Melbringer
I turned, startled, as Khalid approached us in hurried strides. My stomach tightened, confusion flaring hot in my chest. "What is he doing here?" The question spilled from my lips before I could stop it.
“I’ll explain on the plane Harlyn, but you have to come with me now,” He grabbed a bag from my mother I hadn’t realized she was holding.
“Here are some of her things, I trust you can get her more when she needs them,” My mother stated.
“My things?” I shrieked in disbelief.
“Harlyn, this is serious,” my dad stepped in. I turned to look at him, but his face, illuminated under the moonlight, revealed injuries I hadn’t noticed before.
“You’re hurt?” I reached to glaze over the bruise on his nose. Who hurt him? What was happening?
I was starting to feel my panic rise at the sudden events, my eyes tearing up. This must be some continuation of that silly dream. They’re just trying to emphasize how my life’s in danger, this couldn’t be real.
“Harlyn, you need to go!” My dad ordered, clamping on my hands before dropping them.
“What? No?” I shook my head with a frown. “That’s ridiculous; go where? by myself, too?”
A howl cut through the air, and quickly, as it began, it was followed by a wave of howls. It almost sounded like the pack was under attack.
I gasped, staring off into the south where I heard it from. Before I could say anything else, I felt myself lifted from the ground and thrown over a hard surface.
“Keep her safe, Lockwood,” My mom asserted, but it sounded like a threat.
Looking at the dark clothing in my line of view, I realized Khalid had thrown me over his shoulder. His hand held me down so tightly, it was quite scary — the strength of his hold.
“What the! Put me down!” My voice was low, panicked, though I didn’t dare yell loud enough to draw attention.
I didn’t want to leave my parents behind but if we were truly under some sort of attack, I shouldn’t put their lives in danger with a loud protest.
I was stuck!
As Khalid carried me toward God knew where my eyes darted back to my parents. My dad stood tall despite his wounds, his gaze locked ahead. My mom’s face was unreadable, but her eyes gleamed regardless.
The sight of them suggested they were prepared for something, something so dark I couldn't bring myself to imagine it.
The last thing I saw before we vanished deeper into the corners was the lingering shadow of the hospital behind us and I couldn’t shake the sickening scent of blood that clung to the air.
Khalid moved with long, heavy strides. His grip on me remained unyielding yet oddly protective. My heart pounded with his footsteps as I struggled to keep up with the flood of questions swirling in my mind.
"What’s happening?" I demanded, my voice trembling. "Is the pack under attack?"
"Yes," he admitted flatly, confirming my worst fear. "Before you ask anything else, please note that my orders are to get you out of here. You’re our only priority."
"Our only priority?" I echoed the question attempting to straighten myself on his shoulder. “What do you mean our only priority? Who's 'our'?"
Before he could respond, the faint roar of an approaching engine cut through the night. My nerves shot up at the notion that we'd been caught. However, I heard the dragging sound of a car door followed by the lack of a noisy ambush.
Khalid set me down but kept a firm hold on my arm. A large black van settled in front of us, and two figures stepped out. Abigail in all her tall long, ink-black haired glory and an older man with dark brown hair streaked with silver. His eyes gleamed a vivid, unnatural red.
“Get her inside,” Abigail commanded coolly, her eyes wearing a chill that scared me to probe further for answers.
I tensed, instinct screaming at me to run, but Khalid’s grip remained ironclad. "It's for your safety," he muttered with a bemused expression.
My irritation bubbled. I understood my parents had left me in their care but that didn't mean I trusted them.
I dug my heels into the dirt. “Where are you taking me?” I hissed.
“No time.” Khalid's voice was strained with urgency as he guided me toward the open van door.
Abigail stepped closer, her gaze steady but devoid of warmth. “We’re not here to hurt you, Harlyn.” She glanced at Khalid. “Move her.”
With little choice, Khalid helped me into the van. I was trembling with frustration and incapacitated by fear. I couldn't make out the situation, nor could I exactly leave it, seeing as I could not defend myself against whatever was attacking us.
After sitting on the floor of the van, The strange man shut the door behind us, locking out the chaotic sounds of the distant howling.
“So can I know now?” My voice cracked.
“Would you stop asking any more questions?“ Abigail retorted as she settled down beside me. Khalid crouched by the door like a wild beast ready to lunge himself.
I shook my head with a frown. “Isn't it unreasonable for you to expect I don't ask?“
She hummed, and I side-glanced at her, hoping to peek out the window beside her.
“London,” she answered evenly.
“London?!” I exclaimed, disbelief sharpening my tone. “Why? What’s in London?”
Before I could press further, she grasped my shoulders and pushed me to fall back. “Stay still,” she ordered firmly. “I don’t want you peeping out the window. It’s not safe.” It’s forbidden to look out the window now? I thought.
Her grip burned with an intensity that suggested experience in controlling difficult situations, but my curiosity burned hot.
I wasn't trying to look out the window before but now I want to. Ignoring her warning, I twisted toward the window, just as the van began to speed away.
Through the tinted glass, I caught a glimpse of the chaos moving right where we stood mere minutes ago. Massive wolves, their dark fur bristling, tore through the night in a desperate, brutal battle. Their claws clashed against shadow-like tendrils that coiled and struck with deadly precision.
I blinked wondering if the tinted windows were playing with my vision.
And then, I saw her.
A tall woman dressed in flowing forest green, her silhouette framed by writhing, inky shadows, and roots, and she wore a cunning smile as she fought.
Her sharp attacks were graceful despite the apparent violent intention in them. It was a fierce dance of survival against the wolves and from the way the wolves were wearing out, she was winning.
Her eyes suddenly met mine, locked across the battlefield, and the world seemed to slow. Her gaze pierced through the window like a living force, tugging at something deep within my chest.
A hot ache blossomed in my heart. It was strange and suffocating. I gasped, pressing a hand to my chest as the van jolted forward, tearing the scene from view.
“Found you.“ She mouthed, and suddenly, all I could hear was her voice.
Abigail pulled me back down and I lost sight of her eyes. Coincidentally, the boiling pain in my chest subsided, and the lady's voice faded from my head.
“What…what was that?” I whispered, still reeling.
Abigail watched me closely, her expression finally cracking—just a little—into something that almost resembled pity.
“A Melbringer.”