Chapter 32: Cruelty

I had a strange dream. Marina, Shade and I were one of forty thieves from the Arabian tales of 1001 nights and on a quest to find the hidden cave full with gold and other treasure. For some reason, I was the only one who knew the magic words to open the cave. But before I could say them out loud, I woke up.

With a soft groan, I opened my eyes and raised my hand to rub the sleep out of them. I tried to sit up but Goth's wing laid heavy upon me which made it troublesome for me to move. With a sigh, I dropped my head back onto the Vampyrum's mane and rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache coming up. This wasn't unusual for me since I often got headaches after waking up from either sleeping too less or too long. But this time something was different. It wasn't just my head which was hurting me but my entire body as well. Furthermore, my eyes were sore, and I felt warm and cold at the same time. ''Great. I probably really am sick,'' I thought and took a glimpse at my wounded arm. The skin under the bandage was itching terribly. I didn't need to look underneath the leaves to know that the infection got worse despite Romulus saying it wasn't so bad at first. I sighed. I really should have stayed underground with the king of the rats.

Since the others were still asleep, I closed my eyes to get some more rest, but the sound of loud snoring rang in my ears and kept me awake. Looking around, I realized that this was what had woken me up. How the others could still be asleep with this noise was a mystery to me. However, it didn't take me long to find the origin of the sound. It was Throbb. He was snoring so loudly, it echoed in the tree hole. He was snoozing in a half-sitting, half-lying position with his back against the wall. His head was tilted to the side and a thin thread of saliva ran across his open mouth.

''Poor Marina,'' I thought with pity and once more wondered how anybody could sleep with all that noise. One look at my friend was enough to know that it was not possible. Trapped in his wing, Marina lay pressed against Throbb's body and didn't make a sound. But she wasn't asleep. Her eyes were wide open and bloodshot as if she hadn't slept all day. She just kept starring straight ahead, not daring to close her eyes even for a second.

I felt bad for her and wished I could help but I was kinda trapped myself. Nor did I even liked to move at all. And as if feeling sick wasn't awful enough I also had to come up with an idea how to hide it from Goth. A hopeless task I realized from the start. If Throbb had already noticed that I wasn't feeling well then Goth most likely has too. Especially since I spend the entire day pressed against his body like a plushy. I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep once more, as something pushed itself against my head. With a frown, I moved my head to get rid of it, but it didn't work. Then I heard someone sniffing me and froze. With my eyes opened wide I dared not to move an inch while feeling Goth's face close to my own.

As he kept sniffing my hair and face, I instantly knew that I could throw any idea of hiding my sickness from him into the bin. Nervously, I shifted around to see Goth staring straight at me with a frown on his face. None of us said a single word. We just kept looking at each other for a few minutes. Then he got up, causing me and Shade to fall to the ground. The Silverwing gave a short 'uff' as he hit the floor but didn't wake up. Goth, however, just stretched himself to get the sleep out of his body and walked over to Marina and Throbb. With a harsh push, he woke his cousin up from his dreamland. ''Get up!'' he growled.

The other Vampyrum let out a groan and opened his eyes with a yawn. ''Already?'' he asked, scratching his belly. ''But it's still early.'' He peered outside and following his glance I saw the remaining glow of the sun disappearing in the west.

''The earlier we leave the better.'' Goth walked over to Shade and roughly shook him awake as well.

Throbb groaned, wanting to go back to sleep. I couldn't blame him. I too wished to get some more rest. I was sick and had no interest in traveling around in the cold. But there was no way Goth would leave me behind. Not as long he believed he needed me just as he needed Shade to get to the Silverwings.

So without further ado, we made ourselves ready to get going. Marina looked like she would doze off at any time due to lack of sleep, but was still willing to grab my hands and carry me through the air as usual. However, Goth thought otherwise. Not tolerating any complaints, he ordered Throbb to carry me on his back. To my surprise, his cousin agreed without protest and crouched down so I could climb up on his back.

During our trip, none of us spoke a word. We just flew in utter silence and with a tense atmosphere in between us until Goth decided we should take a break and grab some food before searching for a place to roost for the day. Once again he told me, Marina and Shade to stay close to the river where he and Throbb could watch us and warned us not to even think of a plan to escape. Thanks to my illness I felt even less hungry today, so I didn't even bother picking a berry from a near bush. Instead, I just sat there on the riverbank and drew some pictures in the dirt with a stick, wishing to be in a warm and safe place where I could lie down and sleep until I felt much better.

