Page 87 of Witchbane

Chapter Forty-Four

RUE

Every instinct told me not to do as my grandmother insisted but even I saw there was little I could do to help her escape. She wasn’t nimble on her feet any more, and at least if I was free I might be able to make a plan to help her, with Pierre’s assistance.

Unable to think clearly, I pushed my way past a man who had Iris by the shoulders. He was shaking her and screaming in her face. I hesitated, about to help her, when she screamed back at him, not, I realised with surprise, in fear but in temper. She pushed him and the man fell backwards. Relieved, I focused on finding a way out of the clearing and into the security of the dense woodland.

‘Get them all.’

The Witchfinder’s voice rang out loud and clear. I sensed I was his target. Again.

Damn that man, I thought, stumbling.

A sharp twig pierced my cheek. I fell forward, pain shooting up through my wrist. I grabbed hold of something to keep me on my feet.

As I stood upright again, I realised I was holding cloth. It was a sleeve. Barely able to breathe, I looked up to my right and saw it belonged to Theo. I gasped, desperate to get away. I let go of him and forced my shaky legs forward, though I knew I was only wasting energy and had little chance of outrunning this powerful, fit man.

I mustn’t give up, I told myself.

‘Rue, it’s me.’

Why did he think I didn’t already know that? I concentrated on forging through the bushes, blinking to clear my blurred vision. Why was I crying?

Furious with myself, I kept going. I don’t know how it happened but a moment later he was in front of me, taking hold of my sprained wrist and dragging me after him. I wasn’t sure what he was doing at first and desperately tried to snatch my arm away from him despite the searing pain in my wrist.

He ignored me and ran on into the trees, slowing as they became thicker. ‘Stop fighting me,’ he hissed eventually. ‘I’m trying to help you.’

I couldn’t understand why he expected me to believe he would disobey clear orders. Hadn’t he been one of those men who had come crashing into our gathering like bulls let loose from a field?

‘Rue, stop that, or I’ll have to carry you.’

‘Leave me alone, can’t you?’ I demanded through my sobs. My grandmother was still back there, my aunt too. ‘What are you doing?’

He stopped so suddenly that I slammed into him. He laid a hand on my right cheek and wiped my tears away with his thumb. Without another word, he picked me up and began pushing through the foliage once again.

I wriggled, my instinct to escape giving me strength I hadn’t expected to have.

‘I’m trying to save you, Rue, stop fighting me,’ he said, clasping me tightly against his chest. He was becoming breathless and I suppose it didn’t help that I was struggling to make him put me down. ‘Please, Rue. Enough.’

This was Theo, I reminded myself. If he had wanted to arrest me, he could have done that in the clearing. Weak from shock and fear, I gave in to him. I slipped my arms around his neck. I had little choice but to trust him if I was to escape this catastrophe.

Eventually we reached another clearing. Theo slowed his pace and stopped behind a wide-trunked oak tree. He stood there holding me and panting.

‘Will you be sensible and not try to run away if I put you down?’ he asked breathlessly.

Resigned to do as he asked, at least for now, I nodded. Realising that, despite the brightness of the moon, we were standing in a dark spot and he couldn’t see me, I said, ‘I promise.’

He lowered me gently to my feet.

We were here, alone. Had I been right to trust him? ‘Why did you bring me deeper into the woods away from the others?’

He scowled at me. ‘Not for any ungentlemanly reason, if that’s what concerns you.’

I looked away, not wanting him to see my reaction to his cold response. I knew it was odd and was surprised at myself. I realised he was waiting for me to speak. I forced myself to look at him.

‘I don’t understand why you helped me escape, especially after…’ My voice trailed off.

‘Even after you admitted who you really are,’ he said without taking his gaze from me, ‘I still struggled to believe it.’ He swallowed.