Page 115 of Hidden Kingdoms

Remembering the words that she had spoken to get me up, I knew I needed to get it cleaned as soon as I could. I didn’t need an infection along with the other shit I had going on. I probably needed stitches, too, but I’d cross that bridge when I came to it.

I hope that the bridge comes with painkillers, because this hurts like a bitch.

Drifting louder on the wind came Bastian’s demanding voice, and I groaned as his frustratingly handsome face emerged through the parting crowd of soldiers, storming his way over to us. Golden ringlets now in disarray, his clothes were streaked with mud like everyone else, green eyes blazing as he stopped in front of us. Bastian was close enough that the urge to take a step back was strong, but I held my ground. Pain dampened my will to deal with whatever shit he had planned for me, and I could process little other than I had no desire to be around him.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going, Princess?”

“She needs to see the healer.” The feline lilt to Alouette’s voice had a bite to every word, but I didn’t take my eyes off the inferno that stood before me, as my body protested being upright.

Bastian’s eyes trailed to the blood that stained my top, his jaw clenching. The hot, sticky liquid plastering the fabric to my skin. “Then take her to the infirmary.”

“I think that was already the plan,” I ground out, unwilling to back down from the asshole despite having one hand on Alouette to stop from falling on my ass.

Keeping my eyes locked on his, wisps of magik swirled within me the way it always did when I was around him. It was feeble, still regaining its strength, and I knew I was in no shape to go up against him, but the fire burning in his eyes made me itch to take him down. To blast his stupid face away from mine until he landed in the dirt far away from me.

I winced as tendrils brushed against the wounds inflicted on my skin, and it was enough to break the silent battle between us. Bastian’s eyes flicked to my shoulder again before he walked away without another word.

“Old Roger, you’re driving,” Alouette called to the scowling man I’d last seen standing outside my room, who nodded before climbing into the driving seat of the armoured truck that was closest to us.

“Why can’t we do that magik jump thing?” Ignoring the curious looks from the soldiers closest to us, I accepted her help as I gingerly stepped up into the back of the large truck. Sinking onto one of the hard seats that ran down the side of the vehicle, an identical row opposite, I tried not to think about the warmth that slid down into my waistband from the movement as the gashes screamed in protest.

“Magik jump thing?” I hadn’t even realised I’d closed my eyes until they flew open at the sound.

The edge to her voice had gone, and a smile played on her lips as she leaned over and buckled a belt across my lap, positioning my tired body so that the metal railing that lined the wall pressed into my side rather than the full width of my back.

“You know what I mean. You got here the same way I did.” It was tiring forming so many words, and my field of sight was slowly narrowing as I fought to keep my mind above the dark that was reaching for it.

The rest of the group took their seats around me, weapons rattling as they were adjusted, and then we were swaying as OldRoger pulled the truck away. Even that slight movement sent agony ricocheting down my spine.

“Can’t travel within the wards.” One of the soldiers who I guessed was opposite me grunted, but I could no longer make anything out. “Keeps us all safe.”

Were my eyes even open anymore?

Marcellus did.

“Mm, he did, didn’t he?” Alouette’s voice was alight with the mischief that I’d come to realise rarely left her as she replied to words I thought I’d kept to myself. I let myself fall into the dark that promised a reprieve for my tired soul.

As the truck drove onwards, I fell in and out of consciousness. Every jolt had me gritting my teeth in agony until it grew too much, and I blacked out again.

My mind was heavy, my limbs lead weights. I could barely stop my head from lolling against my shoulder, and every breath felt laboured.

It threatened to pull me down, drag me easily into the despair that had been all too real only moments ago. Yet this time, it wouldn’t be some dark shadow pulling it from me; it would be myself.

Like a dark seed taking root.

Only maybe it wasn’t just now taking root, maybe it had been there all along and was ready to grow. Roots were taking hold, those first shoots reaching upwards screaming for a glimpse of the sun.

Maybe it was the remnant of The Darkness, or maybe it was all the fucked-up things I had gone through. Either way, the painthat coursed through me was making it a million times harder to push away from that headspace.

The faint thread of magik that awoke when I reached for it responded eagerly, but even that effort was trying, and though it helped to take the edge off, I wasn’t sure it was worth the energy.

The groans of stretching bodies filled the truck, preparing to exit as we came to a stop. Slowly, I shuffled from the chair, glad I could make out the fuzzy outlines of those who had travelled with us.

Alouette was beside me as a soldier held his hand out to help me down. I took it gratefully, my body weak from both the magik use and blood loss as I struggled to keep my feet under me.

He stayed close as the others moved around us, one hand firm on my elbow ensuring my face remained out of the mud for now. Alouette walked ahead, a phone to her ear and commands flowing from her mouth as easy as breathing. I didn’t think I had seen this part of the palace before, but considering I’d mostly been confined to my room, that didn’t mean much.

I could find no energy to give the now blue sky my attention, though I could feel it, taunting in its calmness. Letting the soldier guide me forward, streaks of pain pulled at me as I tried to remember if I had seen anyone else being struck by The Darkness.

---