''Hey, Vanessa?''

I glanced up, feeling a hand on my shoulder. Shade looked at me with concern. ''You don't look so well. Is everything all right?'' he asked.

''Of course not,'' Marina hissed, ''Can't you see?'' She moved over to me and put her hand onto my forehead for a moment and sighed. ''The fever got higher. There is no way you can keep denying it, Vanessa. You are sick.''

''What are we supposed to do? Throbb already knows that she is sick. How can we make sure that Goth won't?''

''We can't.''

Shade and Marina looked at me puzzled. ''What do you mean?'' I sighed and pulled my legs closer to my body. ''He already knows.'' I heard my friends gasping in shock, but I did not raise my head to look into their faces.

''He knows?'' Shade asked.

''Of course, he does,'' I replied with a frown. ''I had to sleep the entire day right under his nose. No wonder he caught the odor of my illness.''

''Oh, no. That's not good. That's definitely not good.''

''Guys, I know it seems like the worst thing ever, but I doubt Goth will do something. Remember he still thinks he needs me to get into Hibernaculum just like he needs Shade.''

''We know. It's just that we are worried about...''

''Instead of standing and babbling around you would well to get something to eat you three.'' Turning around, we noticed Goth standing right behind us with his wings crossed before his chest. How long has he been there? Hopefully, he had heard nothing from what we were saying. Not wanting him to feel more suspicious about us Shade quickly tried to come with an explanation. ''Uh, you see. We were just...

''Not talking about any ideas of how you want to escape I hope.'' Shade shook his head and gulped as the Vampyrum leaned his face close to his own.

''N-no, of course not.''

''I wouldn't recommend it. Otherwise, I'll personally see to it that your little trio becomes a duo. ¿Comprende?'' Shade nodded. ''Remember: I don't need all of you.''

''Of course you do.''

''¿Perdón?'' Goth looked at me, raising an eyebrow. ''Would you mind repeating that, señorita? I believe I heard you say I need you all or something?''

It was not my intention that he heard me but the words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. While trying to ignore Marina and Shade's shocked and worried expressions I looked up and stared Goth right into his eyes. ''I said: You need all three of us. Me and Shade to get you to the Silverwings. And Marina as a hostage to have something on us.''

''Oh, do I?'' Grinning deviously Goth stepped closer. ''So with other words. I can't do anything to you three until we are at Hibernaculum right?'' I nodded and instantly wanted to slap myself. But too late. With a squeak, I got grabbed by my collar and lifted from the ground. ''Well, I agree with you on one thing señorita. I do need all three of you alive, at least for the time being. But who says I have to keep you entirely unharmed?''

My face turned pale and although I was still warm because of my fever, I started shivering. I had no idea what Goth had in mind by saying that, but I also didn't want to know more about it either. I just wanted to get away from him. Preferably as far away as possible. The Vampyrum just chuckled, amused by my fear.

''Hey, now just wait a minute ok!?'' Shade tried to prevent further harm by attracting the cannibal's attention, but Goth ignored him. With a brief glance over his shoulder, he signaled his relative to fly over.

''Make sure these two don't get in my way.''

''What?''

''No!''

My two bat friends tried to rush to my aid, but Throbb yanked them back and held them tight.

''Now, please, Goth,'' cried Shade, "you promised not to harm us if we took you to Hibernaculum.

The giant bat snorted. ''I promise you nothing,'' he replied, ''But just because I have to let you live doesn't mean I can't hurt you.'' With a smirk, he stared down into my eyes. I wished I could just vanish into thin air or fainted. Only to avoid witnessing what Goth was going to do next. He snatched my right ankle with his free hand without letting go of me with the other. ''Well then,'' he began, ''you are really nothing but a burden to us. You can't fly. And now you are sick as well.'' He grimaced for a moment. ''Unfortunately, since I don't know if you're trying to fool me with this password story, I can't rip your little heart out. However, as I just told your friends here. It doesn't mean that I can't harm you at all. ''His gaze wandered to my foot. I twitched and tried to pull my leg away from his grasp, but it was no use.

''Let go!'' I cried but Goth just tightened his grip around my ankle before throwing me onto the ground. With a groan, I felt my butt hitting the floor. I tried to move away, but the Vampyrum set a knee down on my leg to keep me in place. With my heart beating hard in my chest, I watched him grabbing hold of my foot once again. This time with both hands.

''No need for you to look so worried señorita. It's not like you need to walk, anyway.''

