Chapter 70- To Hope and To Beyond

"Despise not death, but welcome it, for nature wills it like all else."

~Marcus Aurelius

Chapter 70

To Hope and To Beyond

River's POV

My eyes squeezed shut, a shuddered breath falling from my lips as Alastair's hands gently rubbed against my back. Tears collected around the edges of my eyes as I warded off the fear that was now pounding hard in my chest.

It was so real now. The reality of this all was beginning to set in and my instincts were shrieking for me to run but to where? There was nowhere to hide anymore. Council members sat patiently in front of the stage, their eyes burning into Alastair and me.

What person would want to sit front row to a hanging?

Bile formed in my throat as my eyes lifted from Alastair's back to the dark glares of those before me. Black cloaks covered all, yet concealed none.

My eyes could do nothing but waver beneath the raging blaze of my attainers, their glares nothing more than fire to the rope that was soon to end me.

My throat grew suddenly dry. My nails dug into Alastair's back as an almost silent cry escaped my throat and buried itself in Alastair's shirt. Though to my love, it did not go unnoticed.

His lips brushed lightly below my ear before an unsteady breath fell past his lips.

"I'm so sorry, beautiful."

I nodded against his shirt.

Why apologize? It was far too late for apologies.

My eyes wandered past the stage, watching as a sprinkle of stars began to light up the darkening sky. Splashes of blues and dark purples swirled around the sky, painting it in solemn colors that seemed the equally match the mood radiating from the stage.

I felt a prickle against my face and I peered up, catching Isaiah's eyes. I nearly gasped at the sight of him. His eyes were puffed up and red, practically swollen shut as he gazed up at me. To his side sat Derek, with his hand tightly woven around Isaiah's. The minute Isaiah's eyes locked with mine he began to shake, his bottom lip quivering as a gasped cry escaped his throat.

Councilmen turned in their seats, eyeing Isaiah's crying form with looks of disapproval.

My eyes continued eyeing the audience, coming upon both Keith and Michael merely a few seats down from Isaiah and Derek. It appeared that they separated the councilmen and royalty. Neither Michael nor Keith were crying but Michael appeared seconds from murdering someone. His eyes were narrowed and fingernails were digging harshly into his biceps. Keith sat silently by his mate's side, eyes glazed over, mind wandering.

What is he thinking about? I could only wonder.

Merely Royals and councilmen lined around the wooden stage. Neither Hyde nor the guards who had followed behind us earlier appeared in the radius. Perhaps they saw no point to bringing a defense when I was already but a few centimeters from the noose.

Was an escape so feasible that they didn't even bother with guards?

"Time," a deep voice rumbled behind me followed by a series of harsh steps.

A deep growl rumbled in Alastair's throat as he eyed a form behind me.

"You will not touch him," Alastair hissed between his teeth, "I will do it. You will watch."

The steps stopped and turned, growing farther away to the back of the stage.

Alastair's hands reached behind me, grasping at something as he laid a light kiss on my lips. I closed my eyes, a shuddered breath falling past my lips as I felt something prickle against my neck.

"I-is that..." my lips quivered as I struggled to breathe.

"Shh," Alastair whispered against my lips, "you will feel nothing." He uttered just as I heard the snap of a bottle. My brows pulled and my eyes fluttered open, quick to peer down. My eyes locked on a small veil in Alastair's hand, the liquid dark and frightening as it moved against its glass confines.

"What is that?" I whispered, eyes locked on the mysterious liquid.

"It's a numbing cream," he whispered against my ear as he began applying it around my neck, "It will make sure that you don't feel anything."

My head whipped up, peering through the crowd until my eyes locked on Michael. His stand was just as tense as I remembered, nearly shaking with anger as he eyed the row in front of him. When my eyes locked on him, he was quick to peel his eyes from them to send me a reassuring smile.

