In the mean time I thought I'd share a tiny excerpt with you.
Hope you enjoy!
PERFECT MISFITS
Vigorous scratching, dull and muffled aroused Tempest from her unconscious slumber. Was she dreaming? Oh gods, were the Vemlers trying to get in? The filthy vial creatures could claw their way through anything in search of a meal. The demons were relentless and deadly. She fought them off on a regular basis. Alone in her cell she was a sitting duck with only a stick as her means of protection.
She tried to lift her head but ended up with another mouthful of snow. She gulped for air and the memory of her escape came flooding back. No, this wasn’t supposed to happen. It was worse than a dream. They must have found her and she remained buried under the snow with no way to flee.
The scratching continued in the snow above, bringing her demise closer by the second. She refused to go down without a fight and she’d end her life before Fedor ever laid his grotesque hands on her again. In all probability, his touch would kill her anyway.
She held her breath trying to cease her shivers. She had to lie perfectly still and wait…wait for the exact moment before they broke through the small barrier of snow that encased her frigid body–a body that could not, and would not, freeze to death.
She braced her hands down at her sides readying to push straight up. Please let the snow beneath me hold my weight. Her thigh muscles ached with tension as she contemplated the thought of moving.
Count to three, she told herself. They’d expect her to be in a slumber. One…her feet and calves tightened ready for action. Two…her fists clenched into tight balls prepared to strike. Her stomach rolled threatening to hurl, but she knew it was empty and had been for some time. This is it. Three! Tempest unleashed whatever strength she had left in her tired, battered body. She burst through the thin barrier of snow.
Two paws hit her square in the chest and a pair of large glowing red eyes met her stare. Startled and off balance Tempest stumbled backward. Her feet slid out from underneath her.
Rogue had found her, not the Vemlers or Fedor. She slid in a fast downward motion on her stomach with her arms desperately grasping at anything to stop her fall.
“Rogue.” She yelled. The beast pounced through the snow down the hill after her, trying to grasp a piece of her with his large fanged teeth. It was too late. Her body flew through the air. She reached out and snagged a tree branch. She swung in the forsaken snowstorm at the mercy of a small twig protruding from a tiny ledge. She turned her head looking down into a vast crevasse with no bottom in sight. Maybe she’d get what she wished for after all.
“No, I take it back, I don’t want to die. Creators help me please. Why do you hate me so?” Tempest squeaked looking up into the sky, which continued to dump endless amounts of snow. Her hands being next to frozen would never support her weight for long.
Above, Rogue perched on the small ledge preparing to jump after her. “Rogue no! Stay!” She desperately commanded. A single tear rolled down her cheek symbolizing her desperation and fear. The crazy beast would die with her she knew that. If she fell he would jump after her.
Rogue howled a mournful cry. His large grey and tan spotted body crouched low. Tempest knew he was angry; his pointed ears lay flat against his large square head. She felt his frustration through his piercing red eyes. Her hands slipped slightly as she swallowed the shriek.
Rogue moved even closer to the edge causing chunks of snow to fall in her direction. “Rogue, listen to me. Don’t do this. You don’t need to end your life because of me.” Even as those words tumbled out of her mouth Tempest knew the poor beast had no life worth living on the miserable mountain. They were both misfits not suitable to live with the regular folk on Levare. And there was no way to escape this miserable rock covered with ice and snow.
Tempest closed her eyes wishing she had the power or ability to remove them from this horrid situation. It was impossible she had no gifts only misfortune. Poor Rogue also shared in the bad luck. He was a Gargdog, half gargoyle and half dog, his problem were his wings. A spell gone wrong, they were barely large enough for a pixie to fly with. Useless wings on a grand creature. That’s what misfits were…rejects from Levare. Banished from the world as though they never existed.
Her body trembled with the last bit of strength oozing from her limbs.
“Rogue goes with Tempest! I will not stay here without you,” the Gargdog growled in the form of words. She smiled up at him, proud of his speech. “I see you’ve been practicing since they separated us.” It was her attempt to lighten the mood.
“I’m sorry Rogue.” Tempest squeaked as she slipped another half finger length.
“Rogue loves Tempest. Not want Tempest to die without him.” Rogue hung his head. She felt his sadness.
“Rogue, I don’t have much strength left.” Tempest said weakly. “I’m not afraid of death, you know I could never be Fedor’s bride. His touch would kill me anyway. This way is better. I won’t feel a thing,” she lied trying to sound brave.
“We will go together. Neither will I live under his control any longer.”
Her arms now shook uncontrollably. Her hands had no feeling, but her brain forced the signal to her fingers to grasp as tight as she could. She closed her eyes and said a quick silent prayer for all the other misfits who suffered like her and Rogue. We’ve endured so much pain in our lives; please Creators let us have a painless death. With her silent prayers complete Tempest opened her eyes, looked up and whispered, “I love you Rogue.” And let go.
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