The Revenge Page 16

  Corabelle's mouth dropped. “That's what Red showed me; the evil one murdered his sire.”

  “His sire?” Papa's eyes grew.

  “Yes. Red must have gone after him, shooting out flames in anger, but because Red was so young and inexperienced, he overshot, and the forest caught fire.”

  Papa and Aunt Agatha exchanged incredulous stares.

  “Then we've got to help him,” said Papa.

  Chapter 36

  The Search

  The sun had risen and set many times in fiery glory since the day Damien abandoned his reservations regarding the humans and accepted their affection. How pleasant they were, speaking in comfortable voices and sharing laughter while searching for food. No one amongst them cringed with fear. Not once had they bared their teeth in anger at Damien or raised a hand against him. They accepted him for who he was, finding beauty in his imperfection. Yet nightmares still tormented him of the wildfire and its raging flames that licked the forest. It devoured trees like a great, drooling monster, leaving nothing but ash and blackened skeletons of what had once been. Had the unicorns escaped?

  He shook his head and pushed his guilt away. “It doesn't matter anyway. Who cares if they died. Tit for tat. Eye for an eye.” But his vengeful thoughts didn’t quite have the same power over him as they had before.

  Then one horrid night, his father appeared to him in a dream.

  It began with Seamus' wicked chortle, mocking him and debasing him while Isabelle stood by, a sneer etched on her face. The herd's laughter mirrored the couple’s feelings, emerging from the darkness, nowhere, but everywhere. Anger welled up in Damien so powerful, he had no recourse but to aim his horn first at Seamus, then Isabelle, striking them dead on. They burst into flames, reduced to ashes while whinnies of terror resounded about them. When the fire died, and the panicked screams faded away, the shining image of a sole unicorn emerged from the darkness.

  Father!

  The unicorn wore an expression of disbelief. Damien, this isn’t what I taught you.

  I know…but you can’t know how it feels…

  No, said Samuel, but I brought you up better than that.

  Yeah, but things have happened since then.

  Samuel shook his head. It doesn’t matter. You’re better than this!

  Damien awoke with a start.

  The restlessness within him threatened to burst. He thrashed about, his hooves scattering leaves on the ground. His breath came in gulps, and his heart thumped loudly in his chest. He had to go back and find the unicorns. Much as he felt safe with the humans, Damien knew he needed to leave the comfort of their devotion and face what he'd done. It's what Father would have wanted.

  He peered at the humans, laughing as they ate a leisurely breakfast. It didn't matter if they cared for him. In time, they'd leave the woods for the town anyway where Damien dared not follow. His eyes rested on the girl as she took the remainder of her food and placed it into her backpack. Of course, he'd miss the child. Her innocence had enchanted him. But he had to do what was right.

  Damien regarded the woods, knowing the burnout lay a short distance away. But he'd only taken a few decided steps when the girl let out a desperate cry.

  Damien hesitated a moment as she grabbed her pack and ran toward him no longer hobbling. How much better she was since he'd touched his horn to her ankle, the swelling reduced in a mere moment while she gritted her teeth.

  Corabelle was anxious at his departure. He could feel her pain. It seared his heart, but he had to close his mind. There was no turning back.

  “Please,” she said, her hands stretched out.

  A thrill ran through him every time her voice transformed in his mind to images he understood.

  I have to go, Damien said, sending her memories of the bleak landscape and the herd of unicorns who had tormented him.

  Then let me come with you.

  No. You'll only slow me down. I can travel much faster without you.

  Her eyes darted about, searching for something. But I know a way that’ll work, she said.

  Damien lingered, waiting for Corabelle's explanation. Then, an incredible image of the girl straddled across his back entered his thoughts. You want to ride me?

  Please, the girl said as she took slow steps toward him.

  Her pale blue eyes drew him in. But still, he was reluctant.

  Let me show you, she said.

  She sauntered to a large rock and climbed it, beckoning.

  Damien wavered, then took gingerly steps to her side.

