Evergreen [Book 1 of the Hierarchy Series]-Revising

Chapter 7

 An obsidian cloaked figure rode a midnight horse down the dirt road, spewing dirt in his wake. He yanked the reins tight on the horse's mouth, increasing the stallion's speed.

It huffed violently with exhaustion but forced itself to continue. Its nostrils flared, and steam puffed around them. Its black eyes flicked ahead, deep into the depths of the forest.

The rider's long black cloak swayed behind him like a cape, revealing a turban underneath. A scarf covered his features.

His eyes matched the moonlight, grey and wild. A child cried, pressed to his chest.

A baby.

Whispers echoed in the wind surrounding them, lamentations of the dead.

. . .

She awoke in a hot sweat, bones and head aching. Blinking violently, Cassia adjusted to the brilliant ocherous sunrise. With a shift of the light, two lime eyes glared, curious and concerned. Golden flecks glistened toward the pupils, taken over by a slight purple glow as they dilated. His brother stood beyond.

They shared the same features. Squared jaw, sleek cheekbones, eyes gleaming. The blue-eyed twin had darker hair, his features pale, tired, and disgusted with everything. The other was lighter, with tanned skin and softer eyes.

"Are you alright," the green-eyed Wöllem asked. Instead of the usual black interior of the carriage, leaves crunched beneath her. She rose and looked around at the surrounding forest.

Sun shimmered through the trees, another sunset.

Returning his gaze, the green eyes captured every thought.

"What happened?"

"The door unlatched, and you fell out," his green eyes relaxed.

"Oh," She turned away, pulling hair away from her face.

The green-eyed Wöllems smirked. "Can you stand?"

She shifted, her legs gave out beneath her. "I don't think so." He picked Cassia up and carefully set her down in the carriage. She looked down, blushing in embarrassment.

"Are you sure you're okay." His brows rose questioningly

"Yeah," she choked. "I'm fine."

He shook his head dragging his hand through his hair in frustration and released a long sigh and closed the door. Within moments, the wagon shifted forward again.

Taluntain appeared, her black eyes filled with concern.

Confusion muddied her mind, tossing everything Cassia knew out the window.

"You'll learn about it someday," Taluntain said. Cassia turned her head, perplexed. "And it will be soon."

"Learn about what?"

"Everyone. You've had headaches since we left right? Your memories will come soon."

Cassia rolled her eyes. She didn't want to think about it. If her memories returned, then she could learn what the twins were truly up to. She didn't want to know if the king left her in the hands of the enemy.

"Taluntain, I don't trust them."

"Neither do I," she shuffled around the compartment. "They're planning something."

She moved into Cassia's lap again, curling up into a little ball. A loud crunch echoed from the forest nearby. Much bigger than a fox. She slid the curtain away, revealing a wolf. A lycanthrope. Her white fur tipped with grey wolf-like coarse fur, and her dark amber eyes gaped at Cassia.