Vaile

Aislinn IX

Even though she could no longer see the village and Zel assured her they were perfectly safe, Aislinn kept glancing over her shoulder to see if someone was following. A strange, uneasy feeling that made the scab on her neck prickle stalked her through the first two days. She didn't like the way the cat looked at her. She didn't trust Zel overly. She was virtually alone in the wilderness with a cat who had already tried to kill her and a thief with no apparent motivations for deciding to go with her.

Overall, survival chances were looking slim.

It was their third day on the run and they had made it to the mountains. Zel found a cave to stay the night in. Aislinn, bundled in her blanket and hurting from hunger, wondered what she would dream about after she fell asleep. Lately her nights were full of sharp pain and strange voices, with no sign of the woman or her eerie song.

Unable to close her eyes without picturing Charli's claws at her throat, Aislinn went outside the cave.

Zel was at the lip, staring up at the moon.

Aislinn started back inside, but he gestured her to sit by him.

"You okay, Ace?"

She opened her mouth to say that she was fine, but the words wouldn't come. Instead a story of every fear she'd had in the past five days spilled out. Mavis and her disappearing act. Zoe trying to keep everyone safe. Orpheus and Cherokee in their treachery. Charli's unpredictable behavior. Most of all her dread that the same thing that happened to the citizens of her hometown could happen elsewhere.

As she spoke she realized that she was pressed against Zel and that he was holding her. Flushing, she pushed away, but he pulled back.

It took Aislinn about fifteen seconds to register that she was being kissed by a boy she'd known for less than a week. She wasn't particularly sure she wanted to stop. It was nice to have someone who cared.

How'd I do, Lys? Is this enough to make you delete that picture of me?