Forever Hold My Heart

Marcus gave me a mouth full, He was on my ass about how careless I was and how serious wounds could have been inflicted. I told him that it wouldn’t happen again because we would make sure to go in the morning instead of the night.
After that I went to the doctor, I thanked my lucky stars that there was no poison. I did have a fractured rib. When we got back I let Hunter go to bed. I called Clarence and let him know which two Latronums we had killed.
I started to do research on Figuris Iusitia. It was latin; it translated to cold justice, which I thought was a bunch of bullshit to begin with. There was nothing in the library about this group. I called Clarence.
“Yes,” He answered.
“I have some important information,” I said
“That is?” Clarence said
“My mom’s group they go by the name of Figuris Iusitia. They seem to be kings of the forest, they won’t let any of the Latronums from the book try to hunt Royals.” I said
“How do you know that?” Clarence asked
“We overheard it from the two latronums and we also got the girl to tell us what she knew while we were at it.” I said
“Alright well I’ll put it on file.” Clarence said
“Okay, we’re going to be heading out again in the morning.” I said
“You’re telling me this why?” He asked
“I don’t know just thought I’d let you know.” I said
“Okay,” he said and I hung up.I went to go visit Travis he was still sleeping, I sat there until I eventually fell asleep myself.

When I woke up, I was on a bed with a blanket over me. I sat up only to find that I was placed on the bed next to Travis’s. I looked at the time it was still too early for the sun to have risen. I went on the internet through my phone. I had so many questions, yet the only answer I thought I had was the name of the group and that it still might possibly belong to my mom.
I did more research on my dad. His death made me even more confused, according to my information, he had disappeared and was wanted for a couple of months, but then he was found at his royals house dead. Some articles said that his royal was found dead with him, others said that his army of Latronums turned their back on him and kidnapped his Royal and killed him. If they did turn their back on him, how was my mom able to collaborate with the Latronums. Unless she was the one who got them to turn their backs on him. It was my mom the whole time, she used my dad. She got away with it for so long. I clenched my fists, I was sick of all the lies.
I went to go check up on the boys, when I walked in they were already planning out their next tactics for this morning.
“Are you guys all rested up?” I asked and they nodded.
“Alright, get what you guys need for your stuff, I’m taking you to our new meeting place.” I said, “Please keep in mind that it’s still dangerous and I can only fit 4 other people in the car with me. So I’m going to have to make two trips.”

I was pretty nervous leaving some of the guys at the tree house while I went back for the rest of them but they reassured me they’d be fine. On the way back to the tree house with the second batch of guys I got a call.
“Hello,” I answered
“The board is having a meeting.” Clarence said
“Right now?” I asked
“Yes just stay on the line, I’m going to connect you,” Clarence said
“Wait but I’m driving-” I said and was cut off to ringing. I pulled the car off to the side and pointed to the trail. “I’ll meet you guys in a little bit.”
I watched the guys start walking up the trail.
“Hello Katelyn, the rest of us are already on the line.” A man said.
“How come you guys get to know that I’m a part of the board but I can’t know who you guys are,” I asked
“You see the last member that was added before you doesn’t know who the rest of us are either. He does know who you are though and it’ll just keep going on like that. So if you stay on the board you will know who the new members are but they will never know you.” He said
“I kind of hate to break it to you but wouldn’t they just figure it out anyways since I’m one of the only girl guardians.” I said and the man sighed
“We won’t worry about that until the time comes.” He said
“So tell us exactly what you’ve discovered,” A different man said his voice was a bit raspy.
“Well Frigus Iustitia is what the group is called. This group is the one that we think my mom was in charge. I think my mom was only using my dad, I think she was the one who planned everything. I think that she was the one pulling the strings.” I said looking around. I started walking up the trail. “She was the one who turned the other Latronums against my dad, because how else would the Latronums have listened to her. I think that once the kids they kidnapped grew older she took them under her arms. She made them loyal to her and taught them her morals, that’s why she let all the other Latronums go. They probably want the other Latronums dead, the ones in the book, because they see them as a threat.”
“These are some bold assumptions,” A man said, he had a higher pitched voice.
“I know there are a lot of missing pieces but we’ll get to the bottom of this,” I said
“I must remind you that you are not to go after Frigus Iustitia.” The first man said
“I know, I read the letter. I will get as much information on them as possible,” I said
“If they find out you’re on to them then they might come after you,” the man with a higher pitched voice said
“They’re already after me,” I said
“I was thinking about why they were after you,” A man said he sounded older than everyone else so far, “It could be that your ability hinders their advances or your mom might of told you something important. Something that at the time didn’t make much sense but it has much importance to them.”
“I never thought of it like that,” I said.
“Well we could keep making assumptions but we need evidence,” A man said, this man had a nasally voice.
“I’ll do my best,” I said
“Okay you are dismissed, Katelyn,” The first man said and I just hung up. I walked up to the house. The boys were just talking about nothing in particular.
“Did you get into more trouble?” Hunter asked
“No, I was just giving a detailed report to Clarence.” I said and Hunter nodded. “Alright guys to this time I don’t want to just hit up one location, I want to get as many down as we can.”
I knew time was crucial for Travis yet I couldn’t seem to ask the guys if they would go after the Frigus with me. How would we do it if we were out numbered anyways.
“So what do you guys think of the Frigus Iustitia.” I said
“Were they the ones who tried to close in on us?” Mason asked and I nodded.
“It had to be they’re the only ones who travel in such a big group.” I said
“They seem pretty intimidating,” Mason said
“No, they just caught us at a bad time,” Tyler said
“They’re not intimidating, at least not with a name like Frigus.” Derrick said
“Their name means cold justice,” I said
“More like justice will be served to them on a cold plate,” Derrick said and I couldn’t help but laugh at how dumb his jokes were sometimes.
“Even if we went against them we’d be out number,” I said just testing their responses.
“So, if we had a good enough plan we could take them out one by one,” Oliver said
“Yeah and with my animals they’d be out numbered,” Mason said.
“So if I said let’s go get them right now you’d go?” I asked
“Well if you asked us,” Hunter said
“Even if we’re not allowed to,” I asked
“What’s there to lose,” Tyler said and I gave him a look.
“Your lives.” I said
“Isn’t that a possibility anyways,” Tyler said and I slowly nodded.
“It doesn’t matter because we’re not going after them,” I said
“But we can tell you’re obviously thinking about it,” Tyler said
“When the time is right,” I said and I climbed up the ladder. I texted Travis.

