Momentum (Completed)

Chapter Seven: Preparation

(Lyra)

As I looked around at the now-smug group of cowards surrounding me, I couldn't help but feel nothing but resentment. Part of it was aimed at them, but it was mostly self-pity. How could I have gotten myself into this situation? How could I have left like that, knowing they were out here looking for me specifically? It came back to Nephele and that damn letter... How could she have betrayed me like this? I was jostled from my piteous monologue by a rough demand from the Uxors, which I didn't hear. It reminded me that I needed to get out of this; I could mope later.

“What do you want with us?” I asked the warriors, thinking that they might give me a straight answer now that I was truly caught.

"Was that another question?" The one with the gun tutted, and pulled the trigger. It made a clicking sound, but was empty by some miracle, and I stopped talking after that.

My entire spirit and every shred of dignity I had screamed in protest at the handcuffs, but I knew better than to say anything for Dolosus’ sake. I just stared into space, silently fuming, as they moved around me in a small group, chattering their congratulations over my capture to each other. I wasn’t paying a lot of attention; I was more focused on holding back the bitter phases and unending questions that wanted to pass my lips. I didn’t understand what was going on. I had never even been to America in my life, so I couldn’t figure out why they wanted me... I felt a slight pressure around my waist. Looking down, I was outraged to find that one of the warriors had tied a rope around my stomach, holding the other end in her hand so I would be marched like a dog.

"Is that really necessary?" I hissed at her, unable to hold back my indignation. She laughed boisterously, lifting a baton and hitting it across my temple as hard as she could. I staggered from the blow, and the rest of the Uxors joined her in their heartless cackles. I shook it off and raised myself to my full height, lip curled in a silent snarl.

"No, but it's more fun for me," she replied with a cruel grin. "Now get walking; I want to be home before dark." She hit me in the back of the head with the heel of her hand viciously and I moved forward as they each took a position on a different side of me. A few of the warriors toward the front of the group started to walk into the bushes, and I was jostled after them. There were two in front of me, one of which was holding my leash. She gave it a sharp jerk occasionally, bruising my pride, and I soon became very short with her. On either side of me, there were two of them. One on my right held Dolosus and there were two behind me who both took turns jabbing at me with their batons when my pace slowed. After one particularly nasty poke, I stopped walking and spun to face them, hatred etched onto my face.

"Knock it off!" I hissed.

They laughed. "Or what?"

 "You don't want to underestimate me," I muttered darkly. "You'll regret it."

"Oh, you're funny," said one of them, now completely monotone.

"Better than cowardly like you brainwashed fools,” I replied coolly. “You'd all be helpless individually against me.” I wasn't entirely sure why I was being so reckless; I knew that if Dolosus was awake, he'd be chewing me out, but it made me feel a little better than just silently submitting to them. She gave me a false grin.

"Maybe if you keep telling yourself that, you'll actually start to believe it." I did'nt respond to that and the Uxor holding my leash started to pull me along once more, so I tried to open up a conversation again.

"So, where are we going?"

"Shut up," ordered one on my left.

"That's not very nice," I replied sarcastically. "You're no better than that miserable old haggish cow you call a queen." We stopped moving instantly and I had a feeling I hit a nerve.