I’ve ridden horses all my life, but this is surreal. I’m riding a fucking unicorn!
My stomach gives a tight roll and I begin to feel light headed again.
I lean forward, resting my head and chest against his back and wrap my arms around his neck. It should feel strange because technically my arms are around a man. I’m hugging a man. But it doesn’t feel weird, strange, or wrong. It feels right. More comfortable than any horse I have ever been on.
We carry on in silence until we reach my house. Alina helps me off and I rest my weight on her again.
“You take care of yourself now. Go get some rest. Sparky will look after you.” Galen gives a small nod to Alina and then walks off to the barn.
“Come on, let’s get you inside and settled. Would you like something to eat? Maybe a drink?”
“I can manage that, Love. Try not to worry too much about me, okay?”
“Not worry about you? Are you shitting me? How can I not worry about you? I saw what happened to you. I’ve been through that myself many times. I know what it can do to you. Please let me help. I never had anyone to help me recover over the centuries, when I needed it most. Let me do this for you.” I can see guilt and sadness wash over her features. Her eyes are bloodshot and glisten from tears she’s too stubborn to let fall. I loosen myself from her hold and turn her to face me, my hands holding both her arms to keep her still. “Do not do this to yourself. It was not your fault. Do you hear me? None of this was your fault.”
“How can you say that? It was because of me he was here. He went after you because he knew it would hurt me. And it did. I thought for a moment I had lost you. Another death on my conscience.” She looks down to the ground just as a lone tear falls.
Using my thumb and forefinger, I tilt her chin up to look at me. Silvery tracks glide down her cheeks distorting and blurring her freckles. I bring my other hand up to cradle her face in my hands. I wipe my thumbs over her cheeks gathering her tears.
I look deep into her golden eyes, there are flecks of oranges and reds I hadn’t noticed before. Stunning.
I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t stop myself from leaning down and placing a chaste kiss against her lips. She doesn’t respond, I didn’t expect her to, but she doesn’t push me away either. I pull back and place a small kiss to her forehead, wrapping my arms around her in a hug. She appears frozen for a second before she brings her arms up and places them around my waist. Alina feels so right in my arms. Her body molds to mine. Her softness against my lean muscle. It feels right, perfect.
It’s her turn to pull back this time and she gives me a soft smile. I may be seeing things, it’s almost like affection shining back at me in her eyes.
“It is never your fault if something happens to others. Everyone is responsible for their own actions. I was foolish. I tried to attack someone I had no hope of winning against. I was just blinded by rage of what that monster has put you through. I wasn’t thinking straight. So, if anyone is to blame, it’s me. Now please, I don’t wish to talk anymore about it. It happened, we dealt with it, as we will with anything else that may happen.” I offer a reassuring smile and step away from her. It’s difficult to leave her warmth. I must though.
How is it I have literally no energy, yet parts of me wake up and spark to life around her?
“But—” she starts, I throw up a hand to stop her.
“No buts. I’m hungry, ravenous actually. Let’s have something to eat, then get some sleep, it’s getting late now.” A tight-lipped smile and a small nod is what I get in response.
With Alina’s help, we manage to make a simple meal of sandwiches and I have a warm cup of a night time tea blend.
It hurts to swallow. It feels tight and scratchy, yet I know I need to eat to regain my strength, so I carry on.
I still feel lightheaded, so Alina helps me to my bedroom once we are finished eating.
She guides me to my ensuite bathroom and gives me a smile and says good night before leaving me alone, shutting the door behind her.
I relieve myself and wash my hands. Then brace myself against the sink, gazing at my reflection in the mirror.
What I see will probably haunt me for the rest of my life.
An angry red jagged line spans the entire width of my throat. I lift my fingers to brush against it. It feels raised and sore. Dried blood is caked all over me.
It really happened.
I really died.
I place my hands against the sink again and let out a deep shaky breath. I’m not normally a crier, but that doesn’t stop a few tears escaping.
