I was terrified. Adrenaline completely took over my body, giving me the energy to run faster than I ever had before. It was as if my body was seeing the situation and mass making energy, force feeding it into my muscles in hopes to get away. Well that was exactly what was happening, but I imagined it in a more personified cartoon-like way in my mind.

My thoughts snapped back to the present. I was still pulling Fee along behind me, who was keeping up just fine. Sage and Cedar were a couple of steps ahead. We dashed through the street, buildings all blurred into one grey, green, brown mass of colour. I wished I had gotten a bit more time to take in this town in the daylight, explore a little and see what was different here from the main city.

Cedar tripped suddenly, throwing his hands out to stop the fall. I pulled him up and urged him to keep running. Air burned my throat as I breathed heavily, all the energy I had gained from breakfast was beginning to be used up, my legs ached and my feet started  to hurt again.

I could hear yelling and the thunder of many footsteps, the guards were catching up slowly but surely. We wouldn't escape this, I started to panic. We were going to be killed.

Sage turned abruptly to the left, dashing down a narrow side street between two houses. The ground was less solid here, slightly muddy. I slipped once or twice but continued on, fear fueling my determination. At some point I subconsciously noticed that Fee was no longer behind me, I thought nothing of it, she would appear again later.

"Any chance... you can... summon a portal?" Sage yelled back between sucking air into his lungs.

"I don't know how!" I cried. I attempted to collect my thoughts and imagine the same white circle appearing in front of us, the white smokey swirls lining the edge and fading out into the air, a blurred image of a new city in the center. I squeezed my eyes shut briefly, trying to focus on making it appear. Nothing happened.

"I can't do it!"

Sage didn't answer, accelerating forwards with a burst of speed. How on earth would we out run them? I could hear them closer behind us.

"Halt, in the name of King Majalis and Queen Laelia!" A voiced yelled after us.

So those were the names of the King and Queen of Niuk? I mentally kicked myself, focus Elise. Don't get distracted. Think. How can you escape?

The only thing I could think of was using Sage's elemental magic and then outrunning them. It didn't seem too likely as they were catching up already after they had all been knocked off their feet. Maybe we could hide somewhere. However, I knew nothing of this place. Fear tingled down my spine. This was hopeless.

A sharp pain spread from my nose, cheeks and shoulders as I smacked into something solid. I looked up, nothing. I cursed, the Healer had got close enough to use his barrier. Sage and Cedar, being a few steps ahead hadn't been caught in it and hadn't noticed I had stopped, they continued running, slowly getting smaller and smaller.

I spun around quickly, pushing myself back against the wall behind me.

The Healer and Spirit were at the front of the group, running towards me, followed closely by the guards. My mind decided now was a good time to admire the guard's armour. The pale gold and silver metal was cut and bent into perfect swirls, creating a picture of woven ivy and leaves lined with a thick strip around the edge of each piece of armour. The metal glinted in the early morning sun, small green stones dotted various locations, adding a bit of variation in colour. A green cloak trimmed with gold was attached to each guard's shoulder pads, floating behind them. They looked like mythical superheroes.

They slowed to a stop a few feet in front of me. The Spirit calling to half guards behind to continue on and catch the others, the Healer went with them. Unfortunately he made sure to keep the barrier in place as he ran off, just until two of the guards had grabbed my upper arms roughly. I attempted to pull away but was rewarded with a kick to my left knee.

The Spirit stood directly in front of me, pulling himself up to his full height, he easily made six foot, towering over me.

"State your name, magic and home town." He commanded.

I scowled up at him, refusing to respond. That got me another painful kick to my shin, I cried out, unable to balance on my left leg anymore.

"Answer."

"Flora, Influencer, Castle Town." I hissed. My mind scrambled to grab words, I picked a random name I had heard back in the Juniper Inn and said whatever else I could think of.

"Do not lie to me. I sense magic, I know you are Hybrid." He frowned in irritation.

