AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Surely, I cannot have come this far just to fail now.
I'm starting to think all is lost when a figure steps from the shadows that part like ink before me.
Blinking, my eyes widen, unable to do anything but stare as he moves into the faint glow of the crystal. I have to crane my neck to look up at him as he towers above me.
My heart skips as I take in the terrifying skull-masked face of this being, my mind no longer accepting he is simply a man.
Swirling darkness cloaks him like a living creature as he bends down toward me.
My entire body begins to shake as his deep black eyes peer out from the mask to meet mine, and I swear he sees into the very depths of my soul as I let out a gasp of surprise.
Unblinking, he makes no further sound or movement as I continue to stare at him. It suddenly strikes me that he's probably waiting for me to make my plea.
My mouth opens, but at first, no words come out. Frowning, I suddenly clutch at my chest as it feels like the last bit of warmth slips from my body.
I let out a small, shuddering gasp just as the last of my strength seeps from me.
"Father," I whisper, the word nearly dying on my lips, before complete and utter darkness finally takes me.
12
The Bargainer
Father?
I frown, staring down at the girl's crumpled body for a moment before couching to prod her gently with a gloved finger.
She does not so much as twitch or acknowledge my touch, her face still and her breathing shallow, and after only speaking that one word.
Father.
It makes no sense. I am no one's father, least of all to this frail little creature lying before me.
Straightening, I let out a deep sigh, my shadows swirling around me in agitation.
What am I supposed to do now?
Cocking my head to one side and then the other, I nudge her with the toe of my boot. Still, she does not move.
Her eyes are closed, ice already frosting over her lashes. I cannot simply leave her here, and yet I do not know what else to do.
Judging from her the fragility of her breaths, she is unlike to wake again if she remains where she is. She will die if I leave her here, and it is not yet her time.
Besides, she did ask for The Bargainer, and a deal has yet to be reached between us. A bargain yet to be decided upon.
Of course, I could simply choose to walk away. There would certainly be consequences for doing so, least of all her untimely death, but is the alternative worth the effort?
And then again, there is that altogether confounding matter of her last uttered word. My fingers twitch at my sides as my eyes trail over her tiny body.
"Damn it," I sigh deeply, realizing I have no real choice in the matter, not if I want to continue to live in peace for the foreseeable future.
I can almost hear the shrill voices of the Fates already, berating me as they are forced to untangle and pull apart the threads that led her here. The headache that alone would cause is motivation enough for me to kneel and reach for her.
It seems I have no choice but to bring her home with me and see to it that she does not die before we can reach an agreement.
I am careful to readjust my outfit before reaching for the girl. Should she come into contact with my skin, even just for a moment, then all will be for naught.
Lifting her into my arms, I clench my jaw in pain as the warmth of her body penetrates me, sending a strange shiver down my spine and into the very depths of my being.
