Tilting my head back so I could scrutinize them from their place in the bushes. On the smaller side judging from where their eyes are.
Wait. No. It can't be. One pair of red and two black. Three heartbeats too.
No. There's one more. But it's far. Could it be them?
Somewhat hopefully I call out. "Guys?"
Lucian whips around to look at what I'm looking at."Who are you talking to?" He winces and brandishes a weapon upon seeing what I'm seeing.
Out of the bushes come three very dirty but relatively unharmed identical triplets. Whoops. That one has a scratch on his forehead but it's probably from a twig. All limbs look intact and they seem pretty energetic all things considered.
"Ria?"The one in the middle scampered over to me to take a good look.
A light went off behind his eyes and he exclaimed. "It is you! Look, I found her!" His dirty little face has seemingly purposeful dirt smeared across it.
Like a commando camouflage—The others got closer and burst into cheers. "We did it!" They cheered and skipped closer to us. Lucian backed up initially but eventually allowed them to gather at his knees. They bounced up and down with a million questions on their tongues.
Hanging off of one of their belts is a pelt of a recently killed animal. Oh. My. God. These—little rascals! Is that a row of teeth hanging from his neck? What kind of gremlins did we release into the forest?
My jaw dropped. "Boys! Why are you here? Are you nuts?!"
Lucian sounds kind of amused as he listens to them chatter about their adventures. "You know these kids?"
"Yeah…We're cousins."
He gave me a disbelieving look but let it go. The triplets danced around and basked in the glory of their victory. This is not funny, and they need to be quiet. Also, that heartbeat is getting closer. Is that Meng Jialin?
"Is our Aunt with you?"
"Huh?" Yusheng tilted his head and the teeth hanging from his neck rattled. What kind of animal did that come from? Those look like shark teeth. Where the hell have they been?
Yuchen's eyes moved between me and the man holding me. His keen eyes and the way I was acting gave him the hint he needed. "No. She's not with us. We out ran her..."
He averts his eyes and plays with the dead rodent hanging from his belt. It gives a death jerk and he smiles to himself like he's remembering something funny.
"..."
Lowell growled at them and tried to get up from the ground. "You did what!"
Yuchen snapped out of it and helped him up from the ground.
Yusheng cried out in a whiny voice."She was trying to take us back!"
Lowell whined back mockingly."And why didn't you leave?!"
Yucheng glanced up with a serious expression on his face."We can't leave without you guys. We made a pact."
I touched a hand to my heart. "Oh. That's so—"
Yucheng continued."And a bet. Yusheng caught you guys so all that's left is Kissae and eldest brother. I'm gonna win next time."
"No. I will..."
The triplets stare each other down and my jaw remains on the floor. Are they really gambling right now?!
Lowell shook his head and muttered to himself. "It's this whole goddamn family. I'm getting a new job. I quit…"
I can't—I can't do this right now. Ignoring the mad rambling of my ragtag group, I turned around in my sling and pointed towards the heartbeat. "Then who's that?"
It's too loud and slow for something small like a bird or rodent. I can't feel anything else though.
Lucian and the others looked back in that direction. He sniffed the air and grunted. "Ugh. Not another one." Filthy bloodsuckers.
I wince at the sudden intruding thought. It's not exactly malicious but it's not filled with warm fuzzy feelings either. What does he have against Vampires? I mean, I don't expect anyone to explicitly say they love the species but he seems to hate them. Well us. That's so weird. Why is he helping and being so nice if he doesn't even like my...species?
I ignored the overwhelming thought. Out from the trees came perhaps one of the tallest people I've ever met. This guy has got to be at least seven feet tall and six inches, which is about a foot taller than Lucian's giant self. When am I gonna be that tall?
His black hair and upturned violet eyes were the first thing to come into sight. Little pixies huddled around his form and scattered when he waved them away. Their light cast multi-color shadows on his midnight black skin.
Woah. He's beautiful too. His eyelashes trembled and I met his gaze. Why is he looking at me like that?
"Miseria?"
I jumped and almost screamed at him. Don't use my full name in the wild! There could be kidnappers around here.
I laughed nervously."Um…yes. Who am I speaking to?"
"..."
He made a show of looking around him and at my companions. "Who is holding you? And why do you smell so similar?"
I whispered to Lucian. "What's he talking about?"
Lucian responded in his gravelly voice. "My pheremones are all over you and vice versa because you imprinted. Also, who is this guy? He a problem?"
He picked at his dark blue sleeves and pulled them slightly up his arms. "I can hear you." What a voice. It's not too deep in timbre but it's almost hypnotic.
Lucian shakes me lightly. "It was meant to be heard. Nox?"
The stranger places a hand on his chest and bows slightly in greeting to me. It's proper and natural. Which reflects deeply on his upbringing. "My name is Nolan. I'm you're uncle Ria. On your mother's side."
I froze and looked back at him. He was certainly wearing the fancy clothes indicative of being noble, but otherwise I had no idea how to verify that…I mean I've never met this guy in my life.
"You made this for me." He shows off a bracelet wrapped around his wrist and I snort. "Nice try."
He narrows his eyes at me and they darken once he realizes I've never seen that thing in my life. He smiles to himself and pushes the beads around the string on his wrist.
"She did say you were quite intuitive. What does your gut say?"
I studied him as much as I could. Well, maybe I can put that other weird trick to use. One sound right? Lucian is easy because he's close and it's so loud. With this guy I'll start with his heartbeat. Then maybe I can work my way up...Now's the time to figure this all out.
