by Allie Santos
5
I watched the young girl from the cover of the woods. The early morning light reflected off her pretty, dark hair. The sudden screech of metal on metal startled me. Searching for the origin of the sound, I saw the swing set from the lonely playground rocking in the wind.
We’d walked and walked until they stopped at the exact same time. It was creepy how in sync Sabine and Roark were. I had been once again threatened about keeping silent when Sabine crept up to the edge of the forest.
The girl sat a good distance away on a picnic table, staring down at a book in her lap. She rubbed her nose and adjusted her glasses. She was fifteen at most.
The heat of the sun was starting to warm the day into muggy humidity, a sticky situation I was well accustomed to, considering I’d moved to Texas after I left Oregon. Despite the heat, I clutched my magically warm blanket under my arms, unwilling to risk losing it.
My anxiety sharpened more and more with each second that ticked by. My shoulders tensed with fear for the girl as my gaze was drawn to Sabine’s sly expression.
Sabine turned to give Roark a look. It was a silent communication between them. I made the connections. No. She was not about to try to kidnap that little girl like she had me. My eyes widened as Sabine stepped out of the woods and approached the young girl with a smile gracing her lips. Apparently, she was. I clenched my hands, helplessly.
The girl was cautious at first, and I could understand why. Sabine’s clothing was unusual, and that dagger attached to her leg was less than cuddly. But as Sabine continued to chatter away, the girl relaxed, accepting whatever explanation Sabine gave her. The girl said something, and Sabine laughed. A small and unthreatening smile stretched across her lips.
It was all so fake. My stomach roiled.
Roark nodded as he observed. I knew he could hear them, and whatever was said seemed to satisfy him. He grabbed my arm and drew me back into the brush, hiding us from sight. My hair tangled in a branch, and I came to a full stop at the tug on my scalp.
“Ow!” I said when he continued pulling me. His shoulders tensed, and he turned to me, an angry expression flashing over his face. He saw my hand curled at the base where my hair was connected to the branch. He sighed and rubbed his face.
He glanced around, ever vigilante, before he reached over my head, which was easy considering he towered over me, and snapped the heavy-looking branch that held my hair captive. He was so gentle as he fussed with my hair. The contradiction of his harsh expression compared to the diligent way he worked to free my long locks warmed me.
Roark’s face softened into one of concentration. His eyes squinted, focusing. It was oddly… cute. My cheeks heated at the thought. And that started me on another inappropriate train when my gaze dropped to his lips. Images filled me. Lips on mine. Caresses…
My breathing quickened, and I tried not to look at him. He was evil. I had to remember that.
After only a second, his ministrations on my hair stopped. Unable to help it, I looked up and found him staring at me, head tilted. The confusion in his eyes was breathtaking. With a mind of its own, my hand rose and splayed on his chin.
I was riveted by the movement of his jaw clenching. He seemed to be in a trance, lids growing heavy as he leaned down. Without conscious thought, I found my head tilting up—searching for his lips. His breath warmed mine as the distance lessened, and the shock of anticipation surprised me so much that a gasp escaped my throat.
At my noise, he straightened sharply and glared at me. I drew back and blinked. What was I doing? He was my captor. Or at least partly… And I’d watched him screw someone else. Hell, he belonged to someone else. Yanking my head away from his touch, I glared right back.
Roark tossed the offending branch to the side. A “thanks” was at the tip of my tongue, but I mentally slapped myself. I had nothing to thank him for. If he killed his crazy mate, maybe, but I didn’t see that happening. I reminded myself where I was and turned around to see what Sabine was doing to the girl.
I sighed in relief when I saw they still chatted, but my relief was short-lived. When Sabine stood and nodded her head in the direction of the wood, worry tensed my shoulders. Oh, God, what would they do to her if she were put into whatever sick plan these two had? Sell her? Hurt her?
As the girl walked closer, trailing behind the psycho, the resemblance to Annie grew. But it was when she smiled that threw me over. She was innocent, pure, and so naive. Just like Annie. It was written all over her. I couldn’t let them take her.
