Moonrise

Chapter 4

To Die For

"No more happy endings."

Moonlight streaked through a hole in the barn. Panicked shallow breathing echoed through the dark and freezing air. Elizabeth lay chained in the darkness in one of the horse stalls, thick metal irons cuffing her by the knee after the last time of her finding her way out of the ankle cuff. For some reason, her father was murderous tonight, even more than usual. Was he suspicious? Did he know? Yet it mattered little to her. Nimue's words rushed through her mind again like a river. Just like any river, it made everything clear. She knew she was right. She was right about everything. If she stayed here, she was going to die. If she escaped, her and the animals she lived with would at least have a chance. Being rocked in the arms of the dark one was unlike anything she had ever felt. She would have a mother. And she would finally be free. She could be in Nimue's company for as long as this cancer would let her live. Perhaps even cured of her illness. She could live without ever seeing her abusers again. She could learn magick and do all the wonderful things that her new mother could do. A perfect life awaited her on the other side of the fence.

It wasn't just about her anymore either. Her father had begun to beat the animals on the farm every chance he got. His rages were becoming worse and like her he was going after the innocent to vent his frustrations. This decision was no longer about her. It was about them. It also brought forth a painful reality that she had tried to cope with or ignore all of these years. Her parents had never loved her. And they never would. They hated her, and they would never change. No matter how hard she tried, she was never going to earn their love. There was someone however on the other side of the fence that did love her. She was just the opposite of her parents. No matter how sick she was and no matter what she did, Nimue loved her. Her parents on the other hand hated her no matter what she did. The burning flame of bravery was being fanned by what was waiting for her on the other side. All she had to do was leave. She wasn't waiting for anyone to save her anymore, for the animals were relying on her to save them too. No matter the cost, she was getting her happy beginning. She closed her eyes and breathed. She could still smell the candles and herbs that coated Nimue's golden skin. She could still feel her warmth from that soft embrace. That warmth was what would keep her alive during this final battle.

A single mania took a hold of her. Escape. She had no possessions and simply had no one except the animals. And they were coming with her. She'd not say goodbye nor feel sorrow. There was nothing left on the farm for her. There was only one problem however. She was chained. Her father had not accounted for her no longer fearing death. If all that stood between her and freedom from his wrath forever was an iron…she was already in pain. There was a tool just in reach that she could use. She grabbed the heavy mallet that was usually used to pound in spikes into the ground. It would be strong enough. It had to be. Straightening her leg out and breathing heavier, heart hammering against her thin chest, Elizabeth held the hammer high above her knee. Nimue's words echoed in her head. She couldn't be a coward. Closing her eyes and bracing herself, she brought it down. Clanking of broken steel as well as the cracking and crushing of bone echoed through the barn.

She stifled a scream. For what she was about to do no one could hear her. She quickly stuffed a horse bit in her mouth and bit down on it, the scream of agony still in her throat and reluctantly swallowed down. Pain shot up from her broken kneecap. Tears leaked down her face and for a moment it felt like her chest was being crushed from the pain. She held her bleeding knee for only a moment but a moment was all she could afford to lose. She had to get out of there. She tried to stand but crumpled to the ground as soon as she put weight on that knee. For now, she'd have to take a cue from her friends the animals. She wrapped rags around her feet and hands. The goal was to create paws. She studied how cats hid from her father and during hunts. She would move silently so that not even her sleeping parents could hear her hands or feet touching the ground. She moved on all fours at first until the lingering dizziness subsided and allowed her to stand.

She began setting the animals free. She spoke a silent prayer to gods she was starting to believe in to help them understand. She pressed her finger to her lips through the padding on her hands to the horses and sheep as she undid each latch. The animals seemed to actually know what the plan was. They followed her silently like soldiers going into an ambush, not a whinny, bleat or bark. The cats came down from the loft silently and seemed to be showing her how they remained hidden. One of the cats purposely dropped down to a crouch beside her and seemed to be demonstrating. Once she was able to stand with one leg suspended and leaning on a walking stick(which she had also wrapped cloth around to disguise it's sound) she began painfully hobbling her way. She saw streaks of light and stars before her eyes as every step hurt, but every step would be worth it. Elizabeth unlatched every pen she passed, and soon an entire herd was trailing behind her. They moved silently behind her as if they knew of her plan.

