Chapter 26: Sins of the father...

Wynter took a deep breath, then another. If she could keep breathing then maybe everything would be ok... Something pushed her from behind and she fell to her knees with a cry of surprise.
The wraiths stood like silent witnesses as more blows were landed against her; some making her head snap to the side while others were like brutal kicks to her ribs that sent her skittering across the forest floor. Wynter held her hands up in a pitiful attempt of defence even as she curled up in the fetal position. If she so much as whimpered they became more vicious, angry red scratches and welts were popping up brightly against her pale skin.
Then she felt a crushing weight upon her. Gasping for air she looked up and saw the Hag. She tried to buck her off but to no avail...Slowly she felt herself start to drift; detaching from her body...Every bit of her was screaming in protest.
“That’s enough” said a voice.
There was a hiss from the decrypted thing and then a whoosh as sweet oxygen filled her lungs. Panting Wynter struggled to her feet trying to see what foe she would face next.
“Has no one ever told you not to wander into these woods, child?” inquired the voice from the shadows.
“Many times” replied Wynter who was still trying to catch her breath.
“Yet you entered. Tell me something; are you stupid?” it asked.
“Apparently” said Wynter tilting her chin upwards.
“Arrogant too I see” it said “You really are the offspring of her aren’t you?”Wynter said nothing as she kept looking around for the source of the voice. All she could see were the wraiths. The voice continued “Your mother showed much the same attitude...You need to be taught to respect your superiors; though I would have thought the deaths of your parents would have been enough of a warning to your family.”
Wynter snorted “Superior? I don’t think you’re superior at all! In fact I think you’re a coward; having your lap dogs unleashed on my while you slink about in the shadows!” she laughed bitterly “You call us humans savages yet you killed my parents for entertainment...Yes, it’s very clear to me now how you are superior to me and my family” she punctuated every word with sarcasm.
There was a long pause. “What’s the matter? Have nothing to say? No witty come back? Who knew fairies could be silent?” said Wynter. She was so angry and so beyond caring about her own safety that she stopped thinking about what she was saying as her emotions over took her senses.
“I was merely waiting for your simpering to finish” said the voice which made Wynter laugh uncontrollably.
“Fuck this” said Wynter turning to go only to have her way barred by the Hag and a few other fairies she hadn’t noticed.
“I am not finished with you Wynter Woods” said the voice.
Wynter turned around on her heel “Gee what a surprise...Why don’t you come out from hiding? I know who you are.”
“Because it annoys you and that gives me pleasure. Because you have no idea where I actually am and that frightens you and just because I don’t want to” said the voice coming at her from every direction at once.
“Whatever” said Wynter “So why the delay in killing me then?”
“Is that a show of cleverness? How unexpected!” said the voice. “All in good time girl...Now where is Lorcan? I find it hard to believe that he would leave you to your own devices.”
A cold shiver rand down Wynter’s spine but she also felt confusion mixed in with her foreboding. “Tanner? I don’t know...” Something slapped her face hard making her cry out. Lifting a hand to her already rapidly swelling cheek she repeated herself “I don’t know! He left before you attacked”
Another slap sent her reeling into a tree then to the ground. Head spinning she couldn’t make herself get up. She was having trouble focusing and the sound of the laughter was very distant...like she was underwater. Trying to shake it off she looked around her only to see the gleaming eyes of the Hag looking at her hungrily.
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“Why us?” demanded Rayne once he realized he could talk.
“What?” said Cayden in surprise as he wound along the dark corridor with ease.
“Why us? Why our family? What did we ever do to deserve this?” asked Rayne in anger as he struggled to keep up to the large fairy.
“Your family was given a gift from my people and instead of giving gratitude you wasted that gift...and betrayed us to the other humans. We were almost wiped out. It is time for the balance to be paid and it is you and your sisters who must do so” replied Cayden with a shrug of his massive shoulders.
“This debt is ours to pay? That hardly seems fair! We weren’t the ones who did it to you guys! And how do I even know that it was my family who screwed you guys over? And what do you mean by sisters? One’s dead...there’s only Wynter and I now...Are you saying Autumn is alive?”
“Now would be a good time for you to shut your mouth Rayne Woods” said Cayden as he paused in front of a pair of great wooden doors. “We must be quiet from here on out lest we disturb the sleepers...”
Rayne threw him a questioning look but as directed said nothing and followed him through the doorway.
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