TIME AFTER TIME

quindecim

FIFTEEN:

"SPEAK OF THE DEVIL"

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS EXPLICIT MATERIAL THAT MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL READERS. THE STORYLINE RELATES TO FICTIONAL CHARACTERS AND IN NO WAY CONDONES, ROMANTICIZES, OR GLORIFIES ABUSE. PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

BREE.

We are not leaving without Salem.

If I had access to my powers, I would say this thought to the others, but instead, I fiercely repeat it to myself. I was trying to keep up with Moss, who fled from the library the second the demon Blade took Salem away. Now, he led me through the dark halls as I carried Scarlet. Scarlet, who resembled her intoxicated self after one too many shots. But now she was intoxicated by fear, and not to mention the demon who still occupied her mind. 

"Stop!" I hissed ahead to Moss, who was swallowed by shadows. He paused, turning to give me a frantic look. Confusion and worry dripped from his deep eyes. "Where are you leading us?" I finally asked, adjusting Scarlet's arm around my shoulder. She barely noticed, groaning as she raised her hand to her forehead in a groggy motion. I adjusted the cloak over her head as Moss returned to my side.

"I'm taking you to the tunnels so you girls can go home."

"I am not leaving without," I stop myself before saying my sister's name. Instead, I grit my teeth and take a calm breath. We're not leaving until we are all together."

"You don't understand..." He glanced over his shoulder with paranoia I refused to consider. 

I raised my hand to his fear-stricken expression, "No, you don't understand. There is no fury like a sister separated. We are not leaving!"

Moss looked from me to Scarlet. His eyes ached with sorrow, shoulders heavy with the weight of responsibility. Suddenly, he looked a decade older, aged with stress. I probably looked the same. His hands tightly gripped his cloak, "Fine. But we risk being compromised by staying in the castle." 

"So take us somewhere we won't be compromised," I looked at my sister, who squirmed with more aches and pains, "And somewhere we can rest."

He sighed deeply, eyes flickering between my face, across shadows, and along the carpet, as he thought of a location. I was surprised when dread lit his expression, "I know a place, but it will take us a while to get there."

We took the tunnels to escape the kingdom. Once we were out of the royal walls, Moss gave us plants to chew on that would conserve our energy. Ironically, he gave us moss to conceal our smell. I rubbed two handfuls on Scarlet, who was too weak to walk, before pulling her on my back and starting the trek through the earthy forest. Less of a forest and more of a mountain's cliff with jagged rocks and scorching heat. It was odd not having the familiar synesthesia overcome me with interactions. There were no colors or emotions that swelled me now, only heat. And the desire to run - albeit towards or away from something, I was unsure.

"Hurry, before the last light dies away," he spoke of what was once a burning sky, now resembling a shrinking flame across the horizon. Even the sweltering heat began to fade around us. I watched as Moss rushed past me, I followed him amongst the jagged rocks leading us away from the palace. My hands gripped Scarlet's thighs tightly, acutely aware of her shivering behind me despite the lingering heat. I focused on my breath, repeating my mantra until it was a comforting rhythm.

When I felt like I could go no further, my legs paused, and I leaned against a relatively smooth rock, huffing to catch my breath. Moss whirled, pebbles falling away as he marched back to me. His head shook as he lowered to my eye level, where I was doubled over, "We can't stop. We have to keep moving."