by Melinda Hyde
I fell back in the lush, blue-green grass, lapping up heavy pants of air. My entire body ached with stinging soreness. My exhausted limbs shivered and shook, and my eyelids felt like the weight of gravity was calling them down.
I couldn’t afford to rest—not yet, at least. I had started something, and I needed to see it through. I rolled onto my side, pushing up on my hands and knees, making my way up on unstable legs. I staggered to the back of the boulder. I flicked my finger to the stone, and a small piece broke away, falling to the ground.
I carefully bent over to retrieve the circular fragment. It was smooth and light in my hand. I turned it, examining its surface. Like the stone it had come from, it was light grey, with a hint of muddied red flecked throughout.
On one side, the tiny rock was engraved with the same patters as the other, except they were much smaller. Another difference was that no traces of the blue energy was visible along the patterns, but I knew it was there, hidden inside. I could feel it.
I pointed at the top of the fragment, and I sent a small sliver of energy barreling through it. I eyed the tiny hole with a sense of satisfaction, then bent down to rip a thin strip of fabric from the hem of my gown. I laced the material through the hole, before knotting the two ends together. Then, I slipped the throng over my head, allowing the weight of the stone to settle against my chest.
My feet dragged the ground as I made my way to the sparkling pool. Despite how exhausted I was, I couldn’t help but smile at the simplicity of the beauty before me. I trailed my fingers across the amulet that I had created, and I lifted it out, over the water, envisioning the dull, dark cave. A tear in the fabric of my world opened up in front of me, and I stepped through to the other side.
My feet touched the dusty, pebbled floor inside the cave, and a wave of animosity crashed into me. My creatures glanced back at me in relief, then turned their attention back to the mouth of the cave. The invisible barrier I had erected to protect us was being battered by a frenzy of teeth and claws. No matter how hard Orin and his fools tired, they would never break through—not until I let it fall.
I rushed over to Izzy, and I took Aleksandra from her arms. The girl’s face was deathly pale, and her eyes were popping with fear. She looped her chubby arms around my neck and buried her face in my wispy hair.
Relieved of her duties, Izzy started toward the mouth of the cave, but I took her by the arm. “No, Izzy. They can have this place. We’re leaving.” I took a deep breath, still winded from all I had endured.
Izzy eyed me with skepticism, then glanced to the back of the cave. exhibiting a hint of reluctance. “What are ye’ talking about, witch? The only way out is through that gap, and I don’t think those beasts are leaving no time soon,” she stated, pointing to where Orin and his minions relentlessly pummeled the entrance.
The others watched us, drinking in what I had said. I allowed my eyes to drift around, meeting each of theirs, in turn. “I need you to trust me. That’s all I’m asking. I have a place for us, and I have a way for us to get there,” I annunciated, in a firm, level tone, as my eyes came back to Izzy’s.
Izzy’s features clouded with indecision. She scrunched her face back, sending a menacing glower at our attackers. I knew she wanted to barrel out into the night to finish what had been started. Yet, I also knew that if she did, it would be the last time I ever saw her. She knew it, too. After a moment she whirled around to the back of the cave.
I heaved a gentle sigh of relief. “Come on. The sooner we leave, the better.” They followed me to the back of the pool, and I turned to face them. “I’ve created a place for us. I’m going to open up a doorway to allow you to pass through. I’ll be following behind.”
Everyone nodded their understanding, and I passed Aleksandra back to Izzy. The girl was reluctant to leave my arms, but she didn’t put up much of a fight. I spun around to the black, motionless water, holding out my amulet. The space above the water opened up, and my creatures scurried through.
Once the last one had disappeared into the portal, I turned back to the mouth of the cave. I extended my free hand out and yanked at the air in front of me. I didn’t see it, but I felt the rush of the energy, as the shield gave way. The creatures that had been battering at the barrier tumbled in.
