The Shattered Crown BOOK 1: CROWN OF ASH AND GOLD

Chapter 5: Cat and Mouse

My side started aching as I trudged in through the forest and exhaustion started clawing at the back of my mind with each step. I'm so tired of this already all that's been happening is me running away. I need awnser's , I need to find Aunt Bea.

I glanced over my shoulder knowing that Kael would eventually catch up with me. And knowing him his hunters won't be so far behind him.

The forest seemed like it was closing up on me the darkness never ending. What time was it? I wondered.

"Oh, shadow thingy where are you!" i yelled into the abyss.

"Come on I need your help still!" I sighed hearing back no response. What good is escaping it wasn't going to guide me all the way back home?

The icy wind picked up and started nipping at my face with each step. And every small noise sent me spiraling. I was on fight or flight mode real bad. Now would be a good time for my powers to come out don't you think? I asked myself

"You're not ready yet." The voice said. But not the shadow voice. It sounded like the voice from my dreams.

"I need to be ready now, not later!" I shouted frustrated.

And then I heard Kaels voice from the distance.
"Stop running Ember, this cat and mouse chase is getting tiring!"

With every once of energy I had left in my I ran once again.
This time I called out to the voice in my head "Please if anyone can hear me, please help me." I said choking back the tears and my throat.

But no one responded. Not even the forest.

A sudden flash illuminated the trees, like the flash I saw when I had got knocked out the first time. Kael emerged from the darkness flowing orb in his hand. His cloak flowing with the movement of wind behind him. He was staring at me as if he was the predator and I was his prey.

"This is enough Ember I've had enough with the chase!" Kael shouted keeping his gaze locked with mine. His gaze piercing through me so much I could feel my soul burning.

I tried to gain my breath back again clutching my hand to my chest. "I don't belong to you or anyone." I said tiredly between breaths.

"You know for not knowing who you are, you sure do put up a hell of a fight." He said smirking.

"Just leave me alone!" I yelled. Taking steps away from him. Trying to gain some distance between us.

The ground beneath my feet cracked with frost, the trees shuddered, and a deafening cry of crows erupted from the canopy above, scattering into the night.

I had just frozen the forest.  The trees were solid in a layer of ice. And some crows got caught up in the frost as well.

Kael hesitated, his eyes narrowing. "Impressive," he muttered.

But the moment of power slipped away as quickly as it came, leaving me gasping for air. My legs suddenly felt too heavy to carry and they buckled, in an instant Kael was there grabbing my  wrist before I could hit the ground.

"You don't even know how to control it," he said, his voice quieter now. "And yet you think you can run from me?"

Ember's glare was sharp despite her exhaustion. "I'll run until I'm free."

Kael sighed, frustration evident in the hard set of his jaw. "You're wasting everyone's energy. My father won't let you go, and neither will I."

Before I could argue, a sharp whistle pierced the air. Kael glanced over his shoulder, and I decided to seize the distraction, yanking free of his grasp. I immeadilty bolted, ignoring the ache in my muscles and the burning cold in her lungs.

The sound of pursuit was instant. Kael cursed behind her, but his voice was drowned out by the pounding of my heart. The forest became a blur, branches tearing at my clothes and snow crunching beneath me.

But then, the ground gave way beneath my feet.
Shit!
Fuck!
Fuck!

I screamed as I missed a step and tumbled down a slope, the world spinning wildly around me. This is it. This is the end isn't it? At least it wasent at the hands of Kael I thought before  landing hard at the bottom, her head striking something solid. Stars burst behind my eyes, and the pain was enough to steal away my  breath.

Before I regained consciousness , a shadow loomed over me once again.

Kael stood above me, his face shadowed but unmistakably grim. "You're done running," he said, his tone final.

I tried to push herself up, but he crouched down next to me, pinning my wrists with ease. "You're stubborn," he said, almost amused.

Ember glared at him, teeth gritted. "And you're a tyrant." What an asshole.

Kael's lips twitched into a half-smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Maybe. But at least I'm not foolish enough to wander into a cursed forest without knowing its rules."

His words stung because they were true, but I was refusing  to look away. He may win by catching me but this is not me surrendering no just yet. Pick and choose your battles to win the war i thought

He sighed the same sigh he did when I first met him defiance was exhausting him, and he pulled out a silver cord from his belt. With a flick of his wrist, it wrapped around my wrists, glowing faintly as it bound her hands. The magic burned against my skin, but I refused to cry out. He doesn't deserve the satisfaction of winning.

"Let's go," Kael said, pulling me up to my
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As we emerged from the forest I could see the walls of the castle to which I had just escaped from. I sighed knowing that there was not going to be another chance at running. And my heart sank into my chest.

This time, there was no escape.