“Forgot the Hounds could jump planes,” Wolfgang grimaced running a hand through his damp hair.
“Only if there is a strong enough scent. Let’s put as much distance between them and us as possible,” Arthur said, moving through the marshes with ease, making the rest of the group jealous.
“At this pace, we might be a day ahead already,” Klara said. While Wolfgang helped Lottie tie up her wet hair, she could feel Arthur glaring at her.
“What?” Klara asked as he caught up to her.
“They aren’t used to this much pressure.”
“You want me to give them a break?” Klara asked, and he tilted his head.
Klara lifted her feet, as they sunk deeper into the mud. “They can take a break when they’re dead.”
Klara looked to Wolfgang who was already staring at her. From the stone expression, his heightened hearing meant he had heard her. “If they want to survive, then they need to do as I say,” Klara said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
“We are well able to ensure our survival,” Wolfgang said, moving past Klara and Arthur with Lottie on his back. “Don’t forget who saved your life back there.”
Wolfgang mocked a bow, “Am I to serve you now Heiress? Least I won’t have to for long since you are abandoning Malum.”
“What did you just say to me?” Klara reared up their face’s inches apart. “Who knows where your loyalties lie. Why should I trust a mangy Lycaon?”
“My pack burnt for you and their loyalty to your Father, and you were going to abandon them.”
Klara felt the heat of his breath on her.
“It was my mangy pack that came to your aid if I had known you were a coward that let your people burn, I would have turned you over.”
That’s why he had been in the Forest. They were searching for me to help me. Klara clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as her inherited paranoia got the best of her. “You still could betray me, and the High Queen will reward you.”
“Not any point now is there?”
“And why is that?”
“I have no pack left to save.”
The tension was thicker than the humid air.
“Please don’t fight,” Lottie pleaded, holding Arthur’s hand. Anger tore through Klara, but it was true. She was abandoning the Forest. Klara took a step back, and she saw his eyes drop to her lips as they stood inches apart.
“Once we get to Kalos, I’ll spare you from ever having to see me again.”
“We have enough to face without you two at each other’s throats,” Arthur stood between them. “Hate each other all you want but if you want to see the other side of the border than I suggest you put your differences aside.”
“Why are they so mad?” Lottie asked.
“Grown-up stuff,” Arthur said, and she wrinkled her nose, “they aren’t grown-ups, and mom says being mad is bad for the soul.” Klara couldn’t help but smile.
“When they come Mom and dad will be mad at you for fighting,” Lottie said, popping a thumb between her pale lips. Wolfgang’s face fell and Klara no longer wanted to argue. She thinks her parents are waiting for them. A hopeful smile reached Lottie’s bright eyes.
“We moving or what?” Wolfgang said. Unable to hide the pity she felt, she nodded in agreement. She didn’t envy the task of having to tell Lottie that their parents weren’t waiting for them.
x
The marshes and air began to clear the further into the Neutral Lands they travelled. The stench of rot was left behind them. The ground firmed up, and the trees stood tall and full.
Arthur and Wolfgang carefully matched Klara’s steps after their earlier incident.
Klara stood in steady streams of sunlight coming through the trees, nothing but pure warmth on her skin. The sun didn’t feel this good on Malum’s side of the River. Storm clouds forever shaded the sun only in rare moments would Klara catch the beams.
“Wait,’ the shout startled Klara before she could react Wolfgang held her waist pulling her against him. “Really can’t keep your paws off me,” Klara scolded.
“More like I’d like to keep you in one piece.”
Klara followed his gaze to where she was about to plant her foot—a trap. Metal jaws peered out from the leaves and soil. A snatch, it would take the foot or paw of any Creature that came into contact with it.
“I didn’t see it,” Klara said as Wolfgang removed his arm from her waist. The tormented look on Arthur’s face told her that he had missed it as well.
“You wouldn’t have known to look for it. The Border Fae like to lay them where they think refugees are likely to converge.”
