The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 43

They stopped at midday for a few minutes' rest and a bite to eat. The fairy provided them with entertainment, moving in a light, carefree way that reminded Iris of the dances performed for her in the tower. She smiled. When she had been Micah's captive, the fairies had always found a way to cheer her up, at least a little.

Her smile faded at the thought of Micah.

She pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her chin on her knees. The fairy flitted toward her, and she held her hand out for it, palm up. It landed over the center of what had been a bloody gash only three days ago. There was no scabbing, no scar to blemish her skin; nothing remained to remind her of that night other than her all too vivid memories.

She could almost feel the bite of the broken glass shard slashing her open.

"Hey, Iris."

She turned her head to look at Char as he scooted closer to her. He draped an arm around her shoulders, and she rested her cheek on her knees. His green eyes searched her face.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Just thinking."

He frowned. "About Micah?"

She faced forward again and spread her fingers wide, prompting the fairy to fly away. "It's nothing you need to worry about."

Char hesitated for a moment, and then he said, "He showed us, Iris. What he did to you before I got there."

Her entire body tensed. She had been afraid of that. But did they only see, or did they hear, too?

"Well, I only got the tail end of it," Rath said. "Just watching that was torture, but Char said what I missed was worse. I don't know how it could have been, and I don't want to know, either."

Char tucked a loose strand of Iris' hair behind her ear. "It wasn't like that every time, was it? You said he tricked you into going willingly the first time, and even though you knew the second time, you went willingly then, too."

A thick layer of shame coated her in grime. She focused on a small patch of dried grass in front of her, knowing Char hadn't meant to make her feel guilty, but feeling it all the same. Even though she'd never really had a choice with Micah.

"No, it wasn't that bad the first two times. I hadn't believed him before when he'd told me permission and trust make it easier, but they do."

She paused. A meadowlark wheeled above them, trilling its sweet song, and an answering song arose in the distance. Happy. Free.

Would she ever feel like that again?

Her eyes had wandered up to the sky as she searched for the bird, but now she dropped her gaze to the earth and scowled. "I should have just looked for the crystal like normal. I shouldn't have interfered in that battle. Then he wouldn't have been angry when he came back, and I could have kept practicing, and he wouldn't have known what I was doing until I was more sure of myself. Now, I just have to hope we don't run into him, because I can't even defend myself against him, let alone you two and the fairy. And I know he'll kill all of you just to spite me"

Char gave her shoulders a squeeze. "You did nothing wrong, and who says we'll run into him, anyway? We just need to get into the castle and return the amulet to the crystal. Easy. Then, after we get you somewhere safe, I'll go back and tear him limb from limb. He's never touching you again, Iris. I promise."

She shook her head and turned to look at him, firm conviction hardening her dark brown eyes. "You know you can't promise that. But you can promise me this: if something happens, you and Rath need to run."