Vireya's POV
I'm going to die!
The thought echoed in my head as I ran through the forests, forcing my eyes open despite the snow and ice thrashing around me. My limbs felt like they'd fall off at any moment, and the tips of my fingers had started turning blue.
A hunt.
And I was prey.
A dark shadow looked over me from above. I didn't need to pause and glance at it to know what it was.
Kind Draven. He was watching me. That beast of his, whatever it was, could fly. I felt his eyes trained on my form, even though he hadn't said anything to me yet. Hovering. Silent. His presence more imposing than the snow.
A loud growl pierced through the air.
My body bristled and I paused, pressing my back into the closest tree. Its rough bark rubbed against my skin, yet I pushed myself deeper into it.
Stay calm, control your breathing, hide your presence.
Father's lessons echoed in my head. If I closed my eyes I could see him, his stern black eyes reprimanding me for my lousy footwork. The thick cane he carried tapped the floor and he sighed.
'You are a hunter. You have my blood in you. You must not disappoint me.'
I wish I could! But father, I haven't faced anything like this! This isn't like the wild bears and boars we used to hunt!
The winds howled in my ear, the cold biting through my arms. If these beasts don't kill me first, the cold will.
Footsteps crunched in the snow, ones not belonging to a creature of two legs. I strained my ear, listening closely. Two of them, massive from the sound, I could smell their rotten breath.
I closed my eyes, placing my shaky hand over my chest. From there, I called forth my magic.
My mother's gentle face filled my head, her warmth wrapped around me and for a while, the cold didn't matter.
I lunged out from my position behind the tree, my hand raised in a fist as I aimed for the closest beast. Snow and ice scattered in the air as I slid under its body, ramming my fist into its underbelly.
Its skin tore open, blood and guts spilling over the fresh snow. It let out a loud howl of pain and collapsed.
The second one charged, eyes blazing and snout huffing steam. It let out a terrifying roar, a clawed paw raised and ready to take my head with it.
I inhaled deeply, steadying myself before I attacked.
When I was done, I stood to the side, carefully observing the bodies in case they were still alive.
Two down. Five to go.
The smell was horrid. But the red of their blood staining the snow was oddly beautiful.
My lungs burned as I panted, trying to draw the icy oxygen into my lungs. Even though it was freezing, cold sweat dripped down my back. My hands trembled, I had used my magic too fast and too much.
A rustle behind me made me turn.
A few feet in the air was King Draven and his beast. His face stoic, hair billowing behind him like a massive cape, he just watched me. Still, the only sign on life in his body being his slow blinks. He was more terrifying than the beasts I'd just slain.
We held eye contact for what felt like forever.
Why is he doing this? What could he possibly have to gain from this? Is he testing me, why?
Then, a slow smile spread across his face, sending chills down my bones. Another beast with a Lycan mounted on it flew in. The Lycan held a large bow and arrows. He handed them over to King Draven.
"No..." I gasped, my heart launching into my throat. I stumbled back, nearly tripping over a buried tree root. "No!"
King Draven drew the bow, the arrow pointed at me. His eyes shone like fire, brighter than the very sun, as if the mere thought of shooting me down made him elated.
"Run, little hunter." He said. I heard the words deep in my soul, despite the distance between us.
I turned and ran. I ran as fast as my stupid legs could go, arrows whizzing past me. Someone was screaming, their voice echoing throughout the forest. Another was laughing, deep, bone chilling laughter full of malice.
I didn't realise the screamer was me till an arrow lodged firmly in my back, cutting off my voice.
***
'Get up.'
My body sank further into the snow. Warmth coated my back. The scent of copper flooded my nose, sharp and tangy. I felt my blood leaving my body.
'Vireya. Get up. Now.' My father's stern voice echoed in my head.
I can't.
I'm tired. I'm cold. I'm hungry.
My body jerked sporadically. Through my blurry vision, I could see my hand lying helpless in the snow. Blue. So blue.
Am I already a corpse?
'Vivi, wake up. You can't give up now.' My mother said, her voice softer.
I've used up my magic. It's never been particularly strong, as it was just one soul.
I want to sleep.
How many of those beasts did I kill? Three? Four? I lost count after the second arrow hit me.
A pair of boots landed on the floor, right in my line of vision. "Get up." King Draven commanded.
"I can't." I replied, my voice barely a whisper. "Kill me."
The next thing I felt was a large hand closing around my neck, lifting me till my feet dangled above the snow covered forest floors.
My eyes swam in and out of focus, settling on the image of his face.
He looked pissed.
His eyes darkened to a fearsome ruby, and i was reminded of my fresh blood staining the snow.
"Weak. Pathetic." He spat, his lip curled in a snarl. His grip around my throat tightened, not enough to crush my windpipe, enough to make me gasp and flail helplessly.
He could easily crush my throat if he wanted.
"Your ancestors would have destroyed this place in seconds. Is this what the Hunter bloodline has turned into?"
Each words he spoke struck my weakened heart. Hot tears burned my eyes and I felt like an embarrassment to my blood.
"My king," Sylien called from the side. He stepped up to us, his eyes darting over to me briefly. "Here it is," He said, holding up a small black bowl of herbs.
King Draven scoffed. He reached behind me, and before I could muster any words, he yanked something out of my back.
I saw white.
A scream ripped out of my throat, echoing through the forest.
It hurt! It felt like fire was spreading through my back.
"Pathetic," he hissed, letting go of my neck.
I fell to the ground, unable to even break my fall. My breaths came out hard and fast, rattling in my chest. The arrow landed by my knee, half of it covered with my blood.
A sharp pain registered in my chest.
It spread through my body, like my blood was replaced with hot oil. I writhed on the ground, biting my lip in an attempt to stifle my screams.
My wolf, usually silent until absolutely necessary, stirred to life in my head. She howled, a drawn out sound filled with pain and longing.
What's going on? I've never felt like this when I overused my magic before!
It felt like my heart was being split in four equal parts! And my skin was being flayed.
"My king!" Sylien called out, urgent. "You mustn't!"
It was like the sounds of the forest suddenly vanished. The winds stopped. Even the cold seemed to halt.
A sweet scent filled the air.
Thought the haze of pain in my head, my wolf mewled in pleasure. I gasped, the pain momentarily forgotten as hot pleasure course through my veins, surging under my skin. My mouth watered, and I swallowed hard, biting back a sound that I was sure wasn't a scream of pain.
What...what is going on? What's that sweet smell? Why is my wolf acting strange?
King Draven spoke, his voice pulling me back to reality. "Put her to work far from the palace. Make sure she never crosses my sight." He said, probably to Sylien.
"Yes, my king." Sylien replied, his voice a bit shaken.
I looked up, and my eyes met with the King.
The look he gave me was enough to make a small child faint.
He glared at me like I was absolute filth, something below an animal. The pure hatred in his eyes made me want to dissolve into vapour.
Why did he spare me if he hates me so much?