Pariah (The New Covenant Series) (21 page)

As I stepped into the light of th
e fire, everyone hushed. I wore the dress Ruth had so expertly altered for me earlier today. It was black and hit just above the knee. Its neckline in the front and back was square but delicate, and the smocking held the fabric to my body in the right places as Ruth had predicted. Rafe let out a whistle. Faric laughed, and Riven stared at me. Athena scowled as usual while her sister smiled sweetly. Ruth and Jacob motioned me over to join them, which I did. I needed to find a way to see if Faric had devised a plan for our departure. If not, I planned to leave tonight after everyone had fallen asleep. I couldn’t waste any more time here. Certainly my loved ones would pay the price for my delay.

Faric’s eyes met mine several times, but I didn’t know him well
enough to know what he was thinking, or if he had in fact made arrangements to leave. Riven seemed to zero in on the looks between Faric and myself and looked obviously displeased by our speechless displays. Athena didn’t appear to enjoy the fact that Riven had been watching us instead of paying attention to her. Jacob and Ruth cuddled up underneath a blanket, and he rubbed her belly sweetly. They were the first to leave a couple of hours past dark. Ruth said she was tired from the day spent in the sun and wanted to rest.

“Why don’t we play a litt
le game,” suggested Athena, one brow quirked, and her mouth pulled up in a prissy smile. “Come on over and sit with us, Solara.” It wasn’t like I was far away, but I got up and moved closer, sitting beside Rafe and Aniya. Rafe got up and dusted the sand off of his shorts and said he would be back in a few minutes. He returned with a bottle of what I assumed was liquor of some sort.
Great. A drinking game.
My stomach churned remembering what had transpired the last time I drank. Maylon and a teenage boy ended up dead, and I ended up running for my life.

“Truth or dare is the game,” said Athena. “I’ll go first.”
Crap. Really. Truth or Dare, what are we like thirteen?
“Rafe, truth or dare?” she asked.

Rafe pursed his lips and cocked his head in deep thought.

“Dare of course.”

“Okay. I dare you to run out in
to the water and go under fully clothed.” He groaned but stood up and ran as fast as he could into the waves and splashed down into them and then jogged back, his clothes dripping feverishly clung to his body. He took a swig from the bottle.

“My turn,” said Rafe, looking around. “Aniya, truth or dare?”

She looked up and winced and said, “Truth.”

Rafe shook his head but said, “Is it
true that you are also in love with Riven?” Rafe plastered a huge smile in Athena’s direction. She shot daggers back at him with her glare.

“Uh,” she said, looking over at he
r sister, “No!” She laughed. “I am not madly in love with Riven!” She grabbed the bottle from Rafe and drank.

Aniya looked around and then looked at me.
Oh no
. Then she grinned and said, “Riven.”

Thank goodness.
Riven chose dare, and Aniya dared him to kiss Athena. Athena sidled up to him and leaned in. I cringed. I hated her, but it wasn’t because she liked Riven, right? I mean, he could be with whomever he wanted to be. I shouldn’t care. Riven tilted his head and then pecked her lips and backed away smiling. Athena pushed his chest and said, “That was pathetic, Riven.” He laughed and took the bottle and drank.

I thought about staying but n
eeded to get some rest if I was going to make my great escape, so I stood up and dusted off the back of my legs and dress and turned to leave. “Solara,” said Riven. “Truth or dare?”

“Oh, I’m gonna head back to Jacob and Ruth’s and turn in for
the night.” I turned to leave. There was no way I was going to play games with them. I didn’t want them to know anything about me, and I wasn’t about to run clothed into the water or kiss anyone here. They groaned and laughed and someone threw a seashell at me. Rafe yelled for me to come back. I ignored them and walked into the darkness. Once into the vegetation, a hand caught my elbow. I almost screamed but saw it was Faric’s, and he put a finger over his lips indicating that I should be quiet. I shoved him and whispered, “You scared me to death!”

