"What ..." Shocked, Gabrielle stumbled to her feet. She stared at the blood
on her hand. Thoughts raced through her mind, one idea leapfrogging over
another. It was almost too jumbled together for her to think straight.
She wanted to believe that it was some elaborate trick Molly had played on her. But Gabrielle couldn't see how that was possible. She had seen the witch's hand before she had grasped it. Molly's hand had been clean. Besides, the woman had no motive to play a trick on her. She had seen the frightened and surprised expression on her face. The look had been Genuine. And her home, if oddly furnished, was light and warm. This was not the dark home of an evil person that practiced the Dark Arts.
It was beginning to sink in that this was REAL, that there were soldiers out there hunting for a blood sacrifice, hunting for HER. And all because of some blood thirsty War God!
What did he want with her anyway? She didn't even know him, for Zeus' sake! Why couldn't he mind his own business? How was she supposed to find the man from her dreams with him butting in all the time?
Gabrielle's face paled as another even darker thought occurred to her.
What if the man from her dreams WAS the War God?
"No, it can't be!" Gabrielle's blood-covered hand flew to her mouth. When she removed it, there were bright red streaks across her cheek, lips and chin. Yet it all matched! The expensive clothing he had worn, the intense look in his eyes, the sword at his hip. How could she have been so stupid? The man wasn't her soulmate he only wanted her blood! Why couldn't she have seen that before? Gabrielle reached down and picked up her pillowcase. "I ... I have to go. I shouldn't have come."
"Wait!" Molly said as she jumped off the sofa. "I didn't read your palm yet. You can't totally rely on those visions, you know. It could have meant something else!"
"I'm sorry, but I really have to get home." Gabrielle stumbled to the door, her feet not quite working for some reason. She reached the door and gripped the knob in both hands, struggling to open it. "My parents would be worried sick if they found out I snuck out!"
"You're in shock. I can't let you wonder around the woods at night.'" Molly said as she came up from behind her. She gently put a hand on Gabrielle's upper arm. "Why don't you spend the night here? I have an extra bedroom."
"No! I have to get home!" Gabrielle yanked on the door and it flew open. Gripping the pillowcase tightly in one hand, she flew outside like demons from Tartarus were after her. After the intense heat inside Molly's house, the outside air felt like ice and Gabrielle shivered. Without looking back, she raced through the trees. Sharp branches scratched at her skin as they partook of her life-giving blood. The sharp stings made her think of him. "How could I be so stupid?"
She heard Molly calling her to come back, but Gabrielle ignored the pleas. Forcing her way through the last clump of trees, she stepped out onto the path. Gabrielle clung to her beating heart within her breast as she gasped for air. Pausing, she looked one way up the path, then the other way. The moon was still high in the night sky, so it was easy to see in both directions. They both looked the same and equally spooky.
"Now which way did I come?" Gabrielle asked herself as she took a few steps in one direction, and then paused. "Was it this way or the other way?"
Gabrielle tried to remember a map of the area, but couldn't. She had no idea how far these woods extended or what was on the other side. Logic told her they had to end somewhere, with more towns just like her own on the other end. If she knew the size of the woods, she could take a chance going the wrong way. That way she could always head back and still be in bed before morning. But if the woods were extensive... "I could be lost for days!"
She studied the two directions more closely, this time ignoring the scary trees and studying the ground. Isn't that what hunters did, look at the ground? The tugging pain from her scraped knee reminded her of the slick patch of leaves. If she could find it, it should have a big skin mark on it. It wasn't much, but it was all Gabrielle could think of. She had just found a likely looking patch of leaves when voices floated to her ears.
Gabrielle froze where she was crouching near the patch of leaves. She tilted her head, listening. The moon had vanished behind a thick cloud so it was dark again.
"She went this way." A man's voice said.
"Lord Ares won't be pleased if she gets away." Another man's voice replied. "Her father claimed not to know where she had gone."
"She won't get away," the first man reassured. "Look at this trail. Even a blind man could follow it. She didn't even try to hide her escape path. We'll catch her soon enough for the ceremony."
A chill crept down Gabrielle's back when she realized it was the soldiers looking for her. And they were coming from Poteidaia! Gabrielle rose from her crouch and started running down the path the other way. She had to escape, before they found her!
"Listen to that!" one of the men shouted. "She's just up ahead!"
"Let's get her!" Another shouted.
Gabrielle heard the loud clink of armor as the men started to chase her. She ran blindly down the dark path, the trees only darker shadows whipping by. She gasped through her open mouth, the freezing air burning her lungs. She thought it would be easy to outrun them because of the heavy armor they wore, but to her dismay they were closing the gap between them. The real problem was she was out of shape!
OH, please, don't let them catch me! Gabrielle thought as she ran as fast as she could. The path turned several times and she just barely missed running headlong into trees, spotting them at the last moment. Then the moon came out from its hiding place among the clouds and silvery light shone down on her.
"There she is!" One of the soldiers shouted.
