Chapter 223
We spent the morning inside. I shared with them the story of my cousin’s mental illness. They didn’t know what to say, but then neither did I.
“Perhaps,” Rose said, “it is the stress of worrying about the child that broke you.”
I shook my head, “I don’t know. It felt like I was excited about something and then I was so sad when I couldn’t make it happen. My world just fell apart. It might have been about the baby, I just don’t know. I felt deserted.”
My mind was mine all day, no weird intrusive feelings. I felt lonely now that they were gone, there had been something comforting about them. Part of me wanted them back, I needed those feelings for some reason.
I went to bed that night and had a dream about picking out baby cribs by myself. It was boring and annoying. There was no good crib in the store and I just wandered around aimlessly. It was a pointless dream.
Waking up, I realized I wanted to dream about the mountains or Learning to fight. I loved the dreams I had about Master Damien and his Brothers. Perhaps if I went back to sleep they would return.
Only once all night did I have a dream I wanted to continue. I heard my name being called from a distance. Several voices were calling to me and calling to one another. I recognized my real owners voices. No matter what I did, they didn’t hear me, though.
The next morning I rode to the Keeper’s compound in my usual silence. I Saw a shadow slide past us and it startled me. I Looked up expecting to see a great winged creature, but nothing was there, only the clouds.
“Did you see that?” one of the men asked his Brothers. The Warriors around me all had their hands on their swords.
“Damned women,” another one grumbled, “we need to tell the General.” Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
The morning at the Keepers passed uneventfully. In the afternoon, I walked along the edge of the water. I went as far down as I was allowed to go before turning to head back.
Shrill alarms sounded all over the Keepers’ compound. They cut through the air and I stopped in my tracks. The Last time I’d heard such an alarm the women were in the village.
Shadows passed over me and I tried to run back toward the Keepers. The women were here. One hand splayed protectively under my belly as I ran. I had to get to safety for my baby.
A dark figure dropped in front of me and I staggered back several feet. In my haste to retreat, I tripped on my own feet and Landed hard on my backside. I sprang up still intent on escaping. The creature stood staring at me and let out an ear splitting scream.
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I turned in the sand and ran back the way I’d come, but my way was blocked by another female. This one had amber Liquid dripping from her fangs. Venom, I remembered, Master Kein had said they make a venom. She screamed and took off into the air.
Before I could make another move, I was grabbed from behind and we lifted into the air. I screamed and struggled against the hairy chest that held me. Sharp talons dug into my hip and shoulder, so I stopped moving.
“You would not survive the fall, human slave,” the creature said thickly.
“You will not survive my talons. You live now for only one purpose.”
Fighting for calm, I tried to process what she had just said. I lived for one purpose. I looked up at her fanged face and shuddered.
A long scar cut across her cheeks. It was hard to miss. I glanced at the two other winged creatures flying beside her and didn’t see similar marks.
My real owners had told me the women that owned them was called Nu-reeh. She was Large, which this woman was, and had a scar on her face. I wondered if my ownership was being transferred to her
If I was now a slave to a woman, I was confused. I wasn’t sure what being her slave would entail. Judging from her threat, I’d better learn quickly, though.
It got colder and I huddled into Nu-reeh’s warmth. She flew so high the air got hard to breath. I lost consciousness several times.
“Wake up, slave!” she would screech at me when that happened and I would groggily say something.