The Lycan King's Puppet-Chapter 20: Poison

She woke up with a severe ache in her neck. Claire almost couldn’t move her head. When she turned, she saw Zach staring at her. Arlan was still asleep beside her, breathing quietly.

"Did you sleep well?"

Color immediately stained her cheeks. Most of her night was spent trying to conjure an image in her mind that wasn’t the blasted King’s face, rather than worrying about the hard ground that pressed into her backside or the cold that seeped into her skin.

"I have no complaints," she murmured.

Zach moved his hand from beneath her and patted her head. Arlan stirred at the slight movement.

"Is it morning already?" He murmured in a sleepy voice.

Claire glanced up at the feeble rays forcing their way through the crevices at the top and cave covering. "I believe it is."

Arlan sat up and stretched. "I haven’t slept so well before."

Claire blinked. She couldn’t feel her backside. "I’m glad you had a good night."

Zach stood up and went to the entrance to peer out. The mud on his skin had dried, clinging like a second layer.

"Everywhere seems clear. We have to move soon," He whispered.

Claire rose to her feet, using the rock beside her to prop herself up. "Where are we going from here?"

Zach rubbed his eyes. "South. South as far as south goes," He said without looking at her.

"Where is the harbor?"

Zach glanced out again. "It’s not really a harbor we are heading to. It would be too obvious. I can’t tell you. You should understand that."

She folded her hands across her chest. "Do you even have a plan, Zach?"

His jaw worked. "My only plan is to get you somewhere safe."

"And the South is safe? What about Aurora?"

When he turned to stare at her, she instantly regretted questioning him.

"At least no one knows you in the South. You just have to trust me."

The despair in his voice made tears burn behind her eyes.

Arlan just stared, wide-eyed.

"There’s bread and cheese under that wrap." Zach pointed at where the rock lay and left the cave.

Arlan moved closer to her and laid his hand on her arm. "Are we going to eat only bread and cheese for the rest of the journey?"

She didn’t know what to say, so she offered a watery smile.

"If the forest doesn’t kill us, malnutrition would. From all the maps my father forced me to study, I know it could take up to a month or more to get to the South." His tone was light, but his words only highlighted the hopelessness she already felt.

"Nothing bad will happen to you, Arlan. I swear it on my life," She whispered.

He reached out a hand and tucked stray strands of her hair behind her ears. "I know."

When she looked into his eyes, it felt like Aurora was staring back at her.

"Eat. I’ll check on Zach."

Claire watched him settle down before she left the tunnel.

Zachary was seated close to the waterfall, sharpening a wooden spear with a stone. He glanced up briefly as she approached.

"Have you eaten?" he asked, avoiding her gaze.

She skidded over some rocks until she stood in front of him. The sunlight was still feeble, as it was very early. The sound of roaring water overshadowed the soothing music of the forest - birds chirping, trees rustling.

"No. Aren’t you going to eat as well?"

He stared into the distance. "I won’t go all the way with you, Claire. I will have to stay back and find Aurora. The priority is getting you somewhere safe."

She sank down the rock beside him, their shoulders brushing. "Where will you leave us?"

His shoulders sagged. "You’ll see. As soon as your sister is found, I will bring her back to you."

Claire held his hand and squeezed it. "You would do anything for us, would you not? What would I do without you, Zach?"

Tears blurred her vision as she spoke.

He covered her hand with his other one. "Your family is very important to me."

She glanced down at his hand. Then, without thinking, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

His lips felt cool against hers. He jerked at first, but slowly yielded. She didn’t know what she was doing - she just did it. Part of her felt that it was the only way to deeply show her gratitude, while the other part was hoping to feel something, anything at all.

When Claire pulled away, they both stared at each other. Their breaths mingled as they panted.

"Don’t do that again," He said, trying to catch his breath.

She blinked. "Why? I thought you liked it."

His eyes darkened with mischief. "Oh, I did. But if you do it again, I might not be able to stop myself."

Bright color stained his cheeks. She found herself coloring as well. Her blush deepened when the meaning dawned on her.

"Forgive me..." He began saying.

"It’s fine... I should not have tempted you."

She stroked her hair.

Drawing a deep breath, he stood up and walked to the waterfall. She thought he was going to wash himself in the water, but he just plucked out a flower growing in a crevice and brought it to her.

She hesitated before taking it from him.

"You don’t like it?"

Claire averted her gaze. "I do..." She reached out and took it from him.

He gave her a small smile and went back to sharpening his spear.

