Goddess Ascending

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Goddess Ascending Page 4

by Heather Hildenbrand


  “Shit,” Finn mutters, shattering what little sense of safety I have left. It’s not the word he’s said but the way he’s said it, and I know. I was right all along.

  We’re not alone.

  The wind howls through the fog-laced branches, and I shiver. A second later, I realize it’s not the wind making the sound that’s haunted my nightmares for the past three nights. It’s an army.

  A flying army of red-eyed monsters with wings twice the length of their beastly bodies. And they’re headed straight for us.

  “El, listen to me. No matter what you see next, I want you to—”

  One of the monsters, a flying horse with a rippling, black coat and giant onyx wings, dives through the canopy overhead. It’s aimed straight for me. Its jaw is wide open, revealing sharpened teeth. The sound it emits from its throat is something between a howl and a scream.

  Trapped in the memory of their last attack, I can’t even lift my hands to cover my ears. I stand there, struck by the absolute certainty my life is about to end. The monster’s lips pull back in a disgusting smile because it knows it too.

  Something big and uncontrollable surges inside me. My skin warms, and . . . I’m dragged sideways and tossed hard. I freefall for a split second before colliding with a bed of old leaves. Rolling awkwardly, I lift my head to see the monster has crashed into a tree instead of me.

  Overhead, more winged monsters begin to descend.

  Before they get close, a growl sounds from nearby. They change direction, diving for the ground not too far away.

  I look at the wolf standing guard over me, its massive front paws positioned by my legs. I recognize the sandy fur. It’s my savior from the other night. The wolf I hurt with my weird light-bolt trick.

  I feel relief.

  He’s not like them. He’s not here to kill me.

  The escalation in the screaming draws my attention to the monsters. They are wrapped up in some sort of ground fight against something. My wolf shifts closer, blotting out my view, and I feel the same brush of awareness in my head that first sent me into a panic the other night.

  We should run now while they’re distracted.

  The voice is low and urgent, and I can’t help but wonder if it would sound so deep if he could speak out loud or if it’s some weird thing my own head is doing to it.

  The wolf glances at me, and I realize he’s probably waiting for an answer.

  “Right. Escape.” Escape sounds good.

  I start to get up, and a monster breaks from the pack in favor of attacking me. The sandy wolf leaps in front of me and launches itself at the monster.

  Scrambling to my feet, I stare, wide-eyed, as the pair attack each other. This close, I see the monster really is built like a horse—a very tall, very evil, very rabid-looking horse. But despite the pointed teeth and menacing howl, the wolf isn’t deterred. He’s faster. That much is clear as he races in and out of the monster’s reach, nipping and clawing until he’s drawn blood from several places along the monster-horse’s flank.

  The monster-horse unfurls a wing, and something shiny glints against the darkness. The edge of the wing slices outward and catches the wolf’s ear. The wolf yelps and falls back, crimson liquid leaking from its open wound. But it only seems to fuel the wolf’s determination more.

  I quickly scan for Finn, but he’s nowhere in sight.

  The cluster of monster-horses breaks apart suddenly, and three of the five creatures spread their wings and take to the sky.

  I duck behind a tree and press my body against it.

  The remaining two spin and scan the area as if looking for something—me, the fear in my head whispers. When they don’t see me, they settle on the sandy wolf and begin to close in on him.

  Fear squeezes my throat, and I try to think of some way to warn him.

  “Elidi.” Finn’s voice is a whisper from behind me.

  I whirl.

  Shirtless and breathless, Finn steps from a cluster of bushes. His chest and arms are covered in scratches, and a cut on his forehead is bleeding down his cheek.

  “Are you okay?” I rush to him.

  “I’m fine. We have to run.” He grabs my hand and yanks hard in the direction we’ve just come from.

  “What?” I plant my feet, yanking against him. “But the wolf.”

  “Leave him,” Finn says, the venom in his tone confusing me.

  “But he saved me,” I say. “Twice.”

  Finn’s eyes narrow.

  “What do you mean twice?”

