Violet Path (34 page)

I glanced over at Sam. “Son?” I mouthed, remaining quiet. I had never heard of Matthew having a son.

Matthew ripped the arrow out of Maxime, who let out a scorching scream. I burst into tears. “Take him and four others. If anyone puts up a fight, shoot them, otherwise, let them drown and rot in what used to be their leader’s blood.”

A soldier came with a long hover-board. They lifted Maxime carelessly and placed him onto the board, then pushed it along. I closed my eyes and listened as their footsteps crackled on the frozen ground.

Chapter 31

“I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have had to have watched that.” Sam lowered his gun.

I nodded, accepting his apology. “Matthew has a son? How does he know Andrew? How does he know his real name? What is Maxime hiding with the black cloth? What did Matthew mean when he said that I wasn’t the same girl Maxime used to know? What just happened?” I rambled.

“Matthew had a son. As for the rest, you’ll have to ask Maxime,” said Sam.

“Do you know the answers to my questions?”

“Yes, but they’re not for me to answer.”

“You sound like Maxime. How long have you known him?”

“Since we’ve been about four. Now stop questioning.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Now you sound like Maxime.”

I released another tear as I thought of him.

“Can I take a look at your injuries?” Sam pointed at my hands.

“They’re not injuries, and I feel fine.” I didn’t want any medical attention when Maxime was bleeding to death.

“I don’t care how you feel, no offense, but I do care if you’re all right. Your bleeding wrists may have been self-inflicted, but your head is bleeding.”

I brought my fingers to my head, and a wet, sticky liquid slid along the side of my eye. My fingers were coated in red. I suddenly realized that my head hurt, and Sam examined it without another word. Every time he touched the cut a burn spread out, causing my head to go numb.

“It’s not deep, but it’ll need to be closed up. Now let me see your wrists.”

I hesitated. They hurt more than my head, and I didn’t want to explain to Sam what had happened. I was embarrassed; I felt like a damsel in distress. He took my hands against my will and without my permission.

“What happened exactly?” His pupils dilated as my blood covered his hands. It hurt, but I kept silent, looking away. “Rope burns? Are these from your bindings?”

I pulled my hands back and looked away.

“You’re insane! You’re burnt, cut, and your wrists are scarred. What for?” Sam patronized.

“Matthew wants me to kill! I did what I thought was best. Obviously, it didn’t serve much, but at the time it was all I could do. What would you have done? Sit there and listen to others die? Please, enlighten me!” I screamed, losing control. I was almost speaking loud enough for Matthew to hear.

“I’m sorry.” Sam sounded sincere.

I was embarrassed for having yelled at him. “So am I,” I muttered, and we left quietly. I had no idea what was to happen, but I figured following Sam was my only option.

“We’re going to Oaks Valley. It’s The Shadows’s shadow. There aren’t any oaks there, or anything else for that matter, but it’s like our back-up shelter. It’s not too far from here, but it’s not too close either,” Sam said.

“Who runs it?” I feared walking into Anton’s power.

“Whoever leads The Shadows,” Sam muttered.

“So what am I walking into? I can’t just go in and face Anton.”

“He’s not necessarily in charge. The soldiers decide who’s in charge during Maxime’s absence. So far it appears as if Anton has the majority of the votes, but David isn’t too far . . .”

We heard a gunshot from behind us, and all of the animals dispersed. Remembering Matthew’s orders, we knew one of our friends had been killed.

We walked mostly in silence, but talked from time to time. Sam kept asking me how I was, which annoyed me, but the concern was much appreciated, especially because I knew that Anton was most likely going to shoot me as soon as he saw me. Sam kept smiling with bright eyes. I felt weird, but it made me feel appreciated and loved. Although he was aware of who I was, our friendship remained intact, untarnished. I had someone I could trust and rely on.

When we reached the camp, my heart pounded uncontrollably. I was thankful that no one was around to glare at me, but their absence reminded me of their injuries, their death. There were small tents and tables scattered around a couple of large fires.

