Hungry is the heart

Chapter 13. Shadows

Daveny towered over her, his wings blocking away the moonlight. 'Get up,' he repeated. His voice had an urgency to it.

Eleanor pressed her hands against the ground, but she couldn't find the strength. She moved her wings, fighting the air that refused to move.

'You can't ssstay here. They will take your heart.'

'I- I-can't.'

'You have to. Otherwissse I can't help you.'

She pushed against the floor again. Her nails scratched against the tiles. Her body felt too heavy. She looked up at Daveny, his wing reached into her direction. She grabbed it with both hands and clawed herself up. Her legs felt like twigs in an autumn storm.

'Walk.' There was no sympathy in his voice.

She didn't know why she even tried to listen. There was no reason to trust him, but she did. With unsteady footsteps, she walked along the water's edge. She clamped on to his wing, because if she let go, she knew she wouldn't get up again.

The monster next to her walked slowly, matching her pace as if he was her shadow. Two of his eyes were directed at her, while the others moved across the garden restlessly. He didn't say anything. At least not in a language she understood. The low hissing noises that left his mouth, must be directed at someone or something.

He walked her into the halfway and opened a door. Carefully, he guided her into a room that looked like hers. Except the curtains were darker and the cabinets were filled with animal skulls. Daveny brought her to a chair that stood in front of a messy desk. Papers were scattered on both the wooden surface and floor.

With blurry eyes, she watched him lock the door. The clicking sound sent a new wave of fear through her body. She wasn't safe yet. He wasn't any different from the others. He could hurt her just as badly, probably even more than them.

Only his calm aura vouched for him. He walked through the room swiftly, seemingly knowing what to do. Grabbing bottles and fabric, before walking back to her. He dropped the supplies on his desk and kneeled down. All his eyes studied her torn body. 'Let me have a look.'

He pressed a cloth against her throat. It was red when he let go. 'Could have been worssse.' He pulled a leaf from a plant and placed it on the wound. 'Hold thisss for me.'

She took the leaf and pressed down, causing a strong burning sensation. She took slow breaths. Pain flooded her every time her chest moved.

Daveny turned and walked to the door.

'Where are you going?' Her voice was quiet.

'I'm helping you. Ssso do me a favour and keep breathing. I don't want to deal with a death body in my room.' He unlocked the door and disappeared into the hallway. The clapping sound his wings made, quickly faded.

She took another breath and looked down. Her knees were covered in scratches and what remained of her dress was a bloodied mess. But the pain felt distant, like this wasn't happening to her. She could look at the figure in Daveny's chair as if a stranger. Her bleeding chest and broken body didn't feel like hers.

Only the voice in her head, reminded it was. Run, Eleanor, Run, it shouted. He wasn't going to help her. He had no reason to. All she was, to Daveny, was another of Soliste's many toys.

She didn't listen. Like a scared deer, she stared at the door. No matter how much her instincts told her to get out of here.

And then it was too late. Daveny returned and he wasn't alone.

A young woman with long blonde hair followed him in. She was wearing a colourful dress made of different flowers. Her form was almost human, but her bright red irises showed she was just like them. She instantly locked eyes with Eleanor. 'Oh dear, what happened to you?'