An itch to do something ate at me. I wanted to tell her to run, but that wouldn’t be enough. I had to enrage Sabine enough to distract her, but how would I even do that? She was as mechanical as they came, caring for nothing but herself. A veritable psychopath, but… There was one thing she seemed to care about.
She was obsessed with Roark.
Shit, I hoped this didn’t get me killed.
They were closing in on the edge of the woods, closer to where Roark and I stood. Time to act.
I whirled and practically threw myself at Roark. I wrapped my arms around his head, and brought him down to meet my lips. It was pure surprise that had allowed me to jerk him around.
Taking steps back, I clutched his head, forcing him to follow me. I maneuvered sideways until his back was to Sabine. I wanted to watch her approach. Roark’s lips were stiff underneath mine, but he wasn’t pushing me away. As I struggled to stage us so Sabine could see, I couldn’t help but enjoy the hard press of his mouth. I wondered if it felt as good to him as it did to me.
I slid my tongue between the barrier and twirled it with his. I could tell when he gave into the kiss when he softened. He let loose a rough grunt, and his hands squeezed me tight to him. Why did it feel so right?
So right that it almost made me forget why I even started it. A kiss had never muddled my brain as it did in that moment. I sunk deeper into it and dragged my fingers through his hair.
Snapping out of it, I moaned, “Roark,” loud enough for Sabine to hear. Her head whipped around to meet my gaze, and I saw my death. Before she started after me, I dropped the blanket and tore myself from a stunned Roark and ran in the opposite direction. My limp hampered me, slowing me exponentially.
“Run,” I repeatedly yelled, hoping the girl would hear me and, more importantly, listen to me. I managed to get to the opposite side of the park before I was tackled from behind, and I went skidding face-first into the ground.
“You whore,” Sabine screeched, grabbing my hair and smashing my face into the dirt. I coughed, deprived of air, and felt my lip split. My head was yanked back again, but before it was pounded into the floor, her weight vanished.
I rolled over as Roark hissed at Sabine. His hold around her arms was tight and angry as he clutched her against him. I scuttled backward, away from both of their wrath.
“Follow, or I will go find that girl and snap her neck in front of you,” he said, eyes flashing. Without waiting for my nod, he turned and strode away. Sabine hissed as Roark shoved her into the forest. I took my time following them to take stock of my injuries. The blood on my lip had already dried if the stiffness of my mouth was any indication.
I stretched my arms out and rolled my neck, hoping to get the twinges out. Everything still hurt. But I couldn’t bring myself to regret it. I looked at the bench where the girl had been sitting. Her book was face down on the ground, abandoned when she’d run off.
My lip stung, and I realized I was smiling. My first since all this crap began. Pushing through the woods, I didn’t have to go far to reach Sabine and Roark… and their argument.
“… idiot that shows her speed and strength to the humans,” he snapped as she railed at his chest with her fists. He stared down at her dispassionately.
“What were you doing kissing that thing… that vermin,” she hissed, driving her point with another shove at him. He didn’t move an inch. How much stronger was he?
Both their gazes rounded on me as my foot crunched
a browned leaf. I froze.
An enraged Sabine was about to charge me. I could feel it. She would crush me or slit my throat open. A primitive instinct in my stomach told me as much. The same instinct told me to run. Yet I couldn’t move. I stood immobilized, waiting for death. Before she could take a step, Roark wrapped his arm around her neck.
“Enough,” he said, his eyes meeting mine over her head. Anger swirled in those lavender depths. “The human isn’t worth the bother. You should pity her for her fumbling attempts.”
There was no logic in my hurt. I had been doing it to save the girl, but I was woman enough to acknowledge that I had enjoyed the feel of him. That I even yearned for more. His reaction had made me think he was on the same boat, but I was fooled. It was just another reminder that I was just their toy. I was sure my feelings of betrayal were clear on my face. Roark stared back at me, his face telling me nothing yet again.
