Marked By The Hunt

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

She was no longer in the dam. Looking around, she had no idea where she was. Somehow she’d ended up in the middle of a forest edged lake, the only similarity being a reflection of the moon in the water. But even that was different. This moon was several days off full. She continued to tread water, trying to figure out what was going on. What had happened to the dam? And the rise of dirt Daisy, Ted and Scout had stood on. Most important of all, where was Marley?

Not knowing what else to do, Quinn swam for the shore. She was only halfway there when a shout rang out across the lake. That had been her sister. She tried to swim faster.

“No! I’m not going with you. Anyway, I’m too young to work in a nightclub. Let me go,” Marley shouted.

Quinn was now close enough to the edge of the lake to see the shadowy figure of her sister under the trees and a tall thin person who had to be over six feet. She didn’t know whether to shout out a warning or try and take him by surprise.

“Masquerade isn’t any old nightclub. You accepted the favour, you must pay the price. Why did you come to this realm if you weren’t looking to pay early? You had until the end of your human year before I came to collect the debt. So why did you call me to you?”

“I don’t know how to return home. I want you to take me back.”

“I told you to call me when you’re ready. Before the last day of the year. I’m not a… what do you call them in your world? Taxi.”

“I didn’t plan to come here. I was swimming with my sister and her friends. You have to take me home. They’ll be worried.”

“Swimming?”

“Yes. Let me go.”

The man holding onto Marley laughed. “It’s a full moon, isn’t it?”

“What’s that got to do with anything?”

The man laughed once more. “Absolutely everything. But that isn’t my problem. Time to repay the favour.” He threw Marley over his shoulder and strode through the trees.

Marley stayed still for a few seconds before she began kicking and screaming.

Quinn tried to swim faster, but she was already going as fast as possible. By the time she reached the edge of the lake, she could no longer see or hear Marley. She dropped to the grass, shivering. Wrapping her arms around herself, she tried to think what to do. Where were they? Hearing a noise behind her, she rose to her feet to face it, wishing she had something to defend herself with.

A shadowy figure came to a stop, hands raised, palms towards her. “It’s okay. I’m human. Like you.”

She took a step back from him. It was okay? Her sister had been kidnapped, she had no idea where she was and who started a conversation with a comment like that? She eyed his broad shoulders, wishing there was more light to see him clearer. “What would you be other than human?”

“Fae.”

“Fae? You mean like fairies and elves?” She took another step away. Could she outrun him?

“Yeah.” He lowered one hand and held out the other. “I’m Gideon.”

He must think her an i***t. There was no way she was getting close enough to shake his hand. “I’m Quinn.” She waited for the usual comment people made. It was annoying having to explain that her name wasn’t a boy’s name. Her parents had chosen to give her and her sister unisex names.

“I guess you’ll be going to Masquerade.”

It took her a second to register his comment since she hadn’t been expecting it. Then it took her a few more seconds to make sense of it. “The man who kidnapped my sister mentioned that name.”

Gideon nodded. “I heard.”

“You heard?” When he nodded again, she demanded, “Then why didn’t you help her? Why did you let him take her away like that?”

It was Gideon who took a step back this time. “He’s Demi Fae.”

The way he’d spoken the words made it seem like that was all the explanation she needed. But it wasn’t. “You could have done something.”

“I was nearly that clueless when I first ended up here. I only wish I hadn’t thought it was far too crazy and researched more when I had the chance.”

“I don’t have time for this.” She half turned away from him, unwilling to turn her back on a stranger. Particularly one that was taller and probably stronger than her. She had to find her sister. As annoying as she was and even though she’d nearly killed her dog and was chasing after the boy she liked, she couldn’t desert her.

Gideon reached for her, grabbing hold of her wrist. “Shh. Can you hear them?”

She started to pull away from him, freezing when she heard the barely discernible howling of dogs in the distance. “What is it?”

“The Wild Hunt.”

She stared at him, wishing there weren’t so many shadows to hide his expression. “This is not happening.” She slowly shook her head. “These are all myths.” Fae, Demi Fae, Wild Hunt. They were all words from fairytales. He was clearly crazy. She didn’t know exactly what was going on, but she did know her sister was in trouble. “I have to go.” She tried to pull out of his grip.

His hand tightened around her wrist. “They might not hurt you, but if they do catch you they’re going to ask if you’ve seen me. And there’s no reason for you to risk your life by lying to them.” He drew her towards the lake.

She struggled to escape. “Let me go.” Her words brought to mind her sister’s pleas. “You don’t understand.” Her sister was getting further away and she had no idea how to find her.

