Chapter 72: Darkness in the Firelight

Elena’s Point of view:

"I can't believe you lied to me, Orion," I murmured, my voice quivering with equal parts fury and hopelessness.

"Everything we have gone through all this time; you still cannot tell me the truth.

"Orion stood before me, his face veiled in the low firelight, a tiny flinch showing the agony from his still-bleeding wound.

"Elena, I was looking out for you.

Protect me?" I laughed and raised my voice.

"Keeping someone in the dark does not help you to protect them! Not love, Orion; that is control.

His jaw clenched; for a second he seemed like he wanted to fight, but then his shoulders dropped and he sighed.

"I did not know how to let you know.

You seeing me differently was not what I wanted.

"And what about her??" I asked, pointing toward the spot Marie had vanished into.

"She made it quite plain that this narrative goes beyond what you are acknowledging.

You are not telling me what?The flutter of shame in his eyes sent off another surge of wrath in my breast.

"Damn it, Orion! Say something!”At last, his voice low but firm, he replied, "I made a deal." " years past. It was meant to be benign, only a means of leverage over my adversaries.

But Marie, she was collateral damage; everything spun out of control.

"Collateral damage?.

" I repeated, my voice almost above a whisper. "She is not merely a footnote in your narrative, Orion.

She is a human, a person who wants us both dead.

His annoyance bubbling over, he said, "I know that! "Do you believe I do not live with daily repercussions for my actions? Do you believe I never regret what happened to her?Then why did you not warn me? Why didn't you have enough faith in me to be honest?His voice shaking, he said, "I was scared." Fear of losing you.

His comments weighed heavily between us, and for a minute I had no idea what to say. The only sound in the strained quiet was the flickering fire.My heart then sprang into my throat as I watched a startling motion in the shadows. "ORion, behind you!"A sword gleamed in their fingers before he could respond.

Orion turned barely in time to block the attack, but the impact of the punch drove him reeling backward.Drawing his own rifle, he said, "Stay back, Elena!"But not this time, not even able to keep back.

Taking a nearby branch, I swung it at the assailant to startle them.

The collision launched the blade from their palm, but before I could feel even a slosh of relief another person entered the firelight.

"Well, isn't this touching?," asks Marie snorted, her eyes shining with contempt.

"You two truly are pathetic, hanging to each other like drowning rats.

Marie, this ends now," Orion stated, his voice icy and direct.

"Oh, it's far from over," she said, a nasty smirk flashing across her face.

"You see, I've brought reinforcements.

"More shadows surfaced from the gloom around us at her signal. As I understood we were outnumbered, my blood froze."Orion...," I said with a shaking voice.

His eyes fixed on me, he said, "I won't let anything happen to you.

"But even as the circle of foes drew in, I couldn't get rid of the sense that this time his word might not be sufficient.The circle drew tightly about us, their weapons glistening in the firelight.

Counting at least six of them, each moving with predatory accuracy, my pulse hammered in my ears.

Marie stood in the middle of everything, her haughtiness cutting more than any knife.

"You really ought to have listened to me, Orion," she said, her voice tinged with contempt. No, you had to act the hero.

Now you will also see her collapse.

Orion's deep, menacing voice muttered, "Touch her, and I'll end you.

"Marie chuckled, the sound resonating over the shadowy forest like a twisted song.

Oh, Orion, usually rather dramatic. But let's see how far your bravery will go when you are outnumbered.

To my left, a guy sprang unexpectedly with his knife pointing at Orion's ribcage.

I yelled, but Orion was faster, sharply twisting his sword to  the strike.

The clang of metal against metal sent sparks flying, highlighting only his intense concentration.

"Stay behind me, Elena!." Orion growled, his voice piercing the pandemonium.

But I couldn't. My hands trembled as I tightened the branch, my instincts screaming to fight, to survive."

No!," I yelled rear-off. "I won't just sit here while you fight alone!"Marie started to laugh loudly.

"Check this out! The damsel desires to be a warrior. How cute.I moved without thinking twice.

Adrenaline pumping, I swung the branch at the closest assailant to catch him off-balance. He slumped to the ground as the sound of wood contacting bone echoed around.

"Impressive," Marie said, clapping mockingly. "Let's see how you manage this, though.

"She lifted her hand, and the evening was broken with an awful roar.

Rising from the darkness, a huge beast with inhuman wrath glowed.

My breath stopped as I inhaled in its large frame, the claws gleamed like daggers.

"Marie, what have you done? " Orion demanded, his voice tinged with dread and rage.Marie pouted.

Let me claim I have some... alliances. Have a great time, sweeties.

The beast surged, aiming clearly for me."Elena!": As Orion tried to intercept, his voice became a frantic scream, but the beast was too quick."Do you really know what you are asking of me?

"Whispering, my voice quivering with both sadness and rage. Every breath in the room seemed weighty, unlike the last.

Orion moved forward, his emerald eyes whirling with emotion.

" Elena, I want you to believe me. Once just this once.Trust? I laughed sarcastically, shook my head, and felt bitterness rising in my throat.

"When you continuously keep me out of everything that counts, how can I believe you? You won't even tell me why; you advise me to keep hidden and secure.

Frustrated, he ran a hand over his messy hair.

"Because if I tell you, it will set a target on your back, bigger than it already is!

"I stepped forward, palms locked into fists.

"News Flash, Orion, the objective is already here! And your silence makes me blind, not shields me!

"His unvarnished sensitivity shattered something inside of me.

The unsaid weight between us lingered thickly for a minute, distilling the air.

"Elena," he said, his voice falling to a whisper.

He stretched out his fingers to touch mine.

The touch of the contact shivered down my spine, the warmth of which ran counter to the icy anger between us.

"This is not just about you these days.

Regarding us. About what we stand to lose should I choose the wrong path.

"My heart shivered. "And what if your silence is the incorrect action? What if you refuse to allow me in and thus lose me?"His breath stopped as his jaw clenched.

"I would much prefer to lose you to your wrath than to the tomb.”