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The next few months went smoothly.
You’d go on missions, win them, then come back home and hang out with Hunter at night. He almost always slept over.
You were on your way now to meet up with him, it was one of those rare days where both of you had the day off.
You’d put on an outfit that wouldn’t call attention to yourself and topped it off with a dark cloak.
Standing at the castle entrance, out of view from other coven members you waited for him.
He was dressed in a brown button-up shirt and dark pants, also wearing a cloak. He smiled as he jogged to you.
‘ Damn. He's pretty' you thought, your face colouring at the thought.
Curse your traitorous thoughts.
“Hi,” he said. You could tell he was excited, this would be your first trip to town together.
“Hi” you returned.
With that, you headed off towards the buzzing market.
In a way, you wished that this could be it.
Just hanging out, doing teenage things.
He seemed happier now that he was away from the castle, away from the emperor.
You liked it, it made your cheeks feel warm.
As you walked through the stalls he talked about anything and everything.
This felt so easy, why couldn’t it always be like this?
From your peripheral vision, you saw a blur that looked suspiciously like
Kikimora.
Turning to where you’d seen her, you searched, a little frantically.
The warmth you'd been feeling was replaced by sudden fear. If you were caught with him, who knows what Belos would do.
“Hunter,” you said, tugging his sleeve.
“I think I just saw Kikimora”
He turned to where you had been looking. Then turned back and nudged you.
“Don't worry, that wench is out on a mission today”
Something felt wrong, you were sure you’d seen her, but you trusted Hunter so you let it go.
The market was busy, peoples buzzing conversations easing your previous worry.
You’d stopped at a couple of stands, pointing to things you thought were cool.
Most of them Hunter ended up buying for you, it made your cheeks glow red and your lips remained in a stubborn smile.
In return, you bought him anything his eyes lingered on a little too long.
When you eventually reached the library, both your bags were full of nick-nacks from the various stalls.
With your hoods pulled up you entered the library, walking silently past the other patrons.
Hunter grabbed the books you’d decided on as you set off to find a quiet space for you to read.
You settled on an empty corner in the back with two large pillows placed on the floor.
Waving him over, Hunter stumbled to you with his arms stacked high full of books. You stifled a laugh watching him struggle with the towering books.
Grabbing a couple from his pile you set them next to the pillows and made yourself comfortable. Joining you, he leaned against your side picking up a book.
‘ Magic through the ages ’ the title read. He eagerly opened it beginning to read.
A small smile was on his lips as he flicked through the pages.
“Can you read it?” You asked.
He looked at you confusedly.
“Out loud I mean”
His cheeks coloured as he looked away from you.
“I’ve been told my voice can get annoying,” he said hesitantly.
“I like your voice”
You leaned against his shoulder, your cheeks slightly flushed.
“Oh”
He leaned into you.
“I think it's really pretty”
“ And I’m pretty sure that was the first thing I said to you”
He shook his head slightly.
“You told me my voice was nice, not pretty”
‘ Shit’ you thought, now aware of the slip-up. Your mind raced, trying to come up with something to say.
“But okay. I’ll read”
Thankful for the change in conversation you turned your gaze back to the book.
Hesitantly he began to read for you.
You’d managed to get through half the book now. Hunter getting more confident the longer he read.
You lay on the floor, Hunter holding the book up as he read, you rested your cheek on his shoulder.
Occasionally he would point out facts that he knew or things that weren’t entirely accurate, adding little bits of his own knowledge. You thought it was endearing.
You had known he was smart but you didn’t know how smart. A wave of pride swept over you with each new fact he'd tell.
He was now reading about how modern magic had changed from the savage ages.
Your ears perked up as you heard some familiar voices. Sitting up slightly, you peered through the empty shelves.
The cowering librarian was pointing towards you, the person he was talking to was obscured from your sight.
Scrambling back towards Hunter you tugged his arm.
“We need to leave. Now” you said desperately. You could hear multiple footsteps coming your way.
“What-“ Hunter began.
“Golden Guard,” Kikimora said.
Her eyes squinted at the two of you gleefully. Hunter jumped at her voice.
“Is this not the coven guard emperor Belos ordered you to stay away from”
Beside you, Hunter scrambled to get up.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” He said coldly.
She chuckled darkly, a shiver ran down your spine.
“Come now, I believe the emperor would wish to see this”
Standing up beside Hunter, he stepped in front of you, shielding you from Kikimora.
