The Haret (The Haret Series) (27 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

             
Felicitas saw the shadow. It slithered across the ground darting here and there like a blood hound sniffing for the scent. The other side must know by now the girls had escaped, the searching shadow was proof.

             
Esther whispered nonstop while they lay under the fallen trunk. Mostly about Reed and how in the world he would be here caught up in all of this instead of at the homecoming dance which made her thrilled to know he hadn’t actually asked anyone to go with him. Only Esther could for one minute be bound and headed towards certain execution and in the next minute be so enthralled about a guy as if the harrowing experience had never even occurred.

             
“Esther.” Felicitas interrupted her story.

             
“They know we escaped. They are searching for us. We are not out of the woods yet…literally.”

             
She looked puzzled.

             
“How do you know that?”

             
“There are shadows lurking about. They are telling the drakes where we are. I just saw one.”

             
She sniffed into the air.

             
“Smell that?”

             
Esther took a deep breath.

             
“I still can only smell smoke.”

             
“There is sulfur in the air. That’s their smell. I can’t let them find me or the drakes will be here fast.”

             
She saw the fear come back into Esther’s eyes as she clutched the handle of the knife Reed left her.

             
Felicitas heart went out to her and doubted if Esther could actually plunge a knife into someone’s heart. Felicitas never thought she could shoot someone either but two weeks ago when given the opportunity she fired and killed a man and the way she felt tonight she would be able to use the knife with no remorse.

             
“You will be able to do it Esther.” She said reading her mind. “If the situation arises I know you will have the courage.”

             
Esther offered her the knife.

             
“Why don’t you take it instead?”

             
She objected, she knew what she had to do right now and she also knew Esther would object vehemently but she had made her decision the moment she saw Esther lying in the cornfield gasping for air.

             
“Esther, the shadows are looking for me, not you. I love you and I don’t want you hurt again….”

             
“No!” Esther’s whisper was much too loud. “No way in hell am I going to let you…”

             
“Esther.” Felicitas pleaded. “You don’t understand. You have no choice in this. I am moving away from you. Wait for Reed and hopefully whoever is fighting for us will win. I won’t be far. Besides you know our chances of survival are better if we separate. That way one of us can rescue the other.”

             
Esther handed her their only weapon. “At least take the knife.”

             
She refused. “No, they are not allowed to kill me but they will you. Protect yourself okay.”

             
She reached out her hand and touched Esther’s face.

             
“You’re the best and you look beautiful, soot, blood and all and I am sure Reed thinks so too.”

             
She didn’t look back. She climbed out of the small thicket and stayed low to the ground crawling looking for another place to hide. Her view was good and the moon high in the sky was just beginning to wane and gave off more than enough light to maneuver her way through the naked trees. She decided not to go too far away from the battlefield because one thing she did know was that she was now on the friendly side.

This time she cursed the dress and actually contemplated taking it off after all she was wearing beautiful lingerie underneath and despite the frigid temperature outside she didn’t feel the cold anymore. She almost talked herself into it figuring her strapless bra and lace panties were not much different from her bikini she wore all last summer but a sudden movement to her right stopped her from undressing.

              She inched forward toward the trunk of a large tree and plastered herself against it so not to be noticed. The movement continued but was quiet as if someone were creeping up not wanting to be seen. Her heart raced and she prayed the shadows had not already given the drakes her whereabouts.

             
The exchange of gunfire had all but stopped and was replaced by the sound of physical combat and as best as she could tell the fighting was taking place only a few yards away.

             
Another rustling and Felicitas quietly peered around the tree. A silhouette moved through the overgrowth crouching low. No doubt it was an infiltrator from the other side. She shrunk back into the shadow of the trunk and waited. She covered her mouth with her hand so she wouldn’t give herself away with her labored breathing.

             
Instead of coming toward her the figure crouched low in the trees directly in front of her and faced forward. She strained her neck a second time to try and see what he was doing. The figure raised a gun and aimed past the trees. Felicitas lifted herself up higher to try and get a better look and what she saw nearly caused her heart to stop. It was Ian and he had his weapon aimed directly at Reed who was crouched behind a rock reloading his gun. He was planning in shooting him in the back!

             
Her mind raced. Should she yell out a warning? She feared if she did her voice being so hoarse from the fire might not be heard by anyone except Ian. She looked again and Ian was taking his aim.  She searched for a rock, a large stick, anything she could use to disable him. There was nothing and no time to waste searching. She bolted out from behind the safety of the tree and gave a swift kick to the small of Ian’s back the way he had done to Esther when she spoke without his permission.

             
The surprise attack caused his gun to fall and fire drawing Reed’s attention. He whirled around surprised at the shot blast from behind. Ian fell forward but Felicitas didn’t wait to see how much she had disabled him. Instead she turned and ran as fast as she could through the trees. She heard him swearing following close behind. She weaved in and out through the trees running toward the sound of the fighting hoping for help. Once again the cursed dress latched onto a protruding branch and slowed her enough for Ian to pounce on her from behind. He forced her to the ground and rolled on top of her. He pressed his face close to hers, his eyes were manic and he smiled as though he were possessed.

