Keira and the Satyr's Seduction

Disappeared

“We need to get the hell out of here!"

Malcolm shivered as Esther and Keira continued making their way to the back of the cave.

“We'll be trapped in here! Cornered even!"

“That's why we're using you as bait!" Sebastian lunged forward and grabbed the centaur, pushing Malcolm forward.

“Me?" Malcolm scoffed, “I'm trying to help you!"

Esther sighed and wanted to rush the scene, but decided to stay with Keira instead.

“I'm holding you back, sister…” Keira settled against the wall, her body getting weaker as the minutes clicked by.

Esther shook her head,"Nonsense. I'm a very powerful witch. I'm taking care of you first.”

Keira held her sister close as they watched Sebastian shove Malcolm out of the cave.

They could hear the wraiths screech as the image of a living centaur came into view.

“Just tell them they're not taking my son!"

Malcolm rolled his eyes, trembling as he galloped down to the wraiths.

They're black mist and beady red eyes glared at the centaur as if Malcolm was the filth and they were above him.

“What do you want?" Malcolm trembled as the wraiths circled him, “We're just passing through. Let us be on our way!”

"The baby.. the witch!”

"I don't know any witch or baby or whatever you're talking about!” Malcolm howled,"You are making up fairy tales!”

"What about the people you're traveling with?”

Malcolm shrugged,"Newbies. I'm showing them around and they're terrified of you. I saw a group of people back at my camp.”

Malcolm pointed in the direction his group came from,"They were two men, two women. One was pregnant. They looked mean so I hauled ass. I lost my little group and I think that other body of people took out my centaur brothers!”

“Let's see your group!"

Malcolm looked to the cave where he noticed the four were nowhere to be seen.

“Fine. See for yourself. I think they took off!”

Two of the wraiths made their way up to the cave and then came back down a while later and said no one else was there, much to Malcolm’s surprise.

"Let him go! We're wasting time!”

The wraiths turned in the direction where Malcolm had pointed, leaving the centaur bewildered. He returned to the cave to find no one there.

Investigating further, he noticed that a note had been scrawled on the wall in the back of the cave that only centaurs could read.

“Dearest Malcolm,

Do not try to find us, but rest assured you are forever in our debt and we will get you to the Paradise Realm as soon as we can."

It was signed with the letter E.

“Esther…”

“I thought it was ridiculous to leave him with the wraiths!" Augustus bickered with his wife as Keira was carried by her husband to their next stopping point.

“Why? He did the job and I promised him we'll find a way to get him to his family," Esther was not even slightly bothered by her husband's arguments. She was used to them even though she loved Augustus dearly.

“Let's just get to the next spot, alright? Keira needs to rest,” Sebastian pleaded.

He stopped, spinning around with Keira practically heaving from the jostling.

“What is it?"

“Where the hell are they?!"

“Who? Where is who?!"

Settling Keira down gently onto her feet, Sebastian continued to look around.

"Esther and Augustus!”

Keira whiried around, staring out into the path in front of them.

"Esther!!!”

Keira stumbled forward and fell to her knees.

Sebastian rushed to her side, but she brushed him off.

"Sebastian! Esther!”

"They're gone…”

Keira sobbed,"Where are they?!”

Malcolm came up behind them, much to Sebastian's chagrin.

"Something grabbed them. I saw a light and then they were gone!” Malcolm said,"You've got to keep going. I'll guide you there, but I can only go so far. You'll be in the Faded Valley soon. It's better than here.”

Malcolm led the way as Keira sobbed into Sebastian's hold.

Once they reached Faded Valley, Malcolm showed them some houses that were vacant.

“You can get a better rest here," he pointed to a quaint little cottage settled next to a flowing river, “It's one of the better places to be in the Dark Realm."

Keira didn't know what to think anymore. She and Sebastian thanked Malcolm who told them the way to the hag's territory.

“It'll take a bit to get there, but take shelter here. I must go," Malcolm said, “Please understand that I'm sorry for your plight and I hope you're able to save your baby…”

“And yourselves."

They watched him gallop off into another direction, but something told Sebastian and Keira that the centaur would always be watching.

“I'll make a fire," Sebastian said, “Please rest, my love."

He escorted Keira to a bedroom where a lovely bed was made up. She was tired and when her head hit the pillow, she was out.

Sebastian scoured the cottage, finding food and other provisions that would last them for quite some time.

He watched her sleep, wanting so badly to lay down with her, but there was so much to do.

Covering his mate with a blanket, he rubbed her belly and smiled when Emmett kicked.

“My little satyr…”

Sebastian left his wife and unborn child to make something for them to eat, peering out the window every now and then when something caught his eye.

The valley seemed different, peaceful and safe, but he didn't know why.

And where were Esther and Augustus?