No Mercy

Chapter 23

I quicken my pace without making it seem obvious, trying to shake the second shadow that I've grown.

"You know for a person with such short legs, you walk very quickly," Ezra laughs as he pants to keep pace with me.

"And for a person that claims to have a will to live, you continue to test my patience," My stride grows longer as we reach the incline. Ezra laughs again as he "And I'm nearly as tall as you are. You're actually quite short for a man."

Irritation rolls off of him in waves, although he tries to hide it. "I'm nearly 6'1". That's not short."

I roll my eyes as I readjust the bag on my back. "If that's what helps you fall asleep at night."

Ezra fumes silently for a moment, falling slightly behind as he tries to come up with a response. "Maybe you're just extraordinarily tall for a woman! You're barely a couple inches shorter than me."

"How can I have short legs if I'm extraordinarily tall?" I reply. "You're a contradictory little fellow, aren't you?"

I laugh as the waves of anger grow larger, the jerking of his arms swinging as he tries to catch up.

Maybe you want to cool it with the taunting? Deniel asks.

Maybe you want to knock him out like I've recommended every five minutes for the past hour? I snap back.

Don't get pissy with me because you're having relationship problems with your boyfriend.

I stop midstride, spinning around to face Deniel who walks alongside my father 10 feet behind us. Deniel stops as well, crossing his arms over his chest as he levels a questioning glare at me.

I have so many reasons to get pissy with you it would take me the rest of my unnaturally long life to document them all.

Deniel laughs as he continues to glare at me, waiting for me to make a move. I hold out my hand, signaling I'd like for him to give me the syringe now. He shakes his head, a smug look crossing over his features.

"I could kill you without even messing up my bun," I whisper, my eyes sliding over his body as I spot all of his weaknesses.

"I was just thinking the same thing," he replies as his eyes follow the same route over me.

I can feel Ezra tensing next to me but I don't pay him any mind as I wait for Deniel to make the first move.

Are you that bored? Najee asks as she watches this exchange.

"Can't you both wait until we get back to the Empire before you have this pissing match? Y'all can go straight to the Hollows for all I care." My father groans as he continues walking. "We're almost there."

"Yeah, we're almost there," I parrot at Deniel, my fingers wagging as I wait for the syringe. 

Deniel rolls his eyes as he plucks the syringe out of his pants pocket. "Come on Z its night-night time."

I quirk my eyebrow at his nickname for Ezra, but spin around and follow my father, satisfied that I'm finally getting my way and no longer have to deal with Ezra badgering me with all of his questions. I walk silently next to my father, listening to the subtle sounds of Ezra falling unconscious behind us.

"I don't think I've ever seen you this anxious before," my father observes.

"I have good reason to be," I agree as I stare straight ahead. "There are so many things up in the air at the moment. And there is little I can do about most of them. Our people are going to endure so much pain and suffering in the upcoming months. I just hope they're ready."

"They aren't. And they won't be." My father's laugh surprises me, breaking my stone faced stare as I turn to look at him.

"There's no way they can be, Rylan," he continues. "You can increase the training hours, have everyone live in the Caverns full time; hell, you can station a human barrier around the town to prevent any sudden attacks. But you can't stop it. It's going to happen regardless."

I fight the urge to shrink away from him, holding my path as I force my mask back onto my face. Of course he's right. How stupid could I be to think all these pointless little precautions would actually fix anything? So stupid.

Be nice to yourself. Najee interrupts. Let him finish.

"But you're doing even more than I would have done as Alpha. So you shouldn't doubt yourself. I have no doubt The Empire is in the best hands." A lazy smile takes over his face as he shrugs his shoulders.

I don't fight back my smile, pulling him in for a one armed hug as I keep walking. We fall back into silence with nothing left to be said, only our breathing and muffled footsteps bridging the quiet. I can hear the heavier footsteps of Deniel walking a few feet behind us, his trod resembling a stomping elephant due to his heavier load.

45 minutes later I pause by one of the many trees surrounding us, waiting for Denny to shift Ezra off of his shoulders and onto my dad's.

"Ugh," Dad groans trying to find a comfortable position. "Are you sure we can't just wake the kid up?"

"Positive." I try to smile, but just end up baring my teeth at him.

Dad rolls his eyes as he folds Ezra over his right shoulder, grasping the backs of his legs so he doesn't slide off. "Whatever you say, Princess."

I roll my eyes as well as I start walking again, Denny strolling next to me with his thumbs tucked into his front pockets. Not even 10 minutes later I can sense the change in the air, my pace quickening automatically as I try to get there faster.

Almost there! Najee encourages, even more eager than I.

I finally can't stand my slow pace any longer. I break out into a run, nearly tripping over my own two feet as I try to get there as fast as possible. Suddenly, I cross the invisible line, everything changing around me as I take in breath after deep breath. I look around at the trees, which suddenly look so familiar to me. The air has a familiar quality as well, the undercurrents on pine dredging up countless childhood memories of me flitting around this very forest.

"Do you feel it?" Deniel whispers. I look over to see his arms spread, with his face turned up to the sky.

I smile as I do the same, the sun happily warming my bronze cheeks. "We're home."

A/N Two chapters in one night???

Am I crazy or what?

Honestly though, I'm procrastinating studying for my LSATs and decided to start writing this, but I feel like this was almost a better use of my time, don't you? I mean, who needs to plan for a future when I can shove my head into the sand and write about fictional characters, right?? *awkwardly laughs as tears run down my face*

Well, sorry this chapter was so short (I don't think I've ever written a chapter under 1300 words until this one) but what'd you think? Are you excited to finally see the mysterious "Empire" that everyone so lovingly refers to? What kind of drama do you think can go down? Are you bored with Rylan's POV and want me to get back to Medie? 

Drop a comment below and let me know! (I swear I didn't mean to make that rhyme!)

But as always, comment and likes are appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read!

Until next time!

Much Love,

Naomi