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Chapter 5 – Freedom

MORGAN

"Gods be all mighty girl! We have to get you out of here!”

"What! Margarita, what is going on?" I look at the older woman who has been serving me since I was 16, maybe even before that.

"King Panja’s army has infiltrated our streets, they came two days ago," she says unlocking the door to my room that has been my cell for the past 8 years. A major upgrade from the stone room my mother and I were shoved into one night when I was a small child.

A night I will never forget. It was the same night they discovered I was not a shifter. I was all Witch.

I watched Margarita flit to my closet and dresser, a knapsack in her hands. Frantically, she opened my drawers and shoved clothing items into the bag she had in her hand. "Come on get up! Don't just sit there. Get your shoes on girl!" She pauses her actions to give me a stern look. The lines across her forehead begin to soften, and she takes a seat on the edge of the bed next to me - Taking my hands in hers and giving me a weak smile.

"Morgan, child, it's time for you to leave. King Panja was the closest ally to your father. With King Orion’s death, there is a gap that others will want to fill. King Orion protected this city. A deal the council made with him to keep you here in secret. Now I don't know if King Panja knows about you, or not." Margarita pauses and takes a large breath exhaling slowly "but you sure as gods - Tiamat & Apsu - don't want to fall into his hands."

"I've never been outside these walls, save for the balcony," I say dumbfounded but also a little excited at the prospect of actually getting out of here. Then there's fear. "I've never been outside," I repeat in a hushed voice, more to myself.

"Morgan!" Margarita’s stern voice snaps me back to reality. I didn't realize my hands were shaking until she gave them a little squeeze. "I'm coming with you. I would never let you do this by yourself. Gregorio and I are taking you out of the city."

Margarita lets go of my hands, standing, just to place her hands back on her hips. Her usual frown came back into place "now get a move on! We don't have much time."

"Yes ma'am!" I say a little snarky but scramble to pull on my hobnail boots. Despite my concerns, I am eagerly and just as excited. Thinking that this was just like an adventure in one of my books. Minus the hot romance. I couldn't believe I was actually getting out of here!

I'm a bag of nerves as we step out of the room. It's been 8 years in that room, and I loved it compared to where I was before.

I give the room one last glance before I follow Margarita down the corridor. "Shouldn't we be doing this at night?" I ask, thinking if we were going to escape, wouldn't having the cover of night be a better plan?

"Nope. Because Prince Farid, enforced a curfew this morning. We are to be off the streets by dusk. I think they are looking for you." She sighs, halting her steps, and turns to face me, her blue eyes soft "we have more chance of no one taking notice of you with the cover of the crowd. Just do as I say, stay close and follow my lead. If anyone asks, you are my daughter." She pulls her lips tight and gives a curt nod telling me her word is final.

"Ok," I reply not knowing what else to say.

I trust Margarita, she has been nothing but caring to me since she was tasked to be my maid. Before her, I only had harsh guards who could care less about having to look after a child. They thought it was beneath them. Until Gregorio came along. Gregorio had taken pity on me, it was he who suggested to my father, that I may need a woman to care for me. A man would not understand my needs and implored that it was unhealthy to keep the male soldiers too close to a young girl - if he wanted to keep my virtue intact. Luckily, my father had listened to him and not killed him. That’s when Margarita was sent to me. Gregorio’s wife.

There wasn't much to look at as we hurriedly walked through the corridors. Down one around another, up a staircase, and down another. This place was like a maze. My eyes darted everywhere, the walls were plain and made of a hard, smooth stone and I let my fingers trail along them as we moved through the Megaron. My curiosity and anxiety mixed with my excitement kept me bright-eyed and alert.

Margarita stopped suddenly, holding up her hand and pressing a finger to her lips with the other. Voices of men had caught her attention and a deep frown formed on her face. She turned and hastily shooed me back the way we had come. Turning down an even darker corridor and down a set of winding stone stairs.

Once at the bottom, Margarita turned to me, worry etched into all her features. "We have to keep moving. We need to get you out of here." she said grabbing my hand and dragging me along in a half-run.

I trusted Margarita to lead me. I had to if I wanted my freedom. I knew why these people were looking for me, but I didn't know for what. "Can they smell I'm a witch or do I smell like a human?" My curiosity getting the better of me. If they couldn't smell me then how would they know what or who I am?

"Human. You smell like a regular human. Though your eyes say you are definitely not. And remember," Margarita pauses her steps to turn to me once again, "we shifters have a sixth sense. The power you hold, your gifts, we can feel it if they are close enough to you. One of many reasons your father kept you hidden. Besides, you look just like your mother and Finn and if anyone had seen them then they would know who you are."

Finn. My older brother. My heart clenches when I think of him. There had been no reports of his death as far as anyone knew and I could only hope he was still alive. Margarita and Gregorio had said they heard rumors he was captured alive by the King and Queen of shifters and was being held as a prisoner. It had to be true otherwise he would have come for me. I'm sure of it.

