3. KNOWLEDGE OF THE ELYRIAN
Sarah's feet pounded into the ground, twigs snapping at her wake as she tried her very best to flee from the mob behind her. She had a good gap on them and she was certain if she continued running at the pace she was, she would be rid of them in no time.
She was already at the border, nobody would dare cross it; nobody has ever, but the people behind her were not letting up so she pumped her feet into the ground, the sole of her feet hitting her waist as she ran.
One more step, she crossed the border. The mob behind her stopped and watched Sarah as she staggered into the sandy border that divided them from the beasts as they were called.
Sarah was not very certain of their existence but as their elders told, the beasts lived just outside the west borders.
Lightening cut across the sky illuminating the borders in its white glow as Sarah slumped into the sand. Her limbs were weak, her eyes drowsy but she fought to keep her eyes open as she reached out to the mob standing a few feet away from her watching her. The magic protecting Rivenspire didn't stretch out to the borders.
Her skin burned from the harsh temperature in the borders, her breath hitched, she felt suffocated. She was going to die, she was going to die as a traitor at the beasts' borders.
"Help me." Her voice was weak. She raised her hand as a signal to the mob. The mob from where they stood exchanged glances amongst themselves, turned their back on her and began walking back.
Lightening cut across the sky again and showers of rain began pouring down. Sarah laid weak on the ground as the rain soaked in the sand around her. Far into the darkness, above her head, darkness stretched swallowing every inch of the forest. The forest where the beasts hunted.
If they were real, Sarah thought, she would fight with her last breath, with every inch of life left in her. But for now, she wanted to rest a little, her skin burned, her airflow was cut short. She will fight them if they come but for now, she will rest.
*
*
Metal gate clanged in a distance as the heavy thud of metal chains were heard. Sarah laid against a wall in the far corner of the prison, heavy metal chains binding her hands. At the other corner of the small prison room, sat a man with full black curly hair watching Sarah closely as he sharpened the end of a small wood with a shiny stone.
The metal door sounded closer this time accompanied by a dull dragging of feet. A guard with four men bound together with a long chain stopped in front of the prison cell that held Sarah and the man with black hair. He quickly hid his stick and the stone behind him.
"Is the bloodsucker up yet?" The guard asked as he twirled a bunch of keys in his hand. The man in the cell, without looking up, shook his head. "Well, keep an eye on her," he nodded. "And if she gets thirsty for blood, just offer up yourself without hesitation, ey." The man in the cell looked up at the guard briefly, then turned his head away and nodded.
"Come on," the guard said to the men in chains and they dragged themselves out.
Sarah's fangs were the first things to wake up. Her fangs dragged out of her mouth as her claws jerked out from her fingers, her nose twitched, they detected the smell of fresh blood and they wanted it. Desperately.
Hunger…blood
Hunger…blood.
The urge to draw blood took over her mind and body. Her eyes flared open immediately exposing her pitch black eyes. Her eyes searched around her surroundings and she sighted the man with black hair in a corner watching her. Her hands twitched and in a speed of light, she rushed to him, grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground.
Sarah snarled at him, her claws digging into his neck. With her other hand, Sarah pulled him close and positioned herself to suck into his neck.
The man immediately pressed his palms against Sarah's ears and muttered, "Fames conscientiae ne praestet." (May hunger not stand above conscience.)
Sarah's fangs immediately retracted as she blinked off the hunger that clouded her senses. Her black eyes peeled off giving way to her usual green eyes. Confusion lined her face as she slowly set the man down and took some steps back.
"You're human. I can smell it on you." The man dusted off his shirt and returned to his former position at the corner of the room. "What did you do? I was about to kill you."
The man reached into a small clay pot and produced two slabs of fresh red meat with blood dripping from them and passed it to Sarah. Sarah scrutinized the meat for a few seconds then picked them up immediately and began stuffing them in her mouth.
"I wasn't sure what you were but I saved them for you anyway. I got it during my hunt this morning. It's deer, good meat."
"I know." Sarah wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and swallowed the meat. "What day is it? Do you know where you are?"
"It's the third day since your arrival."
Sarah bit off another mouthful, "Yours, you mean? I am from here, they captured me and are waiting for me to wake up before they would behead me, I am sure. I can't believe this is how I die."
He shook his head. "You are bloodsucker, you are in Lupearth, the home of the wolves. The rumor is they found you at the borders."
Sarah jerked in her position and straightened up. "They found me?" The man nodded. "They are real? But you are human, the beasts do not keep humans only us Vampires do that."
"Just like you, they found me at the borders too, I am the only human here… for now. I have been here for months and I think you will be the only bloodsucker too, if they don't kill you tonight."
Sarah stood up and began pacing. "They can't kill me. I need to see the king, how do I meet with the king of beasts?"
"First of all, lady, they will have your tongue if they hear you call them beasts, secondly, the Alpha will only see you when you're summoned."
"No, I have to see him immediately. I can't die today just yet."
The man nodded and walked up to Sarah and stretched out his hand to her. "I guess I'll be seeing more of you around here, if you don't die today. I'm Roland, Roland Montroyal from Aetherhold."
Sarah nodded at his hand, "Sarah Faulkner from Rivenspire. If we stay here any longer, I could kill you." She returned to her position and resumed eating her meat.
The cell fell silent as Sarah ate her meat quietly and Roland sharpened his small wood. After what felt like a long time, the heavy metal door of the prison building thudded open as the guard and the four men walked in and past Sarah's cell. When he was done with the men, he walked back and stopped at her cell.
"Bloodsucker!" The guard hawked loudly and spat out on the floor. Hatred flashed across his eyes as he glared at Sarah. Not paying mind to his theatrics, Sarah stood up and hurried to him. "Stay back before I pick your bloody eyes out."
"I know why you brought me here, but let me see your king before you proceed with killing me."
"You are in a hurry to be dead, ey?" The guard chuckled to himself.
Sarah gripped the metal gates and stared into the guards eyes. "Take me to see your King, I want to see him."
The guard took some steps back as he scrutinized her, "It's Alpha, and he doesn't want to see you."
"He will when he hears what I have to say. Tell him the prisoner is Sarah Faulkner from Rivenspire and I know where the Elyrian is."