The Elven King's Consort

Chapter 42: Cabin

But when I reached down for his hand, a sound all too familiar hit my ears: the pull of wood against a string. My eyes darted past the pathetic man to where the other two stood. Silas aimed an arrow directly at us. My voice was too slow. The arrow now released whipped through the air, breaking it. The vibration sent waves distorting it. Pushing the high elf out of the way, I was struck in the side seconds later. A force so hard it knocked the wind out of me, and the pain shook every bone.

Blood spilled out of my mouth, adding to the stains made earlier. Baring my fangs, the monster within me awakened, threatening to be released. It was bloodthirsty. Hungry for revenge. I fought to contain the rage. The fear in Keyair's eyes as he stared at me like I was some beast that tore through the depths of hell, revealing itself from a long-dormant slumber.

Cesteil held me, yelling, but his words didn't register; it was as if I had become deaf. The monster within me thrashed violently. This was all wrong. It wasn't supposed to go this way. I can't lose control. If I do, I'll be unstoppable and kill everything and anything in sight. I tried breathing in and out to calm myself, but the impact from the arrow was too severe. I could taste the thick metallic liquid drowning me. It layered so heavily in my throat. Suddenly, a tickle in my nose made my eyes water, and with a shaky hand, I touched it, and when I looked, there was blood. My nose was bleeding.

Panting violently and desperately seeking air, I stared up at Cesteil, tears bordering my eyes. A bright light around us blinded me, making my ears ring. My palms met the cool, wet surface, just barely touching my lids and eyelashes. I couldn't help but scream in frustration and agony. Something was wrong with me, and I didn't know what. Was it the magic? Or the arrow? What if it was Tsillah's blood? It was rancid and putrid. So abnormal.

Warm fingers wrapped around mine, pulling them away from my eyes. I stared up at what resembled an angel at first. Blinking a few times, the face cleared; it was Cestiel, and that's when I realized where and what happened. All of it came crashing back, and that first breath of air I was finally able to take came crashing back, hitting my uvula and shocking me.

"Breathe. It's okay now," he said calmly, sitting me up.

My monster had calmed back and tucked away, and I could finally think rationally again. He pulled a knife out and sliced his hand; it was a clean cut, not too deep, and placed it close to my lips. Like a hungry vulture, I licked and sucked to my heart's content. Feelings of embarrassment plagued me, but I was so famished I pushed them away for another time to remind me, most likely when I may be vulnerable and clear-headed.

Satisfied, he pulled back and wrapped it tightly. Then he moved to the other side of me where the arrow remained, deep. Without warning, he tore the dress enough to reveal my skin. It had blackened. The veins crawled up, proliferating like black spider webs.

"It's poisoned."

I nodded, agreeing. Now, it explains why the monster within me awoke: It felt threatened for its life.

"Can you cure me?"

He nodded, gripped the arrow's middle, and looked at me apologetically.

"I've got to pull it out."

I bit my lip hard and clenched my teeth, nodding. Looking away, I distracted myself and took in the place we had come to. He had used a traveling stone to escape from the forest, but I didn't recognize where we were: it was a small cabin meant for hunting, probably for human use.

A sharp ache throbbed at first; the wood sliding out at an astronomical slow pace, the flesh and meat pulling at it, and the blood swimming out like the waterfall we saw earlier. I hissed, trying hard not to yell. It felt like an eternity, the pain never-ending, only growing and driving me mad. I gripped the middle of the dress tightly, and from this, my palms became clammy and tired. Finally, with one last tug, it was out. Throwing it across the room, he worked at the small hole at my side while I couldn't help but fall to my good side, panting. Why do I get in such a state all the time?