The Book of Willow- Princess of the West

22.

"Chance! Why didn't you stop him?" Maia's blonde hair flew across her face as she whipped her head toward Chance.

He leveled a contemptuous look at her, "The better question here, Maia, is why didn't you?" 

It pained him, watching the kiss between Miles and Maia. It twisted like a knife in his heart. The sheer intimacy of it drawing his antipathy. He let himself if only for a moment, hate them both knowing that what they shared was real. As real as the feelings he had for Maia and what he shared with Aswen. 

Aswen...He'd barely given a thought to her all day. Guilt overwhelmed his anger and hurt. He didn't have time to sort his feelings now. Not with the way, Maia's blue eyes seemed on the verge of tears but her face was fixed in an angry glare.

"Fuck you, Chance," she sneered.  "I don't have time for your bullshit!" She swiveled on her heel to collect Miles' discarded bag. And stormed in the same direction as Miles.

Chance laughed dryly. He thought he had it all figured out but he fucked up. He thought if Miles knew about her abilities then he'd understand why Maia needed space. He knew eventually he'd have to square up and tell him about his feelings for Maia but he never imagined this is how he'd find out. Steeped in guilt, he felt lower than dirt for hurting his brother.

He breathed a hopeless sigh, "Da fuck man...it's like I'm forever caught between sayin' too Goddamn much or saying nothing at all. Like I got no fuckin' balance." He shook his head before taking off after Maia. If he'd only kept his mouth shut, he'd have more time to figure things out. 

"Wait, Maia," He pulled her arm to stop her. She turned with tearful eyes toward him. She sniffled wiping away silent tears with the back of her hand.

Chance clutched her hand in his, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to be like this. You know I'd never intentionally hurt you or Miles." 

Maia continued her unflinching stare but said nothing.

"Listen, he can't have gone far. Let's just take my car. I promise we'll find him." He tugged her gently behind him as they returned to the Range.

They drove down the snow-covered streets surrounding the school in search of Miles. Chance's brows knitted together in an anxious frown. They should have found him by now. There was nothing but barren forest for miles between the school and the town. He hoped his brother wasn't foolish enough to trek through the woods alone. 

Chance glanced over his shoulder at Maia. Her eyes were shut tightly and a slight wrinkle formed between her brows as she concentrated. His hand itched to smooth it. He wished to once again have access to her thoughts and feelings. But, it was like something was keeping him out. He knew she was just on the other side of the barrier. He's felt it since this morning but he feared the answer he'd get if he asked her.

With her eyes closed, Maia focused her energy on a single point; Miles. Her palm pressed up against the passenger window, as she sorted through the various energy signals landing on one. He was out there and he wasn't alone. She didn't like what she sensed around him. Dark energy as thick and as vacuous as the cold of space. It was pure malevolence. Pure evil. 

"Stop!" She said suddenly. "He's not far. It's this way" She jumped from the car and wandered to the trees. 

Chance followed silently behind her as they meandered through the brush. Everything looked the same to him. He couldn't tell one path from the next. There was a reason he never came out here. He knew his piss-poor sense of direction would get him lost or killed. He was glad at least one of them knew where they were going.

A thick mist lay over the forest. The trees gathered closely. Their embrace filtering out what little sunlight the grey cloud cover hadn't restricted. It grew darker the further they went in. All the natural noise of the forest suddenly died as it became eerily quiet.

A violent scream tore through the silence. Chance's heart leaped in his chest. It was Miles and he was in terrible pain.

"Miles!" He started in the direction of the now continuous screams but Maia's hand clamped over his mouth stifling the words. 

"Sssshhh..." she said softly as she motioned. "He isn't alone," she whispered. "He's in danger and so are we." 

"Stay here." She commanded before disappearing into the trees.

'Why the hell did I let her go alone?' Chance thought to himself, angrily. 'I know she's super-powered or whatever but I can't let Maia take that kind of risk, not all by herself. I need to protect her.'

He peeked through the bushes. His heart sank when his eyes fell on Miles, pale and lifeless on the ground. Blood, so dark that it was nearly black seeped to the ground beneath him. 

Maia staggered just in front of Miles.  Winded, she drew ragged breaths through flared nostrils. Her breathe gusted out like bursts of steam in the winter air. For a minute, she looked like she'd puke. Her hand flew up to cover her nose as her attacker drew forward. 

The fetid stench reached him first. Then all Chance could see as he stepped into view was the charcoal-colored skin of his back. Matted dreadlocks hung carelessly between his shoulders. The cold had no effect on him, as all he wore was a flimsy strip of leather that covered his nether regions. He grasped a rusted sword in one hand. The blade was blunted. It would take an unbelievable amount of force to puncture someone's skin with such a weapon. 

The seditious laugh that followed made Chance believe this thing, as he couldn't be classified as a man, would enjoy the effort. Steeling his nerves, Chance leaped from the brush. He planned to take the beast by surprise.

Just as he reached him, it spun to face him. His plan failing before it was even off the ground. Yellow eyes glowed through a mutilated face. A deep scar ran smoothly from his forehead across his eye to his cheek. Sharp fangs sprouted when his lips split into a smile. And all in a moment the dull blade slashed the air only centimeters above him.

In the very same moment, Chance felt a pull on his body as it floated rapidly of its own accord toward Maia. Landing just at her feet adjacent Miles' still body. 

"What do you think you're doing?" She screeched breathlessly at him. Without allowing him time to answer she said, "Nevermind, just stay out of the way!" 

Chance scrambled to Miles. "Miles!"He shook him. "Open your fucking eyes! Please don't die on me." 

Nothing happened. Chance's eyes glimmered with watery tears as his world started to crumble before his eyes. His brother couldn't be dead. It had to all be a lie. He felt Maia's gaze on him. 

Pure rage crossed her face. She charged the beast, fists flailing. One fast and straight punch to her unprotected jaw sent her head flying back. Her body arched backward. All her momentum working against her as she cleared the ground, propelling across the small space. 

Chance watched in horror as Maia hung in weightless for what seemed like minutes. Her body hit the ground hard with a thud and rolled several feet before stopping. 

"Maia!" He screamed, running to her. Her eyes were shut. Her breath came slowly and with obvious struggle. 

"Maia," He whispered again. He heard the thunder of the beasts steps as it trodded toward them. He pulled her desperately toward Miles.

Knowing the likelihood of his success against the beast, Chance turned to his brother and Maia. His fingers threaded through his brother's limp hand. Then, he lifted Maia's head, pressing his lips to hers. He decided he would die in the embrace of those he loved, Miles and Maia.