by Melinda Hyde
We stayed there for the remainder of the day, waiting for the hot sun to sink behind the trees. The hollowness that I felt spread through my body, leaving behind cold and numb emptiness.
∆ ∆ ∆
When darkness settled in, I pulled myself from the abyss. The land was sheathed in a blanket of black, but even it wasn’t as complete as the thickened darkness of my intentions. There would be no more postponing. I needed to feel the release that came in battle.
My warriors rose up around me, looking to me for instruction. I met each of their eyes, seeing the question hanging in their depths. I didn’t need to voice what I had in mind. They would know the answer soon enough.
I turned swiftly into the trees, making a silent trek back to the clearing. My warriors fell into step alongside me. As silent as a band of shadows, we flew through the towering sea of lumber. At the edge of the forest, I slowed to lazy, creeping walk. I wasn’t in a rush. The night was young, and I was certain of the victory to come.
I emerged from the thick, green shrubs, growling low under my breath. My warriors followed me, emerging one by one, like soldiers of death from under the cover of the night. I didn’t glance at the cabin as I strolled past it. I wasn’t ready to face Leonia, or even acknowledge her—not yet.
We padded in a straight line to the border of Lenora’s cave, and I stopped short, feeling the weight of her spell. It was an impenetrable wall of magic. There was no way we could breech it. However, the creatures inside couldn’t stay tucked away forever. They would eventually have to come out, and when they did, we would be waiting.
I fixed my eyes into the impenetrable darkness that was the mouth of the cave. I couldn’t make out the monstrosities inside, but I could feel them as surely as I could feel my heart’s slow, steady thump.
I peeled my lips back, and I sent out a loud, chilling growl to announce our presence. It echoed through the clearing, winding its way through the trees behind us. It was a war cry—a warning, but it was met with deafening silence. With mounting frustration, I paced along the length of the invisible wall. My warriors did the same, fanning out to create a border of bodies.
I peered around at them to see the understanding burning in their golden irises. The anticipation of the oncoming slaughter hung heavy in the air. It wouldn’t be enough to atone for the horrors Lenora and Leonia had inflicted upon us all, but it would be a good place to start. And this time, if the witch intervened, we would quench our thirst with her blood, as well.
13.New Beginnings
Lenora
When my creatures returned, I was saddened to find that another from amongst their ranks had fallen victim to the needless war that Orin continued to wage. They came stumbling into the damp confines of our rock-walled prison. Their faces were masked in anguish and rage. I felt it, too.
To my relief, Izzy was still among the living. I had grown close to the shrewd, little woman, and to lose her would be to lose a dear friend. She had sustained a fair amount of injuries in the fallout. I knew that they would heal during her slumber, though. Upon the rising of the next moon, it would be as if nothing had ever befallen her.
I slid down on my musty bed of straw, relieved that the losses hadn’t been more significant. Even so, I knew that this couldn’t continue to go on. I had a plan, and when my creatures were regenerated, I was going to put it into motion. I had no idea if it would work. I had never attempted anything that even came close the magnitude of what I had dreamed up. So far as I knew, nobody had. Still, I was willing to try anything, at that point.
My creatures didn’t bother to speak, and I didn’t push them. I understood that the losses they had sustained were wearing them thin. They were mourning, and they were angry at their inability to avenge their loved ones. The sobriety in the air pressed in around us from all directions. It was suffocating.
As a small amount of light began to sneak into the cave, and I was jerked out of my thoughts by the sound of angry shouts coming from outside. I blinked several times to suppress my disorientation, then tiptoed to the mouth of the cave. The day was only just beginning. The dew hadn’t even evaporated from the ground.
It was that in-between time, when it wasn’t quite day. Yet, the night had drained away. Soft, glowing shadows still played across the land, contouring the trees and grass. It made such a peaceful backdrop for the bitterness that was determined to corrupt it.
The shouts of dismay continued, coming from around the cabin. I tilted my head in speculation, wondering what was amiss. That’s when a lethal bundle of motion sprang into the soft light. It streaked across the open clearing and into the shelter of the tree. My brows drew in, as I watched the creature go.
