Discovery by E. Neylon (classic reads .txt) đ
- Author: E. Neylon
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I was going to die
Fathers are meant to be kind, loving and caring. But not my step-dad.
This whole mess started just before my mother died; when Nick my step-brother died; I was twelve. Over the seven years my mom was with Greg (my step-father), Nick and I had gotten really close. We didnât care that we werenât actually related by blood or that he was four years older than me. He was the older brother every girl wanted; he stood up for me when I was getting picked on and he let me hang around with his friends when I was lonely. We told each other everything.
Well . . . almost everything.
The one thing I didnât tell him about had gotten him killed. If I had told him what his father had started doing to me at night he would have gotten me out of there and he would still be alive. But instead he found out by accident.
Greg must have hit me too hard one night when I yet again struggled to keep him off me and I cried out. Nick came in, thinking I was having a nightmare and saw what his father was doing. He had yanked his father off me and told me to run I started for the door when I heard Greg hit Nick with something. I had turned around and saw Greg punching Nick. I didnât look like he was going to stop.
âNO!â I screamed and ran to try and help my brother. Greg had looked back at me and started towards me when Nick had grabbed at his dadâs leg. Greg had turned around and kicked Nick in the head; that kick had landed in the wrong spot and I saw his neck twist at an un-natural angle and I just knew that he was dead.
After that day I still tried to fight Greg off but I always lost. Then one day my mother suffered a stroke and died. Then Greg got worse it went from once a week to every opportunity he got. I often tried staying at friendsâ houses; but it was hard to make friends when you were always moving state to state. Someone would see the bruises and would report it and Greg moved us.
Today I had had enough. I had kept a knife under the mattress of my bed and when Greg had tried to abuse me again I pulled the knife out and slashed at him. I must have got him because he cried out in pain and dropped to the floor. I used that opportunity to run. I flew out of the house I was running through the street; away from him. I could hear his loud breathing and footsteps behind me; chasing me.
âThere is no use running from me Lena, I will get you, you stupid bitchâ he roared.
I ran as fast as I could towards the river. I planned to swim across it and loose him in the long grass on the other side. I glanced behind me to see how far behind me he was. He was about 100 meters behind me and was gaining on me. As I reached the riverbank something reached out of the water and grabbed me around my waist and pulled me into the water. I struggled to breathe as whatever was around my waist kept dragging me towards the bottom of the river.
I struggled against the confinement, trying to get to the surface. My lungs were burning and my vision started to go hazy but I still couldnât get free. The blackness increased till I passed out.
I was woken up by water being poured on my face. I sprang up gasping, looking around wildly, âwhere am I? Why is it snowing? â
âWho are you?â a deep voice asked.
I spun around to look at the person who had spoken. He was older than me, I guessed about 25; he was also taller than I was, about 6 foot 7 inches to my 5 foot 4, with dark hair and grey eyes, he was attractive I caught myself thinking, attractive but dangerous as he had his sword drawn. âWait . . . sword?â
âI said âwho are you?ââ he asked again
âLena.â I replied quietly
âWhere have you come from? You are not part of our people and nor are you part of the Kings.â Our people? Kings?â gosh he made it sound like it was the middle aged.
âWhere am I?â I asked.
The man scoffed âLike you donât know.â
âWhat are you talking about? Where the hell am I? Oh god, we have to go, heâll kill us if he finds us.â I said spinning around trying to see if my step-father was around.
âWho is after you?â the man said worried
âMy step-father, heâs trying to kill me, we have to go."