"If you sense it, why do you need me to tell you?" I retorted.

"This is your last chance. What is your name, magic and home town, girl?"

"Elise, I don't know where my home town is. My magic is influencer and caster."

He squinted his eyes, his pale brown hair was cropped short to his ears, his hazel eyes shone with distrust.

"Have you been in hiding since you found out you were Hybrid?"

I shook my head. "I was on Earth."

"Where the exiled go?" He questioned.

I nodded.

"Hmph. I will have to record her as Exiled, unknown name and home town then." He muttered to himself. "Kill her." He waved his hand at the guards holding me.

"No! No, please don't kill me! Send me back to Earth! I won't come here again!" I shouted.

He looked over his should with a sneer, "We no longer exile Hybrids, all are killed upon discovery." He walked past us, heading in the direction that the Healer had gone.

"Don't kill me! Please!"

The guard to my left unsheathed his sword, the ring of metal loud in my ears. I panicked, my heart was racing, blood throbbing in my ears. My vision was clouding slightly, dark spots appearing.

I was pushed down onto my knees.

My head was pounding, everything ached. I couldn't think straight. I didn't want to die. I wanted to see Greg and Fee. They didn't know where I was. I prayed Sage and Cedar had got away. A low hum of disappointment spread over me as I realised how much I was going to miss out on in this world. I hadn't even learnt how to use my magic properly. I hadn't tasted all the different foods. I hadn't seen all the new plants and animals. I'd missed so much.

I felt cold metal pressed against my neck, a sharp sting caused a bead of blood to well up.

Suddenly my mind went blank. All the mess of thoughts disappeared, as if swept away, leaving me with just one word.

"Vule."

The word escaped my lips, breaking the silence and causing the guards to stop moving. Two seconds passed. The sword was pressed further into my neck, the pressure caused blood to trickle.

A loud chattering noise startled me, the guards also jolted at the noise. Clicking and chirping. I looked up to see a figure crouched in front of me, surrounded by a cloud of low-lying black smoke. He was resting on one leg, the other bent so his foot was on the ground. His arm rested across the top of his knee and his other on the ground, his finger tips barely touching the dirt and holding his balance perfectly.

His hair, a jet black mess. Two black... ears? Peaked out from his hair, angled slightly forwards. His face was pale, dark eyes watched me, flickering between me and the sword at my neck. He was stunning. He had the face of a model, perfectly smooth no mark or blemish in sight. A thick black cloak hung over his shoulders, spread out on the ground around his figure and hiding what he wore underneath. I caught a glimpse of fur over his shoulder and watched in awe as a tail swished to the side, long hairs made it look large and bushy as it swung to curl around his foot.

He was there in front of me, and then he was gone. I felt the pressure ease from my neck as the guards were forced back, falling away from me. I spun around, crawling back. The fox person now crouched between the guards, facing me. His eyes on my face as if he were waiting for an order.

My eyes slid down to the unmoving guards, then widened in horror. Blood gushed out of their necks, soaking into the dirt and mud, pooling around their heads. Their throats were cut cleanly, they had obviously died fairly quickly.

I choked on a sob, unable to tear my eyes away from the bodies.

The person titled his head slightly to one side, his ears twitching. "Elise?" His smooth voice felt like music to my ears, forcing me to look away from the guards and settle my gaze on him.

"Safe?" He asked.

I didn't know what to do or say. I was in shock.

"Elise. Safe?" He repeated, slightly more insistently.

I nodded slowly, swallowing a hiccup. I glanced around the street. No one was around, the other guards had left with the Healer. What do I do? Two people had just died. People with friends and families. How could I tell their families?

"I am Vule." The creature stated, still crouched on one knee.

I nodded again, unsure of what to say.

I took a deep breathe and tried to calm my shaking hands, "Are you a conjuration?" I asked.

He nodded, "Royal conjure."

"What?" My stomach dropped.

"Royal has summoned Vule."