Chapter Thirteen

The ride was uncomfortable. I always felt his presence near me, him and his alluring scent. Saying that I liked the ride would be a lie. Fear clouded my mind. I didn't know what would happen to me or what would happen to my dear friend. The fact that I had a sack over my head gave me a claustrophobic feeling. I didn't like being cramped: It was dark and I couldn't see anything. The pressure the sack left was heavy and made me feel so little.

I laid there on the bench of the carriage. There where no cushions to support my body. My back and neck were stiff and hurted.

The carriage halted and I felt two arms wrap around my tiny body and carrying me outside. They put me onto the ground and ripped the sack off me. I quickly closed my due to the intruding sunlight. My eyes slowly squinted open to adjust to the bright light. I looked around and saw that we were in the middle of a forest. Gigantic trees surrounded me and I looked in awe at the beautiful scenery. My eyes wandered across the guards which were randomly stationed around us. Or maybe it wasn't random? I was never good in military strategy.

My eyes met with wide white eyes. "Ophelia." Her body looked dry. You could see scales falling off her arms due to her being dehydrated. Briskly I stood up and made my way to her. Some guards began shouting at me to stop and stay in place but I ignored them. As I reached Ophelia I crushed her in a tight hug. She silently sobbed into my chest and I patted lightly her back. "We've got each other", I whispered into her ear. She nodded and I gave her a small smile.

"Don't be scared you have me by your side", I cooed. She released herself from my embrace and wiped her stained cheeks. "Where is your authority person?", I asked the guards. They shrugged and I rolled my eyes at their response. "Is there some lake or something like that nearby?" A guard pointed towards a direction and I gave him a small appreciative smile. "If you would excuse us", I silently said and slightly bowed to them. I took Ophelia's hand in mine and we walked towards the direction the guard has showed me.

I began wondering on why we stopped here. Would we spend the night in this forest? I heard birds chirping around us and smiled as memories flooded into my mind. I missed my home. My homeland.

We reached a shoe and I gestured Ophelia to take a swim and hydrate her body. She smiled weakly at me and I wondered where the powerful Ophelia disappeared. She was independent and intimidating the first time I met her as she raised her voice to the centaur. Maybe the centaur that has brand marked me has also done some horrible things to her. She was scared to speak up.

I watched her as she was swimming in the lake. Her blue tail glistening and her skin looking way more healthier. I decided to take a quick bath and scrub the blood off my body. I undressed myself and put the pile of my clothes near the shore. With my toes I felt the temperature and was impressed on the warmth of the water. Winter was nearing and I thought that the water would be cold. I dived into the water and let myself flow for a few minutes. Then I began scrubbing the blood of my legs and stomach.

Ophelia swam towards me and helped me entangling my hairs as I rinsed them. I did the same to her and I felt clean. But I wasn't clean enough. My insides burned as I remembered the horrific scene I had with the werewolf. I would burn my skin off if it was possible. I scrubbed my feminine core as hard as possible to forget his touch but it was branded in my mind. I was worthless. I could never have a partner anymore in Estreia.

I got out of the water and dressed myself. I sat down on a big stone and looked around the scenery as Ophelia enjoyed her time in the lake. If I wasn't being literally kidnapped in this situation I would have enjoyed this view, this trip. I would have loved to visit every kingdom and explore the nature.

Watching the birds fly above my head was a comforting feeling. Not being alone but surrounded by mother nature. Suddenly a bird with a note attached to its leg flew over to me and I stretched my hand out. It landed on my hand and disappeared, leaving blue and green feathers in my hand. I shook the feathers off and quickly opened the note.

"I miss you and I will find you.

- truly yours, Kyllan"

My heart warmed at the note from my hopefully potential partner. It gave me a giddy feeling and I felt the urge to kick my legs as happiness spread through my body. Butterflies erupted inside of my stomach as I imagined various scenarios on how we would meet again. Meeting my love again. I unintentionally pressed the note to my chest and smiled as I thought of him.

"What are you so happy about", Ophelia asked me. My eyes fluttered open and I saw Ophelia standing in front of me. She crossed her arms and had a slight smirk plastered on her face. "Oh nothing", I murmured but couldn't help to flash a dorky smile.

"Are you finished swimming?", I asked her to try to take the attention away from me and the note. "Yes. I think we should go back to the werewolves before they kill us from staying away to long." As soon as she said this sentence we heard a loud growl. The birds cried out and flew away. I spinned my head around trying to find the werewolf who released his anger. Ophelia grabbed my bicep and tugged me towards the place where we halted with the carriage. The guards looked nervous and I could even spot some sweat droplets on their face.

There I saw him. He looked furious as he shouted at the guard which was probably the head guard. The guard shoke slightly as his king shouted at him. The guard slowly looked towards our direction and said something to the king making his head turn around.

I saw his with anger clouded eyes staring right into my soul. I gulped and hid behind Ophelia's body. She looked stronger now since she was healthy again. Maybe that was the reason why she was so scared and weak. She knew that she couldn't have any chance against them in her previous state.

I saw his nose flare and he pinched his nose bridge as he observed me. He turned back to the guard and I couldn't stop staring at him. He was tall. I thought the guards were tall but he was taller than his head guard. I was considered a medium tall fairy but in comparison with him I was tiny. Fairies aren't the tallest type of creatures. Fairies and Mermaids were about the same height. Centaurs are taller due to having a lower body of a horse but werewolves. I've never seen them before but they seem to be even taller than centaurs.

He turned back around and walked towards us. He stopped right in front of Ophelia were I still was hiding behind her back. "Move."

"Over my dead body", Ophelia replied. He flashed her his canines but she remained still and didn't move an inch. "If you wish", he snarled. He raised his hand and it shifted into claw mid air. As he was about to slash Ophelia's torso I stepped to the side. "Don't hurt her." His head snapped to me and his claw remained in the air ready to ram it into her body. "Or what?".

I would shift into an elephant and step on your weak body I thought to myself but replied with: "You don't want to find out". In my mind I said it with way more confidence but I nearly whispered it and sounded weak. He shifted his claw back and looked amused. "You couldn't even hurt a fly." I pursed my lips and furrowed my brows. "I injured two centaurs, already forgot?" He looked slightly taken back at my sudden burst of confidence which quickly faded away.

"Which type of fairy are you", he asked. Now I was the one who was taken back. Why does he want to know. I thought about what to say and decided to not say that I'm a shapeshifter nor that I'm a healer.

"Warrior"

"You are not a warrior. Look at you."

He was right. I didn't look like a warrior. I didn't had enough muscles for it. "I am still training." It wasn't technically a lie. I am training but for being a master a shape-shifting not fighting.

His brow raised at my statement but did't question me anymore. Maybe he knew that I was lying or maybe he even believed me. "The next time you and your friend decide to go on a walk without my permission I will make sure that your king and queen receive your head." I gulped. With this sentence he walked away from us.

"What a bastard", Ophelia whispered. I nodded.

A guard came over and held two sack in his hand and I knew what was about to happen. He put the sack over me and Ophelia. "We will go to a safer place", he said which made me think. Why weren't we safe in this forest? Or did they didn't like that we were in a forest where me and Ophelia could easily escape?