Huldrefolk, Book 1

Chapter Seven

Rose screamed. It was all she could possibly think to do in the situation, when the assailant hissed at her.

"Shhh. They'll hear us!"

"That's the point!" She retorted, biting their hand as hard as she could. The taste of blood filled her senses, and she wondered if she'd also grown those weird lower canines Hulder had, she wondered as her assailant pulled away, releasing her.

"Jesus fucking Christ woman. I'm not the enemy here." Elijah snapped, gripping his bleeding hand.

"Well I'm sorry, it's not like you knocked on the door like a normal fucking person or anything!" She rebuffed, punching him in the arm and trying to regain some semblance of composure. Elijah's furious eyes softened to their usual green.

"Sorry. But you need to leave. Like, now." There was a note of desperation in his voice that invited more questions than answers.

"W-what do you mean?" Rose stammered.

"I'll explain later. We need to go before anyone realises I'm here." Elijah glanced around uneasily.

"Where are my parents?"

"In Scandinavia. Come on!" Elijah grabbed her arm and practically dragged her out the door. "Are we going to take your car or shall we go for a nice stroll?"

"I don't have my keys..."

"Stroll it is then. I can't drive yet." They wandered out the gate, and around half an hour later they arrived at the Lindberg house. Elijah seemed unconcerned by the cold, and surprisingly enough so was Rose. Though she was wearing only a tank top and fleece pajama pants, and it was snowing, she was not even a little cold. Another huldra benefit, she mused to herself, still sliding into the cardigan Ms. Lindberg immediately offered her. That would explain why Kade didn't hesitate to give me his gloves, she made a mental note to keep in mind the offer of extra clothing to people that looked cold.

Ms. Lindberg didn't try to hide her tail anymore. The thick, lustrous fox tail, which was as red as her hair, minus the striking white tip, was upright, twitching every now and again with presumably anxiety. Elijah left to go up to his room soon after their arrival, and she had been informed the other men were out. Out where, or even why, Rose did not know.

Kade was pissed now. He had lost the trail. He had been so close, and he'd lost it. He kicked angrily at a mound of soil and underbrush.

"Kade!" His father's voice was enough to break him from his frustrated trance. His head darted towards the next noise he heard; a snapping twig. Immediately, he took up the trail again. He could see the long mane of dark hair and the resere of the huldra in front of him. Moments later, their bodies collided, and he wrestled her to the ground, hissing and baring his fangs to ensure she knew the risks of further provoking him.

"It wasn't me!" She growled, her voice hoarse from running. She was about eighteen, a year older than him, with the fair skin that was characteristic of northern Huldrefolk. Her breasts were fairly plump, but he was to angry to care much about her nudity. He'd seen many naked women, as hulder didn't wear clothes to hunts, Utsjæring orrr any other sacred ceremonies. His was otherwise indifferent.

"Our sources say otherwise." Kade retorted, binding her hands in front of her- none to gently.

She laughed wryly. "Just because my dad killed a few women, we're both bad guys, huh?"

"According to the Kongelig laws, yes." Kade yanked her up by the makeshift leash he'd made, a style usually reserved for people on hunts if the hulder can't tvinge them. It was degrading to her, but it seemed fitting in his opinion. "What's your name?"

"Erika Johnsson." She replied with a smirk, "Nice cock." He scowled at her. This was a full on hunt, and had been regarded as sacred, so he was equally indecent. "You realise if any humans come snooping they're going to think this is super kinky."

"Stop using your tvinge-y huldra seduction-manipulation. It's not working, it just makes me want to gag you-" he caught his mistake a moment too late, and Erika laughed.

"Girlfriend?"

"I think so. But thanks to you and your father, her father might have already killed her."

"Ahh... that explains why you're so tense."

Kade bristled. Had it been that obvious? He didn't want the other males to perceive him as weak, so he spent the trek back to the lakehouse trying to calm himself.

When he and Erika arrived, Rose was there. Her eyes widened when she saw him, he became painfully aware of his indecency again. Stupid hulder traditions... He cursed out loud, causing Erika to register the situation and laugh at the blush that spread across his face.

"Well done, son." Jakob Lindberg said with a proud grin. At least he was still indecent as well, or Kade would have felt even more uncomfortable being the only naked Hulder. The reasons for indecency were deeply rooted in Hulder lore. Not only did it help hulder to identify each other using the tilbacke, it also helped to seduce victims. Currently though, the reason was primarily tradition and the first reason. Kade nodded in acknowledgement of his father's praise.

"Did you find the other?"

"No. He eluded us." Jakob's face was set with concern now.

"What about my parents? Why did Elijah show up at my house this morning?" Rose piped up, suddenly piquing the curiosity of everyone in the room. Kade finally noticed her Persian cat's tail, which swayed gently with anxiety. The whole Lindberg tribe was gathered due to the severity of the situation at hand. Cousins, aunts and uncles and second cousins were all gathered at the lakehouse. Currently, they were all staring in astonishment at Rose-more specifically, Rose's tail. They had recognised her as a Kongelig immediately.

"Your father is part of a bigger cooperation than just standard home appliances, fast food restaurants et cetera. He is one of many powerful people that don't agree with the way Huldrefolk live." Liz explained carefully.

"That would explain why he concluded to a guy called Jeremy last night that you guys weren't responsible for George's murder. He did want to know who was."

"Mhm. That's just the beginning, honey. We're pretty sure your father is responsible for the massacre of a lot of Huldrefolk. Where he goes- deaths of our kind seem to follow." Rose let her hands drop to her sides as she took in this new information. Kade was tempted to put an arm around her, but he wanted to at least put some pants on first.

"We can't send you back there, Rose. If he didn't know what you were before he will now. You're our princess and we have a duty to serve and protect you." Jakob announced. All the Hulder nodded in agreement. A black cloak of thunderous anger suddenly laid itsf on Rose's shoulders.

"They're my parents. I at least have to find out from them if your accusations are legitimate." She snarled, before storming out of the lakehouse as fast as possible. The Lindbergs tried to hinder her, but she somehow managed to blast them out of her way before they could touch her. She was to angry and overwhelmed to ponder how she managed that.