“If you know what's best, golden guard, you’ll follow along” she mocked.
The two scouts that had accompanied her grabbed your arms, twisting them behind your back.
They led you out the door, no doubt to your death.
‘ Maybe that's a little dramatic ’ the positive side of your brain said.
‘ But maybe not ’ the pessimist piped.
Hunter looked at you hopelessly before he followed along, walking two steps in front of you in an almost protective manner. He slipped his mask on and clenched his fists.
Dread settled heavily in your stomach as you followed behind.
-
You’d arrived in the emperors' chambers.
He was sat on his throne, an abomiton on either side of him. You felt breathless as both you and Hunter dropped to your knee before him.
“This is her?” he said to Kikimora.
Keeping your eyes trained to the floor you heard the rustle of his cloak as he stood.
“Were you not aware Hunter had been ordered to stay away from you?” He said.
“I was sir” your eyes still locked to the floor.
“Look at me” he growled.
Your head shot up to meet his gaze.
“You must understand, my nephew means a great deal to the titan” Belos said.
His cold voice keeping you fearful and in place.
“So tell me”
Hunter knelt beside you, his mask obscuring his face. You silently wished you had your own.
“Why should you be worthy of his company”
“I-“
He cut you off before you could form a sentence.
“You mean a great deal to him, for reasons I can’t quite figure out”
Usually, a comment like that would have made your cheeks glow red. But coming from the emperor, it made you sick to your stomach.
He studied you for a minute. The tense atmosphere choking off your breath, anxiety gripped your heart.
“But because my nephew means a great deal to me, I will allow him this,”
Hunter turned his head sharply to Belos, his air of confidence faltering.
Belos towered over you.
“You will act as his assistant of sorts, accompany him on his most daring missions”
Shock and fear had you rooted to the spot.
“Ensure that he does not get-“ he circled his wrist slowly.
“ Distracted”
Leaning closer to you he spoke quietly.
“If you fail him, you fail me. I will not be as merciful as I have been today”
You nodded sharply, sweat beading at your temples. He seemed to accept your answer and leaned back continuing to stare at you.
“You’re dismissed”
Bowing, you walked to the door, only turning back to check on Hunter who seemed to be just as shocked as you. As the door had almost shut, the emperor called your name.
“Don’t forget, the day you are of age. Your magic will be locked away”
The door shut in front of you, your view of Hunter disappeared. You’d wait for him of course, you’d just wait a little further away.
Leaning against the wall, a corridor over from Belos’s chambers, you let out a shaky breath.
If you never got up close with Belos again, it would be too soon. you felt bad for Hunter, you couldn’t imagine having to go through that much fear daily. Hopefully, he could handle it a little better than you.
Your head shot up as the door creaked open. Spotting his familiar golden mask you ran towards him.
“Hunter!” You whisper screamed.
He turned to you, tremors wracking through his body.
“That went better than I expected,” you said with a forced smile.
With shaking hands he unclasped his mask and slapped a hand over his mouth. He was unusually pale.
His body hunched as he fought to keep down bile.
“Oh, shit ,” you said as you gently placed your hand on his lower back, leading him away.
“Can’t let anyone see me” he gasped.
It took a while, but finally, you’d gotten to his room.
Leading him to the bathroom he all but ran for the sink. You held back his hair as his body heaved and gagged.
When he was done you handed him a glass of water and led him to bed.
“Sorry” he rasped.
He laid his head in your lap and you began carding your fingers through his hair.
“Are you okay?” You said quietly.
“He’s-“
“He’s punishing me” he muttered.
“He’s expecting you to be killed”
Suddenly his reaction made more sense. The anxiety you had felt was nothing compared to what Hunter was being put through. Although you’d definitely need to think about it later, for now, you pushed all thoughts aside to comfort him.
“I won’t let that happen,” he said, grabbing one of your hands and running his thumb over your knuckles.
“I know”
Your cheeks were tinged pink as he held your hand.
“All right come on, let's get you to bed” you smiled.
He stripped off his armour and shoes, leaving him in his undershirt and pants. As he laid down, you turned to leave. He grabbed your hand, keeping you in place.
“Stay,” he said.
You’d never stayed in his room before.
Hearing the desperation in his voice, you too pulled off your armour and climbed in next to him. He lay facing you, staring at you with an unreadable expression.
“He's sending us to retrieve palismen from the bat queen,”
Your heart dropped. The bat queen had, for generations, been known as the most ruthless demon.