They were surprised at first, but they quickly shook it off. I locked eyes with the biggest of the bunch, and knew, right away, that it was Orin. He let out a spinetingling yowl, and, with springing leaps, he rushed in my direction. I broke eye contact with him, whirling away into the portal, and it snapped shut behind me.
16.Veiled Intent
Orin
Ihad expected the foul beings that hid inside the cave to latch onto my bait like starving fish. Instead, we were met by deafening silence from the other side of the veil. I knew they were in there; I could smell their musky scent wafting out of the opening. Their reluctance baffled me, fraying the ends of my frazzled nerves.
To make matters worse, as time went on, my warriors began to stretch and yawn, watching the entrance with growing disinterest. That just wouldn’t do. I couldn’t afford for my men to be caught off guard. I began to pace the invisible perimeter in agitated, jerky motions, my mind wheeling with out of control thoughts.
I stopped pacing, and I cocked my head to the side, peering curiously into the darkness. An idea had occurred to me. I had always assumed Lenora’s fortress of magic was impenetrable, but I had never thought to test that theory. My whiskers twitched on impulse, as I brought my lips back into a vicious snarl.
If the fiends wouldn’t come out and face their fate, perhaps with enough effort, my warriors and I could claw our way in. With that thought in mind, I threw all my weight at the invisible wall. My claws connected with a surface that felt as hard as stone. I was momentarily taken aback. I landed on all fours, before springing forward again. Upon my first attack, my warriors had watched me curiously, but once they realized what I intended to do, they joined me in shredding at the invisible force.
The barrier proved to be every bit as sturdy as I had initially thought. We clawed ravenously at it, making the most horrendous, hair-raising sounds. I pressed my ears tight against my head to muffle the racket, but it did little good. Then, I picked up on another sound coming from inside. It was a low, snakelike hiss of anger.
I attacked the wall with renewed vigor. I knew from the sounds emanating from inside that Lenora’s creatures were tiring of our presence. It was only a matter of time before they would abandon their resolve and meet us in the throes of battle. When that time came, with the help of my men, I would rip the life from their lungs, putting an end to their obscene existence.
My paws connected with the wall again, and this time, I wasn’t jarred back from the electrical charge. I went tumbling through the barrier, crashing down on the cold, hard ground. My mind momentarily blanked from the shock of its yielding. I peered around in surprise, and my eyes connected with the icy, blue eyes of the troublesome witch.
She was standing at the rear of the cave, with one arm extended behind her and one outstretched at me. I bristled. I had, had enough of her using her magic against us.
Behind her, her creatures scurried into the deepest, darkest recesses of the cave. I chuckled inwardly at their display of cowardice. They were foolish if they thought they could run. There was nowhere for them to go. They were cornered.
My claws scratched against the gritty floor, as I urged my tense muscles to spring into action. Fear flashed across the witch’s pale features, and she threw a glance over her shoulder. I was closing the narrow gap between us. Only a few more bounds, and I would have tasted the sweet spoils of victory. I was so close that I could feel her body heat warming the air between us, when the witch whirled away from me, disappearing into thin air.
My paws landed where Lenora had been, and I skidded to a stop in front of a dark, lifeless pool of glassy water. My warriors rushed up beside me, and we surveyed every inch of the back of the cave, sniffing at the dank
air around us. The creatures’ scent hung heavy and thick around us, but there was no sign of them.
I growled, as I started to search behind the rocks and in the shallow cubbies that lined the walls around the pool, but I knew my efforts were futile. They were gone. Lenora had used her magic to shelter them, once again.
My temper mounted, until my head was swimming with waves of fury. It sickened me that the immortals had escaped. One of my warriors brushed against my side, and I swatted at him, before trotting outside.
I lowered my haunches to the dewy grass, glancing up at the sky. The night was rapidly drawing to an end., and I was no closer to meeting my goals. I shifted my gaze to the cabin. I wasn’t going home. I knew Leonia was nested snug behind those walls. No doubt, she was proud of what she had done, but she had made a grave, errant blunder.
