He was helpless; completely helpless.
Seth tossed in his sleep as The Lady’s cackles echoed in his dream. Seth watched in horror as his hands gripped Gloria and shoved her into the freezing water, her red curls fanning out like blood in the creek.
Seth’s gut wrenched within him when he saw Gloria’s tears and heard her pleas for help. He had tried! Crim knew, he tried! He had fought! He had tried to reclaim his body! But The Lady was tricky; she spun him around in his mind, twisting passages and bending walls. He would scramble through and regain control for only a moment, before The Lady dragged him back into the depths of his mind, forced to watch Gloria tortured by his own hands.
Helpless; he was completely helpless.
Gloria! Seth jolted awake. He panted and stared at the lean-to ceiling. Something felt off; Where am I? Where’s The Lady? The disoriented thoughts raced through his mind before he sat up and his eyes darted around the lean-to, searching for Gloria. “Gloria!” he cried, his voice catching.
“Master Seth!” he heard a voice cry. Seth looked over and saw Elias hurry around the fire to his side; His face etched with worry. “You’re awake!” Elias said looking Seth over. “How do you feel, sir?”
Seth gripped Elias’s habit and yanked him close. “Where’s Gloria?” he demanded in a panic. “Is she safe? Is she alright?”
Elias’s eyes widened with surprise. “She’s fine, sir,” he answered trying to calmly pry Seth’s fingers off him, “she’s asleep by the fire.”
Seth looked over Elias’s shoulder and saw Gloria curled up in a bedroll by the fire. Her back was to Seth. Her drying hair glowed in the firelight. Seth tried to scramble over to her, but Elias held him back.
“What are you doing?” Seth demanded whipping his head towards Elias. “Let me go!” he cried fighting against his grip.
“Please sir!” Elias cried, trying to hold Seth back, “She needs some space.”
Seth stopped fighting and blinked. He looked from Elias to Gloria. “Space?” he echoed, feeling crestfallen. “Why?”
Elias wouldn’t meet Seth’s eyes. He fidgeted and looked over his shoulder at Gloria. “How-?” he paused and pursed his lips, then he fidgeted some more. “How much do you remember, Master Seth?” he asked quietly.
A stone sank in Seth’s stomach. Too much… Seth thought. I remember too much. He swallowed. “Some…” he answered, refusing to tear his eyes from Gloria. “Is…is she angry with me?” His voice quivered.
Elias shook his head. “No, she’s not angry, sir.”
Seth’s heart pounded; he was terrified to ask the next question. “Elias, is she afraid of me?”
Elias grimaced and was quiet. “I don’t know, sir,” he paused as though trying to choose his next words carefully. “I think…I think it’s complicated, I think you’d have to ask her for yourself.”
Seth sank back and put his head in his hands, he stared down at his bedroll. She is…isn’t she? Seth worried. I would be. “Elias,” he whispered. "Please…I need to see her.”
He slowly looked up to see Elias’s conflicted eyes shift from him to Gloria. The boy stammered, unsure of what to do, then he caved and bowed his head. “Yes sir,” then he looked at Seth with pleading eyes and laid a hand on his arm, “But please be gentle with her. It…she…went through a lot."
Seth nodded and climbed to his feet. “I will,” he answered quietly. Seth came around the fire and sat on his haunches by Gloria. He heard Elias follow him and hover anxiously.
“She collapsed when we brought you back here,” Elias said as Seth looked over Gloria. “I…I put her by the fire to keep her warm,” Elias said. “I didn’t want her to get sick from…” Seth could feel the hesitant pause. “…from being wet,” Elias finished.
“Thank you, Elias,” Seth answered, and he smiled back at him. “That was wise.” Elias gave him a small smile back.
“What did you do to stop The Lady?” Seth asked.
Elias shuffled his feet. “I blessed you,” he answered. “I didn’t know what else to do, but it seems like it did the trick,” he shrugged sadly and put a hand to his forehead. “It won’t last forever though; she’ll be back soon.”
Seth searched within himself. He could faintly feel The Lady’s presence, but she felt distant and furious. You miserable little boy! he heard her scowl. You just wait!
Seth turned back to Gloria. She was curled up in her bedroll. Her hair was a blend of dry frizzy curls and wet tendrils that were carefully arranged near the embers. In the glow of the firelight, Seth could see that her face was pale. His heart caught in his chest. She looks so small he thought, his heart aching, and frail….
