Chapter 34: Caleb
The witch’s cold eyes settled on Rose’s distressed face. Then she looked up at me, frowning. “What are you doing with her? I told Stellan—”
“I know what you told Stellan,” I said coolly. “But he wants some rest after his last task. I’m doing this instead.”
She looked from me to the girl. I made sure to keep my face devoid of emotion—something I’d gotten good at over the years.
Finally, she nodded. “Very well. You have my permission. You know what must be done?”
I nodded and took Rose by the scalp. Pulling harshly enough so that Rose moaned in pain, I dragged her back out of the witch’s chambers.
As soon as the door shut, I scooped Rose up in my arms and carried her down the steps. Rose tried to ask me what the hell I was doing, but I ignored her until we’d exited the castle, run down the mountain and reached the port. I set her down at the edge of the frozen jetty while I opened up the hatch of a submarine.
Only once I’d lowered us both inside of it and locked the hatch did I bend down and examine her wounds closely. I swore as I saw how much blood was still oozing from the gashes Stellan had made.
I took her hand and led her into the control room, where I sat her down in one of the seats. She continued to glare at me, her expression full of pain and accusation. I rummaged around in the overhead cupboards until I found a first-aid kit—something we always kept on board, since we transported humans regularly in these vessels.
I bent down next to her and began treating her wounds. I salivated as I wiped up her succulent blood and disposed of the tissues. Once I’d fixed bandages over them, I stood up and looked down at her.
“Rose,” I said quietly. “I’m sorry.”
She looked up at me, her eyes still wide.
“I had to scare you. The distrust in your eyes helped convince her to let us go.”
Her soft lips parted as realization dawned upon her.
“And now?” she asked, her voice hoarse. “Where are you taking me?”
“I’m taking you home.”