Chapter 1
The torches were drawing closer. Penelope’s breath seemed stuck in her throat as she ran for what felt like miles through bramble and bush, the heavy thorns of the underbrush scratching her legs and leaving thin lines of blood seeping into her linens. It would only be a matter of time before they caught her, and there was nothing she could do to stop them.
There had been something in the potion she had been given, something that had rendered her incapable of protecting herself in the usual manner. It was the old woman that had done this to her, the one with the dark eyes and silver hair. How had she known what she was, and what were their intentions toward her now that they had a chance to capture her?
Fear was new to her, something she had learned not to feel a very long time ago when she had gone through her training. Her father had commanded her full attention at all times, teaching her the ways of their people and demonstrating a means of escape for all situations that might befall her . . . all but this one. Even her father had never seen a situation like this unfolding.
Penelope cursed herself as she darted in and out of the darkened brush that lined the deepest part of the forest. She thought of the man she had left behind, the one who had betrayed her. Hadn’t she known better than to get involved with a human? It had been his prudish beliefs and superstitions that had landed her here. She was certain of that. Had it not been he that had introduced her to the old woman?
Her mind wandered, bits and pieces of the days that had led up to the meeting with the woman all slipping into place to form a solid picture, one she had not been able to see until it was too late. How long had he been planning this with the old witch and why?
Her fear was quickly being replaced with anger. She was going to get through this, get away from them, and when she did, those responsible would pay dearly. The old woman could be expected to be nothing but what she was, but him–he was a different matter. She had loved him and thought he loved her. How could she have been so wrong?
The footsteps behind her seem to fall away. She was getting ahead of them, finally putting some distance between herself and her pursuers. It was a relief, but she was far from out of the woods just yet, literally. The incline grew steeper as she began to ascend the edge of the mountains that surrounded the area. It would slow her progress, but it should slow theirs, as well.
Winded, she paused for a moment, looking around. There was no sign of anything but more trees and more thickets. She could hide in some of the heavier foliage, but they had dogs that would surely smell her and lead them straight to her. No, she had to do better than that. For now, she had no choice but to continue to run. She took a deep breath and continued to make her way ahead through the darkness. At least her elevated sense of sight and hearing was intact.
As the night passed into dawn, she found herself emerging from the thickest part of the woods. She could still hear the men in the distance behind her, tracking her, staying on her trail. Her only advantage had been that the dense coverage had prevented them from coming for her on horseback. They were as much tied to groundwork as was she. Her efforts to elude, however, seemed to have failed. No amount of zig-zagging through the woods could put off the dogs locked onto her scent.
Now, the woods around her were growing sparser, letting in more light. She could move faster, but so could they, and there were fewer places to hide. The exhaustion consumed her, her body begging to be laid down just for a while to gather back some strength. They had been on her trail for more than a full day now, and she was near collapse.
Suddenly, the sun was all around her. She had emerged from the woods and found herself standing in an open meadow that spread widely to the right, but was banked ahead and to the left by steep, stone cliffs. She stopped, letting out a deep breath. There was only one way for her to go, and it was completely flat. That would make her an easy mark for their weapons, even if they couldn’t quite catch up to her.
The dogs barked in the distance, not upon her just yet, but still too close for her to feel at ease. If she stopped now, they would be on her in no time. She turned in that direction and continued forward, only to find herself boxed in by a second group of men coming out of the forest ahead. They were too far away to see her yet, but she could hear them, feel them.
“Okay, Penelope. Concentrate,” she said aloud to herself, willing every fiber of her being to change, to shift and save herself.
Nothing.
She could do nothing. Had the woman merely blocked her abilities for now or was it forever? Surely, after a day, it would have worn off if it was only a temporary potion or spell affecting her. A feeling of impending doom came over her as she resigned herself to whatever fate had been planned for her.
“No more running,” she said to the air around her. “I’m too tired.”
“What are you running from?” came a man’s voice behind her.
Penelope whirled around. How had she not heard him? Where did he come from? The sound of the men coming through the woods was growing closer.
He cocked his head in that direction. He heard them too, “Come with me.”
“To where?”
“Does it matter?” he replied.
Penelope studied his face. He seemed indifferent, for the most part. Still, he was offering her help, and wherever he led her to couldn’t be worse than what was surrounding her on all sides, could it?
“Okay. Show me.”