Hellion's Reckoning

The Ravenmoon’s forest was just as breathtaking as Inias had remembered. His troop and Ashryn beside him appeared mesmerized, their eyes drawn to the gathering specks of light surrounding them. The forest was alive with vibrant colors and the sound of nature’s symphony filled the air, soothing the tension. As they walked among the tall trees covered in a rainbow of leaves, Inias noticed his troop and Varen’s knights chatting more freely and not in hushed whispered.

Fievel let out a small whine as Styx playfully pawed at the Elk’s neck. “He doesn’t like to play,” Inias said, gently pulling Styx back. Despite Styx’s attempts to bond with Fievel, the elk preferred solitude, always keeping to himself. Inias stroked Fievel’s neck until he felt him calm. “It’s okay. He doesn’t want to eat you.” He wished his steed were more like Styx, able to perceive his words and intentions.

“Have you heard from Bacchus?” Inias inquired as they passed by the statue of the forest guardian, now adorned with offerings of wine, grapes, and ivy crowns. Keira pointed towards a woman dressed in vines, roaming through the forest. “Bacchus remains unseen,” she explained. “His maenads have been vigilant in patrolling the forests, at his behest to protect us.”

“As long as we honor him with offerings, they will watch over us,” Varen stated as Keira, Ashryn, and Inias joined him at the front. “Do you really trust those untamed women to safeguard you?” Ashryn asked, casting a wary glance at the maenad with a haunting presence. Inias had shared stories of how they had dispatched enemies ruthlessly, like savage beasts.

“They have proven themselves as allies,” Varen affirmed, gesturing towards the maenad, who lingered briefly before walking away. “Their silence may be unsettling, but we must rely on their protection.”

Ashryn grimaced, her gaze shifting back to Lord Varen on his dark steed. “And the Magistrate?” she questioned, revealing a blood-stained bandage on her hand. “Many of us swore to end him.”

Inias nodded and asked, “What provoked his attack on the village, anyway?”

“In his greed, the Magistrate seized control after the Rouans departed,” Varen explained as his horse carried him forward. “When the village resisted his tyranny, he lashed out.”

“He’s Sylvis’s father, right?” Inias asked as Styx jumped from his lap to stretch his legs and walk. Varen nodded, turning his horse around to stop with a raise of his hand. The knights were quick to stop. Inias followed his example, raising his hand as Ashryn barked an order to halt. “What do you intend to do with him, prince?” Varen asked, blocking the path so he couldn’t simply slip by and ignore him. “He’ll get what’s coming to him.” Inias answered, avoiding his stare.

“Even if that means starting a war with Sylvis?” Keira pressed him. “With your uncle?”

Inias hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. Yes. Yes. Why couldn’t he just say it? The silence hung heavy as Inias struggled to find the words. He had already voiced his intentions to Ashryn, leaving a glimmer of hope for reconciliation. Saying it aloud now, in front of everyone, would draw a line in the sand. He felt so brave, ready to defy his uncle for his friends. That youthful naivety, the hope that things would work themselves out.

“When you’re ready to choose a side, come find me,” Varen stated firmly, then turned to his knights. “We part ways here. Keira will lead them to the cottage!” With that, the knights silently bid farewell and followed their leader down the road towards the manor.

Once he and his knights were out of sight, Inias turned to Keira. “When you’re ready to choose a side,” Inias said with a mocking tone, earning him a quick slap on the arm from Keira. “Do not!” she snapped, her eyes flashing with anger as she rode forward, following the opposite path her father had taken. “The king nearly wiped us out, and you’re defending him!”

Ashryn stayed beside Inias, who stared down at Fievel’s antlers, absentmindedly stroking his neck. The soft fur soothed his nerves, allowing him a moment to gather his thoughts. “He’s my uncle,” Inias finally confessed. “With my father gone, he’s all I have left.” Styx barked beneath them, causing Inias to look down at the loyal fox. “He’s right, you have Styx, Ashryn, and me,” Keira said, reaching out to rest a comforting hand on Inias’s arm with a gentle squeeze. “We’re your clan.”

“Yeah…” Inias murmured, turning his gaze away to admire the surrounding scenery. Ashryn narrowed her eyes at him, exchanging a concerned glance with Keira. Seeing their expressions, Inias shook his head and gestured to the men behind them, who were listening intently. “I believe the trees have ears. One shouldn’t speak of rebellion so openly,” Inias warned through gritted teeth, looking back and forth between his companions. Anything to end the conversation.

