“In that case,” Sasha shrugged off her jerkin and began to pull her shirt over her head. Alice felt herself go bright red and Sasha laughed happily, “What? Come on, it’s a beautiful pool to go swimming in and like everything else here, it has its own secrets.” She watched open mouthed and flustered as Sasha pulled the rest of her clothing off to stand naked before turning and walking into the pool. Gods, she looks Alice began to think before shaking her head. No, I cannot think that way, I cannot.
“Come on,” shouted Sasha and Alice shook her head. I can’t do this she thought as the young woman swam out into the middle of the pool and waited for her. “The water is perfect. You wanted to know what life as a Walker was like. Well, this is part of it. Come on Alice, please. I’ve never felt comfortable enough to share this spot with anyone else.”
Heart racing she began to undress. “Don’t look,” she shouted and a part of her hoped that she would be ignored. With shaking hands, she pulled her clothes off and wrapped her arms around her naked body. I am not ashamed she told herself yet even as Sasha trod water, her back to her, she felt her body flame red.
Leaving her clothing on the bank she pushed her foot into the water. It was cool, but as her skin contacted the water she felt a curious warmth seep into her leg. “Are you in?” she heard Sasha shout and carefully Alice waded further in. The sweat and aching muscles of the trek here disappeared as the water lapped around her skin.
“This is crazy,” she shouted and watched as Sasha turned round to face her. “The water is cold but it feels warm.” Giggling she waded further in, dropped her arms to let the water swirl around her fingers.
“No one knows why. Not my family, not my mother.” Sasha moved closer and then gasped as Alice, laughing madly, splashed water at her.
“You!” Alice heard the young Walker woman gasp and then they were splashing each other with water, sending spray up into the heavens and laughing hilariously. Alice was laughing so much she did not notice Sasha swim up to her, not until she felt a hand on her hip. The look in Sasha’s eyes was predatory and yet so very vulnerable and she lost her breath as the young woman pressed closer. Skin against skin, flesh against flesh she saw the green eyes and streak of white hair that had haunted her dreams.
Trembling fingers pressed against her cheek and the feeling of warmth intensified throughout her body. Trembling she felt breath batter at her lips as Sasha whispered, “We are meant to be together Alice. You do not walk away like so many others. Everything within me screams at me to kiss you, and I think you feel the same.”
Gods, is this happening? What do I do? Her heart thundered as an arm slipped around her back pulling her closer and then lips, gentle and soft pressed against hers. She went still, desperately trying to figure out the right thing to do even as her body took over and lips parted to allow a tongue to lick at the inside of her lips slowly. The hand against her cheek slipped around to cup the back of her neck, fingers sliding into her long blond hair and for a moment all she could think of was the blissful touch of the young woman against her.
I’ve never been touched like this, she thought. Panic rose up engulfing her and with it came the fear. Fear that her father would be disappointed in her. Fear that she would lose her soul to the Walker woman after all. Fear that everyone would find out that she was even more different than before and she would be just as lonely as Sasha was. “I can’t,” she breathed and then more violently, “No, I can’t!”
“Why?” The pain in Sasha’s eyes was more than she could bear and she felt tears begin to fall from her eyes.
Turning she fled for shore, feeling guilty, feeling wrong and shouting “I’m sorry,” she grabbed her clothes and ran into the forest, away from the choice she couldn’t make and the woman who called out her name.
Chapter 21
What have I done? Alice stumbled through the forest pulling her clothes on. She could still feel the feel of Sasha’s naked skin against hers, as bright and dangerous as a razor against her throat. She could still feel lips pressed against hers, breath pounding against her cheek and the guilty shame she felt deep inside because she wanted more.
“Alice, wait!” She could hear Sasha calling for her as she struggled through a forest that seemed to want to block her. Blinking back tears she pulled on her shirt and pushed through nettles, their stings a welcome relief from what she felt inside. “Alice, please stop,” The voice was closer, more urgent and it drove her onwards. “Alice!” she heard the Walker scream, desperation in her voice and she felt that desperation in her own heart.
Why, why did she have to kiss me? That thought fell away into a maelstrom as her body flushed at the memory still. Blood pounded in her head as she remembered the feel of Sasha against her hands. For one bright shining moment, she had felt the world open up to her, felt the forest singing a joy that was dwarfed by her own. I can’t be anything but her friend she thought as her vision became clouded with the tears she could no longer hold back.
Something hit her and she went flying to the ground. “Alice, where are you?” Sasha’s voice echoed in the forest. “Alice!” she heard the woman scream again in panic and groggily she raised her head to say something.
Her heart screamed as a hand clamped over her mouth and a familiar ugly voice whispered in her ear. “It’s time to come home, Alice.” Aiden’s rough brutish hands pulled her up and she gasped as rag was thrust into her mouth before she could utter a word. “You think your Walker friends are the only ones who know this forest. I too have spent my time under these trees and I am not afraid of them. Now it is time you came home to become my betrothed.”