Turning away from you his shoulders began to ever so slightly tremble.
“We leave tomorrow,” he said in a shaky voice.
A sense of dread settled over you. Belos was really trying to kill you.
Your face screwed up in pain as you wrapped your arms around Hunter and buried your face in his back.
-
The morning after had been silent.
Your backs turned as you both got changed for the day.
Your stomach squirmed in fear. But one thought kept you from breaking down.
‘ If I do this right. I’ll be safe with Belos, I’ll be safe with Hunter ’
You walked beside each other as you made your way to the ship.
Today it would be you, Hunter and a pilot. Not unlike the first time you met.
He held the door open for you as you walked in and took a seat.
Once again, you were sitting across from each other. You unlatched your mask leaving it beside you.
“Hey.”
His voice startled you.
“I’m your superior, you cant take your mask off in front of me,” He said with a small smile.
You felt your body relax as you returned his smile.
“Yeah, I can. You’re my friend”
“Yeah,” he said.
“You are”
Getting up from your seat you moved beside him. Opting to rest your head on his shoulder.
The tension had eased after that and you were now looking out the window as the pilot began landing the ship.
Hunter turned to you, an uneasy expression on his face.
“You don’t have to do this,” he said.
You didn’t have much of a choice really.
“You heard what Belos said”
His ears dropped.
“And besides-“ you nudged him.
“I gotta get on his good side if I want to keep being friends with you.” You half-heartedly joked.
He grimaced.
“Yeah”
As the ship landed, you both put on your masks and strapped netted sacks to your belts. Standing on the deck you looked out at the forest before you.
“Guard the ship until we’re back”
(“Yes sir!” The pilot chorused)
With that, you entered the woods.
You walked alongside each other, shoulders and hands brushing.
You felt like you’d been walking for hours.
Your limbs were sore and you were really regretting not eating a bigger breakfast.
But finally, you’d arrived.
You hid behind a bush surveying her cave for any sight of danger.
“One of us will have to distract her while the other grabs as many palismen as we can,” Hunter said.
You nodded once.
“I’ll do it.”
He turned to you sharply.
“No!”
“Hunter,” you sighed.
“I won’t let you get hurt.” He said sternly.
You stared at him silently, your brows furrowed.
“Let me do this, please”
He frowned deeply, ready to argue.
“It's what i’m here for, isn’t it?” You muttered turning away.
You crouched down as the bat queen stomped into view, her three babies following behind her.
Before Hunter could do anything you sprung over the bush and ran towards her. You could feel his disappointed stare on your back.
Sliding down the rocky side you landed behind her.
Her size dwarfed you in comparison.
With a few steps, she turned towards you. Her face screwed in anger. Her babies hopped towards her desperately.
Ugh , you would regret this.
You yanked the smallest one towards you. Wrapping it in your arms. She screeched loud enough to rustle the trees surrounding you.
Taking off, you clutched the baby to your chest, its teeth sinking into your flesh as it wailed.
“MY BABY!” She cried, her voice growing distant as you ran.
A terrible feeling coiled in your chest, the pain in her voice was enough to have you second-guessing everything.
You placed your hand over the child's mouth before it started to screech again.
Now out of her sight, you stepped behind a tree. Still holding your hand to its mouth you rocked it.
“Shh, shh, I’m sorry little one”
“You’ll be back with your mother soon.”
Her thundering steps had you holding your breath as you hid. You could hear the bat queens cries as she yelled for her baby. Her massive body knocking down the trees around her.
Silently you moved further away and headed closer to the cave. Setting her baby with its siblings, it sniffled and cuddled up with the others.
If they weren’t so hideous it would be cute. Unclipping the sack from your belt you looked behind you for any sign of the bat queen. When you were sure she was gone you turned your gaze upwards.
Searching for Hunter in the trees. You saw a glint of gold. He met your gaze once before turning away. You could almost see the frown on his face.
You’d really upset him. The realisation made regret grow heavier on your shoulders.
Pushing those feelings aside you began grabbing the trembling palisman that were scattered around and placed them in your bag.
Once you had grabbed as many as your could, you tied the top. It moved as they struggled to leave, magic sealing them inside.
Everything about this felt wrong.
The smallest baby began tittering, tears growing in its eyes. You rushed to its side, working to quiet it. Dropping to your knees you picked it up. Rocking it in your arms, you didn’t notice the shadow looming over you.
Her breath down your neck startled you.
