Running From Time

Chapter 10

Don't wake me uuuuuuuuuu -

I turned off my alarm as quickly as I could and rubbed my eyes. Thalia lay just a few feet from me in her separate single bed, snoring quietly. She started to murmur something in her sleep before turning over so that she was facing away from me. I smiled and felt a warm feeling creep through me. She looked so peaceful.

I quietly got up and threw some clothes on, heading out of our hotel room before the sun had even broken over the horizon. The air was chilly at this time of day, but what did I expect? This was England after all, not Los Angeles. I walked through the hotel lobby, gaining some weird glances from the people working there. The guests of the hotel obviously didn't go for regular morning walks.

The cool air hit me as soon as I walked out of the entrance to the hotel. With a shudder, I picked up my pace and stuck my hands in my pockets. My breath was visible every time I breathed out and I shuddered again. Well, this was a stupid decision. Still, I didn't turn back. I headed into the woods next to the hotel and checked my watch to see that it was just after six in the morning. The woods were peaceful and only the faint sounds of leaves crunching beneath my feet and birds tweeting met my ears. Somehow I felt perfectly at ease here, like this was my home. Maybe it was because I wasn't in the spotlight for once, and I could finally be myself without worrying about what others may think. The childlike side of me came to the surface as I looked around and smiled. Quickly checking that no one was in sight, I smirked and started climbing the nearest tree. My hands and feet easily found purchase on the rough bark and I ascended quickly, reaching the top of the tree in only a few minutes. I sat on a fairly wide branch and rested my head against the trunk. Within minutes, I was fast asleep.

The murmuring of voices came from below me and I opened my eyes slightly. It was probably just a couple of early morning hikers or something. I was well hidden within the canopy of the tree so they wouldn't spot me up here. I didn't want to disturb them from their hiking trip, after all. Closing my eyes again, I listened to the soft sounds of their voices. One had a vaguely familiar British accent and the other...an American one. Sitting bolt upright, my eyes widened and my blood ran cold as I recognised the American voice.

Lydia.

I tried to make my body dissolve using my power but nothing happened. I still didn't have complete control of that power and I frowned. Well, I'd just have to try not to move and give myself away. Lydia and the British man came ever closer, talking in hushed whispers to each other. I strained my ears in the hope of catching part of their conversation.

"So you tried to catch Christopher in the cinema, correct?" The man asked in a soft tone. But Lydia had been nowhere in sight in the cinema!

"Yes, Master. On multiple occasions." She clarified to him quickly, and even from where I was sitting, I could hear that her voice was laced with fear. Master? He chuckled suddenly and it sent shivers down my spine. There was no humour in that laugh.

"But yet he does not stand before me. He could be miles away now because of your failed efforts!" The man raised his voice on the last sentence and I felt his power ooze from every word.

"Please, Serpius! One more chance and I shall prove to you that I can capture him and bring him to you!" Realisation suddenly dawned on me as I remembered where I recognised the voice from. That dream that I had had a while ago where Serpius and I had duelled almost to the death replayed in my mind. Had it really been a dream?

"This is your last chance, X. One more slip and -" I looked down just in time to see Serpius dragging a finger across his throat.

"Oh, thank you, Mas -" She was cut off suddenly by the raise of Serpius' hand and he looked around, eyes narrowed.