''No! Don't!'' I struggled to make him let go of me but it was no use. Goth just gave me a cruel smile and gripped my leg even tighter. What then followed was the unsavory sound of bones cracking and the worst pain I ever felt in my life.

Orestes gasped and hid behind the trunk of a cut-down tree. With his breath held on, he waited for his father's soldiers to fly past him. He had no idea if they were just searching for the Silverwings or if the general sent them out to go looking for him as well. ''Tsk, as if,'' the young owl muttered to himself. But still didn't dare to let himself get caught.

Just when he thought the coast was clear, he heard someone else approaching. This time it was two wolves. Members of Luger's wolf pack. They were sniffing around as if they were searching for something but it didn't look like they were on a hunting trip. ''What are they looking for?'' Orestes wondered. Noticing one wolf looking up, he quickly shut his beak with his wings and cowered behind his hiding place. ''Don't let them know you are here!'' he told himself and kept completely still.

''Did you hear that?'' one of the wolves, a female, asked.

Her companion gave her a bored look.

''Must be your imagination. You are seeing a lot of things lately.''

''Maybe it was a Silverwing.''

''Yeah, or that 'giant bat' you saw yesterday.'' The male wolf sneered and shook his head.

''Well, that bat was pretty huge.''

''That was no bat. It was a bird. Most likely an owl.'' The female wolf growled while the male sat down and scratched himself behind his ear with back paw.

''I'm telling you. What I saw was a bat. Bigger than any other I had seen before and it looked like it was carrying something in his claws.''

''Like what?'' the male asked, ''Another 'giant bat'?''

The she-wolf frowned. ''No. It looked more like...'' she paused and sat down to think for a minute. Then she remembered ''Yes, like that shrunken human we met in the southern valley. You know, that one who was with Ursa and that runty Silverwing and the Brightwing.''

''Oh, yeah I remember her. But are you certain it was her?''

She shrugged. ''More or less. I'm just telling you what I saw.''

''In other words, it could have just been a squirrel. A squirrel and an owl.''

''It was no owl!'' But the male wolf wasn't interested in listening to her any longer. Instead, he got back up and made his way into the woods. ''Now come,'' he said. ''I'm hungry. I don't want to keep searching for those Silverwings with an empty stomach. In the end, I'll be seeing nonsense stuff like you.''

''That was no-nonsense!'' With a soft growl, she ran after the male and moments later they both disappeared in the thicket.''

Orestes needed a moment to process what he had just heard. Giant Bat?! Shrunken human?! Were they speaking about Vanessa? Probably. They were no other mouse-sized human. Orestes was shocked. He did not understand what was going on, but he was sure his friends were in grave danger. ''I need to find them, quick!'' He spread out his wings and flung himself into the sky, hoping to find Vanessa, Shade and Marina before it was too late.

That ****!

Clenching my teeth I buried my face into the grass and cursed Goth for what he just did. I wanted to scream, but apart from painful groans, no sound came over my lips. I just lay there, hitting and scratching the ground and wished for the pain to ease. But it didn't.

I think I heard my friends shouting at Goth. But he was just laughing. I didn't care. My entire focus was on my leg. I couldn't believe it. That guy seriously broke it. Just like that. With tears in my eyes, I glared at Goth. The Vampyrum had his back turned to me and was talking to Shade as if nothing was wrong. Marina was by my side and tried to comfort me.

''Deep breaths Vanessa. And don't move. You will just make it worse.''

Make it worse! Tsk, was she kidding me? How could my leg get any worse than it already was? It was broken. ... Okay depending on the fracture it might never heal correctly. This would be worse. But I wasn't concerned about that. Right now I just felt sick. Terrible sick. Not only because of my current illness but because of the dreadful pain I was in. I barely noticed Marina gathering a couple of sticks to tie them around my ankle together with a torn-off piece of my dress to splint it as good as possible.

''I think we dawdled around long enough,'' Goth said without giving me even a glimpse. ''We should get going before the sun gets up.''

Throbb scratched his head. ''But Goth, it's not even close to sunrise yet.''

''I said: We are going!,'' he said, glaring at him, ''Fooling around won't get us to Hibernaculum.''

''Uhm, I know. I was just...''

But Goth had already stopped listening and turned his attention back to Shade. ''Now, shall we get going?'' The young Silverwing nodded and spread his wings but Marina held him back. ''Wait!'' she said. ''We can't go now.''

''Why is that?'' Goth asked, glaring at her.

