"When I woke up the next morning my family was dead and my hair and had started to turn white," I kept my eyes closed as I told him my story. I was almost able to watch the events happen again like a movie in my mind. I only opened my eyes when I he...
We walked until the sun had started to fall in the sky and I noted an increased amount of soldiers in the streets. If someone hadn't noticed I was missing yet, it would happen soon. "Someone we are going to-"
"Faster you Helmingur!" I heard a shrill voice shout. I scanned the faltering crowd for the source of the shouting, but didn't see anything. I stayed still and tense expecting someone to jump out any moment now. "Come on you imbecile!"
I heard a groan, "Ma'am, I am terribly sorry." A gravelly voice replied almost instantly.
"Do not be sorry, Helmingur, just do what I ask you do!" The shouting was becoming closer and I noticed a woman with a blue dress walking down the center of the streets. People moved out of her way, giving her a wide berth. In front of her with a strange looking creature, barely 4ft tall with a server hunchback, leather-like skin, and ears which were similar to that of a bobcat.
The woman in the blue dress walked directly behind the creature, Helmingur as she called it. Every time she took a step she pressed her wood walking stick to the ground beside her and it made a blackened mark on the ground in her wake. "Yes Ma'am, I am trying Ma'am." Helmingur apologized as he attempted to walk faster, his stubby legs made the task impossible.
The woman in blue almost had steam coming out of her ears as she walked slowly behind the short creature. She took another step forward and this time instead of placing her staff to the ground, she raised it to target Helmingur. "Don't even think about it," I hissed, darting forward and reaching my hand out. I caught the walking stick in midair and the woman looked at me shocked. I tightened my grip on the wood and jerked in backwards, her grip loosened and eventually, she let go altogether. My emotions got the better of me as I brought the stick down and lifted my knee, snapping it in two pieces as I discarded it behind me.
All conversation in the town ceased and the sound of the wood hitting the hard cobblestones and rolling aimlessly in circles could be heard. "How dare you-"
"How dare you raise a hand on this creature! At least do it to his face, not his back you cowardly filth!" I snapped back at her before she could get a sentence out. I took a step to the side, not out of fear, but simply to stand in front of Helmingur. I knelt down to the ground as Someone walked up beside me and the crowd formed a circle, watching the events which were unfolding. "Are you okay?" I asked gently once I was about eye level with the creature.
The woman was floored, staring at me with her jaw open and her face was growing redder by the moment. "Do not take to my slave you foolish boy! Do you have any idea who I am or what shall happen to you once my father discovers your threatening acts against me?"
I never looked up at her; she didn't deserve a reply. Helmingur continued to stare at me with oversized eyes, I didn't know if it was in fear, misunderstanding, or something else entirely. "I'm not going to hurt you, I promise," I whispered with a smile as I placed a hand on his back, my smile faltered the second our skin connected. His skin was ice cold. "Here, take this, you're freezing," It made sense why considering he wasn't wearing much more than a loin cloth to cover himself. I undid the clasp which kept my cloak together and draped the material over his shoulders.
When the thick material was over him, he curled up in it, pulling it tighter around his body, his eyes widening as he saw my clothing. "Girl?" He asked confused, his voice raspy. Evidently seeing a girl in pants was a confusing event.
"Just stay behind me, we'll get you somewhere safe." That was the royal "we", I didn't think Someone was going to be much help unless we had to run.
I stood up straight and the woman in blue dress and determined she had enough of being ignored. "Look at me when I speak to you!" She screamed, her high-pitched voice was enough to make me cringe. "I do not care if you are a boy, girl, or whatever the hell you are dressed like that. You are an abomination of a creature and you will pay for what you did! I am a Lady Cecilia Venlana, Haust Woodland Elf, daughter of Lord Paeris Venlana, Haust High Elf. You step away from my slave this instant or you will live to regret this day."
It was like something inside had me changed when she threatened me. Her making a scene meant the guards would be here soon, and that was if her she didn't get her hands on me first. I shook my head out as my mind became foggy, memories from my past started to haunt me. I could hear voices, people calling my name and laughter. They too used to call me an abomination before they hurt me.
I wouldn't let it happen again. "Go on, try me, but you better make sure that you kill me the first time or else you will be the one who will regret this day. I won't kill you, but you will wish you were dead as I leave you buried in a crypt, surrounded by iron, with no one to hear you scream. How long do you think it does for a Fae to die of starvation? Maybe you will go mad before that and run head first into an iron bar until your burn your brains out." My head was still fuzzy and words came tumbling out of my mouth before I could stop them. Her angry red face turned white in fear. "Now here is how this is going to work out. Helmingur is coming with me and you are going to go home. If you ever so much as raise your voice to someone who is a lower class than yourself, I will know and I will have my Voorat rip out your vocal cords. Do you understand?"
"But-"
"No but's. Those who cannot take care of pets, don't get them. Those who cannot be nice to others, do not receive kindness." I stepped closer to her and reached out and placed a hand on the side of her neck. She tensed, but didn't move as I slid my thumb down to lightly press on her carotid artery. I took a breath and my hand started to freeze, "This is your carotid artery, supplies blood to your brain. If I wanted to I could freeze it solid and you would die in a matter of minutes, painfully, without anyone being able to help you. Do you understand?" Cecilia nodded quickly and I pressed my thumb down a bit harder. "We're going to leave now and you aren't going to look for us." I stared her in the eyes though she was taller than me, she bowed down to my height. I could see the fear in her eyes and it made me feel strong. I tightened my grip one more time before I took a step back.
Once free, Cecilia stumbled into the crowd, placing her hand over the blackened handprint on her neck; frostbite from where I touched her. "Ankou! Ankou! Ankou!" A crowd member shouted as they too saw the mark and swords were quickly being unsheathed.
I didn't know what that meant, and I didn't want to stick around to find out. My head was spinning and I looked to Helmingur, "Do you know the way to the portal?" He nodded and I trusted him. I bent down to pick up Helmingur, my back screaming in agony at the added weight. I felt blood trickling down my skin and being absorbed by the bandages. The crowd started to close in, "Someone get us out of here!" I ordered and instantly the Voorat growled and threatened everyone in front of us until a path was clear. I ran as fast as the pain in my back and head would let me as I followed Helmingur's directions. No one followed us, but it didn't mean we were safe.
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Well isn't Tasnia just causing problems everywhere she goes! What would you do if you saw something being abused? Would you step up and risk your own freedom, or stay back and pretend it didn't happen?
As always, if you liked the chapter feel free to vote and/or leave a comment!
