A Court of Shift and shadow

XX

Katies POV:

I climbed the stairs, one by one. Driven forward by some invisible power. Cassandra's stories tucked away in my heart. One more stair, and one more. I needed to get out, and then to fly to summer and get help to travel up to Night... I needed to tell them what I knew, that I could help. That drove me forward. The last step led to a door, and I pushed my Mouse form under it, and into a room I knew too well.

My fathers study lay empty, and moon light came in from the window. Of course this was the room that was connected to the cells. I looked around, no sight of Tamlin, of Bur. Good. Their scents was nowhere near. I kept my shield up, hoping it would keep my scent hidden, and slowly I shifted to a sparrow. And flew up to the Manticores head.

Some poison was still left on the thorns and as careful as my Sparrow could I started to pull some of them off. I quickly looked in its mouth and I knew that no saliva was there. I landed on the floor, shifting to Fae. Envelopes laid on his desk, I placed the thorns in one of them, and placed the envelope in a pocket. Safe for shifting, now I needed to get out and that quick. It was too dangerous to go out via the great entrances, to many eyes. But if I was quick and not got seen... My time to escape came to a close as Tamlin opened the door.

"How..." Was all he said, before Winnowing to me grabbing my hair. "...Did you get out..." Pulling my head backwards.

"I am full of surprises." I said, spitting at his face.

"I see that..." He started to drag me back down to the door and cells. I screamed, hitting him with my free hand. At some point I got loose, and started to run towards the door. But he Winnowed and closed it shut.

"I will never stop." I said, "I will never stop trying to get out, to be free."

"Then I have no intention of keeping you alive." He shifted to his Beast, and I to my wolf. We collided mid air, and I let all instincts take over. To bite and wrestle until I got free. This time it was different. This time I wanted to live and I fought to live. To make it out of this manor. At some point we collided with the desk, breaking it. Pieces of wood got spread out over the floor, together with papers, letters, inks.. And... He got away from me and Shifted, pulling the Illyrian blade and pointing it at me. One wrong move and I would be dead. I shifted back to Fae, this time he had more injuries than I had. My shield had kept me protected to some degree.

"How can you stand after weeks in that cell?" He asked, pulling out his sword.

"Maybe Hybern lied about what type of stone it was." I said back. Slowly moving towards a bigger piece of debris.

"TELL ME!" He roared, and attacked once again. I picked up the debris, using it to block the blow. The blade got trapped in the wood and I let go, giving me a moment to start my escape. The sound of glass breaking was heard and Tamlin started to run after me. Only once more grabbed me by the hair, my long braid an easy target. I turned my head, ducking from the blade as he wielded it. Cutting of my braid. I shifted and flew out of the hole in the window, caused by the debris he had thrown off the blade. I summoned the air and got pushed forward. Leaving the manor and Tamlin screaming behind me.

____

It was early morning, the sun had started to rise, but I didn't stay and admire the sunrise, instead I punched myself forward and upwards. Trying to cross the border as soon as possible. I never gave myself permission to enjoy the free air, not until I had left Spring. And faster than I thought possible, I crossed the border. The sun was high on the sky, warming me. The air that had pushed me forward disappeared, as the energy I had gotten back left my body. The immediate danger was over, and my magic needed rest. But I had no time to rest... A small house and farm came into view. I soared down, landed and shifted at the same time. A fae came out of the house, screaming if I was okay.