They’re not for me. No, they are for Alina. I’ve only had this happen to me once. Alina though, shit, she’s been through this time and time again with no one to help her, not like she helped me. She has been alone for so long.
I don’t care if it results in my death time and time again, I want Alina to stay. I want to give her a home. Someone to care for her. I want to care for her.
I throw off my bloodied clothes and step into my shower. Turning it on, I feel a powerful stream of warm water blast onto my body.
After a few moments of just standing there and letting the warm water flow over me, I turn it to freezing cold. Painfully cold, enough to let me know I’m still alive.
I stand like that for several minutes, my head bent to look at the dried blood rinsing off my body and down the drain. A shudder runs through me as I remember what happened.
I grab my soap and begin working it into a lather on my body. I can still feel Vemnos’ hands on me. Bile burns in my throat at the memory of his vile tongue against my cheek. I scrub at my skin harder, until red marks cover my body. But I keep scrubbing. Anything to try and wash away the memories of dying in Alina’s arms. The feeling of suffocating. The slow agonizing torture of choking on my own blood as I descended into nothing.
I take several shaky calming breaths, trying to regain control as I brace my hands against the tiles before me.
Once I feel a little more like myself again, I turn the shower off, step out, and grab a fluffy towel, wrapping it around my waist.
I catch my reflection again. Now all the blood is gone, I do look more myself, except for the red line on my throat. I have a feeling it’s not going anywhere soon.
I run my hand over my face and smooth down my damp curls.
Clutching my towel around me I open the door and head back into my room.
Alina had put the light on for me and pulled down my comforter ready for me to jump in. On the bedside table, I spy a glass of water she must have got for me. I smile at the simple, yet kind gesture. How can anyone who has been through as much crap as she has, still have a kind and gentle heart? How does she do it?
I finish drying myself off and chuck the towel into my open hamper. I grab a pair of boxers and wearily climb into bed. I usually sleep naked, however since Alina has been staying with me, I have chosen to wear boxers. Resting my head back onto the pillow feels like heaven. I pull the comforter up over me and sink down into my bed's warmth.
I quickly fall into a deep sleep.
Screams echo around me.
Rain beats hard against my skin. The smell of fire and death invade my nostrils. I hear their laughter, their taunts. The assholes who caused this. I turn to see the cold dead eyes of a gaunt looking pale man, whom I can only assume is Ebris.
“What are you doing, pretty boy?” he sneers.
“Looking for your friends, are you?” I hear another voice call out and I turn to see a crimson man with black horns glaring back at me. Vemnos. His fingers grip my bicep hard, nails piercing my skin. Ebris’ long finger grips my chin forcibly and turns me to look at him.
“You want your friends? Is that it, pretty boy?” I look between the two, sinister grins on both their faces.
“We’ll take you to your friends,” Vemnos smirks. I know it’s probably a trap, I still follow Ebris, with Vemnos close behind. I have to tread carefully, bodies are littered everywhere. Their empty, lifele
ss eyes staring back at me. There’s nothing I can do for them, not now.
My heart breaks at the numerous people that have been carved, stabbed, flayed, and decimated. Men, women, and children are scattered all around. It’s the most sickening display of depravity I have ever witnessed. We approach a clearing and I see two shapes not far away. As we get closer, I can make out who it is.
Alina and a man I have never seen before. On their knees, with their arms bound above their heads.
I go to run to Alina, but I’m stopped by Vemnos’ hand grabbing my arm tightly.
“What the fuck are you doing to her? Let her go, right fucking now,” I roar, my voice carrying over the wind around us. A sickening laugh accompanies my shouts.
“Now why would we do that, pretty boy? After centuries, we finally have her right where we want her. Not only that, but I also have all the important people in her life too.” Ebris slimy voice replies. I notice another body on the floor in front of her. It looks like the man who attacked us. I think his name was Branor, if I recall correctly. I’m pushed forward abruptly, falling to my knees in front of the two monsters. Grabbing both my arms, they tie them behind my back. Although I struggle, I’m not strong enough to fight against the two gods.
