Scar's POV
When I got out of bed, making sure not to wake her, I knew I hated myself already.
My wolf raged on to protect his mate at any cause, but would shrink away when he remembered how much she would hurt when she realized we'd left.
He was warring with himself, and personally so was I, but I knew if I wanted to keep this community and the people that were so dear to me safe I would have to go and hunt down this witch.
I would need to gather the Vampyres, rally with them, and make peace with them. I recognized now the need that had not been there before; to protect someone who without, you would die.
I had changed knowing that I had a mate. Before, I would have gladly gone to war with the Vampyres over Kendra's death, but now I was willing to make up with them.
I knew it wouldn't be easy, and things would be tense, possibly for years, but I was willing to try anything if it meant not compromising my mate.
I would go now and do everything in my power when I got back to make it up to Vasilisa for leaving her.
I reached up and gently stroked her hair away from her face. I observed how her bare body was wrapped seductively in the thin sheet, showing enough skin to tempt any man with working eyes.
She was an angel.
I pulled away, knowing if I stayed any longer I would not leave, and quietly headed out.
As I met Talon on the edge of town, he wasn't looking any happier than I was.
I eyed him in question and the look his gave me said it all: remorse.
"Come on, man. We can run and hate ourselves along the way, at the same time." I said, clapping him on the back.
We shifted and ran.
Vasilisa's POV
It was starting to get dark and I knew I wasn't a quarter of the way there.
That's what happens when you set off on a nearly two-day trip mid-day.
I really didn't want to set a fire and go to sleep, but considering the only sleep I'd had in two days was love-making induced and it could barely be considered a nap, I needed the sleep.
I found a small clearing just off the path and set up a camp.
I didn't light a fire, but I did tie my bag on a high branch so it was less likely that any predators would be able to eat it. If squirrels happened to attack, though, I was shit out of luck.
I fell asleep peacefully enough, though, my sleep was interrupted with nightmares per the usual.
I knew I was forgetting something. I didn't realize that something would be the potions that helped me get a full night's rest. I knew how vital they were to my sleep...and essentially my sanity.
It would be dawn in a few hours, and the earlier the start I could get, the better, so I shook off the bad feeling left by the dreams and got started on my day a little quicker than I had anticipated.
I realized that catching up to the two of them would be like trying to stand still and saddle a horse moving at full speed past you...so impossible at this point.
In fact, I didn't really plan this out.
I stopped my progression along the path to Dentrow.
What the hell was I going to do?
I mean, if I couldn't catch them before they called upon the Vampyres and possibly were killed because the consort of a Vampyre went missing? I mean, this goes two ways.
If Katherine was really behind this, she would have to have a really good reason for fabricating such an eloquent scheme.
I just couldn't imagine what the really good reason could be.
She might just be...crazy. Maybe her consort was more of an asshole than I could ever imagine.
He'd have to be for her to betray him like that.
I kept walking, repositioning the bag and pondering the mystery that was the other witch.
Then I got distracted.
How many other witches were out there?
Were they like the Lycanthropes and Vampyres? Did they hide from civilization in the woods until they're ready to starts wars too? Who would they even start wars with?
Woodland creatures?
Other not-so-mythological creatures? (Were there even any more out there? If so, I'd very much like to be informed about them.)
Sea monsters?
I wouldn't know about that last one considering I'd never been to the sea. I've only seed drawings on maps and heard bad stories about drunkenness in which the sea played a major part.
I sighed, clearing my head of all things that distracted me from making a plan of action.
Unfortunately, I realized that I'd been so busy being frazzled and unfocused for too long.
I saw four men that appeared to be bandits coming towards me on the road. I deduced that these men were not your lordly, gentlemen type due to these simple facts.
1. One of them didn't have on pants...but a skirt made of plaid, and it was torn as if he were a whore who'd had a rough night.
2. They were carrying mostly empty bottles of whiskey. (They were drunk, or almost there)
3. They were some of the most unclean men I'd ever come across. By unclean, I don't necessarily mean that they were just caked in dirt and grime. I mean, they weren't shining with cleanliness, but I'd seen worse. They just happened to be spewing some of the worst vulgarity I'd ever heard. Let's just say they were teaching me things.
And lastly-4. I did not go unnoticed and they immediately started harassing me "Hello, little boy. Would you like to play with some men?" Called one of them. He was a smaller one, he also had his shirt on backwards and inside out. He was clearly in no position to be playing; he wasn't even properly dressed.
I replied gruffly "No."
I kept walking with my head down, hoping to be left alone by now.
I wasn't.
I slowly started reaching for the dagger in the back of my belt when the Skirt-man, and the Giant started coming towards me.
I turned and stood my ground, and as I did this, I noticed their eyes.
They were vacant.
I told myself part of this could be the whiskey, but a bad feeling entered my gut.
I'm positive I'd heard of a spell that would put people under a sort of hypnotism where they could be easily controlled and used as slaves.
These men, though roughing around, and drinking, and generally looking like heathens, could possibly be under a spell of servitude.
I pulled my knife out and the men stopped.
The one in the skirt halted and gave me a toothy grin, toothy being that he had few teeth to grin with.
"Aye, little boy does want to play. Can you use that knife, boy?" He taunted me.
I bit out "I can do more than that, bastards."
The tall one laughed "A mere boy thinking he can take us? Blasphemy."
I bit out "I've never been the religious sort actually, so I don't believe in Blasphemy."
He cocked his head "Oy, you've got some fire in you, then? You'll be fun when we get your pants off of you, boy."
I felt a sort of rage a fury take hold of me that I'd never experienced before.
It was blinding.
They rushed me and I lashed out with my knife, catching the Giant on the arm.
I ducked under it and kicked sideways, planting a maiming kick to his knee. I heard the crunch and then his scream of agony as he fell to the ground, clutching his shattered kneecap.
Now the other three were coming towards me, surrounding me in a circle.
I could take one at a time on a good day, but three?
Three might just get me raped and killed here.
If these men were supposedly under a spell, maybe they had a trigger.
What could that trigger possibly be?
If they were servants at the moment, they would have a master.
I said in a loud, clear voice "Take me to your master."
Skirt man curled his lip "Have you lost your goddamn mind? We have no master!"
I caught his eye and said in a more controlled tone "Take me to your master, Katherine Markson."
They all melted into stances of compliance, their face void of emotion or coherent thought.
The man in the skirt and the small one came behind me and I let them.
The thin one in front, that looked the most dignified out of all four of these raggedy men, said in a monotone voice "We will lead you to our master." He turned and started walking at an average pace, into the thick of the woods.
I followed for what seemed like hours through the dense woods.
Suddenly, there was a small clearing and right at the edge of it, was a cottage.
It looked like a nice enough cottage, meager, but well-kept. The thatch roof was in good shape, and the sod walls were painted white.
I was lead inside and sat at the kitchen table.
What in the hell?
Was I meeting a mad woman or being served afternoon tea?
A woman, whom was familiar to me, entered the kitchen with a woven basket full of herbs thrown over her arm.
She stopped when she saw me sitting at her table.
Her calm demeanor changed into one of sharp defensiveness.
She waved off her men who left immediately and came to slowly sit across from me.
"Hello Katherine." I said, slowly taking off my cap.
She peered at me, her jaw clenching slightly before her entire disposition changed from stiff to welcoming.
I didn't miss how when her lips slowly stretched into a smile that her teeth were no longer pointed and capable of taking someone's blood.
She looked thinner, though, pale, and sickly.
She was still a dangerous witch, I reminded myself.
"Hello..."
Her lips closed, but still remained curved into a sinister leer as she spoke.
"...Vasilisa"