Margarita abruptly stopped, again. Her nose twitched, scenting the air. "Wolves." She sighed aloud "and many of them."

Margarita and Gregorio are bear shifters. From what I was taught, bear shifters have a much more heightened sense of smell. My father, Orion had always said bear shifters were nobler and born to rule and that wolves were soldiers, packs to be controlled by the superior shifter race… My mother taught me all shifter races were born equal and just as evil.

I would have to disagree with both of them. My father was most definitely evil. But my brother is a bear shifter and although he had no choice but to obey our father, Finn is a good person who loves me. That and books had taught me that werewolves supposedly were the first shifters born. Quite a few centuries before werebears and werecats.

The stomping of several feet and the clatter of metal from somewhere pulled me from my thoughts. My head began to buzz, and my vision started to cloud. "Margarita, wait!" I called out.

"Oh, child! This is not the time for one of your visions," she huffed grabbing my hand and dragging me along.

When my visions came there was no stopping them. No delaying what or who I would see. My sight would cloud over and blind me to my surroundings. If I tried to block them out pressure would build in my head until I passed out. So, I just let them take over. They would only last a few moments and Margarita had a tight grip on my hand pulling me behind her. Not wanting to stop for anything.

Eyes as dark as night flashed behind my lids. Another flash had those pitch-black eyes glowing with a white mark seated in the irises. One more flash had me gasping for breath as the vision of a deep, dark brown wolf covered in blood stood over the bodies of several other wolves and men.

As quickly as it came, the vision broke bringing me back to the present.

"What did you see?" Margarita asked in a hushed and desperate tone.

"Wolves and blood, lots of blood," I said, still trying to make sense of my vision, jarred by the black eyes that still flashed before me, even though the vision had ended.

There had once been many witches that walked this realm. Unfortunately, most had died out with the human race when the sickness came and claimed the lives of non-shifters over 250 years ago. My mother was one of the last true witches, not just an herbalist or healer but she also had the gift of sight and tongue. She taught me everything she could before my father took her life and left her body to rot next to me in that cold cell for days.

I shivered and tried to shake the memory from my head. To no avail.

FLASHBACK

“You good for nothing whore of a witch! Useless!” My father screamed at my mother, who cowered in the corner of our stone cell holding me behind her, shielding me from my father’s temper.

“Please Orion, she is your child!” my mother begged “She is our child, have mercy on her. If not for me then for her. I beg you to spare her!” I could hear the desperation in her voice. The dread of what he might do this time.

I had only turned 14 a few days ago and did not shift, just as they knew I wouldn’t. I was born without a spirit animal and my father, Orion, was as angry as the gods themselves.

I had lived in a cell for as long as I could remember, most recently this one with stone walls. Only seeing the streaks of daylight that would filter through the high barred windows. My mother taught me everything she could, not knowing when her last day would be. My father’s temper would flare and for whatever reason, he hated my mother - his mate. Said she was bedlam and a cunning liar. He would lash out at her and strike her several times. And each time he would leave her bloody and shaking on the floor.

That night he came in screaming that she had ruined him and given him a false vision. He gripped my hair, yanking me up, and bringing my mother to her knees.

“Admit your deceit hag or she will suffer.” He spat at her. His eyes glowed with his beast but were cold as hell as he bore them into my mother.

“Please Orion, I didn’t lie to you! I cannot control what I see, I would never lie. Please leave Morgan out of this!”

I didn’t know if she had truly lied to him or not, but suddenly he let go of me, my legs buckling as I dropped to the floor. I watched as he pounced on my mother’s frail body and hit her. Again, and again and again. Until her sobs stopped and she lay limp on the floor, blood spilling from her head. I had sunk against the wall not daring to move in case I was next.

My father stormed from the cell, and I didn’t see him again for several weeks. That night my mother died. That night I held her bloodied head in my lap as I cried. That night the anger engulfed me and unlocked a part of me that no one could ever anticipate me possessing.

Two weeks later, my father finally returned and had my mother’s rotten corpse taken away. He didn’t look at me, he didn’t speak to me. I saw the shame in his eyes and as her body was carried out, I only briefly heard his muttered words “What have I done”.

END FLASHBACK

The feeling of falling broke me from the memories as I realized my foot had caught on a crack in the uneven floor we were hurriedly running over. My hand slipped from Margarita’s, and I couldn’t catch myself in time. My face whacked the floor as I ate concrete. Immediately, I felt the bite of pain engulf my mouth and the warm trickle of blood. “Shit” I huffed out annoyed.

Margarita hauled me up by my arms and grabbed my wrist “Arrgghhh!” I cried in agony, and she let go of me instantly.

“Let me see,” she said grabbing me more gently this time and assessing my wrist. “I don’t think it is broken, but definitely fractured.” She moved her eyes to my face, and I saw her wince.

“What?” I asked even though I could feel my lips already swelling.

“Dear lord, girl. At least they wouldn’t recognize your face now.” She shook her head and tore a piece of cloth from her outer skirt and handed it to me, gesturing to my face.

