Chapter 2
Chapter 2
After miles of walking through the forest, Liz found herself outside of a small log cabin. It was in decent condition, and, seeing no one home, Liz entered the cabin. It was relatively clean inside, and seemed to be recently abandoned. Only a few pieces of furniture remained inside, and dust was just starting to gather, as if it were time for the house’s weekly cleaning. Exhausted and hungry, Liz slipped into the kitchen, surprised to see food in the cabinets. Ignoring the fact that someone may very well still live in the cabin, Liz made herself a small amount of pasta. She ate quickly, and helped herself to a small glass of water. Once she’d cleaned the kitchen back up, she wandered the house until she found a small room lined with books, and a cot in one corner. She curled up on the cot and closed her eyes.
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Liz whirled around to face the stranger, still shaken from the incident with Robert. She expected someone to have come after her, but when Prince Elliot stepped out from the shadow of a tree, she relaxed slightly. “Elliot? What are you doing all the way out here?” Even though they were friends back at the palace, Liz was still worried he may be out to kill her for leaving. She knew that changes like what happened at the dinner, especially when made by Liah, could have some major effects on relationships. Another possibility was that Liah had sent him, maybe even under compulsion.
“I was hunting. I heard you come by - you scared off my game - and thought something was wrong by how much of a hurry you were in.” Elliot said. He walked over and cupped Liz’s cheek in his hand, She flinched. “What did Robert do to you?”
Liz’s breath caught. She couldn’t talk about it without breaking down; even thinking about it was tough on her. Elliot stepped back when he realized what his brother had done. “I’m so sorry…,” he breathed. “If I could have stopped it…”
“I’m leaving.” Liz said. She’d dismounted the horse after pushing it to gallop three miles, and had walked a fourth mile by the time she ran into Elliot. Now, she remounted. “I’m not going to end up with him.”
“You can’t. Liah’s going to---”
“Screw Liah! She had her son rape me! She expects me to marry him! I’m not going to give her that satisfaction! I’m not going to play her god damn games anymore, Elliot! I can’t believe you’ve even stuck around this long! How has anyone?!” Liz roared. She was shaking, and it showed most in her hands, where she held the horse’s reins. Elliot stepped forward and took her hands into his.
“I know. I’ve been thinking about leaving for a while now, but I’d never heard of anyone actually doing it. We could run together. We could join Syra and the rebels and fight Liah. We might kill her.”
“I don’t want anything to do with anyone here,” Liz snapped, pulling her hands away sharply. “Even you. This place will be gone from my life. Completely. I swear, if you follow me, Elliot, I’m going to hurt you.” she threatened. There’s always the chance he might run back to his mother if things get tough. I can’t risk that, she thought. It might get me killed.
Apparently, she got through to Elliot. He stepped back, resigned. When he spoke, his voice was soft. “Alright,” he sounded hurt, “Have it your way,”
Liz mounted her horse and rode further into the woods, towards the nearest portal she knew of.
Rain poured down on Liz and her horse as they cantered along a busy dirt path winding erratically through the woods. She ignored the other carts on the path, keeping to the edge, silently making her way around the traffic that built up. Eventually, she and the horse came to small village that resembled some kind of medieval village. Liz brought her horse around to one of the stables, outside of an inn. She walked into the main building, weaving through the crowd until she found a slender girl, dressed in skinny jeans and a Paramore t-shirt, handing out drinks to a group of people. Despite her dictatorship, Liah still let music and films into her kingdom. She adored them. Once the girl turned to go back to the kitchen, Liz stopped her and pulled her aside. “Liz!” the girl smiled, tucking her blonde hair behind her ear. “Why are you here? I thought you were with Liah.”
Liz winced as the memories of Robert resurfaced for the millionth time that night. “I’m leaving. I need to get to the human world.” she said. “Please. I can’t stay. Liah had Robert do some… nasty things to me. I need to get out.”
“What?” the girl said. She sighed. “I don’t know. You have to talk to Kasumi. You know how she is about the portal.”
Liz went into the kitchen almost immediately after the girl told her to. When she found Kasumi, she relaxed slightly. Kasumi, however, tensed. She pulled Liz into a storage closet, and spoke in a quick, hushed voice. “Liz, you need to get out of here. Liah’s got guards looking everywhere for you. There are some staying in the inn now.”
“You’re serious?” Liz asked, surprised. “I hadn’t expected more than five, at the most.” Why was Liah so worried about her? Had Elliot said something, or was it just because she was one of the more powerful members of the clan? Either way, Liz needed to get as far away from Liah as possible.
“Well, there are a lot more than five.” Kasumi said, “Now you need to get out of my inn.”
“Kasumi, let me use your portal.” Liz pleaded. The red-haired waitress looked taken aback.
“Do you know what you’re asking of me?” she gaped, “Everyone here could be killed!”
“They wont be. Trust me.”
“And what are you going to do to ensure that?” Kasumi spat venomously.
“I— … I don’t know…”
“Exactly. Now get out,”
Kasumi started out of the room with a handful of tomatoes. Liz sighed. She didn’t want to put Kasumi in danger getting her help, but there wasn’t another person who she could trust. Then again, if they made a bargain that could somehow work in Liah’s favor, Kasumi may be allowed to live. Their clan was bound to their word. Liz sighed. “Kasumi, wait,” she said. Kasumi paused in the doorway. “Let me use the portal and I’ll owe you a favor.”
Kasumi turned to face Liz. “What kind of favor?”
“Any. Just let me through.”
The waitress stayed still. “Do I get a summoning with the favor, so I can call in my favor any time?” she asked. Liz nodded, reluctant. Summonings were annoying, but if she wanted to use the portal, she had to give Kasumi what she wanted. Kasumi let out a long breath after a moment, setting her tomatoes down. “Fine,” she said, kicking a shelf. It vanished, and door stood behind it. Liz hurried through.