Vara

Chapter 7

Vara and the princess didn't get very far. Their bodies were exhausted, and the adrenaline that ran through them couldn't encourage their muscles to work any longer. They had stumbled along from tree to tree only for a few minutes, trembling as Vara kept whispering to the younger one to keep going. Elira did her best, but as soon as Vara collapsed at the base of an old rotted tree, she laid down beside Vara as well. 

"What was that?" Elira panted after a while, gasping for breath as if she had still been running. Vara's throat burned with thirst, trying to swallow what little spit she had in her mouth before speaking. "What was what?" She replied, hoping Elira would get the hint. She didn't. "That brown animal."

Vara hesitated. She didn't want to scare the princess anymore than necessary. "We still have those men chasing us..." She started, voice trailing off towards the end. They heard another howl, farther away than the first time. Vara's heart sank. "If we get back to the palace, I will tell you. But we need to move."

"No, we need to rest." Elira was clearly too tired to run. So was Vara. "You don't understand, Elira-"

"I understand we are being chased. I understand my life is in danger. What I do not understand is why you think you and I are capable of moving at the moment." The blonde cut her off, frowning. Her lips were pursed into a pout, face red. Vara couldn't tell if the younger girl was angry or if her face was still red from all the sprinting. Vara opened her mouth to speak but didn't utter a sound. She couldn't argue with Elira when she was right. "Well, we can't stay here," she mumbled.

"You're right about that, girly." Vara quickly moved, pulling Elira close to her chest, and narrowed her eyes. The dark knight smirked, crossing his arms. "You're too tired to run, not that you have anywhere to go, really." He spoke casually, the two men behind him chuckling. "Now hand over the princess, and I'll consider letting you live." the men didn't move, but neither did Vara. Elira trembled, hiding her face in Vara's chest, and whimpered. "You're not going to touch her." Vara was terrified, but if she were going to die, she wouldn't be begging them for mercy. She was going to go down fighting.

The twins laughed, but their leader just grinned. "What's your name, sweetheart?"

"None of your business." She retorted, earning a frown from him. "Would it help if I told you mine first?" he asked. He didn't seem like he was in much of a hurry now, compared to the last time. They were so deep in the forest that no one would be able to rescue them this time. No one would see the kidnapping or the murder. Vara shook her head. "I don't care to know your name either, sir," she replied angrily, hugging Elira tighter. "I am Rowan," he introduced himself regardless, ignoring her attitude.

"I must admit, I've never met a girl with quite as much spunk as you. Generally, the girls I meet are flirty or scared, depending on the situation." He went on talking, the twins moving to scout the area. "However," Rowan's eyebrows furrowed. "You do not seem scared. And I must admit, I am a little wounded that you do not find me attractive."

Vara scoffed. "I apologize; I guess murdering children is just a huge turn off for me." Vara wasn't sure what kind of punishment she would face for being such a brat to him, but if he was planning on killing her, then she might as well not hold back. But instead of getting angry, Rowan just laughed. He reached up, tousling his dark brown hair, and let out a small sigh. "I guess I can't blame you for that," he mused, giving a charming smile. "I'd never do that to an innocent child, though."

"Then... you should let us go." Vara heard the howling again. It was faint as if that creature from before was too far away to attack. But she knew better than to feel safe from it. "That girl is not innocent. She is to be made an example of - to show the rest of your country what we want, and plan, to do to the rest of the royal family." Rowan went on to explain, walking closer to them. He stood only five feet away before he crossed his legs and lowered himself to the ground into a sitting position. The girls curled into each other, like a tight ball of snakes.