The Shadows in the Mist

CHAPTER TWO - CAPTURE

Night had already fallen when I finally slowed down my pace to a walk, my limbs screamed in agony while perspiration had run down my neck adding to the chill I felt while running through the falling snow.

Luckily, the howling winds and strong gusts of snow from this morning had lulled into a soft and steady winter's night.

This however did not quell my anxiousness and I reminded myself to remain alert, ignoring the pain in my muscles which begged for attention as I had run over forty kilometers (around 25 miles for those who don't use the metric system 😊) over the past six hours.

I was used to this kind of exhaustion though so I still moved relatively swiftly, as despite being the furthest away from my village that I had ever been on Estah, I knew the fae were faster and stronger than humans and could run the distance in half the time it took me.

At that thought, I brought out one of the daggers that had been firmly strapped to my waist, as whether there were fae around or not, I always felt safer with a weapon close at hand.

Though realistically, I knew there was not much harm I could inflict on immortal beings with just a dagger.

As another hour passed and then another, the darkness came to be almost overwhelming, limiting my vision to no more than a few paces in front of me, the only light that could pierce through the inky black well of night were the stars and the moon, which was out in full.

I knew people had been taken, as I had heard screaming coming from afar, far enough way that I didn't panic, but still too near for my liking that I altered my course and headed away from that direction.

A cold gust of air blew past, sending more snow to cling to the hood of my cloak and nestle in my hair, though I had predicted the cold and prepared well for it, nonetheless chills raced up my spine, increasing with each step I took.

I began flinching at every noise I made, a snag of a twig, the whistle of wind, each sound heightened my nerves which was reinforced by my racing heartbeat and rising adrenaline.

This encouraged me to replace the dagger I was currently holding and instead string my bow with an ashwood arrow.

Ashwood was supposed to be fatal for fae, if hit in the right spot, I only had three in my possession and treasured each one dearly.

My ears were strained, and my eyes had begun to frantically search my surroundings, as I had stopped moving in fear that the fae would hear my footsteps.

That fear skyrocketed as the moonlight caught on several figures coming toward me, they stepped out into the clearing, and at that I raised my arrow directly to the fae in front.

Though I paused with shooting, perhaps from shock or idiocy on my part, my curiosity got the better of me and I took in the features of the first fae that I had ever seen up close.

Each of them had silver hair braided into a unique style which shone in contrast to their tanned skin and dark eyes, glittering in the night.

The fae possessed a variety of weapons too, which added to their menacing and powerful charisma combined with strong dark armor, it was no wonder that humankind had been so afraid of these beings as even their mere presence was terrifying.

Though what was most remarkable was the fae whom was closest, and whose head was perfectly aligned with my arrow.

He walked with what could only be described as a feline grace with tendrils of star-kissed night seemingly following him.

This glimmer of magic in his appearance marked him as a high-fae, one who in Prythian owned a great amount of power and prestige.

He stepped a little closer and I tightened my grasp firmly around the arrow aiming at his face, said face, smiled lazily as he spoke, "and what might a human girl be wandering around the forest at night?"

I knew I should be running, knew that as I stayed longer, my chance of escape was steadily diminishing, however that knowledge did little to stop me being entranced by his captivating voice, making me want to reply.

"I was hunting."

His eyes twinkled like the stars. "Uh-huh, this wouldn't be because of Estah, now would it."

I was forced to play along with his game. "Of course not,"

He inched further closer and said, "Nevertheless, you wouldn't mind if I had a look at your arm."

"Actually, I do mind, you see this whole thing about stranger danger," I told him, as I hesitantly took a step backwards.

Amusement flashed in his eyes, but as I took another step further away from him, he grasped my arm tightly, he had moved so quickly that all I could do was watch him as he rose my left arm to the moonlight revealing two scars on my wrist.

His eyes made contact with mine, him no doubt being able to distinctly notice the panic withheld in my gaze, when he said, "hmmm earth, you have quite a lot of power there, I'm sure Cendre would love to train you but I'm afraid I have other plans for you."

I knew I wouldn't be able to escape but I would not go down without a fight, so I raised my knee and shoved it into the fae's groin, hard.

He barely moved at all but released my hand enough for me to wrench it free and start running.

Without looking back, I blindly shot the arrow, and still didn't turn around when I heard a shout of surprised pain.

The trees became a blur as I pushed myself to run faster than I ever had before, though I knew I wouldn't get far in the dark and running on snow was much more difficult for humans than for fae.

I had only run about half a kilometer (0.3 miles) when I was roughly pulled back into someone.

I didn't need to turn around to know who that someone was, as darkness seemed to envelop me.

He kept his grip on my arm and then raised a knife to my throat.

He leaned down to my ear to whisper,
"The knife is just in case you pull another stunt like that one earlier."

A shiver coursed its way through my entire body as his breath sounded in my ear.

He then turned me around firmly, still holding onto me, tightly enough that bruises would most likely remain afterwards and begun to chain my wrists.

"Can't have you running off again, now can we."

I growled.

He looked back at me, while reprimanding, "Careful human, in going to forgive you for that outburst, but others might not, you should learn to respect fae as your superiors."

I considered if trying to punch him in chains would be effective when I felt a darkness surround my mind, I instantly went rigid with fear, he laughed "I'm just going to hold your mind for a little while Reva, so you can't kick me again."

He must've read my mind and found out my name, I had never heard of fae using power like this, and it frightened me, though to be fair my knowledge of fae was severely limited.

"Come on, let's go join the others,"

I felt a pull on my mind, like a beckoning claw, and I was forced to follow him back through the sparsely separated trees to where the other fae were waiting for us.