Sam told me we had to go talk to the “leaders,” which cut off my respiration, but I didn’t object. We walked up to the largest, centralized cabin and hesitated whether to knock, enter, wait, or if it was even a good idea to be there. As we inched closer, I could hear the discussion happening inside.

“He’s not here! Andrew is dead! Matthew attacked and killed anyone who isn’t here,” Anton screamed.

Maxime was dead? My entire body froze at his words. It wasn’t true; it couldn’t be true. My eyes filled with tears as my world came crashing down around me. I had seen Matthew take him away. He was alive. He had to be.

“Why did Matthew attack?” an unfamiliar voice asked.

“Because of Alexia! She had infiltrated The Shadows, and Andrew had let her!” Anton yelled. “Andrew is dead! It’s his fault that our men are suffering and dying. We need to choose a successor. He was a traitor and an ignorant, young boy. He deserved what he got!” Anton screamed.

I couldn’t listen any longer and burst in the door. “Andrew’s not dead, and he didn’t do anything wrong!” I screamed. Anton immediately called for guards and exclaimed how stupid and cruel I was, and how he should have killed me when he had the opportunity.

“Wait! Listen!” I looked at David and Nick with pleading eyes. I threw my dagger to the floor to show that I’d meant no harm.

“Who is he?” an older man I didn’t recognize asked.

“She . . . is our worst enemy!” Anton screamed.

“But isn’t Matthew’s ultimate weapon a . . . man?”

“No, an ignorant, sadistic, little girl. She infiltrated us under Andrew’s supervision and awareness of it.”

“Stop!” I shouted. I couldn’t take it anymore. “Just listen for once.”

“Arrest her!” Anton ordered.

A soldier put a gun to my back, but I turned around, disarmed him, and pinned him to the ground. Then I let him go. Violence wouldn’t gain their trust. Two more men attacked at Anton’s orders. I took away their weapons and threw them to Sam. After avoiding their strikes, the first soldier attacked again, not having learned his lesson the first time. He hit my wrist and pain surged, putting me off balance, but I grabbed his arm and flipped him. I pinned him against the floor and looked into his eyes to make my point perfectly clear.

“I’m going to let you go. If you attack again, you’ll find yourself in the same position. I don’t want to hurt you. Okay?” I told him. But before he could answer I heard the charging of a gun that Anton had pressed against my spine. I was an idiot for having turned my back to him. I put my hands up, aware that he wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.

“I don’t have all day, so I’ll make this quick and painless. If you’ll step right this way . . .” Anton sneered.

“Just listen. Andrew is alive. Matthew has him and four other soldiers. I know exactly where they are as well as all of Matthew’s strategies and weaknesses.” I did my best to persuade him.

“And you expect me to believe you?”

“Please. Matthew used tracking arrows to find me. He’s as much my enemy as he is yours. Be sure that no one here had an arrow or he’ll know where we all are—”

Anton shot his gun in the air to get me to shut up. I was scared, but if I was going to die by his hand, then I needed to put up a fight, if not for me, then for Maxime.

“You complain that your men are suffering, but you left them at The Shadows to die. I warned you that Matthew was coming, and you refused to listen. Send someone to help them. I would have no reason to be here if I was what you claim. You want me dead. Why would I walk into your sword?”

“Is this true? Did she warn you of Matthew?” the older man asked.

“Simon, she’s the weapon! Why should we trust her?” Anton avoided the question. I felt a burden evaporate from my shoulders.

“Sam, take three other men and aid the wounded at The Shadows,” said Nick calmly, relieving the room of heavy tension.

“Sir, Alex is injured,” Sam announced, and everyone looked at me. “She has cuts and burns around her wrists from the rope and a gash along her head. Andrew took an arrow for her, and that’s why Matthew has him. If he was willing to do so for Alex, and she came to face those who want her dead instead of the one who offers her power, I think we can trust her.”

Everyone fell silent in the dry, cold air. Sam glanced at me, proud of what he had said, and I silently thanked him.

“Take care of her wounds,” David shattered the silence.

