24 Hours

Awakening

“Aria, you will be the general one day.” My father looked proudly down at me.

“When Father? When can I be like you?” My eyes were shining as I looked back at him.

“When you turn eighteen in nine years. But I will need to train you harder than anyone else trains. You will become the best fighter and the best leader. I have high expectations for you, Aria,” My father put his hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t worry, father, I will live up to your expectations. With Shadow as my partner, we will be unbeatable.”

“Good. Don’t disappoint me,” My father turned and walked away.

That conversation happened a few weeks after I finished training Shadow. We were inseparable by then. There wasn’t a time Shadow and I wasn’t together. 

Finally, there was a light in the darkness. I raced towards it, ready to get out of this nightmare. I didn’t want to relive all of those memories. I didn’t want to be alone with my thoughts anymore. I wanted to be with James and Shadow again. Hope filled me as the light got brighter. I was finally getting out of here.

*****

I opened my eyes and sat up with a start. I was a little disoriented, so my mind couldn’t process where I was. As I looked around, I noticed that I was still in tents, but Shadow wasn’t around me, and I panicked. I was used to Shadow being around all the time. Since she wasn’t the first thing I saw, I got worried.

Suddenly I heard a growl coming from outside with shouts following. It sounded like the growling was trying to get closer to where I was. I rolled off the cot and reached for my sword. I hurried toward the entrance of the tent so I could see what was happening.

As I drew my sword, a shout sounded that I could understand and make out, “Shadow, you can’t go in there right now!” That’s when I raced out to see her. 

“Shadow!” I exited the tent and gasped at the sight in front of me. Shadow was fighting tooth and claw to get to me while soldiers were blocking her from entering the tent. She looked awful, though. She landed heavily on her feet where before she was graceful, and her fur was matted and stuck up in different places. It seems like no one heard my shout, and that made me angry.

“Shadow, the General needs to recover before you see her again!” One of the soldiers drew his sword and was ready to hit her with it.

“Stop! Shadow comes with me!” I strutted forward and knocked everyone down who got in my way. Shadow made an excited noise when she heard my voice and saw me. I knelt and opened my arms to embrace her as she raced towards me. Having her near me calmed me but not enough to not be angry.

“Ma’am we were told that you wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon-”

I cut him off, “Whoever laid a hand on my Shadow will face my wrath. My bonding animal has a right to be near me as I’m recovering, and it will drive any animal mad when they are away from their bonding partner for too long. I must’ve been asleep for at least a week for her to look like this.” I turned and glared at everyone present, “You will meet me on the training field in two hours, and I will teach you what happens when you try to harm my partner or me. Come, Shadow.”

With that, I turn and lead Shadow back into the tent I now recognize as my own. As soon as we entered, Shadow leaped up onto my cot and lay down. She fell asleep almost as soon as I started brushing out her fur. 

I was furious. I will make them pay for doing this to Shadow. I have never once separated a bonding animal from a human, and I never will. Separating animal and human weakens both parties and slowly drives them insane. Everyone was aware of that fact, so they were trying to weaken me.

“Aria, you’re awake!” James burst in and looked at me in surprised relief.

Usually, I would be happy to see him, but right now, I wasn’t. I stood up and glared at him with my hands on my hips, “Did you order the soldiers to keep Shadow away from me while I was recovering?”

He looked away from me, and at that moment, I knew that no matter what, he said he wanted to weaken me. He kept Shadow away.

“You don’t have to say anything I already have my answer,” I look at him sadly, “I thought I could trust you, but I can’t anymore. You tried killing Shadow and I. Stay away from us. Leave and don’t come back!”

“Aria, listen to me! I didn’t do it on purpose!” He took a step closer to me.

I drew my sword and pressed it against his chest, “Don’t you dare say it wasn’t on purpose! You have been studying the art of healing for more than ten years! You of all people know that having a bonding animal and human together makes recovery faster. The engagement is off. I never want to see you again. Get out of this camp. Run and never look behind you or your shadow may just eat you up.

With that, I grabbed his shirt and threw him out of my tent. The soldiers guarding the entrance looked at me in surprise, but I paid them no mind.

“Aria, listen to me! The vampires captured my parents and threatened to kill them!” James desperately got on his hands and knees looking up at me, “If I didn’t do what I did, they would kill them!”

“Why should I care now? You tried killing me. Tell me the truth right now. Are you a vampire or vampire spy?” I pointed my sword at him.

“Only recently, I promise! The vampires captured my parents and forced me to do as they say! I promise I didn’t lie to you at the beginning!” He looked down in shame.

I look at him in rage, “Not only did you shame the army but you shamed me. I was engaged to a traitor. The punishment for what you did is death.”

“General Mercia, you’re awake!” Hannah races up in excitement, but I ignored her.

James looked down in shame, “yes, I know.”

“However, I will show you mercy,” I smiled evilly at him, “You will keep your life, but you will be receiving 50 lashes from the flagrum and then thrown out of camp. You will be barred from entering any human city that’s behind walls. Let the vampires have you. I shall enjoy giving you your punishment!”

“Yes, General. Thank you for sparing my life,” James was crying at this point, but I didn’t care.

“Lieutenant, please escort this man to the whipping post and send for the flagrum.” I was excited as I went back into my tent.