Immortals (ON HOLD)

Chapter 40

Dimitri

        The hours had ticked away rapidly-I could all but feel each and every second slipping through my fingers. I don’t ever remember feeling this helpless. I told the others what me and Kat had found in Ariel’s room. She showed them the picture of the putrid black ooze we found, and I described what the hideous creature looked like.

        Just the memory of its grotesque yellow teeth and knife-like claws had me suppressing a shudder. Emrick seemed to think the beast was an Alp…whatever that was. Apparently, they were commonly used by Dark Elves for whatever bidding they saw fit, although their main talent was to attack its victims as they slept, immobilizing them with their poison. I explained my vision in great detail, hastily getting to the part that would actually help us rescue Ariel.

“A blood trail? How do you know it was from her?” Darien asked, seeming hopeful, but wanting to be thorough. I rolled my eyes.

“She was the one who was attacked. She didn’t even get a chance to dish out any punches,” I growled irritably, no longer having patience.

        We should’ve already been out looking for her, yet here we sat, forming plans and gathering supplies. What else did we need other than our standard guns and a few melee weapons?!

“We’ll find her, Dimitri,” Kat assured, sensing my frustration.

“I’d like to find her alive,” I snapped, throwing my hands into the air.

        She shrank away slightly, although she didn’t take the retort personally. In the back of my mind I was glad, since I wasn’t actually mad at her. I was just baffled that we weren’t already on our way to get our comrade back. Not only did I care about Ariel, but I didn’t want to leave things the way that we had. I needed her to know that I was going to fight for her, no matter how much she protested or pretended she didn’t want me to.

“Geoff is gathering the wolves and giving them Ariel’s scent as we speak,” Emrick added, laying a firm hand on my shoulder.

        I stared hard into his eyes, wondering how much desperation he could see. I couldn’t lose Ariel like he had lost Madeline. It was actually unbelievable how much I wanted her in my life-the thought of her no longer existing just tore me apart.

“We don’t know how far away the Dark Elves’ camp is…maybe we should rest for a few hours and head out at dawn,” Darien suggested, stretching as he stood up. I whirled to face him, Kat and Emrick quick to keep me from hurling electricity at him.

“You want to sleep?! While Ariel’s out there with Dark Elves, sick and possibly dying... She has no elixir, no back up, and probably not a hope in the damn world, but oh yes, by all means let’s take a fucking nap!” I snarled, my hands clenching into fists. “

You think Ariel wants us barging in there without our heads?! If we’re even the slightest bit distracted, we could be killed. She’s not an idiot, D. She knows that in order to rescue her, we need our strength and focus. What do you think she wants more? Us to go in there and get ourselves killed?! Or for us to prepare, and make it out in one piece?!” Scarlet barked back, and I could tell she wanted to hit me as much as I wanted to hit Darien.

“Scarlet’s right, D. Ariel would be pissed if we just ran in without a clue. We’re all kinda’ beat. A few hours of sleep will do us good,” Chris sided, his eyes brimming with sympathy.

        I shook Emrick and Kat off of me, throwing my hands up into the air exasperatedly.

“I can’t listen to this anymore,” I growled, storming off to the weaponry.

        They really think I’ll be able to sleep at a time like this?! I was tempted to go and find her myself, but even I knew how stupid that would be; I’d end up just getting myself captured or killed. So I grabbed a pistol off of the wall, stalking into the training room to shoot some of my anger away.

         With each bullet that rocketed out of my gun, I imagined a Dark Elf crying out in anguish as it tore into its flesh. I wasn’t sure how long I had been shooting, but I eventually grabbed my thermos and made my way into the living room. I was still fuming as I sat in Emrick’s usual spot, my free hand gripping the chair’s arm as my other tilted my thermos to my lips. I decided to drink as much of it as I possibly could so I’d be at my best. Of course, sleep would also reenergize me, but there was no way in hell I was even going to think about that while Ariel was in danger.

        Tasha found me bouncing my leg restlessly a little while later, her usual carefree disposition clouded by trepidation. I looked her over, and she cautiously approached me, licking my hand slowly. I guess even she could sense how tense things had gotten. I pet her idly, and she sat by my side, assessing my mood. “We just have to get her back,” I whispered, my head falling into my hands.

        Tasha whimpered, pressing her skull against mine. The gesture took me completely by surprise. It reminded me of something Leikos and Ariel probably did, and I almost choked on the lump in my throat. Tasha pressed her head against mine with more force, and I hastily burrowed my fingers in the thick fur of her neck, pulling her even closer against me.

         I couldn’t suppress the deep lurch that escaped my chest, two tears making their ways out of my eyes. Tasha didn’t protest as I sat their gripping her snow white fur, and we stayed locked together for minutes on end. As abruptly as it started, I ended our connection by sitting upright, and Tasha just remained seated in front of me.

        I stayed with her most of the night, the only exception being the two or three times I needed to refill my thermos. But after a while, I found myself lying on the couch with Tasha beside me on the floor, my mind flitting in and out of reality as sleep taunted me mercilessly.

** A/N: Hey there! :) I know this chapter is a bit short, and I'm sorry :( I know recently they haven't been that long, and I apologize for that, too. I just want to finish this so badly without totally rushing it and having it come out like complete crap XD Anyway, as you've probably noticed, I broke up the paragraphs even more. Part of it is to extend the chapter a bit more, and also to make it easier to read. The next chapter will longer, so I'm not sure if I'll break it up the same way (because then it could go on for like 14 pages XD) We'll see though :3 Let me know what you think! All feedback is appreciated :D Thanks for reading <3

~Holly **