The Hearts that Bleed Black

Chapter 14

Kijani

"Why did I think it would be a good idea to take you to a bar?" I groaned as a very drunken Aspen clung to my shirt, "You've had two drinks. How are you this drunk?"

"Cuz- hic- I'm not used to- hic- it" Aspen slurred, "I need another- hic- drink."

"No, you really don't" I replied dryly. Despite having carried him halfway down the street, Aspen hadn't quite realised we'd even left the bar.

"Kijani~" Aspen whined, his cheeks rosy from drunkenness and whatever unholy thoughts were swimming through his mind at that moment.

"What, Aspen?" I heaved a sigh.

"I love you" he murmured, "Just thought I'd- hic- say that."

"Right" I nodded, perplexed, "Is that why you were chugging nearly pure vodka like it was water?"

"It's good," Aspen said dreamily, "It reminds me of you."

"Of me?" I laughed, "What, tasteless? Bitterly sweet? Bad for you?"

"Something like that," Aspen murmured. I stared into his eyes. His pupils were completely dilated, and a fog had taken over them. Somehow in the thirty minutes we were in the bar he'd developed an alcohol addiction, which surely had to be a world record.

"God how am I supposed to get you home" I muttered, "You're going to fall off the horse halfway there."

"Guess I'll have to ride on the back with you" Aspen leant into my chest, placing his arms on me, "I- hic- don't think I can walk..."

"Fine, let's just go."

Ignoring Aspen's protests, I stood up with him clinging to my front. Moving my arm under him so he was more supported, I increased the pace at which I was walking. The horses were just down the street, tied to a hitching rail. I took one look at Aspen, and I knew he was in no state to ride by himself. Admitting defeat, I lifted him up into Sayah's saddle. I untied Yukio, grateful that he just stood there while I hoisted myself up in front of Aspen.

"Hold on" I called over my shoulder, "If you fall off don't blame me."

I felt Aspen's arms wrap around my waist, pulling me close. Holding Yukio's lead rope, I gave Sayah's sides a squeeze. We were off at once. I eased us into a steady canter, not wanting to go too fast in case Aspen tried to suicide while I wasn't looking. Drunk people do some crazy things, none of them ever good.

I was thankful for the lack of truly dangerous animals in Luris. Unlike Vraekya, in which just about every animal could kill you in some way, Luris had relatively few. The only immediate ones that came to mind were carnivorous deer, which roamed just about every kingdom as a result of a failed science experiment many years ago. The only other was the dire bear, which was nearly twelve feet long and highly aggressive. I had to hope we didn't cross any tonight.

Unfortunately, it seemed our luck tonight was out.

Hearing the low rumble of a bear in the trees beside us, I urged Sayah to go faster. I could hear the monstrous beast crashing and blundering through the bracken, keeping pace with ease. To keep pace with a horse bred for speed like Sayah, the animal had to be massive. Its breathy growls and snarls echoed in my ears, accelerating my heart rate. Sayah had sensed it too, and was now tugging at her reins, desperate for me to give her her head. Next to us, Yukio dragon-snorted in fear, having also scented it. Mindful of the heavily drunk Aspen clinging to my back, I relented and allowed Sayah to run faster.

Through the forest it chased us, never stopping to rest or giving up. I had long since forgotten which direction home was, only that we had to escape the dire bear that seemed determined to catch us. Sayah was snorting heavily as she drew in as much oxygen as possible, sweating nervously beneath me. As fit and strong as she was, she couldn't run at a flat gallop for long. Not long enough to escape the bear.