''Eh, b-because... because of Vanessa,'' she said, ''She is injured and sick. We need to look for some herbs for her to get better.'' ''And why should we?''

I glare at Goth hatefully. Of course he had no interest in helping me.

''But you need her, remember. What if she dies on the way?''

Goth looked like he wished to object, but then he threw a brief glimpse over to me and thought more about Marina's words. He had to admit that he needed me alive, at least until we reached the winter roost of the Silverwings. And even if he didn't kill me himself. Didn't mean I wouldn't kick the bucket on our way, anyway.

''Fine,'' he eventually said with a sigh, ''Go and look for some herbs for her. But don't take too long.''

Marina smiled with relief and signaled Shade to come with her. ''We will be quick, I promise.'' They were almost in the air as Goth stopped them by grabbing Shade by his wing. ''Wait a minute. I didn't say you both are going.'' He turned around and looked at his cousin. ''Throbb, you fly with Marina. We will wait for you here. Make sure to be back before sunrise.'' Throbb nodded while Marina exchanged a short worried look with me and Shade. Then she went airborne and followed Throbb into the forest.

For a moment none of us said a word. We just stared into the direction both of them flew. Then Goth gave me a brief glance and wrinkled his nose as if this slight delay was solely my fault. That bastard! I would be fine if he hadn't hurt me back at the power station and now here. I was so mad at him right now and would have loved to punch him in the gut or curse his face. But I didn't want to risk him breaking my other leg too. One was enough.

''Are you ok with the pain?'' I heard Shade asking me and felt his hand touching my shoulder in comfort. I nodded slowly and hissed as my leg was still throbbing in pain. Looking at it I noticed that Marina wrapped a pretty stable bandage around it. Hopefully, it will heal without problems. Seeing me in pain, Shade was outraged and glared at Goth. ''Why did you do that? I promised to get you to Hibernaculum. Why did you have to hurt her like that?''

''As far as I remember enano, there was no deal between us that said I can't harm any of you. Only that I won't kill you.'' With a grin, Goth leaned towards Shade, who struggled not to flinch back in fear. ''Though I have to say, I am quite impressed señorita.'' I raised my head and saw him looking at me. ''I would have thought you would be screaming and crying your eyes out.''

True. I felt like whining. But I wouldn't give him that satisfaction. Besides, I was feeling so miserable in general that I did not even have the strength to express my agony out loud. The fact that I didn't pass out was the only positive thing. Although I honestly wouldn't mind fainting. Better than feeling like you're gonna throw up at any moment.

''A worthy being in the name of Zotz. I have to admit.''

Zotz. Again I wondered how a bat could know about a deity from an ancient human culture? Sure he was portrayed as a bat but still...

"You look like you know something about him. Goth glanced at me with interest, but I shook my head. "All I know is that he's a from Mayan mythology. "A folk of my kind that existed many years ago.

Goth snorted. "I assure you, señorita. Zotz is no myth. He is real and lives at the core of the earth as I have told you before during our brief...captivity. '

''Aha!''

He narrowed his eyes. "Don't think I've forgotten about what happened in the mountains. For making a fool of me, you two will suffer far worse than you have before. Especially you.'' The look Goth gave me was terrifying. But he didn't talk any further about it and turned away from us to look out Marina and Throbb.

Not long after, the two finally returned.

"I found some herbs. I hope they'll work.'' Marina dropped a bunch of plants in my lap. I tried to grab one of them, but Goth beat me to it and looked at them skeptically.

"What have you brought here?" he asked.

"Oh, just some herbs to help reduce fever and allay inflammation. Nothing more.''

"I see.'' Goth looked a little closer at the bundle of plants.

"Goth, can we please move on now? I'm hungry and we have yet to hunt anything.''

''I know.'' His cousin's whining was really getting on his nerves.

"I'm just saying," he defended himself. "The sun will be up soon and I don't want to go to bed on an empty stomach.''

"Can't you think about anything but your stomach for once in your life?''

As those two kept arguing, I ate the herbs Marina had found.

''Is the pain still bad?'' she asked. I shook my head. ''No, it's bearable.'' I could see that she wasn't buying my lie, but didn't say anything.

"We gotta get rid of Goth and Throbb. " said Shade.

"And how do we do that?" I asked. ''We can't just fly away. They'd catch us in no time.''

He sighed. "I know.''

"I also found something else.'' Marina pulled out another bundle of leaves, which she had carefully hidden in a fold on her right wing.

