Those Violet Eyes

Where is she

Arwen

Edrahil pulls Hastos behind him as we all lower our bodies into a battle-ready position. Muscles tense then relax ready for action, years of training making it second nature. Eyes adjusted to the dark, ears listening for everything. My men have pulled themselves closer to me, now they are no more than a bodies length in front. I tap the one on the left's shoulder, from the back I can't tell them apart dressed all in black clothes with hoods up over their heads. He turns silently to look straight into my eyes. Without words, I give him directions on what I want him to do, with just the tilt of my head or a small hand moment. I raise my eyebrow without words asking if he understands me. He nods in return and moves off in the direction I had wanted him to go.

The other two feel him move off and spread out to cover the gap he left. Edrahil moves forward to take the middle position between the two men, so I pull Hastos behind me. We hold this position for a few minutes. Eyes focused on any movement, ears listening for the slightest sound coming our way. I can hear voices and movement around the house now, lots of voices and it's making me nervous. Every part of me wants to smash through the trees and find Everly, dispatching anyone who gets in my way. I can feel the heat of anger building inside me. I clench and unclench my fists waiting. Every passing second wreaking havoc on my sanity. I know this feeling, it comes before any battle, but this time the feelings are so much more intense, I have so much more on the line and it's cursing my normal hard-won control to go out the window. I am stuck in my head, thoughts of distraction for anyone who stands in my way circling like vultures. Edrahil straightens and looks back at me, eyebrow raised in question. My anger must be radiating off me. Begrudgingly I pull myself back mentally, lifting my shoulders and rocking my head from side to side. 

There is a rustle in the trees beside us. All ready to end what or whoever it is. A small sound like a tiny bird has us relaxing as the solder I sent out comes back through the trees. His face is grim coursing my nerves to jump setting my whole body on edge. Edrahil steps to the side slightly and the solder moves through and crouches down in front of me. Pushing aside the unease building inside me I crouch down with him. We create a small circle with our bodies to trap the sound of our voices. He keeps his words low and even as he tells me what he saw and heard. 

“Sir, there are at least ten police officers here. The houses have been broken into and trashed” I can feel my blood starting to boil at his words but I let him continue. “It looks like Everly and her aunt got out before anything happened” This time I can't help but butt in. 

"Where is she? Where did she go?” I demanded my anger like a rope inside me, twisted so tight it's about to snap. 

“I'm sorry sir, the officer didn't say” I want to strangle him but I know it's not his fault. All I can manage is a growl, dropping my head. How in hell are we going to find her? I ask myself glaring at the grass at my feet.  

As an answer to my question, there is a commotion at the front of the house. Slowly we make our way through the undergrowth to get a better look. The sound of a woman's anger voice floats over the still air. Something in the back of my mind is remembering this voice. Now on my belly, I commando crawl a little closer. I'm right the voice belongs to one of Everly's friends. The girl with short blue hair. She is standing in front of a police officer with her arms crossed over her chest, giving him what I can only describe as a death glare. Her brother is right behind her, one hand on her shoulder trying to reason with her. The girl Ashley, not it's Ashlyn is standing a little bit off to the side, with her phone to one ear and her finger in the other to hear better. Her eyebrows are pulled together as she listens to whoever is on the other end of the phone. She takes in a deep breath and visibly relaxes. Flapping a hand at the guy, he notices and looks back at her. I can just make out her words. 

"They are safe. They are on their way to aunt Lily's lake house. Charlotte is on her way there now” My heart feels like a weight has been lifted off it at her words. The blue-haired girl gives the officer the finger before turning around to her friend. The three of them talk about going to the lake house now but decide to go in the morning. This is it, this is my chance. I have to follow them. I turn to look behind me for Edrahil.  

“We are going to need a car!” I order, he just nods. I can see the thoughts running through his mind. He is working out how to do this, a small twist of his lip tells me he has thought of something. I finish looking at them all. "But right now, we need to follow these three. Are you ready?” I get four nods from my men and a tiny shake from Hastos.  

"Keep an eye on them, I'll be right back” Edrahil announces before lifting himself up and moving away before I have a chance to stop him. I want to shake my head but let it go and turn back to watch the three friends as they stand in a circle deciding what they are going to do. It looks like the blue-haired girl is not happy about waiting and I don't blame her neither am I.  