She was almost to the property line when she heard her father scream in rage. Her heart stopped and she looked back with a wild wide brown eyed stare towards the direction of the house. He was charging towards her, the big lumbering heavy set brute slow but murderous. She looked back at the animals and cried out in an almost catlike yowl. They understood. They began to run. Hooves pounded against the ground as the stampede began. Dust from the frozen dry ground billowed in clouds as hundreds of horses, cattle, sheep, dogs and cats hurtled towards the fenceline. She ran with them,but her leg was slowing her down. Time seemed to slow down as she grabbed onto a branch to launch herself forward from the herd, hoping to climb on one of their backs. Though her father was heavy and obese when enraged he could move fast when in the grips of rage. Her ears were ringing, disguising her from his bloodthirsty and enraged screams.

"YOU EVIL BRAT!"

She wasn't fast enough. He grabbed her by the scruff of her cloak and threw her down to the ground like a ragdoll. The dogs lunged and attempted to bite his legs and arms with protective bloodthirsty vigor. As her back cracked against the rocks and a new wave of pain broke over her she caught sight of him kicking the dogs. A new feeling rose up within her. It spread through her like a burning fire. It charged her with strength she didn't know she had. Her tears of despair boiled to a glare of anger. The hot flame of protective rage roared within her. Years of suppressed hatred began to rise up within her. As she looked at his face her mind filled with thoughts she didn't even know he was capable of. This man had taken everything from her. He'd taken her childhood. Her freedom. Food. Shelter. While she had given everything to him. Seeing him harm the whimpering dogs made those feelings boil over. Her fists curled. Her eyes narrowed. The human girl bared her teeth like an animal. She could no longer run. She had to fight. Ignoring the stabbing pain, she lunged, her fist colliding right against his fat cheek.

"HOW DARE YOU! I'LL TEACH YOU SOME RESPECT!" Bellowing with rage, he swung his fist at her, she dodged. He may have been bigger and stronger but she was small and lithe. She could move in ways that he could not. She tried to dodge his blow, if nothing else to keep the attention on her so that the animals could escape. Hooves pounded the ground around them. She was getting dizzy, she was getting tired. She panted with effort, drooling as she slavered like a rabid animal. She was losing her footing, unable to bear weight on her broken limb. The other burned with pain, her chest tight with effort. She staggered and swayed as she dodged his punches, but soon was unable to dodge. His fist connected with her chin. Then her ribs. Then her stomach. He landed a kick against her side. Her limp wheezing form skidded against the hard cold ground, dizzy with the pain that exploded everywhere. The entire time he screamed insult after insult at his daughter, his voice barking and laced with hatred. By some mercy, her head pounded so hard that she could only make out a few words. They were all hateful, everything from "little bitch" to "worthless" to "ugly" to "disappointment" mixed with venomous Italian swearing falling out of his mouth like an angry waterfall.

The world spun. She wretched violently but nothing was in her stomach leaving her to only cough hard and spit out blood. She felt her bladder fail as warmth and wetness spread beneath her. His boot kicked her side again. She still fought through the pain, unable to resist biting his ankle. She would never stop fighting. Yet soon she'd have no choice. She felt his meaty hand close around her neck. Her windpipe crushing beneath his powerful hand, she squeaked with the effort to breathe as she felt herself being lifted into the air. His brutish face came close to hers, cold hatred burning in his intense dark eyes as his face became close to hers. His hot breath landed on her face. "I'll give you a choice, girl." He whispered in a snarling tone. "My men closed the gates. Some of the animals are still here. It's either you. Or them. Either you take your punishment and your soul be cleansed or I will kill every. Single. One." He squeezed her throat for emphasis. "Did you think I'd let you go to the evil imp that you don't think anyone knows about? You've ruined my reputation. You've ruined everything. You ruined this family. The church knows. Mother superior told us everything, you stupid, gullible little wretch. And now you're going to take your penance. Or your friends die."

