Children of Blood ✔️

Chapter Six

Alaric has forced me to train again, this time away from civilization and with Izzy as she pleaded to join us. We decided to go to the old cave where Luke promised to meet us, an undisturbed haven.

The horse sways underneath me as I follow Alaric and Izzy follows me. I hold my bow tight to my chest as my stomach clenches with hope and fear that Luke might be at the cave waiting for me.

When we finally reach the cave it shows no sign of Luke and the only sound is the distant creek and birds chirping. Never the less, I swing my legs over the horse I land on the ground softly as Izzy follows after me.

I run up to the cave and stop short knowing it's hopeless. Issy walks up to my shoulder and squeezes it, "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry Jean," Izz hugs me from behind and I shove her off.

"Sorry isn't going to bring them back!" I snap and walk back to my target as I pin it up.

"I know you are hurt," she walks back to me and I push past her.

"Then leave it alone!" I yell kicking the stones on the ground, "you are just reopening scabbed wounds — you're making it worse!"

"Jean... you aren't healing, your pushing yourself to the point the cuts are tearing open even more," Izz stares at me with pain as she succumbs the the fact that I'm broken.

"Don't Izz," I scoff and turn around to face her, "just leave."

I gently roll Izzy's hand off me and walk away to the vine curtain which separates us from our cave home.

"I can't believe it's been a week since we've last been here." Izzy walks around and picks up a stone laying on the ground.

"Well believe it," I growl and throw the vines back to where they laid before. "Looks like coming out here was pointless like everything else we do."

Alaric shakes his head and pulls out a target from his pack attached to his saddle. "Not entirely," his smile is radiant and makes me shiver.

Izzy smirks and nods for me to pull my bow out, "Yeah, you get your bow while Ric and I will get to know each other."

I scoff and shake my head, "stop being desperate Izzy. Slut isn't a good look on you." As soon as the words lift off of my tongue an instant regret stabs me.

Izz stops and stares at me before her hand slapping across my cheek, leaving a red and tingling mark. I suck in a breath and let the heat rush to my face as Alaric's eyes widen in shock while the paper still hangs in his hand limply.

"I am tired of your emotion abuse," Izzy whispers her voice shaking, "I know you are hurt because she's dead, because Luke isn't here, but that doesn't mean to take the pain out on me— us, our family. Just because you blame yourself doesn't mean you should pass it on."

I stand letting a dry tear fall down the side of my cheek while Izzy's face runs wild with them. "Please leave," I look down and grip my bow trying to squeeze the heartbreak away. "Go get to know Alaric."

The two stand quietly before Alaric sets the target up and walks past me, stopping just behind me before, resting his hand on my shoulder gently. Quickly I throw off.

I whip an arrow out and shoot the target hitting the edge of the white paper. I wait until I hear Izzy stomp off and Alaric's sigh as he props himself on top of a fallen log, "what on heavens earth happened to you?"

"Nothing," I pause wiping another tear, "that's the problem."

"You need to stop blaming yourself, we all have baggage and you aren't particularly special." Alaric's voice has lost all of its playfulness and is replaced with a dark, dejected, hopeless tone.