He laughed. His dark pink lips glowed in the moonlight.
“The quickest way will be by boat, but we would need to wait a day or so. There is a storm rolling in tonight. The currents will be unpredictable.” I agreed knowing that I would set off on my own anyway. I needed to return to Altair. He wouldn’t let Wes, Lil, or Annette go unless I did, and if I showed up with Faric or Riven, he’d likely kill Faric for not returning me sooner and would definitely kill Riven for taking me in the first place. Not to mention their strained relationship from the introduction, balcony, and reveal. He was probably itching to exact revenge on Riven. Faric looked at me uneasily and said good night and turned to go back to the bonfire.

I quickly ran to Jacob’s and g
rabbed a lit candle and started packing. I grabbed some food, my dress and a cloak, which I intended to return when I could. The nights could get so cold, and if a storm was rolling in, I would be soaked without one. I grabbed my things and started out toward the horses, praying no one heard me when I made my escape.

I
untangled the reigns of
the horse, earning a small neigh and a sad look from his eyes. But before I could climb up, someone grabbed my arm. I almost screamed.
Great.
“You followed me!” I whispered angrily. “Just go back to the bonfire, Faric, and leave me alone!”

He smiled at me and cocked h
is head to the side. “Not going to happen, princess.”

“Why not? Just go. This is my pr
oblem,” I said through gritted teeth. I tried to shake his grip from my arm without success. “Let me go. And don’t call me
princess
.”

“You are a princess, and it isn’t
just your burden, so I go with you. End of conversation,” he said, readying the second horse.

“Not the end of the conv
ersation. How is it your burden exactly?” I scoffed.

“Number one,
princess
, if I ever wish to return to the kingdom and live to tell about it,
I
need to return you to Altair. Number two, I happen to care about one of the prisoners very deeply and will make sure she is freed. So let’s go. I hope you packed some extra food for me.” He mounted his horse, and I did as well.

“Besides, you’d be wandering the forest for days trying to find
your way back. And I know a shortcut!”

Is he for real?
I knew he was speaking about Annette. And I knew he was right about returning me himself. I just didn’t know why anyone would ever want to return to the kingdom and Altair on purpose. Maybe, secretly, he was just like Altair. Maybe they were friends. Maylon’s words keep ringing in my head, warning Riven to keep Faric away from me, that Faric was evil. But they are cancelled out by Annette’s pleading eyes and voice that urge me to trust Faric that he would keep me safe. She didn’t seem to know that Riven had been impersonating his brother at all. We spoke in private. Surely she would have mentioned that key bit of information had she been aware of it.

We’d been riding for several h
ours. The sun had been up for a while, and we came up to a small creek. The horses needed to rest and get a drink and some food. Their energy waned. We led them to the gurgling water and let them drink their fill. Faric fed them while I washed my face in the cool water and drank down as much of the cool water as I could cup in my hands. I could feel the water trickle down my chin onto my dress. It was already sticky and hot as summer had definitely begun to creep over the land. I wet my hands and ran them over the skin of my arms and legs, refreshing myself. I closed my eyes to relax and sat back, my arms propping me up while I stretched my legs far in front of me.

“You look hot, princess,” said Fari
c, sauntering confidently over. “I
am
hot, Faric. Your eyes do not deceive you.” I smirked.
Take that!

He smiled and said, “So Wesley, huh?”

“Yeah. We’re married,” I said, trying to dig some dirt out from beneath a fingernail.

“About that, you know I’m not rea
lly married to Lillian, right?” he asked, raising his brows. “I didn’t technically marry her. Riven did. So I have no obligation to her.”

“You don’t deserve someone like Lil anyway. She deserves someone who will love her. She’s special and good. She deserves more,” I said, glaring at him openly. I couldn’t believe what a jerk he was. I never thought about him and Lil, but he was just so arrogant. So cocky.