There was no way out. No way to turn. No where to run. But the choice wasn't a choice at all. Her limbs stopped flailing as a tear ran down her cheek. Her blurred vision gazed upon the animals that were being corralled. They were shaking their heads at her, as if begging her not to make the choice that she was about to make. With tears spilling down her cheeks, she bowed her head in submission. She wouldn't be able to live anyway knowing that she let the innocent die. The older man gave a nasty smile. "Hmph. Weak as ever." He then dragged her limp form behind the barn to the shed. Her screams of pain were soon heard from miles away as a barbed leather whip cracked against her bare back. She laid down and took every single lash, bawling and screaming despite him telling her to shut up multiple times. "SHUT UP!" He roared with every lash. "You've been a thorn in my side since the day you were born! And now you'll pay!"

After fifty lashes she made one last effort. Nimue's words and her memory were still in her mind, and perhaps if she lived through this she could find her way to her. After the lashes he promised it would end. She tried to get up and staggered on all fours, her battered silhouette illuminated by the moonlight as she tried to once again put pain aside and get up. But he wasn't done. He pressed her back down the ugh the heel of his boot on her neck. What was he doing? He grabbed a nearby hard iron shovel with a sharp but still thick edge. He was still her father. No. This couldn't be. He was an abusive brute but he was still her father. He wouldn't. He couldn't. But he was. "I'm going to do what I should have done eighteen years ago…" he snarled with hatred. With wide terrified eyes she lay there helpless, and with one last effort she tried to pull herself up.

Father. Please…no. She mouthed silently as he raised a shovel high above her head. Frozen in fear and pain, her wide terrified brown eyes looking back from him to her mother where she stood watching the scene. She simply turned her back as her daughter looked to her imploringly. Time seemed to freeze as the shovel raised. He kicked the defenseless battered girl again, his large boot shoving her down further. He might have imagined himself as some executioner, a hand of the church. Elizabeth sobbed out of fear and heartbreak as the cold rusty metal came barreling towards her neck. The last thing she saw was the hatred in her father's eyes, the reflection in them a battered bloody pathetic creature that only a dark one could love. This was really happening. Her father was really doing this. Oh Nimue…she had been so kind to her…and she couldn't…she didn't even get to say goodbye! No! Let me live for one more second! Let me say goodbye! She was waiting for her. That's what her mute lips wanted to croak.

Her eyes though mostly clouded over gazed up at a dim light in the sky, and though she knew she would not get an answer, the girl pleaded with the blue star one more time. She desperately tried to prop herself up, still fighting despite the searing pain to get a closer look at the sky, as if she were hanging off a cliff with death thundering under her like the stampede of animals she had let loose. Though only inches off the floor, those three inches seemed like miles as her father and executioner tried to push her down, the weight of his foot on her back. For a fleeting moment, invisible hands grabbed her wrists. She could make out a blurred vision of a woman in a blue glittering dress, flapping like the sound of wings. The abused girl looked up imploringly, her dimming vision seeing the fairy for a brief second in the clouds. She said a silent prayer to the fairy. Nimue may have said not to trust her but she was desperate. There was nowhere else to turn. Looking up at her like a child would beg her family, she silently mouthed out. "Rheul Ghorm…fairy godmother..help me…" she wanted to scream for help to her but no sound came out. The fairy's serene glance turned cold. Grabbing the wrists of the human girl roughly, fingers digging into her skin. Her face shifting and transparent came close to hers in a defiant sneer, looking down at her with disgust. "Long. Live. The queen." Before she could even comprehend what she meant she understood what Blue was about to do. Nimue was right about her. Nimue was right about everything. She let go of her wrists and she was mikes away again. Clouds covered the blue star. Her father raised the shovel high and brought it down with a swift vengeance. Steel hit her neck. Everything became black as she roared in pain like the lions in her stories, her entire body becoming numb except for the back of her head, which exploded in pain and was instantly covered with a hot sticky sensation. Her limbs went numb. And then her entire body. She wanted to cry out, but instead she screamed.

"ARGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!"

Throughout her life she thought she could hear the voices of her animal friends, but thought that was just a delusion of someone who lead a miserable life and longed for fantasy. She thought it was insanity or her whimsy that lead to hearing those voices. But the last thing she heard other than her fathers sadistic laughter at his triumph she could swear were voices made out in the din of horrified yowling, howling, bleating and whinnying. They all cried as one in a terrified and heartbroken chorus as everything went dark.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"