Page 41 of Polar Fates
Need to stop Arcas. Need to stopArcas.
I take that thought and focus on it with all my might. But how do you stop someone without being able to doanything?
I could try and talk to him, but he’s too crazy to listen. He said he would kill my men… could I at least distract him, if he’s fightingthem?
With Alis, I was always able to see what she was doing when we’d shifted. But now, I have no idea what’s going on. I’m locked into my ownbody.
Arcas? I shout. Let’s distract him as much as I can and hope that if he’s fighting the guys, this will give them achance.
All I need to do is avoid thinking of what might happen if they kill him. Because I’m not sure if I’d survivethat.
* * *
Torben
Everything happens so quickly that there’s no time to intervene. The lifeless body of Van Deen suddenly lurches up and grabs Isla by the shoulders. As soon as he touches her, she goes limp, her head flopping on her chest. Then she begins to convulse, writhing on thefloor.
I run to her side, holding her while she shakes. She does little whimpering sounds that are unbearable to hear. Húnn and Ràn drag away the man to the other side of the room, but he’s no longer moving. He’s already done his deed. Whatever thatwas.
I press Isla to my chest, watching as her arms and legs tremble uncontrollably. Without a doubt this is the worst thing I’ve everseen.
“Isla, it’s going to be alright,” I whisper and feel fucking stupid as soon as I say it. I don’t believe in empty promises and this one is as empty as they come. I have no clue what’s goingon.
Finn is standing behind me, his legs almost touching my back. He doesn’t know what to do. Neither doI.
It takes forever until the convulsions stop. Isla stops moving and lies in my arms, limp and unconscious. I shake hergently.
“Isla? Wake up,sweetie!”
She doesn’t respond at all. She just lies there, as if she’s sleeping, but I know she’snot.
This isbad.
* * *
Finn
I wish it was me holding her. Torben was by her side first, and while I know he’s taking good care of her, I can’t ignore the flicker of jealousy in my heart. He’s bonded to her, so is Ràn, and it’s only a matter of time until Húnn is, too. She’s not approached me yet, and while I’m trying to tell myself that there’s just not been the right moment for it, ithurts.
She looks as if she’s sleeping, except that her cheeks are pale and almost grey. Not the usual pink glow they always have. She’s so full of life usually, bursting with energy and smiles. This isn’t Isla. It reminds me of when we first found her, half frozen on the beach. Back then I doubted she would survive. But she did and she wriggled her way into our hearts. Now I can’t imagine a life withouther.
Suddenly, she moves, no, sheshifts!
Torben is pushed to the ground as a large polar bear stands where Isla was lying seconds ago. It’s not Alis though. Alis’s eyes were stern but friendly. And she didn’t have a black patch on her chest either. This bear is staring at us with crazed hate, his black eyes filled withfury.
A feeling of dread is bubbling up in my stomach. If it’s not Alis, this has to be Arcas. We didn’t hear what they talked about when Isla touched the old man, but it can’t have beengood.
The bear – Arcas – growls and open his jaws wide. He’s got his front paws on Torben’s chest, who’s trying to get away. He won’t be able to shift with that weight onhim.
Arcas lowers his head, ready to rip out Torben’sthroat.
* * *
Húnn/Pelja
I shift faster than I ever have before and throw myself at Arcas. He’s big, bigger than I am, but there’s four of us. The Fates are standing in the background. Useless. It’s up to usnow.
My claws sink into his back and he whirls around, letting go of Torben.Good.
