain, towards both the dragons who were supposed to be sleeping.
She slowed her sprint when voices echoed off the walls; Kier’s decadent, rich voice, and Selene’s much louder and clearer one. Why would he bring me here if she’s awake? Placing a hand on the nearest stone wall for support, she quietly approached.
“Why? Afraid your little pet might overhear?” Selene snapped back, as if she’d been asked to be quieter.
Carwyn’s steps faltered and her eyes widened. What?
“She sleeps. There’s no reason to wake her up on account of your fuss.”
Peeking up at the bird hovering in the air as it remained in place, Carwyn understood. So it wasn’t Kier but Selene who brought me here. What was her title again? ShadowStalker? So this is the extent of her abilities.
The illusion was different from Kier’s. Silent but tangible. Black in colour and like smoky shadows.
Selene’s voice became noticeably softer in volume, although harsher in tone. “I owe her a blood debt, Kier.”
Kier scoffed. “You’re still not ready for this conversation.”
“It is my choice as to what happens with her.”
“I won’t allow you to take her to the king for imprisonment!” he snarled. “She has done nothing but aid us. She doesn’t deserve such a fate.”
Once more, Carwyn’s brows came together. I don’t understand. Why would Selene want me to know this?
“If you will not allow that, then the only other option is to set her free.”
Her lips parted in relieved disbelief. Hope flared in her chest. Yes! She’s on my side! All her worries, her fears, faded within an instant. Does that mean...
“And I have already told you my answer.”
A thud sounded, as if Selene stamped a paw. “What does it matter?! You told me she is from the Northlands and will likely return there.”
“I will release her if and when I am ready.”
All that hope came crashing down and brought with it a horrible, sickly wave that twisted her gut. What... what did he just say?
“What harm is there, Kier? You may be atrocious with barrier magic, but your illusions hide your cave entrance. If we place her far from these mountains, you said she was unconscious when you brought her here. She will be unable to find you. And either way, you have said it yourself; she means us no harm. Even I can see that.”
“And if we’re wrong?”
His answer immediately had Carwyn curling her hands against her chest when it radiated with a burn.
“That witch is too compliant, too content in your presence. You have made her promises you never intended to keep.”
“Perhaps recently they have become a lie, yes.”
Oh... my... gods! What a... what an asshole!
With a snarl of her own, Carwyn went to storm forward, only for Selene’s bird to fly at her and flap its wings in her face to keep her back.
“Let–” She got out one word before a shadowy rope slapped across her mouth, silencing her.
But Carwyn wanted to lose her ever-loving mind at this lying dragon and kick him! Shout at him! Call him all manner of names until he suffocated under the weight of them.
“I have said it before, but it’s not only your face she has seen. It is my decision as well.”
Again he’d lied to her! He said he wouldn’t tell Selene that!
“Why do you even care what happens to her?” he added with a suspicious tone.
“Because I can see she is harmless. She battled unimaginable danger just to save me, and I’m feeling rather inclined to be benevolent due to that fact.”
“And she will be safest here,” Kier pointed out. “The day I took her, she was attacked by multiple dark witches. She is in more danger out there than in here. Consider your blood debt fulfilled from that fact alone.”
Her knees wanted to give out. He truly intended to keep her here. He’d never been on her side to release her and was actually working against her, trying to erase Selene’s blood debt. Tears welled in her eyes as she gritted her teeth, her hands shaking with constrained fury.
“I doubt she’ll be pleased with you when she learns of such a thing.” Selene chuckled with a mocking tone. “That she has essentially become a captive in your home.”
“Which is why you will not speak to her on this matter.”
“I won’t leave if she remains here!” Selene shouted.
“You have no right to dictate what happens within my own lair. I haven’t pushed you from my home out of care for you, but I won’t tolerate your lingering for such an unwarranted reason.”
A rippling growl was her answer.
The bird dug its talons into the rope around her mouth and tugged her... in the other direction. Carwyn fought it, digging her heels into... more shadows that allowed her to glide as if she skated across ice.
Carwyn was forcibly taken further away against her will, and large paws followed distantly behind her.
“Selene, I am warning you.”
“I’m not going to speak with her! I merely want to get away from your loathsome, stupid face!”
His growl seemed to chase the back of Carwyn’s skirts before she was thrown into her sleeping alcove. She winced when her hands and knees scraped against the stone, just as Selene passed her and... gave her a snarl as she passed.
She’d scrambled to her feet just in time, as Kier stuck his head in and paused when he saw her standing there just beyond her bedding, as if she’d only just risen from it.
There was an emotion in his ruby eyes she’d never seen before. Hostility. It softened as he peered at her before he looked away with a sigh.
“See what she has done? All her commotion has woken you.”
Carwyn took a step forward, ready to scream her head off at him, only to pause at what she spotted right next to the entryway – in a spot he couldn’t see.
She blinked at it. It looks like me.
Except it was made of shadows from head to toe, with a smirk as it placed a forefinger over its lips.
She wants me to keep quiet? Why? Why show Carwyn all this? She lost the tension in her shoulders. She started the argument on purpose. It’s not the first time they’ve had that discussion.
She wanted her to learn of it for a reason. She went to her lair today and returned. She must have made some kind of decision in that time.
“Go back to sleep, Carwyn,” Kier demanded, his tone sterner than usual, less warm.
She gave him a smile, hoping it was snide, as she said, “I’m kind of hungry now.”
She headed towards him and then past him, wanting to give him her back so she could let her displeased anger crest over her face.
He followed, but she quickly ducked into the cooking-and-food-storage alcove before he could see, and the space was too small for him to enter unless he changed his size.
He won’t follow me in here.
He wouldn’t linger except in the entryway.
She picked up a pear and inspected it.
How dare he...