Tatiana - Imperial Ruler Of Dragon's

Chapter 14

We ran at full speed into the surrounding forest around the mountain, not once stopping for a little break. Unlike the rest who seemed like they were barely winded, I was sweating and practically gasping for breath. I said nothing about stopping because I knew we were most possibly in danger, and I didn’t want to make them lag or hold them back.

It didn’t take us long to get out of the dwarves territory and reach the moors, and once we cross past the stone wall surrounding the Seelie Kingdom and step foot onto the moors, we might be safe and be able to slow down for a bit.

Ahead, despite the sea of darkness, I can see nothing but a large landscape. Unfortunately, there’s no time to appreciate anything because soon enough four of the Queen’s guards are upon us. One glance over my shoulder made me let out a scream of panic at the sight of vicious Dark Elves charging at us with loud growls rippling out of their lips.

I was distracted when I felt an uncomfortable ache build at the back of my head, the ache throbbed slowly despite the heavy force behind it. It almost felt like someone or something was trying to push past a barrier into my mind, and my instinctive resistance made me grow weak and dizzy. Faltering in my steps, I don’t notice the Dark Elve charging at me from the side until I’m knocked off my feet and thrown to the ground.

We tumble for a bit before coming to a stop, and before I even have the chance to defend myself the f*****g creature dug its teeth deep into my neck, making me release a piercing scream of pain.

I heard Katrina and the others skid to a stop as my named was screamed in panic, but can’t move or call out to her for help. The Dark Elve currently draining me of my blood and rendering me immobile does so like a starved animal, guttural sounds gliding out of his mouth as he continued to dig his canines deeper into my neck. I couldn't help but scream in pain when the Dark Elve got ripped off of my body and tackled to the ground, the feeling of his canines violent rip caused a deep gash down my neck.

Several hands helped me to my feet, and through my dizzying vision, I watch Gavin and Troy trying their best to hold off the other four with impressive celerity, while Hilgar is fighting off the Elve that took me down. The fact that the Elves had no weapon in hand this time around seems to work well for the others because one on one combat is not a quality for Dark Elves.

Katrina and Candy struggle to get me past the stone wall and as soon as we do, the three of us slump to the ground with groans. Mine, more of pain and theirs, of irritation. Helping me to sit up straight, Katrina rests my body against her legs and kneels behind me. As Candy kneels in front of me, I wonder what it is they’re trying to do until a burning sensation starts to spread around my neck.

Throwing my head back I struggle in Katrina’s arms as I scream my lungs out, terrified by the sight of Candy’s soulless black eyes. She keeps her concentration on my neck, her focus never shifting as her hands rise in the air and slowly, with a twirl of her fingers just like I saw Katrina do before, she pulls out the venom laced into my blood the minute that Dark Elve had bitten me.

It feels like someone stuck a knife deep into the gash and slowly dragged it down in the roughest, most painful way possible. As soon as the venom was magically pulled out, Candy collapses on the ground slightly in exhaustion and Katrina quickly places a hand over the wound and heals it.

“Are you okay?” She inquires, concern coating her words as she wrapped her arms tightly around me.

Swallowing thickly, I nod. Thankful for the reprieve. “Yeah, I am.”

“Are you sure, because if there’s still some more venom in your bloodstream I need to know now or you could end up dead if it reaches your heart?” Candy questions anxiously, pulling out a small hand dagger from one of her boots. I shrink back when she begins to reach out for me. “You know what, f**k it. I’ll cut into your skin and check for myself-”

“No, I’m fine. I swear I’m fine!” I yell in panic, raising my hands to stop her as I straighten away from Katrina’s hold to sit up straight.

Glancing over her shoulder, I ask immediately in an attempt to distract them. “What about the others, they won’t be able to hold them off for long?”

That question seems to do the trick because the two of them turn to take a grasp of the situation still at hand. Gavin and Troy seem to be working so well in sync with one another, not allowing any Elve to slip from their watch. Hilgar on the other hand already has the other Elve she’s combatting in a headlock and I watch in shock as someone her size, easily decapitates the creature in one smooth motion with her bare hands.

Throwing the head over one shoulder nonchalantly, she let’s go of the slumped body and wipes away the dark blood all over her hands and clothes in disgust. She turns her attention to the boys and yells loudly so they could hear.

“Gavin, create a line of fire before those ghastly beasts. They hate any form of light.”

Not wasting time, Gavin steps back from the fight, leaving Troy to fend them off on his own. With his hands extended, a rush of orange flames pours out of his open palms and sets the grass before his feet on fire. Like Hilgar had instructed, he created a long line with it and as soon as the Dark Elves saw the orange flames they began to withdraw. Every single one of them frightened by it.

Troy does an incredible somersault over the flames and lands right next to Gavin, and immediately the three of them cross past the stone wall and head our way. Helping me to my feet while Katrina breaks off to hug Troy tightly, I lean a little on Candy due to weakness. My wound may be closed up and the venom drawn out, but I still lost a lot of blood.