He reached his hand out to touch her, to comfort her, to comfort him. But before he could, Gloria let out a tear-choked sniffle and shuddered. Guilt pierced Seth and he pulled his hand back. He swallowed, and he silently looked up at Elias hoping and afraid of the answer.
Elias dropped his eyes, his face grieved. “She cried herself to sleep when she thought I couldn’t hear her,” he whispered.
Seth looked back at Gloria; grief gave way to fury. “That damned witch!” he seethed under his breath. “When I find her frozen heart, I’m going to rip it to shreds!” Seth clenched his fists. “You won’t turn me into her father,” he vowed. “I won’t let you!”
“What did The Lady mean by that?” Elias asked. He crept up beside Seth and sat down. “What did her father do? What about her mother?”
Seth tore his eyes away from Gloria and glared in Elias’s direction, the horrible memory returning to him. “Gloria’s father…” Seth began, then he gritted his teeth. “No! Her family was cruel,” he answered bitterly. “Her father hit her, and her stepmother abused her magic for selfish convenience!”
Elias recoiled in horror and looked towards Gloria. “You said, stepmother…Where’s her mom?”
Seth threw his hands in the air, “I don’t know!” he exclaimed. “All I know is that she left Gloria with a scumbag of a father who was happy to see her leave! His only regret is that he lost a slave to raise his children!”
A whimper from Gloria startled Seth and he looked over. She was still asleep. Seth lowered his voice. “That’s why she’s traveling with me,” Seth shook his head. “I had to step in…” he murmured. “I had to do something… but Crim I hate myself for it…” Seth trailed off and stared into the fire. The boys were quiet, and the crackling fire snapped at a log.
“Did…” Seth said, breaking the silence, “Did Gloria say anything else?"
Elias fidgeted and his eyes shifted from side to side. “I-I don’t know if I should say.”
Seth gripped Elias’s shoulders tightly. “If Gloria told you something, I need to know!”
Elias was startled. He glanced at Gloria, then he looked back at Seth. “I…she…” He stammered trying not to meet Seth’s eyes.
“Tell me!” Seth cried, shaking Elias.
“She’s afraid!” The boy burst. “Afraid that you’ll leave if you knew the truth!”
“What’s the truth?” Seth demanded.
“I don’t know!” Elias cried. “All I know is that Gloria isn’t what she seems, and she can’t stand the thought of losing you!”
Seth loosened his grip on Elias and gazed at Gloria. She doesn’t want to lose me? Conflicting emotions rose in Seth. Fear, guilt, and…hope. Hope? Hope for what?
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Seth let go of Elias and sat back, “I know…I heard The Lady.”
Elias’s eyes widened. “You know?”
“Not everything,” Seth confessed, then he wrapped his arms around his knees. “But most of it. Did Gloria say anything else?”
Elias nodded and brushed himself off. “She also hates the ‘if you love something’ proverb.”
Seth frowned. “Why?”
Elias shrugged. “I don’t know. I was trying to be helpful and recited it – though now that I look back, that may have been a poor decision,” Elias rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “She got angry and said that if I finished the proverb, she’d hit me.”
Seth gazed at Gloria again and tried to process everything. What was Gloria and why was she hiding it? What would make her fear him leaving her? Seth sighed and looked into the fire. Not that I’ve given her any proof that I wouldn’t…Seth thought to himself, guilt weighing him down.
“Please don’t tell her I told you all of this,” Elias said, interrupting Seth’s thoughts.
Seth blinked and turned his attention back to Elias. “Did she ask you not to say anything? Did she say why?”
Elias nodded and poked at the dirt. “She said you had hurt her once and it was hard on you. She was afraid that if you knew what happened that you wouldn’t be able to handle it,” Elias looked up at Seth, “Is this not the first time The Lady has used you to hurt her?”
Gloria’s wrist flashed into Seth’s mind, and he averted his eyes from Elias’s piercing gaze. “I know what she’s talking about,” Seth answered quietly. “It wasn’t The Lady, it was me.”
“What?” Elias cried. “Why? What happened?”
“It was a couple of days ago,” Seth answered gripping himself tighter. He wasn’t happy to relive that memory either. “It was an accident. I never meant to hurt her.”
“But why?” Elias pressed.
