Page 18 of Fated Unkindness
Silently we go our separate ways, and I shuffle from under the deck. Standing quickly, I break into a sprint for the tree line, and then back toward the area where I last saw Kait. I have to cover my face from being whipped with debris because of the maelstrom that is brewing. The thunder rolls loudly in the distance. It makes me worry for Rae. She will be out in this traveling to get back toDax if she gets the dagger from the cabin. She will get the dagger if it's there. If it's not… I don't even want to think about what will happen if the dagger isn't there.
I don't have time to think about it right now. I have to trust that she will be fine. When I reach the corner of the house, Kait is being detained by two Ravendene guards. She’s bucking and thrashing, and then she meets her mark, cracking one of them in the nose with her forehead. Blood pisses down his face as he stumbles back. That’s my queue. A smile spits across my face as I jump into the fray with a battle cry and make as much noise as I can to give Rae a chance at getting out of here with that dagger to save Dax.
Chapter fifteen
Small fragments of lightbreak through the vents like the one I crawled through, illuminating the dark basement. The air is thick and earthy. The taste of dust that coats my tongue and everything around me clogs my throat making it difficult to swallow. The space was seemingly untouched for many years. The storm outside whistles through the trees so loud that it invades the eerie basement sending a chill down my spine. Sudden shouting cuts through the noise of the storm, causing me to pause. I hear Trent among them, Kait too. Carefully, I quickly maneuver through all the odds and ends that are being stored here, working my way to the narrow staircase.
They creak as I start to climb, causing me to pause multiple times. As I reach the top, I hear men clamoring abouton the other side of the door, making me freeze. Multiple sets of boots stomp through the house, causing dust to fall through the boards of the basement ceiling. I squeeze my eyes shut to protect them from debris that floats to me, even at the top of the stairs. Whoever was inside heard the commotion in the yard and went rushing out of the house to help. “Thank you, Trent,” I whisper. I’m relieved when I try the handle and it's unlocked. Listening at the door just long enough that I’m sure it’s clear. I slowly turn the knob; there is a slight click that is barely audible as it opens. Keeping the crack small, I turn, squeezing my body through, and I shut it behind me.
Looking down at my boots I say a quick prayer to the gods to keep my footsteps silent enough to not be noticed. I think back to all the information that Trent relayed to me. At least I have my short-term memory. I roll my eyes at the thought as I focus on my surroundings. The basement door brought me to the kitchen. It’s an open, rustic space with pots and pans hanging above an island in the middle. I tiptoe toward the hallway but hear heavy booted footsteps coming my way, so I crouch down and slide to the island, using it as cover.
The thud of the boots stops, and I wait a heartbeat before I risk a peek around the island. Whoever was coming down the hall stopped at the door I need to enter. I have a clear view of them where I’m crouched down. He quickly fumbles some keys out of his pocket to unlock it. He rushes inside but doesn’t close the door behind him. A smile breaks across my face. “Jackpot,” I say under my breath. He’s a large male, and I didn’t get a look at his face given the cloak he wore, but this is my opportunity. I reach up on my tiptoes, grabbing a heavy pan from one of the hooks. A little morebang than just a measly switchblade, or at the very least, I can use it to shield myself.
Stepping around the counter, I stride purposefully to the door and peek inside. The male is standing with his back to me, unlocking a large cage on the wall with various weapons hanging. My attention is snagged when I see it; the moonstone dagger is hanging on a peg to his right. Just as I’m thinking luck must be on my side, the door clicks shut behind me. Too loud, and the male in front of me whips around, locking me in his gaze. I’m quick, though, and I rush him, craning back the large pan and bringing it down to the side of his head. Right before it makes its mark, I get a tingling sensation through my arms. “Wait! Raelle!” the male says in a rushed whisper as he throws up his hands in surrender. A shield of air pops up between him and myself aiming to block the pan from connecting with his head.
The tingle up my arms feels like the time I found Trent. There is no danger with this male. But I do still feel a sense of urgency. I need to get the dagger and get out of this cabin. Letting the pan fall short of hitting him across the head, I stay at an arm’s distance and narrow my eyes on him. I don’t know what I should say. I feel like anything I do say could give away my memory loss and open me up to deception.
“Thank the gods. Raelle, is Trent with you? When I heard that you all left, I knew you were off to find the cure for Dax or to find Melani. I’ve been watching Cano; I knew he was heading out to the outpost here and felt like he was up to something. So, I asked to be on his staff so I could help with your recovery. Cano is looking for you.” His gaze sweeps the room, focusing on the door behind me. “He has an entire search party out there as we speak.” I don’tknow how much I should reveal to this male, but I decide to trust my gut and tell him what he needs to know if he is truly trying to help the Fornax family.
“I am here for the dagger. If you want to help, please step aside. When I have it, I’ll be leaving this cabin and heading out for the blessed lands.” I tell him.
“Yes, of course. If you will allow it, I can help. There are a lot of men out there searching for you. If they find you, you won’t be able to get any further and especially won’t be able to get near Dax.” His eyes are wide with concern building at his brow. A sadness paints his features, making me believe this man is being genuine. I narrow my eyes at him as I walk around him. I reach up and grab the beautiful blade from the pegs it hangs on.
