17. Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Natasya

I clutch my hand to my heart as I pull myself out of the crevice that Evengi and I had sought shelter in.

Evengi turns, holding his hand out toward me, but I'm already struggling to my feet, peering with trepidation into the forest.

"What's the matter?" he asks turning as if half expecting the horseman to be there just behind him.

"It's my papa," I whisper. "I cannot feel him anymore."

Evengi glances to his right even though there is only empty air there. He turns, clearing his throat. "I'm sure that your skeleton is fine, Natasya."

I nod, but as I do, I feel something moist on the corner of my eye. I quickly reach up, wiping at the tear and silently cursing myself for being incapable of controlling my feelings especially in front of Evengi. I need to be hard and cold like a stone, show him that I am not one to be messed with.

Not a sniveling shivering girl who is scared without her father.

"Hey," Evengi says as he steps towards me. He rests his hand on my shoulder. "It's all right."

"Is it?" I ask with a sniff. "I can't lose him. He is all I have left of my birth father."

Evengi once again glances at that empty space before he clears his throat. "He must have been an exceptional man."

I shake my head with a sniff, reaching up to wipe my nose. "He was a monster. He hadn't wanted us, and he made that utterly clear to us. My adopted father killed him because he saw how he despised my sister and me. My papa… he used to reward Bronwyn for beating me herself, so he didn't have to get his hands dirty." I reach up and dab at my eyes. Not that I blame Bronwyn, she was so young and just as scared of him as I was. We were both his victims."That skeleton was my only chance to actually have a relationship with my birth father, and now I'm worried it's gone."

Evengi's face twists as he moves another step closer and then to my utter surprise, he wraps me in a hug. I stiffen as he pulls away, rubbing his hands up and down my arm. "We're looking for Brom anyway, we can keep an eye out for your father's bones."

I would be able to sense it if we got near, especially since I am so attuned to those bones in particular. That's what scares me, I never should have lost my connection to him. My papa hadn't been that far away.

It's as if he just simply ceased to exist.

"There's no need for you to be nice to me," I say as I wrap my arm around myself and start forward. I glance through the trees making certain that the horseman hasn't doubled back and is heading straight toward us.

"Maybe not, but it makes me wonder how different your life would be if you had been afforded a bit of kindness in your life," Evengi says as he falls into step beside me.

"You really are a priest," I reply with a snort. "Don't try to see the best in me; you will only fool yourself."

"I think I already have," Evengi says as he glances at me, but he fails to elaborate on his cryptic statement.

I duck under a branch, peering around, but just as I lost my connection to my papa, I don't sense any other corpses nearby. Although since the horseman is already animated by a necromancer, I will have no power over it. It is no empty vessel so I can't sense it like I could anything else dead.

The sun has already disappeared, and darkness is falling upon the forest. Papa had the torch…

I try not to start crying again, the last thing I need is for this priest to decide that I'm a charity case. And yet, I don't feel nearly as disgusted by his pity as I thought I would. I'm slightly touched that he would even care. Least of all for a necromancer like me.

"Who do you think is controlling that horseman?" I ask, shivering slightly as a bitter wind blows through the trees.

"I was hoping you would know since necromancy is more of your area of expertise."

I glance at him over my shoulder, but I can only make out his silhouette now. "Necromancy, yes, but other necromancers? Hardly."

Evengi bumps into a tree and then curses in a very unpriestly way. "I assume a close family member of yours is a necromancer, they are the ones who taught you. You don't seem like you were brought up in a coven."

"Am I too refined for that?" I ask smiling. "But don't expect me to answer your question."

"It was your adopted father," Evengi says although I have no idea how he could have inferred that.

I whirl so fast that he nearly runs me over. I glare up at his shadowy face and jab him in the chest. "Threaten me all you like but if you breathe one word against my father, and you will never make it out of these woods."

"You seem like you are very family oriented," Evengi says sounding amused. It's frustrating, I meant every word of my threat.

I turn around, crossing my arms. "So, what if I am?"

"You mentioned a twin, are you and she close?"

"Close enough," I reply.

"And your other sister is a sorceress like you, but not a necromancer. She is, however, a vampire."

I whirl again. "Where are you getting your information?"

Evengi raises his shoulder, rubbing it against his ear. "I have my sources."

I turn around again, but I can't shake the unsettled feeling that has settled over me to hear Evengi speak of my family. My family is my own. I have no idea how he could have gotten this information, but we obviously have some security breach.

No one should know this much about the Eels save for us ourselves.

So how could Evengi? Just who is this priest and how does he know me better than anyone else outside of my family ever has?