I was now losing more blood than I intended. This was definitely going to change my plans. Now, I would have to work much faster than I anticipated.
Finding an inner strength from the core of my soul, I shoved him away from me and rolled, holding one hand over the knife's handle, so it wouldn't jar so badly.
All I had to do was keep him in the circle and activate my spells.
I dodged and dashed along in a zig-zag circle around him as I activated the magic. The blood trail left behind me added more power to it.
As I completed the circle, I came to a stop. The invisible barrier held him, like I had placed a glass dome over him.
His mood didn't improve with the captivity. He bellowed and fought against it, and although it bent under the impact of his blows, it didn't break.
Now that my body was less under the natural flight-or-fight response, other information came to me. I felt the breeze begin to pick up and sounds from afar caught my attention.
For the first time, I realized we were not alone. Although they had yet to intervene, there were park rangers here.
In the distance, heading roughly in the direction of the park, was what sounded like fire trucks and police.
'We do not need them to interfere!', I thought. 'They'll only make things worse.'
With this added distraction, I noticed my barrier was weakening.
"No." I said aloud, as I pushed more of my concentration into my spell.
The barrier held. Thinking quickly, I worked a second spell. It was risky, a decision that would either help immensely, or go terribly wrong.
If I couldn't keep him contained, my new spell could only create danger for any who came to my aid. Although I knew that, I kept thinking, 'What if they hurt him? What if they kill him?'
I didn't want this whole thing to explode into further violence.
So, I cast a spell making us unable to be seen by other eyes. A concealment spell.
As more of my blood ran down my body and into the grass, I went to my knees. I sang an ancient song, in the dead language of my people's ancestors.
Around the time the fire and police services arrived, Alpha David's attacks on the barrier started to slow.
I noticed as he sniffed the air and seemed less agitated.
The others around us seemed creeped out by the disembodied voice singing slowly in some unknown language. The firemen decided this was out of their job description and left.
I let the last words of the song out of my mouth and then let the air hang in silence.
David was visibly calmer now. He changed back into human form. He seemed confused, bewildered, even. He wordlessly bent and touched the blood that had flowed to his side of the barrier. A sharp intake of breath when he saw and smelt the blood on his palm.
It was as if he had thought this was some sort of dream. But it was real. He looked at me.
I placed my palms on the earth. I let go of the containment spell. The barrier instantly dissipated. I could feel my heartbeat in my ears. I felt the cold metal still stuck in my flesh. I felt tired and cold.
Any moment he would find his voice, he would say something. Though we were unseen we were not unheard.
I reached out to connect his mind with my own.
'Be silent. They cannot see us, but they can hear us.'
It was like this broke him through to the present. He ran over to me, but then stopped short.
He dropped to his knees. He reached out, then stopped, balling up his fists.
'…I didn't mean to…I don't even know…'
'Hush! It's okay. Everything's okay. We are both still alive and breathing.'
'I didn't want this to happen! I don't know how this happened. It was like I got so angry, I blacked out…I saw, but I couldn't stop it…'
He looked close to tears.
I looked at the scene around us. It looked like a war zone. Ripped up grass, potholes, a few broken saplings, dirt in the air and piled earth.
My eyes focused on him. He could break my heart.
'We need to leave here. Danger.'
I felt my body shake and heard my teeth chatter.
'…cold. Tired and cold…'
I tried to get up, but my body wouldn't listen. I got nowhere.
'Let me help you.', he offered a hand. 'You look pale, it's scaring me.'
I gripped his right hand, and he pulled me up. He then immediately grabbed for me as my legs didn't keep me standing. Positioned as I was, I could hear his heart racing.
Gingerly, he repositioned his hold on me.
'I'm too tired to walk.', I admitted sheepishly.
He grunted softly, in acknowledgement, and put my arm around his neck. Then he picked me up, keeping my injured side away from him.
As he walked, I did everything in my power not to think about the fact that a naked man, an attractive naked man, was carrying me through the forest. My whole being was unbalanced by thoughts and emotions.
So, I went inward and meditated. Distantly, I felt my body carried through the trees. I opened my eyes when he sat me down. I was grounded and calmer.
I was in a vehicle.
'Must be his car.', I thought to myself.
At the opening of the driver's door, I turned my head. David was now fully clothed. He sprang into the seat, slamming the door and starting the engine.
Figuring it was okay now, I stopped the concealment spell.
As I reached my left arm across to reach for my seatbelt, he stopped me.
"Just stay still.", he advised.
It was the first I heard him speak since. His voice sounded gruff.
I put my hand back at my side.
He put the car in gear and drove with one hand on the wheel, and one hand gently touching my belly.