Shaking her head Alice screamed behind the rag as Aiden picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. “You have been given too much independence woman. We will soon change that. You will learn how to be a good wife soon enough. Everyone learns who has the power if you beat them enough and after you have a litter of squalling brats to look after you will not have enough time to complain.” Branches whipped against her as he carried her easily through the trees. “Say goodbye to your friends Alice. You’re never seeing them again.”
No, she screamed behind the rag in her mouth and she began to struggle. Sasha, she shouted but the ugly rag took her words away. She felt Aiden’s thick hands on her legs, holding them still as she dangled over his shoulder. Her eyes could see the forest floor and for a moment hope flared. He is leaving prints, she will follow and she said they can track me by scent. Come nightfall they will know where I am. They will save me, she will save me.
Then she felt tears threatening her once more. Why would she come for me? I rejected her and she saw fear in my eyes, fear of her. I’m the same as everyone else now. Just another she felt something for who rejected her affections. Gods, what have I done? One by one the tears began to flow and she watched as they dropped onto the ground, like raindrops they fell and like raindrops they were equally as impotent to change her situation.
For what seemed an eternity they traveled through the forest. Aiden moved easily, carrying her weight seemingly effortlessly until finally, he dropped her onto the ground with a thud that sent pain through her body. Reaching down he pulled the rag from her mouth and smiled an arrogant smile. “We are far enough away that those disgusting people will not hear you. Now, come. From here you can walk and when we get back to the village we can burn those stupid clothes. They make you look like a man.”
“You will not touch these clothes. They were presents to me and I will keep them.” She said it automatically from a mouth that was dry and scratchy and then felt a spark of fear as his hand raised against her.
Then he smiled and shook his head. Lowering his hand he laughed. It was the laugh of a little boy who pulled the wings of flies as he squatted by her side. “No, no one must think you are beaten into this. I will wait until we are wed. Then none will gainsay me if I need to discipline my new bride and her overeager mouth. You will learn girl, you will learn.” Reaching down he grabbed her wrist and started t
o pull her through the forest. “Come on. The sooner we are back the sooner we can sign the betrothal agreement.”
“Aiden, I will never agree to that and neither will my father. When he hears of this he will be livid. You have lost the goodwill of your healer. Your rule is doomed before it begins Aiden.” Then she softened her voice. “Let me go and I will tell my father you acted under some malady of the brain. I will speak on your behalf I promise.”
“A lot has changed in the few days that you have been gone, girl.” His words sent fear spiraling through her.
“What have you done to my father?” She started to tug at his grip, “Tell me!” and with a snarl, he threw her to the ground.
“Your father is alive, girl. Whether that remains true is up to you.” Shaking his head she saw an ugly red fall over his face. “You think just because you have been taught herbs that you have power over us. That we should just let you spit on the traditions of our village, our people? You are nothing Alice, do you hear me?” Suddenly apoplectic with rage he bent over and shouted “Nothing!” in her face.
Reaching down for her she felt his hand grip her arm painfully pulling her to her feet. “Your only worth is in the children you can give me. After you have done that I will no more touch you than I would a snake. You disgust me but you will do your duty to me or by the gods I will end you.”
Turning her began pulling her and she cried out in pain as she was pulled along. “You never understood, did you. No one trusts a healer who walked out of his own wife’s funeral and there have long been suspicions that he did not honor the Celestials. Then he sends his only daughter to the Walkers, servants of the Undergods no less! We have sent for another healer and with him will come a witch hunter to judge your father.”
He turned and sneered in her face. “Even if the witch hunter decides your father is merely mad and not a servant of evil he will have no way to ply his trade. He will become destitute. Only my goodwill as headman will keep him alive and that goodwill will depend on you girl so you had better come to terms with what is happening.”
“We could leave then. Yours is not the only village that needs a healer. We could go and you would never have to see us again. You would rid the village of us both and have everything your way.” Alice tugged at the hand holding her and she felt the grip tighten. “Aiden, there are girls in the village who would jump at being your wife. They would want the security and the family you could provide. Surely one of them would be better than me who wants neither? What sort of marriage would you have to me? We would have one that was filled with anger and hate, not love and compassion.”
“The village girls spread their legs for me easy enough. But you know that don’t you since they come crawling to you for help. How many problems have you made disappear so that they marry in good conscience? How many girls have come to you weeping? Those are the girls you would have the headman marry, village whores that will lie with me for the chance of snaring a good marriage?”
She watched terrified as he shook his head. “No. Love is a lie girl. It doesn’t exist. So why not marry the one girl who always rebuffed me. You always thought I wasn’t good enough for you. Thought you were better me just because you know what some stupid plants do. I watched you, the days you went into the forest to collect herbs for your father. You always came back with a smile, a smile that you never gave me. Well, say goodbye to your damn forest as well. When I have taken over from my father fully we will begin lumbering there again. Taking the trees at the forest edge we will clear space and expand our little village and become something greater.”
Dear Celestials! He is mad. Her whole body shook as she realized how far gone Aiden was. “Aiden,” she whispered, “I can help you if you let me. There are herbs that will ease your pain.”