Lenora had gotten away, for the moment. She couldn’t hide forever, though. She and her sister would pay for all the pain they had caused. That was the one vow I intended to keep, even if it took the rest of my life.
My warriors came to my side, and I peered into the woods. I still had a lot to accomplish. So, I stretched, peering into the trees that lined the clearing. If I hurried, I could reach my destination before the sun came to sit high on the horizon.
∆ ∆ ∆
After retrieving a pair of clothes from the cavern where Mallory and I had dallied, I parted ways with my men. It felt strange navigating the forest as a man. It felt wrong somehow. I had become far too comfortable in the body of a beast, I realized morosely.
I treaded clumsily, on two legs, through the underbrush, pushing aside the twigs and thorns that clawed into my sensitive skin, until I came to an opening. I glanced up at the sky. It was still dark out, but the moon had already disappeared. The sky was fading to a light shade of purple. I concluded that it was still far too early for me to set my plan in motion. So, I plopped back in the sea of leaves.
I leaned back on my elbows, thankful for the trees that masked my presence. The village below was quiet. Not a soul was stirring in its empty, dust filled streets. The villagers were all tucked away in their soft, cozy beds, leaving me my no choice but to wait. I fell back, propping my hands behind my head, and allowed myself to doze off into a light slumber.
I woke up hours later to the heavy weight of the day’s humid heat. It coated my skin with its stickiness, and a small trail of perspiration seeped through the front of my creamy-white shirt. I brushed my shaggy hair from my forehead, where it was clinging to my skin. It had been far too long since I had, had a haircut, I acknowledged.
The village below was now teeming with life. The streets were packed with vendors, offering up their services, and people strolled aimlessly down its dusty paths. Children weaved in and out of the busy crowds, lost in the careless joys of childhood. Snippets of chatter and laughter drifted up, disappearing into the greenery.
I beamed a wide, toothy smile, but not at the liveliness that encompassed the village. I smiled because it was time to set my plot in motion. I brushed the crumbling debris from my shirt and trousers, and my long legs stretched out, carrying from my hiding place.
As I neared the outskirts of the village, my heart rate doubled its beats, and I quickened my pace. It had been a long time since I had visited my former home. Suspicious faces turned to ogle me as I passed them by. They knew that I was the husband of one of the sister witches that dwelled in the hills.
Lenora’s creatures had wreaked havoc across the land. The people of this village, and several others, had lost fathers, daughters, mothers, and sons to the monstrous scourge. The villagers had no proof that the killings were connected to Leonia and Lenora, but I knew that they suspected.
I did what I could I block out the resentment that I felt rolling my way. I couldn’t fault them for being angry and apprehensive. I had made a grave err in tying myself to Leonia—one that I meant to rectify.
Whispers floated on the currents of breeze, but I marched on down the lane, until I came to the last house. It was rickety and shabby, but it was sturdy enough. I approached the weather-worn porch, and the steps squeaked, as I climbed the wooden stairs. The front door had cracks between its planks and looked as if it might collapse from its hinges. I rapped three times on its surface, then waited.
A scratchy voice grumbled inside, and the floorboards clomped as the occupant stomped to the door. The rickety thing snatched inward, and an ancient, old woman stared up at me with an irritable glower. Her hair stood out in frizzy, grey curls all around her head, and her wizened eyes sized me up, peering into the pits of my soul. She wasn’t like the rest of the villagers. Despite her age and stature, she put off a commanding energy that belayed her confident acuity.
She arched a brushy, unkept brow, and I smiled brightly in return. “We need to talk,” I said firmly, not bothering with niceties.
The woman’s lips turned up at the corners to reveal a toothless smile. “Come in, then,” she cackled.
She motioned me inside, and I obliged the invitation. She ushered me by, her frail hands batting at my lower back. The hairs went up on the back of my neck. I didn’t like the contact, but I knew better than to complain. I heard the reverberating crash of the door slamming shut, and the woman waddled to a splintered chair in the middle of the room. I slid down in the seat opposite of her, and she leaned forward, eyes shining with interest.
