Blood Red (55 page)

Vivi Anna

They rode hard for two days, stopping only when the sun went down and the horses whinnied their complaints. They found rocked-in areas to make camp so that their fires were not seen.

Wolf hunted for their meals, usually coming back with rabbit or various rodents. He would roast them on a stick over the fire. They ate in silence, all too ravenous to make polite conversation.

Red’s ribs ached with every deed. Wolf had wrapped leather strips around her torso to stop any unnecessary movements. She just hoped she did not puncture anything before they reached their destination.

On the second night, as she ripped stringy flesh from the roasted rabbit on a stick, Red watched and measured Rapunzel. The woman had possibly saved her life, but she felt no real gratitude toward her. Red did not trust her. Her motives for their rescue were selfish ones. She did it for some other purpose that alluded Red. She also didn’t trust the look that Rapunzel passed to Wolf.

Red handed the rabbit to Rapunzel. She took it 108

Blood Red

gingerly, but tore at its flesh with little dignity. Red watched her intently.

Rapunzel was acutely aware of her gaze.

“Why?” Red asked simply.

“Why what?”

“You know what I am asking you. Do not play coy.”

Wolf sat back on his haunches and poked at the fire. He was wondering when this would happen.

Red had no patience. And he was innately curious of the answers himself.

Rapunzel finished the rabbit. All that was left was the carcass. She tossed it carelessly into the fire.

“I needed you. Both of you. To get out of the castle for one, and to fight.”

“Fight what?”

“The Brothers.” Wolf spoke softly.

Rapunzel nodded. “Yes, the Brothers.”

Red looked away from her gaze and into the fire.

“Do not look away, Red. You know I speak the truth.”

“Fine.” She shuffled her body looking over at Wolf.

“I’ll accept that they exist, but what is this fight for, what are we fighting against?”

“Against oblivion. Against the end of our world.”

Red started to laugh. “Sounds menacing.”

“You are wrong to mock this.”

“Our world? You say it like we were the same. We are definitely not the same. What were you doing in the castle, my Lady?”

“I was risking my life to learn as much as I could about them. About the people who worked for them.”

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