Somewhere from behind the cabin, I could make out Orin’s gravelly voice growling in utter outrage. Then, another streak of motion blurred into the open, racing after the first. I watched after them, confounded by what was happening. It made no sense.
What happened next painted the missing piece of the picture. I felt the muscles of my face go slack, and I felt a pinch of pity tug at my heart. It seemed that my sister had found what I had previously suspected.
She came around the corner of the cabin, with her chin held high and shoulders squared. Her posture was one of full of confident pride, but she wasn’t fooling me. She made it half way to the door, before her brave façade melted away. Her lips began to tremble a bit, at the strain of the raging storm she held in check. Then, a hole broke in the dam, and her emotions became unhinged.
I watched as my sister fell forward, unto her knees. She hinged at the hip, crying out her agony to the uncaring dust. Sobs shook her body, and a wave of unending tears washed down her pale cheeks.
I threw a brief glance to Aleksandra. She was curled up in a ball, still lost somewhere in the land of her dreams. I took a deep breath, before coming to a decision. Leonia was still my sister; she always would be.
I stepped out into the dim, morning light, cautiously scanning the woods for any signs of life. There were none, but I hadn’t expected there to be. If my suspicions were correct, it would be some time before Orin decided to return—if ever. The others didn’t frighten me, so much. They were his lackeys, nothing more than a band of mindless minions, who would do that which they were told.
The earth was cool and yielding under my feet, unlike the rock studded floor of my cave. The thick, overgrown grass brushed against my knobby ankles, giving way beneath my feet to muffle my approach. Leonia didn’t look up when I came to her side, but her shoulders squared back, drawing themselves up with tension.
“What do you want, Lenora?” Her head was hung low, and her messy, black hair spread out from the crown of her head, curtaining her features.
I exhaled slowly, wondering if I had made a mistake in coming to her. “I saw what happened.” I waited, but the silence stretched painfully thin between us. “The warring between my creatures and yours has become tiresome, Leonia. I’m leaving.” That tidbit of information captured her attention. She turned her tearstained, mud streaked face up to mine. “I came because I want you to come with me. I saw what happened. It’s over, Leonia. What Orin has done this time is unforgivable. You have to see that,” I said, my words coming faster, driven by the note of desperation that I couldn’t hide.
The anger drained away from Leonia’s features, leaving them washed in pale, pained agony. “Leaving won’t save them, Lenora. Orin will hunt them to the ends of the earth, if he has to.” She shook her head, sending her black hair flying, and she made a muffled grunt beneath her breath. “As for me, I can’t leave. Maybe Orin won’t come back, but I can’t just walk away.” Fresh tears strolled soundlessly down her cheeks, rewetting the trails of dried dust on her skin.
I hadn’t truly expected her to come with me, but I was still disappointed by her answer. “I can’t make you see reason. I’ve done everything I could to make you see that, that man is no good for you.” Her eyes hardened to glittering pools of honey under the reflection of the increasing lig
ht. “I have to go now.” I stooped down, taking her limp hand in mine. “You’ll always be my sister, Leonia—always.”
I stood up abruptly, backing away. The look in Leonia’s dark, chocolate eyes wavered with uncertainty, but I couldn’t linger. It was dangerous for me to be out in the open. It was even more dangerous to leave Aleksandra to her own devices.
I reluctantly turned away from Leonia, and I swiftly made my way back to the cave. Today would be the last day we spent inside our dark, rocky prison. It would be the last day that I harbored hope that my sister and I would ever be as we once were, as well. Tonight, I would be leaving, and my creatures would be coming with me. Leonia had said that Orin would hunt my creatures to the ends of the earth. That was fine.
∆ ∆ ∆
When the little bit of sunlight that filtered into the cave blinked away, I stood in the darkness, steeling myself for the night ahead of me. Outside, I could hear the vengeful growls of Orin and his followers. They had the exit completely surrounded. I grunted as I listened to the panthers that paced outside. Orin’s lust for blood knew no bounds.
