Warrior Beautiful (12 page)
Authors: Wendy Knight
There were mountains in the distance, majestic mountains disappearing into the sky. The sun was setting and a blue light seemed to surround the trees and creep through the forest. How incredible that the place could be more beautiful at night than in the day. Flowers slowly opened, shimmering in the darkness, silver and gold and metallic-black and pearl-white. Scout reached toward one, wanting to feel the soft petals, but it closed up. Embarrassed, she pulled her hand away. Did everything in this land hate humans so much?
“Explain to me how the soul stealers work. How do they take the soul without killing the person?” Trey asked, his voice too loud in the warm silence of the forest.
Scout shot him a glare over her shoulder. “Really, Trey? You’re asking about them now? In the dark? Couldn’t you have asked this when we were still surrounded by sunlight?”
“Sorry,” Trey muttered.
“Chicken,” Kylin coughed, turning away. Scout rolled her eyes. What were they, five? If Kylin had seen the monsters, she wouldn’t want to talk about them at night, either — or ever, for that matter. Terror slid up her spine as she remembered the claws, the empty eyes. The hunched, bloody figures.
Iros gave her an apologetic glance before he answered Trey, his voice low in the darkness. “They impale the soul with their claws and drag it to Aptavaras. There is a cage there, built with unicorn bones from which the souls cannot escape. They will stay there until…” He exchanged an uncomfortable glance with Havik.
“
That
’
s a story for another day
.
”
Havik tossed his head, his mane rippling in the blue mist.
“Trey, we need to talk,” Kylin whispered, tugging his arm and pulling him toward the valley. Scout sighed, biting her lip as she watched them go. Trey wasn’t hers. She didn’t even
want
him, so why did it always, always hurt so badly?
“It doesn’t get better,” Iros said, his voice low as he watched them walk away.
Scout looked at him, knowing what he was talking about but still surprised. “What doesn’t?”
“Being in love and wishing you weren’t.” Iros’ eyes darkened. “It’s been a long day for us all, and the soul stealers will be back soon. We should rest while we have the chance, and tomorrow we’ll train if they haven’t returned.” Havik and Torz both dipped their huge heads once and were gone, moving into the shadows and disappearing without another word. Scout glanced at Iros, aware of being completely alone with him. But he stared at the sunset, lost in thought.
She took that chance to study him, his chiseled features, and underneath it all, the pain. There was so
much
pain there, and Scout wanted to know what caused it. She wanted to tell him it would be okay, but she couldn’t. She didn’t know if anything would ever be okay again. So instead she asked the next most important thing on her mind. “Iros… Ashra… doesn’t like me much. Maybe I should see if another unicorn wants a rider.” Scout looked down at her feet, digging the toe of her tennis shoe into the soft green moss. In her world, bugs would try to escape the wrath of her step and scamper away, but here there were none.
A life without bugs. A girl could get used to that.
“Ashra is one of our most powerful warriors, Scout. With a rider, she’s nearly unstoppable. And she’s fast. Faster than any warrior we’ve ever had.” He paused, considering, while he watched her dig in the dirt before he continued, “She’s almost as fast as the Ekse.” Iros took her arm again and led her down the path. With such thick carpeting, their feet were quiet, and the only sound in the forest was their breathing.
“How do the unicorns stay so silent? There must be hundreds and I can’t hear a single one.”
“Paradesos is infinite. To step out of view means one has stepped merely a foot and a thousand miles all at once. They aren’t silent, but they’re so far away that you can’t hear them.”
Scout stopped, looking around her. Infinite space? Trey was a thousand miles away because she couldn’t see him? “That… hurts my brain.”
Iros laughed. He was beautiful, like an ancient Greek god. Scout had to remind herself that he was as old as a Greek god and for all she knew; the ancient Greeks had thought he was one. Except as far as she knew; the gods didn’t have pain like his — deep, deep agony always lingering in the depths of eyes. It wasn’t a brief thing, like if she stepped on his foot or kicked him in the shin.
He quirked an eyebrow at her with a lopsided grin and she blushed furiously, realizing she’d been staring into his eyes for several seconds.
