20 Chapter 20: (1/2)

〰 Khole 〰

I lashed out at the creatures dragging me down into the water, the breath leaving me and getting replaced by water. Another breathless scream leaving me when something else grabbed at me.

The creatures were green with tentacles and large fangs. Their webbed hands attaching to me while going further and further under the water. They had spears sticking out of them, looking to have been injured but it never fazed them as I lashed out, kicking at the spears repeatedly.

Even with my Valkyrie speed and strength, I was no match for these creatures in the water. It was a helpless cause and I knew that I was not getting out of this.

I am going to die down here.

My foot finally hit the creature's face while a flash of lightning came above me and struck the water. The electricity didn't hurt me as the creatures fried alive underwater, their grasps letting me go as I swam up to the surface.

I watched as the spears float to the surface as large splashes came around me as if rocks were falling from above. It was frightening but I knew that the lightning and the rumble of the storm above was because of me.

I gasped for breath, the current taking me under yet again when the electricity fueled me and gave me strength. The creatures spears slicing through the water and a few hitting me, but I ignored it all.

I felt like I was growing stronger and slowly dying at the same time.

When I broke for the surface again, I heard someone yelling for me as I strained myself to hear. It was loud and piercing but I knew that it was for me since the castle was so far away already. The clouds above the castle were spewing lightning just as strong as mine.

”KHOLE!” Dylan's voice broke through the violent current as I reached out and grasped a branch, using my strength to hoist myself up on it. The lightning ceasing for a moment.

He came for me.

I knew he would.

”DYLAN! WHERE ARE YOU?!” I scream, coughing some water and squinting my eyes against the rapid waters. I caught sight of him, s.h.i.+vering at the look he was giving me when he began to swim over to me.

I wasn't paying much attention as the branch under me started to break before it snapped and sent me back into the water. There was a roar as I prevented my electricity from hitting the water, keeping myself calm even in the rapids.

My eyes strained against the water when I came from the water and gasped for more breath, hearing Dylan yell for me to answer him back. There was another branch to the side of me as I reached out and s.n.a.t.c.hed it.

As I was pulling myself onto the branch, one of the spears the creatures had stabbed into my thigh making me scream in pain. My body trembled with agony but I pushed it away and threw myself onto the branch once again.

”Khole!” Dylan yelled, onsh.o.r.e and hurrying over to the branch I was and reaching his hand out to me. ”Grab my hand!” He orders as I complied and s.n.a.t.c.hed his hand.

Not a moment later, he tugged hard before we both tumbled down on the sh.o.r.e beside that river. My thigh throbbed in pain while I arched my back and clenched my eyes shut.

”Khole! Khole- s.h.i.+t. I'm going to take the spear out of your leg.” He told me softer now, his hands grabbing the weapon lodged into my leg. I nodded, still unable to answer him as he pulled the spear out cleanly.

I screamed, hitting my fist against the ground and clenching my eyes shut tightly. Ragged breaths left me when he ripped something and wrapped my leg up.

”I am so sorry... I'm sorry my love. I promise to never harm you again.” He apologized repeatedly, tying off something on my leg before throwing his arms around me but I shoved him away harshly.

”Don't touch me.” I hiss, remembering that he left me for someone else. My leg throbbed into pain as I forced myself to sit up and scoot away from him.

”Khole... Please just let me help you.” He whispers, his form s.h.i.+fting back into his normal form.

”I didn't need your help,” I growled even though I knew it wasn't true, I was still hurt by what he'd said to me and what he'd gone and done.

I don't know if I'll even forgive him...

”Khole... Look at me.” He softly says, reaching for me but I flinched once again. ”Love... Please.” He pleads. his voice cracking as I stared at my palms.

”I'm a weak person so that's why you thought you had to save me. Isn't it?” I ask him, shaking my head and wis.h.i.+ng that I could disappear. ”I didn't even realize I was so pitiful till you told me. That was after I realized you wanted to have s.e.x with another woman.” I laughed humorlessly, a tear running down my face as I allowed it to fall.

”Khole-”

”Aita told me... Told me you never truly cared and that you never had. She told me all sorts of things. How you thought people were under you and how you were only into tough girls who didn't cry... She told me about how you two had s.e.x together... I thought that maybe this mate thing wasn't for you but I had a feeling that you've never truly wanted me.” I said in a heartbreaking tone, tears dripping on my hands.

The pain was so excruciating since my mind screamed no but my body ached for him to do whatever he pleased.

I hated this so much.

”It explains why you ran away from me and why you thought I was a weakling. h.e.l.l, you called me a little one.” I laughed humorlessly before hiccuping from the tears. ”I wasn't sure how but I dreamed of you and your thoughts. Whether they were real or not, I could hear everything. All the disgusting and traitorous things you thought about me. Saying I didn't deserve you and that witches were horrible creatures.” I comment, thinking back to those realistic dreams that I thought were my mind playing tricks on me.

If they had been true...

It wouldn't be surprising.

”The worst part of all this was that I still want you,” I admit, finally looking up at him with a frustrated smile. ”My body aches for you and my mind bends to believe the best of you. Yet I can't bring myself to even say I'd rather return to the castle rather than diving back into this river. At least I know that the river won't ditch me when I need you most.” I tell him, wiping my dirty palm against my eyes and trying to stop crying.

He merely stared at me, unsure of what to say as I felt my leg burning and st.i.tching itself back together. We remained there for what felt like hours, just listening to the soft hiccups from my cries.

I felt him moving closer to me and wrapping his wet coat around me, not touching any of my skin. He sat beside me and watched the rapids fly past us when I dropped my hands and slipped the jacket on.

We sat there, not saying anything but knowing there was much to be said. I could feel him burning to say something since I'd taken the floor and shut him up before.

But I didn't want to hear anything.