by Hawke Oakley
Silas scowled. “You’re right. I could. So you should hold your tongue and stop irritating me.”
He was about to turn around again and ignore me, but I couldn’t let that happen. I needed him to keep talking.
I let out a loud, exaggerated sigh. “So, how am I supposed to go to the bathroom around here?”
Silas groaned in frustration and anger as he turned on me. “Shut up! Stop running your mouth while I’m trying to think.”
Good. I’ll keep talking, then.
“I’m serious. Am I supposed to piss on the floor like a dog? Even though I’m sure you’d love to see me embarrass myself, that’s not sanitary for you or the baby, and you’ll have to live with the smell - ”
“Enough!” Silas snarled. He grabbed the front of my shirt, jerking me forward. “Stop talking.”
“I can’t. I love to hear the sound of my own voice.”
Silas smacked me. The pain shot through my cheek, making me grunt. It hurt, but nothing was bleeding and otherwise I was fine. The force wasn’t too strong - just like I predicted. He was allowed to hurt me, but not badly.
But why? What’s holding him back? Wasn’t the whole point of my capture that the Knights wanted to hurt me?
“You’ll keep quiet unless you want another taste,” Silas warned, holding up the back of his hand.
I growled. He still hasn’t revealed any important information.
I braced myself to be hit again and taunted, “Go ahead. Nobody’s around. Whoever you’re working for doesn’t have to know that you beat me up.”
Silas’s eyes flashed, and he hesitated.
I knew it! I thought. He is working for someone else.
Silas backed off, tense. I could see the thoughts racing in his head.
“Well?” I asked. “I’m waiting.”
His eyes burned with annoyance. I didn’t know who or what was protecting me from his rage, but it was clearly important if he didn’t want to punish me for harassing him.
Then the second smack hit me across the other side of my face. I hissed as the sharp contact split my lip open against my teeth. The time, I tasted blood.
Angel began crying.
Okay, maybe I was wrong. He can apparently hurt me a little more than I thought.
The fight in me drained away and I held back from pissing him off even more. The throbbing pain in my face and the bloody lip was enough for now. But I still didn’t know why he hadn’t killed me on the spot - or why he was being strangely kind to Angel.
I glanced at my daughter now. It was my fault she was upset and crying because I pushed my luck too far.
I’m supposed to be protecting her, but all I keep doing is getting her into trouble…
“Are you quite finished talking back?” Silas growled. “Stupid omega. You made your own child cry because of your arrogance. In fact, your hubris seems to be an issue you run into quite a bit.”
I growled. The act was dropped - now it was personal. “What do you care? She has no use to you.”
His brows raised and a smug grin crossed his lips. Obviously excited to prove me wrong, he said, “But she does. And so do you.”
Yeah, that’s right, go ahead and smirk, I thought. I’m getting all the information I need out of you.
“No, we don’t,” I argued back. “I’m just a stupid omega, like you enjoy pointing out so much.”
“You are,” Silas said bluntly. “Nobody’s arguing that part.”
Asshole.
“But as much as I’d love to gut you where you stand, I cannot,” he muttered. “You’re much too valuable for that.”
My eyes widened. “Valuable? You and the Knights wanted me dead!”
Silas winced, realizing he’d probably said too much but it was too late to take it back. He crossed his arms. “While I might want you dead, others… others don’t have quite the same perspective.”
“And Angel?” I asked, anxious now. “Is she valuable, too? Is that why we’re both still alive?”
He stood to leave. “If you must know, yes. And now that you’re aware, maybe you’ll keep your mouth shut, omega.”
“Wait!” I cried. My chains rattled as I reached for Silas’s sleeve, desperate for him to explain. “What does that mean?”
Silas grunted in disgust when I touched him, snatching his arm away. “Begone!”
“Please, Silas,” I begged, throwing away my pride.
He threw me backwards. The chains rattled as I fell against the wall, then he gave the lead a hard jerk to make me sit upright.
