^^My latest obsession- Brian Justin Crum~ this song goes so well with this chapter XD^^

"Like leaves lined with drops of dew,
my eyes become moist when I think of you.
Your thoughts are the only thing on my mind,
back to the good times I wish I could rewind."

Chapter 33

River's POV

Pebbled footsteps and held breathes was all that filled the thick, heavy air around me. The once sheet of nervous sweat had long since mingled with the musky smell of dirt and grime. My eyes squinted as a sudden glimpse of light hit me. My hands attempted to shield my eyes before realizing they were in a tight hold. I looked up at the man, face barely visible as my eyes adjusted to the sudden light.

"Would you please let go of my hands?" I tried for polite, but he didn't seem to care as he continued staring forward, not paying me any mind.

I sighed.

I'll take that as a no.

My eyes widened, gaze clearing as a dark, clammy view filled my vision. Dark-eyed men peered in our direction, hands pulling from their work, eyes watching like vultures to a dead carcass. Rock and soil were all that filled the rheumy area.

Where am I?

I peered up but all I could see was darkness as if my eyes were limited to go as far as the high expanse went. Long rock hung low, hovering just above our heads like a smirking foe.

Well, if they don't kill me that surely will.

"Parish," a melodic voice called. It was so familiar, so strangely familiar.

Footsteps filled the cave-like surrounding. It was like watching the entrance of a king, the people parted, heads bowed as a tall, blond-haired man walked across. His eyes narrowed as they landed on me. I flinched.

Something tells me he wasn't expecting an addition to his...band of emissaries.

A pair of large, brown glasses laid on the bridge of his nose, light reflecting against the frames as torched fire lit across the rock wall. His presence was earth shattering, almost incomparable to Parish's. It was almost like the earth rumbled to his beat as he grew closer and closer, eyes locked with Parish's. My head pivoted, eyeing Parish.

Unbelievable.

A wide smirk rose across his flushed cheeks. Excitement blatant in his eyes. He seemed to be the only one unaffected by the man's cold eyes.

"Emile!" Parish squeaked, jumping almost a foot as he wrapped his legs around the startled man's waist. Emile's eyes softened, hands placing themselves around the boy's small waist in a gentle manner.

"I brought home a present!" Parish jumped lightly in Emile's arms, hand raised in my direction.

Is he referring to me?

Emile's eyebrows rose as his ashen blue eyes landed on my form in the broad man's arms.

"Silly boy," his words were playful but his tone was as cold as ice, "why bring me a frail girl?"

Girl.

I felt my face heat under his words. But not from the embarrassment I was used to. From anger. A searing, nagging feeling I wasn't quite accustomed to.

"Uh uh uh," Parish raised a finger to Emile's lips with a playful smirk, "smell again."

Smell?

The man grew stiff, eyes closed. The room seemed to grow smaller the longer he remained silent. It was suffocating. I was suffocating.

"Aah," Emile's eyes opened, a yellow ring circling his dark pupil in an almost frightening halo. "What a beautiful...boy."

A cold shiver ran down my spine in unadulterated fear.

"Henry, you may place him down."

I froze, the minute my feet hit the ground my legs buckled. It was like I was under a spell. A weakening, draining bond as Emile peered at me, pupils dilating as his eyes roamed my shaking form.

"What a cute, little wolf," he mused.

"My wolf is not present." My eyes widened as the words rolled off my lips.

Emile's brows raised, a hint of a smile curving the tips of his lips.

"Is that so?" Emile's finger glided gently across Parish's face, stroking like one did an expensive cat, "what do you think, kitten?"

"Hmm," Parish seemed otherwise occupied, eyes trained heatedly on Emile's lips, "I think I've grown tired of this conversation," he bent down, eyes closing as he nuzzled his small nose against Emile's throat in an affectionate manner.

"Tired already, kitten?"

Parish merely wrapped his arms around Emile's neck, face moving slightly without a sound.

"Hold him in a chamber until I can figure what the hell to do with him," Emile sighed, waving his hands at Henry; who nodded and reached for me.

It felt like an overwhelming wave of nausea hit me as I saw Anna being carried away in the opposite direction, held like one did a cheap bag of grain, arms dangling in an act of impuissance.

No.

I felt my feet move before my mind could process what I was doing. From the edge of my eye, I I could see Emile's eyes widen slightly as I rushed for Anna's weakened form.

Nothing escaped my mouth. No screams of anger, no battle cries, silence was all that filled my mind as my eyes locked on her frail, pale form. I jumped, legs wrapping around the man's back as he shouted, body falling to the ground like a pile of bricks. A shriek escaped my mouth as I watched Anna fall to the ground, body convulsing slightly as I pulled her into my arms.

Oh god. What was I thinking? Of course, if he fell so would she. I wasn't thinking. I wasn't thinking.

My eyes squeezed together as I pulled her into my lap, head wrapped in a protective embrace as I held her tightly against my small form. Her arms laid unmoving by her side, chest moving slightly up and down in a desperate attempt at breathing.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Tears of regret poured down my face as I shook, chin resting lightly on her head.