"Wait, are those..."

She nodded. ''It's not much, but I think the amount should be enough for us to sneak away without them noticing.''

"You're a genius.'' Shade laughed with delight and I too couldn't help but grin.

Marina gave us a small smile. "Thanks. The only question is how do we get those two to eat the leaves? I don't think Goth will fall for the salad story again.

"That's true, unfortunately.'' Now what? How could we make Goth and Throbb eat the sleeping herbs without realizing it? Maybe if ... An idea sparked inside me. It was risky, but it might be our only option. "Guys, I think I know what we can do. Although you're not gonna like it.''

Goth brought a bat into the cave and tore it up hungrily. I noticed that it was a Brightwing, and my stomach turned. ''Of course. That makes the entire thing a lot easier,'' I thought while Marina glared at the two cannibals with hate.

''Be thankful I found that loner,'' Goth said to her, ''otherwise I might have eaten you now.'' Marina snorted and turned away from him.

''Is there really no other way,'' she asked. I knew she would be displeased with it. I too would have preferred if Goth had captured something else, but sadly this wasn't the case.

''A Brightwing, of all things.'' Marina shuddered and pinned her ears back as if she was trying to block out the Vampyrum eating noises.

''So... which of us should do it?'' I asked but got no answer. I didn't blame them. I wasn't exactly keen to do it myself. But one of us had to smuggle the leaves under the cannibal bats' food. Preferably unnoticed.

Shade sighed. ''I'll do it.'' Marina and I stared at him in surprise.

''Are you sure?''

''Yes... I mean... someone has to. Besides it's not like I have to eat any of it.''

"Maybe a bit. Otherwise, Goth might become suspicious.''

''I think he already is.'' Marina nodded nervously to the side. Following her glance, I notice that Goth had interrupted his meal and was looking straight at us. Hopefully, he hadn't heard us. He tipped his head thoughtfully to the side and stared at us quietly. Blood dripped from his chin. I wanted to turn away in disgust but then a grin spread across his face. What was that guy up to now?

''Señorita, may I offer you a piece of this delicious meal?''

''What?''

''Just take a bite. There is plenty enough.''

''What?'' Throbb stopped eating and stared at Goth in shock. His mouth full.

I was also perplexed, but quickly recollected myself. ''No thanks,'' I replied without thinking further. Shade nudged me. ''Wait a minute Vanessa,'' he whispered, ''maybe...''

''You misunderstand señorita. That wasn't a request.'' I couldn't help but notice the threatening undertone in his voice. Yet... Should I really? Not that I had a problem eating meat. But this was a bat. A Brightwing to be exact.

''It' okay.'' Marina gave me a faint smile ''You have to eat something, anyway. You didn't eat a single berry today.'' ''But...'' She shook her head and shivered slightly. ''Do it! F-for the plan.'' I gulped and turned to Shade, but the Silverwing didn't know what to say.

''Señorita?''

"All right.'' Taking a deep breath, I struggled to get up to my feet with the help of my friends. Easier said than done. At the slightest movement, the pain shot into my injured leg. I almost dropped down again. With my teeth clenched together, I limped over to the Vampyrum and tried not to let them see in how much pain I was in. Before the half-eaten carcass of the bat, I slumped back to the ground. Fortunately, the poor soul's head was turned away, so I didn't have to see its face.

"¡Bueno, bon appétit!"

I didn't want that. I didn't want to eat bat meat. But I had no choice. I couldn't back out now. With my back turned to the bats, I leaned over the cadaver and dug my fingers into the meat. Pretending to tear a piece out. In doing so, I hid tiny pieces of the sleeping herb deep inside it as stealthily as possible. Here a bit. There a bit. Just as I was putting the last bits into another spot, Throbb bent over to see what I was doing.

"She hardly eats anything," he complained.

"Eat!" growled Goth and roughly pushed me in the back. "I told you to eat. So eat!''

I couldn't get away from it now. I had to eat from the bat. With a heavy heart, I tore off a piece off and took a hesitant bite. I tried not to think about what it was as I chewed. The taste itself was hard to tell. On one hand, it did not differ from any other meat I tasted before in my life. On the other hand, it was nothing that I would like to eat again. After I consumed the meat, I moved away and let Goth and Throbb eat the rest.

AN: Honestly I had no idea what to write for this chapter. I knew what I wanted for the beginning and the end but the middle...

Anyway, I'm glad I managed to think of something, even if it means that things got worse for me now ^^;