chapter five
1118 Words
"I don't know who he is but he's right. I heard demons are around, but thankfully our cottage is quite far from the rest." She stood and took us to an open back door. "Please be safe."
"No Mama, I can not leave you." I did not want to leave my mother.
"Hey, staying here is not helping me either, Normeta." Mother's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Please go, the Alpha never forgets a crime done against him, he's unforgiving. I feel guilty enough that you're in this because of me, please go." Her voice broke, she was about to cry.
"She's right, we have to leave." The boy urged me, his eyes darted round, nerves and apprehension on his face.
"What's your name, young man?" Mother looked at the boy.
"Chadyl." He responded.
She grabbed his free hand, her forehead was lined with desperation and sadness. "Please, take care of my daughter. Please."
He looked from me to mother uncertainly. "Uhmm... okay."
"Thank you. May the Moon Goddess guide you both to safety." She prayed and let go.
"Mama." But she ran inside and locked the door before either of us could change our mind about me leaving.
This boy who called himself Chadyl held my wrist firmly and pulled me into a small race. I ran because I knew mother and Chadyl was right, if I remained we would be caught.
I was familiar with hidden paths and took us both along those. These demons were ruthless, I wondered how many souls they wanted. I had no idea how long we ran for but I soon got tired and could move no more.
I had not eaten anything for the past two days, my body could no longer take the stress. I was starving, I let out a dry cough, my ribs hurt too. I was a walking, barely living desolation.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" He stopped to ask me, concern etched his features.
I shook my head, unable to speak. I wanted to cry, tears were lodged at my throat. Why me? Why such life? "I'm tired." I sniffled.
"Here, let's find a place to help you get some rest." He helped me to the root of a big tree.
I allowed myself be led there. I sat, careful not to let my battered back touch the rough bark of the tree. I closed my eyes for few seconds before opening them again. I turned to him. "Thank you."
"For what exactly?" He seemed tired too, he turned to face me. That was when I noticed his eyes were a strange yet unique blend of blue and white.
Guess I was not the only kind born with strange eyes. "For saving me and my mother back in our home."
"Hm. You helped me find an escape too." He said, looking into space.
I gazed at his features, quite lost in them. He was good looking but there was sadness and some kind of anger there too. Not to mention the bruises on his face.
"You keep staring." He announced without averting his gaze from what held its interest.
"I just wonder...where are you from? Another pack, perhaps?" The curiosity was not hidden in my tone, I wanted to know how he had gotten to this place.
"I'm not a werewolf." He firmly stated. Maybe it was me overthinking it but it felt as though he had something against the werewolves.
"You make it sound as if it's a bad thing to be one." I twiddled with my thumbs.
"No insult to you or disrespect to your mother, but I don't appreciate a clan whose leader only thinks of pillaging and the undue destruction of innocent lives." The spite speared and anger increased.
"If you're talking about Alpha Dylien, don't waste your breath, it's not new how wicked he can be, even to his own people." Pain gripped when I remembered how he had personally had me beaten and made jest of before the whole pack.
The humiliation and embarrassment. Yes, I had stolen but it was not out of greed but to save a life. My mother's life. I had hoped he would at least understand that and pardon me, but he had not.
"You're not alone, I have a ruthless wizard lord too." He told me.
I sighed. "I guess it does not matter the clan, there are wicked people everywhere. How did you get here?"
"I was captured." He simply said but I had a feeling there was more to the story. I would not probe him further, it was his story to tell.
I heard shouts and screams. "The demons are another evidence that evil will always reign, no matter how good we tend to be."
"The demons have only visited us just once, they took few souls, left and never came back." He drew circles on the ground with his left big toe.
"How dare you?!" My heart constricted with fear, Chadyl held my wrist as we both stood to the angry voice.
Alpha Dylien had found us. His eyes blazed with fury, Chadyl and I tried to move back but the big tree was behind us, my back had hit the bark, I winced.
"A-alpha." I stuttered.
"How dare you try to escape me?!" He growled, stepping forward menacingly.
He grabbed my chin and clenched tight, my eyes watered, I whimpered. "P-please..."
"Leave her alone." Chadyl tried to push him away but he was too strong.
Tears pooled and fell, he was going to increase my punishment. I just knew it, and it was going to be my fault. If only I had not stopped to rest, Chadyl and I would be far from here.
But the Alpha had caught up with us. How had he even known we were here? How had he managed to find us? My chin hurt so bad.
"You're hurting her." Chadyl shoved the Alpha with much force, he staggered back a little.
Chadyl quickly pushed me behind him, he was trying to protect me. I bit my lower lip, tears fell. The Alpha would kill us both.
"Who are you?!" He bellowed at Chadyl.
"Pillaging and burning a small, harmless village of witches and wizards, does that ring a bell?" Chadyl retorted in anger.
"You! So you're a captive of that cursed village?!" Alpha Dylien's tone was taunting. "No wonder your leader was quick to sell you all off."
"My village is not cursed!" Chadyl argued hotly.
"How dare you?!" He was about to rush forward to hit Chadyl when a force hit him from behind, he lost his balance and fell.
As soon as I saw what that force was, I screamed...
- Writer
