The Mountains Blade

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen- Flames of Sorrow

Hope and Ashered Greywater stopped in their tracks at the sight of their children being held hostage. 

"I will kill both of them if you take another step closer." Aldric warned, pressing the base of the gun into Avelinas skull. 

Avelina shook in fear. Opal stood looking between the royal daughters and parents. Her eyebrows were knitted tightly together, eyes darting from person to person. 

"What do you want from my children." Hope growled, attempting to take a step forward. Ashered slid his blade into its holster, the flames winking out as he snatched his queen back. Hope gave him a ferocious look, only to be met with a hard stare. "He will kill them, that is Aldric Kane." Ashered hissed. 

The queen went rigid, the power zapping from the room, all color draining from her face. 

"I have a deal." Aldric smiled wolfishly at the pair. "You can have your heir but I want the other one. It's not like she is of much use anyways." He shrugged. 

Elwyn was met with her parents horrified expressions. "You can't be serious." Hope breathed. She looked as if she would catch the world on fire. The air in the room went stale as Hope stole Ashereds power, her one skill, taking and honing others magic. Ashered snapped his attention to her but a wall of flame held him back. Hope stalked forward, eyes blazing, fire shaped dragons swimming around her, waiting to pounce. 

Aldric smiled. He cocked his head to the side and yawned. "I have seen better." 

Hopes fire grew hotter, filling the room in response. 

Elwyn felt her neck turn slick from sweat. "Just take me and leave." She begged. 

Aldric turned to her curiously, eyeing her black stained lips. 

"But where is the fun in that?" He asked. 

"Hope." Ashered growled out at his wife. The fire dyed some as Elwyns father fought for control over his powers. He opened his wings and used them to send a gust of strong wind, that knocked everyone to their feet. The fire extinguished and from where Elwyn laid on the cold marble, she saw Aldric pulling himself to his feet with an annoyed expression. 

In the hassle, Opal lugged Avelina away from Aldric. Ashered helped his wife up and she made no reaction to his aid, both staring down Aldric Kane. 

Elwyns body ached from the fall and she grunted as she stood up. 

Aldric looked at her for a long moment and before she could register what he was doing, he shot her. 

Elwyns body flew back, screams filled the air. She wasn't sure if any belonged to her. Her body slammed against the wall and she felt her stomach. It was wet and when she lifted her fingers to her line of sight, they were stained black. 

Nausea filled her and the pain crashed into her. She cried out, holding her wound in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Dane was at her side. He cradled her into his arms and tore his shirt from his body wrapping it around her. His tan skin held the dried blood from where she had stabbed him. 

"Shh, Elwyn. breathe." He instructed. Elwyn had a mind to ignore him but the pain was to great. She grit her teeth and her ears finally stopped ringing enough to hear what was said next. 

"She is going to die. I have the antidote for the shadow peoples magic, back in my kingdom. If you really want her to die, she can stay. If you want her to live, you'll let me take her. Her human body cannot take anymore." Elwyn tried to listen to what her parents said but there was only the sound of her pulse in her eardrums. 

"She will live and she will be mine." He said. 

Elwyn froze, she didn't remember agreeing to marry him but rather, his brother. Although, either would be equally as bad. 

Elwyn felt warmth fill her and she clung to it, shivering despite it. She was so cold and the feeling was so warm. She was suddenly so very tired. A voice called to her. Elwyn blinked and she saw her mother sitting before her. She was on her knees, saying something and she was crying. 

Elwyn only heard the last thing she said. "We will come for you." 

The youngest royal of the Goldmoon kingdom closed her eyes. The image of her mother's fire colored hair sinking away.  She let herself bathe in the warmth, before coldness crashed over her and pulled her into a black colored sleep. 

~

When Elwyn awoke, she was tucked into a corner of blankets. The air felt thicker and her ears felt like someone had stuffed them with cloth. She maneuvered the thick blanket of fur and ground her teeth, biting back a yelp. Her eyes adjusted some and she notated the bouncing movement of the small compartment that she sat in. Her stomach was bandaged and her clothes had been replaced. Her weapons and shoes were gone, all the way down to everything but her diamond bracelet. Although it looked like someone had unsuccessfully tried to pry it off by the new small chip in its armor. 

The room was small, it bounced enough that she couldn't cover her grunts of annoyance. Her flesh felt like it was being ripped open by every movement. There was a deep black couch that stretched around the small room with a small door leading out of it. 

Elwyn grabbed onto one of the conveniently placed handles on the ceiling and lugged herself up. She gasped at the rush of cold air and looked down realizing just how sheer her clothing was. The bare slip she wore, displayed her undergarments as if she was wearing nothing at all. 

Elwyns cheeks heated and as if on cue, Aldric walked in through the small door. He smirked at her, raising his eyebrows as he drank up her physique. 

Elwyn took one arm and covered herself, glowering at him. Her other hand still held the handle, the only thing stopping her from plummeting back into the pile of blankets that she now realized was a small bed. 

"Where are my clothes?" She grit out, wincing as another bounce happened. 
Dane walked in behind Aldric and handed the cloak she had been wearing back to her. 

Elwyn eyed him, the scar on his face seeming more obvious against his strained expression. Unlike Aldric, Dane looked away from her, as if he couldn't bare the sight of her. Elwyn snatched the fabric from him and flung it around herself. 

Another bounce sent her falling into Aldrics arms.

 He snaked his arm around the small of her back, dangerously close to her skin. 

Elwyn practically threw herself out of his grasp. He let her do this, falling gently onto the heap of fur. "This will be fun." Aldric purred, dark eyes twinkling. 

Elwyn gulped. She very much doubted that this would be fun for her. 

Aldric continued to look at the cloak as if he could see what was beneath it. Elwyn clenched her fist, the thought of strangling him, flashing through her thoughts. 

He smiled his sharp teeth at her, seemingly reading her thoughts. 

"You're almost home, little warrior."