Pip had left me alone as I had asked, although I could tell she hadn’t wanted to but what could she do…send me back for more proof on how Draven didn’t need me. Didn’t…didn’t want me. I swallowed that thought with a thick lump of cold hard reality. Hell, I wished I was one of those girls that could find the anger in it all. Find the guy and bitch slap the hell out of him for cheating on her but there was one solid reason why I couldn’t find it…
I still loved him.
And it burned me to think that I loved him enough to want him to be happy and if I wasn’t enough to give him that then…well…
Well then, here I was now. Alone and forgotten.
I wanted to snap out of my pity party but I knew it would no doubt take a lifetime for that to happen, so what next? The answer was almost as painful as my situation. It was time to do what I did best and after years of knowing and living daily with real pain then faking happiness came to me like punching does to Frank Bruno.
I got up after hours of staring at mountains that didn’t change, hard and unyielding like my situation. Before I could even ask myself where I was going I found my feet taking me to the path I had walked yesterday with Pip. I just needed to escape this prison that was starting to blur as home, just for a minute. I needed to find the wind, to get the clear, crisp air and feel the bitter cold against the numb state I had asked for. I needed to feel something other than this endless stream of emptiness that was being pumped around by Draven’s fist that had hold of my heart like he was crushing everything that was me…out of me. I couldn’t let that happen. I had things to live for, I had good friends, I had the best sister imaginable, one tied to the best brother in law I could ever wish for. And then there was the child she nurtured inside her. The life that needed protecting from a world only I knew existed inside my own world.
I had to survive and to do that I needed the hard shell that I had created, one I had left behind when meeting Draven, and would have to come back out and cocoon me in a stronghold of emotionless feelings. I could do this…couldn’t I?
By the time I found my way back up to the silent garden I had convinced myself into believing I could do this. I had no other choice so I might as well suck it up and keep breathing. So Draven didn’t want me anymore, yeah that fact hurt more than any open vein this time but in this case bleeding wouldn’t change a thing. So what to do…carry on and try and get the hell out of here! I doubted I was much of a concern, considering Draven had his hands full. Oh God! That thought alone brought up more bile that I had to swallow back down.
Think Keira, think! I had to take back my life. There was no more relying on my dark knight to come charging the castle for his woman, no, my knight had found himself another. And this time she was a Goddess! Hell, I felt like the bloody kitchen hand locked in the tower pealing spuds, with finger nails that were never getting clean again! No, I had to become my own knight. I had to save myself and in doing so I had to leave my misery until a time when I could afford to grieve.
I walked down the steps and saw the withered tree that the last time I had sat there held a very different Keira, one full of smiles and laughter thanks to Pip. But now all I wanted to do was curl up inside it like a small wounded animal and stay that way until the frost no longer touched this part of the earth. Surely it wouldn’t hurt as much by summer? But as I stepped around the tree, running my fingers along the battered trunk, they fisted as I knew the truth…it would always hurt.
I mean, do any of us ever get over our first love? Do we ever forget the way they made us feel with just one light touch or one soft word whispered in breath by our ear. Even now I was getting goosebumps just thinking about his breath on my neck, my name uttered in bliss as he gave me that part of himself that no other had given me before.
My name spoken in thorns of love.
I shook myself and wiped a stray tear that managed to spring up from my tired eyes.
“It’s no longer my name but…hh…hers.” God it was hard saying it out loud but for some reason it made it more real and the sooner that happened then the sooner I would come to terms with it. Moving on wasn’t an option but living through it was the only way forward.
I moved away from the tree and followed the stone wall that arched up, giving me a beautiful framed picture of the mountains around us. From here you could see the lake and the natural walls that surrounded it, sheer cliff faces that dropped straight down without so much as an incline, drops that would kill given one wrong step. I don’t know why but this added to its raw beauty.
I sucked in an icy breath when the wind picked up, making me grab the sides of my cardigan and pull it closer together around myself. I was grateful for the fluffy winter boots that Pip had made me put on my feet once she knew I was determined to sit out on the cold balcony. Thinking of Pip brought a pain to my chest. God how I would miss that little Imp when I left here. She was a true friend and one that I could no doubt trust but could I trust her enough to help me get out of here?
In the back of my mind the thoughts betrayed me still and said that Draven might still come for me, but I squashed that down under an imaginary boot and wiped it on a wall to leave behind me. He wasn’t coming for me! That was why Sophia had been so upset… she knew, Vincent knew…and now I knew.
I startled out of my thoughts when I heard a noise to my right. I looked just in time to see something jump back into the bushes and I wondered what animal I had seen? That’s when I finally had a good look around and found myself further than I should be. I turned round and saw I had passed the walls to the circular courtyard and managed to walk down some broken steps without falling. How did I do that without thinking about it or without looking where I was going?
