Finding Truth

Chapter 16

With my bag packed and hung over my shoulder I make my way through the halls to the armory. It's early enough that no one should be there but Gwen.

I get a few looks on my way but no one will question it. After all, I'm the most prized possession to the kingdom and everyone thinks I'm too much of a scared child to do anything but be compliant.

Finally reaching the armory I peak my head in to make sure there's no one else inside besides Gwen. Can't be too careful when you're trying to escape fae.

"Hey Gwen."

Gwen stops mid count staring at the wall of blades and turns around looking at me confused.

"Why are you here so early? And with a bag I see."

"This might sound insane, but I need you to get me out of here and back to the human realm."

"Look Sammy, I know you and Aden are going through it right now but do you really think that's best? There's a war starting and it's right at our doorstep. I know what happened to you in the human realm before you made it here."

"I'm aware it won't be the safest, but I need to do this. I have so many questions and absolutely zero answers. Actually, I was hoping you'd come with me."

Gwen lets out a long breath while running her hands down her face.

"Here, come sit with me and let's talk about this."

We sit on one of the familiar benches by the sparring mats and I drop my chin into my hands while my elbows are propped up on my knee. I don't even know where she wants me to begin. I keep telling myself it's because I need answers and Aden is being a douche but there's something else. A weird pull and feeling that I absolutely NEED to do this.

"Already in your own thoughts?"

"Humm?" Shaking my head I sit up putting my hands in my lap fidgeting with nonexistent dirt under my fingernails.

"I'm sorry Gwen, I don't really have a good reason for you to come with me other than I have a weird pull that is telling me this is what I need to do and I'd really like it if you came with me. But I understand if betraying the crown is not something you're okay with."

"Listen to me when I say this Samantha. Where you go, I will go. I will not leave you alone. BUT, I need you to understand the consequences and possibilities for danger before we do this."

"I understand the risks."

"Do you though? Do you really? We're talking war here. Not just a fae war but a war between worlds and realms."

"God, don't you think I know this Gwen?! It's all I hear about day in and day out since I got dumped into this shit show of a world. 'You're this' 'You're that' 'You're going to save the world'. Well news flash, I'm none of those things."

"Come on, you don't know that."

"You're right, I don't really know. But I do know that right now I am none of those things."

"Okay, I guess we should plan something quick before people start to wake."

__________

Gwen and I spent an hour discussing details like where we should go, how we're going to leave, who we need to see for new identities in the human world and everything in between.

First task at hand is get the hell out of dodge and far enough away before someone notices we're gone.

We agreed we won't have an option but to rift me twice. Once to the portal and once to Trenton's pack. He told me a few months ago if we needed anything he'd be there... and I'm hoping that offer is still good.

I'm pretty sure it would be so far down the list of places I could possibly be Aden wouldn't even think to ask the werewolves. Which is exactly why we're going. Well, and the fact I think Trenton can give me answers to some questions Aden won't or can't answer.

"You ready to do this?" Gwen says, holding out her hand.

"Yes."

I take Gwens hand and prepare for the blackout or nausea to come, but it doesn't. I see the world shifting and moving around me and next thing I know I'm stumbling forward trying to steady myself on hard ground.

"Sammy? How do you feel?"

"I'm- uhh- I'm okay actually. A little shaken but nothing like when Aden did it with me."

"Okay, well, that'll make things easier, but that's also intriguing. We'll have to dig more into that later. I'm going to start the spell for the portal now."

As Gwen finishes opening the portal, chills start to wreak havoc on my body. I slowly turn around and I see him again.

Those blue eyes aren't forgettable. He's standing in the tree line.

I lift my foot to take a step towards him as someone starts screaming my name.

Whipping my head to the left following the sound I see Aden running towards us from the other side of the forest.

Everything slows down.

Gwen has my hand now pulling me into the portal. But I need to see the blue eyed man one more time. I'm twisting around while being pulled forward trying to find him again in the trees but I see nothing. The feeling of him is gone.

Aden's screams fade as I close my eyes and allow Gwen to close the portal she just pulled us through.

"Sammy! Open your eyes! We need to rift now! It will only take Aden maybe thirty seconds to open that portal back up. Are you ready?"

"Yes, yes. I'm sorry. I saw blue eyes again before we left."

"What the fuck?! Where?? Actually I don't care right now. Fill me in when we get to the mountains."

I look Gwen in the eyes and nod.

Then we're rifting through the world.

When everything has stopped spinning I'm left looking out over the snowy mountains on a cliff.