“Stop acting like that,” Silas demanded. “Show some respect, omega.”
I couldn’t speak. All the pain in my face flooded back after the impact with the wall, and it hurt more now than it did at first.
He’s not going to tell me, I realized with despair. He knows I’m trying to get the truth out of him now, and he’s withholding it from me on purpose.
My mind raced with dark thoughts. I didn’t even want to imagine what Silas wasn’t telling me.
My veins burned with mystic energy. My heart fluttered in excitement - my magic was slowly returning. I could attack Silas right now - hurt him, maybe kill him. Anything to escape.
But then what? Silas was just a lackey working for somebody else, and I had no information on that person. It was hopeless. I had the feeling they wouldn’t stop until they had me in their clutches. And by the sound of it, it wasn’t just me - but Angel as well.
Anger flared in my chest. I wouldn’t let anyone get their hands on Angel just to use her as a tool for gods’ know what. I would protect her. I had to. Nobody else would.
But…
An idea made me pause. What if someone else could protect Angel? Not me, and definitely not Kass, but…
Cinderhollow had definitely changed in the past four hundred years, but I knew there must still be good people out there. Maybe people who wanted to raise a child. The idea was crazy, I knew that, but it could be the only chance I had.
I glanced at Angel, who had worn herself out by crying and was now sitting there red-eyed and tired. My heart clenched in sympathy.
She can’t stay here, I thought with an ache in my chest. I won’t let her fall into the hands of someone evil because I was too selfish to let her go.
The idea crystallized into a solid thought. My mind was quickly made up. I had to get Angel away from Silas, even if it meant leaving her inside Cinderhollow.
Without me.
The selfish, idealistic part of me wanted to stay by her. Protect her. But I knew realistically that wouldn’t work for very long. Silas would know I escaped, and I was the one they truly wanted - Angel was just a by-product of my kidnapping. If she disappeared, I doubt they’d spend the time and energy to look.
The thought of abandoning my child was agonizingly painful, but it was what I needed to do for her own protection.
I shut my eyes tightly and tried not to let the oncoming tears fall.
Done pacing around, Silas stormed up to me. “Omega.”
“Yes?” I mumbled.
“I have business to take care of. You are going to stay put.”
My brow raised in defiance before I could stop it, but thankfully my tongue held back on the retort of, Oh, really? I am?
“I see that smug look on your face,” Silas snapped. “Don’t even think about trying anything.”
He paused, his eyes drifting to my hands, which were still in shackles.
“Is your magic back yet?” he asked.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I muttered.
Silas raised the back of his hand. I flinched. I braced myself for the hit, but it didn’t come. Cautiously, I opened one eye to see him lowering his hand with a satisfied smirk.
“I see. Still not at your best, then,” he commented. “If you were, I’m sure you wouldn’t let me hit you like that.”
I scowled. I hated being in this weakened state, but even more I hated knowing he thought he was better than me.
“Good. Let’s hope to keep it this way,” Silas purred.
He sauntered to a heavy-duty drawer on the other side of the cabin and returned with a hammer and a handful of frighteningly large nails. My blood ran cold.
“What are you doing?” I asked, panicked.
“Relax, I’m not going to do anything to you,” Silas replied with a frown. He kneeled on the old wooden floor in front of me, then grabbed the chain attached to my handcuffs. I realized he was going to nail the chain leash to the floor. I grimaced, hating it, but I didn’t know what to do. I accepted it.
When the chain was knotted and nailed into the floor, I had a restricted range of motion. Both my hands were in cuffs, and the chain between them had only a few feet between me and the floorboards.
Great, I thought.
“There,” Silas said, examining his handiwork. “Now, you’re going to be a good little omega and stay put while I tend to business. Isn’t that right, Halo?”
Drop dead. “Yes.”
He narrowed his eyes, then slowly said, “Good. I shall return shortly. I’ll even bring you something to eat.”