“I want to help fight, Iros.” She hurried to get back on the subject, hoping he wouldn’t think she was some stupid, drooling teenager. Well, she
was
, but that wasn’t the point. “I just think maybe I’d be better on a different unicorn. One that wouldn’t be so pleased if I were to plummet to my death.”
Iros chuckled, shaking his head. “Ashra would not let you plummet to your death.”
“If you say so.”
Without warning, the thick forest ended and they were at the opening of the giant cave. The valley spread out below them with the square of huts at the far side. Scout could see Trey and Kylin from where she stood, although she wished she couldn’t. Seeing them together made the hypothetical thorns pricking her heart dig a little deeper, every single time. She could feel the blood crying from the wounds.
Trey sat on an uprooted, moss-covered giant of a tree, and Kylin paced in front of him, throwing her arms around. Scout turned her back on them.
“Why do the unicorns seem so insistent that Ashra not forget the betrayal? Why her more than anyone else?” Scout had a lot of questions, and she was grateful for the distraction they offered. Plus, having answers to Ashra’s strange behavior might help them get around their issues. Or so she hoped.
Iros’ eyes flashed briefly with bright pain, and he shook his head. “The unicorn my brother killed was her mate. And since his lineage died with him, her foal died as well.”
Scout swayed. Where thorns had been attacking before, now she felt like someone had knifed her in the heart. “Ashra,” she whispered. Her knees gave out and she sank to the ground. “No wonder she hates me so much.”
“Not you. She hates humans. But she doesn’t hate you.” Iros knelt next to her.
“Iros, you didn’t hear her. She…” Scout didn’t want to be a tattle-tale. How many times had she told a teeny, tiny Lil Bit that telling on someone else wasn’t cool?
Iros smiled, knowing without being told.
Eeep
, he was handsome. “She’s got pain. She holds it like a shield. Sound familiar? I think she’s just what you need. And there’s a good chance you can save her, too.”
Scout snorted, tried to think of an argument, and failed. “Maybe,” she said instead. “Maybe.”
****
“Trey, I’m not staying in this enchanted life-sucking hole. There are no stores here! I don’t think they even have indoor plumbing!” Kylin threw her arms up.
“Kylin, we’re safe here. Until we learn to fight more effectively, we can’t be out where the soul stealers will find us.” Trey glanced again at the path he’d come down — the path he’d left Scout and Iros on. Together.
“How do you even know there are soul stealers, Trey? I didn’t see any. The doctors say it’s a pandemic. And I believe them.” She dropped her arms to her hips, glaring at him. Daring him to contradict her. When had things changed so much that they couldn’t even disagree without it turning into a fight? Or maybe it had always been this way and he just hadn’t noticed?
Trey forced his eyes back on his girlfriend, wishing fervently that his traitorous heart would just want the one in front of him. “I saw them, Kylin. I watched them pull Scout’s soul almost completely from her body. You’ll just have to believe me.”
But Kylin wasn’t listening. Her eyes widened as she stared into the distance, and Trey’s heart stopped cold. He turned slowly, afraid of what he’d see, but Scout wasn’t locked in some passionate embrace with the ancient Greek war hero. Or whatever he was. Instead, she was kneeling on the ground, her face in her hands. Iros knelt next to her, talking. Trey was halfway across the clearing before he realized he was even on his feet.
“Scout? Are you okay?” he called.
Iros looked up, and Trey would swear relief flashed across his face. “Trey. She—”
“Ashra hates humans. For good reason.” Scout said dumbly, staring at the ground.
Trey frowned, blinking. That was not what he’d expected. “What now?”
Iros stood up, offering a hand to Scout. She took it without hesitation. There was no repulsion when she looked at Iros, like there was when she looked at Trey. Iros pulled Scout to her feet, offering his arm for her to lean on.
He
’
s from another century. He
’
s from another century.
Trey repeated over and over, but it didn’t matter. He’d lost Scout, he knew that, but it didn’t mean it wasn’t shattering his heart watching her with someone else. Since the accident, she’d been merciful that way, wanting nothing to do with any of the guys at school. Trey hadn’t had a reason to feel jealousy like this. He didn’t like it, but he deserved it. The pain was like a balm to his conscience, soothing the guilt as it tore at his heart.