âStep-father?â he sounded confused âAnd who said I was taking you with me?â
âPlease.â I begged
âIâll take you to the Queen; she shall decide what is done with you.â
âThe Queen? Where the hell am I?â I said louder than before
âCome with me.â he said walking away
âIâm not going anywhere till you tell me who you are.â I yelled at him, for he was several yard in front of me
âFirst youâre saying we have to leave then you saying you wonât go, we are not going to get anywhere at this rate.â he said with a sigh âI am Prince Dimitrius of the Unseelie Court.â
I had read enough books to realise that her was referring to the winter court of fairies. âWas this guy insane?â
I stood there staring for a minute when he called out while climbing on his horse âSo are you coming or not?â that one sentence seemed to bring me back
âYou honestly expect me to believe youâre a Faery?â now it was my turn to scoff âWhere are the wings, the pointy ears and the faery dust. Iâm not an idiot.â he just gave a confused look.
He swung up onto the saddle of his big horse and came towards me. As he reached me he looked me up and down, feeling self-conscious I asked âWhat?â
âYour clothes are torn.â he said shrugging out of his cloak âPut this on.â Handing me the dark brown cloak, I gingerly took it, as if it would bite me. I wrapped the heavy cloak around me and I began to feel warm, I hadnât even realised I was cold.
âThanksâ I mumbled. Taking his hand he helped me up onto his large horse. I was in front of him with my back against his chest.
âHow old are you?â Dimitrius asked.
âIâm nineteen. How far away is your home?â I asked quietly
âNot very farâ He said, he nudged his horse and we were off.
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As we were riding along I was fascinated by the forest we were riding though. Of all the placed I had lived in, I had never lived in or near a forest. All the trees and snow whizzing past were beautiful. I couldnât help but look around like a kid in a toy shop.
After about twenty minutes riding at a fast pace we emerged from the forest and just ahead was a huge stone wall surrounding a castle.
âWelcome the Winter Courtâ Dimitrius muttered. He almost sounded like he hated this place. He hated his home.
âYou live here?â I asked in disbelief.
âYesâ he said bitterly.
âWait. You said that you were a prince. So youâre taking me to your mom, is she nice?â I asked hesitantly.
âIt all depends on what kind of mood sheâs in. Last time I saw her she wasnât in a good mood, so hope that her mood has improved overnight.â
Chapter 2As we rode through the courtyards surrounding the castle I refused to look around. I could feel the stares of the people on me. When Dimitrius stopped his horse and dismounted in a graceful movement. I froze. I had no idea how to get off a horse.
Dimitrius was about halfway up the marble stairs when he must have noticed that I wasnât following him, I was still atop the huge horse
âDo you need help getting down?â he asked sounding mildly amused.
I gave a slight nod and Dimitrius walked over, because he was so tall he grabbed my waist and lowered me to the ground.
âWe must go to the Queen. But I must warn you, only speak when spoken to and do not in any way make her angry.â He gave a slight chuckle âAnd keep up, otherwise youâll get lost and that wouldnât help you get on the Queens good sideâ
The castle was huge. Every few room there would be yet another hallway. I was trying to keep track of where we went but after a while I lost track and gave up. Dimitrius walked at a fast pace and I struggled to keep up.
âCan you slow down?â I asked, I was exhausted from when I ran from Greg.
âWe must hurryâ he sighed âThe Queen would skin me alive if I didnât take you to her right away. Weâre nearly there; the throne room is right down this hallâ
We turned down the corridor that Dimitrius mentioned. There were no doors just a wall of complete windows. At the end of the corridor there was a huge door made from wood carved in beautiful swirls. Dimitrius stopped and turned to me.
âWait here till either the Queen or myself calls you into the room.â And with that he turned and walked to the door. He didnât knock or announce himself; he just pushed the door open and walked in.
âMother, I have something important for you to see and deal withâ he said with a bow. This wasnât the Dimtrius that found me in the forest. Acting formal didnât suit him. âThat must be why he doesnât like it here.â I thought.
âAnd this urgent matter couldnât wait a few more minutes till I finished with this meeting?â she sounded annoyed.
âI can never win with you can I? You dismiss the important t matters then go crazy when you find out how important they are. And itâs the opposite with things that are small; you deal with them first. Youâre impossible!â Dimitrius roared.
âAnd what makes you think youâll
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