Valkyrie Demons

Chapter 20

Everyone suddenly became quiet. I look around the room at them, confused. Aurora won't even look me in the eye, king Luka looks nervous.

"My dear, didn't he tell you? He went with Ariel to sort some stuff out. I thought he told you?" Luka frowns and purses his lips.

"I,uhm, heard David and Ariel arguing about me last night when I got back from the picnic with Finn," I smile shyly at Finn. "David said he never really liked me and thought I was stuck up. He saw me but I was to hurt to say anything so I ran upstairs.We haven't talked since."

"Oh, that's terrible. I'm so sorry sweetie. I'm sure they'll be back and you guys can talk everything out." Aurora says.

"Mum, you do know that we have to leave in a weeks time, right." Finn says while eating his pancakes.

I drop my fork and stare at him. He looks at me quizzically but then seems to realize he hasn't told me, his cheeks immediately turn red. He rubs his hair and looks at me apologetically.

"Ahh, Valery... I'm so sorry. I honestly forgot to tell you."

I pick up my fork and continue eating like he never said anything. I keep my eyes down so that he doesn't see the panic. I don't want to leave in a week! I haven't even settled down here, and what about this love thing between me and Finn? Aren't we suppose to be together or something?! I'm freaking out!

"Yes, yes I remember. I hope you found the trainer and spell caster I asked you to find." Aurora raises her eyebrow but gets distracted by Lisa.

After the sudden awkwardness following her statement, conversation turned to a neutral topic. I didn't want to look at Finn but it was like my eyes were drawn to his. Ugh, I don't want to like him but it's impossible not to. With his mesmerizing eyes, dark hair and his freckles! It reminds me of sprinkles on a cup cake or rather-

Finn stands up abruptly and leaves the room. I look at up, confused. Dacian clears his throat and when I look at him he looks towards the door, signaling me to go outside with him. We excuse ourselves and walk to the kitchen to put our dishes in the sink.

"We're going to talk to Finn and sort this weirdness thing out between you." Dacian leans against the counter and gives me a knowing look.

"What weirdness thing?" I ask innocently while avoiding his eyes.

"Oh come on Val, you can't hide things from me... you know that." He laughs quietly. "Come, he's waiting outside."

We walk outside into the brilliant sunshine. The clouds are fluffy and white, drifting above us . The grass looks greener today, or maybe I'm just imagining it. We walk for a while into the forest-garden until we see Finn leaning against a tree.

He smiles at me and slowly walk towards us. "I'm so glad you came. I wasn't sure if you would agree to see me after you left so suddenly last night."

"Yea well, it's not like I'm alone with you." I should stop being mean but I can't help it. He did start it.

"Now now Val, be nice. Let's talk." Dacian sits down on the grass and pats the ground on either side of him.

I sit down reluctantly, pulling out pieces of grass. I focus my eyes on a butterfly sitting on a flower.

"Alright, I'll start." Dacian says. "I'm absolutely horrified at what you said to Val, but we can't do anything about it. You guys need to discuss it though, because I can sense anger coming from you everytime I mention it." He pointedly looks at me. I remember he once told me about his ability to sense emotions.

" Fine... Finn I don't know how we're going to do the love thing but I need you to tell me why you said what you said... because otherwise I won't be able to get past it." I look down while playing with my hands, afraid to look at him.

" I... uhm said what I did, because when I saw you,I uhm... panicked. You were the most beautiful person I've ever seen. I've known about you since I was five and every night I would picture you. It didn't compare to the real you though. I panicked, my brain went into automatic and... My automatic is being a jerk." He looks down." I'm sorry. "

I'm stunned. I just assumed he was a jerk because he didn't like me.

" So can we at least be friends - " I never got to finish the sentence because alarms started going off at the castle.

We jump up simultaneously. Finn and Dacian both grab my hands and pull me with them. Unfortunately we don't get very far. Two nets fall out of the trees... or maybe it was thrown, but either way Dacian and Finn are trapped. I try lifting the net up but it was to heavy and before I know it a dozen men come out from behind the trees. Or, I think they're men. They have small horns stretching the fabric covering their faces and their hands are pale. 

"Valery run!" Dacian screams and struggles even more.

I can hear his desperation and run as fast as I can. I was almost there, I could see the door, when someone tackled me from behind. Be both hit the ground pretty hard, unfortunately I was at the bottom and took most of the hit. I'm trying to get air into my lungs, gasping like a fish out of water. The guy on top of me grabs both my arms. He puts something on my wrists but I black out from pain shooting up through my arms before I can figure out what it is.

~~~°°°~~~

Why do I keep waking up like this? Can't people just stun me? Every bone in my body aches... like I've been crushed by a boulder, but I'm more concerned about the burning coming from my wrist. It overrides every other pain in my body. I should be fine in a few minutes though, perks of being able to heal.

There's light coming through a window above me. I try to sit up but I find that my arms are tide to the wall. I groan as I shift my body to the side so that I can sit. My legs aren't chained to the floor, luckily, but they are tied together.

I stretch my senses to find out where I am. I can hear water dripping somewhere in the corner, I hear something creaking above me like a building ready to collapse, I hear - ... footsteps! I quickly pull my legs up to my chest and turn my head away from the cell doors.

"Look who finally decided to wake up. You know, for a person who's suppose to stop all evil... you weren't very hard to catch."

My head is forced to turn toward him. I try to resist but my energy is depleted. I refuse to look him in the eye, closing my eyes instead.

" Oh no you don't! " I hear the click of a key. The door swings open with a squeal and before I can even open my eyes, he's standing in front of me.

He sits back on his hunches in front of me and grabs my face. "Finn isn't very good at hiding his possessions."