Chapter 28

Once they had emptied the contents of the tray, tarian rose back to his feet, gently brushing the hair from her eyes as she yawned. “i think it is time we both got some sleep.”

“ok.” She whispered, wondering why he was being so nice all of a sudden.

He had been so cruel to her only a few hours before, ordering his men to cut off the tips of her ears, even after she begged him for mercy. Yes, she burned him, but that was only because she was afraid of what he would do to her. How could she have foreseen the consequences, known that this would happen?

Tarian held out his hand, pulling astria to her feet as she yawned again, her eyes feeling heavy. She allowed him to guide her towards the small opening in the hut, her legs wobbly and unsteady as they walked through the camp, the silence stretching out as most of his people had retired to their beds. The day truly over. The half-breed was grateful for that, praying that tomorrow would be better as they stopped outside a small tent, much smaller than the tyrant leaders. He led her inside, guards positioned outside to ensure she would not run in the middle of the night, yet she was too tired to realise their true purpose.

The leader of the rebels gently guided her forward after a few moments, further into the place she feared she would spend the rest of her life. Astria spotted a small bed that was off to the side, the hut barely able to accommodate much else other than a small fire pit and a metal bath. Though astria had never cared for luxury, she had preferred her tiny home in lacus to anything else she had seen, dearly missing her home; wishing that she could simply go back there.

That if she did, she would be welcomed, not shunned. But that would not be the case any longer, the people she had been led to believe were like family tossed her out into the world, no longer caring of her fate. That ensured that she laid down slowly, her head spinning as he spoke; his tone soft. “get some rest astria, we have work to do in the morning.”

The girl nodded, unsure why she was so tired, barely able to keep her eyes open as she turned onto her side, her

voice barely audible. “i am very tired.” He smiled down at her, “that would be because i had a sleeping agent placed into your food, this ensures you cannot run from me.”

Astria yawned once more, “i had no intention of running.”

“that may be so, but i had to make sure. Now sleep, before the drug takes further hold on your mind.”

“ok.”

Astria woke with a dull throbbing in her head, her mind slow and distant, as though the world around her was fixed in slow motion. She opened her eyes, blinking rapidly as she attempted to adjust them to the bright light of day.

Taking a deep breath, she moved into a seated position on the small bed, barely able to remember anything from the day before, other than the drug laced food she had consumed without thinking.

How could she have been so stupid? Why didn’t she check it before she ate? Sighing in disgust of herself, the young half-breed swung her legs off the bed, testing that they still worked before standing, wobbling slightly as she fought to gain her footing. Once she was sure she could walk, astria nervously headed towards the small opening in the hut, the sun shining through.

Guards stood just outside, watching the people as they walked by, each one hoping to catch a glimpse of the monstrosity the girl knew she was. Looking down at her bandaged hand, she wondered what today would hold for her, praying that it wouldn't be as bad as the day before.

Astria took a step into the sun, allowing it to soak her skin in warmth, though she knew to nice feeling wouldn’t last as she opened her eyes; spotting the man that had abducted her.

Tarian took a step towards her, antray of food in his hands, though the girl was sure she wouldn’t fall for that again. Did he really think trying to drug her again was going to work so soon?

Was he that foolish?

“go back inside.” He ordered, waiting for her to comply before he followed, the tray in hand.

Astria silently took a seat on the bed, her eyes lowered towards the ground as she promised herself that today she would stay out of trouble. That she would not allow him to harm her, even if that meant following his every command. He placed the tray down on the bed beside her, taking a seat on the ground as he watched her, as though expecting her to do something greatly irritating. But instead, the silence stretched out, clouding them both in thought, neither one wishing to break it.

After what felt like hours, tarian pushed the tray closer to the girl. “eat something, you need your strength.”

“i’m not hungry.” Astria replied, pushing the tray a few inches down the bed, her eyes still lowered towards the ground.

He smiled manically, “don’t worry, it doesn’t have another sleeping agent in it, i need you awake.”

The half-breed picked up the smallest piece of bread she could find, carefully taking a bite, cautious in case he was lying. She was pleased when it tasted exactly as it should, but still worried that it was somehow a trick, that she would be forced into the depths of slumber once more. Sighing, the half-breed took another slice of bread. shovelling it into her mouth as he watched, no longer caring if it was in fact laced with a sleeping agent. She was starving.

“that's better, you are learning to obey me.” He smiled once more, watching as she picked up a piece of meat from the tray.

“i am simply hungry.” She responded, looking up at him as she took a bite of what she knew to be dear.

He nodded, rising to his feet. “perhaps, but it is the first step.”

Astria shrugged, knowing that no matter what she said, he would believe that she would in fact kill for him as he had asked. But she knew different, she knew that she couldn’t kill for anyone, she struggled to do it for her own survival.

“hurry up and finish, we have business to attend to.” He said suddenly, after minutes of silence, turning towards the entrance of the hut.

The half-breed nodded, taking one last bite of the food before she stood, slightly dizzy as the effects of the sleeping agent still lingered. She stared at tarian, waiting for his next order as she frowned, the sudden light-headedness worsening. She stumbled, crashing into the leader as he laughed, easily catching her petite form. She shuddered as a strange taste filled her mouth, turning her head to the side as the contents of her stomach violently exited her mouth.

Panting for breath, astria pealed herself away from tarian, her throat burning as she heaved dryly. Unable to understand what was happening, she curled into a tight ball on her side as the leader of the bandits watched, neither one of them knowing what to do in this situation.

“you must be having a bad reaction to the sedative.” He murmured, more to himself than to the girl.

“my stomach hurts.”

He nodded, “i will retrieve panett.”

Tarian stood, careful to avoid the vomit as he quickly left the small hut in search of the medical man, barking orders at his men, orders the girl couldn’t quite understand as she sighed; a fresh agony shooting through her lower stomach. She wrapped her arms around her stomach, unable to cope with the burning pain that seeped through her, the world around her fading in and out. But the half-breed was determined to stay awake, she wouldn’t let it defeat her, she couldn’t.

The voices outside the tent became dull as she focused all of her energy on staying awake, her breath shallow and raspy. Astria couldn’t understand why she became increasingly warmer, her eyes clenched against the agony as the tent suddenly went up in flames, a deadly fire bursting from her entire body. Her clothes melting away. Voices boomed in the distance, but the girl didn’t care, she couldn’t care. Something had taken over her, a silent friend that needed to break loose, show them all what she could do.

Tarian stood in shocked awe, fascinated that such a small being could harbour such power, such potential. He was a safe distance away, the bandages on his arms reminding him just exactly how hot the fire could burn. Knowing that his flesh had almost melted away when she had attacked him, but she had not quite melted away his muscles.

The half-breed had simply wished to stop him from injuring her, but that didn’t stop him from punishing her for what she had done. She had to learn to do as he commanded. She had to obey.