gaze as a muscle tenses in his jaw. Then he returns to scanning
the area. I can hear low moans to the right as Kiar and Morrick
pick off another guard. All ten are dead within a few minutes.
It is frightening to think Tristan could kill someone in seconds.
I shiver with this knowledge.
We’re still twenty feet from the hut, but there is no growth
around. If we move into the opening, we could be picked off one
by one. Tristan moves towards me slowly, still on his haunches.
We’re all behind a large cluster of bushes.
Once he’s near he grabs my wrist roughly. “Listen to me.
You stay here and don’t move.” When I go to protest, he puts
pressure on my wrist. The pain runs through me; it feels like my
wrist will snap. I bite the inside of my mouth to stop from crying
out; blood soaks my tongue. “I mean it, Sarajane.” He meets my
eyes. There is a wildness in his. He reduces the pressure and I
pull my arm away. I swallow the blood in my mouth and then
regret it as my stomach churns.
“You think inflicting pain on people is the only way to get
them to do what you say.” It seems that way to me.
He grins, but it is unsettling. “It is the only way to control
you.”
A door slams, drawing our attention to the hut as two guards
are walking towards where we are hiding. “Where is Cura? He
should have reported back fifteen minutes ago.” They walk past.
“Stay here,” Tristan says and leaves soundlessly. Seconds
feel like minutes. Neve hasn’t moved at all. Then I hear a small
groan, then another. Tristan slides back in as if he never moved.
That leaves three.
We sit there, hoping someone else will leave and hopefully we
can just walk in and get Jessica. No such luck. No one comes
out. Tristan creeps on his belly over to Morrick and Kiar, leaving
Neve and me. I grab Neve’s hand and we see in the hut, only
three guards left. I look around the room for another door or
window, but there is only one way in and out. Jessica is freshly
cut along her forehead. Blood runs into her already swollen eye.
I want to kill them all.
Then I am just hovering above Neve and me. Why am I not
going back to my body? I look around. Nothing? I can see
leaves fall behind us. My eyes shoot up and I honestly can say
my heart stops beating. There has to be thirty men in the trees,
watching us. Then I am back beside Neve. He is pale. The only
advantage we have is they don’t know we know they are there.
We both crawl over to the rest.
Tristan turns to me. “What are you doing?”
I grab his arm, digging my nails in. He doesn’t even flinch.
“In the trees. Men. Maybe thirty,” I whisper in his ear. He acts
calm, which makes me wonder if he even heard me. I pull his
arm again.
“Aim high,” he says. I’m unsure what he means and then
it sinks in. Mirium told Tristan to aim high before we left for
Eden Forest.
Before I can say more, leaves and men rain from the trees,
but they’ve lost the element of surprise. Neve, Kiar, Morrick
and Tristan are on their feet and make a circle around me as
they fight. I stand on shaky legs. Tristan, who is fighting two
men, roars at me to get back down. I do just as an arrow cuts
off a lock of my hair and whizzes past Neve’s shoulder. I stay
low, taking deep breaths to try and calm myself. A man falls
at Tristan’s feet, but he has no head. I close my eyes, blocking
out the horror. This isn’t real, this isn’t real, I repeat to myself.
Neve’s scream makes my eyes shoot open. An arrow is embedded
in his shoulder, but he keeps fighting.
“Get back into the forest,” Tristan commands while
dragging me by the arm. They move in a full circle until the
trees surround us thickly. Tristan grabs me and pulls me against
a tree, saying nothing at first. I peep out. There are only three
men left fighting Kiar and Morrick so we’ve won.
Tristan draws my face back to him, making me meet his eyes.
“Listen, this time I really need you to stay here.” His eyes are
pleading with me, making me feel bad.
“Or else?” I ask boldly.
“I don’t want there to be an or else. Just do this for me.”
I hold my breath. I’m taken back by the sincerity in his voice.
“We’re winning, Tristan.”
He rests his arm against the tree alongside my head. “That
was only ten so there are still twenty left, and if you haven’t
noticed, they have a distinct advantage.” He doesn’t say
anything else, just stares at me intently, sending my heart rate
into overdrive. My feelings towards Tristan are jumbled and
confusing. He touches my cheek so gently, running his thumb
down my face. “For me,” he whispers and then he’s gone and
I’m left breathless.
I look around the tree. He has withdrawn his bow and
arrow, aiming into the trees. Men scream as they crash to the
ground. Neve and Kiar have taken to the trees while Morrick
battles on the ground. My hands tighten around the dagger as
I wait.
The screams of men dying are starting to grind on me and
then I hear a scream that I recognise. When I look out, Neve
is on his knees, blood pouring out of a stub-all that is left of
his arm. I can see his arm a foot from him. The guard raises
his sword again, and I run with everything in me and jump on
his back. He tries to throw me off, but I stick my dagger into
his neck. He falls to his knees. I plunge the dagger three more
times until he’s motionless. My hands and clothes are soaked
in blood.
