Disclaimer:
Alright, I don't own a thing. Okay? I admit it, geez. I hope you're
happy now. No money is being made off of this story and I have to give the boys
back when I'm done. Though Dean O'Gorman is welcome to come visit
anytime he wants. ;)
Darkest Side of Night.
The silence of the forest was shattered by a loud yell, followed soon
after by the sounds of running feet and a muffled curse. In a blur of motion and
labored breathing a young woman streaked through the peaceful clearing, her
red-gold curls streaming behind her. She risked a quick glance over her shoulder
and caught a glimpse of metal in the trees behind her. _Maybe this wasn't such a
great idea after all._ With a breathless curse she returned her attention to the
all but non-existent trail in front of her and renewed her efforts.
Hurtling over a small stream and dodging large boulders along the
streambed it became painfully obvious to her that, while she could stay ahead of
her pursuers she wasn't gaining ground on them. _Okay, don't panic. You've
made it this far. What was Ariannia always tell you? When in doubt the best
defense is to stay where you are? Whatever, it was something like that._
Without pausing the girl ran straight at an especially large rock, leaping
up onto it with one stride and reaching up to grab a low tree branch. Flipping
herself up and over she landed on the branch, hidden by the leaves from the soldiers
below.
Trying to slow her racing pulse and breath normally she carefully slid
down into a slight crouch and watched anxiously as her pursuers crossed the
stream. They charged across, fanning out quickly to search for her trail, yelling
orders to one another. The girl's breath caught in her throat as one of them examined
the rock she had left off of more closely than she was comfortable with.
_Am I bleeding? None of them got me on the way out. What in Tartarus
is he so damn interested in? Don't look up._ She pleaded silently, sending a
quick prayer to Artemis that their hunt would not be successful tonight. The
soldier below her was still looking at the rock intensely and the girl felt certain
that he'd seen some evidence of her leap, be it a spot of blood or some other
insignificant detail. He cocked his head to one side and the girl froze, crouched
barely five feet above his head. _Just turn and walk away. There you go. Just go away.
Nothing to see here. Nothing to see..._
"Dionyus! What're you waiting for? We've got her trail! It's still fresh,
she can't be far ahead!" One of the other soldiers called to the older man, who
forgot his interest in the rock and hurried to catch up with the rest of the
soldiers.
Only when they were completely out of sight did the redhead allow herself
to relax. Cautiously stretching tense back muscles she slowly lowered herself to
the ground. Her booted feet hit hard packed earth and she looked around, half expecting
Narius' men to come charging back out of the bushes at her. Nothing happened and she
breathed out a small sigh of relief. "Thank you, Artemis. That's another one I owe
you." She quietly told the air.
With another quick look around she began picking her way between the
rocks of the stream. She had gone barely half a league when a hand reached out
of the bushes on the bank and grabbed her ankle. Her momentum unexpectedly
halted she stumbled and fell with a splash into the frigid water. Sensing someone
behind her she scrambled to a half-sitting position and glared up at the man who stood
above her. It was the soldier who had shown some much interest in the rock early, Dionyus.
He grinned coldly at her, a predatory grin that sent chills down her spine.
"I found her!" He shouted out, then directed his attention to the shivering girl
who had regained her feet. "I knew you'd come this way." He told her matter of factly.
"That trick with the tree was cute, but the game's over, little girl. Narius wants you back.
And what Narius wants, well, Narius gets."
The girl pushed a soaked lock of red-gold hair out of her eyes, tried to
look helpless, and whimpered convincingly. Dionyus only smiled and stepped
forward, she hurriedly stepped back, giving the impression of absolute terror.
Her ruse worked and Dionyus, more confident now reached out quickly
to grasp her wrist. Instantly the girl's expression changed from abject terror to deadly
intent. In one swift move she violently twisted her wrist free of his grasp and brought
the rock she had concealed behind her full force on the guard's head. He tried to duck
and the rock grazed him temple. Never the less he fell hard, dazed. The girl dropped the
rock and spun, dashing headlong into the thickest underbrush. _Narius can go to Tartarus.