Thank you, I mouthed. To which, he sent me a playful wink, one filled with affection but splotched in sorrow nonetheless. My heart tightened. I swallowed down my tears as they began to collect along the edges of my eyes.

"I love you," Alastair's voice quivered against my ear as he placed the veil back in his pocket.

I could already feel my neck growing numb as a tingling sensation ran across my skin. My fingers reached up to run across my neck, feeling nothing but the rope that sat idly on my shoulders.

Alastair reached behind my neck to adjust the noose as his lips pressed lightly between my brows. I could feel nothing but could only assume he was tightening it by his hand movements. Tight for a quick death.

I'm about to die. The thought frightened me and I could feel my body begin to shake.

"Shh," Alastair soothingly cooed in my ear, "I'm right here by your side. You will feel no pain. It'll be quick. I'll make sure of it." His lips brushed against my ear as he spoke. Though he probably meant for me not to realize, I could feel it as his lips quivered against my ear.

He was just as frightened as I was.

Such a realization caused a jagged knife to rip down my throat, pulling my sanity along with it. My breath grew tight and forced as tears began to fall down my face, contained no more.

"Goddess, River," Alastair's voice wavered, "please, please don't cry my love. I'm so sorry. Please, beautiful," his voice cracked as he cradled me to his chest, tightly holding the rope to keep it was strangling me in our embrace.

I merely shook my head, a choked sob shaking me as my hands quivered against his chest.

I could barely breathe, the world was slowly growing hazy. Perhaps I was to die of anguish before my hanging even began.

"Look at me," Alastair's hands cupped my tear-stained face, pulling my eyes to his. His eyes were growing redder by the minute, face paling as a quaked breath fell past his lips.

"Please, don't be afraid love. You will feel nothing. Michael and I made sure of it. It will last merely a minute and then you'll be up there, in the protective embrace of the Goddess, safe," tears ran down his face as he spoke, "you are far too perfect for this world, River. It was only a matter of time before the Goddess took you back. A soul like yours is too pure for this world, beautiful," he brushed a strand from my face and laid a gentle kiss between my brows.

He carefully pulled his lips only to drop them to lips. His fingers combed soothingly through my hair as his lips moved tenderly against mine. And then, within seconds his lips fell from mine and he took a step back. An icy cold shiver ran down my spine.

I took a breath and watched as he slowly descended the stairs, leaving me along on the dreaded stage. I never felt more alone in my life. So I did the only thing I knew to cope; I closed my eyes.

And like that, the world disappeared. All things frightening far from sight. My shuddered breaths slowly turned to calming blows as I silenced my surroundings and focused on the darkness.

A shout suddenly pulled through the darkness. My eyes squeezed tightly. Did it start? Was I dying already?

Alastair was right, I really don't feel anything.

The yelling continued. I couldn't quite make out any words but the loud screams were prominent within my darkened haze.

Who is it?

Is it Alastair? Is he calling for me?

I feared to open my eyes. I didn't want to see him in pain, to watch his expression as he watched the life in me slowly whisk away.

A sawing sound pulled to my ears and suddenly I felt myself falling. My eyes shot open just as I landed on something. I expected pain but felt none. My vision was hazy. My eyes squinting and fluttering as all I saw was black. My fingers tightened against the object and I felt as it flinched.

Not a something. A someone.

I gasped at that, "Alastair?" I mustered.

I peered up, eyeing the face though as my vision cleared up I realized how wrong I was.

No.

The figure was covered head to toe in black. A black mask covered the person's face but a flow of dirty blond hair flowed out from beneath the mask.

"W-who?" I stuttered as I eyed the person.

No response came. Instead, a grunt fell from the person's lips as he, from the feel of flattened chest against my fingers, lifted his hand. My brows pulled together as I raised my head, following his line of vision until I came upon three other figures a few feet away, warding off a series of screaming councilmen.

My mind raced, confusion lacing every thought.

Was I being saved? By who?