The thought of the Fae mutilating those trying to flee made her blood run cold. “Makes you think what the Fae would do to us if they caught us,” Wolfgang reasoned. “This land doesn’t even belong to them and yet they resort to such tactics,” Arthur seemed surprised.
“They don’t want Creatures from Malum overwhelming the border,” Klara told them.
“Can you reveal the traps if you touch the ground like on the road before?” Wolfgang asked.
“I could, but the treaty doesn’t allow magic to be used in the Neutral Lands. If I do, it would be a beacon to both the Fae and Abadan”.
“Maybe I should take point then,” Wolfgang said.
Staring at the snatch, Klara had no choice but to trust him. He has probably spent his life looking for such traps.
Demons used such devices to trap Creatures to force them into making a deal, but Klara expected as much from Demons, not the Fae.
Klara moved back to Arthur, “still think you would have been better off without them?”
“All right old man, that’s enough from you.”
Klara only hoped the strength of the River’s curse and Lilith’s potion had masked some of her use of power. She figured it must have. Otherwise, the Hounds would be chewing on their bones right about now.
“Any direction I should be heading in?” Wolfgang asked.
“South. The border checks are few and far between the further we travel from the Kalion capital.”
“And you know this how?” Wolfgang asked looking over his broad shoulder.
“Informants, I had allies at one point. Even if that is hard for you to believe.” She didn’t want another argument, and from his lack of response, she gathered he didn’t either.
Klara hoped that her information was still valid. The last scout she had paid to venture over to this side wasn’t the most reliable. Those who dared the crossing were often spies from Kharon and offered free passage for information. Klara didn’t want them to sense her doubt, so she retained her steady pace.
“My foot!” Lottie cried out a little too loudly.
Klara froze waiting for Fae and traps to spring out and end their journey. After a moment, there was nothing but the faint whistle of the wind in the height of the trees. Klara freed Lottie’s foot from a covered bog while Wolfgang searched the thinning trees for any approaching threat.
“Thanks,” Lottie said quietly like a lost lamb. Klara could feel the claws threatening to break through as Wolfgang perceived a threat. “She’s fine,” Klara told Wolfgang, and she sensed his relief.
“You need to be quiet, okay?” Klara said. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to be loud.” Klara could see the tears gather in Lottie’s eyes. “Can you stand up?”
Lottie nodded through sniffles and pulled herself up.
“One step at a time and we’ll all be fine.” Klara ruffled Lottie’s frizzy hair trying to soothe her.
Lottie held up her sodden boot and attempted to pull it back on. Klara took the boot and smacked it against a tree to get off the large clumps.
“I’ll carry her, just in case…” Wolfgang said as Klara put on Lottie’s boot. Lottie’s unicorn backpack looked like a ton weight as her small shoulders slumped forwards.
He’s spoiling her. How does he expect her to survive if he is constantly aiding her? Klara would never have asked to be carried. It would certa
inly never have been offered. The only time she’d been carried was when she was too exhausted and beaten to stand after training. If Lilith were in a particularly cruel mood, Klara would have to crawl back to her room while Lilith walked beside her until she reached her sky door. All because she couldn’t let Klara pass out on the cold stone floors, what would the King say if the Heir were to get sick.
“What would guests say if they saw you lying about?” Eve would have said at such a sight.
Wolfgang crouched on the ground and Klara didn’t know what possessed her, but she found herself walking towards Lottie.
“I’ll take her, if you get caught in a trap she might get thrown and set off a bigger trap.”
The siblings stared at her, and Wolfgang’s eyes lingered suspiciously, as she secured her double-headed axe to her front. Klara took Lottie up onto her back in a swift motion, making Lottie giggle. Klara could sense Lottie’s innocence emanating from her.
“Are you going to stare at me or the traps?” Klara scolded both Arthur and Wolfgang. Wolfgang winked at Lottie over Klara’s shoulder, “Maybe you should carry her,” Klara warned, and they both turned and continued to search the ground for traps.