17.Desolation
Leonia
Ispent the day sleeping and pacing the floors of the empty cabin. Orin hadn’t returned, and I had a growing suspicion that I had lost him forever. I didn’t regret what I had done. The wench had deserved it, and so had he. Yet, the agony that hung over me was near unbearable. Despite the course he had chosen, I was still desperate to have him at my side. After all, men sometimes strayed. That was a fact of life. At least, that’s what I told myself, calling up any reason to forgive his act of betrayal.
I knew it was a lie, though. The anger and pain that bombarded me shredded through my delusional thoughts. His actions had been precise and calculated. He had brought Mallory into our home—into our lives, with every intention of taking up with her. He had even had the audacity to flaunt their sordid affair right under my nose.
By the time night fell, I had worked myself into a state of anguish. I went to the door, peering out into the night. There was nothing to be seen. Not a soul stirred in the eerie stillness that settled over the clearing. I closed the door, holding back the tears that clouded my vision. I sulked into the bedroom, and I threw myself, face down, on the cool sheets.
I don’t know how long I stayed like that. I was lost in a world constructed of grief and resentment, when a harsh, unfamiliar sound shot painfully through my head. I threw my hands over my ears to muffle the terrible racket, but it did no good.
The sound came again, and Lance began to wail. Instinct drove me to comfort him, but I knew that I had to see where the commotion was originating from. I had to know what new danger was lurking outside. On quickened feet, I forced myself past my crying child and into the main room.
At the door, I paused with my hand trembling on the latch. My fingers curled around the lock, and I eased it back, cracking the door just enough to peek outside. Then, I pressed my eyes to the opening. I could see everything in the clearing with perfect clarity. The moon was full, and she bathed the grass and trees in her glow.
The sound was louder now, and it was becoming more persistent—more frantic. It screeched, like metal against rock, making me wince. I followed the awful sound to its source. My jaw dropped, and rock lodged itself in the pit of my stomach.
Orin and his army of beasts had the front of Lenora’s cave surrounded. The dark hairs along their spines were raised like porcupine needles. They were growling and hissing, and they reared up on their thick, powerful legs, hammering the wall of magic that held them at bay.
Orin was at the center of all the commotion, driving at the wall with all of his strength. The determination of his movements left no
room for failure. He meant to break through the barrier and into the cave. If he succeeded, he would have to face Lenora, and I knew that one of them wouldn’t make it out of the confrontation alive. Their hatred of one another had come to a boiling point, and now it was bubbling over the top.
I pressed my weight against the door, sliding it back in place. My shoulder pressed into the grainy wood, and I sagged to the floor. I could still hear Lance’s cries mingled into the mass of madness, but there was little I could do for him. I curled my knees to my chest, pressing my face into the folds of my gown, and I began to gently rock back and forth.
All at once, the night went deathly still, except for Lance’s demanding bawls. I studied the door in front of me, afraid to peek outside. Temptation overrode my caution, and I eased up, opening the door. I pressed my eye to the crack, and I choked back a heartbroken sob.
Orin and his pack of panthers were trotting away from Lenora’s cave. I had no idea if they had been successful in their ill willed attempts, but they were moving in a steady line to the outcropping of trees. It was clear, from the way that he carried himself, that Orin didn’t intend to return.
I watched them, until they disappeared into the thick foliage, before glancing to Lenora’s cave. Grotesque pictures of my sister left injured and dying flashed through my mind. I swallowed hard, closing the door.
The dusty floorboards creaked, as I darted into the bedroom. I hurried over to the crib, and I scooped an angry Lance into my arms. He blinked several times, then went silent. There was a thin cover in the bottom of the crib. I wrapped it around his tiny body and padded into the main room.
At the door, I hesitated. In knew the dangers that lay beyond our shelter, and I was reluctant to expose Lance to those atrocities. I had to know what had become of my sister, though. If she needed me, and I didn’t go to her, I would have never forgiven myself.