His gaze flicked down to Sabine, and his cheek feathered as he clenched his jaw. Turning her, he grabbed her face with one hand, leaned down, and kissed her. It was like a slap in the face. I studied my feet to avoid watching, because her moans were bad enough.
“Roark,” Sabine said breathlessly. More wet noises. Why did my chest hurt? I squeezed my eyes shut and was about to put my hands over my ears like a child when I heard yelling. My spine straightened. No. She couldn’t be back. Please, no.
“Assholes, come out! I called the police,” a female voice yelled. “They’ll be here any minute.”
Shit, shit. Sabine turned and cocked her head. A smile spread across her face.
“Run!” I yelled and ran in the voice’s direction. Before I got far, a hand pushed me to the floor, and I helplessly watched as Sabine flashed past me. I pounded my fist against the forest ground and screamed. Seconds later, arms gently wrapped around my stomach and lifted me.
I slapped Roark’s hands away. “Don’t touch me.”
He set me on my feet but didn’t release my arms. “You need to relax,” he said in a biting tone.
Relax? I didn’t even know the meaning of relax anymore. His hands began rubbing my arms comfortingly, almost instinctively. Breathing heavily, I looked up. He stared away, spacing out again. The shock of his gentle touch snapped me out of my hazy panic. I inhaled deeply. In. Out.
I swallowed my anger, sadness, and feelings of betrayal. I couldn’t do this now. I cleared my throat, calling his attention back to me. Lifting one eyebrow, I gave him a pointed glance. His eyes dropped to his hands, and he moved them away as if I’d burned him once again. Glaring at him, I turned my back to him. As I was about to take a step, his hand settled on my shoulder.
“We must wait here.” The demand was clear in his voice. I shrugged his touch off, throwing him a disgusted glance. “Here,” he said roughly and extended his arm.
I looked back and followed his arm down to his hand, which held my blanket. I yanked it from him. I hadn’t even realized I’d dropped it. It must have happened when I kissed him. Clutching it to me, I turned away again and said nothing.
He sighed harshly. “Look—”
His words cut off as rustling approached. Sabine broke through the bushes clasping a struggling unfamiliar girl. This girl looked like the older version of the one that had sat on the bench. Sabine clutched her close with an arm around her stomach and the other hand around her mouth.
“Silence,” Sabine hissed and looked at Roark. “This one will benefit our cause more since she’s older. When Hag scryed, she found two in this area. Just our luck to get the older one.” Her grin was wide. My teeth clenched with a snap. What were there plans? I wanted to tear my hair out at all the unknowns. Should we fetch the other one to keep this one in line.”
They premeditated which girls to capture. The revelation was startling. What did I have to do with any of their world? I was just a human.
“No, too many casualties and we can’t bring the attention of other Unnaturals to us. She’s the one we were after, regardless. We’ve already seen that the younger ones don’t have much to offer.” My stomach heaved at Roark’s impassive words. What couldn’t the younger ones offer? My thoughts went to a dark place. But it couldn’t be sex trafficking—they wanted us for something specific. That much I could tell.
She let her go. The girl rounded on her and tried to attack her. I appreciated the fight, wishing I had that same courage. Sabine’s hand whipped out and cracked across the her face, sending her to the floor with a yelp.
“Stop,” I cried and ran to her, getting on my knees next to her prone form. She must have thought I was one of them because her hand flew at me. I braced myself for the connection that never came.
I blinked and realized her fist was a couple of inches from my face, clutched in a larger one. I followed the hand up to Roark. He stared down at the writhing girl, who was crying out and trying to scuttle backward. I heard a small pop and realized Roark was squeezing her hand.
“Roark! Stop. Please, stop,” I begged and grabbed his arm. His eyes regained focus and settled on me. A few moments later, his grip loosened and then released.
A relieved exhale left me, and I sat back on my butt. Roark didn’t spare us another glance. He walked off to the side and returned to his default expressionlessness.
I looked down at the girl as she clutched her hand to her chest, stretching it open and closed. She winced but was able to move it. Roark hadn’t broken it. That was good.
“That was exciting,” Sabine said and clapped. “All right, children, we must continue.”
