Ancient Darkness (On HOLD)

Chapter Eighteen - Protection

All Immortals were healers, or had the ability to heal, but Sean's expertise in the area was matched by none. He had spent the majority of his existence learning the healing arts while his other brothers had been refining their skills as warriors.

Watching North descend with the small, blonde human, he felt some small relief that she didn't appear hurt and there was nothing in his brother's mind to indicate that he had physically harmed the girl but they had all heard that scream. All experienced her fear as a rush as she sent out an involuntary cry; it had swept through their minds only seconds before they then felt her fury.

The second that North's feet touched the snow-laden ground, Owen moved forward with incomprehensible speed, his face twisted with relief and rage.

"What happened?" He growled, stopping suddenly within feet of Sang and North as they separated. The girl's face showed an array of emotions - most especially fear - which was to be expected but what truly caught Sean's attention was the fact that North, who normally showed nothing, was gazing down at the small creature with a befuddled grimace.

Sang ignored Owen for the moment as she stepped into North and punched him in the stomach, "Don't ever do that again."

For anyone who couldn't hear the trembling undertones in her voice, they would believe that she was simply annoyed at the looming Immortal but Sean took note of her sickly appearance and the way that her lips trembled.

If he had to make any sort of guess it would be that the scream they all heard had come about because of North in one fashion or another.

The warrior failed to acknowledge the physical assault as he looked to their leader, "I found her wandering the forest. She was heading further towards the mountain and would have possibly died due to exposure." His inflection was smooth but for anyone who knew the man well, they would be able to tell that his whole frame radiated with extreme tension.

"You foolish child." Owen snapped, leaning down so that his face was only inches from her own, "Did we not warn you about stupidity?"

Her face had drained of colour, "No, you were quite explicit in your warning about wanting to either kill me or turn me into a vegetable. Why shouldn't I try to escape?" Those transparent eyes flashed with indignation and feminine helplessness.

"Did you not consider the possibility that you were heading in the wrong direction?" North crossed his arms and crowded in close to her back, his aura one of menace.

She seemed to shrink even more as she looked quickly between the two men who towered over her tiny frame, "I thought I was heading the right way!"

Sean felt something in him clench as he took in the sight of her terrified face; even without the ability to pick up on her distress, he could tell that she had reached breaking point and an aggressive stance was only going to hasten it.

He looked around at his remaining friends and saw that they were also leaning forward to absorb the sight of her. She was beautiful to be sure but there was just something captivating about her as she thrummed with emotion.

Owen looked down into her small face, hoping that the influence of her upon him had dissipated, but as he took in her wide eyes he had to admit that she had managed to burrow even deeper.

As he had stood in front of the place that had been his home for some time and listened to the dying notes of her terrified scream, Owen had realised something. Even after all the battles, the struggles and the loss, he had never truly known fear until that moment.

Her roiling emotions had swept through every mental barrier he had and it was only North's calm reassurance that saved him. If his brother had returned to them after injuring her, Owen wasn't entirely sure that he wouldn't have lashed out with lethal intent.

That was her influence; in the small amount of days that he had known of her existence she had become...important.

And it seemed that her attributes had not gone unnoticed by the brothers that had already made her acquaintance. Lucian had admitted openly that her presence had shaken him and just by the expression on North's face, and he the way that he ensured the snow didn't touch her told Owen much. She may not truly realise it but the fiercest and coldest of his warriors was ensuring her health and comfort by wrapping her in a bubble of his power; with the elements so out of control, she should be shuddering and almost frozen.

It was a small thing but so telling.

"You will come back inside," He ordered, not giving her a chance to protest as he wrapped a gentle but uncompromising hand around her bicep.

She tried to baulk at the sight of his other brothers standing before the veranda but he didn't let up; every moment with her before this had been charged with urgency, distrust and compulsion but he was going to ensure that they continued on in a different matter.

Once he had her secured back within their home and had taken care of her health, Owen was going to do anything and everything possible to ensure that this was never repeated. Until he had satisfied his curiosity, Sang Sorenson was going to remain under the care, security and scrutiny of those he trusted.

He was also going to make it clear to his brothers that she was to be protected and any further attempts to subdue and break her spirit through violence and torment would be answered with the utmost viciousness.