by Stacy Lee
Chapter Ten
Drip-Drip-Drip
I jump to my feet and immediately reach for the candle. A hand snakes out grabbing my throat and pinning me to the wall. I slam my eyes shut as pain threatens to split my head in two from it bouncing off the wall.
Xavier! I scream mentally.
“Look at me!” Raider hollers at me.
“No!” I shout. He slams me against the wall again, pain erupting down my entire backside, my unformed wigs twisting and flattening against the rock in awkward angles allowing the jutting stone to gouge into my skin, still I keep my eyes closed.
“This has gone on long enough.” He bellows in my face.
“You aren’t my Kindred! You already killed your Kindred. I will not replace her! I don’t know what you’re doing but it won’t work.” I gasp out through his tightening grip. Placing my hands on the rock wall I search for the power.
“Aww, so my son has been talking. How does he feel knowing I am going to take you away from him?” He asks with pure joy dripping from his tongue. I keep quiet as the power lays dormant behind the walls. I push my senses further searching for red or blue but am almost positive it will be red in this place. “If you come for your father I will kill Xavier. Is that what you want? Do you really want to force me to kill my own son?”
“You are too much of a coward to kill him yourself. Commanding the Ranoy to do your dirty work for you isn’t how a Phranoy warrior should fight. You will be the one to die, not Xavier.” I spit out. His grip tightens further cutting off my air supply completely.
“Don’t threaten me child. You have no clue who you are dealing with!” He growls mere millimeters from my ear. Giving up my search for the power I grab at his hand as my lungs burn from lack of oxygen. Against my will my eyes pop open. He is immediately in my sight. His grip loosens as the bond tries to take hold. With one gulp of air I force them to close once more as I’m sucked from the room.
“NOOOOOO!” His guttural cry follows me out.
“Sam!” Axel’s voice screams at me as he shakes me.
“I’m….. awake.” I gasp out trying to catch my breath.
“What did he hurt this time?” Xavier bites out behind Axel. Panting I wave his question away. “Sam! What did he do?” He shouts at me causing me pause to study him. He was pacing, his jaw tight, his hands clasped behind his back, a soldier if I ever saw one.
“It doesn’t matter, Xavier. He didn’t break me, that’s all that matters.” I say carefully as I meet Axel’s eyes. His concern was evident in the violet pools of worry. “We need to get to my father. I can’t last much longer against him. My magic doesn’t work there.” I state. I’m mainly talking to Axel because he will know what I mean but keep to the edited version for Xavier.
“Very well. Let’s pack it up and head out. The desert is still a day away.” Axel says as he stands and leaves the room. Xavier comes to the bed and sits beside me. His eyes search my face then stop on my neck. His features harden then he abruptly stands and leaves the room.
I collapse back on the bed only to jump back up when pain flares from my head to my toes. With a sigh I stand up and grab the bag. There was no sense in looking, I couldn’t see it anyway. Making sure I have everything I leave the room and wait for the boys in the hallway.