the floor. The chair that seemed like a moment ago had held captive the Sun Warrior’s sister was tipped over on its side, empty. Queen Camillia was nowhere to be seen, nor that sniveling little niece of hers, Bethany.
How could this have happened? How was it even possible ? For the first time since he couldn’t remember, King William felt a harsh tug of fear deep down inside of him, the kind of fear that had bred the hatred and anger so completely encompassing his soul for so long. The girl had defeated him. She had torn through his walls as easily as a child rips through a piece of paper, had forced him into submission like some mangy, stupid dog. He was afraid of her, alright, but he hated her even more. And he was livid.
He climbed to his feet, the hot blood coursing through his veins like streams of fire giving him physical strength, though his mind still felt groggy and weak. He snapped his fingers hard, making a cracking sound that jolted all five of his sleeping Warriors out of their sleep. King William was pleased when they sat up immediately – a little of the confidence that he wore like armor around him coming back into place. The girl had no more control over him, and his control over his Warriors had come back as though it had never left.
As he watched them gain their feet like drunken fools after a long night, an ugly grin spread across his old face, and King William could see the fear on their faces as he leered over them. Andre spoke first. “My Liege,” he began, but the look on the King’s face stopped him there.
“You four,” King William said, “put together a hunting party and search the woods. If you find the girl, bring her to me. Kill anyone who is with her. Move!”
All of the Warriors except for Andre gave a low bow and made their way hastily to the door. When they were gone, King William turned to Andre, that ugly grin still on his face.
“Andre,” he snarled. “Bring me my son.”
Alexa
I seemed to be fading away, drifting further and further from whatever force had tethered me to existence. The pain in my shattered wrists slowly melted into nothing, along with every other feeling I was experiencing. My eyelids closed and darkness engulfed me. But I was not afraid, couldn’t be afraid. Peace washed over me, taking me down like a strong rip current, holding me there, and that was fine. Just fine.
I was only vaguely aware that I was slipping over the edge of some cliff from which there would be no escape. I had two hands gripped on the ledge, then one. I began to fall. But not in the way that gravity pulls, but in a way that seemed somehow more essential, slower. Almost like floating rather than falling, and yet falling was how it felt.
The crushing, compelling force that had possessed me vanished, and I shot upright, my head spinning and the world spinning right along with it. Slowly, painfully, the darkness began to subside, clearing away the way shadows do when chased by light. It took a moment to remember where I was, who I was, and what had been happening.
My eyes settled first on my sister, who was once more unconscious, sprawled on the floor of the van. Then I saw Kayden and Tommy, Kayden’s hand locked around Tommy’s throat, pinning him to the wall of the van. Tommy’s eyes showed no fear, only strong anger and defiance. Kayden’s golden gaze met them with a hard look of his own, like two lions squaring off for dominance.
“What happened?” I asked, for what seemed like the hundredth time on this night, even though some small part of me whispered that I already knew the answer. My voice was barely a whisper, my vocal cords somehow incapable of much else.
Slowly, his face conveying a silent warning, Kayden released Tommy and turned to face me. “She almost killed you,” Kayden said. He jerked his head toward Tommy, who still looked as angry as a taunted bull. “He tried to stop me
How could this have happened? How was it even possible ? For the first time since he couldn’t remember, King William felt a harsh tug of fear deep down inside of him, the kind of fear that had bred the hatred and anger so completely encompassing his soul for so long. The girl had defeated him. She had torn through his walls as easily as a child rips through a piece of paper, had forced him into submission like some mangy, stupid dog. He was afraid of her, alright, but he hated her even more. And he was livid.
He climbed to his feet, the hot blood coursing through his veins like streams of fire giving him physical strength, though his mind still felt groggy and weak. He snapped his fingers hard, making a cracking sound that jolted all five of his sleeping Warriors out of their sleep. King William was pleased when they sat up immediately – a little of the confidence that he wore like armor around him coming back into place. The girl had no more control over him, and his control over his Warriors had come back as though it had never left.
As he watched them gain their feet like drunken fools after a long night, an ugly grin spread across his old face, and King William could see the fear on their faces as he leered over them. Andre spoke first. “My Liege,” he began, but the look on the King’s face stopped him there.
“You four,” King William said, “put together a hunting party and search the woods. If you find the girl, bring her to me. Kill anyone who is with her. Move!”
All of the Warriors except for Andre gave a low bow and made their way hastily to the door. When they were gone, King William turned to Andre, that ugly grin still on his face.
“Andre,” he snarled. “Bring me my son.”
Alexa
I seemed to be fading away, drifting further and further from whatever force had tethered me to existence. The pain in my shattered wrists slowly melted into nothing, along with every other feeling I was experiencing. My eyelids closed and darkness engulfed me. But I was not afraid, couldn’t be afraid. Peace washed over me, taking me down like a strong rip current, holding me there, and that was fine. Just fine.
I was only vaguely aware that I was slipping over the edge of some cliff from which there would be no escape. I had two hands gripped on the ledge, then one. I began to fall. But not in the way that gravity pulls, but in a way that seemed somehow more essential, slower. Almost like floating rather than falling, and yet falling was how it felt.
The crushing, compelling force that had possessed me vanished, and I shot upright, my head spinning and the world spinning right along with it. Slowly, painfully, the darkness began to subside, clearing away the way shadows do when chased by light. It took a moment to remember where I was, who I was, and what had been happening.
My eyes settled first on my sister, who was once more unconscious, sprawled on the floor of the van. Then I saw Kayden and Tommy, Kayden’s hand locked around Tommy’s throat, pinning him to the wall of the van. Tommy’s eyes showed no fear, only strong anger and defiance. Kayden’s golden gaze met them with a hard look of his own, like two lions squaring off for dominance.
“What happened?” I asked, for what seemed like the hundredth time on this night, even though some small part of me whispered that I already knew the answer. My voice was barely a whisper, my vocal cords somehow incapable of much else.
Slowly, his face conveying a silent warning, Kayden released Tommy and turned to face me. “She almost killed you,” Kayden said. He jerked his head toward Tommy, who still looked as angry as a taunted bull. “He tried to stop me
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