The steps were further down and when I looked to where they might lead I saw a dead looking forest looming back at me. I followed it round and noticed that it surround the courtyard like an army of dead, straight soldiers all waiting to be commanded forward. Shadows could barely be seen for lack of light, one needed to be able to penetrate the tight knit of trees that held no leaves and never looked like they ever did. It was as though day never saw this part of the earth and it was forever to live in the darkness of night. No wonder it looked as though nothing lived in there, for how can you do that without the sun? Then I thought about Lucius and how I saw the light of the sun in his eyes every time he kissed me. Was this place cursed as he was? It certainly seemed so.
I turned around and began walking back when I heard another noise and this time it didn’t come from any animal finding home in that dark, dead dungeon of trees keeping guard. I knew someone was behind me but it was a bit like when you were a kid and heard a noise in your room at night. You didn’t want to, would have done anything not too, but no matter how long you waited you knew there was no getting around turning your light on and checking under the bed or in the wardrobe. This was that same moment, heart pounding so loud it felt your ears would pop and having to fist your hands to keep your fingers from shaking.
Turn around Keira. Do it now!
I turned and faced two cloaked figures emerging from the trees and I couldn’t help but scrabble back up onto the first couple of broken steps.
“Sister Triad, come with us.” A whimsical voice came from the figure on the right and with that, combined with the size of the figures, I knew they were both women. I released a breath but then Layla flashed in my mind and I knew even women weren’t safe to me. I needed to be smart and not fall for anything like last time when I nearly drowned.
“What do you want?” I asked, surprising myself with the strength in my voice, one that was completely faked.
“You need to come with us Sister, we will protect you from the evils of men!” The one on the right spoke again and I almost laughed out ‘Well it’s a bit late for that one, love’. But thankfully I had my brain filter switched on, so remained silent. I mean, so far they hadn’t come screaming at me like some raving banshees so why press matters.
They came closer a
nd a chill ran up my spine that had nothing to do with the weather. The one of the right was taller than the one on the left who still hadn’t said a word. They were both heavily hooded and their features remained a secret, but one thing was blindingly obvious, being up here, on top of a bloody mountain, they were definitely not human. I backed up another step and this action provoked something in the one of the left.
“In the name of the Lady of the Moon and the Horned Lord of Death and Resurrection you are one of us child. A Sister of Triad and will come with us, to be one of us, to complete the cycle.” The voice was croaky and broken, like someone had stomped on their larynx and it was the complete opposite to the other woman’s voice.
“I’m sorry to tell you this, but there is no way I am going anywhere with you two.” On hearing this they both turned to look at each other as if what I was saying was unbelievable.
“But you must child, for you are The Triple Goddess.” At this I nearly laughed! I didn’t think these two were operating on all cylinders if you know what I mean. Or was this Goddess thing another word for Chosen One? Because I doubted very much that was still the case considering what Draven was probably doing right now. God even now, facing these two, that thought still packed a punch in the gut!
“Look lady, I’m sorry to burst your holy bubble but I ain’t no Goddess and I ain’t going anywhere with you two… sorry but I don’t know you.” I said, my thick accent coming out with my growing nerves. There was something really off about this whole thing, an undercurrent that was trying to suck me in and using these two to do it. I could feel the magnetic pull lying there just waiting for my shields to break, ready to suck me in a trap, one I wasn’t falling for again!
The one on the right whipped her hood back and revealed herself to me as though this would help. I could see her beauty from ten feet away and when I scanned down her body, that’s when I noticed the large swell of her belly, one very pregnant belly. Her deep red hair was long and straight and like mine reached her waist. She had kind eyes and a glowing aura about her that said …safe. Mother.
“You are wrong Keira, you are one of us and we are here to protect you, the Horned God has demanded your presence at the temple to get you ready for the rebirth of his Lord.” Oh, ok now that she put it like that, then hell no!
“I think I will pass thanks, but you two go right ahead and say hi to his Hornyness.” Ok, I know that sounded rude, but these two were really starting to grate on my last nerve. This was when I actually heard the shorter one growl. I guess she was a big groupie of the Mr Horn!
“You will learn not to be disrespectful girl and know your place!” The other whipped her hood back and I felt myself gag. Jesus that wasn’t a face for radio but more like a cave to live with Gollum from Lord of the Rings! She was hideous and every cruel line told a story to that effect.
Deep lines, as though they had almost been cut there, ran from her nostrils to either side of her chin, setting the frame work for a wrinkled muzzle. White, clouded eyes were filmed over by cataracts that shone in the sun like she was lit up inside and these were the windows into a heartless soul. I knew there was evil there, under the cloaking of an old woman and even though the hump back and limping suggested she was more to be pitied than feared, I knew the truth. Her long hair hung like the rags she wore, dirty grey and knotted into tubes from years of neglect.
I started to walk backwards quicker and they in turn started to close the distance between us.
“Stay where you are!” I shouted but this just made me want to gag again when the old woman smiled showing me a set of rotting teeth that hung there by withered gums.