“Alina? Love? Are you alright?” I call softly to her, hoping the assholes won’t hear me.
“She can’t hear you. She’s been unconscious for a while now, so have the other two. Don’t worry, she’ll be waking up again soon. Then we can have more fun.” Vemnos grunts in my ear. He is close enough to smell the metallic scent of blood, and for the first time I notice his clothing is covered in it. A mixture of dried and fresh blood splatters his coat and shirt, when I look him in the eyes, they stare menacingly back.
“What did you do to her?”
“The same thing that happened to the others and what will happen to you too,” Ebris grins, “I like my games and I love new toys to test and play with. Yes, I think you’ll do nicely.”
I try to break free from my bindings, but nothing seems to work. Both the gods loom over me now. Their sick twisted smiles turn my stomach.
Vemnos crouches down in front of me with his head tilted to the side. “Why do you look so sad? Are you upset we didn’t include you sooner? I do apologize for the tardiness in collecting you, but you see,” he juts a thumb over his shoulder in Alina’s direction, “she was too much fun to pass up. Do you know she doesn’t scream when you beat her? She doesn’t even flinch when you cut her. I can’t remember the amount of times I’ve carved into her, or removed her fingernails and teeth before starting on her toes and fingers. I’ve honestly lost count. I have tried every imaginable torture on her. And she hasn’t made one sound in centuries.” He stands up again and walks over to Alina’s unconscious form. “The one time I’ve managed to get this little bird to sing in centuries was when I mentioned I was going after you and her lover boys. Oh, you should have heard her wail then. She started screaming and yelling at me. Threatening to gut me if I dared to harm any of you. I must admit it was insanely comical. She’s tied up for fuck sake, chained with iron. There’s no way she can get to me or Ebris for that matter.” He looks to Ebris with another twisted grin.
“So we decided if we wanted our Little Bird to sing, we needed to hurt her in the only way there is left. Oh, you should have seen her face when I brought these two before her. I have never seen so much anguish in her face. She tried not to cry but I saw it, and her tears tasted as sweet as nectar.” Ebris tilts Alina’s chin up and what I see stills my breath.
Both of her eyes are swollen shut. Slashes cover her face. Her nose is broken and bent at an odd angle. Her mouth hangs open and it’s evident most of her teeth are missing from the way her jaw hangs open. Fresh blood is everywhere, even matted in her hair.
She looks almost unrecognizable, only her fiery hair proves it is Alina hanging there, broken and bruised. Words are stuck in my throat. Curses I want to hurl at them coat my tongue, but nothing comes out.
I don’t see the dagger coming at me until it’s too late. I feel the blade bury deep into my eye socket, twisting once as it’s pulled back out.
With one eye, I stare at my eyeball on the tip of the blade.
I’m in shock.
Then the pain hits me like an avalanche. White hot agonizing pain shoots through me. I go to place my hand over my eye to stem the blood I now know is falling down my cheek, gushing out of the crevice where my eye once was, except my hands are still bound.
“Aww, poor boy, does that hurt?” Vemnos sneers, parading my eyeball around like a kid with a popsicle.
I watch in horror as he places my eyeball into his mouth and bites down hard. The watery fluid squirts out and hits me in the face. He pushes the rest into his mouth and starts chewing with his mouth wide in a grin.
That bastard just ate my eye!
“Mmm, interesting meaty texture with just a touch of salt. I must admit a very tasty treat indeed. I mean it, I’ve tried many body parts over the years and that was just delicious.” He talks with his mouth full, my eyeball now a blob like mess. Just before he swallows, I watch him spit something out.
“The only downside is the cornea and lens are just a bit too chewy for my liking. Although, I could easily go for another one. Its taste reminds me of salted popcorn.” Vemnos starts moving closer to me again, the blade angled at my one remaining eye.
