Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Every bone in my body turned to steel, I was too shocked to move.
Before me the animal wheezed whilst it's body shook with each laboring breath. I could see clearly now, under the horses coat was a pale buckskin color but it was matted with dirt and plenty of dried blood. I stepped closer, the animal attempted to back away from me but as soon as it tried, the wire embedded it's fangs deeper, the horse let out a squeal of pain. I grimaced at the cry and walked closer to it, I let my hand move upwards until it connected with it's neck, the horse trembled beneath my head, afraid but I left my hand there. Getting down on my knees I examined the legs and hindquarters.
"Evelyn, what happened here?" Liam's voice made me jump, I turned to see him standing near the horses head.
"It must have ran from something and tangled itself in wire. It looks pretty bad," I murmured my reply, I got up and ran my hand down the front leg of the horse.
"Well-maybe we could cut it out." Liam suggested, glancing at the horse.
"But it will hurt it more," I replied.
"Well would you rather have it in more pain the way it is or try cutting him out and only having minor pain."
I bit my lip at that sentence, I sighed deeply.
"Alright, I have a knife in my pocket I think, unless you have something."
Liam turned around to look for something else, I kneeled again and got to work, I hissed in pain as the wire cut the palm of my hand, blood started to run freely, I quickly cut a bit of cloth and wrapped it around my hand, suddenly footsteps drew closer. I turned quickly. Liam stood there in one hand which was full of mud was a wire cutter.
"You may need this, the previous owner doesn't have use for it." Liam said quietly and went to the other side of the horse. I knew what he meant and it sent a chill through my body. Now with the wire cutter it made the task easier. The horse attempted to dance away from us once it's legs were free but after a few tries, it stood quietly, although it watched us warily.
About an hour or so later, the last wire sprang free and the horse trotted away, favoring it's foreleg. It was also getting dark.
"We should probably stay here, Zephyr looks too weak to get far." Liam muttered and ran a hand on the horses flank. I lifted my head at that.
"Zephyr?"
"I named him while you were cutting him loose and it's a Stallion, a very young one." Liam replied, his tone had affection in it for the horse.
"Alright than, we'd better get some sleep, unless you would rather stay up with Zephyr?" I asked him, sitting near one of the posts.
"You can, I'll keep watch Evelyn, someone has too." Liam smiled at me, I nodded and laid down, the sky was pitch black, no stars were in sight. I sighed, I missed the stars, they reminded me of the nights at Buckingham Palace, than my thoughts focused on William once again. It was a cruel circle, I missed him, so badly it hurt. I turned away and focused on sleep.
Breathe in, breathe out, breathe-I couldn't hold back the tears that threatened to spill for Liam after he saved my life. The pain hurt like a fresh wound that had just been cut, I turned my head towards the window of the plane so no one saw how weak I was.
"Look at me." Detering spoke gently, I bit my lip but refused to look at my father, in my most vulnerable state.
"Evelyn." His tone was firm but still gentle, brushing the wetness in my eyes, I turned and glanced up at him. Detering put a gentle hand on my shoulder and held my gaze with his blue eyes.
"I know you're hurting; very darn badly-" He paused and sighed deeply, "But tears aren't a sign of weakness, it still means you're strong but grief and loss is going to hurt; Liam. I didn't get the chance to know very well and I wish I did because he seemed like someone who would be devoted to you for the rest of your life-"
"I feel like I'm losing everyone, my mother and now Liam." I blurted out, my voice cracking with emotion as tears spilled. Warm arms immediately engulfed me as Detering held me into an embrace.
"No, you're not losing everyone, as long as you still have a few people who love you." At that sentence, I lifted my head with a ghost of a smile, Detering returned it and turned away.
"Father?" I attempted to touch his shoulder but he turned around and it wasn't Detering's warm brown eyes, instead Hitler was looking at me, a smirk playing at his lips.
