The stinging sensation crawling through her spine, forcing it to bend to its will submerged itself into the depths of Aloysia's soul.
Her breathing erratic, with no energy to show it as a pair of hands held her exhausted, droopy body upright.
Aloysia's vision and hearing were hazy, memories all a blur.
"It's getting worse" a familiar voice murmured.
"I know, we were right to come when we did" a soft gentle voice replied.
Zelek clutched onto Aloysia's body as she regained her strength. The searing pain from the dagger no longer sparking.
"I just wish we were able came sooner"
"Agreed" Zillah murmured. "If it wasn't for that shifter-"
Her words stopped. Eyes snapped to Zelek as she grabbed his shoulders. "We didn't kill it!"
Her grip tightened.
"It's still out there... it could come for us again and we wouldn't even know it! Shit!" She breathed.
"I mean- gosh I didn't even know this world had shifters!"
Zelek adjusted his grip on Aloysia, his muscles groaning with the change but he bore it. "Sister- calm down"
"How do you expect me to calm down?!" She retorted, eyes a dancing flame.
"Shifters originate from our world- not here, and if there's one..."
"There's more"
"Shit."
This was bigger than they thought. Not just the attempt on her life, not just the clawing wind, but the fact that a creature crossed to this world.
"If a shifter got through? What other horrors are waiting to tear us to shreds?" Zillah blurted.
Her hands were around her head, squeezing it in frustration and fear.
Aloysia couldn't move her own body, she was certainly conscious of it, but could do nothing with it.
Zillah sighed, head constantly switching between the path ahead and that of Aloysia's figure. That was her main priority, the safety of her siblings.
Even though Zelek had dealt with the same strain as herself back there, besides the leg, he insisted that he carry her entirely. Although, Zillah could see the strength leaving him slowly as they continued on- deciding to walk in silence to not attract any lurkers.
Traipsing through the dense wood was the easy part, avoiding the suns burning glare and now the possibility of hundreds of curious eyes searching for their heads.
Not so easy...
"Everything we saw, with Aloysia, and those dark veins..." Zillah whispered, left dazed. "What was it?"
Zelek didn't know how to respond.
"I'm not sure, and I'm afraid to find out"
Zillah held back a worrisome face as she swallowed a lump in her throat.
The crisp wind no longer nipped at her skin as the mid-morning sun tried to melt the fresh snow- spring settling over the horizon in just a few weeks.
Hauling Aloysia's body further into himself, she began to stir, a piercing pain still residing in her body along with exhaustion.
Zillah noticed the movement, noticed the pain and her heart snapped at its sight. A plan was needed, and an explanation for all of this madness was desperately required.
With a choked breath she spoke loud and clear.
"Take her to the edge, near the river that runs west from here"
Zillah instructed, positioning her hood over her head, a serious face coming into view. "I will draw the attention away. Make them think she's heading east"
"No-"
"-Don't" she turned. "I've already decided"
"You can't be serious?" Zelek drawled. "Splitting up never works!"
"Neither does grouping together, we're just a bigger target"
And with that, she was off- already carrying the weapons dropped by her sister and headed back the way they came.
———
Mort had to cover up The Shadow being his daughter, only he and a few trusted guards knew- whose heads now hung, detached from their bodies. Explanation for such actions- not necessary.
He didn't trust anyone, wanted to keep it that way, or his reputation would continue to diminish, just as Elianna, or should he say, The Shadow wanted.
Since he took the power of the south until the coronation of the prince, he had Liam doing minor duties that kept him from the truth. Soon, he would learn them, and soon, he would be dispatched- just as the soldiers who saw his daughter for what she really was; who saw him kill the Queen of the south.
He growled in frustration, rubbing his temples with soothing circles. The south's military resources were dwindling fast; a bounty placed on the assassins head- large enough to entice any idiot with a knife.
It left the castle vulnerable to attacks, and the Northern kingdom recruiting more soldiers to send to his aid, but they wouldn't get here for a good while.
But, he needed her, no longer for fun and games to him, but for war.
To believe he had what he wanted all those years and never even knew about it...
It was himself against his daughter...
Let the battle begin...
———
Zillah swerved through the trees, bearing Pitch, the twin blades and Aloysia's blood stained cloak.
Just putting it on her petite frame, she could feel it's death toll, it's heaviness burying itself in her shoulders. Only wearing it for deception, and her sister wore her cloak, to cover her pale body back when she collapsed.
She shoved the pain aside, heading toward the village, where her plan mustered within the time frame of 30 seconds could come into effect.
She was out of ear shot of her brother, and way out of his sight lines, something very alien to her.
Zillah was nimble through the trees, avoiding the splotches of sunlight piercing the glazed leaves.
Endless rolls of grass, layered with thick bristled trees was all that her eyes receded back to her; noticing its worn out bark, dents and scars, each one feeding off memory upon memory of history.
The silence the wood promised was something incredible. Even if it would not stay silent for long...
Crunch.
The jolting sound of a twig snapping under the light steps of Zillah ran alarm bells, not to her, but the citizens of the village she was just 'brushing' past.
"It's her!" A farmer shouted, pointing through the denseness of the trees. A smirk laced Zillah's lips, "Inform the soldiers! She's back for more!!"
Perfect.
Just as planned, the naive soldiers chased after her, hands gripping leftover weapons from the aftermath. Just to ensure her plans further, the draping hood was dragged further over her face. Shielding any doubt that it was indeed The Shadow.
Each of the men were fumbling over the crowded grass with oak logs branching from the ground, as they began the chase.
Their footsteps were heavy against the cold grassy ground, compared to Zillah's, whose were delecate and planned.
Her breathing remained calm, controlled as she peered ahead of her, scoping out the thickness of the wood while remaining in the shaded areas, away from direct sunlight.
She needed to buy time and push the soldiers of their trail to ensure they were safe... from at least the soldiers.
Dipping in and out of trees, continuing her speed as her arms swung by her side propelling her forward, she could feel them begin to tire.
Zillah laughed to herself and quickened her pace, feeling the exhilarating adrenaline of cold wind blowing in her face. She was leading them west, opposite to the direction of her siblings.
Relief swept over Zillah at the thought of them being safe from harms way, a smile of satisfaction arose and graced all those who could witness it with her beauty.
The forest seemed to nod in acknowledgement, which only encouraged her further.
When she was assured that she could no longer hear the crunching of footsteps upon the hard earth, she halted.
Her eyes trailed behind her, viewing nothing but Mother Nature. Her heart relaxed at the calm surroundings.
She inhaled the oxygen rich environment into her deprived lungs that took priority. Her breathing returned to its normal state, not that it differed from her usual pace.
Zillah cleared her mind, her body buzzing at the chase that was over sooner than imagined.
It worked.
The soldiers would inform the captain to head west.
They were safe.
Sighing in contempt, she began scouring the river to follow it east. Luckily for her, it was far from the village so she wouldn't get spotted on her way to them.
Creeping back the way she came, and before she even aight wind of the river, a flash of bright light erupted behind her.
It caught her off guard, startled her as she ducked her head to a crouch, peering behind her only to be blinded.
Zillah raised her palm containing scrunched up material to shield this pure light beckoning at her, quickly, but it was no use.
One moment she stood, frozen in place, the hood blown off her face; mingling with the length of her hair; the next, a pair of hands on her waist, roughly dragging her toward the light.
All within a second...
She screeched as her head slammed against the tough ground, rendering her powerless. Blood trailed from within her hair while her limp body put up no fight.
The hands continued to drag her like a puppet caught in strings further into the light, until it vanished suddenly, leaving no trace behind of it ever existing...
And Zillah with it.