Blood Ties

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

            Star didn’t stop running until she reached the outskirts of the village, and until her heart was pounding from adrenaline instead of anger. She wasn’t really far from the stables at all; she had just taken the long way there. She slowed near an old shed, sinking into a sitting position on the ground.

            Why wouldn’t they tell her anything? It was all (apparently) directly involved with her, so she had more of a right than anyone to know what was going on! And she couldn’t believe that Marco was keeping things from her.

            “I guess we weren’t as close as I thought,” she muttered bitterly.

            Maybe it’s for you protection? Even her sensible inward voice didn’t seem so sure.

            “Well, I’ve had it up to here with people trying to protect me,” She snorted, “seems to me I’m in more danger than I ever was what with people protecting me and crap.”

            “You’re not in danger anymore, Princess Star,” a distinctly female voice whispered from somewhere behind her.

            Star screamed, leaping to her feet. Layla stepped out of the shed, a smirk on her face; although, just like last time, her eyes were completely dead.

            “Don’t scream, I’m not going to hurt you,” Layla said, as though to be reassuring. Star’s screams multiplied, hoping vainly that perhaps Marco or Kiya would hear her.

            “Princess Star, I just want to talk to you,” Layla tried again, “come inside?” She seemed very collected, friendly even. Her accent had faded into one that was much more familiar; a slightly southern, very Georgia accent. She no longer spoke like a medieval princess but instead like a girl her age.

            Warily, Star met her eyes, nodding slowly. Her hands shook like crazy and her heart raced, but she needed to find a way to stall Layla until she could be rescued. Besides, she had questions that needed answering, and she couldn’t pass up this opportunity.

            Layla lips stretched into what she probably considered a smile as she opened the door.  She walked inside, Star following closely behind her. The shed was even smaller on the inside than it appeared on the outside. Layla sat on the small mattress and motioned for Star to have a seat on the stool.

            Jake, the little boy that Star assumed to be Layla’s slave, smiled at her; his eyes twinkled. She managed to smile back.

            Don’t those eyes look familiar?

            Before Layla could begin speaking, Star asked, “Is he your slave?”

            Layla replied coolly, “Yes. Are you afraid of me?”

            Her response may have been cool, but Star noticed the tenderness in her gray eyes as she glanced at the boy.

            She hesitated, noticing her steady breathing and her decreasing heart rate. Then she whispered, “No. I don’t think I am.”

                                                                             *

            Marco ambled along the outskirts of the forest, trying to collect his thoughts. Kiya was right, of course. He couldn’t afford to lose anyone else. Not after his mother, his brother, his friend, and now Kaya. Not after losing Star for just three years.