Kacie
I stare at my palms and my eyes trail the flames as they lick up my hands and end at my wrists. I haven’t known about this ability for long but during the time I was cuffed, I felt like something was extinguished inside of me. With the flames back, I felt like that missing piece was found.
I refuse to look down at what remained of Ken. Instead, I lifted my eyes to Clara who stood in front of me. She’d taken revenge for her sister but now that she had no one left I wondered what she would do. Where would she go?
“She is not our problem,” Athena murmured softly. “You have done enough, we have no more ties to the witch.”
A loud noise alerted us of movement in the house and I knew the guards were on the move towards us. I stilled to listen to see if I could locate how far or near they were. The floorboards creaked as they slowly made their way down the hallway.
I knew they felt the loss of their Alpha and were ready to attack and claim the blood they believed they were owed. The guards would outmatch me in strength, agility, and probably skill, but if it came to it, I wasn’t going to go subtly. I wasn’t trained to fight but I sure as hell wouldn’t go down with a fight.
I readied myself to burn them to ash.
Clara turned her body to look at me, I could feel her eyes scrutinizing me as she tried to decide whether she would say what she was thinking or not. I was half tempted to ask her straight forward what was up. I didn’t fear the guards and I didn’t fear Clara but I wasn’t stupid, if she wanted to keep me here she very well could.
Thankfully, I knew at this moment, she wasn’t my enemy. I have the chance to escape and my heart leaped with the idea of being able to see Viktor. I could already feel the warmth of his arms around me and I swallowed the emotion down.
I grabbed the least skimpy outfit I could find. The guards were closer and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were just outside the door.
“What if something goes wrong and you can’t get away?” I hiss anxiously.
“That won’t happen,” she says with a small smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. My gut twisted at the idea of her not making it out of this. Even though I would never share Viktor with her, I have to admit she’s grown on me. A hell of a lot has happened since I’ve met her but right now when it came down to it, I knew she had a friend in me, even if I didn’t know if I had one in her.
“Run,” Clara mouths before turning to face the guards as one shoves hard against the door. They’re weakened by their Alphas death but I know they’ll get through the door soon.
“Are you sure?” I asked, catching her hand to stop her from completely turning her back on me.
“My sister is waiting for me,” she said without question. “Even death itself couldn’t stop me from going to her.”
With her powers and the darkness she used, I knew she could handle the guards. I only hoped there wouldn’t be too many.
“Okay,” I agreed. “I pray for your sister to find peace after you find her,” I said. Before I knew what was happening, she’d used her darkness to smash a hole in the wall and hurled me out of it.
“Good luck,” she breathed. I was rolling hard, the ground and twigs hitting me until I hit my head against a tree. I bit down the scream of pain that threatened to escape. My head was pounding but I didn’t have the time to check if I was okay.
“You too.” I accepted her plans and turned my attention to getting as far away from this house as possible.
“Run!” She yelled before the door slammed open. I leaped off of the ground, my feet scrambling as I fought to put one in front of the other. I didn’t stop after I slipped into the darkness of the surrounding trees.
Run, run, run.
***
I let her words propel me forward through the woods. I run for a long time, first in one direction, then in the other. I was sure Clara could handle the guards but a little panicked voice whispered the worst outcomes.
Would Beta Rich come for me?
Would I make it back to Viktor?
My heart ached as I allowed myself to think about him for a few minutes before I locked those thoughts and feelings away. Now was not the time or place. I would get out of here and I would make it home.
I made my way through the trees and ran blindly through the dark. I didn’t flinch when thorns tore into my skin or when something wet dripped from little tears. I paused every so often to listen for sounds that didn’t belong.
I glance around the star-filled sky that was my only light. I needed to find a road or people. I needed to figure out where I was quickly and maybe find a phone. Viktor was probably sick with worry.
I didn’t even know where I was. My eyes gazed around the forest looking for something familiar. I pleaded for the road to point me where I needed to go or a sign to tell me where I was. Anything that would help me.
I turned and started running down a different path, my heartbeat picking up as I picked up lights in the distance. Thank the Goddess! Adrenaline pumped through my veins, my legs pumped harder bringing me closer and closer.
The moment I reached the lights, a gas station came into view and I rushed for it.