My appetite was long gone. I probably couldn’t even stomach anything Silas tried to feed me anyway.
Silas left the cabin and shifted. The man disappeared, replaced by a deep purple wyvern. His black eyes watched me suspiciously for a moment, then he slammed the door shut with his tail. I flinched again. Outside, I heard the beating of his wings, then they gradually faded as he took to the sky.
Angel fussed awake again from the noise. She still looked exhausted from crying earlier, and now her face was a miserable frown. I longed to reach out for her, to hold her and soothe her properly, but I couldn’t - my hands were chained to the floor.
“I’m so sorry, sweetie,” I said to her. “I wish you could understand what was happening. But maybe it’s better that you don’t. I hope you forget all of this ever happened.”
Angel frowned, her lip wibbling, and tried to crawl over to me. My heart shattered.
Fuck these chains, I thought. If I was going to get Angel to safety, I needed to hold her first.
Using all the force I could muster, I reached for her carrier. My muscles ached, and the chains strained painfully against my skin, but with a ton of effort I finally managed to grab the edge of the carrier. It toppled down and I caught it clumsily, then unbuckled Angel before pulling her into my lap with a relieved sigh.
“There we go, baby, I’m right here,” I murmured to her. She instantly clutched my shirt and grumbled, happy to be in physical contact with me again.
But not for long, I thought with heartbreaking agony. I took a quiet moment to simply enjoy holding my daughter. I wished it never had to end.
When I could finally tear myself away, I sighed. I had to do this now, while Silas was gone, or I would never be able to.
Closing my eyes, I focused my energy. The newly reviving magic sparked in my veins. It was barely enough for this to work, and I only had one shot. It had to work.
Doubts plagued my mind. What if Cinderhollow was the same as when I left it? What if it was worse?
No, I refused to believe that. Despite the hatred the Cinderhollow of four hundred years ago felt towards me, I still knew there was good amongst the people. I had faith that nobody would pass the opportunity to help a child left alone.
And, for some strange reason, I had a good feeling about this. As good a feeling one could have when leaving their child behind, anyway.
“Someone out there will find you,” I promised Angel, though it was probably more to reassure myself.
I shut my eyes again and let out a deep exhale. The magic sparked and fizzled, like a fuel tank close to empty. Just enough for one burst of magic. And I was going to make it count.
My focus strained. My nails dug into the side of Angel’s carrier. I nearly stopped breathing.
Then, a flash of white.
The chains were gone. The cabin vanished.
The faint scent of alcohol, deep-fried food and rain soaking the stone beneath my unsteady feet. My head spun, and my stomach churned uneasily. I let out a soft groan. Whatever I’d done, it wasn’t nearly as smooth as the last time I time travelled.
But this time, it wasn’t time travel. I’d done something different. Judging by the streets and lights and sounds, I was inside town. I’d teleported.
A mix of excitement and anxiety hit me. As much as I wanted to see everything, I didn’t have much time. If I waited too long, the burst of magic would extinguish, and I wouldn’t be able to return to Silas’s cabin.
And if I don’t go back, they’ll come hunting for us. I’m so sorry, Angel. It’s safer this way.
Before me stood what appeared to be a shop built into the mountainside. Wearily, I lifted my head to the sign hanging above.
The Drunken Dragon... Is this a bar?
I grimaced, realizing I probably hadn’t chosen the best place to end up. But there was no time to search for a better option. Angel was inside town now, and would be quickly found by someone, and that was all I could hope to accomplish.
“Maybe somewhere there’s an omega who wants a child of his own,” I murmured out loud to Angel. “I hope… I hope whoever he is, he finds you.”
Worn out by the constant stress, Angel couldn’t keep her eyes open. They fluttered shut. My throat tightened as the tears threatened to overflow. I leaned in and kissed her forehead, taking in one last drag of her sweet scent.
