The Captive Series 1-5

by Erica Stevens

  Then, he entered the cave, and the urge to be free of the confining space consumed her. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't think as her head spun rapidly. She went limp against him, struggling to inhale through her nose as he carried her deeper into the earth.

  They were half a mile down before he finally released her. Aria fell to her knees, trying to catch her breath and struggling to control the rapid beat of her heart as a scream rose in her throat. She didn't know what was wrong with her, what was happening to her, but she couldn't control the wild, frantic sway of her body. She tried to choke back the scream, but she couldn't keep it bottled within her anymore.

  It ripped free of her, echoing loudly through the cavern and bouncing off the rock walls in an endless wave that pierced through the air.

  Chapter Nine

  Braith froze in mid-step, his foot hung in the air as his head turned to the side. He tuned out the usual sounds of the forest, filtering through the noise as he strained to hear what had caught his attention.

  He was sure it had been a scream, certain it had been Aria's scream. His foot dropped on the forest floor, crackling the leaves and sticks beneath his boot. The men with him stopped walking as they turned back to him.

  "What is it?" Caleb demanded.

  Braith shook his head. His brother hadn't heard the scream, neither had the others. He didn't know if it was because they weren't as attuned to Aria as he was, or if it was the fact his hearing was acuter due to his blindness. At his side, Keegan bristled, turning to survey the area of the forest Braith was certain the scream had come from.

  "It's nothing," he replied.

  Though it was far more than nothing; that scream had been echoing and terrified. And it had come from the only person he cared about.

  "I have to go," Braith said.

  "Wait… what?" Caleb stammered.

  Panic clawed at his chest and tore through his insides. He had to get away from his brother and find her. He’d seen her in the tree with that boy; if he had done anything to hurt her, Braith was going to destroy him.

  He raced through the trees, blurring as he ran across the forest. Though he could not see his surroundings, he could sense the obstacles in his way and easily dodged them. Keegan was unable to keep up with him, but Braith knew when the wolf broke off and retreated deeper into the woods.

  The others tried to keep up with him, but he was faster and stronger than them, and he lost them easily amongst the forest. He jumped on top of a boulder, racing up the side of it before leaping off the top. Trees wavered on the outskirts of his vision. He could smell her blood and taste it in his mouth again. He was getting closer to her.

  Thirst spurted through him; his veins burned with the intense need to feed. He hadn't fed since leaving her a week ago. He'd returned to the palace, but no one appealed to him anymore, not even the willing humans he fed from before.

  In fact, he was surprised to realize the mere thought of feeding on anyone else was repulsive to him. It was her blood he required, and until he could feed on her, no one else would do.

  Then, for some strange reason, Caleb insisted on joining one of the hunting parties. Braith had known he'd have to go with him; he couldn't take any chances Caleb might accidentally find her without him being there.

  The thought was horrifying to him. He'd come with Caleb to make sure such a thing didn't happen. It nearly had earlier, and might still happen if Caleb was somehow able to track him.

  He skidded on a patch of leaves when he came to an abrupt halt outside of a tapered crevice between the rocks. He would have missed it if he hadn't been tracking her. Braith slipped into the hole, barely fitting in between the boulders surrounding it.

  Adjusting to the blackness, his eyes picked up the small bits of illumination within the enshrouding dark. Her sweet scent became stronger; her fright was nearly palpable within the confines of the cave.

  Braith moved through the winding, snug turns, keeping his senses attuned to other presences as he ran through the cave. He had to get to her, but he knew he had to proceed with caution. He’d just placed himself right into the heart of the lion's den; he was certain of that.

  Surrounded by rocks, walls, and his enemies, he felt like a rat trapped within a maze as he stalked her scent. He couldn't believe they lived down here. That Arianna lived down here.

  She hated to be confined anywhere. She was everything the woods were; open, wild, and free. It confounded him that she could be beneath the earth within these stale confines.