I notice Ebris edging nearer as well, a sinister grin pulling his skin tight. Once he is in front of me, I can make out his features clearer. His yellow eyes and hollow face remind me of an old sick man, yet his eyes reveal a cunning and evil soul lives within, if he even has a soul. His stagnant breath invades my nostrils and makes my eye water. He surveys my face looking for something, but I don’t know what.
“Now, you listen here, pretty boy, and you better listen good. Let your little bitch know the next time Vemnos finds her, he will not only gut her but everyone she cares about. I don’t fucking care if you have a pet unicorn, we are Gods and you are nothing but toys for our amusement.” He yanks my head back, painfully pulling my hair at the roots. The pain where my eye used to be fades to nothing as my heart beats so fast, I fear it will burst out.
Vemnos places the blade at my throat, mimicking the action he used to kill me. “You were lucky last time. Believe me I won’t make the same mistake again.” He moves the dagger away from my throat and points it at my eye. I swallow a huge lump in my throat. My stomach turns and I fear I may hurl my guts up.
“Send Alina my regards,” he snarls before slamming the blade deep into my remaining eye and everything goes black.
I shoot up in my bed, sweat pouring down my back, my eyes not fully adjusting to the room's darkness. Wait a minute.
My eyes?
I reach up to feel my eye sockets, expecting to feel emptiness, instead I poke myself in the eye. Ow! Fuck! They’re still there. My breathing begins to even out a little. I fall forward, placing my head in my hands. It was just a dream. Yet it felt so real. Was it a dream though? It felt more like my vision. Except this time, I wasn’t in the safety of the vortex, I was in the storm.
What does it mean? Are they after Alina? What for? I’m sure she could probably easily kill them given the chance. Why would they even want to mess with her?
Too many questions bound around my head and I feel the beginnings of a severe headache forming. Scrubbing my hands back over my face and hair, I let out a shaky breath. There’s no way I’m getting back to sleep now. I throw back the covers and carefully maneuver myself off the bed. Grabbing a pair of sweatpants, I gingerly pull them on.
I still feel lightheaded and nauseous, but at least it has eased off slightly since I went to sleep. I know I need more rest, but the headache is getting worse. Maybe some painkillers will help? Even if I could get back to sleep, I’m not sure I would really want to.
ALINA
Staring at the steaming cup of cocoa as if the milky brown liquid holds the answers to the universe is a weird se
nsation. How many times have I gone up against, this, Vemnos creature? How many times have I been caught, tortured, and murdered over the centuries? Definitely too often. Yet, I’m sitting here in a warm comforting kitchen safe for the first time since, I can’t remember.
I’m not sure how long I am safe for, probably not long. But something just feels right about being here, in this house, on this farm. Hell, even with Killian and Shadow, damn I mean Galen.
How did I not know he was really a man? How could I not tell from our conversations? Especially considering what a perv he is.
“What are you still doing up?” Killian queries, startling me. I look up to see him standing in the doorway in just a pair of sweatpants.
My goodness he’s a beautiful man.
All lean muscles, hardened and toned from working on the farm. A light sheen of sweat covering his torso. His wavy hair flattened against his head. And those eyes. Dark chocolate orbs stare back at me, a small smile faint on his lips.
Damn, I was caught staring.
Ever since the innocent kiss and hug he gave me earlier, I felt like I was on high alert. I mean, it’s probably left-over energy from everything that’s happened today as well, but for the first time I seem to notice him more. He’s handsome, that’s for sure, but he’s also kind, caring, compassionate, and brave, even if he’s a little reckless with his decisions. But I stand by my decision from earlier. I cannot risk his safety again and the closer he gets to me, the more likely it will be he’ll get hurt again. And what would happen if Galen and I weren’t there to help him? It’s better to keep my distance. Better to keep him safe.
I’m still staring.
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I offer him a small smile in return. “I couldn’t sleep. I remembered you had some cocoa powder, so I thought maybe a cup of hot cocoa would help me relax,” I shrug, taking a sip of the warm liquid. “Would you like some? It wouldn’t take me long to make.”
Echoes of the Past (The Alina Chronicles Book 1) Page 16