“My pain,” He threw back his head and laughed madly. “You want to help me know Alice because you think me mad but I am not. I see things clearer than the rest of you that is all. Our little village needs a strong hand and I will be that strong hand I promise you. Things are changing Alice. I can feel it in the air. You can either be a part of it, or you can suffer like the rest.”
“Aiden you can’t break the churches rule about the forest,” She began but he turned back once more, his face red and angry. He spat on the ground and then began pulling her again.
“I can do anything I want. What? Do you believe that old story about the green lady? For a woman who thinks she is better than everyone else you never realized that was just a tale to keep people away from the Walkers. Do not worry though. The Walkers will soon find a forest that is scattered with wolf traps greeting them.”
No! She gasped at his words and he turned smiling evilly. “Oh yes, I know all about their “Gift” and what they can do. I wonder if they remain a wolf if they die in that shape. I would like a Walker skin on my cabin wall as a prize.” Then he stared into her eyes and she saw the madness swimming in his own. “Maybe a black pelt with silver,” he whispered.
“I will kill you if you hurt her.” The words fell from her lips without thinking, poisons swimming in her thoughts.
His hand raised then and he brought it down. Slapping her lightly he smiled with happiness. “Oh, I know enough to not eat or drink anything you will make me until you are broken. Do not worry though Alice. Breaking you will not take long. Especially now I know your weakness. Will it be your father or your love? Which will die if you do not do what I wish?”
“I'm sorry Sasha. Your mother was so very right. A beast was hunting me all along.” But her words fell on deaf ears as she was pulled through the forest. Stumbling, her feet tripped over roots and branches but Aiden did not slow down or stop and for hours they walked until finally the tree line broke and she saw her home once more.
“It’s time to face your responsibilities, Alice,” Pulling her from the forest Aiden dragged her across clear open ground to the amusement of the few village guards who watched.
Pulled through the village gate she turned, took one last look back at the forest. Then she was gone, pulled through the gate as a pair of startling green eyes peeked from the trees. Then they settled down to wait.
Chapter 22
She was thrown to the ground and heard the village guards laugh roughly. “You got her then sir,” she heard one say whilst the other spat on the ground. “Whore doesn’t deserve to live here after consorting with those devils.” Dusk made the words harder, more vicious and she felt a sense of shame that she knew she did not deserve.
Looking up she saw nothing but judgment in the guard’s eyes and looked around, expecting to see villagers, people she had spent her entire life with staring at her with the same disgust, but the village was strangely empty. “Aiden,” she whispered through a dry mouth, “Where is everyone?”
“Your father has brought a plague down upon us with his refusal to worship the Celestials girl. If it was up to me, you would both burn for that!” The guard backed up his muttered words with eyes that were sullen and she shook her head.
Getting to her feet she faced the guard. “Martyn, you have known me my entire life. We have served this village faithfully healing your ills. You know we would not do this.” She looked at the guard in fear and saw nothing but hatred in his gaze.
From behind her, she heard Aiden whispering in her ear, “Fear is a funny thing, Alice. You can mold it to your will if you know the right things to say. They needed a target and I gave them one and all it took was one day.” Raising his voice he shouted “Go to your home whore! Tell your father we will be around tomorrow to sign the marriage contracts.” Then his lips turned into a crooked sneer. “And just remember, don’t try and escape back to your Walker friends. If you do, there will be no one here to protect your precious father,”
The threat hung heavy in the air and she shook her head spilling her blond hair around her like the fire he promised. “I will not leave here again without him,” she whispered, fear heavy in her voice. “I promise you that.”
Getting
to her feet she ran through the village, uncaring that her clothes marked her out as different or the stares of those few villagers who saw her. Fear made her blood pound as she ran and rushing to her home she burst through the door and shouted “Father!”
Her home was dark and gloomy and she frowned. “Father,” she called again and felt a whisper of relief when she heard him reply.
“I am here,” she heard his voice and saw his form hobble towards her from the gloom. “I prayed you would not return, but now they have us both and I fear for your safety.” He took another stumbling step forward and he sighed. “I promised your mother I would not let this village be the end of you. I fear now that you are here, I have failed.”
As he appeared she gasped as she saw him fully. Her father’s once cheerful face had become doleful and pained and as he moved he bent slightly, his hand held at his side. “Father, what have they done to you?”
She watched as he walked gingerly towards a chair and she pulled it out for him. Sitting he sighed and she shook her head. “I have only been gone for a couple of days. They could not have turned so completely against you in that time? Aiden said there is a plague? Surely then they should be asking for your help, not turning against you?”
Gingerly he reached for her and cupped her face. At his touch, she felt another’s and blushed as the memory burned hot in her mind. “Alice, you have to listen to me,” Dropping his hand he breathed heavily and groaned and instantly she was by his side.
“Father, let me look,” she insisted but he pushed her away. “It is a broken rib. I set it the best I could but I feel old Alice. I fear it will take a long time to heal. Listen to me though. You must get away from here, leave, go back to the Walkers and beg to travel with them, even if it is just to another village. Do whatever it takes but get away from here. Aiden was right, there is a plague and we cannot heal it. They are afraid and Aiden stokes that fear for his own ends.”
Wolf Heart: Moon Born book 1 Page 13