Abandoned (Born From Shadows #2)

Tatianna’s long hair drifted through the wind as the stallion beneath her galloped at maximum velocity. She had profoundly apologised to Tyrion on multiple occasions about the thin strands flickering into his face with each sweep of the cold wind. It took her a while to realise he did not mind, or at least did not care enough to have any emotions about it.

Soon enough the empty waste lands disappeared into the lush pine forests of Haveenté that had frosted tips. Winter was doing what it did best. They took a small break every few hours to let the horses drink, but soon enough Tarca’s lights were seen in the distance.

They entered the town at a slow walk during midday. There was no one waiting to meet the group, no escorts just the towns people looking confused at the coterie of Elves that just entered their home.

“El nukt genva vevo kal rovalla, get yourself a drink in the meantime,” the Queen ordered. The rest of the group haltered whilst the Queen kept walking forward.

“What did she say?” Tatianna inquired.

Tyrion shook his head. “Nothing important, we are going to a tavern.” The horse started to head in an entirely different direction taking a left towards a wooden sign that had black words painted across it. Tatianna didn’t need to know how to read to guess that it said Tavern.

Tyrion helped her off of the horse, tying them onto a wooden rail before walking inside. She instantly felt the glares upon her face, hushed whispers murmured in the dark corners. Most people however were staring at Tyrion as he tried to squish between tables without hitting anyone’s drinks with his wings. One of the other Elves ordered a round of drinks, Tatianna sat down on one of the chairs and watched as the bar slowly ignored their presence. Noise was once more held in the air.

The low lights of the tavern flicker softly, casting shadows onto the walls. Tatianna sat with an alcoholic beverage in her hand, but she did not take a single sip. Instead, she was focused on the lady in the other corner who was playing a guitar and singing. The songs words and melody striking Tatianna in the heart, trying to pry an emotion out of the still faced girl.

I have been crying, yet no one could hear.

They say life’s worth living for the ones that care

But my friends, my home it’s all disappeared.

Loneliness haunting my mind, breaking me down.

Please save me from myself, I can’t do this anymore.

Wish it was me sitting in hell’s doors

Singing out to the heroes leave me alone

Cause the villains already sitting on my throne.

It was beautiful. The way her vocal cords shifted to convey such passion and emotions. Tatianna continued to stare as the woman hit the high note with such a powerful belt. Before switching back to a softer falsetto.

So I will save myself, I can stand for a bit longer

I’ll slam hell’s doors shut and tell the villain it’s over.

No more heroes trying to save my life.

No more demons ruling my mind.

It’s time for me to take back what is mine.

The woman’s last note resonating within Tatianna’s soul, making those chains strapped to her ankles feel all the more suffocating. Perhaps it was a message from the goddess Lilyean telling her to break free, that this was not her fate. Although would a god truly care enough to send a message to her? Out of the millions that lived, why would they put effort into her? It was coincidence, she deducted. Nothing more. The woman left the stage, then a man took her place. Slamming into the guitar singing of drunken nights. Tatianna pushed away the beverage in front her not wanting to partake in such descriptions.

“You can’t get drunk even if you wanted to,” Tyrion said noting her actions.

“Great,” she replied devoid of any care for getting wasted. Her eyes subconsciously scanned the room, each individual sitting at the bar. The ones smoking something in the back to the couples making out in the corner. They all looked…happy, or at least their mind had forgotten all the worlds problems. Maybe getting drunk would have been a good thing to experience, she thought. Then she felt something else pressing against her brain so hard it hurt. It was like her head was going to explode from within, but it was gone as soon as it came.

“Tatianna?” Tyrion asked in concern as the girl released her head from her hands grip, the pressure subsided.

“What?” she countered, acting as if nothing just happened. Whatever it was, it passed, and therefore is none of her concern. Keep pressing forward.

“Are you good?” he questioned.

“Of course,” she replied. Then she felt a tug in her arm, her body almost jolted out of place. When she looked around no one was there. “I want to go out and see Nylif,” she said having a sudden urge to visit the wolf.

“Ok,” Tyrion nodded with a questioning tone. They both excited the Tavern, Tatianna immediately walking over to where the large dark-haired wolf sat. She hugged the beast, any strange feelings in her body disappearing.

Across the side of the street from Tatianna a man throws up onto the feet of the woman he was trying to flirt with. “Humans are truly disgusting,” one of the Elf’s comments whilst watching the seen.

Tatianna would’ve agreed had she not bee so accustomed to this sort of behaviour. To her this wasn’t disgusting, it was just another night in the streets. Alcoholics, drugs, rapists and thieves. That’s what roamed the pavement at nights. Which was why when she saw a young boy sitting by a dumpster all her attention fell towards that child. He must’ve been nine or ten? A few years older than she was, scavenging for food.

She wanted to help the child, give his rumbling stomach a cure, quench his thirst. The Queen would not allow him to follow them, Tatianna knew that. She looked at the bakery across the road near the child. The young boys hungry eyes were fixed on a loaf of bread. She knew that look, he was going to steal that bread. Maybe he won’t even realise he was stealing it due to how single focused his mind was, but the bread would be stolen.

A horse approached the group, taking Tatianna’s mind from the child and onto the Queen of the Elves.

She walked with a powerful complexion onto of the horse. “The King and Queen are ready for us.”