He laughed. “Yes, Sola
ra. How could she possibly love someone like me?”

“I didn’t mean there was an
ything wrong with you, Faric. I just know you have no feelings for her, and she deserves more. She deserves someone who will love her.” I looked at the water bubbling over the smooth stones. Doesn’t everyone deserve love? True love. “You deserve to love and be loved by someone as well. The union would be unfair to both of you if upheld.”

He cleared his throat. “Thank
you. I’m sorry. I was trying to be rude and annoy you, but I appreciate your honesty. I, however, must disagree with you. I do not deserve the love of another. Especially of someone as good as you profess Lillian to be.” And with that, he turned and walked away from me, downstream. What happened to him? Why would he assume he didn’t deserve love?

I paced back and forth, trying
to stretch my legs and back as much as possible. After fifteen minutes, Faric returned and threw me an apple and said, “We would eat while riding. We apparently we’re making good time, but I knew that we couldn’t get there fast enough.”

“Faric,” I asked as we rode side by side, eating our apples.

“What’s the plan once we get to the kingdom?”

He cleared his throat and c
hewed and swallowed the last of his apple. Chucking the core into the woods, he wiped the juice from his chin with his sleeve and looked over at me. “Well, I think I’ll tell the guards at the wall that you’re my prisoner and that I’m returning you to Altair per his orders. I’ll demand an audience with Matthias as he is now in charge of the kingdom’s security and hopefully will be able to negotiate with Altair, exchanging you for Wes, Lillian, and Annette.” He looked away from me.

“What about Rachel? Did you hear of anyone named Rachel? She’s Wesley’s sister. She was married at the same time we were.” I hoped Altair had left her alone but doubted that as he seemed determined on taking everyone else that meant something to me.

“I don’t know about her, but I wil
l inquire as to her whereabouts and condition and will also negotiate her release if she is being held prisoner with the others.” He stopped the horse. I halted mine as well.

“What?” I asked. “Why did you stop?”

He looked over at me and almost winced. I was taken aback by his expression. “Solara, I cannot guarantee your safety once we enter the kingdom. I—”

I interrupted him. “I know. I’m
not asking you to keep me safe once we arrive there. I know Altair. I know what he wants, and I know that he’ll want me even more when he sees my new freaky eyes and new tattoo. He’ll know I’m the chosen. He isn’t stupid. Out of his mind, maybe, but not stupid. I know he murdered the council members. I’m not walking blindly into this. I know what I’m up against. Once we arrive at the gate, I want you to think nothing else of me. I would appreciate it if you would negotiate for the lives of my friends. They’re my only family and the only ones who’ve ever loved me. I don’t wish to be the reason for their deaths. I wouldn’t survive it. But I
can
survive Altair. So just help me get them out of here. Go find Riven and the others. I’ll be fine.” I pressed my lips into a false smile, praying he couldn’t see that it wasn’t forced.

“What will he do to you?
” he rasped, still looking away from me.

“It doesn’t matter. I just want t
hem safe. Faric, please look at me.” He turned and I caught his turquoise gaze. His eyes were a bit darker than Riven’s.
Hmm. Maybe that’s how I can tell them apart.
“Hey, please just get my friends out of there. Get them to safety. If I can escape, I’ll meet you back at Jacob and Ruth’s. Wait for me there?” He pursed his lips and cursed under his breath.

“Okay?”

“I promise that I’ll get them out of there, but Jesus, Solara. I don’t know if I can leave you there, especially with your history with him. I can handle a lot of things, but violence against women is not one of them.”

“I’ll be fine. I just want them sa
fe. Just take them to Jacob’s.” And with that lie, I kicked the horse and took off over the next hill.

It was pitch black out. It seeme
d that shadows moved all around in the darkness. They were at home. My ring felt hot against my skin. My breath grew ragged, and my pulse quickened. We were close. Very close. I could feel it. Maybe my mother warmed the ring for me when evil lingered nearby. Altair certainly qualified.

