Chapter 20: Waylaid, Part 2

Lexi

I watched Cindy carefully while the bandits gathered around us. Of course, I could kill them all in a flash if I wanted to, but that would expose my true identity.

My lip curled in disgust when I noticed the complete lack of fear in her face. My fa— Alpha— was right after all. She did betray us, it seemed. I briefly wondered why I had grabbed her hand at the first signs of danger, and why I was still holding it.

"I hope you see that you are at a disadvantage," said the obvious commander smoothly. "I also hope you don't put us to any more trouble than absolutely necessary."

The bastard. He had evidently been spying on us, and had rigged himself a proper troop, and he was talking about resistance. He had allowed for it in his plans.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Beta growled. He had to be careful here.

"Not your lives, that's for sure," answered the man. "I just want—" and here his eyes zeroed in on us girls— "A little help."

"Well whatever you want from these girls, you won't get it," Beta stated. "Not if I can help it."

He was contemplating a last stand. Unfortunately, so was I. If I pulled out my powers, everybody here would die, including him and Matthews, which would be sad. I would do it if it came to that, but we had best put up a good fight first.

"Look, here's the trouble I was looking to avoid," sighed to band leader. "Don't try resistance. It'll only get you killed."

Shift, I ordered over the link. I discovered long ago that every pack wolf, except Tyler and my parents, obeys my strict orders.

Beta began to obey me, but I heard two sharp twang 's and saw tranquilizer darts stuck in the unconscious forms of the men.

I blinked and continued watching Cindy. She was watching the leader of this little troop.

"As I was saying," said the leader, his gaze shifting between the two of us with unhidden curiousity. "I need some help. Which one of you is Alpha Marcus' daughter?"

I didn't answer at once. I pondered the pros and cons of strangling Cindy with my bare hands, just to intimidate them. Before I could make up my mind, I heard her say:

"Me. What do you want me to do?"

Wait, what? Said Lattis in shock.

I observed her carefully, noting her rigid posture and pounding heart. It might be a ruse. It might be a scheme. But by now, even I was beginning to doubt myself.

"Very well," he grinned, "men, bring her up."

I took a step, but she dug a finger so deep into my hand that I looked at her. She gave me a pleading glance, and I reluctantly stayed where I was. Maybe she was guilty of having betrayed me. But if I had really been betrayed, they would at least have known which of us was their mole.

Two big men grabbed me, while two more grabbed her and dragged her to the leader. I observed carefully to see what would happen.

The commander gave the order to wake up Beta and Matthews. The men accomplished this in some way, but they did. Confusion and alarm graced Matthews' face, but Beta sent me a knowing look. I did not answer the question in his eyes, though.

"We just need you to carry a little message for us to your father, Princess," said the leader. I couldn't help my curiosity when his hand dipped into his bag. He plucked out some gloves and wore them, then pulled out a long, black whip, and I saw Cindy stiffen. I noticed the flash of metal on it, and recognized it as silver.

My stomach clenched and did a somersault. I suddenly felt like puking.

She was going to be whipped— with a silver whip, no less— and she was going to be whipped because she pretended to be my father's daughter. She had not called these men; otherwise, the secret would already be out and she would have declared her betrayal by now. But no— she pretended to be me, so that whatever was going to happen to me would instead befall her. She had taken my identity when she saw that my station and name were going to bring me trouble. She sacrificed.

I could not move as the whip sliced through the air and snaked across her calves.

Cindy lurched in the hold of the goons, a scream of pain and shock ripping the air. She had definitely never felt the burn of silver before. She was gasping for breath as she went limp in their unyeilding hands.

The one with the whip chuckled darkly: "Silver-studded oxhide whip— enough to pull the wail from any wolf girl."

The next strike opened the first cut, producing a blood- curdling scream from Cindy. Silver hurts more when it touches unprotected flesh.

He kept on swinging that whip, laying stripe after stripe of dripping red on Cindy's legs. I soon dropped my head and shut my eyes, numb with shame and regret.

I cursed myself for dragging her into this mess. If we hadn't gone on this dumb, unnecessary trip, we wouldn't have been waylaid, and nothing would have happened to Cindy.

She wouldn't have had to be whipped with silver, in my place.

If only we had stayed home. If only I had defied my dad, all would be fine. If only I had trusted her.

I felt my witch rise to the surface in notches, rising one step with each sound of the lash.

It rose, and rose, until I could barely think. My hands would soon start pulsating with power if this went on much longer. In fact, I could tell that I was being pushed into the back of my own mind— or, in this case, the witch's mind. I would soon be unable to control myself.

Finally, the beating stopped. I heard Cindy hit the ground with a thud. The men holding me let go suddenly, and I imagined them slinking off, trying to escape.

Too bad for them, then, because not one will live to tell the tale.

"Lexi," called Cindy's voice. "Come, let's go."

"I'll catch up," said the Witch.

"Lexi," she said again.

She raised our head. I saw Cindy's eyes widen and her jaw drop slightly. I knew what she was seeing: the Witch's eyes.

Silently, Beta and the warrior went away, taking her with them.

I turned round, facing the direction where I knew the men had gone. Then, the Witch let loose.

I fell to my knees, my hands flashing with blinding white power, and hit the ground with it. The earth creaked and groaned, then cracked. It began as just a crack, then it spread, the crack growing as it made its jagged progress. Soon, the crack had grown into a deep ravine that snaked through the woodland, swallowing trees, animals, and the men who fell in screaming. The chasm widened as it lengthened, following the men and swallowing them. By the time I lifted my hands from the earth, I had positively created a crater.

With more power, I imbued the ground again, and the crack began to close. It closed over the creatures and trees in it, leaving the place looking untouched— only without anything on it but grasses, which clung to the soil when it split.

"Retribution," said my Witch placidly, surveying the scene.

She then blew a breath over the grassy plain, and trees and shrubs sprouted.

My Witch turned her back, leaving leaves and new flowers abloom in her wake.

*Picture of Lexi's Witch if you don't look too hard*