Prologue

Leiah was still hiding in the crumbling walls when she heard footsteps coming her direction. She looked down at her watch; right on time. The final guards switching shifts for the night. She waited, holding her breath, until their footsteps faded completely before slowly pushing against the secret door. It groaned open and scraped loudly against the stone floor. She looked around carefully in both directions, making sure those guards didn’t turn around to investigate the sound, and quickly made her way out of the old hidden room without bothering closing the door behind her. She was so close to the cabin she could feel it, could feel the old magic as if it was calling to her. Her family’s old ancient bloodline came in handy for once. Leiah found her way around the tower as quietly as she could manage. Her magic was super drained already so she couldn't teleport or control the shadows. Sneaking around was her only option.

She had this place memorized from being here for days. Hiding when she could and putting the guard schedule, posts, and routines in a special place in her mind. She couldn’t forget it even if she wanted to. Her very life was on the line. She didn’t have a home to go back to, and she was uncertain about how she was even going to escape. This plan had to work or it would be worth nothing. Everything she had done could be washed down the drain in an instance. Leiah had honestly never been more scared, slightly shaking as she made her way down the long stone corridor. She could see it was pitch black outside thanks to the small and very few windows she passed. She had to travel under the darkness of the new moon or the Forces would see her leaving the fortress.

As she made it to one of the side entrances, past the snoring guards in the barracks, she silently opened the large wooden door leading outside. Luckily it was one of the few doors they didn’t guard during the night. Leiah made her way down the dimly lit dirt path, being extra cautious and ducking under any other windows she passed. Eventually she made it to the last stretch, the giant open field behind the tower that extended for at least half a mile. She had to sprint it so the sentries didn’t notice her. Leiah carefully watched the shadows of the guards above her, casted down on the ground in front of her. Some pacing and some standing at attention, watching the yard before her full of working slaves. None of them seem to notice Leiah standing 10 feet away, she’ll take it as a blessing from one of the Gods.   

Finally after some time, she found an opening during another guard switch. Leiah had to make her move now before it was too late. She lept into action, running as fast as she could. Her arms pumping fast at her sides. As she approached the 8 foot wall, she found the only spot in its entire perimeter that was climbable. One foot in front of the other she jumped, skipping a few steps. She caught herself on a branch growing through the stone bricks they luckily haven’t cut yet. Why would they? There was usually no escaping here in Ironsfist Prison. Grunting softly as she pulled herself up. She only had a small window of opportunity to do this so she had to make it count. Leiah had just made her way to the top when a flashlight shined down where she just was and quickly made its way to where she was standing. She jumped down as fast as she could but it was too late anyways. She could hear a guard yelling in the distance, and instantly alarms were blaring loudly. The Forces were going to be here in mere seconds. But she ran anyway, because what else could she do? The cabin was a few miles from the wall, deeper into the surrounding forest. She picked up the pace and was practically sprinting as she heard howling behind her. She knew what that meant: The Forces had shifted and were now chasing her.

She had made it at least three miles in minutes. Her gym teachers would be impressed. But Leiah couldn’t feel her legs anymore. Her lungs were on fire and she could barely get a breath down. But she couldn’t stop. She wouldn’t stop. She knew if she did, everyone she ever loved would be killed. So she had to keep going. Had to keep her focus on her breathing so she didn’t black out from lack of oxygen. She couldn’t hear anything over the roaring in her ears, but if she could, she would hear the snow crunching underneath her feet. Ice and snow surrounded her in every direction. Above her there were no stars to light her path, as dark luminous clouds blocked them out; a storm was coming. As she ran in the darkness, the lower branches of the trees whipped her across the face. Harder and faster. She had to go faster.

She took the chance and looked behind her. In the distance she could barely make out the shape of a wolf. The biggest and most cruel, Rend was still tracking her. Those blood red eyes met hers and he let out a howl, surely alerting the rest that he had found her and was tracking her. Not paying attention, Leiah tripped over a rock and tumbled onto a fallen tree, harshly hitting her face hard against the wood. She could feel the warmth of blood trickling down her face and into her open hand. She had definitely broken her nose. She scrambled to get up as quickly as her body would let her. Rend was going to be on her soon, she had to get up and it had to be fast. She had to keep running. Leiah stood and kept going, a little slower than before but at least she was still moving. Had to keep going or she would be captured. And being caught was worse than being killed. She had to get to the safety of the cabin. The wolves couldn’t get her there with the ancient protection wards in place. Leiah just had to make it; had to keep running. 

Finally, between two giant pine trees, stood the cabin. It was barely standing but it was there. It wasn’t just a story her parents told her to help her go to sleep at night. It was actually real, not a dream. Leiah had to make it but that was going to be hard with the pack on her heels. In the distance she could make out the sound of snarling. She glanced over to her right, and saw him. Issac, Rend’s second in command. Even in the darkness, his red coat was stark against the white snow. He was panting hard, his breath coming out in the form of a white cloud in the cold. The wolves were in their element in these woods. She honestly didn’t stand a chance. Leiah knew without her head start she never would’ve made it this far. But it wasn’t enough because they had already caught up to her. 

100 feet and she’d be at the door. She had to make it. Rend was right on her heels. One well timed leap from his powerful legs and he’d be on her. Leiah kept running though. Kept pushing herself past her limits. Everything had led up to this moment. And with one final push, her hand touched the solidness of the door handle and bursted her way into the cabin.