‘Hey, how are you feeling,’ I sent it to him and he quickly responded.
‘Like I can run your crazy obstacle course’ He said and I smiled
‘you’re such a liar’ I texted back
‘so i heard Marcus’ he texted and I rolled my eyes.
‘who didn’t’
‘too funny’ He sent and I just shook my head.
‘easy for you to say’ I sent and he didn’t text back. I laid back down on the bed, I put my arm over my eyes. I put my phone on silent, as I the cabin began to fill up with light from the sunrise. I sat up and put my phone away.
“Mason, start scouting,” I called out from up stairs.
“Emma’s has already found several locations,” Mason said
“Okay,” I said and I climbed down the ladder. “Are you guys ready?”
“We’ve been ready,” Bryson said and I just raised my eyebrows.
“You guys are getting way too cocky,” I said
“Cocky or that good.” Tyler said
“When you’re cocky, you lose focus. When you lose focus, people can get hurt.” I said leaning on the ladder. “So therefore I refuse to leave this place with a team of cocky ass boys.”
They just looked at each other, they looked like a dog with it’s tail between his legs, who knew he was going to be put in the kennel for chewing on the furniture.
“I’m just screwing with you guys, let’s go,” I said and they relaxed.

With the first Latronum we bumped into, I didn’t waste any time. I used persuasion but it took a lot of my energy away. This Latronum didn’t know anything, other than their name and they weren’t supposed to leave the forest to go for Periculums. The next 4 of them were the same. We were going to get the last one before we went back to the tree house. Everyone looked to be fine, when we got back to the tree house I would make sure everyone was okay.
Mason gave us the sign to stop. I looked and saw a latronum, he was by himself he looked like he was his late 50’s. He didn’t look familiar, I don’t think he was in the book. He was too old to be a part of the Figuris, maybe he had been mentoring them. No he wouldn’t be by himself-
“I know you’re there,” He said and I felt my heart drop. How did he know we were here? “It’s okay I know you’re going to kill me. I’m willing to cooperate.”
The boys just looked at me and I gave them the sign to hold on. I got up and slowly walked over.
“They told me Custos would be coming and that I should get away while I still could. I’ve decided that I’m done with this.” The man said, he was sitting around his fire. As I got closer he looked up at me. “Oh, Katelyn”
He smiled and I just watched him for any sudden movements.
“You know a lot of people say you look like your mother, but I think you look more like your dad. You’ve grown so much, wow are you the leader of hunting us down? If you are then I’m impressed, so young and already doing big things. Just like your father, always getting down to business.” He said and I felt my eye twitch.
“How do you know my father?” I asked
“We’re friends, he actually came to me after he started all of this,” He shrugged, “But I’m too old for all of this, I haven’t killed a Periculum in years so I’m afraid even if I wanted to it would be way too much work.”
“What do you know about Figuris Iustitia?” I asked and he sighed.
“Their latronums what else would you want to know.” He said
“I want to know where I can find them.” I said
“There’s no need for that, they’ll come to you,” He said
“They have something I want,” I said and he eyed me up.
“You don’t look like you’ve been poisoned. Hmmm they were so sure that Daphne would get the job done, yet you’re still here looking for them. Except it’s not under the circumstances that we thought it’d be.” He said
“What are you talking about?” I asked
“They sent Daphne to poison you, so that you’d have no choice but to go after the Figuris looking for an anecdote.” He said and then he smirked, “Unless she poisoned someone close to you.”
“What do you know about the anecdote,” I said
“Daphne was so clever,” He said and I aimed my gun at him.
“Tell me!” I said
“If you kill me right now you won’t get the answers you want,” He said and I put my gun down. “Find the tallest tree and you’ll find the way to them.”
I jumped back when he pulled out a gun.
“It’s okay I know I’m outnumbered,” He said and he brought the gun to his head. “Tell your dad, I said that he’s finally met his match.”