“I can wait. Tend to those who need it more than me.” I lowered my hands and looked at my audience, as if searching for their approval of my actions. Sam nodded and ran out with a soldier.

Anton grabbed my wrist, and I let out a faint squeal. Blood oozed from my wounds and stained his hands. “You won’t get away with this. You may have fooled them, but not me.” He brought the gun to my head, and my heart pounded as I held my breath waiting for the shot. I was paralyzed; I didn’t even try to resist.

“That’s enough!” David pulled the gun from Anton’s hands.

“I disagree,” Anton yelled, throwing his hands into the air. “What happens to her? We give our power and safety to the enemy? She’s the weapon! Matthew’s heir! How do we trust her? We can’t just limit her! Elimination is the solution. How can you be so blind to what she’s trying to accomplish? You’re falling into her trap. This is insanity!” Anton’s face was turning bright red, and his eyes were bulging out of his skull.

“Only the leader can take her life,” David said, recalling some of The Shadows’s rules, and my heart settled for the time being, but Anton wasn’t the least bit satisfied.

“I give my life to the leader, whoever it may be. Anton, if you gain the power, hang me, shoot me, strangle me, and I will not oppose you.” I looked deep into his eyes to show how serious I was, but he wasn’t convinced. I was running out of options.

“And I just take your word for it?” He laughed at my offer, but my word was all I had.

“Everyone heard me. While you choose Andrew’s substitute you can lock me up. I won’t resist.” The compromise was in his favor, and I couldn’t see how he could not take it. David and Nick looked at me for an explanation, but I ignored them. I was afraid of what would happen, but I had finally made my loyalties clear.

David picked up my dagger and signaled that he would hold it for the time being. I nodded my head in understanding and was escorted out by four soldiers. The sun skimmed over us, and the first breath of cold air tore at my lungs. They tied me to a tree with electrical-magnetic handcuffs that didn’t hurt my wrists. My ankles were also restrained, and Anton took the liberty of stuffing a piece of cloth in my mouth to keep me quiet. I choked on it at first, unable to take in the little air that managed to pass through the fabric, but I quickly got used to the struggle and breathed through my nose instead. I felt like a captive savage. I ignored my growling stomach and gave into the dizzy drowsiness of the lack of oxygen until I fell asleep, exhausted, starved, and in pain.

“Anton!”

“Stop!”

“You can’t!”

Yelling came from every angle, blasting my ears. I opened my eyes and saw Anton running toward me with a long dagger in his hands. Nothing stood between us. A throng of soldiers chased him, and I went rigid, unable to do anything but watch him approach me. I closed my eyes and bit down on the cloth, waiting for excruciating pain to surge as he neared. I thought of Maxime—his beautiful, strong face, his multicolored eyes. I imagined his warm hands cradling me, bringing me home, wherever that really was. Then my heart fell as the ropes quickly loosened. Release and relief ripped through my spine. I opened my eyes to see Anton’s burning eyes glaring at me.

My hands were freed, so I tore the cloth from my mouth and took a deep gulp of air. “I don’t understand,” I said, trying to sound thankful and humble, but I was confused. Why had I been freed? Why hadn’t Anton just plunged the dagger into my stomach?

“You’ve been nominated to lead. Don’t get your hopes too high; you still have to pass the challenges, and when I win, I’ll have your head.” Anton didn’t even look at me. His voice dissolved in the wind, and the snow crackled beneath his steps as he stormed off. I remained in shock.

David came by and returned my dagger. He helped me up and called Nick over.

“Is Sam back?”

“Yes, sir. At the moment, he’s healing Emanuel, who was shot and severely injured, sir.” Nick remained very professional in keeping the traditional etiquette. He avoided eye contact, but smiled lightly, revealing that he hadn’t turned against me.

“Have him treat Alex when he finishes with Emanuel. Thank you. Dismissed,” David said.

When Nick left, David explained what he could. I listened attentively, but his words disappeared in the air and were lost in the snow. I couldn’t fully focus knowing that everyone wanted me dead no matter what I did.