“Ashra’s mate was killed. Her foal,” Scout shot a quick glance at Trey and he nodded, “died as well. Because of a human.”
“Because of my brother.” Iros’ voice was hard as he stared away from them.
Scout shook her head, honey-brown waves sparkling in the moonlight. Trey’s fingers ached to slide her curls across his skin. “He made the mistake, Iros. Not you. You can’t think you’re guilty by association.”
Iros sent her a grateful smile. “Thank you, Scout. You are definitely a soother.”
She raised her eyebrows, teasing. “Is that another breed of unicorn we haven’t met yet?” Trey remembered that trick. When Scout wanted to push the attention away from her pain, she’d tease, trying to lighten the mood. She really was a soother. How had he never noticed?
They stopped in front of the row of huts as Iros threw back his head and laughed. Trey just hurt. He couldn’t even force a smile. “You’re funny, little one. No, you’ve met all the breeds of unicorn that still exist. Black, Green, Blue, and the extinct Red unicorns.”
Scout frowned, shaking her head. “And white unicorns, of course. But I haven’t seen them here at all.” Iros’ eyebrows shot up, and Trey looked around, wondering if white unicorns were going to materialize out of the forest.
“White unicorns? What makes you say that?” Iros asked, amusement gone as he studied Scout’s face intently like he could pull the answers from her brain.
Kylin wandered over, picking her way carefully through the moss. “All the pictures show white unicorns. Of course there are white unicorns.”
“Not really.” Iros shook his head. “The white unicorns are extinct. They have been for hundreds of years. In fact, no one is positive they ever truly existed in the first place.”
“What was the white unicorn supposed to do?” Trey asked, glancing uncertainly from Scout, who seemed beyond confused, to Iros.
“White unicorns were known as Ecepas. They brought peace. Unfortunately, no one really wants peace. They
say
they do, but they look for reasons to be hurt or angry. They look for things to offend them while they pray for peace. With no one truly believing in them, the white unicorns died out. Or so the legend goes. I myself have never seen one. In fact, I haven’t even heard mention of them in,” Iros paused, thinking hard, “a very long time.”
“No,” Scout whispered.
“What?” Iros ducked his head and leaned his ear toward her.
Scout’s sea foam eyes swept up to meet Trey’s before she looked at Iros. “You said you’ve been watching Lil Bit. Why didn’t you see it?”
“See what? I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about.” Iros glanced at Trey as well, like he hoped to find help there, but Trey was as lost as Iros was.
“Lil Bit’s unicorn was white,” Scout said.
Iros stumbled back, all the breath whooshing out of him like he’d been hit in the stomach. “Her unicorn… Are you sure?”
Scout nodded so hard her hair swirled around her face. “I…I saw her. Twice. Once in the hospital,” again she looked at Trey and away, “and once last week.”
“It can’t be.” Iros’ face took in the light around him, like a thousand years of pain had been relieved. “They exist. They’re still alive! Do you know what this means?” He grabbed Scout’s shoulders, shaking her lightly. “I’ve got to tell the others. They’re alive!” He crushed Scout to him in a brief hug and spun away, racing across the valley.
“Wow. That guy needs to get out more,” Kylin said.
Scout watched him go, a half-smile on her lips. “He said we needed to rest while we have the chance. If the soul stealers don’t attack soon, we’ll start training. You should get some sleep.” She nodded politely at Trey and gave a little wave toward Kylin.” Night guys.”
“Where are you going?” Trey asked, ignoring Kylin as she hissed behind him.
“I want to know what this means — the fact that the white unicorn is alive.”
Trey opened his mouth to tell her she would get lost. Or attacked by rabid unicorns. Or something, but she shook her head, narrowing her eyes just a bit.
With one last look over her shoulder at Trey, she jogged across the valley into the trees where Iros had disappeared.
****
Kylin passed the hut next to Scout’s and went into the fourth one down. “I don’t want to sleep anywhere near that crazy girl,” Trey heard her muttering as she went inside. Seconds later she reappeared in the doorway, hands on her hips. “These cots won’t hold us both. I’m not sure they’ll hold you at all.” She scowled. “Tell them to take us home, Trey.”
Trey sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He’d been fighting a headache all day, and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept. “Kylin, I told you already why we can’t go back.”