Still Gabrielle ran on. Her side was aching now and her boots felt like heavy hunks of metal tied around her ankles. And the pillowcase felt like it weighed a ton. She wanted to drop it but didn't dare. The only things she owned were in there, for who knows what the soldiers had done to her home, her family? Had they killed her parents, her sister? Did they burn down the entire town when they couldn't find her?
A faint glimmer of hope burned in Gabrielle's chest. The woods were thinning out! And just ahead was a wide field of grass! With an extra burst of speed she didn't know she had, Gabrielle ran out of the woods. She charged up the steep grass hill, expecting to find a sleeping town on the other side. Her tired feet slipped on the wet grass and she fell forward. But she put her hands out and forced herself back to her feet. She scrambled up the rest of the way to the top, and then skidded to a halt.
She was at the edge of a steep cliff. A river was far below, twisting its way like a ribbon through sharp rocks.
"We got you now, girl." One of the soldiers called as he started up the grassy slope. "There's no where to go, so you might as well give yourself up."
Gabrielle frantically glanced behind herself and saw the soldier coming closer. Stepping closer to the edge of the cliff, she searched for a safe way down. The only thing she saw was a root poking its way out of the cliff face. But even if she could get to it, there was no way down. Perhaps a skilled climber could have made it safely, but Gabrielle had never tried to climb a cliff. She had no reason to.
So she would fight!
Gabrielle spun around, facing the approaching warrior. He wore black leather armor, his arms reaching for her. "Stay away! Come any closer and I'll jump! I swear I will!"
The warrior stopped a few feet away. "Now don't do anything foolish. You don't want to jump off that cliff. You'll never survive it. I know it and you know it. For one, that water is freezing. It's a lot colder than the air is. Second, there's a waterfall farther down that river. You don't want to go over that now, do you? Smash up your bones good."
"Well, I'm certainly not going to be a sacrifice!" Gabrielle stepped closer to the edge, her back still to the cliff. Gabrielle knew she was just stalling for time. All around her she could see the other soldiers spanning out, blocking any escape route. If she would have been smart, she should have hid herself in the woods. Running had been stupid, but she had panicked ... again!
Gabrielle, you're always doing the wrong thing! You need to think first! Her sister's voice popped into her head. Where was Lila now? Lying dead in a pool of blood?
"There's no where you can go, so why don't you just give up?" the warrior repeated as he inched closer.
Just about now is when the hero is supposed to show up in the story. Gabrielle thought to herself. Where is a hero when you need one? And more important, could I really jump off this cliff? Do I even want to be asking myself this?
Just then strong arms closed around her waist. "Got you!"
She wanted to believe that it was some elaborate trick Molly had played on her. But Gabrielle couldn't see how that was possible. She had seen the witch's hand before she had grasped it. Molly's hand had been clean. Besides, the woman had no motive to play a trick on her. She had seen the frightened and surprised expression on her face. The look had been Genuine. And her home, if oddly furnished, was light and warm. This was not the dark home of an evil person that practiced the Dark Arts.
It was beginning to sink in that this was REAL, that there were soldiers out there hunting for a blood sacrifice, hunting for HER. And all because of some blood thirsty War God!
What did he want with her anyway? She didn't even know him, for Zeus' sake! Why couldn't he mind his own business? How was she supposed to find the man from her dreams with him butting in all the time?
Gabrielle's face paled as another even darker thought occurred to her.
What if the man from her dreams WAS the War God?
"No, it can't be!" Gabrielle's blood-covered hand flew to her mouth. When she removed it, there were bright red streaks across her cheek, lips and chin. Yet it all matched! The expensive clothing he had worn, the intense look in his eyes, the sword at his hip. How could she have been so stupid? The man wasn't her soulmate he only wanted her blood! Why couldn't she have seen that before? Gabrielle reached down and picked up her pillowcase. "I ... I have to go. I shouldn't have come."
"Wait!" Molly said as she jumped off the sofa. "I didn't read your palm yet. You can't totally rely on those visions, you know. It could have meant something else!"
"I'm sorry, but I really have to get home." Gabrielle stumbled to the door, her feet not quite working for some reason. She reached the door and gripped the knob in both hands, struggling to open it. "My parents would be worried sick if they found out I snuck out!"
"You're in shock. I can't let you wonder around the woods at night.'" Molly said as she came up from behind her. She gently put a hand on Gabrielle's upper arm. "Why don't you spend the night here? I have an extra bedroom."
"No! I have to get home!" Gabrielle yanked on the door and it flew open. Gripping the pillowcase tightly in one hand, she flew outside like demons from Tartarus were after her. After the intense heat inside Molly's house, the outside air felt like ice and Gabrielle shivered. Without looking back, she raced through the trees. Sharp branches scratched at her skin as they partook of her life-giving blood. The sharp stings made her think of him. "How could I be so stupid?"
