2.14: Hiding Out

Setia balaned her weight on the ledge of the sill as she stood precariously on a ledge a good fourty feet from the ground, dangling in the air. One mistep and she was on the ground. She turned slowly, clutching the ledge. There was a tree a small distance away from the window. She made a leap for it.

She let out a loud groan as the branch of the tree collided with her stomach, and she hung over the tree branch. Pulling herself up, she threw her leg over the branch, balancing her weight. The next branch wasn't too far down, slowly she began to climb her way down.

About halfway down the tree a branch snapped beneath her foot, she slipped, falling out of the tree, she landed on the ground with a thud. The wind knocked out of her and her shoulder really throbbed. She hissed and sat up quickly. Launching to her feet, she ran into the treeline surrounding the property. Hiding down, she looked around for any posted guards.

Slowly, she headed toward the road to the city. She realized she was a councilor and unless he'd already told the guards to keep her locked up, she should be able to walk free. She started jogging down the road, digging the small cell phone out of her purse. She opened it, and dialed Darien's number saved in the contacts.

"Hello, kind of a bad time" Darien's clipped voice came through the speaker, there was what sounded like screams and guttural growls all around him. The sound of guns firing.

"Darien! It's me. The Alpha locked me up in the manor, he knows I'm alliance. He's insane." She cried. She heard him intake a breath.

"Setia! Thank god you're safe. Where are you? I will come to you." He said.

"No! I can't stay here, I'm headed toward town." She answered.

"Come toward the city gates, we'll get you to Alliance and keep you in a secure place." He said in a rush. She agreed and hung up the phone, heading toward the city.

When she made it through the gates of the city, the clouds of smoke were beginning to die down. It was eerily quiet. The sounds of the grunting and the beasts had stopped. A few soldiers were out and about patrolling with their weapons: swords and guns. She wished she still had her dagger, but Lucien had taken it from her when she was imprisoned.

Finally, when she rounded a corner on to a main street, she saw a familiar figure in the distance. His clothes were in tatters, he was covered in blood. He had a few cuts, but luckily most of the blood looked not to be his. She saw him and walked faster, picking up to a run as she felt the relief welling within her. Almost there! She saw him turn and start running towards her too.

He caught her in an embrace and picked her up into the air. He held her tight, burying his face into her hair, smelling her. She didn't care that he was covered in grime. She clung to him, inhaling his sweet clove scent. He brought her down to his lips, kissing her with a ferocity she had not seen. She closed her eyes.

"I'm so glad you're safe." He rested his forehead against hers. She blushed and realized she was clutching his arms.

"I'm glad you're safe too. There's a lot to tell you." She said. He reached down and grasped her hand.

"You can tell me on the way."

"Where are we going?" She asked.

"My place." He said simply. She blushed even darker.

"I need to get my things from my apartment." She said. He nodded in acknowledgment.

(Ding! Love Meter has increased to 75%) She gasped. She wasn't even there! What did she do to make it go up.

'I'm willing to bet he just discovered you escaped.' Eli chirped.

'Why would that make it increase?' She hissed back.

'He's testing his alpha female. You have to be strong to qualify.' Eli mused. Setia groaned and sighed. This world was so confusing.

She realized she had been walking with Darien for a while, and she had been completely zoned out. He probably chalked it up to her being disoriented.

She filled him in on the events that had taken place with Lucien, including him locking her up in his room and demanding she will agree to mate with him. His hand squeezed hers and she saw his jaw tick with unleashed rage.

"Did he touch you?" He asked. Setia sighed.

"Not forcibly, not after he captured me." She answered. He nodded stiffly.

At her apartment she made quick work of grabbing her laptop, some clothes, and everything she needed. Packed in a single bag she threw it over her shoulder. They set off for Darien's place. As they wandered the streets they were mostly empty, save for a few soldiers. There were carcasses of beasts strewn about the roads.

They approached an extremely wealthy part of the city, and Setia saw an extravagant high-rise before them. He led her toward the doors, they scanned his ID card at the door, and nodded him through, he led her to the elevators, which he also had a key for. When they exited the elevators they walked down a hallway, to a set of titanium double doors. He placed his hand on the scanner at the door, it glowed green.

"Very secure." He said, proud. She walked into a huge modern apartment, with a large window that covered the entire southern wall, staring out at the city below. There was a large open-concept kitchen and living room, that stared out at the city view. Off to the left she saw a door that led to a huge bedroom with a king-sized bed in the center. And a door to the right that led to a large marbled bathroom, with a huge clawfoot tub.