Emerald Eyes

Chapter 2: The Hunt

"Focus Devin, focus" –I said under my breathe as I stopped to calm down. My head was a mess. Cold sweat drops washed over my face. For how long have I been running? Fifteen minutes? Twenty? It seemed like I had been going in a circle. I couldn't think straight and I wasn't able to catch my breathe. My muscles were fatigued and sore. The trees and tiny paths between them were all the same to me and I felt lost. At that point I knew that the woman will find me sooner or later.

I heard a quiet movement behind and I froze. The cold breeze gently started to refresh and cool down my skin. I noticed leaves moving from the ground. It was just the wind and I was paranoid.

"Calm down, calm down, calm down." –I closed my eyes and repeated the words in my head while inhaling and exhaling deeply.

My heart skipped a beat as I opened them. The familiar goddess-like eyes were starring at me. They were so close. I blinked and they were gone. Have I imagined this? Have I gone insane?

A devious laugh echoed around me and I snapped out of my thoughts. I saw a shadow moving behind the trees and I started to run. This was stupid and pointless after all but it was all I could do. My legs were hurting and my headache felt surreal but I kept on my pace. 

Suddenly, I felt the ground slap my face and I was on it all wet and covered in dirt. Something had tripped me. I tried getting up but my feet weren't on the ground no longer. I was lifted up and before I could see what was happening, something threw me across the path and I landed under a tree. My back and head hurt from the fall. I felt a strange feeling growing up in the pit of my stomach and I felt sick. 

I was nervious. Anxious. I was expecting the worse but nothing happened. For solid thirty seconds everything was calm and sound. I got up and ran again. I felt the thin air stabbing my skin because of how fast I were running. I didn't stop. I heard burbling through the woods. There were fewer trees and I ended up in an open field with a small river in front of me. I finally saw the open sky and the moon was shining brighty but I could see that the dawn wouldn't come yet. I was in the middle of nowhere.

For a moment I stood there doing nothing. I was trapped.

"Boo." –A tiny whisper caressed my earlobe. I shook although I was surprised not to be as scared as I was before.

"Are you always so playful?"

I was taked aback from my own words. I don't know why I asked this or how I had the courage, it was like it wasn't me speaking. Callidora had a smirk on her lips.

"Only when hunting."

I wasn't shocked by her answer, nor was I scared. I turned around and headed towards the water. I was thirsty and the sound of murmuring water wouldn't stop filling my ears. I knelt and took a handful of it and brought it near my dried mouth. It wasn't enough. I didn't feel like myself and I decided to jump in the river. As I did so, I felt the woman's gaze on me. She didn't make a sound and I knew she didn't move. The water wasn't deep but I was wet from the waist. I let it clean the dirt from my skin and clothes, then I drank some more.

"It won't help." –I heard her get in the water before she faced me. –"You are just getting thirstier."

She was right, I was. It was a strange feeling and with every minute passing by my head hurt more and my skin tightened up. She strongly held my jaw with her freezing hand and lifted my head.

"Do you like gifts, Devin?" –She pointed out my name and said it softer. I stood still. She played a game.

"Just get it over with, please."

I was desperate and I made peace with my destiny. I lowered my gaze as I slowly put my wrist in front of her lips. –"Do it."

She smiled but completely ignored it. Instead, she took a step back and bit her on wrist. The fear rose in me again but I was hypnotized by her. The blood started dripping in the river. Her hand was already soaked in it and she approached me.

"Drink." –Callidora ordered sternly.

She was completely mad. Moments passed and she got the message. Her finger got pressed against my lip leaving a bloody trail. I wasn't surprised anymore and I wasn't scared. I felt nothing.

"Lick it."

I did as I was told. It was utterly disguisting but I decided to do it anyways. I will let her have her fun. I will be her puppet. The more I obey, the sooner she will be done with her games and she will make this end.

I took her hand to my mouth and closed my eyes. I tried not to overthink my behaviour now and I gently spaced my lips.

"Faster." –She said angrily and pushed the wound to my face. The taste of blood interrupted my tongue and mouth. I pushed the thought away and swallowed it. I was ready to vomit.

"Suck the blood or I will rip your intestines out, very slowly."

I embraced the wrist with my teeth and began to suck. It was tasteless. I felt nothing so I took in some more and swallowed. My grip strongly tightened around her hand. My teeth got stuck on her flesh like two magnets and I couldn't move. The only process I repeated was sucking and swallowing.

 I forcefully opened my eyes and I saw the redish water around our waists. My tiredness was gone and I felt wide awake. I sensed an unfamiliar smell as it occupied my nostrils and drove me crazy. I drank harder until I dried up the wound. My tongue twisted around it. I licked her hand until it was fully clean. Her wound disappeared in front of my eyes.

"Good boy." –She praised me. I gave her a confused look.

"I think both you and I know that you won't die." –Her hand grabbed mine while she was leading me out of the water. –"Not tonight."