Conspiracy

Silent Running

"What do you mean she saw us?" Roman roared.
"She saw Arya kill that deer, and you eating it." Merlin explained.
"You have got to be kidding me." Arya groaned. "Well, where is she?"
"She ran. Heading for the tunnel. But I told Cora the minute I found out, and she disappeared."
"Thank god."
"No. Now Cora's going to turn her." Andre spat.
"She wouldn't have had a choice otherwise, Andre. And you know it. Now, has anyone contacted Christopher?"
"Yes, and he's on his way. His ship docks tomorrow, and he should be here the day after." Drax confirmed.
"Good. Now it's all down to Cora."
"It's going to be hard with the sun as her adversary." Edmund added.
"She can handle it. She's tough. In the meantime though, we need to help her as much as possible." Gideon declared. "If you'd all be so kind as to release the pets, I'll go and close the tunnel."
"Which pets do you want out?" Merlin asked.
"Phoenixes, nightmares, fairies, and sirens for starters."
"No problem."
"I have to say. It's fun being a vampire." Roman chuckled as they all filed out of the library.

∞

Sunlight streamed through the leaves that hung overhead, hindering Cora's advance. Not long after the sun had risen, Gideon had streaked past, flying over the landscape to close the tunnel. The song of the sirens had soon followed, and the lights of the fairies were now dancing in the shadows. She smiled at the others and their assistance. Even so, it was going to be a challenge catching Regina. Even though she could see the girl, she was still miles ahead and heading not for the tunnel, but a break in the mountains; a crest that made for a secret entrance into the estate. Beyond that was a minefield of stones like blades, miles of forest, and eventually a small village, which was no doubt where she was heading. Cora couldn't let her reach it, which wasn't too difficult a task. She just needed the sun to disappear for a moment. And just as she wished it, the sky's silver blanket veiled the burning rays, giving her a chance she was about to take when a harrowing howl resonated through the mountains, followed by another she hadn't heard for a long time; her brother's. With a stab of regretful pain, she turned away from her prey and raced back home.

∞

Regina was panting hard as her legs, heavy with the exhaustion of a full day's running, carried her further and further away from the Bloodthorne Estate, and deeper and deeper into the woods unknown where the ground lifted her ever higher. All around her tiny, coloured angels danced about on the air, their crystal wings fluttering and leaving a trail of dust behind. Her mind was a spinning top that never stopped, turning, whirling shaking the brains inside. Behind her, a horse's knicker suddenly sounded, scaring the skin from her bones. She whirled but sighed with relief as her eyes rested on a beautiful mare, white as a fresh snowfall. But its most striking feature was the horn that adorned its forehead. It couldn't have been anything but a unicorn. Regina sighed with a sense of peace that came from nowhere, but everywhere at once. This gorgeous creature before her was casting a spell, but it made her so calm, she did not care. She edged closer and closer, reaching out to pet it, when suddenly the bush nearby erupted into flames, and from it burst a stallion, the colour of ash and its mane and tail aflame. It reared on its hind legs, and all feelings of peace and joy vanished, destroyed by a renewal of terror and dread. The unicorn turned to face it, and the two clashed their horns and bucked in a frenzy. With a wail, Regina turned and ran from the battle, more desperate than ever to escape this forest of nightmares.

∞

"Where is she?" Christopher demanded.
"First of all, I thought you weren't supposed to get here for another two days." Lucas replied.
"Oh. Forgive me for wanting to come and save my fiancé from certain death! I'll just go back home, shall I?"
"Easy, brother." Cora's gentle voice floated through the door.
"Cora." He sighed, pulling his sister into a tight embrace. "I've missed you. Where's Regina?"
"Well, I was tailing her, but then Lucas called me back. She's trying to escape over the crest in the mountains."
"Then let's go."
"No, wait. It's better if we go tonight."
"What?"
"If we go now, we're fighting the sun. But if we wait until the day dies, then we can move properly, and we'll catch her no problem."
"And what if something happens to her? The far side of the crest is covered in rocks and tree stumps. What if she falls and injures herself? What if she dies?"
"She's not going to. Because we'll get there beforehand."
"And you're so sure of this?"
"Boys. Nothing is going to happen to her. That I can promise you. We just need to keep her close. Lucas. Drax. Can you two get a vine wall going?"
"On it." Lucas replied, tailed by Drax as the two raced to do their alpha's bidding.
"I sure hope you know what you're doing, Cora." Christopher growled.
"Merlin? Anything?"
"Nothing." He replied.
"Keep trying. And don't worry, brother. She's going to be alright. Now if you'll excuse me, there's something I need to see to."