Fantasy Land

Chapter 23

Run!

Jayna

I watch as Gabie and Lest head off to a balcony with Damon. Likely to talk about whatever happened earlier. Good, they all needed to talk.

"Dance with me." Fafnir says softly in my ear, pulling me out of my thoughts. He leads me to the centre of the dance floor, pulling me close when we're in a spot he likes.

"Why are you attracted to me?" I ask him suddenly as we dance.

"What do you mean?" He asks me.

"I mean you're stunning, and I am less so." He laughs at my words. "Don't laugh at me." I gasp dramatically. I can't explain it, but things feel so right with him. Everything's almost too perfect.

"I have been in love with you for centuries no matter what name you take. Jayna, Jillian, or the countless others. You always come back to me." The words are said with so much love as he places his forehead to mine. "Nothing will change that. You could be the ugliest woman on this planet and possess horns and wings and you'd still be the most beautiful woman to me." I take in a shaky breath.

"You probably tell all the girls that." I sigh. There's no way anyone wanted me the way he said he did. He catches my chin as I look away, turning my eyes to lock with his again. They are so intense I find it hard to hold the eye contact.

"Just you." He says honestly. "You are the only woman for me." I lean into him; I want to kiss him.

Before I can, there is a loud scream that echoes around the room.

There is a gunshot and the wet sound of bodies hitting the floor. Close by Callum has flipped one of the many tables in the room to act as a shield from the gunshots. Fafnir pushes me ahead of him towards Callum, who catches me when I promptly trip over my dress. Many other tables have been flipped to protect others; the ballroom soaked in blood from the many bodies scattered around.

"Good work boys." A woman's voice I don't recognize says. "Now find me the girl."

"Callum, you have to make sure the others are alright, the elves and your brothers." Fafnir says to Callum, who is peering around the edge of the table.

"I'll go the moment I get the opening." He says, turning back towards us and looking at his thigh. I then notice the large piece of glass sticking out of his thigh.

"Oh my god." I gasp, reaching for it.

"Don't." Fafnir and Callum say at the same time.

"They'll be able to scent my blood the moment you pull it out." Callum explains. "I'll pull it out when I'm further away from you. They'll hopefully follow me out." He turns to look around the side of the table again, and I follow his lead wanting to see what was happening. From the balcony my friends went to earlier I can see three men exiting. Two of them carry my friends, both unconscious and tied up.

"Go now, they're distracted." Callum nods, taking off up the stairs we came from. The shooters notice him too late, firing their guns at him after he rounds the corner out the doorway. I notice the piece of glass on the floor of the stairs.

"Follow him." The third man who walked out from the balcony says loudly. A large group of men charge after Callum who has a rather large lead on them now and knows the castle better. A large group of men charge after Callum who has a rather large lead on them now and knows the castle better. Fafnir shifts to the edge of the table, noticing something.

"Stay quiet." He says softly to me. I nod, placing one of my hands over my mouth. Fafnir grabs a man who was making his way towards us, swiftly pulling him down to where we were hidden. Using claws on his fingers Fafnir cuts the man's throat deeply, blood gushing out of his neck. The gurgling sounds coming from him make me want to cry out in fear, the way his eyes stare into mine as I watch him die. I feel tears silently fall down my cheeks, his blood pooling around him. The blood moves towards me, soaking into my dress.