I zeroed in on his chest and kept listening to the rhythm of it until I was ready to move on. Over and over it pumped. Fast. But not as fast as mine. I think Lucian has the fastest heartbeat beside the other animals, and this guy…his is so slow. Why is it like that?
Three tinier heartbeats beat at almost the same speed as mine.
And then the whispers started.
Why is she squinting like that? She's doing something weird again isn't she?
Maybe she's constipated. I have laxatives.
Maybe she's hungry. I have fresh corpse rodent right here—
Yucheng straight up asked verbally while tugging on Lowell's pantleg. "What is she doing?" Lowell shrugged and tried to shimmy away from the freakishly strong toddler. Get away from me. I saw what you did to your last retainer. If you bite me I'll bite you back!
Nolan shifted on his feet and stepped closer to the group. Lucian growled in his direction and Nolan hissed in return. "Release my niece!"
Who is he? Some mutt? Doesn't matter. She imprinted already. Nia is going to kill me. This could start a war.
Lucian countered."Says you. Little bloodsucker here says she doesn't know you. Are you one of them poachers? If so, this is my land and you're not welcome here!"
Flashes of images came to my mind. Men and women in black. Scouring the forest and lying in wait. Children screaming. With glowing eyes and…abilities. Poachers. Something different...A triangle. There's something golden. A snake? I'm so confused.
Is that why he's helping me?
Nolan. Listen to Nolan. That's what I want to hear. The brain is a muscle like anything else. Just listen. Listen.
Tendrils slip out of my hands but this time I let them go freely. In search of him. They wrap around his face and settle near his head. Just like that his thoughts get louder.
Nervous. Fawning?
She looks so much like her. Down to that button nose. Little liar. I'm going to get her back for that one. I should get her something. I haven't spoken with others in a while. Think.
What would a girl her age like?
A toy? Flowers? Money. Food?
Food. Niathe said she was a little greedy last time she spoke with Mother. That and money. I didn't mean to overhear but I was on my way to deliver my rejections to that list. She's—
I explode. "What list? Also I'm not greedy! But if you have any food I'll accept it." I knew that woman was badmouthing me!
His eyes widened and he let out a peal of surprised laughter. "A psychic? Oh Nia. You're in for it."
She was sent by the gods to test you and test you she will!
I turned to Lucian. "He's not lying. He really is my mother's brother. Let's just take him with us–"
"Eh. What's that?"Yucheng pointed at something behind me and I turned to look. What? I don't see anything.
"What are you pointing at?"
"Those birds. Whose birds are those?" Whose?
I struggled to see what he was looking at even with my enhanced vision."Who? Um…They're probably part of the forest?" A wing briefly became visible when it caught the light just right. But there weren't any pixies around to illuminate them?
That's odd, they love the trees and hate staying close to the ground. Why are they all huddled up near us? What's that thing on their chests? That's what the light is reflecting off of–
Yusheng whispered to Lowell, "Why do they have necklaces?"
"Run!" Lucian bolted and grabbed one triplet in each hand. I shared a look with them and then spared a glance at Lowell who didn't have to be told twice. Nolan calmly strolled our way with his long legs, not even attempting to run.
Curious but not alarmed he asked. "What's the matter with the birds?"
Out of nowhere, a flock of gigantic red-eyed black birds emerged from the darkness. Those things are bigger than me?! They flew low to the ground and started pecking at us. Nolan cursed and batted at them with his arms.
When it became clear how vicious these winged enemies could be, he punched out and hit a bird square in its beak. It cawed and went back for seconds with vengeance on its mind.
Oh it's on!
Lowell ducked close to the ground and protected his head from the bird's claws while simultaneously holding a triplet to his chest. They stared at the birds with hungry eyes and even tried swiping at them with a long knife that was hidden somewhere on their body.
I made eye contact with a bird and gulped. "Lucian! What are these?!"
It swiped at me and Lucian grabbed it by the neck. His teeth descended from his gums and he ripped it apart in front of me. Blood splattered on my face and I struggled to blink. The other birds pecked at me and I had to completely bury my face in his chest. They're so aggressive!
He yelled out pissed off."Hell if I know! I just call them fucking annoying!"
I rolled my eyes and glared at them. You know what I've been meaning to throttle a bird.
I focused on the birds and their hearts. Slow. Slower than Nolan's but stronger. Picked up the pace. Slowed down. Woosh. Maybe I can grab one too. I'll just shake it a bit.
There are so many of them. A headache formed over my eyebrows and throbbed in tandem with the muscle in their chests. I zeroed in on one and wrapped my tendrils around its neck. Where a vein was thrumming. Practically calling out to me. Stop pecking at us. It's so annoying. I just want it to stop. All of it.
Just.
"STOP."
A sickening crack broke through the silence and I felt a release of sorts. Whatever I was holding finally stopped fighting. A little piece of quiet was restored.
The birds increased their attacks and started aiming for the neck. Their screams rang in my ears and I opened my jaw to scream at the sensation. That's not enough. Too many. It's too loud. They're so loud. All at once. Listening to their screams, hearts, and even the way they breathed...Stop. Stop. Stop. I didn't want to listen anymore.
Crack!
"Stop!"
Finally all was quiet. All I could hear was the shuddering breaths and rampant hearts of the people in my group. Their hearts too were a bit loud. Just too much. Just like the others. If I could just—
Enough Ria. Stop. No more. I'm taking back control.
Snup.
I blinked and my vision returned to normal. No more pixies or glowing mushrooms for me. All was quiet in the forest. Yet…it wasn't comforting. Did I just…?
I looked over Lucian's shoulder at the…carcasses. Multiple birds lay there. Eyes wide open. Their midnight black beaks open in a desperate silent eternal scream.
"…"