Hearts of Tar

The Ivy Ladder

Miri stared at the tall being looming like a dark tree over her. Though fright played her nerves like a fine fiddle, he'd have to kill her before she would willingly leave Eve behind. "No."

He froze as if he'd never heard the word before, and his black lips parted. "What did you say?"

She shivered at the soft menace in his voice but knew she couldn't bulk now. "I can't climb while holding my sister. I don't know if I can do it at all." Her shoulder was throbbing, and her limbs felt like limp noodles.

He cocked his head to the side, never once removing his strange gaze from her. It only unsettled her all the more. Everything about him did.

Finally, he spoke in that accented voice of his. "If I have to carry you like a discarded bag of flour, I will."

"My sister?"

His nose scrunched in seeming disgust. "You're related to that thing?"

She bristled in spite of her fear. "She's a wonderful sister." The creature before her didn't appear to understand the comfort of family and friends. Or maybe he just hated them because they were human? That prospect chilled her heart further, but nothing would surprise her now. Not after this day.

He made a snorting noise. "If you care for her so much, then give her to me. Otherwise, let her rot down here."

She glanced down at her sister, who still hadn't stirred. Worry warred with relief. It might be better that she slept through this, but why was she not waking? What if she never stirred? Though she didn't want to give Eve over to Mr. Tall, Pale, and Creepy, she didn't have much choice. She didn't know if she'd even be able to haul herself up that ivy.

Blinking back yet more tears, she tightened her arms around Eve once more by way of a hug and then forced herself to turn her attention back to the fae before her. God, a fae. Until this day, she hadn't even believed they existed. It seemed this forest held a lot of unpleasant surprises. What would become of her and Eve? Their father would never know what happened to them. At the thought of him, her heart lurched. If the worst happened, maybe it would be better if he never knew their fate. The truth could be more upsetting than the unknown.

"I guess you wish to die down here?"

His snide voice cut into her thoughts. She jumped slightly and realized she'd been staring blankly at him. "I don't." Her next words threatened to lodge in her throat, but she forced them out. "Please take her."

He prowled toward her with a feline grace that both mesmerized and terrified. Why did she feel as if she were handing her sister over to a demon? Nothing about him was human except for the general shape of his body. His skin was oddly fascinating with its dark swirl of veins underneath, though the darkness of his lips made her shudder. In black tunic and leggings, he looked like death incarnate that breathed and walked on two legs. Would he bring theirs about?

All too soon, he was bending over them. His silvery hair slipped forward to reveal a pointed ear. She stared at it—more proof of how alien he was by nature. His arms reached out for her sister. She closed her eyes, not wanting to witness the exchange, and lifted Eve slightly.

Surprisingly warm hands brushed her own, and then the weight of her sister vanished. A shiver stole over her. She suddenly felt so cold. By the time her eyelids flickered open, he stood with Eve in his arms. She swallowed the soap-ball sized lump in her throat. Her usually gregarious sister looked so small against him. So helpless.

He glared down at Miri. "Are you going to sit there all day?"

She sighed inwardly. Part of her couldn't understand why she was willingly following him, but what other choice did she have? None, not at all.

And they both knew it.

So she hoisted her stiff body up, wincing at the pain in her shoulder. Was it dislocated? She wasn't well-versed in medicine, but this felt more than just a twinge.

The fae man was already scaling the ivy ladder with a nimbleness that made her stare. He held onto Eve with one hand and used the other to grip at the vines. Every step he took was confident, as if he knew the plant wouldn't let him fall. Maybe he did know that, but the ivy would probably do no such thing for her. If it was anything like the rest of the woods, it'd happily see her plummet to her death.

She eyed the distance up. It was a good nine feet. Well, she might not break her neck, merely a limb or two. Carefully, she placed her hand on one vine. Though she didn't know what she'd been expecting, nothing happened. It felt and acted just like ivy, which was strangely reassuring. Emboldened, she grabbed on with her other hand now.

Her left foot was next and found a hold fairly easily. Then came her right. Once she was completely off the ground, the gentle sway of the ladder turned into something much more violent. Surely, the tossing of the sea had nothing on this? Biting her lip, she made her slow way up the hellish green rope. The fae was nowhere in sight, so that meant he had to be waiting up above. With her sister. That thought spurred her on, and she gritted her teeth. She wouldn't let one stupid ladder defeat—

Ivy slithered around her hands and wrists. A scream skidded up her throat, but the vine wrapping around her waist yanked her up and stole it away. She was now hurtling toward the chasm with frightening speed. Oh God, this was going to hurt. She closed her eyes, waiting for the bone-breaking impact.  

~~~

Oh no!

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