You dropped the child and scrambled away, still on the ground. You cried out as she swiped at your face painfully, your mask flying off. You were left with three talon shaped cuts to your cheek. She walked towards you as you kept backing away. Her expression was one of pure anger.
“You do nothing but hurt and steal” she seethed.
Your back hit something solid and you could no longer escape.
‘ I guess Belos will get what he wants ’ you thought.
Blood dripped down your face and neck as you stared up at her.
She drew her clawed wing back, ready to strike again. She bared her teeth as she brought it down.
“Stay back!” Hunter yelled, landing in front of you.
His white staff blocking her blow. Her face screwed up in recognition.
In pure anger, she began attacking him. Her claws sweeping at him left and right.
The red magic of his staff teleported him out of her way before she could even land a hit.
Standing up you drew a circle, your magic buzzing in your veins. You jumped as he ended up in front of you. He pushed you back.
“No!” He yelled, teleporting out of her way again and landing a blow to her head.
She stumbled to the side, stopping her attacks while she regained her senses.
“Let me help!” You yelled back.
"He turned to you agitated.
“Just let me protect you!”
Her wing knocked him off his feet, sending him flying forwards. You watched, frozen in horror, as one clawed foot encased him.
‘ This is my fault ’
“YOU” She cried,
“You have taken from me before,” she said coldly, her grip tightening.
Hunter struggled for breath in her grasp.
Panic clouded your senses. Drawing a circle in front of you, you sent a blast of magic to her back, searing her flesh. She howled in pain as her back burned. She threw him away, his body colliding with a tree, and turned to you instead.
You ran to his side, ready to protect him as he had you.
“Don’t hurt him” you said, taking up a defensive stance.
She was silent, ready to charge at you.
Her eyes glowed yellow, stopping her attack her tense posture dissolved into a slack one. You didn’t drop your stance.
“Are you sure” she whispered.
A black snake palisman with a broken fang slithered to her shoulders.
She muttered unintelligibly for a while as you stood guard of Hunter who was slowly coming back to consciousness. With a blink her eyes turned back, she nodded at the snake before it slithered towards you.
You backed away, careful not to leave Hunter vulnerable, as it slid up your leg.
You squeaked as it did.
The bat queen stared on disapprovingly.
It wrapped around your wrist and came to rest in your hands, you cupped it gently. It flicked its tongue as you stared at it, its blue eyes looking through you, a look of awe spread across your face. With a flicker of light, it transformed. You were left with a grey staff in your hands, the snake curled around the top.
Terror flooded your senses.
“You have done it, you have appealed to her conviction,” the bat queen said, slightly awed.
“Well UN-do it!” You cried staring at the staff in your hands.
The bat queen shook her head.
“I cannot”
“Once you have been chosen, you are bonded for life”
“Morally grey, yet fiercely protective of the ones you love, Matias will be happy with you”
Fear drenched you, head to toe.
Snapping your head up, your eyes met Hunters. You hadn’t even heard him get up. He looked as shocked as you felt.
Panic began taking over your senses.
‘If Belos finds out’
‘What if Hunter rats me out’
‘No, he wouldn’t do that'
‘I’ll be petrified for this’
‘I’ll DIE for this’
All at once, these thoughts ran through your mind. You dropped the staff like it had burnt you.
Your eyes began to sting as tears burned your waterline.
A constant stream of
‘ Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit ’ echoed in your head.
You were done for. Your only option was to run.
So you did.
Turning from him you took off, dodging trees as you tried to get as far away from him as possible. You heard him call your name. Checking behind you, he was no longer visible.
Turning forward, you almost missed the yellow glow of his magic teleporting him right in front of you.
‘ Wait. Yellow? ’ You thought. You could have sworn it was red before.
Grabbing your shoulders he kept you in place.
“It's okay,” he said calmly.
You heard a muffled chirp coming from his clothes. Meeting his eyes, you watched as he reached into his cloak and pulled out a red cardinal.
“A palisman,” you said quietly.
“As I was saying. It's okay because I have one too”
Steering clear of the bat queen, Hunter grabbed the bag he’d left high in the trees as you picked up the snake.
You walked silently back to the ship.
-
The trip home had been silent too.
Blood caking your hair and clothes as you sat tensely opposite Hunter. You hadn’t healed yourself yet, you felt too drained.
The snake was curled up in your discarded mask. Hunters palisman was asleep on his shoulder. He’d tried, the whole way home, to make eye contact with you.
But you kept your gaze firmly out the window.
