My pulse sped up. Why the fuck would Cassius be out here? Of all people? He was too close to my field for comfort.
“I’m so glad to see you,” he panted as he approached me.
I kept my feet planted and my shoulders squared. “What are you doing out here?” My eyes inspected the inky black splatters and smears across his nicely fitted crew neck t-shirt.
“Just thought I’d explore a bit, then I got lost.” He noticed my wandering eyes. “Oh, these are from those things that live out here. They arenasty! Honestly, I thought I was a goner.”
So the stains were…blood. More proof he was an outsider. Cassius hadn’t learned enough from the locals to know basic protective measures, like charms. I guess he wasn’t as interested in the people of Drifael as he was with me when we ran into each other in town.
How did he take one of the creatures down himself, anyway? That wasn’t normal person shit. Alarms rang:Get away. Should I run back to my field? Away from it? I didn’tknow why he was out here and I didn’t care; I didn’t want to be alone with him in the woods anymore.
“Do you have a place nearby where I can get some water and a bite to eat? I underestimated the hike difficulty. After that, if you can tell me the way back to town, I’ll be out of your hair.” He rubbed his chin and put on a sheepish expression. He wore it like a mask.Fake.
“No, I’m sorry. I don’t have a house out here.” I shook my head. My heart was thumping in my ears. Run up, or down? I needed to decide soon. My instincts told me I may need to haul ass at a moment's notice.
“No home, huh?Anywhereyou know that might be helpful for me?”
He means my field. Fuck. This wasn’t your standard issue scary man in the woods. This was targeted. “I think you’ll have to go back to Drifael. Maybe we can walk together?” If he wasn’t going to leave me alone, I could at least move him in the wrong direction.
“I’m worried I won’t make it that far,” he chuckled with false exhaustion, offering me that genial, shining grin and ruffling his fingers through his light brown hair.
“Sorry, I don’t know anywhere else nearby. Going down the mountain should be much easier for you. I know the way.”
His smile faded, his lips twisting to the side. A shadow fell over his eyes. “You know, I’ve never seen a Pyran without an emblem on their neck. How odd.”
My hand went to my throat. I hadn’t put on my choker yet. Why would I? I was panting my way down a mountain, having something around my neck would feelawful. Inretrospect, not as awful as the terror constricting my lungs in this standoff.
“How about that field, Vivian? Ireallyneed to recover.” His face reverted to pleasantness, eyes squinting with a smile. “I won’t tell anyone about it. I just need some food and fresh water.”
“Field? I’ve never seen a field out here. Just forest.” I’d give him the satisfaction of a confession over my dead body.
He sighed, his hand reaching under the open front of his jacket. “Too bad.”
I’d grown up around violence. There were very few things I hadn’t been exposed to. Still, I’d managed to avoid finding myself at the business end of a gun until now. The pistol looked as misplaced in this world as his fucking gore-splattered bomber jacket and white t-shirt.
Cassius clicked the safety off and tilted the weapon up the incline. “Lead the way, angel.”
Nope.
I turned on my heels, burst through a stream of falling water, and sprinted as fast as my feet could carry me.
I thought I’d be caught immediately—if not shot—but that didn’t happen. I heard strange noises, sloshing, a thud, and a growled out “gods damn it.” He slipped in the mud? That was one leg-up I had on him. I spent alotof time keeping my balance on these slippery slopes.
“Vivian, you can’t outrun me!” he called as I leaped over a large root, holding my dress bunched up against my hip to avoid it snagging.
A gun shot rang out. I winced, but the bullet hit a branch far above my head. Was he avoiding hitting me purposely? Right. I was precious cargo. A dead battery was no use to him.
In the distance, I saw something large and white, obscured by shifting darkness. It grew closer, but I couldn’t turn away. I couldn’t lose what little head start I had. Seconds mattered.
Running parallel to the slope was working in my favor so far. I could hear my pursuer grunting, struggling to keep his footing behind me. But there still wasn’t enough distance between us, and I was no runner. Sooner than later, I’d lose this chase.
The creature ahead was the same species that attacked me when I was stuck on a root last summer, onlybigger. Larger than a bear. I clung to my crystal a little tighter and felt the jar banging against my hip as I ran. I was protected. I didn’t need to avoid it,itwould avoid me. If only this jar worked on the man chasing me.
Sure enough, the creature backed up and turned toward the hill as I grew closer, climbing upward. Its predatory maw opened and roared in my direction, but its frustration wasn’t my problem. I pumped my arms faster, trying to widen the distance between myself and Cassius. If I could just get a little further away from him…
Four consecutive gunshots piercing the air was all the confirmation I needed that he didn’t have a crystal to ward off the creatures.Good. It was going to take a lot more than a handful of bullets to kill what I’d just run past. A yell of terror broke through the forest behind me, and the slightest kernel of relief sprung tears into my eyes. Just a little further in this direction, and I’d turn to start making my way back to my field.
Sorry, Ida. I’ll be there soon. Need to wait until the coast is clear.The ongoing gunfire indicated the beast hadn’t gotten Cassius yet. He was still able to fight.
