Morning came quickly, and I felt like my head only just hit the pillow as my eyes opened to the morning light. My head was still spinning after yesterdays events. Between meeting Kodessa and then the revelations, I didn't know what to think. My gut instinct was telling me that there was more to the story. Questioning my father was not an option. Instead, I must visit my Uncle. Maybe he could help unravel the pieces.
I quickly dressed and headed down the stairs bumping into Fleki on the way down.
"Move out of the way, Brother."
He gave me a hard shove in the ribs as he bustled past, laughing.
"OUCH"
A sharp pain shot up my ribcage from where Lekiś elbow had connected. He is becoming quite the pain, I thought to myself. Luckily for him, he is at the bottom of my list with everything else I have going on.
The kitchen was bustling as everyone sat down for the morning meal. I was shocked
Pain radiated throughout my body as I slowly sat up, keeping my eyes firmly on Kodessa until she disappeared. Johnra groaned as he tried to sit up, his shirt soaked as blood seeped from his wounds. His face went white as the blood left his body."Don't move, Johnra. ", I crawled over to him, and my left leg hung limply. Using my forearms, I inched forward. Sticks and rocks dug into my arms, tearing the skin as I kept moving. Time was of the essence, and I needed to help Johnra and return to Briarwood to alert the pack of Kodessa's kidnapping.The image of Fleki's eyes kept flashing in my mind. They were eyes I was very familiar with, our father's evil, vicious eyes. But, deep down, I knew Fleki was way worse than our father, and if we did not stop him, he would destroy anyone in his path.Johnra stirred as I reached out my hand to touch his shoulder, "Hang in there, Johnra", I whispered into his ear. Then, lifting the tattered remains of his shirt, I gasped as I saw the deep gashes
“I am coming with you, Fenis. I just need to get my boots”. I ran down the hallway and pushed open the door, grabbing my boots off the floor. Johnra and Fenis were waiting for me in the front garden.“Us poor men Fenis, always waiting for a woman”, Johnra teased with a grin. Then, slapping him on the arm, he laughed as we headed through the town until we reached the edge of the river.“And what would you know about women Johnra Thompson”? Rolling my eyes, I flicked him behind his ears.“Ouch,” he cried, clutching his ear with his large hand.“Men”, I giggled “, nothing but babies”.
My days were full of caring for Lucian, who didn’t remember who I was and helping Ada with her Carmentis duties. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had a purpose.Stepping out the front door, I shielded my eyes from the glare of the midday sun. Lucian was working in the garden. His brown skin glistened with sweat as he swung the hoe into the earth. Jagged raised scabs covered his back, deep red ridges where the wounds had started to heal. If only the wounds we could not see were healing as quickly. He was happiest doing simple tasks, most comfortable when he was alone. We spent very little time together, and I feared that our love would always be lost.“Good Morning Lucian” smiling through the pain. “It’s a beautiful day. Would you like to go for a stroll”?
“Should you go after him, Fenis?” Kodessa touched my arm, and her eyes were wide with concern. “Not this time”, I smiled gently “we have way too much going on here for me to go and chase Fleki after another one of his tantrums”. “I don’t know, I think you should,” she pleaded.” Please, Fenis, he is hurting”. Taking her in my arms, I held on tightly, my face nestled into her soft hair “stop worrying, Des”. “I cannot help it. I have a bad feeling about it” Kodessa’s pretty face wrinkled as she was deep in thought. “If it eases your worries, I will head out tomorrow and drag him back.”
The hunger, curling up on the bed, I clutched my sides as pain racked my body. A burning primal hunger that needed to be quenched. Sweat coated my body, as it spasmed uncontrollably.“Are you ready to drink yet, Fleki”?Lenore entered the room, dragging a petite blonde girl by her hair, her tanned legs flying around in sheer terror. Blood trickled down her slender neck before I could draw a breath, her lifeless body lay in my arms, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand I let out an ear-piercing howl. Tears rolled down my face as I looked at the damage I had inflicted, her head hanging on by a thread, a chunk of skin and muscle missing, Dark red blood covered the tops of her shoulders, her long blonde hair tinged pink. A strange feeling came over me as I felt her blood coursing through me.&nbs
Atticus screams echoed through my head as I slammed the door and left the house, I don’t belong here I thought to myself as I headed towards the forest, picking up my pace as the rage inside me started to boil over. Whilst I had been locked away in Ada’s basement, Fenis had been having the time of his life with Kodessa Keneally. He had found his home, easily and looked as if he didn’t have a care in the world, which was typical. How easy it was for Fenis to forget me, to move on. Well now it’s my time to move on, the question is where do I move on to? Kicking a clump of grass, the constant battle raging inside me was becoming exhausting. And then with a moment of clarity, I knew exactly where I belonged. It was time to go home and take my place at my father’s side. It was time to stop fighting and embrace the evil that lurked inside me. The blood pumped through my legs as I quickened my pac