Eclipsis: Water

Chapter 33

Ondine felt like all the blood had been drained from her body. Her smile was instantly gone, and she turned towards the sound of the voice - Calder, his arms folded, hidden almost entirely in the shadows of a tree. She felt as though she couldn't speak. He stepped further towards her, into a patch of dim moonlight. The shadows cast on his face made him look all the more frightening, distorting his scars horribly. She almost hadn't recognised him.

There was a movement behind him and she jerked her head to see what it was - Junto. He had given her away, he must have. Utter despair filled her, replacing her blood. This had been her one chance of escape, and Junto had ruined it. She got to her feet, Calder watching her wordlessly. Her vision went blurry, and she felt tears threatening to spill out of her eyes. She blinked fervently.

"You," She had intended her voice to sound angry, but it came out disappointed. "You told him?"

Junto didn't answer. She was trying to read his expression, to work out if he was pleased with himself, but he looked almost devoid of emotion.

"He was only doing his job, child." Calder spoke softly.

It's not personal, it's just business flashed across Ondine's mind. Had it been her mistake? To leave out that he should not tell the King of her escape, when she requested his help? Maybe it was her fault for somewhat trusting him in the first place.

Calder seemed almost amused that she had managed to get over the wall. He was looking down at the grappling hook lying near her feet, then tapped it with the underside of his shoe. He turned back to her, blue eyes even darker in the lighting.

"Why were you going to leave me, Ondine?" His voice was dangerously quiet now, his mood evidently switching.

She didn't answer him. No answer would make him content. She still had the dagger clutched tightly in her hand. She stepped forward as soon as the thought appeared in her mind, swiping at him with it. She didn't intend to actually stab him, she only wanted to surprise him so she could attempt to run, but he didn't move out of the way. She had to pull her wrist back at the last possible second to avoid hitting him, but it nicked his arm. She couldn't tell through the cloak's material if he was bleeding. He didn't wince. She had definitely cut him.

Calder's expression did not change as he continued to stare at her, waiting for her answer. She could feel sobs piling up in her throat, wanting to be released - her chest was heaving. If she ran anyway, would he follow? He seemed to read her mind, and lunged forward, grabbing her shoulders, one hand knocking the dagger out of her hand. His fingers dug into her, so hard she could feel them through the heavy material of the cloak.

"You have tried to betray me, by leaving," He seethed. She tried to pull away from him, but his grip only hardened.

"You're hurting me," She said, hoping this would get through to him. It did not. Her fear of him was at an all-time high. "Junto, please get him to stop."

"Leave the kappa out of this!" Calder barked. "I am the King, everyone listens to me."

Before he could say another word, Ondine had reached for the club in her inner pocket, whacking him in his ribcage, hard. His grip on her loosened, and she shoved him away, turning to sprint as fast as she could. Soil and leaves were in her mouth. Her chin was definitely bleeding, and she swore a part of her tongue had been bitten off. Her father had tripped her. She scrambled to get back to her feet, trying to find the club that had fallen to the ground with her, but he kneeled a short distance away from her and pushed down on her back to keep her to the floor. She kicked her legs up, hoping to hit him.

"Hurry up and sedate her, you fool!" Calder yelled.

Junto mumbled something she couldn't quite hear, and then there was a sharp pain in the side of her neck, an injection. The weight of Calder's strong hands left her back, and he stepped away from her, looking down as she blinked up at him.