I would take the fucking pain any day.
Finally, I felt the chains budging. After another bout of struggle, they snapped from the walls.
I fell on my face, catching my breath and easing my muscles. But I still didn’t have time to waste, I had to get out of here right now. Against the pain coursing through my body and the dizziness brought on my head blow, I pushed to my feet and stalked to the door.
I checked and yes, the door was locked. Again, I tapped into my strength and pushed against the door. It was even harder than snapping the chains, but after a while, I broke it down with a loud bang.
Fuck. If there were any demons left in this place, they had sure heard this. Even though I didn’t know where I was and which direction I should go, I shifted into my werewolf form and bolted.
I made it out of a stone manor surrounded by woods and was momentarily blinded by the bright sun shining overhead. That was when I finally heard the shouts of Drollmor’s lesser demons coming for me. As if I would stick around and wait for them to catch up with me.
I didn’t slow down as I ran toward the forest. It didn’t matter where I ran to, as long as I got away. Later, I would stop to figure out directions and where to go.
I was just two feet from the line of trees when a shock hit me, freezing me. My muscles locked down and I let out a yelp as pain coursed through me, rendering me useless.
My vision darkened and my head swam in a black cloud of nothing.
I blinked, trying to make sense of what was going. What was I doing? Where I was?
Finally, the darkness covering my eyes retreated and I found myself looking up at a group of lesser demons, all of them snickering at me.
I pushed up to my paws, but my knees buckled and pain shot through me.
The demons hooked their arms around my limbs. I jerked against their hold, but I couldn’t fight it. I didn’t have any strength left.
The darkness took over me as they dragged me back inside the manor.
9
Farrah
With a small lantern in my hand, I teleported to one of the bigger villages in the Wind Court. At this time of night, the market was closed, which was better for me. Careful not to be seen by the patrol guards, I sneaked into the marketplace and easily found wolfsbane and darkmallow.
But I couldn’t find any faerend. I didn’t think I would. Faerend was forbidden to be sold long ago, since it was highly toxic to our kind. As far as I knew, the plants from where this bud bloomed were all destroyed too.
Still, I had hoped some vendors would have a stash hidden to sell behind the authorities’ backs. Or they hid it very well and I couldn’t find it, or they really didn’t have it.
Either way, I was out of luck.
Without any other ideas, I trudged into the forest to look for the plant. I had never seen it with my own eyes, but I knew it was a short bush with green, dried vines, and the small purple buds here and there.
The lamp I carried only illuminated so much, making my search harder and frustrating me more by the second. How would I find this damn plant if I could barely see anything?
Soon, the sun would rise and I had to be back to the Shade Fortress by then. If I wasn’t, hell would break loose and I would be in big trouble.
My steps became faster as I combed the woods. I tripped on an overturned root and fallen branches every few seconds, but I didn’t dare to slow down. I couldn’t.
Suddenly, I heard shouts. I slowed down, thinking it was guards who were after me, but soon realized it wasn’t. I stepped closer to the voices and light illuminated the night. I spied from under a tree and saw a deep valley in the middle of the forest, where a prison camp was hidden.
My heart squeezed as I watched the shadow fae guards yelling and whipping the fae prisoners.
I closed my eyes as a sudden rage washed through. No, I couldn’t help these people, not now. If I did, chances were I would get caught, or I would help a few escape … and then what? I would become a fugitive with them?
Though it hurt every muscle and instinct in my body, I turned away from the camp, promising myself I would help them later somehow.
Before, I was frustrated and in a hurry. Now I was also upset and shaken.
And to add to my dark emotions, the sun was beginning to rise.
I stopped and held the medallion in my hands, ready to go back to the Shade Fortress. Somehow, Jennie would have to steal it for me again and I would have to come back. Unless I found another way and—
“Hello there.”
I quickly hid the medallion and called on my magic, ready to defend myself if necessary.
An older male fae stepped from between the trees, holding an orange cat. He had a small smile and curious eyes. He looked inoffensive, but I wouldn’t take any chances.
I lifted my hand, ice enveloping it. “Stay back.”
The fae stopped but didn’t lose his smile. “No need to be alarmed. I’m Spencer and this is Rusty.”
I took a step back, my arms still outstretched toward him. “What do you want?”
“Well, actually, I know you have been looking for something.” He picked up a small cloth from inside his pocket, and while juggling the cat on his arms, he unfolded the cloth and showed me what was lying inside.
I gasped. “Faerend.” I stared at him, shocked. “How did you know?”
He shrugged. “I’m just an old fae with a very good sixth sense.”
I eyed the herb in his hands. “And you’ll just give it to me.”
He shook his head. “No, but I have a request.”
I frowned. “What kind of request?”
“Though Rusty is a wildcat, he behaves like a house cat. He would be much more suited to live inside. Take him with you and care for him, and I’ll give you the herb.”
I stared at the old fae, baffled. Was this some kind of trick? “Take the cat … but that doesn’t make sense.”
“Sometimes things don’t have to make sense.” He extended his hand. “Do you want the herb or not?”
Shit, how could I pass this on? And all I had to do was take the cat with me. I would just drop him in my room and ask Jennie to feed him. It should be simple.
“Sure,” I mumbled, still a little fazed about this turn of events. “I’ll take the cat and the herb.”
“Wonderful.” As if we were old friends, Spencer dropped the cat in my arms. It was heavier and bigger than I anticipated, but the cat simply lay in my arms and rested his head on my chest, ready to take a cat. He also placed the herb in my hands. “Now you can go.”
And just like that, the old fae turned around and walked away.
For a moment, all I could do was stare at the darkness between the trees where Spencer had disappeared through. What had just happened?
The first rays of sunlight streamed through the tall trees.
Shit, I had no time to wonder about that. With the cat in my arms and the herbs stashed in my pocket, I opened a portal back to my chambers in the Shade Fortress and stepped through.
10
Wyatt
I stirred on the cold floor, waking up from another nightmare. Gasping, I sat up and quickly looked around. I was still in the same fucking manor, in the same fucking room, with the same fucking chains around my wrists.