Beyond the trees, Inias could hear a waterfall crashing. Keira pointed to the cliff high above them, then to the waterfall as she led them onto a wooden walkway. “Here we are!” She said cheerily as she dismounted her horse. Ashryn turned hers around and gave the order to break for camp. Inias dismounted Fievel and tied him to a post and followed Keira over the wooden deck.

“Wow…” Inias breathed when he saw the little thatched cottage. It sat at the center of a small pond connected to the wooden deck by a bridge. However, it was the breathtaking sight of the cascading waterfall behind the cottage, sending a misty spray into the air, that truly captured his heart. Beneath the deck, water rushed from the pond over the stones and further down, emptying into a small river far below. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Keira said beside him, “At night, the moonlight dances over the water like little fireflies. My parents spent their honeymoon here.” With a smile, she kicked off her shoes and walked barefoot over the wooden bridge leading to the cottage, resting serenely at the center of the pond.

“I never asked,” Inias began as he pulled his boots and socks off to follow her. “What happened to your mother?” Keira stopped and turned to look at him. “Ask your uncle.” She said and ran her finger along the doorway covered with a long green cloth. Something shimmered around the cottage as Keira stepped through the opening. Stepping through the doorway, Inias saw the enchanting interior of the cottage. Half of it was an open patio, adorned with a hammock, a quaint table, and a cozy sofa under a canopy of vines.

“Did he-.” Inias began, but Keira shot him a glare and pointed her finger, silencing him. “I said ask him.” She spun away, wiping her face with a sniffle. Leading him towards a wall covered in ivy leaves, she pulled them aside to reveal a small bedroom. Inside, a bookcase, table, and small stove created a cozy atmosphere, with bedding made of soft animal furs. “Cozy,” Inias remarked with a smile, eyeing a tightly sealed door. “I assume that’s the bathroom?” Keira nodded and closed the vines as they exited the room. With the sound of the waterfall in the background, Inias suspected there was no conventional shower or tub.

“Do you like it?” Keira asked, playfully bumping Inias’s shoulder. “It’s paradise,” Inias replied, resting his hands on the gate to gaze at the waterfall. The gentle mist was refreshing, inviting. As the sunlight hit the falls, a rainbow spread across the sky above them. “I never knew this place was here. To think hellions built this.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Keira inquired, studying the waterfall beside him. “We’re demons, right? Demons don’t live in paradise,” Inias stated.

“And who defines what a demon is?” she challenged, narrowing her eyes.

“Demons are full of malice; they bring decay and ruin. They don’t give life, they take it, feed on it,” Inias explained, recalling his upbringing. Their ancestors had been outcasts for mingling with demons, considered impure and dangerous. “Are you full of malice?” Keira asked, perching on the wooden fence. Her legs dangled over the side, toes skimming the cool water below.

Inias gazed down at his reflection in the water, his long raven black hair framing his face and bringing out the deep red in his eyes. Running his tongue over his fangs, he frowned and turned away, covering the scar on his cheek discreetly. “I don’t think so,” he whispered, lifting his head.

Keira swung her leg around to face him, gently sweeping his hair back behind his elegantly pointed ears. Inias instinctively wanted to retreat, but the firm touch of her hands on his cheeks anchored him in place. His cheeks flushed a deep crimson, mirroring the intensity of his eyes as they locked with her mesmerizing, inky black gaze. “Unlike your uncle, you see the good in people, even him.” She pulled him into a hug, letting his head rest against her chest.

Inias blinked but hugged her back, letting his fingers slide through her hair. He could feel her fingers gently stroking his hair, her cheek resting atop his head. As Keira held him close, Inias felt a warmth spreading through his body, a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time. It was a stark contrast to the chill of the water beneath them, the darkness of his past, and the uncertainty of his future. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to exist simply in that moment, embracing the comfort Keira offered.

Their embrace lingered, the quiet surroundings providing a sense of peace and calm that Inias hadn’t realized he craved. The gentle lapping of the water against the posts of the fence, the distant calls of birds in the forest, and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze filled the silence. Keira’s heartbeat thudded rhythmically against Inias’ ear, a steady reminder of her presence as his eyes closed. “Thank you, Keira,” he murmured. Taking a deep breath, Inias pulled back slightly from the hug, meeting Keira’s gaze once more. As her fingers slid from his hair, she gave it a light tug. “Don’t hide it,” she said. “Show your uncle and the world you’re not afraid of who you are.”