I'll never go back there._
Behind her she heard a very good demonstration on the use of four letter
words and the sound of running feet accompanied by brief splashes. She pushed
herself to run faster as she heard the guards take up the chase, the cracking
of trees and shouted curses announcing their pursuit. She sprinted blindly through
the trees, praying to all the gods above that she would not trip over a root.
The chase continued form several minutes, the sounds of the pursuing
guards sounding further and further away. Not daring to slow her pace the
redhead continued to pound at the dirt, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Then
suddenly the trees ended, leaving her to stare open mouthed at a rather large
river. Cursing her luck and briefly wondering what god she could have slighted
she veered left, down river, hoping to get clear before the guards cleared the
tree line. No such luck. They raced out of the woods and spotted her racing along
the bank, turning quickly to give chase.
Ignoring the arrows that flew around her the girl sprinted down the
bank. _Oh yeah. This plan definitely needs some work._ Her eyes darted around
the bank quickly, looking for any sort of weapon she could use to defend herself.
A thick branch several yards downstream caught her attention and she raced
for it, diving into a roll and coming up with the long branch poised like a staff
in her hands. She whirled to face Narius' men, disappointed to see Dionyus still
among the conscious. _Just gonna have to rectify that mistake._
To her amusement the guards stopped dead in their tracks when she
whirled around. Some stood with their mouths hanging open in shock; they
couldn't comprehend that a simple slave girl had the nerve to fight back.
Without hesitating the girl took advantage of their shock and waded into
the center of them waving the makeshift staff with reckless abandon.
"Don't kill her! Narius wants her alive!" She heard one of them shout
as she swung her staff behind the knees of one man then brought it up to meet
his chin as he fell. He went down in a heap, she dropped her staff and dove for
his sword, rolling quickly she parried a downward thrust meant to cleave her
skull in two and kicked out, catching the man in the chest. He doubled over and
she jammed the hilt down hard on his temple. _Two down._ She thought triumphantly,
turning quickly to place her back to the river and her heart sank a little. _And
ten to go. This isn't over yet._
She set her jaw grimly. Whatever happened she would not return to that
living Tartarus alive, of that she was certain. Then the guards rushed her and
the future seemed very far away.
Alright, I don't own a thing. Okay? I admit it, geez. I hope you're
happy now. No money is being made off of this story and I have to give the boys
back when I'm done. Though Dean O'Gorman is welcome to come visit
anytime he wants. ;)
Darkest Side of Night.
The silence of the forest was shattered by a loud yell, followed soon
after by the sounds of running feet and a muffled curse. In a blur of motion and
labored breathing a young woman streaked through the peaceful clearing, her
red-gold curls streaming behind her. She risked a quick glance over her shoulder
and caught a glimpse of metal in the trees behind her. _Maybe this wasn't such a
great idea after all._ With a breathless curse she returned her attention to the
all but non-existent trail in front of her and renewed her efforts.
Hurtling over a small stream and dodging large boulders along the
streambed it became painfully obvious to her that, while she could stay ahead of
her pursuers she wasn't gaining ground on them. _Okay, don't panic. You've
made it this far. What was Ariannia always tell you? When in doubt the best
defense is to stay where you are? Whatever, it was something like that._
Without pausing the girl ran straight at an especially large rock, leaping
up onto it with one stride and reaching up to grab a low tree branch. Flipping
herself up and over she landed on the branch, hidden by the leaves from the soldiers
below.
Trying to slow her racing pulse and breath normally she carefully slid
down into a slight crouch and watched anxiously as her pursuers crossed the
stream. They charged across, fanning out quickly to search for her trail, yelling
orders to one another. The girl's breath caught in her throat as one of them examined
the rock she had left off of more closely than she was comfortable with.
_Am I bleeding? None of them got me on the way out. What in Tartarus
is he so damn interested in? Don't look up._ She pleaded silently, sending a
quick prayer to Artemis that their hunt would not be successful tonight. The
soldier below her was still looking at the rock intensely and the girl felt certain
that he'd seen some evidence of her leap, be it a spot of blood or some other
insignificant detail. He cocked his head to one side and the girl froze, crouched
barely five feet above his head. _Just turn and walk away. There you go. Just go away.
