{ Arietta's POV }
I was exhausted from training earlier, so I decided to take a nap. I'm not sure how long I was out but
I do know that I was shaken awake by my guardian Erik.
—
"Erik, what's wrong?" I ask him
"They're here." He says in a concerned yet calm tone
"What?!" I try to ask but it came out as a whisper of unbelief and slight fear
"I don't know how but they are. I can sense them. They are getting close." Erik says
"What do we do?" I ask him not certain of how he wants to play this because we've never expected them to come back and find us first.
"I'm going to stay back and fight." He says and then he looks down at the floor. I jump out of bed and stare at him and ask "You aren't seriously about to suggest that I hide are you?!"
He sighs and says "It's the only way I know you'll be safe. You can hide in the cellar like we planned when you were younger."
"I'm not hiding in a cellar, while waiting for them to kill you." I tell him stressed out
"I knew you wouldn't. Which is why I'm telling you this now... I'm proud of the courage and strength you've shown. I hope you continue to make me proud, along with your mother. As always stay brave, and remain sane. It's the only way you'll stay alive in this world." He tells me
"Stop it. We're not saying goodbye. Not yet." I tell him as tears threaten to come into my eyes
He nods and says "Until we see each other again." with that he steps towards me and injects my arm with a drug.
"No." I reply with tears pooling in my eyes
"Make sure that when you wake up that everything outside is clear. Then you'll need to travel to the council, and inform them of what has happened here. They need to know that they're back. Remember no one knows you exist, you'll have to be careful with who you trust... and If they don't believe you, make them." He says
I feel myself starting to black out. My legs grow weak, but Erik catches me in time before I hit the floor. I fight the drug just enough so I can say "Thank you for everything. I'm sorry I can't save you."
"I'm not worth your saving." He whispers as he kissed the top of my head much like a father would.
—
I wake feeling lightheaded. I can tell I'm in our cellar, and I can smell that our house is burning. I jump to my feet, and use my heightened hearing trying to hear what's going on outside ; only I don't hear a thing. I grab the bag Erik packed and threw down here for me, and I go through the secret tunnel which leads to the edge of our property.
—
As I get out of the tunnel ; I run back the other way only to see our house bursting in flames, and Erik's lifeless body on the ground. I crouch down beside him, and I see the burn mark on his chest.
It's the mark of the hunters.
I let a tear slip from my eye, and then I stand up and shift. Carrying my bag in my mouth.
I can feel my wolf's rage at the monsters who killed our guardian. He was the only family we had left, and they took him from us.
Just like they had taken everything else.
YOU ARE READING
Fate
Fantasy"Mate" He says and I shift back only for the first word out of my mouth to be "Shit" Come along with Arietta as she faces many challenges while learning the truth about her family, as she tries to end a never ending war. She may just meet her fate.