“You are the Maiden Goddess and you have no choice but to become one with the Triad. The Gods have cast this burden onto you, come willingly and you will not suffer,” the redhead said, almost singing in delight at seeing my trembling lip. For now, they had friends that had joined them in their quest. The forest became alive with red eyes set deep into shadowy beasts that started to stalk forward on all fours. With taller front legs, they almost dragged their backs legs that remained low to the ground. Long fingers dug into the earth aiding their movements closer and the old woman started to cackle, her laugh sounding like a boiling kettle. All the while the redhead just shook her head like I was a naughty child.
“Take her!” The command was given by a voice neither one of them possessed and I saw a flash of the looming black figure in the background, deeper in the forest that was witnessing this whole scene. I turned round and ran up the remaining steps just as I heard the scream in the air by I don’t know what but it caused the shadows to leave the trees and come running at me. I couldn’t look back but I could feel the darkness of their souls getting closer. Like an illness you could see, it was threatening in a whole different way.
A thick fog rolled in from all around me and turned my visibility into a white blanket of nothingness. I tripped and felt something snap at my ankle which instantly took the pain from my fall. After pulling my foot underneath me I staggered forward until I regained some footing. I felt the stairs finish and finally something flat under my feet, indicating I had made it back to the courtyard. I then heard a gruff yelp which turned into a blood curding howl. As soon as my body made it past the archway that hung broken over the last step it was as if someone had snapped their fingers and the fog vanished.
I turned my head and screamed at seeing how close the shadowed beasts had come to me, only now they were shadows no longer. I fell backwards in my shock as elongated faces that were made from twisted bark in the shape of fleshless skulls stared back at me. Their long chins pointed to the ground and with mouths stretched like this it showed all seven rows of tiny teeth that were rotating like some medieval meat grinder. They had no eyes just empty spaces where a red glow pulsated in its depths and skin rough with thick gouges torn out in chunks, like some woodcutter had taken an axe to a living tree.
These were terrifying creatures but before my imagination took a dark turn and pictured being ripped apart by these things I took in what was happening. The one closest to me looked hurt and was limping backwards, which looked painful given the way its front leg twisted underneath its body like a broken branch. I looked up and noticed he wasn’t the only one retreating. All the shadowed beasts were moving backwards past the two women until they became part of the forest again, where my eyes lost them.
“You should have come when you had the chance child.” The old hag said pointing one stiff jointed finger at me. Before I could come back with some smart mouthed comment, the younger one spoke.
“You have angered your ruling God and soon you will see that the Vampire King will not protect you forever….for he knows what you are.” This last part was spoken as a warning on the wind, for the two had retreated back like their shadowed friends and the words were spoken in eerie whispers that lingered like an echo in the air.
I scrambled back like a crab, scratching my palms on the rough ground, being too afraid to get up and turn my eyes from what was once there, petrified they might come back. What was I supposed to do now? I mean it was obvious that with the creature howling in pain that none of them could come past the arches that surrounded the courtyard, one had tried and failed if its broken limb was anything to go by. So what next…Do I just get up, dust myself off and calmly walk back to my room?
I decided that I very well could just stay like this all day so I did the only thing I could do, I got up. I dusted myself off. I walked back to my room. But once there I collapsed into a chair and continued how I had spent most of the day…I sobbed.
I must have fell sleep through exhaustion because the next thing I knew I was being woken up by something flicking at my nose. I opened one eye knowing what I would see.
“Oh goodie, you’re awake,” Pip said bending over me with her head turned to the side like a colourful parrot.
“Of course, and you would be too if I flicked your nose with those nails!” I commented dryly but she just laughed and looked at o
ne painted like a liquorice allsort, blue sugar balls and all.
“You look like shit by the way and only have about fifteen minutes to make yourself look pretty.” I frowned at her thinking. The Great Hall was the last place I wanted to see right now, but then I still noticed the light coming through the windows. Confusion took over my annoyance and I couldn’t help but ask,
“Why?”
“Because you don’t want Draven to see you like that now, do you?” On hearing this I shot up out of the seat like the chair had bit me.
“What! He’s here?” I asked, heart pounding greater than when I faced those creatures only hours ago.
“Well no but… I have to send you back.” Pip said, trying to hide her desperation, which made me wonder what she was up to. I folded my arms across my chest in nothing short of defiance and stood my ground, even though at that moment I really needed to both pee and rub the annoying sleep out of my eyes.
“No!” I said simply making Pip’s eyes go wide.
“Ah come on Toots, don’t make this hard.”
“Sod that Pip, I refuse to ever go back there! I won’t do it and I don’t understand why you would want me to.” Ok, here it was, the bit she really didn’t want to tell me.
“Look, if it was left up to me then you could sit here all day and grow roots if you wanted, but it isn’t up to me and now it isn’t up to you.” She was starting to get agitated and very un-Pip like.
“What are you talking about?” I just knew I wasn’t going to like this answer.
“He wants me to send you to him…demanded actually, so you’re just going to have to suck it up like a big girl and direct your anger at the man himself.” I almost choked… it couldn’t be…could it?