Bitten Wings Part 14

Gagged, tied, and being cared like a dead animal wasn't anywhere as fun as it sounded. And it didn't sound fun to begin with. I was tied to a wooded pole and could barely breathe. Mara, the Princess, insisted that I was carried this way. Guess she was still bitter about me killing her brother. Thing is, I didn't even mean to kill him. All I wanted to do was push him away from Marcus, then deal with him. Guess I don't even know my own strength. Which reminded me of what the vampire who raided my cave told me. All the powers I have. None of which I know. Actually, I think I do now since I just killed the King.

We came to an abrupt stop, jerking me forward. The guards untied my hands, feet, and wings. I fell to the ground causing pain to surge through my body for some unknown reason.

"Get up, girl."

"Girl. Nice vocabulary." I jeered as I got to my feet. Mara frowned at me, then looked me up and down.

"How long have you had your wings?"

I rolled my eyes, "For being a tribe that hunts me, you sure don't know a lot."

"Don't push it, girl."

"There's that word again!"

She was fuming and it was hilarious! Her face got all red, she clenched her fists, and I could see her forcing her self not to shout or strike me.

"If it weren't for rituals, I would have made you ours long ago," she said through clenched teeth.

I grinned, "Well thank goodness for rituals then. Kept me alive for a little while longer."

"You don't die!"

"Of course you don't. You just get your blood suck out of you, but it's okay, it's alright. You're alive, so it doesn't matter. Not one bit."

Mara clenched her teeth, her fingers clawing at her leg to keep her from strangling me. I laughed out loud. Several vampires ran over to me, gripping me on the arms, legs, and neck. I could barely breathe and my laugh was cut off short.

"Now, I'm going to tell you the rules of the ceremony and you're going to listen. Sound good?"

I opened my mouth, but the grip was too tight around my neck I could barely breathe. Instead I stared at Mara, her black hair past her shoulders, her ice-like eyes mimicking her grin. The sight of her teeth scared me half to death. She laughed then continued, "Good. Now, when we get there, you will be chained. People will be cheering-"

I bit down on the arm holding my neck, so hard that he let go and screamed. Others let go of me to tend to him. His arm was searing white, as if I had froze his arm. The ice spread both ways, its fingers reaching for his neck. He yelled louder before the ice covered his head, freezing him at the spot. Then he shattered, falling to the ground in a million pieces.

"That's it!" Mara turned to me, but I was ahead of her. I swept under her outstretched arm and hit her with the side of my hand. It didn't have the same effect as it did on her brother, however, for she had jumped into the air and I only managed to cause her to fall back to earth. The other vampires had turned to me, jumping as Mara shouted them to. They jumped all at once as I tried to fight them off, but it was no use. Fingers clawed at my arms and face drawing blood as Mara laughed and walked to me. Vampires held my arms, and others pushed my head down.

"You should really learn not to fight us. You have to face it, girl, you're coming with us, and you're not getting away."

I stayed quiet the rest of the trip. Later in the day a carriage came for us, carried by four horses. They also had loose chains over them to tie me in. Mara ordered me into the carriage and I said nothing. I stepped inside and she followed, the jingle of chains accompanying her. She sat across from me and stared long and hard at me. I continued looking out the window that was perched on the door of the black carriage. Mara laughed, "Looks like you're broken."

"I'm not a horse." I growled back, returning her cold stare. She laughed again, her fangs flashing. I rolled my eyes and looked away, "Weren't you going to tell me some 'all important rules' of the ritual?"

"That's right. Before you rudely killed one of my best man."

I chuckled and she asked why. "You said man. And I find that funny-"

"You can shut up now."

I shut my mouth. What was I to do? Have my cheeks ripped open again? Have my arms sliced so easily?

"Good girl. Angel, was it?"

"Yeah."

"Ain't that pretty. Anyways. .ah, right. 'People will be cheering.'" she looked at me as if I was about to fight again. I looked at my feet, slumping in my chair. My wings shifted uneasily around the small carriage, and I spied Mara gazing at them. Her sentence hung in the air. When I looked up she was reaching for them. I pulled my wings around me, edging away from her. She kept her hand in the air as if not believing I didn't let her touch me. I changed my wings into a darker color, wanting them to blend in more than the bright white I loved so much. The dead black I changed them to was invisible next to the carriage. Mara finally pulled her hand in slowly. She flashed a quick, shy smile before looking down. I watched the eighteen year old vampire cautiously.

"Stop the carriage!" she shouted, startling me. She got up, grabbed me, and pulled my outside. I gasped as she pushed me against a tree, the chain wrapped around her shoulders.

"You killed my parents," she said, her voice merging with anger.

"What?! I don't even know-"

"DON'T LIE TO ME!!" she shouted, "You killed them when I was young. I remember, you raided my temple, and killed them as they slept. I remember, I heard you. I woke up wondering what all the commotion was about and saw you near the window, a bloodied sword in your hand. You looked at me, I saw your black hair wave in the wind, your gloves that you wear, and you told me something. 'Don't hold a grudge. I did what I had to do. You'll grieve and cry, but you'll learn the truth one day. I-'" she broke off, her eyes gazing blankly. I blinked, I didn't think anyone would ever know. I didn't think she would remember. I didn't think she'd live. She pushed me hard against the tree, then continued, "You said that you saved me. From what exactly?" her hard eyes were intimidating, but all the vampires that watched me with narrowed eyes. I wished I could tell her, but then we'd both be killed. And what was the point of that? I sighed, glanced around(trying to hint to Mara I couldn't tell her with everyone watching), and said, "I-I can't tell you."

"You can't or you won't?!"

"Can't," I whispered so only she could hear. She hit me against the tree one last time.

"Then I'm going to love to bite into your neck!" Then she dragged me back into the carriage.