Page 43 of The Dark Rising
The biggest change of all is now I will accept my need to protect her at all costs. An instinct I can’t ignore anymore. I have to go against my father’s last wishes to do so, his wish to do what Lord Higher Charles asks of me, but I’ve had enough of being his lackey.
Many changes are coming, we just have to survive them.
But first, I have to make Rhea sheath her claws and accept her new life. One with me in it.
Permanently.
But first.
“Meet me in the basement,”I say down the link, moving out of the room and following the hallway.
A pause.“We went there just two nights ago,”Leo replies back.
“I’ll be there soon.”
“Brother—“
“Now, Leo.”He sighs down the link, but I know he will do what I asked.
“You don’t need to do this, Darius.”
Yes, I do. Now more than ever.
Sixteen
Rhea
Myeyesflutteropenand I blink rapidly, trying to clear the fog that’s heavy on my mind. I groan and bring a hand to my head as pain lances through it, feeling like it’s splitting me open. I sit up slowly, clenching my eyes shut and feel softness beneath, and covering me. I sigh at the feeling, running my fingers over it. I passed out again, great.
I suddenly freeze, my fingers stilling as I sensehimnearby. I breathe deep, taking in his scent and wrapping it around me. I can’t help but take comfort in it, even though I don’t want to.
Why him?
Why does he have this effect on me and why do I care when I hate what he did, how he questions me, how he sees me. How he makes mefeel.
I can’t handle him giving me shit right now. His questions or his eyes on me like they search inside of me, reaching the very depths of myself that no one but him has been able to see before.
I just want to rest. No, I want to go back to Eridian where everything was fine and simple. I was living life as best as I could, surviving, and I was mostly happy. But most of all I was safe, we were safe.
Now I don’t think there is any place in Vrohkaria that is safe for me, or my pack.
I have a target on my back, but so do the Highers.
The thought reminds me of when we went to a village after Belldame got the cuffs off my wrists. Word that a Higher was there from those who went out to collect supplies. Higher Aiden was drunk off his paws when we found him, unable to sense the danger that was me, lurking in the dark. I gave him the same mercy they gave Josie and Danny. I snuck up behind him and slit his throat. Then we ported his corpse back to Witches Rest, where he was fed to those pink fish I first saw when entering there. Riets. Who knew they had sharp teeth hidden in their mouths and a bottomless appetite. That was my first Highers kill. Five more to go.
It was eye opening though, to be out into the lands. I hadn’t been out into the lands since before we came to Eridian, and so much had changed from when I viewed it as a little girl when I was allowed to. People were starving, fighting with themselves over food and materials, and children were crying. Just like the sight of those at the last village we went to. So much suffering and destruction is left in the rogures’ wake when they attack. Is this what Vrohkaria has been like since I hid myself away?
I realize how blind I have been, or in denial. Edward always updated me on what was happening in Vrohkaria, I don’t know why he felt the need to, but I never asked him to stop. He told me of villages and towns, how the rogures were growing in numbers, on how the Lord Highers were demanding more payment for their so-called protection against these beasts.
And I didn’t realize it was this bad.
And what good did the Highers’ so-called protection do? It did nothing but leave people with even lower supplies after the rogures kill, tear and ravage anything they can get their teeth on.
I remember my face was attached to the wooden board and there was a script along with it. Telling me my name, who I was and that I was dangerous and unhinged. If I was spotted, do not approach but contact a member of authority straight away to catch me.
But I’m caught now, in the Elites keep, and I have no choice but to acknowledge that I’m not alone. He won’t let me be alone.
Just leave me alone!