Trent was right, saying I would know which blade I was looking for. The dagger is exquisitely made. The craftsmanship. I’ve never seen a blade of such beauty. The hilt is bronze and wrapped in fine black leather with a moonstone gem adorning its pummel, and at the cross guard, the embellishment of polished moonstone inlaid glints. As I turn it over, two smaller stones sit on opposite sides of a larger one, shining just as brightly. The blade itself is a polished silver metal that appears almost white in the dim light of the weapons room, with delicate carvings on either side at the base of the wicked dual-edged blade. I find a simple black leather thigh sheath on the countertop under the daggers and strap it to my thigh over my leggings.
Placing the blade in the sheath, I turn to my new companion. “If you want to offer your help, I will accept it. My mission is simple; get the rest of what is needed for the cure and save Dax. I’m smart enough to know that the odds of me pulling this off areslim. I will accept all the help I can get. Don’t make me regret this.” I tell him, firmly pinning him in my gaze.
He gives me a curt nod and proceeds to load up on weapons. I follow suit. If we are going to be out there, at least this time we will be slightly more prepared. I chose a couple of small blades I can tuck into my boots and a bow in addition to the dagger we came here for. My new companion looks at me when he is fully suited to head out, and we both say “ready.”
I keep my eyes on the male as he takes the lead to the exit. When we reach the back door, he stalls. Narrowing my eyes on him, I slow as I see what has caused his caution. The maelstrom outside has become something sinister. The clouds are whipping around like swirling vortexes, and the sky—red as blood. Lightning breaks out in so many directions that it lights the dark land up below, causing my breath to catch. I grab him by the elbow, pulling him from the stupor he was stuck in. “Let’s go,” I urge.
We step out of the house and get almost to the tree line when something or someone broadsides me. I hit the ground hard, and my head slams against the hard-packed earth with a rattling thud. It stuns me; my heart thundering in my chest, as I reach for a blade. The creature snaps its sharp teeth in my face, and I use my bow to block its advance. The leathery black skin pulled taut around its bat-like mouth; it snarls and spits as I push as hard as I can, but before I’m able to defend myself, my new male companion has his short sword deep in the creature’s huge muscular canine-like body. It shudders, bursts into gold dust, and scatters in the wind.
“Raskin’s!” I pant. I hop to my feet and take a steadying breath. Raskin's feast on fear and flesh, drinking down the fear of their kill as they rip them to pieces. Damnit. I just had thefuckinggreatopportunity of being taken down by one. Honestly, I’m lucky I had this male with me; otherwise, my rescue mission would have ended before it even started.
“Run!” His shout was carried away in the wind.
We rip into the night at a furious pace. I’m not concerned with being quiet any longer. The storm is loud enough to cover any sound we make, and luckily, we get far enough away without any more Raskin's or any of Cano’s men finding us. When we have made it a good distance, we slow down for a short while to actively rest. We can’t stop, though. The hum in my chest begins as we trudge through the whipping wind. Tilting my head, I steal a glimpse at the man beside me. Relief washes over his face as he scans the area around us. The tingle at the base of my skull tickles as I look around suspiciously, as I always do when I feel this. There is nothing but some wildlife and the gentleman who quite literally just saved my life not long ago. A large raven squawks as it takes flight in the direction we are heading, disappearing into the shadows. A chill trickles down my spine, and goosebumps break out across my skin.
“Thank you for what you did back there,” I say loudly over the wind.
“There is no need to thank me, Ms. Raelle. I would do anything for the Fornax family, and you are important to them, so you are also important to me.” He replies with warmth in his eyes.
“I think you need to know a piece of vital information. While Trent, Kait, and I were out on our mission, something happened. I’ve lost a good chunk of my memory. I don’t remember anyone from Ravendene.” I leave out the bit about my power humming, telling me that I can trust him, among other things. “I don’tremember your name. I’m sorry. If we know each other…I don’t remember.” I look at him apologetically.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He says this as he looks deep into thought. “But you still plan to help save the Fornax siblings? Dax and Melani?” He asks.
“I do.” It’s an easy answer. I’ve felt strongly about this since I learned of what is going on. I feel my magic pulling me to do this, and according to Trent, I felt strongly about it before too. Which I understand seeing the way I feel about my own sibling.
“My name is Miles Malnik. I am on the Fornax estate staff. Mr. Fornax… Dax’s personal manservant, but I also consider him as close as family. I’ve been a part of the Fornax staff for many years. Before Dax was even born.” The corner of his lips turn up some. I feel a warmth spread in my chest, right alongside a slight hum from what I now know is my magic. My magic is guiding me. We don’t say anything else for a while; just travel silently and as quickly as possible through this storm.
It begins to rain, which is uncomfortable but not unbearable. I raise the hood to my cloak as the wind makes the rain beat down on us from behind.
“Have you ever seen anything like this?” I look up at the blood-red skies.
“Never.” He responds, looking around at the sky with concern etched into his features.
Chapter sixteen
