Chapter 11: Blue Blood

Holly:

Vaughan's fingers were so gentle on my chin. Making me look at him, because I needed to. I needed to tell him the truth. No matter how it made me feel, he needed to know.

And fate. Yes, that seemed to be the right word for whatever this was. Him being here. The war happening. If there was a future for us, it would be one I would like very much. More than I would ever admit, especially to myself. I knew the heartbreak of accepting this blooming romance only to have to move to the southern continent or the Western wastes would destroy me more than almost anything else. In the end I would give anything, if meant keeping Uller and Vili safe, keeping all the children of Terrasen safe.

I leaned back. We were getting too close.

With everyone else in bed, the booming sound of wings drew my attention. Just as easy for me to hear as Vaughan.

I dove for the torches along the stables dropping them into buckets of water. If they couldn't see the lights, they would fly over the manor.

Vaughan ran from the stables, likely to the house. When the lights were out in the stables, I snatched up my bow and quiver, dust had once again collected on them, and quietly as I could, shut the stable doors.

Outside of the walls, there was the little to dull the sound of the wings. Or the terrible reptilian screech that grated against my ears.

I nocked an arrow. And looked around. They were close too close. Our little spot had been well hidden from prying eyes, but from aerial views we were a clear target.

A wyvern, no, three wyverns circled the manor. Terrible dark riders atop their mounts.

"Holly," Vaughan screamed. I whirled and forth dropped from the sky right at me. The great beast's mouth was wide open. I shot an arrow through the roof of its mouth and hopefully through it head. Even if my arrow did hit through the bone, muscle, and sinew, it didn't stop its great momentum. I rolled to the side before it could crash into me.

The beast drove into the ground, its spiked tail whipping wildly. I got my feet under me, and ran.

I shoved through the front door of the manor.

"Vili, Uller." I screamed. "Pip!"

They were already up. Tugging shoes on.

A guttural scream came from outside, the only male sound belonging to Vaughan.

"We can't keep running. Those are witches and wyverns they will find us." Vili argued. She hefted Uller, who was crying.

"One wrong lash from their tail will destroy the house. We don't have a choice but hide in the forest." I shouted at her, grabbing little shoes and shoving them onto Uller.

"It's the middle of winter. We will freeze." Pip said snatching blankets from the couches.

"We are not arguing. GO." I pushed them to the kitchen, to the back door.

Another scream from out front. Pip paled. Vili only gripped him by the arm and hauled ass into the forest.

Four on one, or rather eight on one. I couldn't leave him, even if I could only shoot an odd arrow. I took the stairs two at a time. All the way up to the highest level. I pushed open the window and took aim. The witches weren't looking at me. They thought we ran or were huddled in the corner.

I couldn't. I wouldn't let Vaughan defend this place alone. There wasn't enough room in the clearing for all four of the witches to land. Indeed, the one I had shot at was dead. The rider hacking at Vaughan, ax and sword, against two mighty swords.

I pushed the window open slowly, careful not to draw attention. Two were circling above, waiting for room or opportunity. They had correctly prioritized Vaughan as the real threat.

I sighted one when they began their circle again. I pushed out a breath and fired. I sighted the other in the air. The wyvern, under the rider I had shot, was none the wiser.

In the moment I loosed the next arrow, Vaughan unleashed himself. The wvyerns, throats were turned to puddles. The riders still in the air were crunched under their falling mounts.

The first unseated rider was the only one remaining. She took her bow, still secured from her back and turned from Vaughan. She took aim. At me. Shit. Before I could even process moving the arrow thunked into the eaves, scraping the side of my head.

Vaughan called after me. I couldn't breathe much less think of a reply. He pulled himself up onto the first roof, then scaled the next. He was covered in black and blue blood.

Blue blood of witches.

My mother had blue blood, as Marion Lochan had. They were friends even if Marion was a Blackbeak, and my mother half Crochan. A quarter witch. I was a quarter witch. My mother's witch blood gave her the ability to create life over a few decades.

I didn't bleed blue. I wasn't a witch.

Vaughan touched his fingers to the side of my head. The first red to join the sticky masses on him.

"Come." He said and guided me from little window. He sat me on the main couch and pressed a cloth to my head. My vision swan, black dots faded in out.

…

"Holly," Vili's face came into view. I blinked the grogginess from my mind. My mouth was ashen though. I couldn't say anything. "I'm going to put Uller to bed, then lay down myself. Do you need anything?"

I shook my head. I was supposed to take care of her, not the other way around. She pressed a cup of tea into my hands and left, sweeping away with her bundled blankets and nightgown.

I knew it was him before he even sank into the cushions. "You shouldn't have come back."

He pulled the blanket off of me, and rose to help me up, while I groaned, "you shouldn't have to fight by yourself."

He quirked a smile. "You aren't much of a fighter." I gripped his hands tightly, needing help to stand.

"True. One little scrape and I stopped functioning." and I was up. Woozy, and wobbly. Vaughan banded his arms around me, and I leaned into his embrace. I was a lovesick fool.

"It wasn't little. She nearly killed you." He kissed the side of my head, right above the mark.

"I'll be fine." I whispered back.

"Because I healed you." He brushed his lips against my head again. "Let's get you to bed."

I could tell he wanted to just scoop me up and carry me to bed. I made it myself though, all the way up the stairs, and to my room at the end of the hall.

He lit the fire in my room, and tried to tuck me into bed.

"Goodnight, I'll be across the hall if you need anything."

"Stay." I blurted. It wasn't the blood loss talking, I think.

He turned back and leaned he braced his hands on the bed on either side of me. Drawing very, very close to my face. I set a blank look on my face as he said, "it isn't proper."

"I don't care." I said evenly.

He didn't move, not closer, nor further. I wish I knew what he was thinking.

He blew out a breath, and crossed to the other side of the bed. I burrowed into his side as close as I could get. Grateful for his warmth, and his nearness.