Wolfgang tossed branches into the spiked snatches hoping to save the next poor Creature from losing a paw or foot. Klara hadn’t even thought to destroy the traps, but Wolfgang refused to leave them functioning. Maybe Lycaons weren’t all heart chomping monsters the Queens had described. Klara could see Abadan’s smile in the flames of the Lycaon Caves, remembering how the High Queen hated the packs’ strength and community. One word from her cruel lips and she had wiped them out.
“Are we going to stop for each one?” Klara asked as the jaws of a trap snapped shut, scattering the leaves concealing it. “Yes.”
“This is why Abadan hated your kind, your morals.” Klara didn’t mean to sound like she felt the same.
“Do share what the High Queen thinks of us?” Wolfgang said. Klara came face to face with his chest as he turned sharply, before returning back to the path ahead.
“Abadan felt you didn’t serve as well because you had minds of your own. Hounds follow orders and don’t get sidetracked.”
“Hounds are bred to hunt souls. We are born. We think, eat and hunt. We served in the King’s war when called. We have served in the Human World, protected Humans and aided those who wished to escape Malum. There is more honour in one of our claws than in your twisted family,” Wolfgang argued.
Klara ignored the family comment. She didn’t know why she was picking a fight. “You may have served but never without question. When given orders, your Alphas always had to agree to follow through. Abadan wanted you all caged and trained to obey. She couldn’t handle the strength within her Forest.”
“There must be some reason she didn’t try to wipe out the caves sooner.”
Wolfgang didn’t say anything, so Klara continued.
“The King would have been pissed, but a few false charges and he wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow,” Klara hated to think so little of her Father, but as she stood ankle-deep in mud, she knew who put her in this position.
“Abadan has some allies in the packs, and some deem her a necessary evil or simply fear her,” Wolfgang said, letting out a low growl. “But wipe us out? Abadan underestimates our Alphas. They can withstand the strongest magic. Once we turn, we can’t be compelled by magic. Only our Human form is weakest.”
“That’s why the High Queen burnt your reserve and trapped your people in the caves. She didn’t need magic only good timing.” Klara’s response was silent, but Wolfgang looked through her as if he heard every word. “Did you agree with her?”
Wolfgang sidestepped another trap and Klara kicked a rock into its mouth before Wolfgang could get to it. “Did you agree with her?”
“Yes and no,” Klara admitted, if they were going to trust each other, she needed to be honest. Wolfgang waited for her to continue when she was sure he was going to jump down her throat. “Not with the burning of the caves, that should never have happened,” she clarified.
“We will rebuild, there will be others out there hiding.” Wolfgang said, as if he were trying to convince himself.
“Your strength comes from your community, but the different packs and Alphas rarely agree when called to serve. I’ve read the histories and packs often fought each other instead of working together.”
“So, you know everything about our culture because you read a book?”
“No, but to improve relations, I would have promoted Alphas into the King’s council. That way there wouldn’t have been so much hostility between the Commanders and the Alphas. If an Alpha proved themself, they could be promoted, maybe become a Commander and command a legion containing both Lycaon and Demon.”
An Alpha Commander. The thought was terrifying, but Klara knew they would make an outstanding ally.
“Commanders like to think of themselves as above,” Wolfgang shook his head.
“Don’t Alphas?” Klara countered.
“To a point but their job is to protect not just command.”
Klara thought of Frendall, wondered if he was alive if Father had gone to him. If he was safe. The feel of his lips on hers brought her fingers to her lips.
Klara jumped as a hand grazed her shoulder and Wolfgang cocked his head to the side. “Did you hear me?” he said, dropping his hand.
“Sorry, what did you say?”
“An Alpha Commander. The council would have risen against you for even thinking of promoting one of Malums beasts.” Wolfgang winked at Lottie and Lottie stuck out her tongue at the private joke.
“If it meant securing the Forest and ridding Malum of the Queens, I would do it. If someone had an issue, I would get rid of them. I wouldn’t play politics as my Father has grown to.”