  “The night of the attack, he saved me. He fought these monsters off for me.”

  Finn’s expression darkens.

  “You should have told me about him.”

  “Why? I told you about the monsters, and you didn’t believe me.” Finn doesn’t argue it. “Do you know what they want?” I ask.

  “Dammit, El. I don’t have time to explain this right now. Just come with me. I have to get you out of here.”

  “Explain what?” I yank hard against Finn’s grip, wrenching my arm out of his hold.

  Behind me, the wolf yelps again, and I whirl, worried.

  I catch sight of him darting out of the way just as a pair of teeth snap closed on the empty air where he had stood. The monster lunges, but the wolf sidesteps again, this time raising its head long enough to meet my eyes.

  For a fleeting moment, recognition washes over me again. Just like three nights ago, it’s undeniable. Like a punch in the gut. Real and raw and not something I can ignore. And I damn sure can’t let him die in my place.

  I whirl on Finn.

  “You go,” I tell him. “I’m staying to help.”

  Finn’s eyes go wide. “El, you can’t fight them. You’re not ready, and you’re not immortal. You’ll die.”

  I blink at his odd words. Then shake my head.

  “I won’t let him get killed for me.”

  Finn’s expression says he’s torn between staying with me and just carrying me off. I brace myself for the latter.

  But he just looks upward and mutters, “This is insane. The Silenci aren’t supposed to attack your kind.”

  The fact that he’s keeping secrets registers like a physical blow.

  “Goodbye, Finn,” I say. Then I turn on my heel and march away from him, straight for the fight raging ahead.

  My eyes catch on a fallen branch. I scoop it up, gripping it tightly in both hands as I approach the closest monster from behind.

  The sandy wolf spins, nipping at one monster’s throat before turning to do the same to the others, barely holding the group at bay. I inch closer.

  Only a few feet away, I raise the branch over my head. The branch is heavy as I grip it tightly, preparing to strike the flank of the closest monster-horse.

  I launch myself forward and shove the branch into the monster’s flesh—hard. Its howl falters as the branch sinks through the first layer of flesh. Blood sprays from the wound, and I gasp at the sight and feel of it as it hits my cheeks and nose.

  My stomach rolls.

  The monster screams and lurches sideways. I grip the branch tighter and am yanked clear off my feet as the beast goes berserk. For the second time tonight, I’m completely airborne. This time, however, my eyes are wide open, and I’m fully aware of a trajectory I can’t stop or alter.

  I land on the back of the monster and have no choice but to hold tight as it pushes off from the ground and beats its wings trying to gain access to the open sky. I cling tightly with both hands as I watch the ground get farther and farther away from me.

  Eerie screams rise up around me, and the beast beneath me stops fighting the fact that I’m now its passenger and adjusts in order to balance my weight.

  Goddess, get your ass back down here now!

  I wince at the volume of that order.

  “Elidi!” Finn yells from below.

  I look down and see him hovering below me, arms outstretched. He’s also completely naked.

  The horse veers sharply right to av
oid a branch, and something sharp jabs my thigh. I gasp then remember the Xanax bottle. With one hand clinging to the horse, I slide the bottle out with the other then shove the cap off with my thumb. A few pills spill out and fall to the ground, but I fling the rest of them down and around, managing to land a few inside the horse’s open mouth.

  It bucks and screams, clearly pissed.

  My balance teeters.

  Pitching away from the murderous steed, I scream and let myself freefall to Finn’s waiting arms below.

  The force with which I hit Finn’s arms is enough to bruise my back and legs. I blink up at him, stunned. Above him, I see the monster doubling back for us.

  “We have to go,” I say, scrambling out of Finn’s arms.

  “Isn’t that what I’ve been saying?” Finn asks, crossing his arms and drawing my attention to the full display of his body.

  I flush. He’s even more impressive than I’d imagined. Not that I’d imagined Finn naked. He’s my friend. But a girl can appreciate a fine-ass manly form when she sees—

  “El!” Finn’s sharp voice brings me back. “What are you waiting for?”

