T.A.P., O.M.W.W. Part 2: The Letting of Blood (standard:fantasy, 2049 words) [3/3] show all parts
Author: kissofthehungry	Added: Dec 09 2004	Views/Reads: 2487/1792	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Chothal finds himself in a world of suspicion and fear when he overhears the murder of two plotting soldiers. Hiarushia is finally given the opportunity to escape and Khaeyana helps put a dangerous plan into motion.

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be back.  Please hurry." 

For a moment, she sat stunned, aware her time was limited but
overwhelmed by the future that lay ahead of her.  Then she began to 
throw sensible clothes, a couple photographs, a couple pieces of her 
most expensive jewelry for selling later, her songs, among a few other 
items into a duffle bag she could sling over her shoulder.  Then she 
grabbed a pair of walking shoes and tied their laces in knots so she 
could carry them around her neck.  Then she put on a pair, by the time 
she was done, her mother was back. 

Her mother hastily shoved a large wad of money into her hand and she
looked at in shock, "Mother, I can't take this all.  Surely father will 
know..." Her mother pressed a finger to her lips and closed her hand 
unwillingly around the money, then beckoned for her to follow.  
Hiarushia hung her bag over her shoulder and followed her mother, 
silent in her shared grief. 

They crept through the halls of the large house and jumped sharply at
the shrill shriek of one of the victims.  There was harsh laughing that 
echoed, making it seem as if the shadows were laughing at them.  She 
tried not to think about the plight of the girls, tried to envision 
herself free from the constant fear for her own safety, and found that 
because she had not experienced it yet, that she could not. 

"What are you doing?  Creeping around the house at this hour?" a husky
voice asked, and chills ran down her spine, she knew that voice, 
Shakto.  He stepped out of the shadows, his green eyes glinting in the 
little moonlight that made it in through the frosted windows.  His lips 
were parted in a smile, but it was a hungry smile, one that knew they 
were up to something. 

Her mother began to mumble some excuse but Hiarushia covered her
mother's ears and broke into a quiet little song.  Shakto opened his 
eyes wide in surprise, shocked she would dare use her power against 
him, then he slumped to the floor, unconcious for the meantime. 

She took her hands off her mother's ears and blurted, "You have to come
with me now, he'll tell father and he'll know you helped me escape." 

"I can't, your father could find me too easily.  I've been tied to him
through blood and he can use his limited abilites to find me.  I cannot 
allow him to find you.  Come on, we must hurry, if we don't get you to 
the alley in time, he'll leave without you," Tricella allowed her no 
time to argue, but began plowing forward again.  Moments later, they 
broke into the fresh air of the night and the full moon made her 
shudder.  The full moon held nothing but images of death and torture 
for her and she longed for clouds to roll over it's gleaming silver 
surface.  Her mother's step was quick and she had to practically run to 
keep up.  Before long they had reached the alley and there was a man 
with a horse and wagon. 

Her mother and him stepped aside and mumbled quietly, too quiet for her
to hear anything.  She saw her mother give the man money then she 
stepped back to her, "You must be brave and strong.  Always remember 
that I love you, my dear Hiarushia.  Above all, do not try to come back 
or contact me, ever.  Not unless you have proof that your father is 
dead and that Shakto shares the same fate.  I love you, now go."  With 
a restrained sob that came out like a hiccough, she threw her arms 
around her and hugged her tightly before pushing her towards the man. 

The man helped her into the wagon, which was filled with furs, and
quickly hid her among them.  Her last clear view of her mother was 
swallowed by shadows as the carriage began to move.  In her heart, she 
knew that she would never see her again, not because she couldn't but 
because her mother did not have long to live. 

It seemed as if the rhythmic plodding of the horse were hypnotizing her
and soon she fell asleep, unable to keep her eyes open with the gentle 
rocking of the wagon.  She awoke to the sudden halt of the entire 
journey and saw how low the moon had sunk in the sky, soon the sun 
would be waking up to reveal what hid in the darkest hours or chase it 
away.  The man came and shook her gently, helping pull the heavy furs 
off her. 

"We are there?" she asked and he shook his head and pointed to another
horse and wagon, where a woman, wrapped in so many pieces of clothes 
she looked like a stuffed doll, waited, looking nervously around.  She 
could understand her fear, if they were to be spotted and word reached 
her father, the game would be up and they all would be in a world of 
hurt.  After the furs, the wagon full of hay was itchy and 
uncomfortable, but she was willing to suffer the inconvenience of a 
runny nose and blurry eyes to the pain her father could inflict. 

Khaeyana checked the location of the moon in the sky, it would not be
long before their visitor would arrive.  Her father waited patiently on 
his wagon full of furs, while she stood quietly against the wall of the 
building which housed the alley, blending in perfectly with the night 
shadows.  Her father, though an excellent hunter, was unaware of her 
presence, which was what she desired.  She had followed him on foot, 
making sure that nothing but she stalked him, as she would do so back 
home. 

The visitor that they were harboring was the daughter of a vicious
Darien leader, and as such, she would not underestimate his powers.  
Her father claimed that he would not either, but she didn't believe him 
and his judgement.  After all, he'd been foolish enough to offer his 
home in the first place.  Definately not a wise idea in her mind. 

At that moment, her ears picked up the sound of a horse and wagon
coming, slowly and casually, but the air prickled with the tension it 
carried.  So, their refuge was about to arrive.  Seconds later, she 
could pick out the tiny bob of the lantern and could barely make out 
the shape of a woman sitting stiffly in the driver's seat.  Behind her 
in the wagon, was only hay but Khaeyana could sense another human in 
the straw. 

When the wagon stopped, she was surprised to see a young woman, perhaps
a few years older than her seventeen, emerge from the hay.  Somehow, 
she'd expected a child, unable to help herself and unable to understand 
why she was being brought into another family.  The woman got back on 
the wagon and quickly disappeared into the night, eager to get as far 
away from her part as possible. Her father helped the young woman into 
his bundle of furs and after casting his eyes about, got back up and 
clucked the horse into motion.  Khaeyana followed, her heart beating in 
anticipation of trouble though she prayed none would come.  Instead of 
an irritating child to watch, she may now have a new friend, at least 
she hoped they would get along.


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