Neve collapses on the ground. He’s losing too much blood. I
tear my tunic along the bottom and wrap it tightly around his
stub to slow down the bleeding. “Stay with me,” I say while
tying it as tightly as I can.
A blade is placed at my throat. “Get up,” a guard orders and
pulls me against him as he turns to the fighting scene before
us. “Surrender or I kill her!” the guard roars. The sounds of
battle stop as Morrick and Kiar drop their weapons almost
immediately. Kiar’s eyes go straight to Neve; a look of anguish
crosses his face.
Tristan drops from a tree. He is breathing heavy. He told me
not to move and I disobeyed him again. “Drop your weapon,
Tristan,” the guard says while pushing the blade harder against
my skin. Tristan throws down his bow and arrow. “Move to
the clearing.”
We nearly won; there are only five men left. Neve is left lying
on the ground, but he’s unconscious.
The door opens and the remaining guards leave the hut. One
stands out from the rest. He has a bald head and is a large
man, but there is a look of savagery and cruelty about him. He
claps his hands as he walks towards us smiling. “You came,
Sarajane.” He looks at the guard. “Release her.” The blade is
taken from my throat. How does he know who I am? Then
again, everybody seems to know me. �
�I will take great pleasure
in killing you slowly.”
I swallow. “The queen said if I showed my face my sister
would live.”
The bald-headed man smiles with pleasure. “Bring the girl out.”
A guard goes to the hut and carries Jessica in his arms. When
he reaches us, he lays her at my feet. I fall to my knees and run
my fingers along her neck, checking for a heartbeat. It flutters
under my fingers; she is alive.
“No one said anything about you living.” The bald man
looks down at me. He is really enjoying this.
“Taurus, Bellona gave her word that you or any of her men
would not harm Sarajane. Or maybe you are willing to disobey
your queen,” Morrick says in a king’s voice.
Taurus laughs cruelly and looks at Morrick with hate. “She
is not my queen. But I do enjoy her body every night.”
Morrick’s face remains impassive at this comment. “This is your
last warning, Taurus. Call these men off now or you will feel my
full wrath.” Morrick’s voice is as hard as steel. I would be afraid if
his threat was towards me, but it just seems to anger Taurus.
He grabs me by my hair, dragging me off my knees. My scalp
burns with pain. I let out a screech. He looks at Tristan then,
smirking. “Maybe I will have her body before I kill her.” He
runs a rough hand across my chest. Fear rolls through me. I feel
repulsed by the motion. Tristan’s jaw clenches, his hands balled
into fists at his side.
I look down at Jessica. At least I’ve saved her. Her eyes open
and she looks up at me. She reaches her hand towards Taurus’s
foot. What is she doing? Before she touches him, she smiles at
me through bloody lips. Taurus screams and wheels back, but
it only lasts for a second. Then he looks at Jessica and kicks her
in the stomach so hard her body moves a foot away. I scream
with anger and run for Taurus. When I touch him, his body is
flung into the hut. I can’t stop. Only one thought runs through
me. Kill him.
Arrows are fired at me, but seem to bounce off an invisible
shield. I don’t look left or right but move straight into the hut
and grab Taurus. He looks afraid. It is my time to smile. I feel
as if my hands are on fire. I push them against Taurus’s chest.
He screams in pain as the smell of burnt flesh rises. I don’t care.
I just want to destroy this man who has hurt my sister.
The hut is vibrating around us. I let my hands sink farther
into his chest. The roof rips off in a gale-force wind and the
walls are being torn apart around us. Taurus is roaring, but I
can only see his mouth moving. His face is twisted with pain
as tears flow from his eyes. I don’t stop. I look at him through
hair that is being whipped across my face by the wind. I can see
something purple shine under my hand. I pull it. I know it’s his
soul and I want nothing more than to crush it.
“Don’t, Sarajane. You are not like him. Let it go,” Morrick
says so softly beside me it knocks me out of my zone. The wind
reduces and I open my hand, releasing Taurus’s soul.
I sit there on top of Taurus, shaking. Someone pulls me off.
Then I’m in Tristan’s arms. He smiles at me. “You scared me.
I thought I was going to lose you.” I expected him to be angry.
I never get to answer, as I pass out.
I open my eyes slowly, feeling weak, and my head throbs.
Jessica is beside me. I sit up quickly. Blood rushes to my head.
“Not so fast. She will be all right.” Morrick reassures me.
I look at Jessica’s battered body. Oh God, what did she
endure?
“We heal quickly, Sarajane. She is partially like us.”
I look around for Tristan and Kiar, but I can’t see them.
“Where is Neve?”
Morrick’s face saddens. “He won’t make it, but he has been
asking for you.”
“Take me to him.” Morrick nods and lifts Jessica, taking her
with us.