Minutes pass and the friends have settled their augment and head towards the muscle car sitting in the driveway. They all get in and seconds later it rumbles to life. I pull myself back a bit so the headlights don't land on me as they turn out of the drive onto the street. I curse under my breath and make my way out of the trees followed closely by Hastos and my men. I stand on the footpath watching the car as it drives down the road. I am about to start running after it, I know I can't keep up with them but my heart is going to explode if I don't do something. I start to turn when a hand slaps down on my shoulder. I whip my head around to give whoever stopped me a piece of my mind when a dark blue people mover pulls up in front of us. The passager window is already down and Edrahil is sitting in the driver's seat. 

"Don't ask, just get in” keeping his eyes on the car in front, I'm already pulling the door open. The back door slides open and Hastos is pushed in. He is face down on the floor when the other three step over him and the car is moving. I'm hoping our quick getaway hasn't stirred the attention of the police we just left behind. I look back over my shoulder and don't see any movement behind us, it looks like we have got away with it for now. Now we just need to catch up with the muscle car.  

We have been following the three friends for a few minutes now when they pull into a driveway. Edrahil pulls into a random drive just a few doors down so we can watch. The back door opens and a pair of long legs slide out. I must admit she is stunning, with her long chocolate brown hair pulled into a sleek ponytail. The moonlight shines off her tawny skin. She looks as if she is on a runway not just walking into her house. I look behind me to see four faces pressed to the window. Clearly, they have fallen under her spell. I laugh to myself thinking they would be done if she smiled at them. Just like that she enters the house and they all let out a sigh.  

“Is that your love sir?” Hastos looks at me with big eyes. I reach back and pat him on the shoulder. 

"No Hastos, she is not but I think she might be a tiny bit out of your league” I see him smile when I say "No” but then it drops at the rest of my words. 

“I don't know? She could totally be into sixteen-year-old book worms” One of the guys in the back says rubbing Hastos on the top of the head. He pushes the hand away and we all laugh. 

“Right we are moving again” Edrahil pulls us out of our light moment and starts the car. We follow the car for a few more minutes before it pulls into another house. The garage door pops open and the car pulls in slowly before the door comes down again. Blocking our view of what's going on inside. Stopping our car just across the road but semi-hidden we talk about the next part of the plan. We can't keep using this car, no doubt it will be reported stolen in the morning. I send Edrahil and one of the men to a service station we saw just a few blocks away, to get a cell phone and some food.  

Some of my father men were stationed on this side of the gate before the last gate was destroyed. They should be able to help us. My other two men and I are left to take turns watching the house for movement when the sliding door opens and Edrahil throws himself into the seat next to Hastos. 

“I forgot how cold the nights here can get” he complains before adding “I have got hold of your fathers' men, they have another car for us and will be here in just over an hour” I sigh thinking everything is falling into place but he goes on “They also told me that there has been a lot of strange attacks on this side. Like they are looking for someone or something. They are not sure who is leading the attacks but it's not good” he finishes 

"Right now, I just want to get to Everly and make sure she is safe. When I can be sure of that then I will look into what is happening here” my mind starts ticking over everything Edrahil has said. There is something much bigger going on and I can’t help but feel I'm going to be right in the middle of it. 

Just like they had said an hour later another people mover pulls up behind us, I look in the rear vision mirror to see two men jump out. Tapping Edrahil on the shoulder I point towards them. We make our way back to talk to them. 

“Good morning your highness” one of the men bows to me, I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes but stand at full height. As much as I hate being referred to as royalty, I do demand respect. I wave my hand at him to go on, then realize it is something my brothers would do and quickly put my hand down.  

"We have everything you asked for in the car and the tank is full. We will take your car and put it somewhere safe so it can be returned to its owner as you instructed” he finished with another little bow, this time I did roll my eyes.  

"Thank you. When we get back, I will be working on opening another gate for you all to come home” I tell them both, one smiles and one looks down at his feet. I tilt my head to the side. 

“Do you not want to go home?” I ask 

“He has fallen in love with a girl here” the other man explains.

“I know that feeling" I mutter. He just nods at me.