  I look for the sandy wolf and spot him beside a tree. Even though he’s a furry-faced wolf, he manages to look pissed.

  What was that? he demands.

  That was me saving your ass, I think, hoping he meant the branch stunt, not my ogling of Finn.

  “Run,” I call, and the wolf doesn’t wait around for me to say it twice.

  He turns and leaps into the woods, and I follow. Finn runs beside me.

  Up ahead, the wolf disappears for a moment, and I slow, wondering if he’s changed his mind about helping us. But then he reappears, standing on a fallen log as if to signal the way. When I get close, he turns and takes off again.

  For the next few minutes, the wolf leads us, and I do my best to follow. Finn is at my heels.

  Behind us, the screeching continues, letting me know we’re being pursued and we’re not far enough to have lost them yet. Hooves crash through the leaves in our wake, urging me faster.

  Suddenly, a branch breaks in the treetops behind me. I whirl in time to see one of the horses crashing through branches as it plummets to the ground. It lands with a thud then goes still.

  “What the hell?” Finn breathes.

  “Finally.”

  He cuts me a look.

  “What did you do?”

  “Xanaxed him,” I say.

  Finn opens his mouth, but screeching from above drowns him out. I turn to run again because the sleeping beast’s friends are obviously unhappy about their friend being drugged.

  “El, we need to go back the other way,” Finn says.

  “I think this wolf will take us somewhere safe.”

  “That wolf is a half-breed and an idiot if he thinks he’s going to protect you. You belong with me. I can help you harness what’s inside you better than he can.”

  “Wait.” I stop short and whirl on him. “You know what I can do?”

  The howling changes direction and melds with the sound of wings beating above us, but the monsters aren’t visible. I can only hope that means we’ve lost them for the moment. Maybe the fog isn’t such a bad thing after all.

  “How the hell do you know anything about that wolf?” I point at where the sandy wolf has stopped to wait. “Or what’s inside me? What are you not telling me, Finn? Why are you lying?”

  “El,” he begins, and I can hear it in his voice—the denial. The excuses. More lies.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you until you tell me the truth.” I step out of his reach just in case.

  Finn’s gaze flicks over my shoulder to the wolf, and his expression hardens.

  “I can’t tell you,” Finn says, defeat lacing his words. “Not all of it, not yet. But I can keep you safe, and I can tell you that you shouldn’t go with that asshole. Not ever.”

  My heart hurts to realize Finn might be on a different side than mine.

  “You mean like you’ve kept me safe already?”

  “Not fair, El,” he says.

  “I’m not going back with you, Finn. So you can come with us or stay behind. It’s up to you.”

  Finn studies me for a long moment before he nods slowly, “Fine.”

  Finn takes a step away from me.

  “I’ll hold them off,” he says, his light brown eyes sad now. “So you can get away.”

  I wither inside as I realize what he’s chosen. The prospect of watching him walk away from me is the most painful thing I can imagine.

  Rather than watch it play out, I spin on my heel.

  “Fine,” I call over my shoulder, closing the distance between me and the sandy wolf who waits just ahead.

  His large eyes aren’t on me, though. They’re on Finn. When I finally reach the wolf, his gaze flicks to mine and holds there.

  “We have to go,” I tell him. “Do you know somewhere safe?” Overhead, I can hear the flap of approaching wings, and my pulse races.

  Yes.

  “Take me there,” I tell him, and he blinks then turns to lead us away again.

  I allow myself a single glance back, but Finn is already gone.

  Chapter Four

  The woods go on and on. For hours, I do my best to follow my new friend, but my energy flags, and exhaustion creeps in. The sky lightens around us with the coming day. But for once, daylight isn’t welcome. It’s too exposing.

  By the time the wolf finally stops to rest, I’m swaying on my feet.

  “Are we almost there?” I ask, collapsing to the ground.

  We’re still being tracked, he says in my mind.

  “You can still hear them?” I strain to hear the sounds of wings or hooves. But there’s nothing beyond the birds and crickets.