Seth shook his head. “I’m not going to tell you why,” he said still not looking at Elias. I’m not going to ruin your life too. He thought grimly.
Out of the corner of his eye, Seth saw Elias shake and leap to his feet. “If I’m going to be a part of this group,” he declared, “then I need to know!”
Seth looked up at Elias. “No, you don’t,” he answered sternly.
Elias’s eyes flashed. “Why not?” he challenged.
Seth bristled at the demand and narrowed his eyes at Elias. “Because you get to go home after this. Gloria and I don’t.”
Elias groaned and rolled his eyes. “I don’t understand why that matters!” he complained. “I don’t care if I don’t go home. I don’t want my home! It’s miserable and it’s boring! I want what you have!”
Anger kindled in Seth and he glared at Elias. “Having a place to call home is an incredible gift that should not be tossed aside lightly!” Seth rose to the boy’s level and glowered down into his shrinking grey eyes.
“You don’t want what I have!” Seth jabbed a finger into Elias’s chest. "You don’t understand the pain of losing a home! I can’t go home, I’ve stolen Gloria’s, and I don’t want your home to be next on the list!”
Elias puffed out his cheeks and was about to spit something back when confusion took over. “Hold on! Wait, what?” Elias paused and blinked as he tried to understand. “How could you have stolen her home? If her family was hurting her, then was that really a home?”
Seth pinched the bridge of his nose, still frustrated. “You don’t get it!” he cried. “Despite that, she had food, warmth, and some measure of stability. But now that I took her away from all that, her entire world’s been turned upside down! I’ve almost gotten her killed and I’ve dragged her out here to Crim knows where!” Seth gazed at Gloria and he shook his head, angry with himself. “Until she finds somewhere to call home,” he added quietly. “I…I need to keep her safe.”
“So, until she finds a home you’re going to give her a home?”
Seth looked back at Elias. “What?”
Elias raised an eyebrow. “You said until she finds a home, you’re going to take care of her. So you’re giving her a home.” Elias pointed out.
Seth put up a finger. “Hang on, that’s not what I-”
“Wait a minute…” Elias frowned and put a finger to his mouth. Then his eyes widened, and he looked up at Seth with a smirk. He pointed a finger and laughed. “You love her!”
Seth was completely taken aback. “What?” he cried, his heart skipped a beat or two. “No, I don’t!”
“You do too!” Elias declared. “You’re just too scared to admit it!”
“That’s completely untrue!” Seth stammered. “We’re…we’re just friends! That’s all! I just want to make sure she’s safe.”
Elias grinned and folded his arms imperiously. “Then why have I seen you ogling her?”
Seth’s face burned. “I-I do not ogle!” He glanced down to make sure Gloria wasn’t awake and listening. He swallowed nervously.
“Oh yes you do!” Elias laughed. “Just the other day I saw you staring at her with a stupid smile pasted all over your face!”
Seth’s eye twitched. “You’re seriously calling your master stupid?”
Elias beamed and joyfully threw his arms in the air. “You’re finally okay with being called master! Ha! I win!”
Seth sputtered. He was quickly losing ground. “You…you better shut up before I increase your paces from fifty to a hundred!”
Elias gasped and froze. “You wouldn't dare!”
Seth stared him down. “Try me.”
For a long moment, there was no sound but the crackling fire. Seth and Elias glared each other down, daring the other to make the next move. Finally, Elias crossed his arms and sat down with a small pout. “Hmph, Fine...!” he said. Seth sighed in relief and sat down next to him.
The lean-to was quiet, and the boys didn’t know what to do next. They sat and twiddled their thumbs, slowly casting awkward glances at each other. Then, over the sound of the fire, someone’s stomach growled. Seth and Elias looked at each other.
“I thought I saw some fish in the creek…” Seth ventured rubbing the back of his head.
Elias’s petulant face faded, and he gave Seth an awkward smile and a small shrug “Something other than salted pork would be nice.”
Seth pointed out the door with a raised eyebrow. “Do you…wanna go fishing?”
“I’m not that good at it,” Elias shrugged, “but sure, I’ll give it a shot.”
Seth clapped Elias on the shoulder and smiled. “Come on, I’ll teach you.” Then the boys left the lean-to and headed towards the creek.
