The Anima [completed]

27.

27.

Explaining the girls past to the Fae men was surprisingly easy as we continued our journey to the capital. Lucius looked concerned, but also suggested that the same people may have contributed to a similar event in the First Plane. Alvar shut that down quickly.

"Come on, Lucius." Alvar spat, slapping him lightly on the back of the head. It was the first time he really spoke up after I had scolded him to silence. "We've talked about this. Its no secret what the King has been doing. We know he's trying to take over this plane."

"More like destroy." Beast muttered in all our heads.

"What?" I snapped, glaring at all of them. "So now you agree that The Anima was lying, keeping something from us? What happened to 'they don't need an excuse, they're shadows.'" I finger quoted and glared at Beast.

"It is clear that she got to our heads. I wouldn't be surprised if there was something into that tea that made myself more susceptible to her influence, not asking further questions."

I wanted to yell a response, but a quiet snoring from the girl in my arms made me reconsider.

"So the loyal soldiers just nod along to everything she says and then say something different when out of the way of her wrath."I raised a brow, directing my thoughts only to Beast.

"She is the most powerful being in the First Plane. We were all most likely were also under her influence until they travelled here." I rolled my eyes at him.

"Not me." I retorted, "I am honestly not surprised. I am the one who said it wasn't as simple as she was making it out to be." I seethed quietly at Alvar and Lucius. After all, I'm the one with no ties to either of these kingdoms. Ihave no bias"

"You can't blame us." Lucius said quietly, "We couldn't have known."

"I know that." I snapped with a sigh, "It just makes me very sad, disappointed even, that your entire kingdom thinks of this place as the hell all the 'bad people' are sent and only wreck havoc in their free time."

"Well..."

"What!"

"I haven't exactly seen any nice folk here yet." Lucius shrugged.

"Don't be such a prick." I bit my tongue to keep myself from yelling, "You 'folk' aren't that nice either. Even Beast tried to kill us the first time we met."

"Good point." Alvar said quietly, raising his eyebrows at Lucius.

I almost smiled and then I remembered I was angry and frowned.

"Ugh! Beast, I think its time you and me had a little walk up ahead." Lucius sighed and pursed his lips. Beast snorted.

"What?" I asked, shifting Lucy in my arms, snoring.

"Let me take her for a moment, you two need to sort your differences out before we get to the capital." Beast nodded at the girl in my arms.

Nodding reluctantly, I gently placed the sleeping creature on the Gryphons back. She immediately sunk into the thick fur on his back and dug her sleeping fingers into the feathers on his neck. Knowing she was safe and balanced, I turned to Alvar. The others slunk off ahead, not straying far but not close enough to hear.

My hard gaze met a curly fringe that cloaked Alvar's eyes. Shoulders stiff, head down, he kicked up some dirt at his feet and nibbled on the inside of his cheek. I had the sudden urge to pick up a rock and throw it at him, for his appearance, although guilty looking, drove my heart into a frenzy and uncaged the butterflies in my stomach. Although I knew it wasn't real, it couldn't be. It was all a part of his plan to make sure I didn't abandon his world. I was certain he had glamoured perhaps more than just my trust and would run from me if given the chance.