Heart [ON HOLD]

Chapter 18: Red Dawn (Part 1)

If I can't have love, if I can't find peace,

Give me a bitter glory.

-Anna Akhmatova

Cora was shaken awake before dawn to a pair of glinting, silver eyes. She jumped at the sight and nearly screamed before realizing who it was.

"Al- Wolf," she said, letting out a long breath. "You scared me. Where have you been? Did you even sleep?"

"It's not important," he said, straightening up. Cora swung her legs off her cot.

"Look," she said, "about earlier, I- I'm sorry. Really. I didn't realize..."

The Wolf squared his shoulders. The moonlight streaming through the ruins lit half his face and cast the other into oblivion.

"It wasn't your fault."

Cora looked at her feet and scuffed her toes in the dirt. Lilith had hurt all of them. She realized that now. Alastor had his father taken from him just as she had, and his fate was far worse than her own. Yet he never spoke rudely, or at least never said anything that wasn't well deserved. Her fists tightened and her blood burned with embarrassment when she thought of how she'd treated Corazon and the rest of the dwarves. How she treated everyone.

"Look," Alastor said, "I've spent my entire life under the Queen's control. I've spent my life living each moment, then trying to erase it from my mind, because if I shut it out, I can live with myself. But you...You make me remember. I look at you and I remember what I am."

Cora kneaded the sheets in one hand.

"And what are you?"

"A beast," he growled. "A monster."

A heavy silence blanketed them.

"I'm sorry," Cora whispered.

Alastor shook his head.

"It's my fault, not yours. But if I stay with you, I will always remember what I am, and I can't do that to myself, Cora. I have to go."

Cora looked up in alarm.

"You're leaving?"

The Wolf's fist tightened.

"Yes, but not yet. There's something we have to do first."

"What?"

"We have to get you that bloodrose. Let's go."

"What, now?" Cora said, glancing towards the dwarves' room. "But we're not- I'm not-,"

The Wolf crouched down so his eyes were level with hers.

"Hey," he said. Her eyes swung back to him. "We know the castle inside and out, don't we?"

"Well, yes..."

"They're looking for you," the Wolf said, "but they'll be expecting me. I'll get you in, get the guards clear, and you get in there and get your rose. Then you get out the way you came."

"But I thought the castle was protected by shielding spells? I've been trying to learn magic to get through them."

"I have my ways," the Wolf said. He grabbed her hand and she started.

"Cora... Please."

Her brow furrowed and she bit her lip. His hand squeezed hers.

"Trust me."

She glanced towards the dwarves' room again.

Maybe I should get them to come with me. But after how I've treated them? Alastor was right. I've been a brat ever since I got here.

She flinched at the thought.

And the fewer involved, the easier it would be to go unnoticed.

Still, she wavered.

"They'll wonder where we've gone..."

"Not if we're back by dawn."

Cora turned back to him, the pain visible on his face like a crack in his emotionless mask.

"And what, after that you'll just leave? What will you do? Where will you go?"

The Wolf looked down at their clasped hands.

"I don't know yet."

Cora pursed her lips. She thought of the castle. Of the Red Queen. Of her father.

"And you're sure you can get us in?"

"Positive."

She took her opposite hand and lifted his chin to look him in the eyes. Alastor blinked in surprise. Cora's brow was drawn together and her lips were tight in a determined line.

"Let's do it."

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So this is super short, but you guys have been super patient with me and really enthusiastic about a new chapter, so think of this as a kind of teaser trailer. Also, some stuff for my Colf shippers... XD

Predictions anyone?