Chapter 17: A Way Out

Making it to the border of Murduk and Climont turns out to be more difficult than Olisnia originally believed. Every village she passes, or citizen she meets, is able to tell who, what, she is.

Even the farming town that she now enters. She is just a few miles from the border of Murduk, but exhaustion is taking its hold of her. Every individual she passes halts all movement, watching her. Their gazes are filled with distrust, and mostly fear.

Living on the Hemrick Islands for most of her life, Olisnia does not have the experience with humans and their distrust of anyone different.

“Stop right there Drulian.”

The rough voice of an older man calls out to her. The gravelly tone to his words causes irritation to build in her chest.

“Such disrespect,” she sighs, outloud.

“This is Climont, Drulians are outlawed in this country. Your wicked magic is outlawed here.” The man’s face is contorted with disgust.

“I am passing through,” Olisnia states harshly. She breathes in slowly in order to calm herself.

A horde of men with rakes and scythes surround her. They range from older men, to young boys.

“We will not allow your kind to trick us anymore.” The man in front of her barks out.

Sighing, Olisnia curls her fingers into hooks, the tattoos forming up and down her arms beginning to move, to swirl.

As the first man rushes her, the Drulian sidesteps and swipes her hand in the air. A pale green whip flies from her arm and wraps itself around the man’s ankle, throwing him across the clearing and into a few of the other villagers. The man in charge does not hesitate and runs at Olisnia with a few others. They bring their hands down with their weapons, but she brings her arm up in defense. A large, transparent shield blocks the citizens’ attacks. Every point that they hit flashes a dark violet.

“You have no hope to win against a Drulian,” Olisnia grins, her eyes glowing.

The man grumbles, “We will still honor our country.”

As they all rush her, Olisnia laughs, twisting her arm into a circle. A small whirlwind flashing with lightening forms from her limb, exploding out and throwing the villagers all in different directions.

“I am weary,” she sighs. “How long is this going to take?”

She cracks her neck while in her mind states, “I am running out of time.”

>><<

Sucking in an icy breath, Eliana holds her tears back. Jasper is going to be married in a day’s time, and she herself, will be a wife at daybreak.

“What has the world come to,” Eliana questions aloud to herself. She places her hands on her abdomen. The women from before, which Eliana only now knows are two of the Chief’s wives, tied her gown too tight. It is difficult for her to breathe comfortably. She winces as she paces in the small tent.

“I take it you are not happy with your soon-to-be husband?”

At the deep voice, Eliana’s body is wracked with a painful shiver. Before she turns, she blinks away her tears.

“What are you doing here,” she forces the question to release on a hiss. He should be in bed resting.

Jasper’s smirk quickly disperses as he gains a full view of Eliana. His gaze travels the length of her body, reveling in the intricate design of her dress and the way it enhances her curves. When he gulps, Eliana is able to catch it, causing heat to bloom in her face. Her body catches on fire.

“Uh, I,” he crinkles his features, shaking his head. “I guess you could say that I came to talk you out of going through with this.”

“I told you before, in this war, I do not trust anyone. There is no chance of me getting home safely. At least this way, I can live peacefully, not a threat to anyone.” Eliana slowly shifts over to her bed and tries to sit, but her dress is too tight for the movement, so she is forced to remain standing.

Jasper enters further, glowering down at her. “And did I not tell you that I would get you home safely?”

She forces all of her emotions down, straightening out her features. “How do you expect to do that? You almost just died.”

“But I didn’t die,” he reassures, nearing her. “Do not throw your life away for this old man. If the Climont warriors want you, they will not respect the sovereignty of Viptan. They’ll come for you one way or another.”

“They would not risk war with Murduk. Climont is strong, but they cannot take on two countries at once.”

“Eliana, please,” Jasper teems, his body now inches from her own. “Don’t allow him to take advantage of you.”

She thinks about what the Chief had said to her earlier. She sets her chin, her heart crumbling, “That man is your Chief. He deserves respect.”

Jasper’s brow quivers, eyes widening momentarily before he grinds his teeth and seethes, “He is an old, perverted man who is taking advantage of a young, naïve woman.” He reaches out to grasp at her arm.

Eliana almost melts into his embrace as her entire body explodes. Her vision fills with bright stars, but she uses every ounce of her strength to pull away. “I may be young, but I am still older than you, and far from naïve. You have no clue what I have been through. What I have seen. There are reasons I am going through with this wedding, and it is not only for my own safety.” Eliana pauses after the words tumble from her lips. Once she composes herself, she bites her lip to hold her tears back.

Jasper remains quiet for a moment. His eyes roam Eliana’s face as there is a break in his anger, “Eliana.”

At the sound of her name on his lips, she whimpers and her tears are freed.

“What does he have over you,” he inches closer to her, and this time, when he touches her wrist, she does not run away. She holds her breath to try and control herself. “You can tell me. I promise you, I will not leave your side. I will keep you safe.”

Eliana looks up into his eyes, her heart pounding in her head. Hot stones begin to form in the base of her abdomen. “How can I trust you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You are to be mated shortly, as well.” She cocks her head to the side, trying to control her crumbling soul.

Jasper’s face plummets, his brow stitching together roughly, his eyes averting. His lips press together as he bows his head.

“That is an arranged marriage by my parents. It is not my decision.”

“I of all people know exactly how you must be feeling. Though, I also know that it does not change your future. We will both be married. You will go back to your cottage, and I will be here in Viptan. I will never go home.”

“Eliana,” Jasper’s voice is desperate as he places his large hand on her cheek gently, “Then run away.”

“What?”

“Run away with me. We can leave before anyone realizes. Whatever the Chief holds over you, we will be gone before he can act upon it.”

“Is this a good idea,” Eliana thinks to herself. “The Chief will surely tell the clan about me, but it will not catch up to us until we are already within Drein.”

“Please,” Jasper whispers.

He is so close to her now, that Eliana can make out every speck of emerald within his gaze.

“Okay,” she finds herself saying before she can second guess herself. She wonders how she will even survive alone with Jasper.