----------------------------------------
Gloria woke to the sound of laughter and the smell of cooking fish. She glanced over at the fire. She saw no one, only several speared-through trout roasting over the fire. She slowly sat up and held her aching ribs. Then she tensed; everything came rushing back – The creek, her laughter, Seth’s dark glower. Gloria shuddered and gripped her bedroll. You have to remember! It wasn’t him!
Suddenly something thudded against the lean-to. Gloria started and let out a gasp. Then she heard Seth’s laugh ring out and footsteps run past.
“Don’t hit the lean-to!” he laughed breathlessly. “We don’t want to wake Gloria.”
“Sorry!” Elias called a bit further away. “You just keep moving! Stay still!” Elias grunted.
There was the sound of snow piffing against a hard surface. Seth laughed again. “Never!” he declared. “If you’re going to hit me, you need to earn it!”
“Earn it?” Elias cried. “You hit me like five times! I should at least be allowed a pity hit!”
Seth laughed again, then grunted. “That’s not how life works,” he called back.
“Clypeus fi-” Gloria heard Elias cry before there was the sound of a snowball smacking him. Then she heard a groan. “Six times!” Elias yelled.
Seth burst out laughing, then Gloria heard his boots crunch towards the entrance. “I’ll be right back,” he said. “I’m going to go check on the fish.”
“Okay,” Elias called back. “I’ll just lie here with the remains of my shattered pride,”
The dress door parted, and Seth stepped through. He shook his head and laughed to himself. His face glowed from exertion and his blue eyes sparkled. It’s not her…Gloria thought, relief washing over her.
Seth looked up and met her eyes. His face brightened and he sighed in relief. “Gloria!” he hurried to her side. “Are you alright?”
As Seth approached, relief suddenly gave way to panic. Gloria found herself pulling away from him. “Stay back!” she cried, the words spilling out before she could stop them.
Seth froze and Gloria saw guilt and pain in his eyes. She tried to reach out, but memories flooded her mind. It wasn’t him! she desperately tried to tell herself. It was her. She used him. It was all her! Gloria stared back at him and trembled.
“Gloria…” he said, coming down to her level. His voice cracked and tears brimmed in his eyes. “I am so, so sorry…I never meant…” he broke down and began to sob. His body heaved with his cries. Gloria’s heart sank, but she was frozen in place.
Say something! she scolded herself. You can’t leave him like this! She opened her mouth, but her throat went dry, and the words died inside. She gave Seth a pained look and shook her head. “I…” was all she managed to choke out.
“Please Gloria,” Seth pleaded, growing desperate. “You have to believe me. I tried! I tried so damn hard to fight her! But there was nothing I could do! I’m so sorry!” He reached out for her.
Say something! she screamed at herself. He’s trying to make things right! Reach out! Comfort him! Something! But Gloria could only stare wide-eyed into Seth’s teary face and watch as his blue eyes morphed into two black pits that glared back at her and his mouth twitch into a cruel smile.
Seth touched Gloria’s shoulders. Before she could stop herself, her body jerked away, and pain shot up from her ribs. “No!” she screamed smacking his hands away, before she doubled over and held her side.
Gloria breathed raggedly and looked up at Seth. His face was stricken with pained shock, and he held his hand as though he had burned it.
Oh Crim… she thought. What have I done? She tried to reach out but was frozen in place.
Gloria and Seth stared at each other, the silence in the lean-to suffocating them. Then finally, Seth dropped his hand and looked down. “I understand if you’d like some space,” he whispered.
No! Gloria silently screamed, tears stinging her eyes. Please! Don’t leave me! I need you!
But Seth couldn’t hear her internal cries. He rose and slowly trudged to the dress door. His shoulders sagged.
An ugly voice whispered in her ear – He was too good for you anyway.
That’s not true! she answered.
Then why are you letting him leave?
Seth paused by the door and looked back at her. “I will make this right,” he swore. “I promise. I am going to climb up that mountain and destroy that demonic witch so that she will never hurt you ever again!” With that, he left the lean-to, the dress door fluttering closed behind him.
Gloria peered under the dress door and watched his boots walk away from the lean-to. A moment later Elias’s boots hurried after him.
A sob escaped from Gloria. She didn’t want him to go. She wanted so badly for him to hold her and tell her that it was all just a bad dream, but the horror was still too fresh.
Gloria curled up as much as her bruised ribs would allow and sobbed into her bedroll, begging Crim to save her from this nightmare.