             
“You shouldn’t have done that.”

             
He rolled her over onto her stomach and placed his knee into the small of her back while he pulled her hands behind her. She groaned as pain seared through her spine and she felt as if her arms would break right off her body. He had nothing to bind her with so instead he jerked her up and held her close to him. He placed his hand hard against her mouth to keep her from calling for help. She struggled violently knowing he did not have Esther and couldn’t use that as a threat. Help was only a few feet away and she would fight with every ounce of strength she had left in order to free herself. He was strong but she continued twisting her body and trying to pull her arms free from his tight hold. She kicked him hard but it did nothing more than anger him. He turned her around, let go of her arms and slammed her up against a tree. The blow made her dizzy. He pinned her hands high above her head then gave a forceful punch to her ribs. The air escaped her lungs and she doubled over gasping for a breath. He pulled her off the tree, grabbed a fist full of her hair and pulled her head back. He placed his mouth against her cheek.

             
“You want more of that? Then keep fighting me.”

             
He let go of her hair and pinned her arms behind her back and again he covered her mouth with his hand and began dragging her along.  She hated being captured again but knew if she hadn’t done what she did Reed would have been killed.              

Ian was moving her fast heading to the other side and she knew if she didn’t keep trying to escape she would soon be in the clutches of the drakes all over again. 

              She tried to scream behind his hand but couldn’t make enough noise for anyone to hear. He pressed on her mouth harder at her futile attempt pushing her lips hard into her teeth.

             
The sounds of fighting were now in the distance a few more yards and her chances of escaping would be gone. With the last bit of strength she could muster she tried to wrench away from his grasp.

             
“Let her go Savas.”

             
Ian stopped cold.

             
“Never. I captured her. She is my prisoner.”

             
Felicitas tried to pull loose but Ian held her tight and laughed.

             
“You can’t kill me Raine, you know the rules this isn’t the battleground.”

             
At the name Raine her heart raced. Could it be? Was he here now? Had he escaped? She desperately wanted to see for herself. With renewed strength she struggled against Ian. He gave a mocking laugh.

             
“You want to see your true love Taz?” he whirled her around but still kept his grip on her holding her close.

             
“Take a good look because after tonight, you will never see each other again.”

             
The vision in her dreams stood before her clothed in flesh, tangible and a complete stranger to her yet he stood there dirty and bloodied from the battle and one look from him took her breath away.

             
He took a step toward her and Ian pulled her back.

             
“She’s mine Raine. Look all you want but you will never have her again. I‘ve won.”

             
Raine remained calm and inched closer.

             
“You’ve never had her at all. You lose.”

             
“I’ll hurt her.” Ian warned twisting her wrist so to break it.

             
Rain stopped cold when Felicitas cried out in pain.

             
She tried to catch her breath but the pain shooting through her arm was almost unbearable. She was outraged at their masculine driven banter of I win you lose. She despised being a pawn in their game. And for the first time since hearing the story she became livid at the thought of it all. She had never been asked if she wanted to carry the prophesied child at least not that she remembered, maybe in a dream perhaps but not in real life. She wondered if this Raine fellow was any different than Ian or Savas or whatever his damn name was. For all she knew Raine was an ego driven prince using her to win back his kingdoms rule.  Still she looked at Raine her eyes pleading because right now he was her only hope.

             
“That’s right” Ian said. “I‘ll break every bone in her delicate body.”

             
Felicitas heart sank when she saw three Drakes emerge from the trees and surround them. She struggled against Ian. It couldn’t end this way, not when she was so close to freedom.

             
In a flash Raine threw a knife hitting his target. Ian flinched in pain as the knife embedded itself in his shoulder. He growled and with one hand pulled it out and held the bloody blade against Felicitas throat.

             
“Now that was a mistake.”

             
She held her breath as the knife cut into her flesh. She tried not to swallow for fear of it slicing deeper into her skin.

             
Raine stepped closer.

             
“You can’t kill her Savas so let her go.”

             
“Maybe not now, but I can put a nasty scar on her to remind her of her true loves most foolish act.”

             
He moved the knife to the side of her face digging the point of it near the corner of her eye. Felicitas took in a sharp breath anticipating the tearing of her flesh. A drop of blood trickled down the side of her cheek and she prayed it was from the soiled blade and not from her own torn skin.

             
Raine stepped closer and she felt the knife cut through her flesh. Her head felt light and the forest began to spin around her.

             
“You’re hurting your lady Raine.” Ian accused him. “Take another step and I go another inch.”

             
Raine stopped and Ian laughed through his own pain. He barked orders at the drakes this time he spoke in English.