  Her scent enveloped him as he turned another corner, he could hear voices as they carried through the tunnels in the cave. He stopped, his head tilting to the side as he picked up three male voices. One of them was Jack, but the other two he didn't recognize. He crept closer, straining to hear the words.

  "What happened?" one of the strange voices demanded.

  "I don't know," Jack answered. "But we have to get her out of here. We have to move, now."

  Braith bristled, he assumed the her was Arianna as her scent was exceptionally strong here, and his vision was nearly perfect again. He hesitated within the shadows.

  "Be careful with her, Jack! Watch her head!" the other strange voice commanded. "Damn it, give her to me."

  "I've got her, Max."

  "Give her to me!" Max snapped back.

  "Just give her to him, Jack; you're going to have to keep your hands free if they come in here."

  Braith's hands fisted; a haze of red shaded his vision. It was bad enough his brother was touching her, but he definitely didn't like that boy holding her. There was a muted rustling, then Arianna made a low, disgruntled sound.

  "Put me down!" she ordered. "Max, put me down!"

  "Aria—"

  "Let go of me! Let go of me!"

  "Aria—"

  There was a scuffling sound and then she groaned loudly. "Stop, please."

  Her voice was a low moan of anguish. And it was more than he could take; he would kill someone.

  He stepped around the corner; bloodlust surging through him as he took in the spectacle before him. Jack was standing toward the back of the small opening, his face like stone, and his jaw clenched. Arianna was struggling against the boy holding her, Max, as she tried to tug her hand free of his restraining grasp.

  "Stop, Max, let her go." The other boy stepped forward, he reached for Arianna as her struggles to break free became more frantic. "Aria, you have to calm down. Please."

  "Let me go!" she snapped as her breath came in rapid pants.

  Braith had only ever seen her like this once before, and it had been when she thought Max's life was in jeopardy. Then, she was terrified for her friend. Now the terror was all her own, something he had thought was impossible until this moment.

  "Let her go."

  His command caused their heads to snap toward him, and their mouths dropped.

  "Braith," Jack whispered in dismay.

  A small cry escaped Arianna; she finally tugged her hand free of Max's as he relaxed his grip. She ran at him and flung herself into his arms. Braith lifted her; he cradled her against his chest as she buried herself against him.

  Wrapping his hand around the back of her head, he threaded his fingers through her silken hair as he briefly savored the feel of her in his arms again. She pressed closer to him as she shook within his grasp.

  "Shh, Arianna, shh," he soothed. "What happened?"

  "Braith, what are you doing here?" Jack demanded.

  He bowed his head to hers and pressed his mouth against her hair as he eagerly inhaled her sweet scent. She was the best thing he'd ever held. Jack moved away from the wall while the astonishment of Braith's sudden appearance began to wear off the other two. He didn't miss the stake that appeared within Max's grasp. Jack grabbed Max's arm, holding him back as his Max leveled him with a killing glare.

  "You know what I'm doing here," Braith said to his brother.

  He adjusted his grasp on Arianna to keep his body in between her, and the growing hostilit
y of the men across from him. He grasped her face and pulled her away from his chest. Her shoulders still heaved, but she seemed to have regained some control of herself.

  "Are you okay?" he asked.

  She managed a nod; her bright eyes were questioning as she studied him. "It's not safe for you here," she whispered.

  "I know," he said.

  He looked back at the others, and his eyes rested on the redhead who was gaping at the two of them. His gaze deliberately turned toward Arianna before coming back to Braith. Max looked like he was about to snap; anger radiated from every inch of him as he glared furiously at the two of them.

  "Did they hurt you?" Braith growled. He didn't care if they were her friends and family, he was spoiling for a good fight.

  "You shouldn't be here," she whispered fervently, her hands clutching at him as her eyes became frantic. "Braith—"

  "It's okay, Arianna," he told her. "I'll be fine."

  "She's right, Braith, you have to leave," Jack insisted. "Where's Caleb?"

