Pursued Read online

“Yet you would have given your life for his, though he is a different species than your own, and you did not even know he was sentient.” The Elder with pointed ears nodded. “I hear the truth in your words.”

  “And I see the truth in your eyes,” the Elder with glowing eyes said. Both of them looked at the Elder with the beast-mouth. “Well, brother, what judgment will you pronounce?” the Elder with pointed ears asked.

  The Elder with the beast-mouth frowned—or at least, Elise thought he did. It was really hard to tell when he had a muzzle like an animal. “You came into our lands and committed sacrilege and blasphemy,” he growled at Elise. “You claim ignorance of our ways, yet ignorance is no excuse for wrong doing as you yourself have said.”

  “Yes.” She nodded, hear heart galloping in her chest. Oh God, what were they going to do to her? And would she be able to protect Merrick and Brillem from whatever fate lay in store for her?

  “You and your companion have already been punished once for your crime of wearing the sacred color,” the Elder continued. “And you were led to take the skrillix in error by one who should have known better.” He nodded at Brillem who neighed softly and bowed his head.

  “Oh, please don’t hurt him!” Elise begged. “Please let the punishment fall on me and me alone.”

  “Girl-child, you must be silent while judgment is being pronounced!” the Elder with the pointed ears snapped.

  “I’m sorry,” Elise whispered contritely. “Please forgive me.”

  “No more interruptions,” the Elder with the animal mouth growled. “As I was saying, you were led to the plant in error and one punishment has already been given to you—or rather, to your companion.” He nodded at Merrick who was standing tensely behind Elise. “Now…I am given to understand that you badly need the branch you stole.”

  Reaching below the table, he lifted the skrillix branch that Elise had broken off the vine and laid it carefully upon the table beside the billib. Though it was somewhat wilted, the red berries still looked plump and fresh and the thorns still looked sharp and deadly. Elise noticed that Brillem, who was still standing on the table, was careful to stay well back from them.

  “We do need it,” Merrick rumbled. “Our very lives depend on it.”

  The Elder with the beast-mouth nodded. “The berries of the skrillix are legendary for their healing powers. As are its thorns—though for quite a different reason.”

  “It is not called the ‘pain vine’ for no reason,” the Elder with glowing eyes said.

  “Indeed.” The Elder with the animal mouth nodded. “Hear then, my judgment. Human girl-child, you must prick your finger on a thorn of the branch you stole and let three droplets of blood fall into our cup of honesty.” He nodded at a strangely carved, blue wooden cup the Elder with pointed ears was now holding out. It was filled with a dark red liquid that looked like some kind of wine to Elise. “We Elders will drink of your blood mixed with the juice of the sharing fern, which allows the transfer of visions and emotions. In so doing, we will share your pain for we do not give punishments that we cannot withstand ourselves.”

  “Four drops,” Merrick growled.

  “What?” The beast-mouthed Elder frowned.

  “Let her give four drops. I want to share the pain as well,” Merrick said. “I won’t let Elise go through something like this without me.”

  The Elders whispered briefly and then the Elder with the beast-mouth nodded. “Very well. We respect your wish to share the pain of the female you love, Kindred.”

  “Thank you.” Merrick nodded at them gravely.

  “You are welcome, outsider.” The Elder with glowing eyes nodded back. “Now allow my brother Elder to finish, please.”

  Merrick nodded again, silently.

  “As I was saying,” the Elder with the animal mouth continued in his low, rough voice. “You will share your deepest pain with us, human girl-child. And when it is over, we will allow you to take the branch you stole back with you to heal your hurts. Is that clear?”

  “Yes. Only…” Elise frowned. She thought she remembered something Merrick had said about the thorns of the skrillix—something about them causing hallucinations? She couldn’t quite bring it to mind but it bothered her. “Forgive me, but what do you mean by my deepest pain? Is the poison in the thorn going to make me feel like I’m on fire or I can’t breathe or what? I’m not afraid,” she added hastily, lifting her chin. “I just…I want to know what to expect.”

  “Oh no, girl-child. The venom of the thorn does not give you physical pain,” the Elder with glowing eyes said. “It causes you to relive your deepest emotional pain from the past. Only by sharing your pain and shame with us can you be worthy to receive the healing powers of the skrillix.”

  “Oh,” Elise whispered faintly. “Oh.” She didn’t know what else to say. He heart was suddenly pounding in her ears and her hands felt cold and numb. The deepest pain from my past. The vault…it’s going to be just like the AllFather all over again. Only this time everyone will see it. Merrick will see it.

  “Is this a problem for you?” the Elder with the beast-mouth asked sharply. “Do you wish us to revoke the judgment? I can give you leave to go now but if you do not prick your finger and share your pain we cannot give you the branch. And I promise you, outsider, we will not allow you to steal another.” His muzzle wrinkled into a threatening snarl that would have been scary if Elise hadn’t already been frightened to death by something else entirely.

  “Elise, baby…” Merrick put his hand on her shoulder but she shrugged it off.

  “Don’t.”

  He looked up at the Elders angrily. “You don’t know what you’re asking. You don’t know the pain in Elise’s past. You can’t expect her to bring up all that shit and share it with everyone here—it’s fucking monstrous of you to even ask.”

  “We sympathize with your concern, but our judgment remains unchanged,” the Elder with the beast-mouth growled. “The hour grows late and the twilight fades—make your choice, human!”

  Elise took a deep breath. This was going to be the end of her—the end of the vault. After the AllFather had violated her mind she had somehow managed to cram everything back in place and lock the door again, but she knew she couldn’t do it twice. This time everything was coming out and she would have to deal with it—deal with memories and emotions she’d been rigorously suppressing for over a decade. If she had been given a choice between this and death, she would have picked death with no hesitation at all.

  But it’s not just my death I’d be choosing, she thought, her eyes flickering up to Merrick’s concerned face. I’d be killing Merrick too. And I love him too much to do that.

  As the words whispered in her head, she knew they were true. She didn’t just care for the big Kindred, she loved him—loved him with all her heart. And she would do whatever it took to save him—even throw open the doors of the vault. Still, her soul cringed with shame when she thought about what he and all of the Elders were about to witness. What would he think of her when this was all over? How would he feel?

  It probably won’t matter, Elise thought numbly. Because chances are I’ll be such a basket case I won’t care how anyone feels about me after this is over. I’ll just want to die.

  “Elise, you don’t have to—” Merrick began but she shook her head.

  “No, don’t try to talk me out of it. This is something I have to do, Merrick.” Walking slowly, as if in a trance, she approached the long table and held out her hand. “I’m ready.”

  “Very well.” The Elder with pointed ears nodded at the skrillix branch. “Simply prick your finger and let the drops of blood fall into the cup of honesty.”

  Feeling like she was drowning, Elise reached for the branch. “No!” Merrick shouted, but it was too late—one of the long, cruel thorns pierced the tender pad of her index finger and she felt the venom of the pain vine enter her system. Numbly, she held her hand over the blue carved cup and allowed exactly four drops of blood to fall int