A sudden, cold hand landed on my back. I jumped, fear filling every pore of my body as I curled around her in a desperate attempt of protecting her.

No more. No more.

"The girl is not to be harmed," Emile's voice boomed across the cave-like interior, "take her to the women's area."

They're going to take her away. No. No.

My body shook, teeth clenched as I eyed all those who attempted to approach. The men watched through surprised eyes, each keeping their distance as I held her protectively against me like a lioness to a cub.

My mind was going haywire, my hands shook, my breaths, short, painful sounds. Something stirred inside me, an ominous presence growling in the back of my mind.

"Now," Emile growled, his face painted in annoyance as he gazed at me through narrowed slits.

No.

One stood forward, guiding the rest as they crouched, approaching with darkened eyes, arms apart in threatening cages.

A droplet of sweat ran down my back, resting just above my lower back. My hands shook, eyes unable to move from the stalking men. Their legs lifted from the ground, eyes piercing through me as I shut my eyes. It was childish, hoping that perhaps not seeing would lessen the pain somehow.

"Wait!"

Silence.

I waited for the pain to hit me but there was none. Nothing but the lingering sound of my own heavy breathing

No pain?

I opened an eye, head spinning in nerves as I peered up. The men stood in place, quizzical looks plaguing all as their eyes shone on a small form beside Emile.

Two mismatched eyes met mine as Parish marched towards me, each step louder than the last.

"I'm tired and restless, this is not the time to annoy me." Everyone's eyes seemed to bulge from their sockets as they moved to the side to let him through as he stomped his way to me.

"All you had to do was play along, little wolf," his voice sounded almost...musical. As if he was singing the words as they escaped his mouth.

Play along with what...?

He stood before me, hand outstretched as he tapped his foot impatiently against the floor.

My eyes narrowed, gaze warry. I wasn't sure what to think.

Why is he helping me? Is he even helping me?

Parish let out an aggravated sigh, "For god's fucking sake!"

My eyes widened. I hadn't expected such a foul word from such a small boy. It was almost shocking, strange.

"Better take his hand, boy. Or you may not have it for much longer," Emile spoke. "My kitten is quite the impatient one."

Parish hissed in Emile's direction, earning himself a playful smirk.

My teeth dug into my lower lip, hand shaking as I placed it in his smaller one. A victorious smirk lifted his face as he pulled me from the ground, my arms still securely around Anna as her arm laid limply around my neck.

How did he...? Such a small boy just pulled the weight of two people with a single hand.

I was both startled and in awe.

His eyes roamed me, teeth chewing at his lip as he locked eyes with mine.

"You look so much like her," he whispered, his voice so low that I could barely hear it. Even inches from him.

Her...? There are only so many times I can be compared to a girl before my pride as a man takes a real hit.

I would have attempted a witty response if my throat wasn't so tight with nerves.

"Emile," Parish called over his shoulder.

The man nodded, coming forward and lifting the small boy into his arms. The boy whispered into man's right ear, something that seemed to stun him by the look of confusion on his face.

"Bring the girl to the healing center," Emile called to his men.

Two men came forward, pulling Anna from my arms but I wouldn't allow it. I held onto her waist in a vice as they attempted to pry my hands from her.

"Do you not want to save her, little River?" Parish said in a sing-song manner.

The back of my eyes burned. I did, but I was afraid of leaving her alone in such a strange place.

"C-can I at least stay with her?" I pleaded, tears threatening to fall.

"Why do you care so for the girl? Is she your mate?" Parish's eyes narrowed.

I shook my head, "no, but she's a friend."

"Friend, huh?" He sighed, turning his head to rest on Emile's shoulder. "Friends are nothing but foes in pretty cloaks."

My eyes widened, "your words speak so harshly for a boy so young. You must not have experienced-"

"Young?" Parish laughed, a sound void of any humor. "Why, little wolf, I'm almost a century old."

A century? That...that can't be so.

"H-how?" My voice broke.

"Karma, little wolf. I'd like to think Karma and I are old time friends," Parish mused. "Now, enough about me. I believe right now our attention should be drawn to the poor dying girl, no?"

My eyes flashed to Anna's weak form, my arms still wrapped around her waist as two men struggled to pull her from me.

"You wouldn't want her to die because your pride wouldn't allow you to let go, now would you?" Parish's voice was sweet, too sweet like an abundance of sugar that was bound to induce nausea.

I felt my fingers loosen their hold, the silken feel of her dress streaming from my fingertips as one of the two men lifted her from my arms and held her, cradle-like, in his arms.

"Don't worry, she'll be well taken care of there."

I turned, attempting bravery, "after she's healed I would like to leave."

Parish blinked, stunned before he broke out in a fit of laughter.

"Did you hear that, Emile? It's like a growling puppy," he wiped a stray tear as his fingers dug into Emile's shirt and his shoulders shook.

Emile seemed unamused, eyes trained on Parish's giggling form through clouded eyes.

"Why, little River, I didn't bring you here to merely pat you on the back and sent you on your way. No, no, no," he shook his head with a raised finger, "there was a purpose."

"W-what purpose?"