If I had to guess, their plan was to wait us out. I felt a small, satisfied smile curved across my lips. My only regret would be that I wouldn’t be there to witness the look of sheer shock and outrage on Orin’s face when he discovered what I had done. That was, if I was successful, I reminded myself, tempering my premature feelings of triumph.
Off to the side, I could hear my creatures begin to rise. I wasn’t disillusioned. I knew that they were still besieged with fury. It was going to be difficult for them to rein in their yearning for battle, but they were going to have to. I would leave them no choice. To rush into battle again would be more than foolish.
Izzy came out of her slumber looking every bit an atrocious creature of the night. Her mousy, brown hair was matted in knots around her head. Since she had lost Karl, she seemed to have lost the will to keep up her appearance. Still, there was something beautiful about the plain simplicity of her features. Her eyes blazed bright, brilliant silver, going paler even than her washed-out skin, and her lips were pulled taunt, revealing her fangs. Behind her, the others appeared out of the gloom, like a mirrored, ghastly reflection.
I stepped forward, placing my hand on Izzy’s shoulder, hoping the contact would ground her. It didn’t. Her head whipped in my direction, and her empty eyes locked onto mine. I shivered, despite myself, and I could feel Aleksandra wrap herself in the spare folds of my gown. Even for me, the sight of my creatures in their true form was off-putting.
I took a deep breath, imploring her with my eyes. “Izzy, I need you tonight. I need you here, and I need you sane.” She glanced out into the darkness, where her foes stood waiting. “Izzy, listen to me.” I tightened my grip on her shoulder. “I need you here with Aleksandra. I’m leaving, and she can’t stay here alone.”
Her fangs retracted. “What do ye’ mean yer’ leaving?” Her voice was inhuman, and it made me recoil inside. “Where are ye’ going?” Her eyes narrowed.
I sighed at the suspicion I felt radiating from her. “I won’t be gone long. I’m going to find a place where we can live in peace, far away from the fiends outside.”
The silver rage drained slowly, allowing the brow to creep across her irises. “Ye’ can’t go out there. They’ll maul ye’. They’re unfeeling devils.” Worry lines sank into the creases of her forehead.
My smile was weak, but I hoped it was convincing. “I’m not going out there,” I assured her. She tilted her head, eyeing me curiously. “Where I’m going, I must go alone, but if I meet with success, we’ll soon be able to leave this place behind.”
I could feel the worry and doubt emanating from her, and I could hear the restless shuffle of the others behind us. After a drawn-out silence, though, she dipped her head in a slight nod. I glanced down at the blue-eyed innocent peeking out of her hiding place. Only her eyes and a few stray wisps of her untamable hair were visible.
I lowered my hands, and I gently tugged the fabric aside. Aleksandra wrapped her tiny arms around my leg, clinging on for dear life. My heart melted for her, as I peeled her away. Her eyes darted around frantically, still frightened by my creatures.
Izzy held out her arms to receive the child, and I passed the girl into her protective embrace. Aleksandra grunted and squirmed, trying to free herself, but Izzy held tight. As I walked away, I could hear the girl begin to cry out for me. I couldn’t look back. I was determined to give her a better home than the dark, filthy cave. I was going to give her the freedom to be a child.
I padded over to the edge of the deep, murky pool at the back of the cave. For some, its blackened depths may have been disconcerting—frightening, even. Yet, I knew that there was potential there. It beckoned to me, even in its unnatural stillness. Not even a ripple drifted across its surface. It was as smooth as a pane of glass, like a window to another world.
I lifted the hem of my skirt with a shaky hand. My dagger was hidden beneath its folds. I wrapped my fingers around the studded hilt, and I extended it out in front of me. The blade was barely visible in the darkness, but a little bit of light still glanced off the blade’s deadly edge. I brought that edge to my palm and pulled it across the soft, tender flesh. The pain was intense but not unbearable. I winced, then repeated the motion across my other palm.