“I’m so sorry.” The hot tears broke loose, stinging my eyes. “I’ll come back. I swear it. Goodbye, Angel.”
Tears blurred my vision as I took one last heartbroken glance at my daughter before the dying sparks of magic in my veins took me back to the abandoned cabin and left her behind in Cinderhollow - alone.
5
Kassius
Crushed weeds and parted tall grass indicated a path where the two figures had fled the day before. I frowned, shifted back to my human form, and followed the trail. I needed to conserve all the energy I could in case of an altercation.
My chest felt syrupy and thick with anxiety. The uncertainty of what I’d run into made my palms turn clammy. I’d barely had a conversation with another living being in decades, much less a physical fight. Would my training during my time in the Knights kick in, like muscle memory, or would I end up a flailing, useless mess?
Whoever that blond person is, they need me, I reminded myself. There was one thing that hadn’t faded in my centuries of hiding, and it was my sense of righteousness. I’d fight for justice, even if it meant getting hurt in the process.
Filled with new determination, I followed the path until I came across a lone building in the distance. No doubt the people were inside. Treading carefully, I approached the old cabin. The windows were boarded up with rotting wood and rusted nails. The side paneling seemed ancient, and I was surprised a cabin so old was still standing.
It must be… At least four hundred years old.
My pulse sped up as the cabin drew nearer. The door hung slightly ajar - it was clearly unlocked.
What if this is a trap? I thought suddenly.
The idea made me pause, but then I heard a low, agonized groan coming from inside. The hairs on the back of my neck stood. Whoever was inside the cabin right now was in pain.
And I was going to help them.
Fuelled by conviction, I ran to the door and pushed it open. It slammed back against the wall, revealing an empty cabin - except for the person chained to the floor. Rage filled me at the sight. I couldn’t see their face - it was buried in their arms as they lay there, collapsed.
“Are you okay?” I exclaimed, running to their side.
As I touched their shoulder, the person lifted their head.
Time slowed. The world came crashing down around me.
It was my former mate, Halo.
Halo’s eyes widened. As did mine. My grip on him faltered. I yanked my hand back like I’d been burned.
His hair was unkempt,
and his face was red and tear-stained, his expression utterly miserable. The soul in his eyes was gone. He looked like he’d been through hell.
“What happened?” I asked instantly, anger surging up in me. “Who did this to you?”
Halo’s eyes widened slightly when he realized who I was. His voice cracked. “Kass?”
Hearing him say my name in that heartbroken tone sent an arrow through my heart - painful, bittersweet.
“Tell me what happened,” I asked again. “Why - how are you here? Why are you in chains?”
My eyes flickered to his body. Half his shirt was missing; he was crying, chained to the floor. The worst imaginable thought plagued my mind.
“Did somebody hurt you?” I demanded, nearly shouting. He flinched at my voice, and I immediately shrunk back with guilt.
“No, I… What are you doing here?” Halo said, sounding distracted and confused.
We both needed to breathe. I took a moment to collect myself. “I’m here because I saw two people yesterday, and one was in chains. I’m assuming that person was you.”
Halo nodded slowly, a frown across his lips. “How… How are you even here?” He reached out with a shaky hand and touched my face, then quickly retracted his fingers. “You’re real.”
“Yes, I am,” I said.
His eyes flickered. “You’re still alive.”
I couldn’t read his tone. “Yes. And so are you.”
“Yes,” he mumbled.
We stared at each other in awkward silence.
Halo was alive, after all these centuries. He was right here in front of me, and yet I didn’t know how to feel. Was I still angry? Was I happy to see him? Could I be both at once? The amount of thoughts and emotions swirling in my mind made my head throb.
But with cold dread, I realized something was missing.
“Where is Angel?” I demanded.
Halo’s eyes widened again a moment before he burst out into a terrible, gutwrenching sob. He folded over, head in his hands, crying as his body wracked with effort.
