Page 45 of Healer
“I don’t know.” His confident voice devolved into a timid squeak.
I did not have time for lies. Whoever grabbed Agnes did it with a stealth that only a few species possessed. I could not waste time trying to find answers. Pulling a knife from my belt, I pressed it against his face.
“If you lie to me, I will peel the flesh from your body... and enjoy it.” I’d devoted my life to healing, but I would kill anyone who threatened Agnes without a second’s hesitation.
“I... I....,” the Svicka moaned.
I pressed my blade deeper into his flesh, smirking as a thin line of lime-green blood appeared.
“Bl...bl... black robes, they were following... grabbed her the moment she let go of your hand,” he sputtered.
“Which way?”
I released my grip on the struggling merchant, watching him tumble to the ground with a resounding thud. His cry of surprise and pain echoed through the street as I sprinted away, my cloak billowing behind me. Gasps and whispers erupted from onlookers who caught sight of my face, but I paid them no heed. Let them stare. Let them know that a Vaktaire warrior hunted for his mate... and that nothing would stand in my way.
Chapter 16 – Agnes
The moment Hakkar’s hand released mine, I took a subtle step back to allow him room to retrieve his money pouch. Tilting my head, I discreetly glanced at the merchant standing before us, puffed with satisfaction from his sale and thankfully paying me no mind. Before my eyes could move from a being who resembled a scorched, melted candle, darkness engulfed me.
The world faded into an inky void, leaving me disoriented and vulnerable.
It took a minute for my senses to register that I wasn’t unconscious. My hands thrashed about, trying to find the reason for my sudden blindness. A thick tarp like fabric swathed my head, held tight at my throat by an unyielding grip. A surge of panic rose in my chest as I screamed, straining to hear Hakkar’s answering roar or attack.
Only deafening silence greeted me.
An iron bar encircled my waist, raising my feet off the ground, and I felt the jostle of movement. Whoever held me ran, their footsteps pounding against the cobblestone street. With a growing state of terror, I let out another piercing scream, only to have the sound captured within the confines of the fabric encircling my head, causing an odd echo that made my ears hurt.
I let out another scream, this time fueled by frustration, straining my ears for any sign that someone had heard me.
Nothing.
No sound.
Whatever this thing over my head, it obviously possessed some sort of sound barrier. I heard nothing, but more importantly, nobody heard me.
Dammit it all to hell!
I screamed again, just out of spite. A piercing sound fueled by a fierce sense of defiance. Whoever grabbed me had been swift and cunning. I couldn’t help but wonder who and what they wanted, but another question loomed larger and more urgent.
Where was Hakkar?
He should have noticed me missing by now. He’d come after me. I knew it.
Unless....
My screams devolved into silent, fervent prayers filled with desperation and fear as a horrifying consideration dawned on me, weighing like lead on my heart.
Please, God, don’t let anyone hurt Hakkar.
Whoever had me—whatever their plan—I’d endure it if Hakkar escaped unscathed. My mind spun with desperate promises to whatever higher power might keep him safe.
As my abductor’s gait slowed, my attention shifted to my immediate surroundings. I still heard nothing, but the air seemed to shift, and the once gentle breeze dissipated, and the air grew still and stale. With a few more steps, my captor dropped me onto a cold, unforgiving surface. Chill seeped into my bones, sending shivers down my spine.
I scrambled onto my knees, jerking the cloth from around my head just in time to see the rusty door of the cage slam shut behind me. Heart pounding, I took in my confined surroundings—the cramped space was barely big enough for me to move or sit comfortably. Normally, small spaces didn’t bother me, but I no one likes being locked in a fucking cage.
My prison sat in the center of a dimly lit warehouse, its metal bars casting long shadows across a dusty floor, highlighted by a lone beam of light from overhead. Mustiness and decay hung heavily in the air, mixing with the pungent aroma of rotting vegetables. My knees ached from kneeling on the hard metal surface as I frantically scanned my surroundings, searching for a way to escape.
“Let me out of here!” I screeched. With the bag off my head, hopefully, someone would hear me.
