Chapter 10-Forgiveness
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Max
Fang is beyond angry with me. I can tell. There's just something in the shape of his eyebrows, the way they furrow in the center like ocean waves. Or there's the fact that he refuses to speak to me. I guess I over-stepped my authority by putting his best friend in danger as well. He's such a saint. Always caring about others and never himself. He didn't have any qualms when he knew he was going to be in harm's way. I suppose that's admirable. Though I don't think that he has any right to be angry because Iggy already agreed to help me.
But honestly, the Exemplar Facultas isn't anything to get worked up over. It's more like a spirit really. That's why no one's seen it such a long time. It's more elusive than the wind. It's just power, just a ball of power that shifts forms. We need more shifters, if shifters are ever going to survive. There's only four left that I know of, and hopefully more in the caves. Realistically speaking, there's a very little chance that shifters can survive beyond this generation.
It takes us six long days to get to Cardinal West, and a silent trip at that. What with Fang ignoring me, Gazzy and Angel becoming as close as kin, Iggy all serious, and Mom still weary from the events in the last month, we all walked in complete silence. The only words spoken were Gazzy and Angel playing games to pass the time, or soft "sorry"s when we accidently bumped into each other.
I don't think we can last long like this.
I didn't want him mad at me. I don't care whose son he is, I don't care if he hates me for taking away his family. Some part of me is eternally grateful for what he did for me. I would have to be. He saved my skin, or feathers, whatever you'd like to call it. I wanted to be alright with him again. We weren't ever exactly friends but maybe we could?
Or maybe we've been distanced from civilization so long that I'm too desperate for companionship.
Fang
What was she thinking? She had no right to ask Iggy to put himself in danger. She could've at least mentioned to me that Iggy was in mortal danger by even having his sight on finding the thing before telling him to track it. She could've said something along the lines of, "By the way, Fang, if Iggy does find the Exemplar Facultas, there's a good chance it'll get angry and kill Iggy and maybe even us."
I was fuming by the time she told me exactly how dangerous this would be. But Iggy was absolutely adamant about finding the creature. There was something about him that leapt at the challenge. Of course, this was only after Max told him what the Exemplar Facultas is.
I talked to him about it yesterday morning while we were making camp at the edge of the Delphis River near the Cardinal West. He laughed and said, "Fang, there's some things about me that you'd never understand."
But he was my best friend, what didn't I understand about him? "What do you mean?" I had asked.
He didn't answer me, instead he turned, a small wistful smile on his face, "And there are some things you don't yet understand about yourself."
I didn't sleep well last night thinking about what he said. Iggy was always the playful one, the joker. Since when did he get all wise and mysterious on me? I got up and washed my face in the river five times, tossed and turned, scooted closer to the fire, but to no avail. I couldn't sleep. Something was bugging me.
Max slept across from me, her blonde hair falling softly over her eyes, her lips parted just a bit to let out her gentle breaths. I studied her. Her position seemed almost guarded, as if at a seconds notice, she'd spring into action, ready to take on any enemy.
I was mad at her. She was completely stupid and careless. But I guess she has her reasons.
Max
"Max! Wait, please," his black eyes were captivating. A sense of security washed over me, despite the warfare around me. The horrible scent of metal mixed with blood, this strange evil that controlled us made me want to die. But I couldn't. It was a terrible feeling.
"Do you trust me?" he asks, crushing me to his chest in a tight embrace.
I nod even though I couldn't see his face, "I trust you, Fang."
"I'll protect you, Max," he says into my ear and I wrap my arms around his neck, trying to hold onto him tighter. It felt so right being held in his arms.
But then there was a small prick in my arm and then a burning sensation. I leap backwards, and notice there was a flash of silver in Fang's hands. There was a sadistic look on his face. Dangerous. I look down at my forearm, where there was a deep slash, blood pooling with a green glowing substance. I look up at him, my eyes flooded with betrayal.
Something flashes in his eyes. Anger? Confusion? "Max, I'm not going to hurt you," but even as he said this, he seemed to grow taller, darker, his teeth elongating, his eyes growing deeper until he looked skeletal until he wasn't himself anymore. Instead I was looking into the brown-haired embodiment of evil.
Queen Marian Janssen.
"What are you doing here?" I hiss.
"Why, Max," her lips curl into a sardonic smile, "I'd think you'd be more welcoming to the grandmother of your child."
"What-?" I look down, and then I see the small but defined bump at my stomach. My hands fly to the baby instinctively, my motherly genes taking over.
I look up, Marian still standing before me, but then I notice our surroundings as well. My mother and Angel were lying on the ground, swimming in blood. But it wasn't only their blood; there were thousands upon thousands of people piled around us.
And then in front of me, lay Fang.
Dead.
I break down crying, hugging myself, burying my head into his chest. There was something wet on my hands, and I brought them up to my face. My fingers were covered in red.
"Max! Max! Max!" A million people chanted. They were the souls of the dead. It was all my fault.
"Max!" Angel shook me awake. I opened my eyes to the harsh light of day.
"Max, are you okay?" Angel says, shooting me a worried look, "You're crying."
I bring my hands to my face, feeling the wetness on my cheeks. I nod, and then remembering my dream, I jump to my feet.
"Where's Fang?" I cry out frantically.
"I'm right here, Max," he says calmly, walking out of the forest, a bow in his hand. He looked like he was out hunting. Safe. He was safe, "Did you need anything from me?"
I sigh with relief, shaking my head and smiling. He was safe. He's not dead. There's nothing to worry about. But then I remember the baby.
Fang
"Where's Fang?" Max screams. She sounded like she was in trouble.
I ran towards the edge of the forest, towards her voice. Then I see that she's okay. I calm down.
"I'm right here, Max. Did you need anything from me?" I say, trying to be reassuring. She looked a mess. Her hair was a rat's nest; her eyes were bloodshot, like she didn't get any sleep. Tears were streaming down her face.
She smiles as she sees me, the same smile that I saw directed at Angel or her mom. It was the kind of smile I wanted from her the minute I saw her at the castle. But then a strange emotion washes over her features and she walks away from me. Leaping into a deer form, she starts towards the river.
"Wait, Max!" I chase after her. She weaves through trees and bushes and I end up following the quiver of twigs and leaves because I can't see her anymore.
She stops to rest at the river bank, resting her head on a rock. She stayed sprawled there as I approached her. I knew she knew I was there from the tenseness of her back.
"Max," I say cautiously, almost like approaching a wild animal.
"Fang," she says in a weary tone.
"Max, I don't want to fight anymore," I say. I didn't want her to be like this towards me.
She looks incredulous for a while and for a second I think she's still mad until she turns to me and hugs me quickly. I freeze and she pulls away.
"I'm sorry…about that," she says in a daze.
"It's okay," I tell her. It was. For a second, I could smell the musky scent of earth and wood on her skin. I missed her warm skin against me. But that was stupid thinking.
"Fang," she says suddenly after a little silence.
"Hmm?"
"I'm sorry about Iggy. And I'm sorry about your family. And I'm sorry that you have two sisters at home that are not at all safe with the queen," she says softly, her head sort of bowed in shame.
"How did you know about my sisters?"
"Iggy," she says. Of course it was Iggy.
"I'm really sorry, Fang. I understand that I'm selfish and I didn't think about Iggy's safety or yours."
"It's alright, Max."
She looks at me, hopeful, "Really?"
"Really."