Elvi

Elvi (eh~ll~vee) groaned as she was knocked hard into the ground. Trying to push off the body now holding her down seemed fruitless. The shifter changed positions, pressing a knee forcefully between the shoulder blades of his victim and grabbed a handful of hair, tugging with little to no care backwards. She hissed at the pain in her scalp. If she was going to make it out of this alive she would need to get a hand free. Magick was useful to her only with hands free, not having mastered thought-powered magick yet. “Attempt to flee, and I will kill you” said the rough voice next to her ear. “When I turn you over, witch, you will stay still. If you attempt magick, it will be the last thing you ever do. Do you understand me?” He matched his question with a tugging of her hair so forceful, her chest would leave the ground if possible. “Answer me vermin,” he spat. “Yes,” Elvi reluctantly replied. Her body was pressed once again into the ground as he crouched over her, before flipping her over like she weighed nothing at all. Green eyes met brown. His grip relaxed on her wrist, taking in her pale skin, full red lips and raven hair. Elvi took her opportunity and pushed the shifter off of her. Stumbling to her feet, she made her way towards the closest of her Coven. She could hear the heavy footfalls closing in. Throwing her hand behind her in a slashing motion, she focused on creating the air blast. It missed. The shifter caught her wrist and twisted her roughly to the ground. He was on top of her again. There was something different in those chestnut eyes now. “I don’t want to hurt you” he said, all harshness removed from his voice. “Could have fooled me,” Elvi replied, struggling to free herself. “Honestly.” Elvi stilled, underneath her would be attacker. A long silence fell, where they stared at each other. Elvi took in his features more closely. Appraising him properly for the first time. She would have found him quite handsome if he wasn’t a shifter. His ochre skin and high cheekbones were fetching. Her Coven would disapprove of her thought. “Don’t you know who I am to you?” he all but whispered. “My enemy.” “No. You…” The shifter was tackled off of her by her brother. She got to her feet quickly to see him punching the shifter in his face on the ground. He shoved hard and soon her brother was on the defense. Elvi ran forward, twirling her wrist and pushing her fingers out rapidly, encircling her brother in a shield charm. It wouldn’t hold for long, but it would protect him for now. Her brother, Haydeon (hay~dee~on) was tall in comparison to herself, however, he found himself at least five inches shorter than this shifter. The shifter turned from her brother, clearly noticing the shimmering air encircling him. She couldn’t help but think he looked impressed. Two more shifters approached from behind, flanking him. He turned slightly to both men, never removing his eyes from her, and whispered something to them. With wide eyes they backed away, before running into the forest to continue their search. “My name is Rowan (row~en)” he called across the distance. Elvi’s eyes widened as she realised who she was dealing with. Haydeon, too, stopped his escape efforts momentarily. “I know who you are, Wolf King,” she spat. “I thought you said you would kill me if I moved or attempted magick. Or are you as cowardly as they say?” Elvi goaded. She would work to keep her brother from the focus of this tyrant. “In polite society, this is where you would introduce yourself,” Rowan answered in a clipped tone. “Vermin aren’t part of polite society, My Lord,” she answered, with a mocking curtsy in response. “I regret using those words on you.” He seemed genuine, Elvi thought, appraising the King. She had never met one of the royal class before, let alone held a conversation. She could feel her shield charm weakening. Her brother would be in more danger than she could have thought once it broke. The Shifter King was not a man to be messed with if the actual rumours were true. “Could have fooled me,” she replied with raised eyebrows. “What is your name?” the King repeated, ignoring the dig at his character. “Elvi,” she answered, not entirely sure why she divulged the information. “Elvi,” he repeated with a smile that spread slowly across his face. “Don’t you know who I am to you?” “You are the one responsible for killing my Coven, and hundreds others like us.” The King’s face dropped, that clearly not being the answer he was looking for. “My greatest enemy. The man my Coven fears to meet for it is surely a death sentence when we do.” Rowan stared, face an emotionless mask. “Yes,” he answered simply. “However, that isn’t all.” He took a step closer, and Elvi mirrored it, stepping backwards. He raised his hands in surrender. “I have called my warriors back. Your Coven will be left alone.” “Why?” “You are my mate, Elvi,” the King choked out. “NO,” roared Haydeon, beginning to bash furiously against the ever weakening shield charm. “YOU CAN'T HAVE HER.” Elvi stood still, unable to move or think. Why would the Norns (n~aw~m~s) do this to her? Had she offended the Gods in some way, and this was her punishment? “Can you not feel the pull?” Rowan asked, testing a step forward. Elvi scowled. “No. And thank the Gods for that,” she spat harshly. “I will never accept you.” The King took another step towards his mate, ignoring her brother, who was now beating his knuckles bloody on the cracking shield. “We are meant for each other” he continued, approaching her like a startled faun. “I won’t hurt you, Elvi. I couldn’t now, even if I wanted to.” “Well, isn’t that reassuring. All offense meant, Rowan, you are the last person on this planet that I would be with willingly. You are responsible for the erasure of my people and kind. There is nothing that you could do to tempt me into a life with you.” Rowan sank to his knees, head hanging low. A man rejected was a pitiful sight. No shifter mate bond would induce Elvi into this life. Elvi clearly had eyes, and could see how physically attractive the man was in front of her, roaming her eyes over his arms and following them to his long dark hair hung over his shoulders, but no level of physical attraction could cover the hurt she felt for her family, community and kind. With a sound like shattering glass, the forcefield broke. Haydeon teleported to Elvi’s side, grabbed her wrists before teleporting them safely away from the King.