“I’m going to Masquerade Nightclub. If you hide with me, I’ll take you there.”

Again she froze. She needed to find her sister, but the sounds of the Hunt growing closer made her want to run. Gideon’s grip on her wrist added to the feeling she’d had ever since her sister had failed to surface in the dam.

“Look, I know I’m a stranger. But I’m desperate here. I’m not about to let them catch me. Please, what could it hurt to hide until they’re gone?”

She let him tug her closer to the water. She had no idea. With how close the sounds were growing, she’d better figure it out fast. She took another couple of steps forward when he continued to tug on her wrist. “Are you sure you know where my sister was taken?”

He nodded. “I’ve been making my way there for the past month.”

She couldn’t risk not finding out if he knew. Her sister needed help and she had no idea where to find her. “Okay.” She followed him into the water, trying to ignore the fear rising in her. The situation was strange, she didn’t trust Gideon, but she couldn’t understand why she was so scared. A little scared was to be expected, but not the rapidly increasing fear she was feeling.

Gideon continued to hold her wrist tightly. “When they get close you need to stay completely still and not make a sound.” He stopped once the water was up to his chest and finally let go of her wrist.

She watched as he half removed the black backpack, she hadn’t noticed he was wearing, and take two narrow tubes from it. “What are you doing?” Her body was tense and she wanted to run. Remaining where she was took a ridiculous amount of effort.

He put his backpack on again and held out one of the tubes. “It’s a hollow reed. When the Hunt is close we need to stay beneath the water. It’s the only way to be absolutely certain they don’t pick up your scent. You really don’t want to be marked by the Hunt too.”

She wanted to ask him more questions, but the sound of the Hunt had grown louder and the urge to run became impossible to ignore. Still clutching the reed, she started to turn away. Mindless fear swamped her and the only thought she had was escape.

Gideon grabbed her hand and wrapped her fingers around the thick chain necklace at his neck. “Don’t run. Never run. They will chase.” Continuing to hold her hand around the necklace, he raised the reed to his lips and sank beneath the water, tugging her with him.

The fear receded the moment her hand wrapped around the necklace and she was able to think again. She mirrored his actions, sinking beneath the surface of the water. It took her a moment to get the hang of breathing through the reed. The sound of the Hunt was loud, even beneath the water. She tried to resist, but curiosity got the better of her and she rose enough to peer above the water. Fear raced through her and she froze. Gideon dragged her down and she was relieved he did. She’d seen more than enough.

There was no way she wanted to come face-to-face with the creatures travelling away from her. They’d carried a mixture of weapons. Swords, spears, axes, bows. And they’d all been mounted on horses with wolves running with them. Impossibly large wolves with sharp teeth that looked like they’d make short work of a full grown human. They hadn’t scared her as much as the creatures riding on the horses. The one that had led the pack had a rack of antlers rising from his head, his torso bare and showing wiry muscles. He’d been the least frightening. The assorted creatures travelling with him had struck fear into her. There’d been spider like people with multiple legs, clinging to the backs of horses. Amongst them had been extremely large horses with even larger creatures that looked square and solid and mountainous, lower incisors protruding over their upper lips. And there’d been others. Numerous creatures of various shapes, sizes and colours.

When the sounds of the Hunt had faded into the distance, Gideon let her rise. She stared at him, lost for words.

“What did you think you were doing? I told you to stay still.”

“What were they? Those creatures. What were they?”

“Fae and Demi Fae. You can always tell a Fae from a human by the ears. They have a slight point to them, even the Fae that are part human. Those ones, the Fae in the Hunt, they live in the Fringes. Outcasts and misfits. Some are looking for a way to return to favour while others love the hunt.”

“How do you…” Her voice trailed off. Escape? Stop them? She tried to figure out how to ask what she wanted to know. “You said you were marked by the Hunt. How do you stop being marked?”

“By avoiding them for seven years.”

She opened her mouth twice and still nothing came out. She opened it once more. “Seven years?” Her voice sounded like it belonged to a mouse.

“That’s why I have to go to Masquerade Nightclub. It’s a sanctuary. A place where even mortal enemies aren’t allowed to attack each other.”

“How do you know all this?”

“I’ve been stuck in the realms of the Fae for a month. The Wild Hunt is only active at night. From sunset to sunrise. It’s safe to travel during the day.”

She closed her eyes, her hand tightening around the reed she held. Why couldn’t this have been a dream? A nightmare. But it felt too real. The chill of the water against her skin, the shiver of her body from the light breeze that swirled around her and the echo of the Hunt in her memory.