“You have some allies on the council to support you?”
Klara threw a stick deactivating another trap, “One, maybe,” she said as the trap snapped shut.
“And where are they now?” He asked, and Klara looked to Arthur. Lilith would never have been able to reach Frendall and warn him in time.
“I don’t know.”
“But you care about him?” Wolfgang asked, looking at his sister with deep concern. “How did you know it’s a him?” She frowned.
“You just told me.”
It was a simple trick, and Klara couldn’t help but smile.
“It doesn’t matter now, I’m sure he is somewhere safe,” she said, wondering whose side Frendall would be standing on. “Why are we even talking about this? I will never take over Malum or Hell,” Klara told him.
“Not even to protect someone else?” His voice low.
The thought of Frendall’s screams filling her Father’s corridors as the Torturers went to work made her bones ache.
“If it were your council surely you would keep some loyal to the King?” Klara didn’t know why he insisted on carrying on the conversation.
“Most are corrupt.” Klara thought of Lokey smuggling over the less fortunate. He might be doing good, but it came at a price. No good deed was free or went unpunished in Malum. If Abadan had found her at the River, it meant the High Queen could have found Lokey and his pregnant wife.
Lost in thought, Klara crashed into Wolfgang as he stilled. She opened her mouth to speak, but he held up his hand, his head snapping left and right as they waited in silence. They moved behind the bushes close by. Klara couldn’t see what he saw, not without using her powers.
Wolfgang held a finger to his lips, Klara was about to protest, when she saw them. A family. They were following the disengaged snatches. The Centaur at the front of the five, paused as the tracks ended.
Klara feared that Wolfgang would stop them from moving ahead into live snatches. Wolfgang went to stand, but that’s when Klara saw it. Klara gripped Wolfgang’s arm, she tried to project a message into his mind, but there was a block she couldn’t get through. Luckily without her magic, Wolfgang stopped as he saw th
e red vertical line that ran the length of the elder Centaur’s exposed forearm.
The silver-bearded Centaur was one of Abadan’s supporters.
Judging from the bags on the Centaurs' bare backs, they were fleeing. Klara crouched down further careful not to lose her balance with Lottie on her back.
“They must have used a Demon’s portal to get across the Styx,” Arthur whispered.
The family might be fleeing, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t turn her in for a price and a loyal supporter would know precisely who Klara was with one look.
The family hurried off in another direction. Klara felt her chest heave as she took a breath. “How did you know they were behind us?”
“I heard them, and I could smell the evil,” Wolfgang’s jaw tightened as they moved on at a quicker pace. The threat of almost being seen renewing the sense of danger around them.
The ability to smell evil. She could sense fear, danger and those with malicious intent, but she couldn’t blanket what she sensed as simply evil as Wolfgang had. Maybe he is biased from the red line of loyalty the Centaur bore.
“What do I smell like?” Klara asked, and Wolfgang rolled his eyes to the heavens as the group came out from their hiding place.
“You smell nice,” Lottie said, and Klara was sure that wasn’t true considering the amount of running they had been doing.
“You smell like sad flowers.”
Klara wasn’t sure how she was supposed to take that.
She might be part Angel, but that didn’t mean she didn’t sweat.
“I wouldn’t trust her untrained senses,” Wolfgang smirked under his breath, and Klara noticed the exposed dimples on his cheeks. Arthur clapped his shoulder for his comment.
“If not sad flowers, what do I smell like?” Klara wondered what she smelt like to other sensory Creatures and Lottie hummed for a moment as she thought it over.
“Clouds,” Wolfgang said before his sister, and Klara laughed, a full belly laugh that felt foreign in her body.
“Clouds? How do you know what clouds smell like?”
Wolfgang didn’t offer any further explanation.
“I didn’t realize Lycaons could fly.”
“Like fresh rain!” Lottie beamed as she pushed her head forwards, making them ear to ear.
Crowned A Traitor: A Hellish Fairytale Page 19