Maybe it was the pessimist part of me shouting louder than my brighter half, but I didn't have a very good feeling about this so-called 'purpose'.

"Come," he waved at me as Emile began walking.

Should I follow?

I peered around me but all I saw was dirt and rubble. Even if I attempted to run, I had no idea where to run to. I sighed, shaking my head slightly as I slowly trudged behind them.

We finally reached a dark, stoned room. The walls and door were a light, stone color matching almost the rest of this cave-like place. In the center of the room was a large, king-sized bed that took up the majority of the room. Beside it were two small night tables, each made of a dark wood, the right one having a small vase on top containing a white lily. It sat, standing out in the dark room like a ray of sunshine in a dark abyss.

The sound of clothes hitting the floor pulled my eyes from its exploring. Blood rushed to my cheeks as I was met with a half-nude Parish, his clothes laid on the floor as he stood in nothing but his undergarments, watching me with an amused smirk.

"Come on," he ushered me with his hand.

I shook my head in horror.

"W-what are you doing?" I took a step back.

His brows pulled together, "seducing you. Is it not obvious?"

Was he serious?

"By the look of confusion on your face I'm going to guess you've never done this before," he sighed. "That's alright I'll teach you."

Being stunned was an understatement to how I felt at that moment.

"...W-what?"

Parish sighed, reaching for his briefs.

"N-no!" I squeaked, covering my face with my hands.

Laughter filled the room, causing me to lift my nervous hands from my face.

"Y-you," he choked, "really thought I was seducing you!" He fell backward onto the bed, an arm pulling over his head as he shook with laughter.

Okay, I'm lost.

My brows scrunched together as my hands fell to my side.

Emile laid lax-like across the bed, fingers kneading through Parish's hair as he pulled him into his lap. Parish seemed to calm down after a few moments, almost purring against Emile's gentle touch.

I cleared my throat, growing slightly uncomfortable watching them.

"Come, join us," Parish's finger wagged in my direction.

I grew stiff.

"We're not going to do anything, little River," Parish laughed.

I sighed, climbing cautiously into the bed.

I felt like a small lamb crawling into a cave of two lions.

I laid in a small corner, opposite them in hope of being as far away from them as possible.

"I'm slightly offended by how much you're distancing yourself," Parish spoke.

"You were the one who frightened him," Emile sighed.

Parish pouted.

I wasn't sure how long we laid there, but it felt like hours as Emile and Parish wrapped around one another like two silk ribbons as I shivered on the other side of the large bed. I wrapped my arms around myself, hoping to draw in some sort of heat but my body would have none of it. Emile and Parish seemed to have long since fallen asleep in each other's embrace as I stared at the dark wall right above Parish's head.

I wonder how long they'll keep me here...has Alastair begun searching for me yet? Did he have any chance of finding me?

A wave frosty air swept by my shoulder causing my teeth to chatter and body to shake. I was never good when it came to the cold, usually affiliated with my small structure and lack of nutrition but I had gotten better in the past few months under Alastair's gentle care. He had nursed me back to health, saved me from my sorrow-filled world and filled it with a warmth completely unknown to me before him.

My mate...my love.

Tears of despair dripped down my face in a cascade of pitiful fear.

What if I never see him again?

I had only been here for a couple hours and already the pessimist in me was filling my mind with tales of bleak distress.

"Come," a soft murmur came from beside me.

My eyes looked down, locking on a drowsy, mismatched pair. His arms extended towards me, a friendly display of affection.

I shook my head. The idea of being so vulnerable in the arms of my capturer didn't sit well with me.

"Come, little wolf. I won't bite," a ghost of a smile graced his soft features.

I shook my head again. Willing him to leave me alone. To let me go.

Let me go.

My eyes stung, tears burning pained lines down my face like a whirl of heated lava.

Let me go. Let me see my mate. Let me...

"Come, let me comfort you, little River," Parish cooed.

No. No. Let me, let me.

"Shh," Parish pulled Emile's arm from around his waist and crawled towards me, pulling me into his arms.

I struggled against his hold, but after minutes of struggling I gave up. I didn't have the energy in me to fight. I was cold and mentally drained from the day. I had no more fight left in me.

"Shh," Parish brushed his fingers through my hair, "no need to cry, little wolf. I won't let anyone harm you." His voice was so gentle, so soothing.

"Why?" My voice sounded so languor as I allowed the tears to fall.

He smiled, wiping a tear from beneath my eye, "you're too much like her."

Her again. This was the second time he mentioned her.

"Who?"

His eyes filled with such sadness, such loss. My heart clenched at the sight.

She must have meant a lot to him.

"It doesn't matter," he breathed, but his eyes told a different tale.

I nodded, not wanting to push the subject farther.

I squeaked as I felt my body fall backward. Parish pushed me against the bed and laid his head against my chest, peering up at me through his lashes with a small smile.

"Night, little wolf."

I opened my mouth to answer but before I could even utter a word, his eyes were closed and his body limp, sinking into the soft covers.

I sighed, peering up at the ceiling as I allowed the warmth of his small body lulled me to sleep.

Night, strange kitten.