Bound In Blood (Bound In Blood - Book One)

Chapter Seven

A man came knocking on our door some days later. To all of us, it was a shock. No one ever came here. No one even knew here existed. However, Silva answered the pounding, somewhat hesitantly. Conner, Hermia and I were watching from the end of the corridor curiously. As the door swung open, a young man with long white hair was revealed. He was adorned in blue robes, his hood lowered. When his eyes found Silva's, a smile spread across his face.

"Silva Sylquin, I presume?" His voice was light as air with such kindness and an almost mystical way of it.

"Who's asking?" Silva responded gruffly.

"A friend," he answered. Silva didn't say anything for a few moments, simply staring at the young man who had a friendly smile on his face.

"Well friend, that is none of your concern. I think you had better leave," she told him coldly.

"Of course. I'm sorry to have bothered you. I just thought I had to meet you. The tales of your organisation are legendary. I needed to see it for myself," he explained lightheartedly, peering around the doorway into the corridor.

"Well you've seen it. Now you had better get going before one of my dear colleagues sees to you," Silva threatened in a voice laced with venom. He nodded in understanding, his expression suddenly grim.

"I understand. And you needn't worry about the secrecy of your Sanctuary, I will not tell a soul. Good day to you, Silva. And to you, too, Alex." He leaned past Silva to look at me, flashing me a smile.

My blood suddenly ran cold at the sound of my name. Silva turned to look at me but I had nothing to say to her. I was completely frozen in place, staring at this stranger who seemed to know me. He gave a slight wave and disappeared behind the door, out into the wilderness beyond.

As soon as the door was shut firmly, Silva came bearing down on me. Charging me down, she pinned me to a wall, an arm resting on the chipped wall behind me. I wasn't afraid of much but when Silva was this way, you'd be a fool not to be scared. Her eyes searched my face with intent, looking for something I didn't know of.

"How does that man know who you are? And how does he know this place's whereabouts?" she asked angrily, slamming her hand onto the wall again.

"I-I don't know!" I told her honestly. "I never seen that man in my life, I swear!" However, she didn't appear even slightly satisfied with that answer.

"Lies!" she spat. "He knows you which must mean you know him! You've given away our position and endangered this organisation." Her eyes dropped to the floor, a certain sadness in them. Taking a long, slow breath, she looked back up to me with a blank expression, "For that, you must be punished."

"I ain't done nothin'!" Suddenly, her gloved hand came across my cheek painfully. I could feel the skin throbbing and growing red. Tentatively, I brought a hand to my cheek.

"You're a disgrace to this family! How could you?" I could hear the disappointment in her voice and it was far worse than her yelling at me. She had thought better of me but had apparently been wrong. I needed to prove to her that I had done nothing but she was too stubborn to listen.

"Alex has done nothing wrong!" Conner said defensively, pulling Silva off me with all his might, stepping between the two of us protectively. "If Alex said that that man was a stranger, then we should listen. Alex's word is as good as anyone's. Why the mistrust?" Silva didn't say anything for a long time, simply staring at the slightly warped floorboards that had twisted with age.

"That man, he is not to be trusted. He couldn't have found this place on his own and he knew Alex's name. Of course that leaves me suspicious! I cannot have my organisation infiltrated like this. There is only one word for you, Alex: a traitor." I took a quick inhale of air at the word for I knew the horrific punishment that came with the term. "And you all know what happens to a traitor."