The Bride Rite: Sea of Trees

The Cabin

"Fantastic!" I exclaimed in relief scaring the nearest birds in the distance, somehow the next few steps were easier than the rest. The promise of shelter won me over instantly. I could almost feel the fire.

Maybe we wouldn't both die, that would be a miracle in itself.

I'd have to think up an excuse as to why there was so much blood on Papa's coat. But what was one more family secret? If we were hiding my back, why couldn't we just bury the coat? I felt bad because I knew it was expensive but I didn't feel bad about my decision, there would be plenty of time for that later.

I pulled the sled up to the stairs of the one-room cabin, the front covered porch in my way to the door. I thought about the bloody drag marks I'd seen in the clearing. I felt instantly guilty at being the person who would have to do that to him again but there really wasn't any other choice.

I looked down at Fenix, the odd-named Fae with such a breathtakingly beautiful face. Did all Fae look like this? Since the ear thing seemed to be true I could take solace in that I probably wasn't a Changeling, not that, the fact would change any villagers' minds.

I was thankful my fingers were numb as I reached around him, grabbing him under the shoulders and pulling tight. I knew my hands would have been screaming in pain otherwise, the rope burns had looked horrible when I'd checked on them earlier.

I brought him towards me as I slowly walked backward up the stairs, my chin resting against his neck as I tried to steady his head, all he needed was brain damage from me flinging him around. It was strange being so close to him, the small amount of warmth he provided in his embrace, the smell of his skin and hair an intoxicating mixture of Bergamot oil, and vanilla that somehow overshadowed the copper tint to the air. Dragging him up I winced with each thump of his lower body against the aged wood of the steps.

"Entschuldigung," I whispered in his ear, repeating the word over and over again with each thump. I was thankful when I could put him down. The cabin had been built up on its foundation to give a better view of the surrounding forest, it gave Ida and I's Papas a good spotting point for any deer or rabbits. It also dissuaded wolves from getting too close. Now it was annoyingly high up.

I placed him down carefully. The sight of the cross-bolt lock on the door filled me with both relief and frustration. Relief because it meant there was shelter within, and frustration because I was in no condition to fiddle with a lock. My fingers were numb from the cold, making them clumsy and uncooperative. Plus, I didn't have the key to the padlock.

I grabbed at it in irritation shaking the lock with as much force as I could muster, my skin sticking to the metal as I tried to pull it away. I winced when I finally managed to rip it free, the blood on my skin coating the lock.

What were we going to do? I had to do something! I hadn't just brought him all the way here to die. I hadn't brought him all the way here for me to die either. Looking down to the sled I found my answer. The Axe.

With a heavy sigh, I decided to take a more direct approach. I groaned as I tried not to fall down the icy steps grabbing the axe and returning quickly. Or, at least as quickly as I could muster.

I stepped closer to the door, my breath forming a fog in the freezing air. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of fear and determination fueling my actions. I raised the axe, praying I wouldn't drop it, and cut off all my toes, positioning it above the lock, and swung down with all the strength I could muster.

The metal of the axe collided with the lock, sending a jarring vibration up my arms. The impact made my entire body ache, but I couldn't afford to stop now. I raised the axe again, and again, delivering powerful blows to the lock. The metal groaned and protested with each strike, but I could see it beginning to give way.