  Placing a gentle hand on his wither, she leapt and landed on his back.

  Damien let out a snort, his hooves scuffling. He reared up and thought of throwing her off the same way unicorns tossed off night predators. But her words soothed him, and he dropped back down on all fours. She's as light as a feather. It's not so uncomfortable. Damien's breathing grew calmer.

  The others exchanged frenzied words, their eyes rounded with fright. But before they could convince the child to dismount, Damien took off.

  ***

  Corabelle grabbed the unicorn's mane and held on for all she was worth. Her heart pounded with exhilaration, yet at the same time, she clung, terrified she'd fall off. She understood now how the unicorn flew. It's the wind. He rides it. When he landed on the other side, she relaxed, but only for a moment, because no sooner had he stopped, did he catapult himself above the trees.

  Corabelle gasped at how high they travelled. Leaning forward, she grasped his neck and gripped his sides with her knees.

  Then the unicorn stopped in mid-air.

  Corabelle waited, suspended. How does he do that? He has no wings.

  Still clutching Red's mane should he make a sudden move, she gazed down below to the stark beauty of the forest beneath her. How extraordinary to observe the pointed tops of trees, the bluish mountains far in the distance, and tiny bodies of water she knew had to be lakes. But when she turned around, the burnout stunned her with its grotesqueness.

  Red lowered himself to the ground amid the black soot, then caught the wind again. They flew high and fast, the unicorn's eyes searching through the debris for signs of the herd. After a time, she anticipated his moves, knowing instinctively when to grip his sides and when to lower her torso over his neck. Her heart soared. Who cared about Uncle Rupert and the others? She had befriended a unicorn!

  Many hours passed before Red descended to rest, his head bowed in discouragement.

  “It's all right,” said Corabelle. “We just have to keep looking. Come on. Let's get some water. Then we can go again.”

  She dismounted him, then wandered over to a nearby creek where she bent down and cupped her hands, filling them. Red followed and dipped in his head. Together they drank, then rested in the shade of a partially burned tree. Corabelle emptied her backpack of the dried meat she'd brought, along with the roots and berries while Red pulled up long blades of grass left unscourged by the flames.

  A fluttering sound caught Corabelle's attention. “Phineas!” she cried. “What are you doing here?”

  The bird drifted to the ground, his feathers ruffled and his wings drooping.

  “Oh, Phineas, you poor thing.”

  The whiskey jack let out a few tired chirps, then hopped to the creek and splashed about, his wing flipping water over his head.

  “Papa sent you to follow us? But that's nearly impossible. You saw how fast Red is.”

  Phineas hobbled back to Corabelle and roosted in her lap. Tucking his head under his wing, he was soon asleep.

  Corabelle reached down and stroked his feathers.

  After they'd all had sufficient rest, she mounted Red again, and they continued the search. For hours they combed the burnout, but by the end of the day, they'd found no signs of wildlife.

  “The unicorns must have gotten out,” said Corabelle, “because we haven’t found any traces of them, right?”

  Damien let out a rumble.

  “They're probably in the woods since there's
nothing here for them to eat.”

  Red shook his head, his tail swishing while he thumped a hoof.

  “Why don’t we start again in the morning?” asked Corabelle.

  Red turned, one eye meeting hers. She knew he agreed.

  The next day, Corabelle climbed onto the unicorn’s back again, and they headed into the untouched forest, Phineas close behind. Corabelle reached for Red’s mane lest he leap, but instead, he broke into a smooth and soundless gait. Corabelle's eyes widened, and she marvelled at how they seemed to float.

  They shadow-walked for quite some time until once again, Red threw himself high up in the air, hovering, his senses piqued, his nostrils quivering. Corabelle saw him stare far into the distance with longing.

  “What is it, Red?” she asked. “What's over there?”

  Images of a pleasant meadow with a brook running through it filled her mind. A mare grazed near its banks, nibbling on sweet clover.

  “Is that your dam you’re thinking of?” asked Corabelle.

  Yes, when she was alive.