My eyes locked on Alastair's by the stage. He sent me a small smile, his lips pulling between his teeth.

I eyed his face, searching for a clue.

He didn't appear afraid. Slightly anxious, but not of the men, it appeared, but of the councilmen as his eyes wavered from mine to them with a hint of anxiety.

Perhaps they were acquaintances of Alastair's. The thought at least settled some of my nerves.

But why?

What was the point of this? Wasn't I being hung because there was no way to bypass this? How would was stopping it going to change anything?

My fingers tightened against the thin fabric of the man holding me. His arms adjusted around me, carefully wrapping his arms behind my legs to settle me better against him. His arms shot to the side. The three men in the distance nodded and suddenly we were on the run. My arms wrapped around the man's neck to keep me from falling forward as he sped from the scene.

Shouting ensued from the distance, a series of guards filed from the palace doors, their heads whipping from side to side until one's eyes locked on the four men in black. Their arms waved frantically and spears rose in the air.

My eyes widened and head pushed back to eye the man holding me. He appeared so calm, though being chased by highly trained royal guards. His eyes momentarily dropped to mine and his eyes softened before eyeing his surroundings and signaling to something ahead.

My eyes pulled from his face to look forward.

The horses' stable.

The men quickly grabbed at the reigns, lifting themselves onto the whining beasts, nearly falling off from the looks of it but managed to grab hold of their horses before slapping its side. The man holding me pulled me over his shoulder as he jumped onto his horse. Once settling his beast, he placed me into his lap and slapped the horse on the side. And suddenly, we were on the move again.

I leaned against the man's chest, eyeing my surroundings as we traveled what felt like miles.

Where were they taking me?

My eyes began to fall, drowsiness wiping through my entire body. Was this an effect of the medication Alastair applied over my neck?

The soft padding of the horse and the light wish of the wind against my face began to lull me to sleep as I struggled to keep my eyes open.

I wouldn't allow myself to fall asleep in the lap of a complete stranger. That sounded nothing short of idiotic.

I flinched as I felt the man's fingers lightly brush through my hair.

"Rest," he whispered, "it's alright. You're safe now."

I shook my head.

"Don't fight it. Your body is clearly exhausted," his voice was so soft, so familiar.

But from where?

Was the last thought that filtered through my mind before everything turned to black.

☾

A feather-like touch brushed lightly against my forehead, soft whispers ringing past my ears as my conscience slowly returned back to me.

"You're going to wake him, Noah," a masculine voice grumbled.

"Shh," a voice above me hushed as the soft brushing continued, "you're being annoying."

"Goddess," the other man huffed, a light clank following his grunt.

My eyes slowly fluttered open, squinting on my vision laced in a bright white.

"Hey," a soft voice whispered above me.

I squinted, gleaming stars splotching my vision before a face slowly formed above me.

Delicate features painted the person's face. Dirty blond hair fell loosely across his shoulders as a gentle smile lifted his lips.

My breath caught in my throat, my fingers lifted to brush against his face. His eyes softened as his hand cupped mine, lips quirking to the side.

"Morning, River," he breathed out.

A voice so familiar, so soothing. Tears prickled my eyes as I sniffled, my fingers pressing lightly beneath his hazel eyes.

My vision swam, "Alice?"

To all those who wanted to kill me last chapter thinking I was going to kill River, I am literally the epitome of a mother hen, how could I kill my own baby? And to those who had hope in me *pats on back*. Sooo what do you guys think? I saw a couple of you guys hit the nail on the head last chapter and I was literally such a proud mother. You guys deserve a cookie! xD Now you guys can all calm yourselves, knowing that baby River is all safe and sound now. What do you guys think is going to happen next? Was Alastair involved in this? How did Alice/Noah know about River's hanging? Who are the other three men? Whoever's the first to guess all 3 men correctly will get a dedication next chapter!! Love you guys tunzzz!! *blows kisses* <3