Page 38 of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens (The Crimson Duet #1)
Crimson Snow
“ L et me go!” Charlotte's scream dragged me out of the darkness. “I won’t go back!” She roared against the redheaded man’s hand; her teeth pierced through the fabric of his cloak.
He struck her across her face, knocking the air out of her. She quieted.
“Don’t touch her!” I screamed; my wrists wailed from the burning pain when I jerked them against the blue-eyed man’s grasp. Panic pierced my whole body as I desperately listened for Charlotte's breathing. Her, full of tears, eyes met mine when she gasped for air.
The man ignored my weak attempts at freeing myself as he dragged me down the glistening snow.
My eyes watched the disappearing village behind me; the weak flashes of candlelight within the human houses were now barely visible. No one would hear my screams.
My breathing hilted as my boots dug into the ground, trying to create some friction.
I had to do something.
A pair of horses entered my view as a new wave of panic stroked my chest. If they got us onto those horses we would be as good as dead.
My heart dropped to my heels. I had to do something. I had to do something right now!
I filled my lungs before letting an ear-piercing scream out. One second. That was all the distraction I needed to free my burning wrist—my teeth dug into the man's hand, forcing his hold to open.
My hand found the hilt, dragging the sword out of its scabbard when he jerked me by my hair: but it was too late.
His grip on my hair tightened, my scalp screamed in protest, yet I paid it no attention—not right now.
The blade shimmered under the moonlight as I swung it towards him. The man laughed at my weak attempt at fighting, yet his laughter fell short when he traced a thin line of red on his arm.
“You bitch!” He threw me onto the ground, knocking the air out of me.
“Cordelia!” Charlotte cried.
Gasping for air, I put all of my energy into holding the hilt even when his boot found a firm place on my wrist. An excruciating scream broke through me as I heard my bone snap into two.
My vision darkened, my hold on the hilt loosened.
“Take the child back to the mansion, I will take care of our princess.” He spat to the man, pointing my own sword at my neck.
I will die. My blood will paint the snow crimson. My last scream will forever flow in the air above my lifeless body. I will die.
“Cordelia!” Charlotte shrieked as the man carried her to the horses. “Cordelia!”
I drew a small breath in against the blade. Everything in my body stilled as I watched the man’s face above mine. Is this the last thing my eyes will ever witness? Is this the face I will carry to the Moon with my soul?
“So beautiful, but so stupid,” the man spat out, moving the sword to my lips.
I wished to close my eyes to not witness my end, to not know when it was coming, yet I could not. My vision blurred under the drops of tears.
“Surely, Kane wouldn’t mind if we altered your appearance just slightly.” The blade scratched along my lips, though there was no blood. Not yet.
The cold snow burned the uncovered skin of my neck. Snowflakes fell onto my cheeks, melting into tears.
I moved my gaze to the Moon that waited to witness my end and begged her for mercy.
“You might want to check on your cut,” the voice echoed through the woods. I closed my eyes in pure relief, drawing another small breath. “Royal steel works quite fast.” Caleb walked toward us.
The sword left my flesh as the man pointed it at Caleb. “You!” He smirked when Caleb unsheathed his own weapon.
I drew a long breath, crawling away from my attacker. The banging metal rang in my ears as I ran toward Charlotte.
The redheaded man threw her on the horse like a bag of hay when my silver dagger Francis had gifted me met his back.
My hands trembled as I retreated a step. His blood dripped down my cloak; my stomach turned upside down when my eyes fell onto the dagger burrowed in his flesh.
The man staggered backwards before he tried to reach me, yet I’d already mounted the horse Charlotte’s unconscious body laid upon and ordered it to run.
Excruciating pain in my wrist traveled across my body as I squeezed the reins, holding onto Charlotte as though my life depended on it. I managed a glance at my injury: the bone was twisted in an unnatural angle, my skin turned dark blue from the assault of the blue-eyed man’s boot.
My body shook when the sound of the horse's heavy gallop followed from behind. The redheaded man fled after us as though the injury I’d given him was no more than a papercut.
Charlotte’s eyes fluttered as the panic creeped deep within them; a loud wail broke through the air when she held onto me tightly.
“You are safe,” I told her, glancing at the man behind us. His cloak fluttered in the wind. “Everything will be all right.” I willed our horse faster.
Charlotte's cries grew louder when the woods slowly thinned, welcoming the small houses of the human village. The snow slowly turned bright crimson the more steps we took. “Almost there.” I held her closer against my chest.
“I won’t go back!” Charlotte screamed in hysteria.
“It’s all right.” My eyes scanned the crimson village, desperately searching for a pair of familiar eyes. “It’s all right.”
Lifeless bodies covered the crimson ground—
A blade sliced through the air, flying past me with a terrifying whistle, landing right in the center of our follower’s chest. His lips parted in a gasp as the blood dripped down from his injury. Relief washed over me as he forced his horse around, disappearing in the depths of the forest.
I traced the direction the knife flew out of when my eyes landed on Francis.
“Cordelia?” He unsheathed another dagger as he ran towards us, panic shone bright in his eyes.
“Caleb!” I screamed, glancing back at the woods. “Caleb is still there,” I told him, helping Charlotte down.
Francis caught Charlotte, putting her feet on the ground. His eyes scanned me. “Are you hurt—” Francis’ fingers brushed along the side of my cheek that still burned; his eyes fell onto my injured wrist.
“Help Caleb!” I interrupted him, shaking my head. “I am fine. Caleb is still there,” I pointed in the direction we fled out of.
“Rox!” Francis called out. “Take them home,” he told her as he glanced at me and Charlotte. “I will be right behind you.”