Devious Claws

Chapter Twenty-five

"Cindy, wake up."

"I am up."

"Well then look alive!"

I was on the floor, on cold boards in an even colder cottage. Luke was somewhere above me, fidgety, and although I wasn't all there I did realize that we'd been left behind. The others had left some time ago, on a dangerous mission to storm the castle. We'd been left somewhere in the small village surrounding the castle, now abandoned, and very humble compared to the towering castle I'd remembered seeing poking the sky upon arrival.

Eros was gone. Possibly forever.

We were here. Possibly forever.

"I'm really thirsty."

"Join the club, princess."

"Oh, shut up." I attempted to push myself off the floor but couldn't muster energy to do much more than sit upright. "How long since they left?"

"Like fifteen minutes ago."

"That's all?"

"Yeah, I've been trying to get you up ever since."

"It's a bit quiet, isn't it?"

"You think?"

"Well, isn't this the heart of the conflict? The throne?"

Luke furrowed his brows. He'd finally sat down and was now leaning his long self against a wooden chair, his elbows on the table. "I suppose. Maybe nobody wants to be near the actual fight?"

"Or it's a trick."

"I'm sure they can handle it." Luke reached into the backpack that was slumped by his feet and pulled out the gun that started it all. "We need to worry about ourselves. Speaking of, how're you feeling?"

I pondered for a bit, put a careful palm to my stomach. It was tender but not agonising. I simply nodded. "Good. I think so, at least. I've got a bad feeling about this, though."

In the same second I uttered the words, something slipped past one of the few, narrow windows of the cottage. It was swift, casting only a brief shadow on the interior of the house. Luke noticed it as well but was wise enough to shut his mouth, gripping the gun closer.

My daze subsided a bit and I felt good old fashioned adrenaline hit me in the face.

It was quiet for a bit after that.

"What was that?"

Three hard raps against the front door, hard enough to make it squeal in protest. I squealed as well, scurrying to my feet. Luke got close, raising the gun as if ready to shot it through the wood.

"Who is it?!"

"It's Frill."

Luke exhaled and lowered the gun just a bit. He gave me a look, but I couldn't help but shake my head. Something felt wrong - my gut screamed at me to step further away from the door, that Frill's voice was much too hoarse.

"Can I come in? Something's happened."

"Yeah sure," Luke responded, after which I firmly pushed him.

The handle wiggled. I almost thought the lock would stop Frill but then something went crack! and the door slowly creaked open. In the frame stood Frill. The light behind him helped cast a long shadow along the floor, swallowing both Luke and I.

He took a few steps inside, noticing the gun. "Don't worry, it's just me."

"What is it, Frill? Why aren't you with the others?"