She started walking away as I got to my feet beside the girl. As soon as Sabine had gotten a few feet forward, the girl started running. Sabine sighed, exasperated, and flashed to her in a quick burst of movement.
“This one is too much of a fighter,” Sabine tsked as she dropped the struggling girl next to me, then grabbed my face. “Shows what a weakling you are.”
I said nothing. My lips tightened as hate whirled through me.
Sabine sighed and looked at Roark. “You’ll have to manifest some chains.”
Roark’s jaw worked. “I only have a scrap of magic left.”
“Looks like I’ll have to knock you out,” Sabine said gleefully, turning to the girl.
“We don’t have time for that.” Roark flicked his hand and turned away.
A heavy weight settled on my wrist, appearing out of thin air. The cuff attached to the other girl by a thin chain. The girl gasped and yanked at the binding. It sent a sting up my arm, and I grunted in pain. The girl looked over at me angrily.
Sabine trailed after Roark, and with the thin chain attached to the handle, she tugged us along behind her. We followed at a slower pace because of me and my damn leg. The girl, realizing where the hindrance came from, shot me a pitying glance. Trying to stifle the failure I felt at not thwarting their plan, I blocked the girl’s huff from my mind as we trudged on.
Looking ahead of me, I let myself go numb, knowing we would walk until we returned to the portal to Faerie.
6
I stared daggers at Roark’s back, hoping he could feel my angry gaze as he talked in hushed tones with Sabine. I had begun doing it as a little rebellion. For whatever reason, I wasn’t entirely scared of him anymore.
The way his shoulders tensed told me he sensed the weight of my disgust, but he never turned to smite me. Now, Sabine, she was a level of crazy I didn’t want to attract.
We had been going on and on forever. Further than when we’d walked away from the portal. The deeper we went into the forest, the more worried I became. It felt like we’d been going in the opposite direction and then some. Which was why I was glad when their steps stuttered to a stop.
In front of them was the familiar twisting trees that formed an arch. We were at the doorway to hell. I wanted to laugh at myself. Man, I was becoming pessimistic.
Looking around, I realized the portal was not surrounded by the large tree that had been next to it when we had come out. Did it move? That would explain
the constant walking in random directions.
Sabine stepped to the entrance, while Roark walked toward me and the girl. For a second, I thought he was approaching me in specific, but he stepped past us and stood silently at our backs.
“I will make sure no one is on the other side and give you the signal if the coast is clear,” Sabine said and, without further ado, stepped through the portal. My shoulders and neck relaxed as soon as she disappeared.
“What the hell,” the mystery girl sputtered. “Where did she go? She vanished!”
She turned to look at me, her eyes afraid. She was no doubt beginning to realize she was way out of her element. There was an imminent panic attack wanting to tremble over her. I knew because I currently lived on that edge. I jerked the chain that connected our wrists, trying to snap her out of it.
“You need to relax. Take deep breaths.” When her eyes began to lose focus, I snapped, “Breathe.” Finally, her chest went up and down. Up and down. She closed her eyes.
“Keep breathing, and I’ll tell you what we’re dealing with.” She nodded at my words and kept her eyes closed as she inhaled. “They’re Fae. As in the mythical type. The ones we grew up thinking were tiny, impish creatures. These are bigger, stronger, and deadlier. Especially her. She’s the one that messed up my leg. Watch what you say. She’s the definition of a psychopath with a dash of narcissism.” To put it mildly.
“But that’s impossible. Fairies or Fae, whatever, don’t exist! Please tell me you’re fucking with me.” She looked back to where Roark stood, effectively ignoring us.
“I wish,” I replied and stared down at my wrists. She went quiet, and I knew she was trying to process everything. Just as I had struggled to accept the new reality I’d been dragged into.
“What do they want from us?” she asked, rubbing her arms. I shrugged helplessly. “What do you want from us?” she screamed at the eerily still Roark, who expressed nothing. He stared at her, not answering her question. I tiredly scrubbed my face with my free hand.