When Katrina finally releases her boy toy she steps forward, hands outstretched as she creates a barrier in front of the stone wall as extra security and to buy us more time before the flames die out and the Elves get a chance to come after us.

Satisfied, she spun to address the rest of us. “We need to get going. The flames won’t hold them off for too long, but the barrier will keep them busy until sunrise. And then, we’ll at least have put a day’s distance between us.”

Grasping her hand in his, she and Troy share a sweet, lovers smile and don’t wait for us to follow before rushing down the narrow road zigzagging along the hills.

“Katrina!" Candy yells. "Wait, what about Tatiana?” Candy tried to ask, calling out to them, but they were already a distance away. “f**k, I swear she loses all her good sense when it comes to him!” She snapped in irritation.

I watch my cousin go and feel a little hurt, this has got to be the third time she’s completely ignored me and focused only on him. And she wonders why I hate his guts. When warm hands wrap themselves around my body and lift me into the air without much effort, I turn to stare at Gavin in shock. He offers a reassuring smile as he carried me in his arms bridal style, picking up his pace despite how heavy I must be.

I don’t try to fight him but relax in his arms and lay my head on his shoulder, my arms coming around his neck. I take the comfort he silently offers and curse out my cousin in my head, my hurt turning to anger and resentment.

~*~*~*~

We'd just gotten half-way through the moors without any rest stop, daylight is slowly approaching despite the fog and it felt nice to be able to see where we’re headed. I feel exhausted as I trudge besides Gavin, my hand in his as he helps me along the trails and pulls me forward whenever I pause to take a rest and lag behind others.

It’s been half an hour since I told him to put me down, and though a small part of me regrets that decision, the rest feels guilty that I even entertained such thoughts again. He’s been nothing but a sweetheart throughout this journey, and I could tell he used up half his strength supporting both our weights.

“Why exactly are we headed to a Kingdom more dangerous than the Seelie Kingdom?” I frown, taking in deep breathes as perspiration coated my skin.

“Because the only way we can get out of this kingdom entirely is by crossing the borders of the Unseelie Kingdom. The minute we step foot onto Unseelie territory the Seelie Queen and her guards won’t be able to find us so easily. Because the Unseelie’s do not bow to her kind. Then we’ll be free from every guard chasing after us.”

“Ugh, but what if we get spotted by the Unseelie’s. Wouldn’t that put us in more danger?”

“It would, which is why we’re going in disguise.” He sighs, patiently waiting for me to stop beside him. Grabbing my hand in his he smiles. “Now come on, we're lagging too far behind.”

He picks me up in his arms once again and I let out a grunt of a surprise, I grumble in protest but can’t stop myself from wrapping my arms around his neck and resting my head on his shoulder. He quickly catches up to the others and fall in line with Hilgar, who glanced at both of us and rolled her eyes.

Gavin had to stop in his tracks before he could slam the both of us into the backs of Troy and Katrina has, they stopped abruptly, their eyes focused forward.

“What the hell is she doing here?” Katrina asks, her tone harsh as she shoots a glare at a puzzled Troy and roughly throws away the hand she held.

“How the hell should I know?”

Letting out a huff, she crosses her arms below her chest when he tried to reach out for her. Her narrowed stare is fixed on the horse carriage slowly coming into view and we all watch the approaching old-fashioned vehicle in curiosity.

Tilting my head, I wonder what the hell is going on now. Tapping on Gavin’s shoulder and indicating he put me down, I stay by his side when the carriage is drawn into a slow halt in front of the six of us. The carriage looks grand tied to such beautiful, white horses with a coiling horn sticking out of their foreheads like unicorns.

They look better suited in an enchanted forest than tied to a wooden carriage overly decorated as if it belongs to some noble. But what surprises me more is the fact that the carriage is driven by an older, attractive female. She has waist-length dark curls with fair skin and angular cheekbones, sapphire blue eyes gaze at all six of us impassively but they linger a little bit longer on Troy. As she swings her body off the front seat she lands on her feet and rounds the horses, coming to a stop in front of us.

She has the side bangs of her hair woven backwards with a headpiece jewellery secured round her head and tied in-between her braids. She’s wearing a white, slim-fitting dress that hugs her small curves in a very seductive way and has a thigh-high split showing off one leg.

On her hands are vine bracelets woven just beneath her elbows down to her wrists, and along the sides of her neck down her bare shoulders before disappearing down her back are intricate markings that look more like inscriptions written in a foreign language tattooed across her skin. While on her feet are knee-high fur boots, tied around them are leather ropes in a crisscross rotation. They seem to ensure her boots are tightly wrapped around each leg, like laces.

She bows to us formally with her hands crossed over her chest like an x, her voice filled with respect as she says. “Your royal highness Troy Koen, your mother, the Unseelie Queen has sent me to escort you and your entourage back home.”