Forgotten

seven

I woke up much later, at what I guessed to be midnight. Blocking hard, a tried to force my eyes to adjust to the darkness before giving up, and forming a small ball of fire in my fingertips, and watching it drift to the centre of the room, causing a faint rosy glow. I walked over to the window and stared out at the village. Somewhere to the east, was a dim light, flickering like firelight, and I moved closer to the window. Odin's hellhole... Kaunas words echoed through my head and I jumped up with a new urgency, wrapping my cloak around my shoulders, and hurriedly strapping up my boots. There was a creak echoing from the next room and I paused, listening carefully for any noise, before creeping over to the door, and opening it quietly, peering around the corner. Leaving the bedroom, I kept silent, and only once I got to the front door did I make any sound. I held up my hand to the ancient brass knocker, and the keyhole underneath it, placing my palm flat against it I heard a faint click as the door unlocked, leaving me free to walk outside.
"where are you going?" I tensed, standing stick straight and spun around, relaxing as I saw Jackson in front of me.
"oh, it's just you." I pressed my hand to my heart, trying to steady my breathing and Jackson crossed his arms.
"yeah, it's me. Where are you going?" he questioned and once again, I gestured vaguely.
"out?"
"Taylor it's midnight." Jackson said and I cringed as his voice echoed through the foyer.
"shush! Okay fine I'm going to Odin's hellhole." I hissed and he sighed, raking his hand through his hair.
"of course you are. I'm not letting you." he said firmly and my jaw dropped in surprise.
"and how are you going to stop me?" I implored and he faltered, clearly not having thought that far ahead. I used his hesitation to my advantage and slipped out the door, striding out into the front garden and towards the road.
"Taylor! You won't even be able to get in!" Jackson hissed back and I smiled.
"then you'll have no problem with me going." I answered and jogged out onto the road, and towards the corner. I heard Jackson huff behind me and grinned, knowing he wouldn't leave Kauna alone at night. So I was surprised when I felt him beside me. He had a steely expression on his face and I knew he wouldn't back down.
"I'm coming." he stated firmly and I sighed.
"fine whatever." I grumbled and set off east. Jackson grabbed onto my upper arm and I stopped, feeling flutters in my stomach.
"can you ride a horse?" said Jackson and I nodded. He led me towards the side of his house, where a barn stood, and disappeared insode, repeating moments later holding the reins of two horses. One was jet black and the other dark brown.
"okay then, which one should I ride?" I asked and he handed me the reins of the brown horse. Again ignoring his offer to help me up, I climbed onto the horse and waited as he did the same, then we set off towards the hellhole.

"so you've lived in the forest your whole life?" Jackson had spent the majority of the ride trying to engage me in conversation, and I had didn't the majority of the ride neglecting his efforts.
"no, five years."
"so, is it any good?"
Shrug.
"How'd you find us there?"
Shrug
"well then, are you liking the village?"
Shrug.
"alright, how is it staying with us?"
Shrug.
"alright fine, end of conversation." I didn't reply, keeping my eyes on my destination.
"but why do you want to go to Odin's hellhole?" I glanced at the man behind me before turning forwards.
"I'm curious."
I answered and he laughed.
"so you decided to sneak out at night, and run away?"
I nodded, repositioning my hands on the leather reins.
"you know, curiosity killed the
cat." Jackson ventured and I turned back to face him, smiling slightly.
"well then, good thing I'm human. Mostly." I muttered the last part under my breath, before hurrying the horse to go faster, hooves echoing loudly on the cobblestone road. Jackson followed, horse trotting next to mine.
"so, about your parents, was that the truth?"
I looked sideways at him, the night had taken colour out of everything, and his hair was silvery in the moonlight, the breeze lifting it from his face. but I could see in my head the dark blonde and gold it was.
"yes and no."
I answered and he raised his eyebrow in question. I sighed and looked ahead again.
"they are Charles and Katharine. I was born out of wedlock."
"and you running away and not being in records?"
I didn't answer him. Lying to Jackson alone was harder than lying to Nina's face. He apologized, realising he wouldn't get an answer and I shrugged.
"it's not important, don't worry about it."
I told him stiffly and he nodded.
"thank you." he said and I glanced back at him.
"for what?" I queried and Jacksons eyes were still staring straight ahead.
"Kauna."
"oh, no it's fine, she wouldn't have been hurt that badly otherwise, and-"
"not that."
He turned to me, his eyes softer than I had seen them when he was with Nina and I paused.
"Kauna told me you believed her, and that you helped fix the dress she didn't like." he was staring at me now, and I was unable to look away.
"well, it wasn't a very nice dress." I said quietly and he chuckled.
"but you made her happy, she wasn't happy because of Nina, and I haven't seen her like this for a while. It means a lot to me." he said solemnly and I stayed silent.
"do you love her?" I finally said and he tilted his head
"Kauna?"
"Nina." I clarified, and he looked up at the sky, conflicted.
"yes. I love her." he said and I stared at the ground, a lump in my throat, unsure of why I asked.
"then why aren't you with her? You came with me just because I wanted to see this place, and you could be in bed with your fiancee." he stopped staring at the sky, looking at me even more conflicted.
"I don't know."