  Corabelle's heart filled with sadness. What had happened to her? Had someone killed her?

  They shadow-walked through the woods for several hours that day. When the sun touched the horizon again, they glanced about for the broad canopy of a tree to spend the night. Finding one close by, Corabelle dismounted, her backpack hanging off one shoulder. But when she turned to stroke Red, he'd disappeared.

  “Red? Where'd you go?” she asked, annoyed. Then she heard it—hoofbeats thundering in the distance. Corabelle let out a gasp, then ducked behind the large trunk of a tree just in time as a small herd of unicorns came galloping down the trail.

  Chapter 37

  Malcolm

  Damien stood still, scarcely breathing. The son of the cruellest unicorn he’d ever known had just passed him. And Malcolm wasn't alone either. Yousef and the others followed on tired hooves, slowing to a halt.

  Resentment gripped Damien at the sight of the young stallion who had tormented him so long ago. He fought to control his anger to maintain his camouflage.

  “I think we've gone far enough for today,” said Malcolm, a nervous edge to his voice. “We can spend the night here.”

  The small herd of unicorns acquiesced, their breath still heaving.

  “But are we far enough that we're safe?” asked Gabrielle.

  “For now, anyway,” replied Malcolm.

  Damien felt his chest tighten. After all this time, they’re still running from me?

  “But I'm tired,” said Yasmine, her voice shaking. “Maybe we shouldn't have gone in the first place.”

  “We had to,” said Malcolm.

  “Yes,” agreed Simon. “There was no other way. We just couldn't keep living like that.”

  Like what? thought Damien.

  Petra let out a despondent sigh. “I had no idea he was that crazy,” she said. “I mean, we did everything we were told to do, right?”

  “I know,” said Malcolm, “but the wildfire changed everything.”

  Guilt clouded over Damien.

  “But where are we going to go from here?” asked Gabrielle, sidling closer to the others as her eyes darted back and forth.

  “I don't know,” replied Malcolm. “If only we had Damien with us, he could guide us.”

  Damien’s heart skipped at the mention of his name.

  “It's all your fault,” said Yousef, his expression sullen. “I told you he was perfectly decent. But you wouldn't listen. You kept ignoring him and pretending he didn't exist. And you made us do the same.”

  “Well, we fillies didn't. It was you guys,” argued Yasmine. “I liked Damien…until he changed.”

  Malcolm let out a despondent sigh. “Well, I tried to talk to him when he lit the forest on fire, but he wouldn't listen.”

  “Do you blame him?” asked Yasmine. “You colts treated him as though he were a freak. You even called him one.”

  “We didn't know, okay?” Malcolm said, resentment in his voice. “I was just doing what I thought was right…according to my parents.”

  Yousef let out a snort. “Yeah, well, your parents turned out to be quite the tyrants, didn't they? And all we can do now is flee and hope we might run into Damien someday.”

  Run into me?

  “I wish we would,” said Petra. A look of longing crossed her face. “Then maybe we could make things right again.”

  Damien's heart swelled. Could it be they'd forgiven him? And if so, could Damien forgive them? His mind teetered between the two thoughts, weighing them, struggling. Finally, he let down his camouflage. “I'm right here.”

  The seven young unicorns leapt back, whinnies ripping from their throats.

  “Damien!” cried Yasmine, looking utterly terrified.

  “It's all right, Yasmine,” he said, kindness filling him at her apprehension. “I'd never hurt you on purpose. It was an accident that day. I just wanted to scare you all. I was mad at Seamus because of what he did to my father.”

  Malcolm looked away. Then his eyes met Damien's. “I told them the truth about Samuel and the duel.”

  “You did?” It was Damien's turn to be surprised.

  “Yes, we've all known for quite a while,” said Yasmine.

  The lines in Damien's forehead deepened. “Then why didn't you say anything to the others?”

  “My father…er…Seamus…threatened me. That's when I began to realize exactly how insane he was. And Mother too.” He sighed. “All she wanted was power.”

