Hope In The Darkness

Chapter 29

Walking through the dense snow,  my thoughts began to race at what had brought me to this point in my life,  a strange stone cave caught my eye a few yards away.

Looking down I pulled at the blood stained glove until it fell from my wound arm.

Once it was wrapped tightly around the spot the dagger had cut I began to make way towards the stone cave.

Stopping to admire the nicely carved stone from hundreds of years ago,  I began to hear the sound of bubbling water.

Taking a few steps into the seemingly dark cave I found that some of the stone had fallen away near the roof.

Causing a perfect hole that sunlight could cascade down into the darkness.

Blowing warm air into the palms of my hands a shiver ran down my spine as if something or someone was watching me.

Bending down I reached into the long heel boot as I pulled out a much bigger dagger than before as I took in my surroundings.

Once I made sure nothing was around I let the dagger fall to my waist as I walked up the stone carved staircase towards the bubbling sound of water.

The way the sun broke through the stone cascaded a moonlight shimmer across the steaming pool of water as it seemed almost magical.

The royal blue fabric of the gown I wore draped across my cold legs as I let my fingers dance in the warm water.

Placing the dagger down I reached further into the arm water as I slowly began to close my eyes.

*crunching of leaves*

My heart dropped in my chest as something inside of me told me to run or fight whatever is behind me.

Another feeling tried to push through the rush of emotions flooding my system, it was to trust whatever it is.

Letting my eyes slowly turn towards where my dagger layed a few inches away from me I heard a wet growl escape the creatchers lips.

Cruising myself I slowly began to take my hand out of the warm embrace of the bubbling water as I felt the creature's hot breath on my shoulder.

A tear ran down my cheeks as the beast's head slowly made it way past my shoulder.

The growl that escaped its lips caused my stomach to flip as my heart rate quickened.

Losing my already unsteady grip I fell backwards onto my back allowing as a desperate whimper slipped out from my quivering lips I came face to face with the beast.

The bright vengeful blue gaze that met mine made all the air in my lungs vanish as I closed my eyes tightly and accepted my fate.

"Prudence..."

" Sunshine don't move!" I heard two familiar voices shout across the cave from where I now layed.

"Henry! Ralph please!" I shouted as I held my blood soaked hand up towards my face.

I layed there for what felt like an eternity waiting for my end to come, however I heard a broken voice whisper, "Did I do this?".

I felt something grip my hurt hand as a whimper escaped my lips.

Slowly allowing my eyes to open I found Kayden hovering over me with my blood stained arm wrapped gently in his warm hand.

"You stay away from her!" I heard Ralph shout towards Kayden as he ran up the stairs with a blade inches away from Kayden's heart.

"Stop Ralph!" I screamed as my arm circled around Kaydens nude chest.

Realizing who I had just taken up for, I slowly released him from my tight grip.

Feeling his hand slip from my back I looked towards Ralph who stood there about to dismember  Kayden in front of his Beta.

"I lost control....." I heard Kayden whisper under his breath towards Henry.

"Here take this and let's get back to the others." Henry said as he held out a blanket towards Kayden and helped him to his feet. 

The walk back towards the others was filled with unsettling tension and awkwardness.

Glancing up I found Paige running from where she had been near the fire towards me.

"What happened?" Paige asked as she ran up towards me with concern written on her face.

"I fell and a rock sliced my arm." I said as she began to walk me towards the large fire near the others.

As she began to speak I tilted my head towards Henry helping Kayden into a tent that was set up near the horses.

Hours went by as I stared at the tent Kayden had disappeared into as the sun had fallen below the trees.

I ignored the footsteps approaching as I focused on the dyeing flames infront of me.

" Kayde is holding a meeting with the others on what the next move is."

I heard Henry say as he sat beside me on the fallen log Jackson had brought over for me to sit on.

"You didn't hurt him." I heard Henry whisper as I looked up at his smiling face.

Offing me his warm hand, I took it and we began to walk towards the tent Kayden had entered.

As I walked in I noted some familiar faces and some I had yet to be acquainted with.

Following the crowd that surrounded who I assume was Kayden I found him hovering over a large map. 

Kayden spared a quick glance as if he felt my presence then focused his eyes back onto the plan.

"Our informant has returned from the next checkpoint. We have to change up our plans." Kayden announced towards Henry who was now beside him.

"They have been informed of the ruse of pretending to be a noble escort. So I have found it best that we enter the gates by going below ground."

A tall man with a stuffy beard announced as he made his way through the crowd to stand by Henry.

"We should enter here." The man said as he pointed towards a mark near the gate.

"How many guards?" I questioned with an uneven voice as the men looked towards me.

"Two at the entrance of the sewer, but more at the gate and tons are scattered in the town on both sides of the gate."

The man announced as he turned his attention back towards Kayden.

"We will need a distraction, I suppose here then it would be easier for us to travel through the sewer without being detected."

Kayden was the first of many to give an annoyed expression as I could tell he hadn't thought of a plan to get us to the tunnel.

"Since you have all the answers, little sunshine, why don't you tell the rest of us how we will find our way out of the sewer."

Kayden spat as he stood to his feet and leaned over the scattered maps.

Swallowing my nerves I too leaned over the table so my breast would be more evident as I spoke.

"I say we send someone to map out the underground tunnels and find the best and safest exit that has us closer to the ship, I hope you have already sent for Prince Leopold."

I announced as I smiled towards an aggravated Kayden.

"Thank you little sunshine for explaining the obvious. If you would shut your pretty mouth for more than a second, you would hear the rest of our plan." He spat.

"Now. Thanks to our brilliant informant we shall exit the tunnel near the south side of the cove, where our ship is waiting with supplies."

Kayden announced as he began to dismiss the crowd.  "We shall leave when the moon is at its highest peak tomorrow night!"

I heard him shout as I left the tent with Paige at my side.