  Come on.

  He turns to continue, and I struggle to my feet. My legs ache, and my knees threaten to buckle. I try to follow, but my body has other ideas. With a stumble, I find myself on all fours, just like my wolf. Our eyes meet, and I feel myself going under, the pull irresistible like a daymare.

  “Just twenty minutes,” I mumble.

  Giving into the exhaustion feels good.

  Nausea wakes me. The continuous rolling-bounce sensation makes it worse.

  “Ugh,” I groan. I brace my hands under me to lift myself upright and feel fur.

  “What the hell?”

  Groggy, I lift my head and wince at the sharp, lancing pain driving down the center of my skull. The pain doesn’t distract me from what is happening, though.

  I’m riding on the back of a wolf. Strapped to his back, effectively seat belted to him. And thank God since he is currently sprinting through a freezing forest at top speed.

  There was no time to rest, he says as if that’s reason enough to have snatched me away like this.

  “You have got to be kidding me,” I grumble. He doesn’t answer, and I do my best to settle more comfortably or minimize the jostling—not that it works.

  “How are you able to talk in my head?” I ask.

  I’m a protector.

  Something about the way he says it makes it sound like a title. “And as a protector, you can communicate telepathically,” I say.

  Let’s just say it’s one of my many talents.

  His tone is smug, and I scowl. Fantastic. A snarky telepathic wolf. Just my luck.

  Actually, I’m a divinely chosen protector who just saved your ass from a legion of The Silenci.

  “What are Silenci?” I ask.

  He hesitates. You don’t want to know.

  Further questioning is cut short by the sound of wind stirring the leaves around us. It’s not a slight breeze but a gust that shakes the branches overhead until they’re creaking loudly. The leaves shiver before being ripped away to rain down on our heads. The ground beneath us shakes hard enough to raise goose bumps on my arms and legs.

  Shit. Hang on.

  His muscles bunch and push harder as he takes off at a full-out sprint. I duck my head, wra
pping my arms low for a better grip then burying my fingers in the thick fur around his throat. Branches catch on my hair, yanking the ends until sharp breaths hiss from my teeth. Behind us, the caw of birds as they’re ousted from their nests becomes a battle cry. Wings beat the air, stirring the treetops as a flock of something pursues us overhead.

  My pulse races.

  Silenci.

  Is that what the horse-monsters are called?

  Can you swim?

  The question rings out in my head, jarring me. “What?”

  Never mind, hold your breath.

  My mouth is wide open when the wolf plunges over the edge of a cliff I never saw coming. For a split second, we hang in mid-air—beast and human held together in a sort of magical suspension.

  And then we fall.

  The force of gravity steals my breath, and a scream gets caught in my throat, swallowed up by the way my stomach leaps into my chest.

  My mother’s face swims in front of me, reassuring me as if this isn’t my last moment alive. As if the giant wolf with an attitude didn’t just kill us both to save me from a flock of flying horse-demons.

  They aren’t demons.

  It’s the last thing I hear before we crash against the surface of the river below.

  The impact stings like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and I know that if we make it out of this, my body will be bruised in places I never thought possible. My head pounds, and an instant later, water fills my throat before I remember not to inhale.

  It tastes like my nightmares.

  My arms flail, and my feet kick, but it does me zero good thanks to the leather strap still attaching me to my crazy-ass savior.

  Not that way.

  His voice is urgent and tense in my head, and it takes me a moment to realize he’s kicking his legs in an attempt to swim away from the surface.

  The water burns my eyes, and the darkness makes it impossible to see anything down here, but suicide-wolf swims hard like he knows where he’s going and he can’t wait to get there.

  My lungs scream, and I know I have only seconds left before my body’s reflexes take over.

  Drowning.

  Aerina insisted the dreams were a metaphor. I’d begun to believe her. Apparently, the universe has a much sicker sense of humor when it comes to me because I am, in this moment, living out my waking nightmare. And the dozens of “practice” drills I’ve experienced until now do me no good.

 

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