Vivienne Von Vexx's Arc

Chapter 8 of 21

The hunter's grip tightened on her hand. Then a voice cut through the broken window. "Vivienne." It carried across the grove, slow and patient. Alastair. Searching. His call came again, closer, sharp as a struck bell. The hunter's eyes locked on her hood. He had heard the name. Through the cracked glass, the dark shape of the castle leaned over the trees. The old name-carved tree stood between her and its tower, every etched letter caught in moonlight. Alastair's voice drifted past it. "Vivienne. Come out." The hunter's mouth moved around the word. His free hand slid toward where his sword had been. It was not there. She had hidden it. His eyes climbed back to her hood and stayed. She made the choice fast. She pulled her hand from his and pressed it flat against his mouth. "Don't," she whispered. "Please." Outside, Alastair called once more, then turned away toward the river. The footsteps faded. Inside the chapel, the hunter lay still beneath her palm, breathing hard. He knew her name now. He had not screamed it. Not yet.