When you arrived back at the castle, you placed the snake in your hood and followed behind Hunter as he walked to Belos’s chambers.
With an echoing bang, the door shut behind you. A stubborn frown stayed on your face as you knelt before him.
“Emperor Belos, the mission was a success,” Hunter said. Placing the bag of palisman in front of him.
Belos hummed.
“Very good, and I see you're still alive,” he said very pointedly at you.
“Perhaps I underestimated you”
You said nothing.
“Dismissed,” he said finally.
Standing up you bowed and exited the hall, Hunter following behind you.
You didn’t speak as you parted ways.
-
Closing the door shut to your room you fell back onto your bed.
You sighed, putting your hands over your face.
The snake hissed as you lay on it.
“Sorry!” You squeaked.
She slithered out, curling up on your chest instead.
“I feel-“ you started, stroking Matias’s scaled head.
“I feel betrayed.”
“Why wouldn’t he tell me? Did he not realise how important this is?”
“Does he not trust me?” You muttered.
The snake hissed pointedly at you.
“I know, I know. I should just talk to him.”
Placing the snake on your bed you walked to the bathroom. Ready to wash away the days' grime and heal your wounds.
You stared at yourself in the mirror not recognising who was staring back.
After your shower, you dressed in your pyjamas and cloak, then began heading to Hunters room.
‘ This is stupid ’ you thought.
You stared at his closed door, the light was still on.
‘ Not surprising, seeing as he never sleeps ’
You held your hand up to the door, not sure whether you should knock or not.
Matias hissed and nipped at your skin.
‘ Asshole ’
You knocked twice and stood back. From inside you heard a clutter, a string of swears and then footsteps running to the door. It was another five seconds until it opened. Even now, as upset as you were, he always brought a smile to your face.
“Hi,” he said quickly.
“Hi” you returned in a much softer tone.
He stared at you for a little while before remembering he was in the way.
“Oh! Sorry, come in”
Walking past him, you felt like maybe you had overreacted. You sat opposite his bed on the wooden floor, not sure if you were still welcome. He sat right next to you, staring intently.
“Why didn't you tell me,” you said quietly.
He looked pained.
“I didn’t think you’d be so accepting”
“Of course I would have!” You said, annoyance lacing your voice.
“I trust you with my life”
“It just hurts a bit that you don’t trust me back” you muttered.
He said nothing, the room was silent in an uncomfortable way.
“How am I supposed to trust you if I can’t even trust you on my missions,” he said annoyed.
You turned to him in shock, your face screwed up in anger.
“What's that supposed to mean? I lured the bat queen away didn’t I?”
“The mission was a success,” you said, moving further away from him.
He groaned in frustration.
“You ran straight to her!”
“ When I told you not to!” He said struggling to control his volume.
“Because one of us had to do it! You’re Belos’s right-hand man, I’m just a guard. I’m expendable!”
“No, you’re not!” He cried.
You crossed your arms and fumed silently, from the corner of your eye you could see Hunter do the same.
You desperately hoped it didn’t look like a tantrum.
Both your palismen looked on in disbelief.
‘ Shut it ' you thought, squinting your eyes at them.
Slowly you turned to Hunter, he looked upset.
His brows were quivering and it looked like he was struggling to maintain an angry expression.
“I just wanted to prove myself” you muttered.
He turned to you slightly, arms still crossed.
“I wanted to prove to Belos that I am good enough”
His posture relaxed and he turned his whole body towards you.
“And you,” you said turning away.
"I wanted to prove it to you"
He placed a hand on your arm, turning you towards him.
“Of course you are”
“Even if Belos didn’t think so I’d still be friends with you”
“I like you too much”
You felt tears prick at your eyes as you looked at him. His cheeks were dusted pink and he was running his thumb over your skin.
“I like you too much too,” you said, scrubbing at your eyes.
You laughed wetly and launched yourself at him, sending him falling back. His arms wrapped around you and squeezed tight. You lay there for a while, feeling his chest rise and fall with every breath.
“As much as I’m enjoying this, you’re suffocating me” he joked.
You shot up, your cheeks colouring.
“Sorry,” you said sheepishly.
“Sleepover?” He asked, a grin on his face.
“Sleepover” you agreed.
Hopping off his lap you pulled him up by the hand. Your palismen had curled up together in Hunters discarded cloak, you awed quietly as you watched.
“I guess they like each other,” he said, his cheeks a deep red.
“I guess they do”