The Beginning of The End
Chapter 18

I looked around frantically as I reached the front door, sighing in relief when I realised no one was there, but that didn't mean I was in the clear. I knew that as soon as Maddox woke up, I would be hunted down, I just hoped that I would have made it far enough away before that happened.

I flung open the door and stepped out into the freezing night, the moon hanging high in the sky, mocking me, taunting me. Night was the worst time to move around, especially alone, but I had no choice, it was now or never. I had survived on my own countless times, through many storms worse than this one.

I could do this.

What other choice did I have?

I took off running in the direction of the trees, ignoring the houses and people (if you could call the beasts human) that lingered to the left and right of me, if I was lucky, I wouldn't be noticed. I broke through into the dense wood before anyone realised something was wrong, running as fast as my legs would allow.

My socks were saturated from the snow, the white death trap almost up to my knees, making it hard to manoeuvre. I had lost everything when I was captured, all the food, clothes and most importantly the map I used.

I had nothing left to use, I had to start all over again, but first; I needed to get as far away from this place as fast as possible.

My feet felt frozen as I trudged on, shivering and trembling from the cold and bitter wind, a storm was coming, that much was clear and if I wasn't careful, I would die from the cold.

But building a fire would be suicide, stopping here would be suicide.

I had to keep going, no matter what I had to get away.

My forcefield faltered as I limped forward, howls sounding in the distance, they knew that I was gone, and they were coming.

I could feel the ground shake under the force of the hounds coming this way, they were much faster than me, and they would smell the blood oozing from my shoulder.

I looked around in panic, searching for something that would help me, knowing that they would tear me to shreds if they found me, and my shield will not hold, I was getting weaker. The blood and the cold were my downfall.

I looked at a large tree, wondering if I could climb high enough to be safe, hopefully where they wouldn't be able to smell the blood. It was the best option I could come up with, probably the only choice that I had.

I latched onto the first branch, crying out as I pulled myself up, my shoulder screaming

in pain, more blood oozing from the bite. Tears stained my cheeks, freezing against the bitter wind as I climbed slightly higher, the thundering of paws closing in around me, coming from all sides.

I wasn't high enough get, I needed to move faster, otherwise I would be the evening snack of some very vicious hounds. I sobbed louder when I climbed up on the third branch, my legs stiff and cold.

Come on, I told myself, just a little further.

I desperately clung onto the branch above my head, screaming as I recklessly climbed onto it, my body screaming for release, begging for a swift death to end the pain. But I wouldn't give up, I couldn't.

I didn't want to die.

I climbed one more branch before sitting down and hugging the tree, desperate not to be seen, my screams turning into soft whimpers of pain.

That's when I saw them, what must have been twenty hellhounds following closely behind a much larger one, his fur as black as night, a contrast to the white snow beneath its paws.

It stopped, sniffing the air, black and red eyes searching the area, scanning every tree until they landed on me hunched over on the branch, a long eerie growl vibrating against the deafening silence.

I turned my head away from them, sobbing into the bark of the tree in desperation, wishing that there was someone out there that could save me and for the first time in years, I wished I had my dad with me to give me strength.

I heard the snapping of bones before a familiar voice spoke over the wind. "Little fae come down now and I will be merciful."

I shook and trembled, staying silent as I held the tree in desperation.

"You are freezing, come down." Maddox purred, attempting to lure me with a soft voice.

I knew it was a trap I would go down and be ripped apart as soon as my feet touched the ground, I needed to stay where I was.

But how long could I stay here?

How long could I defy fate?

"What is going on here?" Ryker growls as he walks towards the tree, dragon smoke coming out of his nostrils.

Maddox glances at Ryker, clearly hoping to avoid him. "She tried to run again, she will freeze out here."

"Shes bleeding." Ryker said slowly, watching my trembling body from the ground. "Yes. My beast and I got carried away." murmured the King of the hellhounds, his expression showing guilt.

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But why did he feel guilty, it wasn't like I was important, I was their prisoner, their new plaything.

"I will deal with you later. Send your mutt's home." Ryker shouts, causing me to jump and almost fall.

The hellhounds immediately began to retreat, scared of the dragon king and what he will do to them. But they didn't disobey him, I did.

Oh god, I am so dead.

Will he burn me alive?

Ryker turned his attention towards me, "If you come down here now, I will see to it that you are treated gently."

"D-do I have your word?" I whisper, hoping that he was telling the truth.

I could feel myself getting weaker as the minutes passed as I didn't know how long I could stay up here, I was losing grip, my fingers were numb and so were my toes. He nods slowly, watching me as I painfully climb back down, dropping to the floor with a soft thud.

I shook and trembled in fear as Ryker walked towards me, not expecting him to lift me into his arms and cradle me as though I was something precious to him. It made me wonder what they exactly wanted from me, and why I was still alive, but I knew he wouldn't answer my questions if I asked.

Ryker was warm, my body almost melting into him as my eyes began to feel heavy and tired, my body slowly coming back down from the adrenaline boost.

For some reason I felt safe in his arms, like I was exactly where I belonged.