  "Elsewhere."

  "Braith—"

  "He doesn't know where I am," he interrupted Jack sharply.

  "But he could find you, and by doing so, find us."

  "He could also find you."

  Jack became silent; his eyes were hooded as he gazed at Arianna. She was still shaking, but her tremors were less severe now.

  "Did they hurt you?" Braith demanded again.

  He would hate to do it, but he would kill Jack if he had harmed her in any way.

  She shook her head as dread shimmered in her eyes. "I don't like it down here."

  Of course, she hated it in here. Braith had known she would. "I'll take you out then."

  "No," Jack inserted sharply as the other two men stepped forward. "She has to stay with us, and she needs to be somewhere safe. It is not safe above ground right now."

  "I'll be safe in the trees," she told him.

  "No, Aria, absolutely not,” Jack said. “We have to meet up with your father."

  "I am not going deeper; you can't keep forcing me to!"

  Braith ran his hands over her hair, trying to calm her, but failing as she continued to shake like a leaf against him. "He forced you down here?" Braith demanded.

  "Braith—"

  "Back off, Jack, or I'll snap your neck if you take one more step toward her, or if you touch her one more time!"

  "No," Arianna interjected. "You can't fight, not here, not now. Please."

  Braith's hands tensed on her shoulders, he was trying to keep her behind him, but she kept insisting on trying to get in front of him.

  "Who do you think you are?" Max demanded.

  "Don't push me!" Braith snarled at him, fighting the rising tides of hostility surging through him. They had forced her down here, forced her into this place that was terrifying to her.

  Jack pulled Max back a step, but the other man remained immobile as he watched them intently.

  "Don't push you!" Max snapped back as he fought against Jack's restraining hand. "You're lucky I don't kill you!"

  "You could try, but you won’t succeed."

  Rage flashed across Max's face. Jack pushed him back as he tried to lunge forward. Max strained against him, but Jack was successful in keeping the smaller man pinned against the cave wall.

  "Stop it!" Arianna commanded. "Stop!"

  She was still shaking, but he could also sense growing exasperation beneath her terror. Max's gaze raked scathingly over her, glaring at her from head to toe. Braith bristled beside her, pulling her further back from the infuriated boy. He didn't trust Max. He knew that Max would kill him in a heartbeat, but he was beginning to worry that he might also injure Arianna in his rage and hatred.

  The other boy shot Max a dark look as he placed himself in between them. "I'll go with her."

  "No, William," Arianna told him as she shook back her dark hair.

  Braith took note of the striking similarities between Arianna and this boy. He remembered Arianna telling him about her twin, recalled Jack talking about the similar hair color; it was more than evident this was him.

  "It's safer for you to stay here," Aria said.

  "I'm not letting you go up there alone." His sapphire eyes were intense as they turned toward Braith. He considered Braith, his gaze not trusting, but not hate filled either. Not like Max's.

  "I won't be alone," she reminded him.

  "Aria—"

  "I'll be okay, William."

  William remained hesitant. "No, Aria, that is not going to happen."

  "I can keep her safe; I can't promise that for you," Braith told him.

  William nodded. "That's fine."

  "No," Jack said forcefully. "I can't risk the two of you being captured. That is too much leverage over your father should something go wrong."

  "I will keep her safe," Braith said in a low, deadly tone. "And you don't have an option here, Jack; I'm taking her out of here no matter what you think."

  Arianna's fingers curled in his shirt, she pressed closer, and her forehead rested briefly on his chest.

  "You're being foolish, Braith. I know you don't like seeing her upset, but would you rather see her dead? Be logical about this; she is safest down here!" Jack protested.

  "I am being logical about this, and I am telling you what is going to happen. I will keep her safe. When you return above ground, you know where we'll be."

  "You can't take her to mother's house. Caleb will go there."

  "I'm not taking her to the summer house."

