37. Sienna
THIRTY-SEVEN
SIENNA
Saoirse’s hand was in mine as we strolled outside, enjoying the cool air and wrapped in warm jackets. Dad and Tyran disappeared somewhere. My sister really wanted some fresh air, and so did I.
The castle towers were still visible through the trees from here. They rose above the dark forest like pale spears against the evening sky, their windows glowing faintly through the branches.
I kept looking back as we made our way through the forest. I didn’t want to get too far, but fresh air and walking did help. Okay, maybe it had something to do with Tyran. I was determined to try and get better. For my family and for him.
Saoirse walked beside me, our shoulders occasionally brushing as we followed the narrow path away from the castle.
“I still cannot believe how much you’ve grown,” I remarked. “Gosh, you’re taller than me.”
She chuckled. “Maybe I inherited one good thing from Dad. His height.”
My eyes furrowed. Our biological father wasn’t very tall. Then I realized she was referring to Kristoff.
He really had become our father in every sense of the word.
“Do you think they can see us?” she asked. “From the castle.”
I glanced over my shoulder.
“No, but as long as we can see it, we’ll find our way back.”
“But without crumbs.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, without crumbs. The Hansel and Gretel story so close to Halloween is a bit too dark, even for me.”
She scoffed. “What do you mean, even for you? You always hated scary movies.”
“Okay, okay. I don’t like that story because it scares the living shit out of me.”
“I’m going to tell Mom that you cursed.”
I smiled. “Oh, come on. I don’t want to be grounded.”
Saoirse laughed softly, squeezing my hand. “Aren’t you glad you moved out?”
“No, not really.” I sighed, glancing at her profile. “Sometimes I wish I could turn back time and never leave home.”
“Why?”
“I guess I miss the girl I was.”
“Are you saying you’re not the same?”
“I’m saying that none of us are.”
She stopped and turned to face me. “You look like my sister, but also… There is a sadness in you that wasn’t there before.”
For a few seconds, I just stared at her, amazed at her perceptiveness.
“I wasn’t doing great,” I admitted slowly. “But I’m getting better.”
“I don’t want to lose you again,” she whispered.
My chest tightened. “You won’t.”
“You can’t promise that.”
The moonlight caught her face, giving me a full view of the young woman she’d become.
“I am promising it,” I said. “No distance, event, or anything else will ever stop me from talking to you again.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes and I reached to wipe them away before they could fall.
“I love you,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “I haven’t been a good sister to you or our siblings, and I haven’t been a good daughter either. But I will be going forward. I promise you that.”
She nodded.
“I love you too, Sienna. It’s been hard not seeing and talking to you.”
I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly. We remained like that until we heard a branch snap behind us.
I stiffened, my eyes darting around us, but all I could see amid the darkness was the light of the moon.
Then another sound followed. Footsteps.
“Maybe Dad’s looking for us?” asked Saoirse, her voice a breathless whisper.
I spotted four men in the distance, scouting between the trees. They moved carefully, weapons visible beneath their jackets.
“I swear they came this way,” one of them hissed. “Those bitches couldn’t have gotten far.”
My pulse kicked hard and I reacted, shoving Saoirse behind me, just as I heard a crunch of leaves behind me.
I looked over my shoulder, trying to decide the best way to get back to the safety of the castle.
“Sienna—” she started, but I put my finger on her lips and softly mouthed, “Shhh.”
I backed up, keeping Saoirse blocked with my body, my gaze frantically darting left and right.
A figure stepped from the darkness behind us and I let out a relieved breath.
“Hey,” I greeted Kai, my voice a whisper, as I pointed to the far end of the forest. His eyes immediately swept over the trees, telling me he must have spotted the men.
“Guards?” he mouthed.
I shook my head. I didn’t recognize them.
“What’s happening?”
“There they are!” one of the men yelled, and all our eyes darted in his direction. Shit, they were closing in on us.
No, no, no.
I couldn’t let them get their hands on my sister. Never!
“Get my sister out of here,” I hissed to Kai.
“You run, and I’ll slow them down.”
The men were getting close to us and our narrow window of escape was closing in.
“Kai, if you don’t take my sister and run back, I’ll never forgive you. Please, just save her.”
“I can—”
“No! Run. Now!”
Saoirse grabbed my arm. “I’m not leaving you.”
“Run and tell Dad and Tyran there are bad men here.” I turned to her. “I’m going to distract them. I’ll meet you back at the castle. Go with Kai. Now!”
Kai moved beside her, his hand closing around her wrist.
“Saoirse,” I said, never taking my eyes off the men, “you stay with him. You don’t leave his side. Whatever happens, you stay with Kai.”
“I’ve got her.” He pulled Saoirse backward into the trees.
The men were almost to us now. One raised his weapon. Kai and my sister started running, disappearing between the trees.
I stepped into the open.
“Looking for me?” His attention snapped toward me. “Come on, then.”
The first man lunged.
And I took off, running in the opposite direction of my sister and Kai.
The forest erupted into motion. Branches cracked beneath my feet. A gunshot tore through the trees. I dropped behind a trunk as bark exploded beside my head.
“Shit.”
I got up and started running again. I needed to draw them farther from Saoirse, and all the while I hoped Tyran would get to me before these men did.
Every step took me deeper into the forest, farther from the castle, farther from my sister.
I could hear shouting behind me, but I didn’t stop. I kept running and running until I saw lights beyond the trees.
I was almost there. Almost—
“Gotcha.”
Rough hands grabbed me from behind, squeezing so hard around my middle that I wheezed out a shocked scream. I was lifted into the air, and a bag was pulled over my head.
I fought. I kicked.
“Let go of me,” I screamed.
I just got my family back. I couldn’t leave. I needed to get back to them and Tyran.
A hand wrapped around my mouth to shut me up, and I shook my head back and forth. His grip loosened and I bit into his hand, then started screaming again.
“Help!”
Dad and Tyran would be here any second, but just as that hope flickered, it was immediately extinguished with something sharp that pierced the side of my neck.
No, no, no… Not again… Please, God, don’t let them take me.
Then the whole world disappeared into darkness.
TO BE CONTINUED IN THORNS OF FIRE