“No, wait.” I said and I ran forward. I closed my eyes as I heard the gunshot. I stopped in my tracks. Shit. When I opened my eyes I immediately looked away. Mason jumped out of the bushes.
“We have to go,” He said, “The big group is coming and Emma says they look pissed.”
“Formation B, back to the tree house.” I said and we headed out. The only difference between last time and this time, was that we were further into the forest. “How many?”
“There’s 10 of them,” Mason said “They’ve stopped at the scene.”
“Keep running,” I said
“2 of them stayed behind the other 8 are coming after us.” Mason said and all of a sudden he stopped. We almost ran into each other.
“There’s 8 more closing in on us. They’re spread out but there’s no way of going without running into them.” Mason said.
“Alright, no matter what happens avoid getting hit.” I said and they all nodded. “Mason, take us back to the tree house.”
I knew that we’d have a better chance if we’d reach the tree house only because we’d be able to reload. Other than that things weren’t looking good at all. I pulled out my cell phone. I dialed Marcus.
“What do you want,” Marcus said
“Backup,” I breathed into the phone. It was hard talking and running as fast as we were.
“What do you mean.” He said
“There’s 16 Latronums closing in on us,” I said
“Where are you?” He asked
“Meet at the tree house, Damiens tree house.” I said
“We’re coming,” Marcus said and he hung up.Mason gave us the sign that we were close. I could hear laughing from up above. When the tree house was in sight we hurried inside.
We pulled out our weapons and quickly reloaded. We heard noises up on the roof.
“KATELYN! COME OUT AND GET THE ANECDOTE!” One of them yelled in a sing song voice.
“It could be a trap,” Oliver said and then one of them jumped down on the bridge. His back was facing us. The latronum turned around, I nearly dropped my gun. He had a sick smile on his face, never in a million years did I think I would see him again.
“You son of bitch,” I said and I went outside. My team followed closely behind, they kept scanning the area around.
“Hey babe,” He said and I gave him a dirty look.
“Don’t call me that,” I said
“Aww come on the past is the past. I’m a whole new person,” he said and I put my gun up.
“It’s going to be my pleasure to finish you, Eli,” I said
“Whoa, take it easy there.” He said twirling a small bottle in his hands. “I might accidentally drop this.”
My eye widened.
“That’s right, we know Travis needs it,” Eli said and he looked back at my team. “I wouldn’t even bother shooting anyone of us, you’re outnumbered. They all have you targeted.”
“What do you want?” I said with so much hate.
“We want you to come with us in exchange for this,” Eli said holding the bottle up to the sun.
“How do I know it’ll work,” I said
“Still don’t trust me,” He said with a smile. I wanted to just shoot him so bad.
“Never,” I said
“Okay, well you seem to be pretty big on your word.” Eli said putting down the bottle in front of him. “All you have to do is inject this where he got shot. If it works come out to the forest at night, by yourself, and we’ll come get you without a fight. If it doesn’t then I’ll come to you and you can kill me.”
“We got company,” Someone yelled somewhere from the trees.
“Do we have a deal?” Eli said holding out his hand. “We’ll give you a week.”
“Deal,” I said shaking his hand and he had that sick twisted smile back on his face. He jumped over the railings and I could hear them laughing as he ran off. I picked up the small bottle, I knew it was going to work. Why else would Eli bet his life, he was a arrogant jerk.
“You’re not actually going to keep with your end of the deal if it works, are you?” Oliver asked, I looked down at the bottle in my hands.
“I wouldn’t do that to you guys,” I lied and I saw Marcus running over with Devin and Mathew.
“Hurry get inside,” Mathew said
“They’re gone,” I said
“They retreated again?” Marcus asked
“Not without making a negotiation,” Hunter said
“About what?” Mathew asked
“We’ll talk more about it at camp.” I said as I started walking down the trail.
“What about our stuff?” Hunter said
“We’ll come back, two of you go with Mathew. The rest of you will just have to squeeze into my car.” I said