  Jack was silent for a moment, and then realization dawned in his eyes. His mouth dropped; his fingers twitched at his sides. For a moment, his grip on Max eased.

  "You know what it means if you go there, Braith," Jack said.

  "I do. Find us when you’re able." He turned his attention back to William. "You must stay here. She will be fine, but I can't protect you both."

  "No." William shook his head forcefully. "Absolutely not. She may trust you, but I don't."

  "You have to," Jack told him. "You can't go with them, William."

  "You can't seriously be considering letting them leave here! Of letting this monster take her back!" Max exploded his face was florid. "Have you lost your mind?"

  "Go," Jack encouraged.

  "No way!" William was coming at them; his jaw locked in determination.

  Jack grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

  "He's not going to leave here without her," Jack's gaze was steady, yet sad as he stared at the two of them. "He won't be separated from her again, and he'll kill you if you try to stop him. You can't go, William. This has to happen," Jack said forcefully.

  "We should kill him!" Max snapped.

  Jack was pulling a struggling William back, pushing him toward Max as he fought to keep them away.

  "That will not be possible," Jack muttered, his frustration growing.

  "I knew it; you are a traitorous bastard. You are on their side, not ours. You're giving her to him!" Max shouted at Jack.

  "No, Max," Arianna's fingers dug into Braith's skin as she pressed closer. "I gave myself to him, long ago."

  Max went limp; his mouth dropped as his eyes bugged out of his head.

  "Aria," William breathed.

  She bowed her head before lifting it to gaze at her brother and friend again. "I'm sorry, but I tried to tell you…" She broke off; a single tear slipped down her cheek. "Neither of us intended this, but it's happened, and I can't... I can't let him go."

  Braith cradled her cheek, seeking to give her comfort in this tumultuous situation. "We must go," he urged.

  "Wait."

  Arianna broke away from him. Braith tried to catch her, but she deftly moved beyond his reach. Jack grabbed her and held her back when Aria tried to shove past him. She glared at Jack as she struggled to get free of his grasp. Braith reclaimed her to take her gently from Jack's grip.

  "Let me say goodbye to my brother!" she protested angrily.

  Braith glanced at her broth
er; he was afraid William wouldn't let her go. However, Jack had been right about one thing, Braith hated to see Arianna unhappy, and she would be miserable if he didn't allow her to do this.

  He nodded at Jack, who stepped aside to let William come forward. The siblings embraced while Max glowered at them all.

  Chapter Ten

  Aria clung to Braith, burying her head against his back as he carried her through the forest. She was exhausted, her feet throbbed, and all she wanted was to curl up and go to sleep, but Braith insisted they keep moving. He intended to get as far from the caves, and that area of the woods, as possible. The moon illuminated a trail across the forest floor as it crept steadily higher into the night sky.

  Though she tried, she was unable to suppress a yawn as she fought against the pull of sleep. She hadn't slept well since she'd last seen him, and now that Aria was with him again, she knew sleep would be peaceful again. He stopped suddenly and tilted his head back as he studied the night sky. He let her down and placed her on her feet.

  "You have to rest," he said.

  She nodded as she pushed back the thick waves of hair falling across her face. He pulled off his coat and laid it on the ground. "I wish I could do something more."

  Aria managed a small smile for him. "I'm used to sleeping on the ground. Don't worry."

  Resignation settled over his features. "Hopefully not for much longer."

  "I like the woods. It's where I belong."

  He kissed her again. "Yes, it is. But you also like beds."

  "I do," she agreed. "And I love showers." He chuckled, shaking his head as he stepped back. "Where are we going, Braith?"

  He knelt beside the coat as he held his hand out to her. She took it and settled down beside him. "There's a place I know where we should be safe."

  "And where is this place?"

  "About fifty miles from here. I will get us there tomorrow."

  "And Jack will know where we are?"

  "Yes."

  She watched him as he rose to his feet and began to move around the woods. "What is going to happen, Braith?"