AT YOUR MERCY

34. A Fair Trade

David hadn't thought to me since the day before yesterday. And now less than nine days were left before the curse would claim my life. I had so far not thrown up the sandwich from yesterday, but I was feeling sick and dared not go to sleep.

I had decided it to be best that I didn't contact David, just in case I couldn't contain the information I had gotten from Anna. I knew too little to know which information could help, and what would harm.

During the long sleepless night, I had tried to figure out how and if I could do anything to help the situation at hand. But so far came up emptyhanded.

The only solution at all i had figured out, were that i could contain my questions from him, if i convinced myself they were questions for other people. For example when i had asked about Stefan's relationship with Anna, i realised that the only reason i hadn't asked David, was that i thought Anna could better answer it. So i spent a lot of time reminding myself that my questions were for other people.

Anna hadn't come to see me yet today, but I could hear her rustling about in the other room.

"Munin my dear, has the wolf figured it out yet?" I heard her say. I heard her footsteps get closer and quickly pretended to be asleep. If i could get some more information i might just be of help to the guys instead of playing sitting duck.

Her steps faltered outside the livingroom i was in, before she quickly scattered away. She was almost out of earshot, but I just managed to hear her words.

"I might make the girl trade with me today. I think I have gained enough of her trust." Her voice was always different when she spoke to Munin the crow. "Oh how I have craved his power, the rarest of hybrids he is. Munin tell me, has Malin kept her word?" I furrowed my brows, none of this made sense.

"Yesss Munin. When time is due, I will get him. Trading with the girl, will give me the leverage I need. His power will be mine."

She was trying to trick me into trading with her? Had she been playing me? Was she talking about David?

"His mother was almost as reckless as he is, he wont be difficult to get out of the way."

That could only be Stefan, what does she mean 'to get out of the way'?

"A wolf without a mate... Weak creatures. I shall release him from his personal prison..." Her voice were low as a mean laugh sounded from her, but she might as well have screamed it right in front of me. She was going to kill Stefan.

He flashed before me, how he had been the only one levelheaded of the three of us ever since we arrived in Sweden. How he had thrown me out of the cabin but sighed in relief when David brought me back. Lastly how determined he had been in helping me, despite how it must pain him that he will never have a mate of his own.

Despite his temper he was the purest and rawest kind of friend, he was better than any of us.

Suddenly the plan I needed was right there in front of me. And I was not gonna let it slip away.

Anna's steps got louder and I timed a yawn just as she passed by. She looked at me and smiled.

"Morning sweetheart." She said.

"Hi Anna." I answered, keeping up my facade.

"Are you stiff? Need anything?" She had streched my legs and arms for me yesterday and the helplessness was slowly getting to me.

I appreciated that she could help me by magic. Taking some of my mortification out of the situation.

"I have been better but no thanks." I smiled at her.

Her face changed slightly as she approached me. Yesterday I would have said she looked concerned, but right now I would say she looked condescending.

"You know dear. I could help you, like I helped the little wolf's mother." I almost snorted at her nickname for Stefan. Of all things 'little' was not something he was.

I followed her lead and fell head first right into her trap.

"Really? You could? But Stefan said you wouldn't trade..." I tried to argue. And he told me specifically not to...

"He just didn't want to pay the price dear." She smiled at me with wide eyes.

"And you trade equal, right?" I said and looked out the window deep in thought.

She hummed in response, and I could almost feel the excitement radiating from her.

"And it has to be something of importance to me?" I asked, making sure I covered all terms in the agreement. She nodded frantically standing right in front of me now.

"Could I request that you released me from my curse, before taking my offering?" I asked raising an eyebrow. She tilted her head.

"If your trade is good enough, then yes." She smiled even wider.

"So if I wanted to trade the life of the person closest to me, in return of my curse lifted, you would agree?" I raised my eyebrows and looked expectantly at her. Her expression got even more excited as she reached for my hand.

She looked me in the eyes one last time, before violently shaking my hand. My heartbeat quickened as i braced for what was to come.

She stepped back and reached for Munin, who had been sitting on a shelf behind her. She put him on her shoulder as she started muttering to herself. Within seconds she started talking even faster and approached me, her hand outstreached. She laid her hand upon my chest and said one last low word.

A shock surged through me. Pain etching into every part of me. I screamed loudly and panted from the pain. My every joint surged with pain, and every limp cramped painfully. My chest constricted and I found it hard to breathe. My head was trashing around involuntarily and I felt tears in my eyes.

Then she retrieved her hand and backed up. Like it was never there, the pain stopped. I took a deep breath and looked frightened at her.

ELINOR! ANSWER ME!

I heard David in my mind, but closed the opening quickly. Malin couldn't know.

I slowly moved my fingers, confirming that I now could move

Anna smiled widely before laughing menacingly.

"Now for my trade." She said dangerously. "One little puppy for me..." her voice was coarse. She put her arm forward and Munin flew up from her shoulder. He flew around the small room and headed to leave through the window.

I furrowed my brows in confusion. No no no!

Suddenly he changed direction and aimed directly at Anna. Her expression faltered. And her proud stance failed as the realisation hit her.

"NO!" She screamed as Munin sterred and hit her right in the eye. He started hacking away mercilesly at his owner.

I turned my head away, as her cries of agony continued.

With stiff limps I got up from the chair, that had been my home the last few days, and slowly walked towards the door, past the closest thing to a friend I had known since i left Brighton.

A life for a life.