• I couldn’t breathe. The air burned my throat as I tried desperately to suck it down. My feet pounded the earth in rhythm with the beat of my shaken heart. I couldn’t get away. There was no way out. Yet, I kept running, my aching limbs continuously begging for relief, for me to stop. My brain told me the logical decision was to give in, but the little nagging voice in the back of my head said otherwise. The same nagging voice I listened to before; the one that got me into this mess.

    A strangled cry escaped my lips as my foot caught a tree root. I stumbled forward and to the ground, panting. ‘No!’ I thought and grit my teeth. Pulling myself up on to my knees, I strained my ears, listening for anything out of place. I heard nothing. Had I lost them?
    “Kailiria, my sweet, why do you run from me?” My breath hitched and I froze. Slizer and his followers. They had been right behind me the whole time. They were playing games! Playing with me! Seething, I glared into the dark.

    “Kailiria.” Slizer’s voice called my name out in a loving tone, like he cared about me. I resisted the urge to spit towards his voice. “Kailiria.” Again. That tone. He knew I was there, if I didn’t answer he would just keep calling me.
    “What do you want?” I ground out, still on my knees, my hands balled at my sides ready to swing. I dared not get up though. A human girl against them? The mere thought was a humourless joke itself.

    “My dear, sweet darling. I want you to come home.”I heard the soft rustle of leaves and knew
    he had changed his position.

    “ . . . Why?” I mumbled, bowing my head to stare at my hands that I had folded in my lap only to find I was barely able to see them or anything else now. They were blocking out the moonlight. ‘The cowards . . .’ I thought bitterly.

    “Now, now, my little flower, is that what you think of us? Of me? The man who loves you with all of his heart?” He was reading my mind.

    I stiffened when the leaves behind me rustled. A second later, the back of my body was pressed to the front of his and I felt one of Slizer’s arms slide around my slender waist, his hand coming to rest on my abdomen. The other arm slinked around my neck and he grabbed my chin, roughly yanking my face in his direction. Even in the dark, I knew his face was barely an inch from mine. I could feel his icy breath on my lips. “Come home; cease this nonsense.” He whispered.

    I was prepared for what happened next. When he pressed his cold lips to mine, I held perfectly still. His slimy tongue slid into my mouth, and with no hesitation, I bite down. His howl of pain filled my ears and then I was airbourne, flying through the air until my tired, little body hit the trunk of a tree and slid down to the ground in a broken heap.

    “You stubborn wench! To think I cared for you. I gave you everything!” I didn’t even bother to lift my head from the dirt. I just laid there. Waiting. Waiting for his next move.

    Slizer didn’t advance towards me at first, instead he began whispering to his minions in Diergothan; the language him and the other Diergons used. He finished giving his orders and walked over to my limp body, growling, “Rise. Stand up before me and apologize, Kailiria.” When I didn’t move he brought the tip of his boot into my side. I grunted in pain and brought my knees to my chest.

    “Get up.” He spat, reaching down and grabbing the collar of my shirt. I didn’t fight him when he hoisted me up into the air. I just allowed my head to lull to one side and my body to hang limp. Splotches of light began to shine around us. The barrier was shifting apart; they were moving.

    “I do hate to see you like this, darling.” Slizer said in a forcedly calm voice. In the pale moonlight, I could see his face contorted with aggravation. His black eyes cold, shallow. Grey skin that blended in with the dark trees behind him. I fought with my urge to thrash in his hold, to get away from that disgusting face. ‘Repulsive.’
    Before I knew what had happened, my back collided with the tree trunk again with so much force that my neck snapped back when I rebounded. A split second later, I fell to the cool ground on my hands and knees.

    “You still mock me?!” He all-but screeched. I slowly and shakily stood up, wobbling slightly to the left. I balanced myself and, with a bit of difficulty, lifted my head to meet his seething gaze.

    “Yes.”

    That did it, Slizer’s hand morphed into a jagged point before he swung at me. Startled, I fell back, but I wasn’t quick enough. Warm blood began to seep through the fresh gash in my stomach. A low moan escaped my lips as I doubled over. Darkness began to form around me again, and Slizer’s presence disappeared almost completely. Yet, the rustle of leaves started up again, and I felt the piercing sting of a blade across my back. Then on my arms, my legs, until my whole body was being attacked all over by what felt like tiny blades. I screamed, flailing, trying to stop the pain. Nothing helped though. I felt my consciousness waver and the darkness around me seemed to get darker. I fell to the side and the tiny bites of the blades vaguely seemed to be getting farther and farther away. Then, there was a bright light and a man’s voice reached my ears. I reached towards it. “Help . . . Me . . .” I croaked, my own voice foreign to my ears. The light got brighter and the razor-sharp stings stopped. For a moment, I felt I was weightless. Then, everything went blank.