Shadow Prince - Chapters 9 and 10

Chapter 9

We don't reach a hotel until well past nightfall, and when we do, Amanda is snoring away, leaning heavily on my back. The best hotel I could find is awful, probably infested with dozens of types of animals and bugs. But it's a lot better than the forest, that's for sure.

I pull Arik to a stop and climb off his back. Amanda slumps forward, her body thumping against Arik's back. A laugh escapes my throat unwillingly. Someone must be a heavy sleeper. I shake her softly, part of me not wanted to disturb her. "Amanda," I whisper. "Wake up." She doesn't move so I nudge her shoulder, a little bit harder. "Amanda," I repeat louder. She doesn't wake up, only giving a little grunt and turning her head. I sigh and lift her off of Arik. I grunt and read just her so that it's easier to hold her. She's really heavy for someone her size. I sigh and nod to Arik. "Go off in the woods. I'll find you tomorrow morning."

He growls in response and nudges me with his enormous head, nearly causing me to topple over. Then he saunters off, his head held high. I watch him until I can't see him, then turn, my arms starting to get tired from carrying Amanda.

I shuffle my feet and slowly begin to walk towards the entrance of the hotel. My footsteps crunch on the gravel, nearly the only sound in the desolate area. Something shuffles above me, and I turn up just in time to see the bright flash of black feathers disappearing into the trees. I grit my teeth, storming inside the hotel. They just won't give up.

I walk inside to the reception desk, where a middle-aged guy sits. He has stubble dotting his face and reads a magazine. He glances up slightly, his square glasses flashing in the dim lamp light. "A room?" He asks, sounding slightly surprised. I doubt many people visit here often.

I nod, pausing again to shift Amanda's weight. His eyes glance back and forth between us curiously, and I do my best to look impatient. We're none of his business.

He removes a small key from a drawer next to him and slides it over to me. "Cash or credit?"
"Cash," I lie slowly.
He chuckles softly under his breath. "Yeah. A lot of people don't want their whereabouts tracked." He glances suggestively at Amanda, and I tighten my grip on her. I don't correct him, though. He can think all he wants.

"So your total will be..." He pushes a few buttons into an old calculator.
"Actually." I cut in, "We may be staying for more than one night." I do my best to ignore his smirk. "So I'd like to pay the amount after our stay."
The man holds my gaze for a moment, suspicious, but he relents and shrugs. The smirk returns to his face. "Whatever you want."

I trudge down the hall to the room and, upon finding it, do my best to slide the key into place whilst holding Amanda. Her weight is starting to make my arms ache. I kick the door open and place her gently on the bed. The room stinks - it's filled with a musty, unclean stench and I gag slightly. But it's the best we have. I pull the blankets up to Amanda's shoulders and leave her there.

I'm not sure she'd react too well if she woke up with me next to her, so I simply take another blanket and stretch myself out on the floor. I carpet smells awful and I gag again, but I respect Amanda too much to sleep in her bed. I pull the blanket tighter and fall into a fitful sleep.

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Chapter 10

I dream that night. My mind shifts wondrously and I toss and turn in my sleep. Eventually my mind settles on a place. I'm in a warehouse, spacious and old and dark, probably in a city. Boxes tower above me, stretching out in all directions. I look around. I see only one window and the outside is dark.

All of a sudden, I hear a voice. The voice sounds familiar. I find my feet moving towards the voice, against my will. It may be familiar, but it doesn't mean it's good. My heart beats erratically against my chest, but my feet don't stop until I'm a good twenty feet away from the voice.

It's a girl. It's the girl, actually. It's the one who threatened Emily and me on the beach. Zoe. The name finds its place easily in my mind and I clench my fists. Zoe's raven-colored hair is cut short, falling just around her chin. Her eyes are startlingly bright blue, though her eyes are cold and icy. Not like Amanda, whose eyes were filled with warmth. Zoe paced back and forth, her fists clenched against her side. "I just don't get it, Kieran!" She was saying, "How could something like this happen? He was completely ours, completely changed, and then... and then what happened?"

I turn a little to see another guy standing a few feet away, leaning on a big crate. His dark hair hung around his shoulders, and cold black eyes regarded Zoe with admiration, and a little bit of annoyance. "Well, he obviously wasn't changed all the way, then, was he?"

She meets his eyes angrily. "Are you saying I made a mistake?!"

Kieran only shook his head calmly. "I am only saying that something went wrong. He was fine for months... so why now?"

"I don't know. And apparently he doesn't, either. When I saw him, he said he didn't remember anything. Anything, Kieran."

He bites his lip. "Well, he's starting to remember. I can sense it. But something tells me he's not going to be on our side when he does."

Zoe's eyes widen dramatically. "No! But... but I love him."

Her words hit my gut hard. I don't understand. She... she was in love with me?

Kieran seems to anger from her words. He clenches his fists and says through gritted teeth. "I know. But how can you still love him after what he did? He killed one of your Shadows!"

Her eyes drop. "I know."
"How can you still love him?" Kieran repeats. His voice softens a little and after a moment, he continues. "Did it hurt?"

Zoe nods slowly. "Like nothing I've ever felt before. Not even when I was changed. When he killed Mortem, it was like a part of me was killed, burned away." She realizes what she's said and gasps. "He's found his element."

"What?" Kieran looks up, finally taken by surprise.
"That's the only way he could've killed Mortem without remembering anything. He burned him. With his element."

Kieran begins pacing. "So he's still changed... but without his memory... and turned against us." He stops suddenly, turning to Zoe. "I will kill him. I will do everything in my ability to."

She shakes her head softly. "It doesn't have to be that way. Can't you just make him remember?"

Kieran shakes his head. "Can't you see? This is the only way. When he remembers, his memories will be turned black with hatred for us and what we did. This is the only way."

She frowns but then nods. "Okay. But how?"
"I'll get him to come. Willingly, too."
"How?"

Kieran chuckles softly under his breath. One of Zoe's shadows flies in through the open window and settles on the crate next to Kieran. Kieran fingers the feathers delicately, stroking the bird. Zoe sighs and it's obvious she feels the touch too. "Oh, a little bird told me that Adrian's found some company."

And then I wake up.

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Again, I'm sorry for the delay. I was out of the house for winter break, so I had no opportunity to write. And a great big thank you to everyone who's supported me so far, I love you guys!!