14 - Leaving
1432 Words
Elenor
Edmund wraps his arm around my shoulder. I cling to him because that’s the only way I’m still on my feet. I don’t care that Donny is dead; he deserves it. But I had hoped to one day face him and force him to admit what he did to me. Then, I would have torn him apart!
I’m glad he’s dead, but now I don’t know how to move on from what he did. He’s gone, but I feel cheated out of my revenge.
“I found that place easily and broke you out of there.”
“What?” Edmund gasps. “How?”
“I manipulated the mind of a guard, who then released you. Neither of you was conscious, and I managed to hide you before dozens of guards attacked. I led them away from you because my only goal was to protect you.
“However, they had weapons and some strange liquid that they dipped darts into. Once they hit me, the liquid burned my insides. I had to transform into a dog to save myself. Those chasing me finally gave up and retreated. I thought I was as good as dead, but you wondered upon me, and you saved me. I couldn’t take this form until I had healed completely, but by then, you hated me.” He sighs again.
Von scrubs his hands over his face. “It’s not an excuse. I know that. But it is a reason. By the time I was finally ready to just show myself, Elenor met her mate. He did what he did, and now Elenor believes she’s pregnant.”
“Excuse me?”
What the hell does he mean that I think I’m pregnant?
I am pregnant!
Aren’t I?
But as Von explains what he told Michael earlier, I feel like I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole. Nothing makes sense!
I slide my hands over my baby bump and realize that I have never felt my baby move. It was all inside my head, and now I don’t know what to do.
What the hell is happening to me!?
I’m not really pregnant, and my heart is breaking. I planned my whole life around a baby who was not even there.
Why have I accepted this so readily?
Because when Von said the words, the spell broke. Whatever curse plagues me cannot be hidden from me any longer. But my heart is shattered, and I don’t know how to deal with this.
What will become of me now?
Michael steps forward. “Look,” He says. “We all have our reasons for what we’ve done. Von is sorry, so just make up and move on. Because right now, what he did does not matter. We need to focus on finding Elenor’s mate before it’s too late.”
Too late for me.
“What the hell is this curse, Von?”
I wish I could speak, but I can’t. I’m in shock and can’t even blink!
Von looks at Edmund. “The curse is centuries old, Edmund. We need Father in order to understand everything. But the gist of it is that upon meeting her mate, any female member of our family shall fall for him instantly. If the male takes the female, then leaves without rejecting her, she will experience a phantom pregnancy that will kill her upon the day of phantom birth.”
Great. Just fuckin.g great! Not only did the piece of shi.t who had se.x with me run off like a coward, he left me believing I was carrying his child, and now I’m going to die!
Who the fuc.k wouldn’t want a mate like that?
Oh, yeah, that’s right. I don’t!
“No!” Edmund wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his arms and kissing my head. “I will not let that happen. Tell me what we do to save her, Von.”
“I don’t know, Edmund. In all my years, I have never encountered this. We need to find Father. There is no other way.”
“Fine. You and I will search for Dad. But we’re not returning until we do.”
“I thought you said finding her mate and forcing the rejection would help?” Michael says.
Von nods solemnly. “It will, which is why Edmund and I will search for him also. I promise that we will not return until we find Father or the mate. Either way, nothing will happen to Elenor.” He promises.
I wish I could believe him, but I don’t think I’m going to make this. My baby, or lack thereof, will be due in the next few weeks. Gods only know what will happen to me in that time.
Will I become sick?
Will there be any signs that I’m dying?
Or will I simply go into labour and die?
Gods, I wish I had my Dragon to talk to, she would tell me what to do. But she isn’t with me, and I don’t know what to do now.
Edmund is making plans with Von. They’re both leaving me, but I know it’s for the best. However, I should be going with them. They’re doing this for me, after all.
I look at Von, my eyes filled with uncertainty. “What about me? Should I go with you two?”
Von’s expression softens. “You’re going to Lykos,” He says gently. “Michael will take care of you. Won’t you?”
Michael nods. “Of course I will. Besides, Sylva needs you. Remember?”
I nod with my eyes closed. No matter how badly I want to be with my brothers, I can't leave that little girl. If I am going to die, I want to spend as much time with that little girl as I can. But at the same time, my heart breaks to think she will have to watch me die.
Would it be easier for Sylva if I left her now?
She would forget me in time.
But how could I hurt her little heart?
Why am I so conflicted?
So, I ask, “But what if I can help?”
Von steps forward, placing a hand on my shoulder. It feels so familiar, and a tear falls from my eye. As angry as I have been with Von, I have missed my big brother.
“I know. But right now, our best shot is if we split up. You go with Michael and start your new life. Edmund and I will track down Father and your mate.”
Edmund’s grip on my waist tightens. “We’ll find him,” He says, his voice a mix of determination and reassurance. “And when we do, we’ll bring him to you.”
I take a deep breath, visibly trying to compose myself. “Okay,” I sigh while nodding. “But promise me you’ll be careful.”
Edmund kisses my head. “Of course we will. I love you, remember that.”
“I love you, too.” I hug my twin before turning to Von.
He stares at me with emotion in his eyes. He pissed me off, but I can’t stay angry with him. There are so many questions I could ask about why he did what he did and how he could have told me about this stuff before now. But I’m tired. I’ve had enough, and I just want him to hold me.
I walk into his arms, and he sighs contentedly. “I’m so sorry for everything.” He whispers.
I shake my head. If it wasn’t for Von, Edmund and I would still be in that awful place, having Gods only what done to us. We might even be dead right now.
“I love you,” I mumble.
My brother hugs me harder and kisses my head. “I love you more. We won’t be gone long, I promise.”
Fifteen minutes later, each holding a bag of provisions that I packed for them, I watch my siblings leave. With his arm around Edmund, Von flashes them out of the room. I stand staring at the spot for a moment, hoping and praying they will be okay out there.
Michael touches my shoulder, pulling me out of my trance. “They’ll return, Elenor. But for now, we leave for Lykos.”
I nod and send a silent prayer to every God and Goddess to keep my brothers safe.
May their quest be fruitful. For my sake, if nothing else. I do not want to die!
- Writer