When both of my palms were split and bleeding, I let the dagger clatter to the floor at the edge of the pool. It hit the stony ground with a clang that bounced off the walls around me, and I absently kicked it aside. I dipped the index finger of each hand into the crimson liquid that flowed freely from my palms, trickling in steady steams between my fingers, and I traced a series of swirling patterns across my face.
The space around me blazed up with a soft glow. I didn’t need to look to know that the red liquid had transformed into spirals of blue light lying against my skin. I could feel its warmth, almost scalding the emblems into my flesh. I closed my eyes, taking a deep, uneven breath to steady my nerves, then opened them up.
I moved my foot forward, into the dark, shadowy water. It was cold, almost unbearably so, like the punishing hands of death. I shivered as that thought passed through my mind, but I knew there was no going back. I took another, more confident step, and the water turned icy blue around my legs. I took another step, then another, until only my head remained above the striking blue water.
Thousands of thoughts raced through my mind—most of them doubts. If I failed, I wouldn’t be coming back. This pool was destined to become either my future or my grave. I swallowed past the mounting fear that clawed at the back of my throat, and I looked straight ahead, feeling the gentle ease of acceptance pass through me. Without another thought, I threw my hands overtop my head and dove forward, completely submerging myself beneath the icy, fathomless surface.
14.Glimpse
Leonia
All of the pain that my magic had held in check rushed to the forefront of my mind. It crushed down on me like a heavy weight, forcing me to my knees. I fell forward in the plush blades of grass, rooting my fingers into the dirt at their base. I brought up two fistfuls of grass, and I hummed them to the side. They hurled away from me, leaving empty patches of damp soil behind.
I couldn’t understand how Orin could so completely betray me. Even now, when the truth had so harshly revealed itself, he still wasn’t at my side. He had loped off after his little strumpet, like a lovesick puppy. I had no idea if he would return to the cabin—to me.
In my heart of hearts, I hoped he would. Everything I had done in the past year was for him. I had even given his lover the same gifts as the others, though I hadn’t known about their involvement at the time. Whatever he did, he wouldn’t be with her. That thought brought me a small measure of comfort.
By the time I heard the soft press of feet against the thick carpet of grass, I had sunken deep into my own private world of misery. I didn’t bother to face the intruder. I knew who I would find. I could tell from the direction t
he approach had originated from.
She stopped several feet away from me. I could see her from the corner of my eye, standing awkwardly at my side. Anger swelled up inside me, like a festering wound filled with pus. I clenched my hands so tight that I thought my dull nails might break through my palms.
Orin’s infidelity wasn’t her fault. I couldn’t blame Lenora for the choices he had made, but much of what had happened was because of her. It was her doings that had spurned things into action, causing an unstoppable chain of events. That series of events had delivered us to where we were.
I wanted to hate her for it. I wanted to throw myself at her and pummel her with my fists. I wanted to scream my agonized frustrations in her face. Yet, she was my sister, and the one person who had never left me. Somehow, despite the mass of resentment I harbored for her, her presence still seemed to balm my wounds, even as it rubbed them raw.
When the silence stretched on, curiosity got the better of me. “What do you want, Lenora,” I asked, keeping a level tone.
She fidgeted with the tattered sleeve of her gown, as she began to speak. The words poured from her in a soulful steam of hope, but the wall inside of me never shook. It remained strong, held together by a mortar made of anger. Then, when she informed me of her plan to leave, the bricks began to fall away, leaving holes in my defenses.
Dread filtered through my mind, and I finally turned my eyes up to meet hers. They were the same shocking blue that they had always been, and they were still sharp, brimming with intelligence. I could almost see the thoughts being knit behind them. I could also see the seriousness of her intent, and it made me feel like a lost and frightened child.
I don’t know where the words came from, but they flew from my mouth. I told her that Orin would never stop hunting for them, and that much I knew was true. He wouldn’t rest until they were purged from existence. Then, with another wave of grief, I declined her offer.