We've been stuck in here for a week. If I'm stuck here for much longer I'll probably go after Tamarack with or without orders so it's a good thing we're leaving tonight.
I pause from cleaning my swords when I hear Talib come in. Sneaking a glance at him I see he's leaning against the doorframe. He looks different, handsome.
We've barely talked since that night. I barely want to admit it to myself but I miss him.
Slowly I put my sword down to join the array of daggers on my bed and stand. He walks over to me and stands a little too close in front of me.
"Look I don't want to leave things the way they are," he says softly, uncertainty clouding his features, I've never seen him this unsure, "Can we go back to the way things were?"
The words "Okay," tumble from my lips before I can stop them.
He envelops me in a hug. I stiffen. Slowly I relax into him, bathing in his warmth and the sense of safety I feel in his arms. Then it dawns on me, the reason I've been shutting him out. I'm terrified of losing him, I care about him and it scares me.
"Promise me you won't die," I beg softly before it fully processes through my brain.
"I won't." he whispers back with so much certainty that all I can do is believe him.
The walls around my heart crumble a little more. The dark stirs.
Finally we release each other but we don't step back. It's like an invisible thread is tying us together preventing us from moving. My eyes are drawn to his like magnets. I feel myself falling into his dark brown eyes. Talib's eyes fell to my lips, nervously I lick them not sure what we're doing. Butterflies burst through my stomach as my heart beats frantically.
Slowly his head comes down as if afraid I might bolt if he moves too quickly. Our lips brush lightly, his searching for consent to continue, sparks fly. My breath catches at the contact, my body crying for more, his wanting the same. Talib's press his lips against mine more firmly but still soft with barely controlled passion, still in shock I don't respond at first. Just as Talib starts to pull away I recover and my body takes over shutting down the higher functions of my brain as I begin to kiss back, our lips moving in sync. Fire spreads through me, consuming me as his arms encircle my waist pulling me closer to him deepening the kiss. My hands reach up around his neck and tangle themselves in his hair as I bring us closer. Where our skin meets tingles and sparks shoot through me.
Our bodies searching for dominance but neither of us are willing giving way. Over balancing slightly my back ends up against the wall.
We break apart breathing heavily, our foreheads resting against each other. Grins plaster themselves across our faces.
The fire I know destroys but this, this fire brings life. It's terrifying, I've never felt this close to someone but somehow I crave more, the addiction, the drug that intoxicates me to my very core, Talib.
We kiss again but this time it's different, it's soft and tender. Our passions more controlled softer. I feel like I'm saying goodbye as if I'm expecting to die tonight. Maybe I will....
The muffled jingle of chainmail and the thud of footsteps echo in the tunnels. Pulling us from our own little world and reminding us it's time to leave. Reluctantly I untangle myself from Talib's embrace and attach my weapons to my waist.
Talib interlocks his fingers with mine.
"Now you had better not die, not after that or I'll be extremely pissed at you," I murmur at him, trying to regain some composure but it's not working very well as I feel my cheeks blush.
"Then I guess I won't then," he murmurs in reply.
I tug his hand and we leave to report to Connor our squad captain.
"About time you two got together," Connor laughs looking pointedly at our joined hands, "Okay pay up," he puts out his hand to his second in command.
"Fine, but you only just won," he grumbled before handing over some money.
"You had a bet," I growl dangerously,
"Whoa, it was just a bit of fun, I bet you guys would get together before the battle tonight and he bet it would be in the next three months after tonight's battle, see just some harmless fun," Connor nervously tries to joke.
Talib squeezes my hand and murmurs "Let it go," in my ear.
"Come on let's just go." I grumble and we head through the tunnels that lead just past the outer walls of the palace but a better term would be fortress. Gathering with six other squads at our entrance we open the door and charge.
The clangs of swords ring out harsh and discordant in the night air. The shouts of dying men reach my ears as the world is painted with blood.
I block, parry and stab robotically, not letting myself think for a second and let instinct take over. Slowly but surely carving a path of through the fighting leaving a trail of death I make my way towards the throne room where I know my enemy lies and where my revenge will take place.
I whirl bringing my sword down once again delivering death. I see Talib couple of metres away desperately fending off four of Tamarack's soldiers. Red tinges my vision as I run to where he is and cut two of them down while they are distracted by Talib. The third spins round to meet my blade. We fight furiously for a full five minutes exchanging blow for blow but then he makes a mistake. A small smile tugs at the corners of my mouth as I strike at the opening. His eyes widen as the life slips from them.
I hurry to a door and slide through. The noise is muted by the thick walls making the battle that rages outside sound far away and distant. I'm in a servant's hall. I sprint to join the main corridor that leads to the throne room. Fighters crowd the hall as I kill soldiers and dodge rebels as I steadily make my way to my intended target.
I open the door and walk in. All sound outside fades to nothing as the door slams shut on it. It sounds final as if it's not just shutting everyone else out but also trapping me in as well.
I feel the familiar rage bubble up inside me and spill over. I let myself sink into the red haze that descends upon my vision. This time I don't try to fight it, I let it engulf me as the dark hovers and wraps around me. I am ready for my revenge.
YOU ARE READING
Discovering Freedom
Fantasía12 year Tamarack has conquered and ruled the country with an iron fist. For 12 years Kyra has hidden. Now she's had enough of his terrible reign. She leaves the stone hallways within the mountains and embarks on her fight for freedom for her country...