Nothing to see here. Nothing to see..._
"Dionyus! What're you waiting for? We've got her trail! It's still fresh,
she can't be far ahead!" One of the other soldiers called to the older man, who
forgot his interest in the rock and hurried to catch up with the rest of the
soldiers.
Only when they were completely out of sight did the redhead allow herself
to relax. Cautiously stretching tense back muscles she slowly lowered herself to
the ground. Her booted feet hit hard packed earth and she looked around, half expecting
Narius' men to come charging back out of the bushes at her. Nothing happened and she
breathed out a small sigh of relief. "Thank you, Artemis. That's another one I owe
you." She quietly told the air.
With another quick look around she began picking her way between the
rocks of the stream. She had gone barely half a league when a hand reached out
of the bushes on the bank and grabbed her ankle. Her momentum unexpectedly
halted she stumbled and fell with a splash into the frigid water. Sensing someone
behind her she scrambled to a half-sitting position and glared up at the man who stood
above her. It was the soldier who had shown some much interest in the rock early, Dionyus.
He grinned coldly at her, a predatory grin that sent chills down her spine.
"I found her!" He shouted out, then directed his attention to the shivering girl
who had regained her feet. "I knew you'd come this way." He told her matter of factly.
"That trick with the tree was cute, but the game's over, little girl. Narius wants you back.
And what Narius wants, well, Narius gets."
The girl pushed a soaked lock of red-gold hair out of her eyes, tried to
look helpless, and whimpered convincingly. Dionyus only smiled and stepped
forward, she hurriedly stepped back, giving the impression of absolute terror.
Her ruse worked and Dionyus, more confident now reached out quickly
to grasp her wrist. Instantly the girl's expression changed from abject terror to deadly
intent. In one swift move she violently twisted her wrist free of his grasp and brought
the rock she had concealed behind her full force on the guard's head. He tried to duck
and the rock grazed him temple. Never the less he fell hard, dazed. The girl dropped the
rock and spun, dashing headlong into the thickest underbrush. _Narius can go to Tartarus.
I'll never go back there._
Behind her she heard a very good demonstration on the use of four letter
words and the sound of running feet accompanied by brief splashes. She pushed
herself to run faster as she heard the guards take up the chase, the cracking
of trees and shouted curses announcing their pursuit. She sprinted blindly through
the trees, praying to all the gods above that she would not trip over a root.
The chase continued form several minutes, the sounds of the pursuing
guards sounding further and further away. Not daring to slow her pace the
redhead continued to pound at the dirt, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Then
suddenly the trees ended, leaving her to stare open mouthed at a rather large
river. Cursing her luck and briefly wondering what god she could have slighted
she veered left, down river, hoping to get clear before the guards cleared the
tree line. No such luck. They raced out of the woods and spotted her racing along
the bank, turning quickly to give chase.
Ignoring the arrows that flew around her the girl sprinted down the
bank. _Oh yeah. This plan definitely needs some work._ Her eyes darted around
the bank quickly, looking for any sort of weapon she could use to defend herself.
A thick branch several yards downstream caught her attention and she raced
for it, diving into a roll and coming up with the long branch poised like a staff
in her hands. She whirled to face Narius' men, disappointed to see Dionyus still
among the conscious. _Just gonna have to rectify that mistake._
To her amusement the guards stopped dead in their tracks when she
whirled around. Some stood with their mouths hanging open in shock; they
couldn't comprehend that a simple slave girl had the nerve to fight back.
Without hesitating the girl took advantage of their shock and waded into
the center of them waving the makeshift staff with reckless abandon.
"Don't kill her! Narius wants her alive!" She heard one of them shout
as she swung her staff behind the knees of one man then brought it up to meet
his chin as he fell. He went down in a heap, she dropped her staff and dove for
his sword, rolling quickly she parried a downward thrust meant to cleave her
skull in two and kicked out, catching the man in the chest. He doubled over and
she jammed the hilt down hard on his temple. _Two down._ She thought triumphantly,
turning quickly to place her back to the river and her heart sank a little. _And
ten to go. This isn't over yet._
She set her jaw grimly. Whatever happened she would not return to that
living Tartarus alive, of that she was certain. Then the guards rushed her and
the future seemed very far away.