Truly Me

|| Cassidy Miller ||

"Then why won't we try and escape?"

As soon as the words escaped his lips, my eyes snapped back at his. "That's a suicide mission." 
"Might be, if we do it wrong," Mateo answers casually. He handled the whole shapeshifting situation very well, he haven't said anything rude, nor did he ask questions. "You want to risk that?" I questioned, raising my eyebrow. I sat up straighter, my shoulder stinging. "Sooner or later the government will find out about our gifts anyway. We can either die trying to find our freedom and peace or die knowing we could've found our freedom and peace." A slight smirk formed on his lip, his eyes shining deviously. I smiled. Mateo liked this, the risk. He had hope. "Then trying we shall." 

Mateo had packed all his stuff in an eye blink. I noticed a dagger bungling on his other hip and a bow and arrows on his back. We were walking once again through the dark forest on our way to my house.  Every step delivered me a stinging pain in my shoulder. "Bow and arrow, huh?" I said, earning a low chuckle. "My speciality, but I'm also very attached to my dagger," Mateo said, patting his sheathed blade. I looked him over. The suit perfectly fits his body, his muscles perfectly shown. The cloak around his shoulders showed that he had money, which he certainly had. Black, leather gloves covered his hands. Maybe it was a bad idea to try to escape Leith with a stranger, he could always be lying about everything. But I don't think he does. He seems severe and truthful. And like he said, our dead, my dead, will come soon anyway. The government will find out about the gifted ones, they will find me. I like this risk better.

"So you can change into anything you want to?" He questioned. Now the curiosity was coming, I can't blame him. "I technically can, yes," I answered.
"Can you show me?"
"No."
"Why not?" Mateo grinned at me.
"I'm not going to waste energy for your amusement."
"Please?" He practically begged.
"The answer is no." I couldn't suppress my chuckle. He sighed. "Fine. One day I'll see it."
I smiled. "I'm sure one day you will."

When we arrived at my house, Mateo lounged on the couch while I quickly got my stuff. I walked over to my room, grabbing some bandages, ointments and whatever was needed may it go wrong. I grabbed my cloak, and some blankets and strapped my dagger back on my thigh. I decided to keep my own face around Mateo, he already knew about my gift anyway. When I packed everything I turned around and pulled open a small door in the back of my closet. I took out my beautiful sword, once my mother's. The hilt was finished with beautiful blue stones, making it shimmer in the upcoming sunlight. I attached its sheath to my belt and sheathed it carefully. I slipped another small dagger into my boots and then walked back to Mateo. "All done."

I saw him studying me. First my face, my body. Then his eyes fell on my sword. "You have your bow, I have my sword. I want no judgement." I smirked slightly. He puts his hands up in defence. "You won't hear any judgy comment from my mouth." He grinned back. "Alright, let's get moving. If we hurry, we make it at least halfway to the capital before dusk." I grimaced, this was going to be a hell of a journey. 

We walked back to the village once more. "My legs already hurt from all this damn walking, can we still back out?" I complained, groaning, my shoulder still stinging every time I move. "Fortunate for you, Missy, I managed to get us a horse," Mateo smirked. "Suddenly, I like you a lot more Sinclair." I gave him a smirk back. "We're improving." He said, reminding me of last night. Reminding me that I had only known him for a few hours. Panic rushed through my body, what am I doing? He must've felt it because he stopped. "If you don't want to go, we can stay," Mateo stated calmly. I shook my head. "I already packed, we're going." I released a breath and nodded. He gave me a small smile.

When we reached the start of the village, I lowered my head. No one could see me, they haven't seen me once. They'll think I'm new, and that will bring up questions I'm not ready to answer. Mateo placed his hand on my lower back, guiding me through the crowded village. "It's early, what's everyone even doing here." He grumbled. "People want the best of the best when it's still available," I told him quietly. Mateo chuckled and led me to the end of the village. When I looked up, I saw a small inn. Even though I didn't know it, and I'm sure not a lot of people did too, it looked cosy, people casually walked in and out and greeted each other happily. "My mother and I used to come here a lot, friends of hers run this place. They own a few horses and I'm sure we can loan them." Mateo told me, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "I hope we can, otherwise I still have to walk." I grinned at him. He rolled his eyes and dragged me along with him into the inn. 

"Mateo, son, it's been such a long time!" A man came from behind the bar and clasped Mateo on his shoulder. "Always a pleasure, sir." He answered and smiled friendly. Suddenly, a woman joined the man's side, pulling my companion into a tight hug. "Hello dear, you still look exactly like your mother." She happily said, going through his hair. "Good to see you too ma'am." Mateo again responded politely. "Who's the friend you brought?" The woman asked, studying me swiftly. I didn't have the time to change my face and I saw that Mateo noticed it too. "She's uh.." He stumbled. Against all of my instincts, I quickly looked up and gave the woman a big smile. "I'm Macy, it is such a pleasure to meet you." I gave her a hand and she shook it happily. A grin eases on Mateo's beautiful lips. 

"We haven't seen a new face around here in a while, the pleasure is all mine. I'm Holly." The woman introduced herself quickly, and then looked back at Mateo. "What can we do for you boy?" She questioned. The man beside her kept quiet, his eyes narrowed, studying me. A shiver went down my spine and I hastily looked back at Mateo and Holly. "We're going on a little journey, I wanted to ask if I could loan two horses." He questioned. Holly smiled. "Of course, you can, James will ready them for you, won't you hunny?" She said, patting the arm of the man beside her. James, so that was his name. James didn't look away from me. "Of course, I'll call for you when I'm done." James nodded and with that, he was gone. He looked so friendly when he clasped Mateo on his back, almost fatherlike. What was this change of composure with me?

We chitchatted with Holly, while she served others who walked in and out of the inn. When James walked in and told us the horses were ready, Mateo flicked some coins onto the counter. "You can keep the change, thank you so much." He said with a small smile. "Of course dear, be careful!" Holly said and pushed some packed bread and pastures into our hands. We quickly put them into our bags and followed James out to the stables. He walked in and first came back with a beautiful white horse. "This is Sapphire. She's an easy mare, got good stamina." James handed her reins over to Mateo, who strapped his back on the saddle and swung himself onto the horse. James disappeared into the stables again and I carefully patted Sapphire's soft nose. When I looked up again, James stood outside once again, this time with a big black horse beside him. "This is Phoenix, the only horse we have left. He's a feisty stallion, I hope you can handle him." He raised his eyebrow at me. Phoenix stood proudly in front of me, his manes long, his posture elegant yet very strong. I took his reins and helped myself into the saddle. My shoulder stung, but I ignored it. The stallion raised his head, but I stroked his neck to calm him. "Come on now, you don't think this is my first time on a horse?" I smirked. 

When James walked back into the inn after a quick goodbye, Mateo smirked at me. "Alright Missy, playing the cowgirl over here?" I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Shut up Sinclair," I said, then looked at him. His blue eyes twinkled with mischief and adventure. "Make sure to keep up." I grinned, giving Phoenix a soft kick. The horse leapt forward and I heard Mateo right behind me. I stared at the bright morning sun and the only thing I saw, was freedom.