Blood Ties

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

        A Few Weeks Later

        Layla’s eyes drooped shut as she leaned against the tree trunk, fanning herself miserably. It had been days since she’d had water, and even longer since she’d slept. She tilted her head back, her breaths coming in short rasps. 

        She’d always known her mother wasn’t stable, but she couldn’t have possibly guessed that she would go this far to punish her.

        Layla’s hand involuntarily reached for her scar. I should have known.

        A small, bony hand enveloped hers, and she opened her eyes, frowning at the owner of the hand. Jake was her main priority now; in the current state she was in, she would never be able to find the village. But they would let Jake in.

        Honestly, she didn’t care whether or not she would survive.

        She brought his hand to her cracked lips and kissed it. He was in a much better state than she was; she had offered him every bit of food and the majority of the water brought on this trip. She ran her fingers through his soft hair, savoring the feeling against her sunburned skin.

        “I don’t believe in love, Jake,” she whispered, pulling him closer to her. “I never have. But you do, don’t you? You understand how it affects people.”

        Jake’s only reply was squeezing her hand just a tiny bit tighter. Gazing at her, he saw the unmistakable look of utter defeat, and it broke his heart. 

        She stood to her feet, yanking her hand away from his, her momentary display of tenderness over. “It’s nearly sundown, but the village is close. The enchantments are heavy here.” Crunching footsteps neared where they stood. She turned to look down at her little companion, and a smile (almost real) touched her lips. “They’ll find us any minute. You have to look afraid of me. Will you do that?”

        Jake smiled back, tears shining in his eyes. He threw his arms about her waist and hugged her, and Layla hugged him back, her eyes unfocused.

        “Will you do that?” She repeated, pulling away and touching his cheek, gently. 

        He nodded, grinning widely, even though a tear had escaped from his eye.

        The footsteps neared.

        “Goodbye, Jake,” Layla said simply, her hand reaching for her knives. 

        Jake’s mouth moved, and though no words came out, his meaning was clear.

        I love you.

        The footsteps stopped, and from the bushes, a single figure emerged.

                                                                           *

        Bright orange flames burned in circles underneath the dark blue sky, and Star watched in wonderment, a familiar tugging sensation in her stomach. Kaya continued her display, seemingly unfazed by the beauty she was creating. The pumping flames ceased their flow, and Kaya extinguished them with a burst of water from her palm.

        “Being able to wield both fire and water is a talent that is very, very rare,” she explained, “usually only pure blood royals with blood from both kingdoms have it. Using spell magic, I can gift myself with water, but only for a short time.”