  Damien's ears flicked at the news. Could it be that Malcolm had really changed?

  Malcolm continued. “I tried to tell you when you set the woods on fire, but everyone was stampeding, and the fire was spreading.”

  Despite his uncertainty, Damien's heart began to thaw at Malcolm's remorse.

  “And you were too fast. I couldn't keep up with you,” said Malcolm.

  Damien's heart melted further until he remembered Amarah. “He killed my mother… and Chrissandra.”

  Malcolm's head jolted back as he exchanged glances with the others. He shook his head. “No, he didn't.”

  “What? What do you mean? Isabelle said Seamus disposed of them.”

  “Yeah. That means Seamus banished them. Sent them away. He didn't kill them. If he had, the herd would have come down on him and driven him out.”

  Damien's mind whirled at the news. “But where did they go?”

  “I don't know,” said Malcolm.

  “I think I know where they may have gone,” said Yasmine.

  “Where?” asked Damien.

  “Chrissandra said something about a cave and a brook,” said Yasmine.

  “Yeah, but a cave and a brook could be anywhere,” said Malcolm.

  “No, it couldn't.” Damien fought back tears of joy. “I know exactly where they are.”

  “Where?” asked Yasmine.

  “It's where I was born. It's where I lived before we joined the herd. Mother went back home!”

  The unicorns broke into a cheer while Damien danced, throwing up his back hooves and racing about. The others joined him in the frolic, their whinnies echoing in the forest around them.

  Then Corabelle stepped out from behind the tree.

  Chapter 38

  The Meeting of Minds

  “Camouflage!” commanded Malcolm. The unicorns vanished in the green foliage.

  Corabelle exchanged amused glances with Damien, then let out a giggle that turned into full belly-shaking laughter.

  “She knows you're there,” said Damien.

  Heavy breathing and snorts sounded, making her laugh all the harder. She slid down against the tree trunk, giggling hysterically.

  A contagious chuckle slipped from Damien's throat. “Come on out, you guys,” he said. “She won't harm you.”

  “But she's a human,” came the reply out of thin air.

  “No,” Damien said trying to calm his laughter, “I promise you, she's okay.”

  “Are you sure?”r />
  “Yes,” replied Damien.

  One by one, the unicorns reluctantly reappeared, their hides twitching, first Yasmine, then Malcolm, followed by the others. Their eyes were filled with confusion at the strange creature convulsing and shrieking below them.

  “What's that horrible noise she's making?” asked Malcolm.

  “She's laughing,” replied Damien, still fighting to contain his chuckles.

  “That's how humans laugh?” asked Petra, her face wrinkled in fascination.

  “Yes. It means they're happy,” said Damien.

  “But what's she laughing about?” asked Malcolm, still maintaining his distance.

  “Because she already knows all about our three skills,” replied Damien. “She's not fooled in the slightest bit.”

  “But how?” asked Yousef.

  “From me.”

  They gasped in unison.

  “You told her?” asked Malcolm, his eyes as wide as puddles.

  “No, I showed her,” said Damien.

  “But that's against the Legacy of Azaria,” said Jeremy, his voice trembling. “We're supposed to avoid humans until the end of time.”

  Damien gave a patient smile. “Well, sometimes rules are made to be broken. Remember the stories about Ali that we learned? How Ulysees fled from her even though Darius warned him that he needed to find her?”

  The young unicorns nodded.

  Damien raised both brows. “And if it weren't for Ali, none of us would be here today, right?”

  “True,” said Malcolm, throwing the girl a curious glance. “But how do you know we can trust her?”

  Because I can talk to you with my mind, said Corabelle.

  The unicorns reeled with fright, shrill whinnies escaping them as they turned in frantic circles, searching for the other humans that undoubtedly lay in wait to ambush them.

  Corabelle gave a smug smile. See? You can all hear me.

  They broke into excited mumbles, their eyes switching back and forth between the girl and Damien.

  “But can all humans do this?” asked Malcolm.