"Run?" I echoed, frozen in place as the haunting howls grew louder, closer. "Run where? There's nothing but open fields!"
Kieran didn't look at me, his focus trained on the shifting shadows creeping closer. "Anywhere but here. Now go, Angelica!"
Something primal in his tone broke through my paralysis.
Without another word, I turned and ran, my feet pounding against the uneven ground as I stumbled toward the distant treeline. The horses whinnied in panic, their hooves scraping against the earth as they bolted in fear.
Behind me, I heard the sharp ring of steel meeting flesh and bone. Kieran had engaged with whatever was coming, and the sound sent a cold shiver down my spine.
Don't look back. Just keep running, I told myself.
But I did look back.
In the faint glow of the moonlight, I caught a glimpse of Kieran, his sword arcing through the air as he fought off what looked like… beasts. Their forms were massive and twisted, like wolves but grotesquely distorted, with elongated limbs and glowing ember like eyes.
"Kieran!" I shouted before I could stop myself.
One of the creatures broke away from the fight, its eyes locking onto me. My heart leapt into my throat as it bounded after me, its movements eerily silent despite its size.
I forced my legs to move faster, every muscle screaming in protest as I pushed toward the treeline. The shadows of the trees loomed ahead, their branches clawing at the sky like skeletal hands.
"Come on," I whispered desperately, my breath ragged. "Just a little further."
The beast was closing in, its snarls sending chills down my spine. I could feel its presence like a shadow breathing down my neck.
Suddenly, my foot caught on a root, and I went sprawling to the ground. Pain shot through my palms as I caught myself, the rough earth scraping my skin.
I turned onto my back, my eyes wide as the creature lunged toward me. Its jaws snapped inches from my face, and I let out a scream, throwing my arms up in a futile attempt to shield myself.
The impact never came.
A blur of motion streaked past me, and the beast was suddenly yanked backward, a silver blade slicing through its thick neck. Blood sprayed in a dark arc as the creature let out a strangled howl before collapsing to the ground.
Kieran stood over it, his chest heaving and his sword dripping with black ichor. His gaze shifted to me, his expression unreadable.
"Get up," he ordered, his voice sharp. "We're not safe yet."
I scrambled to my feet, my body trembling as I stumbled toward him. "What were those things?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"Shadow Beasts," Kieran said, wiping his blade on the grass. "Creatures born of old magic, corrupted and wild. They're drawn to the pendant and to you."
My hand instinctively went to the pendant hidden beneath my dress. "They're after me?"
"Yes," he said bluntly. "And they won't stop until they've torn you apart. So unless you want to end up as their next meal, I suggest you keep moving."
The coldness in his tone stung, but I didn't argue. I followed him as he led the way into the forest, his movements quick and purposeful. The trees closed in around us, their twisted branches casting eerie shadows on the ground.
Kieran didn't stop until we were deep within the woods, far from the open fields. He finally slowed, his sharp eyes scanning our surroundings before gesturing for me to sit on a fallen log.
"We should be safe here for now," he said, sheathing his sword.
I collapsed onto the log, my legs giving out beneath me. My entire body felt like it was on fire, and my hands were still trembling from the adrenaline.
"Safe?" I asked, my voice dripping with disbelief. "We were just attacked by monsters, Kieran. How is anywhere safe?"
"It's safer than being out in the open," he retorted, leaning against a tree. "Shadow Beasts hunt by sight and scent. The trees mask both, but it won't hold them off forever."
I stared at him, trying to process everything he'd said. "How do you know so much about these things?"
His expression darkened, and for a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer. But then he said, "Because I've fought them before. A long time ago."
There was something in his tone—an edge of bitterness, of pain—that made me hesitate to press further.
"So, they're after the pendant," I said instead, pulling it out from under my dress. The silver surface gleamed faintly in the moonlight, and the strange symbols etched into it seemed to shift and shimmer.
"They're drawn to its magic," Kieran confirmed. "The pendant is a beacon for anything tied to the old power. That's why we need to move quickly. The longer you have it, the more danger you're in."
"And yet you want me to find a sorcerer who can unlock its secrets," I said, my voice laced with frustration. "How am I supposed to protect myself when even you can barely fend off those creatures?"
Kieran's gaze hardened. "You'll learn. You don't have a choice."
His words felt like a slap, but I couldn't argue with him. He was right. I didn't have a choice.
I sighed, leaning forward and burying my face in my hands. "This is too much," I murmured. "I didn't ask for any of this. I just wanted to survive."
"You're not the only one fighting to survive," Kieran said, his voice softer now. "But if you give up, you won't just be dooming yourself. You'll be dooming everyone who's counting on you."
I lifted my head, meeting his gaze. "And who, exactly, is counting on me?"
For a moment, Kieran didn't respond. Then, to my surprise, he said, "Alistair."
The mention of the prince sent a jolt through me. I thought of his piercing blue eyes, his cryptic words, and the way he had trusted Kieran to protect me.
"Why does he care?" I asked, more to myself than to Kieran.
"You'll have to ask him," Kieran said, his tone neutral. "If we live long enough for you to see him again."
Before I could respond, the faint sound of howls echoed through the forest, distant but unmistakable. My heart leapt into my throat.
"They've found us," Kieran said, his expression grim. "We need to move. Now."
I stood, my legs shaky but determined. "Where do we go?"
He pulled out the map, his finger tracing a route through the mountains. "There's a safe house about a day's ride from here. If we can reach it, we'll have a better chance of making it to the sorcerer."
Another howl pierced the night, closer this time. Kieran grabbed my arm and started leading me deeper into the forest.
"Stay close," he said, his voice low but firm. "And whatever happens, don't stop running."
As we plunged into the darkness, the howls grew louder, and the shadows seemed to close in around us. My heart pounded in my chest, every step a reminder of how fragile my life had become.
But even as fear consumed me,
one thought kept me moving..
I had to survive.