She heard Molly calling her to come back, but Gabrielle ignored the pleas. Forcing her way through the last clump of trees, she stepped out onto the path. Gabrielle clung to her beating heart within her breast as she gasped for air. Pausing, she looked one way up the path, then the other way. The moon was still high in the night sky, so it was easy to see in both directions. They both looked the same and equally spooky.
"Now which way did I come?" Gabrielle asked herself as she took a few steps in one direction, and then paused. "Was it this way or the other way?"
Gabrielle tried to remember a map of the area, but couldn't. She had no idea how far these woods extended or what was on the other side. Logic told her they had to end somewhere, with more towns just like her own on the other end. If she knew the size of the woods, she could take a chance going the wrong way. That way she could always head back and still be in bed before morning. But if the woods were extensive... "I could be lost for days!"
She studied the two directions more closely, this time ignoring the scary trees and studying the ground. Isn't that what hunters did, look at the ground? The tugging pain from her scraped knee reminded her of the slick patch of leaves. If she could find it, it should have a big skin mark on it. It wasn't much, but it was all Gabrielle could think of. She had just found a likely looking patch of leaves when voices floated to her ears.
Gabrielle froze where she was crouching near the patch of leaves. She tilted her head, listening. The moon had vanished behind a thick cloud so it was dark again.
"She went this way." A man's voice said.
"Lord Ares won't be pleased if she gets away." Another man's voice replied. "Her father claimed not to know where she had gone."
"She won't get away," the first man reassured. "Look at this trail. Even a blind man could follow it. She didn't even try to hide her escape path. We'll catch her soon enough for the ceremony."
A chill crept down Gabrielle's back when she realized it was the soldiers looking for her. And they were coming from Poteidaia! Gabrielle rose from her crouch and started running down the path the other way. She had to escape, before they found her!
"Listen to that!" one of the men shouted. "She's just up ahead!"
"Let's get her!" Another shouted.
Gabrielle heard the loud clink of armor as the men started to chase her. She ran blindly down the dark path, the trees only darker shadows whipping by. She gasped through her open mouth, the freezing air burning her lungs. She thought it would be easy to outrun them because of the heavy armor they wore, but to her dismay they were closing the gap between them. The real problem was she was out of shape!
OH, please, don't let them catch me! Gabrielle thought as she ran as fast as she could. The path turned several times and she just barely missed running headlong into trees, spotting them at the last moment. Then the moon came out from its hiding place among the clouds and silvery light shone down on her.
"There she is!" One of the soldiers shouted.
Still Gabrielle ran on. Her side was aching now and her boots felt like heavy hunks of metal tied around her ankles. And the pillowcase felt like it weighed a ton. She wanted to drop it but didn't dare. The only things she owned were in there, for who knows what the soldiers had done to her home, her family? Had they killed her parents, her sister? Did they burn down the entire town when they couldn't find her?
A faint glimmer of hope burned in Gabrielle's chest. The woods were thinning out! And just ahead was a wide field of grass! With an extra burst of speed she didn't know she had, Gabrielle ran out of the woods. She charged up the steep grass hill, expecting to find a sleeping town on the other side. Her tired feet slipped on the wet grass and she fell forward. But she put her hands out and forced herself back to her feet. She scrambled up the rest of the way to the top, and then skidded to a halt.
She was at the edge of a steep cliff. A river was far below, twisting its way like a ribbon through sharp rocks.
"We got you now, girl." One of the soldiers called as he started up the grassy slope. "There's no where to go, so you might as well give yourself up."
Gabrielle frantically glanced behind herself and saw the soldier coming closer. Stepping closer to the edge of the cliff, she searched for a safe way down. The only thing she saw was a root poking its way out of the cliff face. But even if she could get to it, there was no way down. Perhaps a skilled climber could have made it safely, but Gabrielle had never tried to climb a cliff. She had no reason to.
So she would fight!
Gabrielle spun around, facing the approaching warrior. He wore black leather armor, his arms reaching for her. "Stay away! Come any closer and I'll jump! I swear I will!"
The warrior stopped a few feet away. "Now don't do anything foolish. You don't want to jump off that cliff. You'll never survive it. I know it and you know it. For one, that water is freezing. It's a lot colder than the air is. Second, there's a waterfall farther down that river. You don't want to go over that now, do you? Smash up your bones good."
"Well, I'm certainly not going to be a sacrifice!" Gabrielle stepped closer to the edge, her back still to the cliff. Gabrielle knew she was just stalling for time. All around her she could see the other soldiers spanning out, blocking any escape route. If she would have been smart, she should have hid herself in the woods. Running had been stupid, but she had panicked ... again!
Gabrielle, you're always doing the wrong thing! You need to think first! Her sister's voice popped into her head. Where was Lila now? Lying dead in a pool of blood?
"There's no where you can go, so why don't you just give up?" the warrior repeated as he inched closer.
Just about now is when the hero is supposed to show up in the story. Gabrielle thought to herself. Where is a hero when you need one? And more important, could I really jump off this cliff? Do I even want to be asking myself this?
Just then strong arms closed around her waist. "Got you!"