Once we got back at camp I hurried over to Travis’s side. He was asleep, I pulled out a clean syringe. As I extracted the anecdote from the bottle, I prayed that this worked.
“Hey Katelyn,” Travis said he looked at me with sleepy eyes.
“Hey Travis,” I said
“What are you doing?” He asked
“Can you sit up and take off your shirt,” I said and he did so.
“Where did you get that from,” He asked and he started coughing.
“Hold on,” I said as I got behind him and I injected him with the anecdote. “Everythings going to be okay.”
I put the empty syringe back on the night stand. I leaned my forehead on his back.
“Everything is going to be okay,” I whispered he turned around and hugged me.
“Everything was okay to begin with,” Travis said and I closed my eyes.
“You should get some rest,” I said
“That’s all I’ve been doing,” Travis said
“This time is different,” I said and I got up. I tucked him in and then I pulled up a chair and rested my head on the edge of his bed.
“You never give up do you,” Travis said
“No and I won’t let you either.” I said he just looked at me with sleepy eyes. He took my hand in his.
“When you believe in someone, you risk disappointment,” Travis said
“Then you must have risked a whole lot with me,” I said and he gave me a weak smile. “Now get some rest.”
I watched as he fell asleep. I stayed by his side, checking his back every once in awhile. I had lost track of time. I would get up and pace the room every once in awhile because I got tired of sitting for so long.
“Katelyn have you been here this whole time,” Marucs said and I nodded. “You need to go eat or do something.”
“I’m fine,” I said
“Calm down, Travis was going to be fine to begin with,” Marcus said
“Was he really, Marcus? Because last time I heard he told you not to tell me that he was dying,” I said and for once Marcus didn’t have anything to say.
“The boys told us the deal you made, they also said that it looked like you knew the latronum” Marcus said
“I made the deal to get the anecdote, you don’t think I’d really go down without a fight.” I said and I let out a sigh. “That latronum and I use to date, but the break up was pretty ugly.”
“You’ve never been good at relationships have you?” Marcus said sitting down on my chair. I took a seat on the edge of Travis’s bed.
“Eli was the worst,” I said
“How so?” Marcus said and I brought my leg up on the bed so I could rest my chin on my knee.
“He was so controlling and he had me wrapped around his finger. I was stupid to, whenever he would cheat I would go back with him. He always knew what to do and what to say.” I said
“So what changed?” Marcus said
“He tried to kill me,” I said and his eyes widened. “One day after I broke up with him, I went over to his house to pick up my things. We literally broke out into a fist fight.” I said
“Who won?” Marcus asked and I gave him a look.
“Seriously, I was put into the hospital. After he knocked me out he dropped me off there. He had pushed me and the back of my head hit his dresser.” I said
“What happened to him after that?” Marcus asked
“He disappeared,” I said
“I bet you’d like to get your hands around his neck,” Marcus said
“Are you kidding me, just looking at him brings back so many emotions,” I said and I sighed, “So much has happened its like information overload.”
“I know I saw the report about Frigus Lustitia.” Marcus said
“Lustia? It’s Iustitia,” I said
“Oh well sorry the I looked like an L.” Marcus said and a realization started to sink in.
“F. L.” I said and Marucs looked at me. We both got up at the same time, I went through my drawer of papers. I was frantic searching for the letter. I finally pulled it out.
‘Katelyn
Please enjoy this gift from us to you.
F.L’

After looking closer I saw that it wasn’t an L it was an I. They had been watching me from this whole time. I passed the paper to Marcus.
“This whole time,” I said
“I don’t understand why they want you though, I mean its not like they can get you to join them.” He said handing me back the paper. I put my hand against my forehead.
“Shit, I almost forgot, before we were being pursued a latronum told me to tell my dad that he’s finally met his match.” I said and I looked at Marcus, “My dad is still alive.”