Sighing, she stood and returned to the tunnel. Arlan had finished eating - though the food looked untouched.

"Are we leaving now?"

She nodded, leaning down to gather the food. She didn’t have any appetite that morning.

Zach met them at the entrance as they were leaving.

"Even when covered with mud, you still look pretty." Zach murmured.

She turned away to conceal her blush.

They began their journey towards the sea. The forest was denser than what they already passed. Claire found her hair getting caught in tree branches and crawling plants.

Arlan seemed to know the names of most of the plants and trees they passed. They were all quiet.

Even Zachary seemed quite disturbed but Claire left him to his thoughts.

When she turned as they were crossed a ditch, Arlan wasn’t behind her. Her heart suddenly started pounding.

"Zach?"

He turned around.

When he saw her perturbed expression, he raised a concerned brow.

"What happened?" Then, realizing the boy’s absence, he asked, "Where is Arlan?"

Claire started running back without a word.

Her first instnct was to check the ditch they just crossed. There was no sign of Arlna there.

"Arlan!" She called as she passed.

Twigs snagged and dried leaves crunched in the distance.

She followed the direction of the noise.

There he was. There was a red smudge at the side of his mouth, which he hastily wiped away.

"What were you doing? You scared me half to death."

Arlan coloured.

"I wanted to just see some plants. Don’t mind me."

She managed a small smile.

"Don’t fall behind the trail again." She tried a stern tone but failed woefully - she was too overcome with relief to yell at him.

Zach came up behind her.

"Is he alright?"

Claire turned to Arlan. "Are you okay? You look a bit pale."

Arlan shook his head, blushing again.

Zach narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

They continued walking, Arlan in front, Zach and Claire behind him.

Zach hummed a little bird song which the birds around echoed. The melody was soothing.

Claire kept glancing up, searching for the singing birds.

Then, she slipped.

They had reached the sea and she hadn’t realized it. The sun was low on the horizon, which meant that the day was almost gone.

A hand caught her waist just before she fell.

"Watch where you’re going."

She felt the subtle strength in his arms as he lifted her back to her feet.

"The boat is right over there." He pointed to another point at the shore where a little boat wavered.

"Where is the boatman?"

He looked around and shrugged.

"He should be around here somewhere."

Then he glanced back at Arlan. Arlan was leaning against a tree, staring at his fingers.

He looked even paler than before.

"Are you sure you’re okay?" Zach asked.

A nod was his only response.

When Claire looked down at the ground, she saw large paw prints.

Zach’s tightened jaw told her that he saw it as well.

She placed her feet into the depression made by the print. It was larger than hers.

Arlan giggled.

Zach just shook his head continued walking.

She distorted the print and followed them.

As she watched Arlan, she realized he was swooning to the left and right.

"Arlan?"

He turned around.

"I’m fine. Just a little drowsy and tired." He muttered.

A fat man with a thick beard browsed through the trees and stood before them.

The first thing Claire noticed was the claw marks on his neck - he was a rogue.

She stopped moving - rogues had been slaughtering people as far as she knew.

Zach held her hand. His hands were warm where they touched her.

"It’s fine. I know him very well, he’ll get you to the South no matter what."

She gulped and stepped forward.

"Good aye, milady." He greeted with a bawdy smile. His teeth were shades of yellow and brown.

She took the hand he offered and let him guide her into the boat. Arlan settled down next to her.

Once the man entered, Zach helped him push the boat off the shore.

"This is it." She whispered mostly to herself.

The boat rocked as it rushed over the water surface. Darkness was fast approaching.

"I will see you soon. When you get to the first shore, ask for a man named Gangrey. He’ll take you further."

Then, he started walking back to the forest.

Her hand hung in the air as she watched him disappear. Gangrey? Who was that?

The boatman paddled quietly, staring ahead like he’d been trained to do so.

Arlan leaned over the edge, running his hand through the water.

He was even paler.

She touched his skin. It was icy cold.

A sigh escaped her.

Then, he leaned and retched into the water.

The boatman only spared him a brief glance over his shoulder.

The boat tilted slightly as Arlan leaned over. When he finished, he wiped his lips.

His lips were blue. His pupils were dilated and perspiration beaded at his forehead.

"Did you eat something?"

She almost couldn’t breathe. This couldn’t be happening.

When she glanced back, she could no longer see the shore they had left. The current was carrying them faster than she expected.

From the little she cou

ld see in the dark, there was no land ahead of her.

Then, Arlan fell against her. His breathing was slow, almost hushed.

What was she to do?