A Crown of Thorns

Chapter eight - Free me

My head felt cloudy and distant as my weight was pulled to the side. A set of firm hands grasped me by the waist and pulled me into them, the person felt warm and welcoming as they gathered my unconscious frame within their arms and carried me away from the furry beast. The air seemed to be still as silence filled the air. I sniffed the person before me and sensed a calm nature, the woman who held me in her arms smelled sweet, it relaxed my heightened nerves as I unconsciously sought out the beast who saved me and yet I could not find his image in my mind.

“My god, she’s all skin and bones,” the woman stated, her voice as calm and as sweet as she smelled.

My head lopped forward as she said the words, the child in my arms was revealed momentarily as my long hair was shifted out of place. The infant opened her eyes and released a cooing sound as she met the strangers’ eyes, my child held no fear of others unlike me. I was paralyzed with fear at the thought of awakening and having to face those I found myself surrounded by, instead, I allowed the exhaustion to consume me with my limbs far too numb to move.

“She’s still awake,” a voice stated knowingly as he leaned forward and brushed the stray locks away from my clammy forehead.

The male's voice soothed the angst that was building in my chest, he remained calm as he glanced towards the woman knowingly. I could feel the warmth radiating from his hand as it hovered in the air, he contemplated touching me before sighing and resting it against his side.

“Is that a baby?” the woman asked curiously as she shuffled me in her arms to gain a better glance at my chest.

I squeezed the infant closer to my chest as I managed to peer my eyes open and glared at the woman distrustfully. The infant squirmed uncomfortably in my arms as she parted from my n****e. I leaned my head forward and allowed my silver locks to drape over my chest, protecting the view of my child. I hissed at the woman, warning her as she stared at me in bewilderment. She nodded knowingly as if instantly understanding the situation.

“I’m Seiya,” she affirmed in a calming tone, “No one here will harm your baby,” she stated, her words felt sincere as she nodded to the man before her.

Seiya was beautiful with fluffy blonde hair that gathered in a loose braid at the nape of her neck. Her lips were full and delicate as she smiled sadly at me, her cheeks were a light shade of red with the sharp breeze biting at her pale skin.

I half-heartedly hissed at the woman as she walked us toward the towering building. My mind was far too clouded to form words with my tongue paralyzed by the fear that these foreign people brought. I wanted my wolf back, the massive fluffy beast coursed through my mind as I peered away from Seiya and glanced around us before we entered the warm building. There were no beasts in sight with the only known presence being both Seiya and the man who followed close behind her. I kept my eyes on him as I stared at the man with suspicion.

His eyes never left mine as he examined me cautiously, he remained a few steps behind as if he were afraid to approach us. He appeared sheepish as his light brown hair hung over his left eye in a tangled mess. He was tall with an air of dominance to him and yet he appeared content in settling within the background of things. My tongue stuck to the roof of my tongue as he diverted his eyes away as if glancing at me for too long bothered him.

Good, look away, I thought, pleased with myself.

My success was short-lived as my anxiety was piqued once we entered the building, the walls were spacious with towering columns that stretched high above us to a chiselled ceiling. Large unmoving images framed the walls as they guided us forward and deeper within the dwelling. The temperature within the structure was vastly different from the outside with the warmth seeping within me, the sensation was foreign and unnerving.

What is this? I thought suspiciously as I squirmed against Seiya’s hold until she reluctantly released me.

I stood uncertainly on wobbly feet, my ankles burned as the welts reopened. A distinct clattering pressed into the floor as I glanced down knowingly. The chains remained bound to my flesh with the silver burning into my flesh as I moved. The chains were jaggedly cut with the remnants steering into my skin. I couldn’t remember breaking free from the hook in the wall where the chains merged, it was the reason I could never venture far within my tight confines. I’d escaped the prison and yet I’d unknowingly taken a piece with me.

I will never escape; I thought as my face grew pale from the realization.

“We can deal with that!” Seiya stated firmly as her eyes followed mine, instantly understanding my discomfort and disdain.

You can remove it? I wanted to ask as I glanced up at her with suspicion.

“It's something that can be easily done,” she stated knowingly.

I hesitated as I contemplated her words and their meaning. I didn’t trust her, nor anyone for that matter and yet the thought of being separated from the burning silver excited me. I pushed my distrustful thoughts aside for the moment and nodded at her, I shifted my weight so that my leg was outstretched, the chain clattered as I stared at her knowingly wanting to be rid of the vile thing at that very moment.

“Right,” Seiya said with a nod before turning her attention toward the man behind us. “A little help,” she asked as she nodded to my bound ankle.

“Gladly,” he stated as he approached us.

I hissed angrily at the man as he approached. His presence repulsed me despite the hint of curiosity that wove its way through my chest.

His movements were slow and cautious as he knelt before me with enough space between us to set my anxieties at ease.

“I can remove it,” he said in a gentle tone as he nodded toward my ankle.

I huffed angrily as I glanced away. I reluctantly held my foot out towards the man, accepting his help despite every cell within my body screaming for me to run away.

“Right,” he said with a nod as he gently grasped the cold metal and pried it apart until it clattered to the ground, free from my flesh and free to burn for its sins.

I glared at the cold metal as he picked it up from the ground and held it in his hands, his gray eyes shimmered a brilliant amber for a moment as the metal erupted into flames in his hands. The metal dripped down his palms and seeped into the marbled floor, I stared bewildered as I watched the fire engulf his hand and yet it didn’t harm the man who wielded the flame.

How? I thought bewildered as I thought back to the wolf's flames, I’d borrowed when I escaped my hellish prison.