Kodessa Keneallyś long tanned legs entwined around the old Beech tree; she reached out towards the rosette of leaves with her basket in one hand. She bit her bottom lip and extended her arm, the leaves dancing with her fingertips.“Stop being a baby and get them”, I muttered to myself. Then, with a final push, I lunged forward and snatched the glossy dark leaves.Suddenly my legs let go of the grasp they had on the trunk, and I propelled forward. “No”, I shrieked. As I hurtled towards the damp forest floor below.Fenris and Fleki Grey were skylarking through the Beechwood Forest, laughing and teasing, the brothers, without realising, had veered over the boundary lines.
I watched the brothers run away and pondered over what they meant by “My Kind”. I had seen the fear in their eyes when I told them my name. We had never been told what lies on the other side of the River Lethe. We only knew that under absolutely no circumstances were we to cross it. My father’s voice reverberated through the trees as he made his approach “Kodessa '', he bellowed. “I am over here, Father, “I have hurt my ankle “, “But not as much as I have hurt my pride,” I said under my breath. My father was an intimidating man, to say the least, Shoulder length auburn hair, blue eyes and a weathered, handsome face, tall and robust, with a thick dark sca
My legs tired as I raced to catch up to Fleki. The howls faded as we ran through the undergrowth back to our side of the boundary line. I could not believe we had been so careless. The banks of the River Lethe were just in front of us. As I crossed the icy cold waters, a wave of relief crossed over me. We had made it back safely and, more importantly, undiscovered.Fleki stood nervously waiting for his brother, terrified that he would not make it back to Ironside.Dreading how he would have to explain the day’s events to his father.He heard a splash in the river below, as he turned around, and saw Fenis sprinting into Greysteel territory.I collapsed, ex
I knew this time would come, the boys of age. Finally, the pact is broken —time to sell a story that paints me as a hero. And finish off the Crimson Shadowś for good. Fenis and Fleki can never learn the truth about the extent of my betrayal and the despicable acts I performed to get us here."Twenty years ago, there was no Greysteel Pack. We all belonged to the Crimson Shadow pack".I could see the blood run out of the twin's faces at this revelation. The room was dead silent, awaiting the story to unfold. Others were intrigued by what spin Darius would put on the truth to appeased his boys.There were two types of people in the room, those as evil as Darius Grey and others blackmailed pawns in his vicious game."I wa
I yawned and rubbed my tired eyes as the sunlight beamed through the gaps in the curtains.Sleep did not come easily as Fenis Grey crept into my dreams. I could not get the image of him out of my head.Stretching, the dull ache from my ankle starting radiating up into my calf.“Good morning Miss Kodessa” Elsie, our maid, exclaimed as she entered the room, promptly throwing open the curtains. Daylight flooded the room.“Morning, Elsie”, I replied, smiling at the woman that had nurtured me for the last sixteen years.Elsie was the only mother Gwen, and I have known, well, her and Grandma Ulfred.Ever since
We finished our breakfast in relative silence after Gwen’s outburst and subsequent departure.I could see the hurt and confusion on my fatherś face, doubt and guilt creeping in.“Itś not you, father “. I placed my hand on his trying my best to reassure him.“You have been an amazing father to Gwen and me, and there is something else going on”.“Thank you, Dessa” he gave me a half-smile, and he slowly stood up, looking tired and defeated.“You try and rest that ankle for the dance tonight”. “I know how much you have been looking forward to it”.&nb
As we opened the doors, the cool night air hit me in the face, and my stomach rumbled.“I’m starving. Let’s go home, Leki.”“What did you think of Father’s story, Fenis?” Fleki asked, looking at his brother. The whole thing did not any sense at all. Perhaps when his father finished, the pieces would fit together.“I don’t know what to think, but we all know father. He will not tell us the whole story”.“Especially anything that paints him in a bad light”.“Uncle Jackson looked defeated. There is more to that part of it”.
Morning came quickly, and I felt like my head only just hit the pillow as my eyes opened to the morning light. My head was still spinning after yesterdays events. Between meeting Kodessa and then the revelations, I didn't know what to think. My gut instinct was telling me that there was more to the story. Questioning my father was not an option. Instead, I must visit my Uncle. Maybe he could help unravel the pieces.I quickly dressed and headed down the stairs bumping into Fleki on the way down."Move out of the way, Brother."He gave me a hard shove in the ribs as he bustled past, laughing."OUCH"A sharp pain shot up my ribcage from where Lekiś elbow had connected. He is becoming quite the pain, I thought to myself. Luckily for him, he is at the bottom of my list with everything else I have going on.The kitchen was bustling as everyone sat down for the morning meal. I was shocked