“That bad?” I laughed and pressed the cloth to my mouth, then pulled it away to inspect. Yep, I certainly had done a number on myself if the amount of blood was anything to go by.

“Come on, hopefully, they don’t smell your blood.” She tugged at me again, this time making a grab for my elbow. “Almost there, Gregorio is waiting for us." There was panic in her voice, different from the panic she had originally held. This time it held fear.

All of a sudden from out of nowhere came a loud growl “I have her scent!” A man yelled out. He wasn’t close but close enough that his voice carried to us.

Wide-eyed I looked up at Margarita, who in turn mirrored my look and began to hasten her steps, all but full-out running. We rounded a corner and could see the dim light indicating an exit sign. If we went any lower, I was sure we would be in the holding cells.

It was only seconds, but it seemed like hours as we made our way as fast as possible to the exit that I knew was just ahead, just around the corner. I slammed into the back of Margarita when she skidded to a stop, bracing my hands on her hips, to keep me steady.

Several low growls filled the corridor, and I peeked around her to see those several growls and whom they belonged to. Soldiers. Not guards from Andora or guards my father had posted. These were what I assumed were King Panja’s soldiers, decked out in uniforms with swords and armor.

“Run!” Margarita hissed at me, her hand pushing me away, back. Her eyes flared with her beast when she turned to me “Run Morgan and don’t look back. Find Gregorio.”

I hesitated not wanting to leave her, but the growls got louder and then men prowled slowly toward us. “Go!” She demanded and I stumbled as I turned and picked up my skirt and ran. I had no idea where I was going but I ran, ducking from corridor to corridor. I heard a roar and knew Margarita had shifted. I stopped, wanting to turn and go back to help her. I heard the snarls of wolves and the roaring of her bear. Then… I heard the agonizing cry of an animal, a whimpering roar.

When the barks of the wolves sounded after seconds of silence, I knew they had picked up my scent. They were coming for me. I turned and fled. Terror gripped me like there was no tomorrow and my feet quickened. Any pain I had been feeling was forgotten and all I could think about was getting out and finding Gregorio.

I stumbled around another corner in this underground maze. An exit, just one exit, one door. That’s all I needed. The barks became louder and the closer they got the sounds of the wolves turned into howls.

They were close - so close. I pressed my body up against a wall and shut my eyes. I couldn’t outrun them. I was left with nowhere to go. Shit, think Morgan, think! I chided myself. I took a deep breath and flew forward. If I just kept moving, I could get out. If I could just get out, I would be safe. The idea of freedom propelled me forward, even if I had no idea where I was going. I hoped that luck would be on my side.

A door! Holy shit, I see a door!

A smile broke out on my face. There at the other end of this dark dank corridor was an exit. I reached the heavy wooden barricade and pushed and pulled on the handle. “No!” I cried “No, this can’t be happening.

Open the fuck up!” I cried and banged my fist against the locked door. I wanted to sink - to give up. But that familiar voice ushered me on ‘keep moving, run’ she whispered to me.

I nodded, gathering my wits. Jalaya Jarrow wouldn’t be weak; she would have a plan and would fight to the death I thought to myself, about my favorite heroine.

My feet were heavy, and I could hear the slapping sound of my boots against the hard floor. I cringed knowing a shifter’s hearing was far superior to mine and if the echoing sound was that loud to me, they would no doubt be able to hear it. I didn’t have a chance. They would catch me. This I knew. I tried to soften my steps, only to realize it didn’t matter. The fuckers could still scent me – track me.

The growls grew louder and the scratching of hurried nails against the marble floor got closer. They were still shifted and were nearer.

I had to push on. Faster. I willed myself. I glanced behind me to see if I could see them. Just a quick look but that one turn of my head had me smacking into a hard wall. I bounced back bracing my arms, ready for my ass to hit the ground when a pair of arms pulled me in tight, and quicker than I could gather my senses I was pushed up against a wall, and a firm, warm body pressed against me. I felt all the air leave me in a hard exhale.

I looked up to see a man, his finger to his lips. Silently telling me to hush. I gulped and nodded, meeting his eyes. Black endless pools stared down at me. So deep and dark that I felt myself getting lost in their depths. Our eyes held and for a moment I felt familiarity. Who was this man?

He leaned in close; I would feel his warm breath on my neck, “Finn sent me for you.” He whispered into the shell of my ear. So quietly I barely heard him over the loud beating of my heart.

“Finn…” I began but he pressed his finger to my lips again and whispered in my ear once more.

“He is alive and with the Queen of shifters. I was sent to bring you back. Trust me right now and you will see your brother again.” He lifted his head; his onyx orbs scanned my features before settling on my own eyes again.

All I could do was nod my head yes. I had no other choice but to trust him. I could only pray that he was telling the truth and Finn really had sent him. My options were to either keep running, be captured by the wolves, or go with this dark mysterious man whose eyes had me pinned.

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