Kylin’s face went an alarming shade of burgundy. “You just don’t want to stay with me because
she
’
s
here.” She marched forward, stumbling a little as her heels sank in the moss, to jab him in the chest. “I am getting
sick
of waiting for you to get over her, Trey.”
Trey wanted to deny it, but the way his eyebrows shot up in surprise, he didn’t think she’d believe him. He pulled her finger away from his chest, holding lightly to her hand. “I’m trying, Kylin. I’m really, really trying.”
Her face fell and she let her chin drop to her chest. “I love you, Trey. Why aren’t I enough?”
He could lie. He could tell her he loved her, too. She’d said it to him several times but he’d never said it back. He should say it back; maybe by saying it back it would make it true. But she didn’t deserve that kind of deceit.
“I don’t know. I wish you were. I pray constantly that you can be.” Unwillingly, his gaze dragged itself to Scout’s hut. “I would give anything to forget her.”
Kylin laid her head on his chest. “I know,” she sighed. “I knew you were still in love with her when we first hooked up. Everyone knows. I just thought I would be the one to make you forget.”
Trey stroked her hair, leaning his chin on her head. He felt closer to Kylin in this second than he had the entire time they’d been together.
“I’ll help you forget her, Trey. I’ll take you away from here, from everything that reminds you of her. And then I’ll be enough.” She raised her head, tears streaking tracks through her makeup. Rising on her toes, she kissed him gently on the lips, and then she went inside her hut, disappearing into the darkness.
Trey stared up at the sky, or what he could see of it. He hadn’t noticed the sun was gone until the moon came out, giving the entire valley and surrounding mountainside an ethereal glow. “I just want peace,” he whispered. “I just want to forget her.”
But as he settled into his cot, surprised at its softness, he knew that wasn’t true. He didn’t want to forget her. He held as tightly as he could to every memory of her he had. If he wasn’t going to spend the rest of his life with her, if he only had memories, he couldn’t lose them.
He fought visions of Scout every single night, but tonight he was too exhausted. He was beyond grateful for the sleep that claimed him quickly.
Trey couldn’t have said what time it was or even if it was still the same night when he heard the screaming. He jerked up, his sluggish brain slow to remember where he was, and even slower to figure out what made the noise that had woke him or where it came from. When it did, he leaped up, tugging his shirt on over his head as he raced out the door.
The moss sank beneath his bare feet, silky and cold. He didn’t hesitate as he exploded through Scout’s doorway ready to kill whatever it was that attacked her.
There was nothing there but Scout, curled in a ball on her cot, sobbing. She opened her eyes as Trey came closer, but the sobs didn’t stop. “Hey. Hey, you’re okay. You’re safe.” Trey knelt awkwardly next to the bed unsure what to do that wouldn’t cause her to flinch away from him like he was one of those frogs that leak poison from their skin.
“I—I know,” she hiccupped. “But Lil Bit—” She broke down, burying her face in her hands as her whole body shook. He swore under his breath before pulling her down into his arms, cradling her against his chest while he rocked back and forth. She was the soother, not him. He didn’t know what to do or what to say. “If I could, Scout, I’d take your pain. You would never hurt again.”
Did you seriously just say that? Do you know what she
’
s going to do to you now? You caused her pain, you idiot. Now she
’
s going to rip you to shreds.
But she didn’t. She just sobbed, leaning her head against his chest as tremors attacked her over and over. His arms gave out and he laid Scout on the floor, stretching out next to her and wrapping his body around hers, holding her tight against his chest, trying to keep her safe, to block her pain, anything. In the darkest hours of the night, her sobbing stopped, and she slept.
He lay awake until dawn, staring at the moon through the window, stroking her hair. He thought about her. He thought about his parents and his brothers. He prayed, harder than he had ever prayed before, that they were okay. That he would get to them in time. He imagined the conversation he would be having with Liam and Tate if they saw him with Scout. ‘Nice, dude. Way to get over her,’ Liam would smirk and Tate would throw something at him. Then they would both go eat because somehow they’d gotten it into their heads that the more they ate, the bigger they would get, and being bigger than Trey was a life goal for both of them. Now he didn’t know if either of them would ever get the chance.