Page 9 of Born into Darkness

Chapter 3

Another flaming arrow struck one of the caped crusaders in the shoulder. He stumbled backward, almost losing his footing.

Coldness spread throughout my body.

Flipping hell.The witch’s guards had caught us. Part of me wanted to surrender and just die. The stronger half of me refused to let that witch win.

Kelvin grabbed a fistful of his hair and started screaming, “Trap her in the mirror!”

“Come on, Kelvin, my sweet.” Rumi tried coaxing him onto the horse. “Get up and ride with me.”

But he hunched over, as if protecting himself from a beating.

Damn it, Kelvin!This was not the time. We needed to escape.

Where were the arrows coming from? I scanned the area. Fiery dots blinked in the forest beyond my father’s manor and in the orchards on the opposite side. Metal clanged as soldiers wearing armor stomped out of the shadows surrounding the house.Fuck. They were closing in on every side. We couldn’t retreat south, with the cliff awaiting us. We could try the forest. No one knew it like I did. But how many men were out there? We were vastly outnumbered.

The injured man grabbed the arrow piercing his shoulder, trying to pull it out, and he let out a muffled scream.

My father had seen several skirmishes in his lifetime and had been used to blood. Because I was his heir, the future ward of Tritonia, it was my duty to defend the lands, and he’d taught me everything he’d known. Including how to pull out an arrow and how to prevent extreme blood loss and death. His words thrummed inside my head as if he were speaking to me now.We always avoid violence and solve our problems peacefully. But when protecting something we love—such as our home or our loved ones—when that something is under threat, we fight in their defense.

But I hated the sight of gore. I could barely breathe with my lungs so stiff. Dizziness swept through me, and I sucked in air. Something snapped in me when the wounded man fell to his knees, gasping.

“No!” The satchel fell from my grasp.

I hurried to him, steadying him, leading him to his horse. “Leave it in until you find a healer. The arrow will keep you from bleeding out.”

The injured crusader’s companion snapped the shaft of the arrow in his friend’s shoulder, leaving a short stick protruding, and the man screamed.

My heart shrank to the back of my chest.

“Hurry,” barked Rumi. “Get her onto the horse. Create a diversion.”

More fiery arrows rained down on us. The horses whinnied, clomping their hooves, desperate to get away.

The uninjured caped crusader snatched up the satchel and grabbed me by the waist, carrying me to my horse.

“What about Kelvin?” I kicked, trying to get free. “Please, don’t leave me, Rumi.” The rest of my words pressed into my lungs as I was tossed, stomach first, onto my horse’s saddle.

“I pray to Poseidon we meet again,” shouted Rumi, choking back tears as she kicked her horse’s side. “In this life or the next.”

No! Was she determined to die?

My maid pulled out a sword from a scabbard on her horse. Shouting curses, she raced in the direction of the shooters.

“Get out of here, my lady,” the crusader said, smacking Poseidon’s rear, sending my horse trotting off into the night with me bouncing in the saddle.

I seized the pommel, pulling myself upright to sit astride. I glanced over my shoulder. Kelvin had gotten to his feet, and he ran off into the dark, hands covering his ears. Behind me, the caped crusader helped his friend onto his steed before jumping onto his own. Together, they chased after Rumi, their swords raised. The crazy fools were going to fight to ensure my survival.

My heart splintered. I couldn’t let them die for me. It wasn’t fair. I had to save them.

“No,” I cried, yanking hard on the reins, trying to turn Poseidon and go after them.

But my horse had other ideas. The stallion whinnied and galloped off into the darkened forest.

“No, Poseidon,” I said. “Take me back.”

My beloved stallion didn’t listen. He was clearly frightened by the surprise attack.

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