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I kept pace with Mika, pushing my body to its limits as we rushed forward. He darted through the forest and went off in a strange direction, veering away through difficult terrain, running under low bushes, jumping over streams, climbing on logs. I suspected that this was not the easiest way to the tower, but that he was trying to throw me off the scent so that he could have the advantage. I had heard the resentment and anger in his voice when he had confronted me about the kill I had made, stolen from him. He was just bitter. No kill was stolen, only claimed and earned. There was nothing he could do about it. I got there first. He had his chance, and he had missed it. I wasn’t here to grant him his kill. The trophy was mine, and if he wanted one of his own then he would have to earn it again.
Or he could try and take mine.
I almost wanted him to challenge me to a duel. I relished the thought of fighting him, of seeing what he was truly capable of. I wondered if he had the courage to do so though. Few people in my world would dare challenge me, but perhaps in Orestes it would be different. If I had to prove myself to them I would, and I would enjoy spilling their blood.
I followed close behind him, darting every way he darted, never putting a foot wrong. Water splashed against us as we crashed through a stream. My arm was not fully healed yet, so there was still a dull ache, but I was able to ignore it for the time being. Eventually we emerged from the forest and I could sense his annoyance that he had been unable to shake me off yet.
The field was fallow and wide. In the distance I could see a herd of animals grazing. It was almost enough to throw me off my stride, but I remained in control. It amazed me to see them out there, so prevalent in the world, ready and available to be hunted. How fortunate the lions of Orestes were to have these animals directly in front of them. Did they even realize what strife was? How much had they struggled over the years? They had a world walker too, and he did not have to fear his power or have it stripped from him. He did not have metal hooks digging into his skin, ripping his flesh over and over again, the magical gems in the bracelet preventing him from using his gift, a gift that was called a curse for no reason he could see.
He had been free to be what he had always been meant to be, while I had been shackled and punished because of who I am, and I needed answers.
If the lions of Orestes had come to our world, they would have been able to tell my ancestors that they were wrong to do this to me. They could have punished my father and shamed him for treating his only daughter like this. It all could have been so different.
The air became heavy with smoke and the scent of other lions. I looked ahead and on the horizon I saw the tower. The sun was setting behind it, making the sky bleed red. The tower rose high into the sky, and I could tell that the settlement here was far superior to the one that had been built at home. The tower had stood for generations, the bricks laid by lions that had long been buried in the ground. I tilted my head back as I looked at the top of the tower, wondering where I was going to end up. It was the place for a ruler, for a leader. It was the kind of place where I should have ruled from.
But Mika was the one who had the future of Orestes in his hand. What of his father though, what of the current ruler?
I would soon find out.
We reached the edge of the settlement, my muscles burning as I put all my energy into the final few steps. Mika was at my back. I was pulling away from him no matter how much he strained. I could feel the desperation in every step, I could hear the panting breaths as he tried to find that extra reserve of energy to outpace me, but I was going to make sure he wasn’t going to find it. I clenched my jaw and embraced every iota of pain as we reached the bottom of the tower. The eyes of the lions around us turned towards us. Some of them tensed, wondering if we were strangers, while others were merely interested. I reached the base of the tower before him and reared up. As soon as I shifted back into a woman sweat drenched my body, dripping from every pore, and Mika reared up beside me.
His chest heaved as he leaned against the tower, his words riding his frustrated breath.
“I guess I beat you to it again,” I said, smirking at him. I also offered a flick of my hair as I walked into the tower. It didn’t matter now that I had no idea what awaited me in the tower. I knew where I was going; right to the top.
Chapter Fifteen
Lanas
By the time I reached the tower the other two had already disappeared inside. During the run towards the tower, they had been gaining distance over me all the time, to the point where they actually escaped from view. I only had their scent to lead me forward. I would always follow my Lioness’ scent. As I emerged from the forest my pace slowed as I was amazed to see the scene before me, the utter shock of the wide fields and the industrious city with smoke rising in plumes from the fires that were lit. By the time I reached the tower the sun had set and the stars were twinkling ahead. It was strange to see a sky I did not recognize. I shifted back into my human form and staggered into the village, intending to hurry into the tower so that I could be beside my lioness again.
But I was stopped by a strong hand on my shoulder.
“You look tired friend, and hungry. Here,” a drink was thrust into my hand. I guzzled it down, so messily that it all ran down my chin. Food was cooking seemingly everywhere. Everyone was healthy and fit, smiling and laughing as though life was something to be enjoyed rather than endured. Ava had spoken of their being another way, but to actually see it in action was something else entirely. I was given bread and cheese and meat. I had eaten more than my fair share of the boar earlier, but the sprint away from the forest had made me hungry again. I nodded in thanks and took the meal, eating it quickly as I went inside the tower.
It was grander than anything in my own settlement. The hallways curved around leading to countless rooms. There were so many lions here. They looked at me strangely, but none of them tried to attack me, which I thought might have happened. Perhaps Ava had already convinced them to welcome us. I worked up the courage to ask one of them how I got to the top of the tower, as I assumed that was where the leaders resided. They told me to take the elevator. I went inside and the world shifted, lifting me up. I assumed it must have been some sort of pulley system that allowed the floor to ascend through the tower. I continued to eat, the crumbs staining my fingers.
I emerged and sniffed the air. Her scent was still strong. I followed it to a room and then I heard her high-pitched voice speaking aggressively with those in the chamber. I walked in to see a large man sitting on a throne. His skin was as dark as the night, with muscles upon muscles stretching over his body. His expression was stoic and his eyes were as dark as the night outside. There was another man beside him. Although their skins were different shades they had similar features. There were two women near him as well, one older than the other. Before them stood Ava and Mika.
“This can’t be true. I refuse to believe it,” Ava cried out.
“You can believe it all you like. The truth is the truth. I cannot change that,” the man sitting in the throne said.
“So, what are you going to do? You’re just going to let us suffer?” Ava asked.
“I have not decided yet. I need some time to think.”
“This is madness.”
“Please do not overreact. I have not come to any decision yet. I will think about the situation and come to a solution that will make everyone happy. I am sorry, but we cannot simply ignore the past.”
“Then you’re as bad as all the other lions of the past as well,” Ava said. She snarled and I could see from the expression on her face that she was about to do something reckless. Clearly, she hadn’t been able to get the answer she wanted, although I had no reason why. Perhaps these lions of Orestes were just as stubborn as the ones who had locked us to our destiny in the barren world.
She suddenly stopped pacing and stood in front of the Alpha. “Since we come from the same blood should I assume that we have the same rules? Do you welcome any challengers to your throne?”
My heart sank. I should have known it would come to something like this. I wanted to rush inside and drag her away so that she could think of some sense, but she would have been angry with me if I did something like that.
“That is the custom, yes,” the man on the throne said.
