A Savior of Flames

Chapter 5

Erista

There's a thick foggy feeling in my head. I can't quite remember what is going on. The last I remember I was walking through the woods, and I got lost on my way back to camp. I feel warm, so I don't think I'm still in the forest. And whatever I'm laying on is soft, like a bed. Am I still in my cottage? I crack open an eye and I'm met with unfamiliar surroundings. Definitely not my cottage. But where am I? The foggy feeling starts to lift, and I can hear soft voices coming from somewhere behind me. I try and sit up, but both my feet and my hands are bound. Someone must have heard me, and the talking behind me stops. I still myself, and close my eyes. I'm conscious enough to know that the voices I heard weren't Clarissa or Rowan. I feel a hand brush over my forehead, and they chuckle.

"She's awake." They grab my bound hands and yank me into a sitting position. I snap my eyes open, glaring at the person in front of me. It's a young looking boy. Something is familiar about him, but I can't quite figure out what it is. He smirks, a devilish smile mocking me. "You're a hard person to catch." I flare my nostrils, but keep my mouth shut. I have a feeling that witty remarks won't be appreciated.

"Captain, you shouldn't taunt the prisoner." His smile sours, and his eyes drag from my face to one of the people behind me. Looking up through his lashes, I see his eyes flash red, and I hear a breath catch. He's powerful, but what he is, I don't know. These have to be the Dark Riders. They must have been following me since the day I went to the village. I was so sure they wouldn't be able to find my cottage. They must have been waiting for the right moment. Whatever I do, I need to start planning my escape. Rowan has my crystal, so I have access to my powers, but that doesn't mean that I have any idea how to use them. His eyes drag back down to me, holding my gaze with intensity.

"Now that we have her, the fun can begin." He chuckles, and then a searing pain spreads across my cheek. He grabs my jaw in a tight grasp. I gasp at the sudden pain and the sound only spurs him on. "No friends to protect you now." His grip tightens on my jaw and he throws me with force to the floor. My shoulder hits the floor first, taking the brunt of my fall. Tears rush to my eyes. I do my best to keep them from spilling over. That would only encourage him. I look up. He brushes his hands together, and adjusts his cloak.

"Was that necessary, Captain? We're supposed to bring her back unharmed." He inhales sharply.

"Would you rather it be you? Don't you dare question me again."

"Yes Captain."

"Tie her up in that chair, and gag her. I don't want to hear her whiny voice." I shake with anger, or pain. At this point I'm not exactly sure. "I'm going to rest. Wake me at sundown."

"Yes Captain." Both of the voices say in unison. His boots tap against the wooden floors, and the shaking subsides the further away he gets. Two sets of hands lift me up, much more gentle than the Captain was handling me. They set me in a creaky wood chair. One unties my hands and binds them to the chair, while the other does the same to my feet.

"We need some more rope, and a cloth. Stay here and watch her while I get some more." The one working on my feet leaves to get the rope. The one who tied my hands moves in front of me. I almost gasp. She's ethereal. Her skin is sunkissed, with piercing blue eyes and fiery red hair. She looks at me, almost a sad expression on her face. She gently touches my face, tilting my head.

"Your jaw is bruising already. You poor thing. I'm sorry he's so rough." She speaks in a gentle voice, only loud enough for me to hear. I look at her confused. Dark Riders don't display empathy. She sees my skeptical expression, and puts a finger to her lips. She cups my cheek with her hand, and a warm healing feeling courses through me. That was magic. She moves her hand to my shoulder, and the same warm feeling seeps into my skin. She's healing me. "I took the pain but left the marks. If he knew I healed you he would kill both of us."