Lament

Chapter Eleven [pt. 3]

The creature shrieked above me and my body stiffened, waiting for the feel of teeth. There was another shriek and  then a loud thump, and the sound of rustling leaves.

I snapped open my eyes and hurriedly sat up. The creature has collapsed on the ground to the left of me with an arrow protruding from the back of its head. My gaze went to Daniel, expecting him to be holding a bow. But his hands were empty and he was staring at me with a mixture of emotions that I couldn't quite decipher. All but one: anger.

I frowned. Where had the arrow come from?

"That's one for you and one for me," said a voice from behind me.

I spun my head around and found Leon with a bow in his right hand. I unsteadily, but quickly, got to my feet and began to back away.

"Relax," he scoffed. "I'm not going to hurt you. Not after I went through all of the trouble of killing a Zorgon for you." He gestured to the dead creature."

"Back off, Leon."

I jumped at the sound of Daniel's voice behind me. I recovered quickly and let him push me behind him.

Leon pretended to pout. "After I just saved your girlfriend from something that you couldn't?" He laughed humorlessly. "And not even a thank you." He shook his head. "Horrible manners, cousin."

Daniel't hand grasped onto my wrist and tightened slightly. "What do you want, Leon? Why did you save Eona?'

Leon threw up his hands in exasperation. "You just cannot save a damsel in distress these days like you used to."

I creased my forehead. I didn't  like that they were talking about me like I wasn't even there. Then again, that seems to have been happening a lot lately. I opened my mouth to say something, but Leon beat me to it. 

"Sorry to leave you out like this, love," he said, his eyes now directed on me. "Nothing personal."

"What do you want, Leon?" Daniel asked more forcibly. "I don't want to have to ask a third time."

Leon held up his hands in surrender. "I'm just looking for a little adventure," he answered and before Daniel could say another word, Leon was racing for the trees.

Daniel didn't turn around until Leon's footsteps could no longer be heard. When he finally did, though, his blue eyes were glowing, furious. "Why didn't you run?" He demanded. "Why did you come back?!"

I glared at him. "I came back to see if you were okay!" I screamed. "How the hell am I supposed to leave you when something is breaking down your walls?"

Daniel shook his head and paced back and forth furiously. "You should have just left me,' he groaned. "I told you to leave!"

"That wasn't your call to make!"

"I'm trying to protect you, Eona!" He yelled. "Can't you see that? Are you so blind that you haven't noticed that you are now in a completely different world? That there are actually things out there that can kill you with one swipe?"

Tears started to brim my eyes, so I looked down. I wouldn't let him see me cry over this. "No one is going to die for me." I said very clearly. "No one." I looked up then as the tears subsided. "Not even you, Daniel."

He pursed his lips extremely hard and held down what he was going to say. "Whatever," he muttered. "We have to go. I have another safe house, but it's all the way out of town. We'll make it there by dawn."

"But what about Leon?" I asked, glancing back. "Won't he find us?"

Daniel thre his hands up. "Well, if we stay here, he'll definitely know where we're at and this zorgon may smell. But hey," he paused, "if you want to take your chances, go on ahead. I won't stop you.'

I narrowed my eyes at the back of his head. He had turned and walked to a large bush by the side of the house. Behind it was a sleek black motorcycle. Daniel climbed on and kick started it with one try. he looked over at me, but said nothing. I shook my head and groaned.

Sighing, I walked over to the bike and threw my leg over the side reluctantly. He handed me his helmet and I took it without arguing that I wasn't so helpless.

Revving the engine, he said, "Hold on tight, we are going to be going a bit over the limit."

I grumpily put my arms around his waist lightly and he accelerated like a bullet through the night. I clutched to him and heard his laugh over the roaring engine. Succumbing to the feel of his muscles, I leaned my head on his back and settled for a long ride.