“Dawn is just a few hours aw
ay. We should wait for daylight before approaching the wall. It’ll be safer. They can see us coming,” offered Faric.

“No. The sooner we get to them,
the better. Let’s go.” I said, squaring my shoulders and putting my brave face on.

“Fine. We approach slowly th
en. Less threatening that way.” He nodded, clenching his jaw.

“Okay.” I straightened myself and tried
to seem taller, prouder, and less afraid.

“Oh and, Solara,” he said, jumpi
ng off of his horse and helping me down from mine. “Your eyes aren’t freaky. They’re beautiful.” His gaze held mine.

What? He is like that guy we read about...Jekyll and Hyde.
“Oh. Um. Thank you.” I stammered.

“We’ll leave the horses here
.” He lashed them to a tree and threw a couple of apples on the ground for them. “Give me your hands.”

I held them in front of me, a
nd he tied them with the gritty harsh rope that I’d grown to loathe. He grabbed my arm and led me forward toward the looming stone wall ahead. It somehow seemed taller and more foreboding than when we’d exited not that long ago. A guard on top of the wall spotted us first and yelled for us to stay still, not to move, or we would die. Two from the ground surrounded us, arrows nocked in their wooden bows, ready for the kill. They circled us like vultures ready to peck the meat from our bones.

“What business have you with
the kingdom?” yelled the taller of the two men.

Faric jerked me forward and sai
d, “Altair sent me to find this woman. I’ve brought her to him and now wish to see Matthias about my reward.”

The stockier guard approa
ched and looked me up and down, missing teeth greeting me through his sickening smile. “Altair wants this woman?” he snarled. “No wonder, a looker she is,” he said, approaching me. He lowered his bow, and as he reached out to touch my face, I kicked my feet forward, taking his leg out from under him. He buckled to the ground and I spat at him.

“Don’t you
dare touch me you pig!” I screamed.

The taller guard grabbed
my elbow and jerked me forward through the gate. He yelled at someone to help his friend, who was still writhing on the ground, shouting profanities at me as I was led away. I’m pretty sure I caught an “I’ll kill you,” in there somewhere.

The tall guard ordered for anot
her to get Matthias immediately and ushered me into a small hut just inside the gate. He tied me to a wooden column in the center of the room and ushered Faric outside with him. Faric was able to steal one glance back at me before exiting. His eyes were stormy and dark. His jaw clenched.

Before long, I could hear men t
alking outside the hut. A young man entered with black hair that skirted his shoulders, dark skin covered his toned figure, and his pale brown eyes were striking.

“Solara, I presume,” he said as
he approached me slowly. I kept my eyes trained on the ground as he drew near. I knew I could only hide my eyes for so long but planned to try to hide them for as long as possible anyway. I wished God had picked someone stronger than me be the chosen. My body began to shake as he approached and grasped my chin, drawing my eyes upward. He gasped. “Well, what have we here?”

I woke up in a dark room on a c
old stone floor. The only light filtered in through a small crack under the door—a prison cell. My mouth was dry, and my lips cracked. I could taste the metallic unmistakable flavor of blood in my mouth. My wrists were raw, but my ropes were gone. I struggled to sit up, wondering how long

I had been here. The last thin
g I could remember was Matthias and his discovery of my lilac irises. My body begged for water. I could barely hold my head up. Cotton lay heavy on my tongue. I clawed the wall, pulling myself upright. I felt my way around the small room. And when I say small, I mean three feet by four feet maximum.

Heavy footsteps approac
hed. The door swung open, and I shielded my eyes from the influx of light and backed as far as I could away from the dark shadows that approached. Only they weren’t shadows; they were men. They each grabbed an arm and dragged me from the room. It was just as well. I don’t think my legs would have carried me at this point anyway. I was dragged up a winding stone staircase to another floor and into a large room, where three women awaited me with a steaming tub of water.