Tristan and Kiar are on either side of Neve. I can see by his
colouring that he hasn’t much time left.
He forces a smile when he sees me. “Sarajane.” Tristan moves
so I can sit with him.
“Oh, Neve, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. You brightened up my life when you walked
into it.” A lump rises in my throat. I’m the cause of his death
and we both know it. His hand squeezes mine. “Promise me
you will look out for Kiar.”
I look at Kiar, who is crying. Tears slide down my own face.
“I promise.” And then Neve is gone.
Tristan is beside me then. “You were a good friend, Sarajane.”
“Don’t. I got him killed.”
Kiar looks at me with anger. “He died in battle, the way we
will all go.”
I start to cry harder. Tristan pulls me into his chest. I let my
body give in to the horrors of today and silently beg Neve and
Kiar to forgive me. I caused so much.
Morrick carries Jessica and Tristan insists on carrying me,
but I refuse. I deserve the throbbing in my feet. It’s my fault
Neve has died. Kiar won’t leave Neve’s body behind. He slings
him over his shoulder and carries him as silent tears run down
his face.
Nobody speaks after walking for what feels like days. I
stumble and fall; my feet are too badly cut. Tristan scoops me
up. I don’t object, and he carries me the rest of the way. We
reach the edge of the forest an hour later. It’s easier leaving. We
don’t have to be quiet. When we reach the horses, Kiar removes
a bedroll and wraps Neve in it. He ties it at both ends and slings
him over the horse. We take off.
The next two days, we ride towards Aquaterra. The silence
isn’t uncomfortable, as everyone is lost in their own thoughts.
For me, Neve’s death takes the most. No matter what he said, I
still feel responsible. I’m feeling responsible for a lot lately. My
sister would never have been taken if not for me. My dad is in
danger. It feels like everyone was hurt because of me. Morrick
killing his son to save me. It makes no sense.
My powers—that’s something I push to the back of my mind.
I can’t comprehend it. I need to focus on getting to Aquaterra
and speaking to Mirium to see if my dad is all right.
We stop for food and rest and nobody speaks, not even
Jessica, even though she’s healing fast. On day two, we reach
Aquaterra.
Chapter Eighteen
Saskia
(Sarajane)
Once we arrive at Aquaterra, I go straight to my hut
without speaking to anyone. I just need time to myself.
Everything is too much right now. I lie down on my
bed. My tunic is crusted in dry blood from the guard I killed.
A knock sounds at my door. I take my face out of the pillow.
“Go away.”
“Sarajane, it’s me,” Jessica says. I sit up straight. She hadn’t
spoken one word the whole way from Eden Forest.
“Come in.” Jessica stands in the doorway, her face nearly
fully healed, but she is scared on the
inside. I can see it. I open
my arms and she races into them. I pull the quilt over the two of
us and we curl up as she cries in my arms. I rub her hair and let
her feel safe in my arms.
We must have fallen asleep because when I wake, it’s dark. I
sit up and rub my eyes. Jessica lies fast asleep. A shadow in the
corner stirs. I light the candle beside my bed. My mother sits in
the corner, her eyes raw from crying, deep circles running under
them.
“Mum.”
She comes to me and sits on the bed. “Thank you, sweetheart,
for bringing her back safely.” Jessica stirs then and Mum rubs
her arm. “How do you feel, love?”
Jessica gives a big stretch and smiles at me. “Better now that
I’m here,” she says.
Mum looks away. I know she has bad news by the way her
shoulders are set. “Mirium wants to see the three of us in the
main barn.” My stomach tightens. This is about dad.
We walk to the barn, hand in hand. Jessica looks petrified,
but this is her real dad. I give her hand a little squeeze before we
enter the barn. Mirium sits alone at the head of the table and
gives each of us a kind smile as we sit down around him.
“Hi, Jessica, it is lovely to meet you.” Mirium reaches out his
hand, causing Jessica to flinch in her seat. Her reaction startles
us all. Then she straightens and takes his hand in hers. “You
have very unique talents, my child,” Mirium says while still
holding her hand.
“They helped me when I got myself in sticky situations.”
Jessica sounds so much older than eighteen.
Mirium gives her another smile before returning his attention
to us all. “Sarajane, Marta.” I swallow. This is it. “I went to the
mortal world and indeed, they had John held in the house by
two guardians belonging to the queen.” He pauses briefly. “I
am so sorry.” My mother lets out a strangled cry. “He was dead
by the time we reached him.” My mother sobs into her hands
and Jessica just looks frozen in her chair. Mirium stands. “I will
give you time alone.” He squeezes my shoulder as he passes me
before leaving the barn.
This is all too much. “Jessica.” I take her hand in mine.
She looks up at me and tears stream down her face. “They
killed Dad.” I nod my head. I don’t want to speak in case I burst
into tears. And Jessica has been through enough.
Eden Forest (Part one of the Saskia Trilogy) Page 24
