Flawed

Chapter Nine

The moon brightly shone their way through the forest as wind brushed through the trees. Orion and Blair had their coats tightly bundled up as the chill was getting to them as Mr. Saxon, Abe, and the children were inside the carriage.

"You okay, Blair? You're not cold are you?" Orion asked, walking beside her.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just in deep thought at the moment." her eyes staring in the direction of the trees.

"What you thinking about, child?"

"Oh nothing really, just how I feel like such a disappointment to my father. I know he hates me, but I just made him hate me even more. Doing something so reckless."

"Woah, now hold on there. She gave you a perfectly good reason to do something reckless. I mean I'm shocked this is the first time you did anything to her. I know you don't like being mean to people." He remarked, giving her a little chuckle. He frowned at her and patted her on the back.

A sigh of relief as she hugged him once more. Tears rushing from her face as she held him.

"You always have the right thing to say when I'm feeling this way." she smiled, trying to stifle the tears.

"I'll always be here for you, Blair. I know you don't have your mother or father around, but we can be your new family if you want."

She released her tears as she rested herself in his embrace.

"Thank you for caring so much about me, Orion. I love you all so much and I'm so lucky to have you as a family." she wept, squeezing her arms tighter around him.

"Hey, that's what we do. Never leave anyone behind, that's a family. You taught us that, Blair."

The carriage came to a halt, as Mr. Saxon stuck his head out the window. His face appeared to be annoyed at them both. "You guys coming or what?" he exclaimed, glancing at them.

"Relax, fancy pants, I see the carriage. You don't have to stop." Orion replied, glaring at him. "We are having a moment here."

Mr. Saxon clenched his teeth and pulled himself back into the carriage.

"I don't like that guy. He gives me a strange feeling."

"I don't know to be honest with you either. I just thought this was the way to get to Nod. So just play around." she yawned, rubbing her tired eyes. "How much longer till we get there?"

"It shouldn't be that much further. I can see where the forest ends, that must mean we are close to the forbidden bridge. Who knows how long the bridge can be though."

Blare trudged alongside the carriage, her eyelids drooping as she tripped over her legs, collapsing to the ground.

Orion swiftly came over to Blair, lifting her off the ground. He smiled slipping her into his arms. Knowing she was going to eventually going to black out on him.

"Don't worry, Blair. I have you." he whispered, gently kissing her on the forehead. "Sleep tight."

Two hours passed, the forest seemed like it could go on for ages. Suddenly there was a clearing in the forest, an aged, dusty lantern hung at a post. Orion knew they had finally made it between the boundary between what he had thought was good and evil. Mr. Saxon reached out for the lantern, took it off the post, and placed it beside Sebastian. Orion and the carriage finally came to the Forbidden Bridge of Nod. Mr. Saxon was quite happy indeed for their journey was near to an end.

"Before we enter in this land of Nod, I need to give you all something." Aldrich announced, pulling beautiful charm necklaces from his pocket.

The group of Diviners all took their attention to him. He smiled and threw the charms at them.

"Wear them they will transform you into our kind. Make sure you put one on Blair too."

Abe helped the children put the charms on and they quickly changed to a wicked one. Their fair skin turned a gray and teeth sharpened Luke knives, Abe was startled, but the children were also startled. Abe embraced them and promised it would be alright. He slipped the charm on his neck and also changed. It didn't hurt and that made him feel much happier.

Hesitation was apparent as Orion fumbled with the charm. Aldrich sighed and took the charm from him. He clipped the charm to Blair's neck and watched as it dropped to her chest. Orion was angry at him, but knew it was stupid to fight. He quickly put his on and felt the change.

I am only doing this for you, Blair. He repeated to himself.

The bridge waited for them as the moon shone down on the carriage it showed they had also changed in style of clothing. They all wore dark fancy outfits to look the part of Royal family. A smirk came across Aldrich's face as he could feel the shock of his guests; leading them all down the bridge to destruction.