Middle of the Edge

Chapter Three

  The distance to the castle turned out to be much longer than it originally looked. After four hours we took a break to rest, and use the bathroom. Lily and Caden were running circles around Lyson and Narc, who were resting in their animal forms. Sam went back into the forest to refill our water skins, after I made him promise to rest and eat before he ran back to us. I know he could probably make the journey twenty times over before he grew tired, but we haven't really been eating or resting properly since we left the cove, and I didn't want us arriving at the castle weaker than we needed to be.
  I stand a little bit away from the brothers and the kids, staring at the castle. Even in the dark of night its absolutly beautiful, sparkling in the light of the stars and moon. I feel it calling to my soul, like the sweetest of siren songs. Tempting, luring me closer. I take one step, then another. Clenching my fists at my side I turn my face away from the castle, closing my eyes and taking a slow deep breath. Opening my eyes I unclench my hands, scanning my eyes over the road to our right. Squinting my eyes slightly I sharpen my sight, turning slowly in a full circle. It feels like we're alone out here, yet something in my gut is telling me we're now. However, my eyes pick up on nothing. For a second I wonder how many other will be at this castle, but then brush the thought away. I refuse to think anymore if this bewitching castlle that only seems to call to me until we get there.
  Turning again this time I face my group. I watch the kids play, and a small smile comes to my face. Narc and Lyson both have their eyes closed, their tails swishing softly in the grass. "So you came from underground, huh?" My body chills as the words are said low next to my ear, breath fanning my face and all of my muscles lock. Fear consumes me whole, like a burning flame, and my heart stutters a beat, then races. My elbow flies back, only to be met with air. The rest of my body follows the movement and bends into a low crouch, a snarl bubbling up my chest out of my throat before I even know I'm making the sound. I don't pause to think about it though, my eyes shifting everywhere, looking for the intruder. "Up here doll."
  My eyes flick up, and I curse myself. The skies. We kept our focus on the ground, but of course there are those that can fly. There are two men, with white wings that have golden brown tips, about four feet above my head. They look to be about the same height, with light caramel skin, slightly angled jaws, though one has a sort of softer edge, feline like eyes, one a shocking blue, the other a dark plum, and full dark red lips. Both of their builds is slightly muscular, and both wear all black with no shoes. A warm body pressed to my side, and I recognise it as Lyson without looking. I glance back quickly to see Narc standing in front of the kids, eyes watching the men in the sky carefully. I turn my gaze back to them as well, forcing my heart to slow but not straightening from my crouch. "Fast reflexes, but not fast enough." The man on the left says. The one with blue eyes. I reach out my hand slowly, sinking it into Lysons fur and straightening. He lets me pet him, and I pull comfort from his warmth. I bow my head, letting go of my fear. "I apologise. I'm not a violent person, I don't know what that was."
  "Those were your instincts. But they don't seem very sharp." I raise my head. It was the other man who spoke. "I would say that they're not. Your cousin was right, we do come from underground. Not many predators there, so there was no need for us be violent. Only our warriors were trained to fight." The two men look at each other as they land a few feet in front of us. A small hand slips into mine, a body pressing into my other side. "Mama." Caden whispers. "Are they going to hurt us?" I clench my jaw for half a second, hating his fear, but then relax, pulling my hand fromLysons fur to pick him up and rest him on my hip. He winds his arms around my neck. "Let's hope not." I say gently, brushing his hair from his eyes.
  "We're not going to hurt you." The one with purple eyes speaks again, and I look back to the pair. "We were the first to arrive at the castle, so we've made ourselves a sort of welcoming comity." Caden buries his head in my neck, and I rub his back. Then I lower my hand back to Lysons neck. "Go tell Sam to come back now." I speak into his mind. "Be quick. Tell him we have been approached." I let my hand drop away and Lyson turns, nuzzling my stomach before running back to the forest. I don't watch him, keeping my eyes on the winged men.
  Narc moves to my left side. "Where has the tiger gone?" The man with purple eyes askes. "To retrieve the other member of my group." I say after a moment. No reason to hide it if they're going to find out soon. "There are only six of you? Your cove must have been small." The other says. I shift Caden in my arms to rest my left hand on Narcs neck. Lily presses herself against the back of my legs, peeking around me. She tugs on the bottom of my shirt, and I carefully crouch down. "Are your wings pretty like that?" She whispers into my ear. I smile softly. "Sometimes." I whisper back. She nods as if she understands, but I know she doesn't. I didn't when I was her age. I straighten, lifting her easily with my other arm and placing her on Narcs back.
  "Was it?" I focus my attention back on the pair, though it never fully left. I pause, recalling the statement of our cove being small, then shrug. "I wouldn't know. I don't know how big or small other coves are." The cousin with blue eyes smirks slightly, while the one with purple eyes only shakes his head. "How long have you been traveling?" They both look over the rest of my group, taking in the dirt on our clothes and tangled hair before settling back on me. "Only a few moons." I do not mean to be evasive, but I am not sure if I can trust them. This time I rest my hand on Narcs head, scratinging between his ears. And have to hold back my surprise when he purrs. Well then. I think to myself, but don't stop.
  The cousins look behind me, and the moment the do there is a slight shift in the air, a slight breeze comming from behind me, and a hand gently touches the small of my back, Sam beside me. I breath an audible sigh of relief as Lyson joins us as well. He stands on the other side of Sam. Sam pulls out a water skin and hands it to me. Instead of drinking I open it and hold it for Caden who drinks from it, then pass it to Lily. Sam frowns at me, and I narrow my eyes at him, daring him to say something in front of these strangers. He sighs. "So the female is the leader." The one with purple eyes states rather than asks, and I look to them startled. "What in Mercy's name gave you that idea?" I burst before I can stop myself. Me? A leader? I laugh aloud. "You seem to think not, but do your companions agree?" The blue eyed cousin ask, and I look at the others before looking back to the cousins. "Who are you?" Sam asks quickly when I open my mouth. The man knows me to well. The pair look at each other. "How rude of us. I am Deamon Almont and this is my cousin Link Berret. We hail from the Estrel Angel Clan." Lyson shifts into his human form, placing a fist to his heart and bowing. "I am Lyson, the other tiger my brother Narc. We hail from Ti'Let Pride." The cousins repeat his action, and Narc bows his head in tiger form. I frown. "I am Samuel Night, and Lily is my little sister. Our parents hail from DarkNight Coven." The cousins bow to him as well, but Sam only inclines his head. "This is Caden." He continues. "He's a wolf pup. I don't know where his pack orgin is, he's orphaned."
  "So you're not his biological mother?" The purple eyed cousin, Deamon, asks. I shake my head. "I am a midwife. I helped birth him, and took over caring for him when his parents passed." Again, they look at each other. I wonder if they have a mind link they're talking in. "And you are?" I open my mouth then close it, again looking to the men in my group, this time for help. "Sophie..." I say slowly. "And your surname?"Link asks.
  "Terror. I "hail" from no clan, coven, pack, or pride." I study them for a moment before finishing. "But my father was from the Lost Court before the war, and my mother a demon dragon hybrid from the Dusk Court. I am a Wylde Guardian."