Vampire Girl(63)

I try to imagine the heat of the fire, the comfort of being close to Fen as he sleeps and heals, the safety of having Baron there, anything to keep me from thinking about the cold seeping into my bones. Even my soul is freezing at this point.

The snowing stops, giving me a respite from the cold coming down upon me, and allows me to follow my trail back to the cave without getting lost. I just pretend that was my plan all along, that I wasn't worried about the snow filling in my tracks, me lost in the middle of a forest in the middle of a storm and dying as an icicle.

Without the sound of the storm whipping through the trees, it's a peaceful walk back. My arms burn from the weight of the wood. My wrist stings as the branches rub against my cut. But it's so breathtakingly beautiful and calm that I can almost forget about the pain.

It is because of this absolute stillness and silence that I hear them before they attack.

I drop my hard-earned wood into the snow and grip my sword's hilt, slowing my breathing so I can hear better.

They approach from my right. There's more than one person, but it doesn't sound like a big group.

I pull Spero out slowly, quietly, and make my way to a large tree to hide behind. It could be a search party looking for us. Someone from the castle here to help. I want to believe that's the case, that we will be rescued and taken back to warm Stonehill and all will be well.

But my gut says otherwise.

This isn't a rescue party.

It's the Fae coming for me.

They led us into this trap, bringing Fen out here. They are the only ones who know where he is.

I crouch behind a tree, sword ready.

I was smart enough to at least cut my left hand, so my sword arm still functions as well as it can in this weather.

But I am weak and tired and they are many. And I don't have Baron to help. My best chance is to hide. To not be found.

But what if they find Fen? What if they hurt him to find me? I won't let that happen. I'll surrender first.

I'm glad Baron is guarding him. If something happens to me, Fen will be safe. I can at least make sure of that.

Two men and a woman enter the clearing where I stood moments before. They are dressed in furs and leather and accompanied by a wolf. This one black and smaller than Baron. The wolf sniffs the ground, and then looks around.

"She's got to be somewhere close," the taller man says. He looks young, like all Fae, but his beard is long and grey. He carries a walking staff with a blue crystal molded into the top.

"It will be hard to get a scent in this snow," the woman says. She's nearly as tall as the man she speaks with. "We should have waited until after the storm cleared."

The shorter man looks into the sky and shakes his head. "This is our only chance. She is alone, unprotected by the demon she lives with. All the signs say we must act now."

They know so much. But how?

They circle the clearing, checking bushes and trees. It won't be long before they find my tracks, until they get to my tree. If I move or try to run, they will catch me. I'm paralyzed with fear.

The shorter man looks up suddenly, as if he heard something, but I haven't moved an inch. I'm barely breathing.

He smiles. "She's here. Somewhere close. She can hear us."

"Good," the woman says. "Then she will know we have only come to take her home. Princess Arianna, come out and show yourself. We are not the enemies you fear. We are your kin. Your true family." Her voice is full of authority, but I don't understand what she means.

"You do not belong with the demons who have tried to destroy our world," she says. "You are Fae. And you are the true ruler of this world."

Hands grab me from behind. "Found her!" It's the shorter man. He snuck up on me while the woman talked. This time, I am too weak to fight. He places a cloth over my face. "Sorry about this, Your Highness. But it's time to get you home."



When I awaken, I find myself slung over the shoulder of the tall man. I struggle free of his arms, and he drops me unceremoniously on the snow-packed ground of a wooded forest.

"Be gentle with her. She is not to be hurt," the woman says.

"She bit me," the tall man says, rubbing his arm where I did, indeed take a bite.

"Seems she learned more from the demons than we realized," the short man says with a chuckle.

The tall man glares at him, but I interrupt their bickering. "Who are you and where are you taking me?"

My hands and feet are tied together with rope, and I can't stand or do much but sit on the cold ground glaring at the three of them. My wrist is still bleeding, and with my hands behind my back, I rub my finger into the blood and draw on the earth. I know the symbol by heart, having traced it on Fen's wrist so many times.

If I can call to him through magic, maybe he can find me.