Wild Keepers

by Dee Bridgnorth

  He had frowned. “Perhaps. That might explain why it is missing from the room. Maybe she took it for the ritual and is intending to put it back there.”

  “Be careful,” she had whispered, gazing up at him.

  “Always,” he had whispered back. He had reached down and kissed her. It had been as dizzying and wonderful as it always was.

  He could still taste that kiss on his lips. He smiled, thinking of her. When the kiss had ended, it had taken all his strength not to blurt out that he was in love with her. Instead, he had picked up his coat and left the hotel room with an aching heart.

  On his way here, he had thought about it. Should he just tell her? But how would she react? He knew that she liked him; he could see it in the way that she gazed at him and how she responded to his touch. But love? It was so much bigger than anything that either of them had been expecting. Did she feel the same way?

  His head told him he shouldn’t say anything yet. The situation was too volatile and dangerous; he had meant it when he had told her in the cab that they had to be on high alert. A declaration of love could distract them both and make them sloppy. And that could have fatal consequences.

  He crept around the costume room, searching carefully. Where had she put it?

  An hour later, he gazed around, wearily. There was nothing here. Perhaps Maya had been right. Leonie might have borrowed it for her ritual and hadn’t put it back yet. The energy of the ill-wish had obviously lingered if that was the case, though. His hackles were raised, and he could barely suppress the growl in his throat, at even being in this room.

  Suddenly, he stilled. He could hear footsteps approaching, in the corridor outside. He turned off his torch and flattened himself behind some costumes, against the wall.

  The door creaked open. Was it Jack, doing the rounds?

  Whoever it was didn’t hesitate. They walked in confidently, a torch shining a small pool of light onto the ground in front of them. He watched them walk down one pathway, and then another, before coming to rest at the end of the room.

  The place where he had found the ill-wish the first time. The growl rumbled in his throat again.

  And then he knew who it was. Leonie. She fumbled with the torch, and he could see her blonde hair shining in the light. She reached into her pocket and took something out.

  He didn’t need to be standing next to her to know what it would be.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Evan held his breath, desperately trying to suppress the growl that was growing louder in his throat.

  She turned around, shining the torch around the room, carefully. He held his breath as he watched her, trying to shrink further back into the wall.

  She searched the room for a minute longer then seemed satisfied. She took the ill-wish and placed it back where he had first found it. She stood up, slowly, and before his eyes she transformed into her true self. He could feel her form twisting and turning grotesquely, until she was half a metre higher than her usual height.

  She was muttering underneath her breath, in a guttural tone, low and menacing. He knew, suddenly, what she was doing. She was consecrating the ill-wish; imbuing it with power over this room, once again.

  The growl rose louder in his throat.

  She stopped and turned, staring straight at him. And in that split second, he understood that she had sensed him. He had no choice, now.

  The wolf had to emerge.

  The growl rose louder again. He could feel his muscles splitting, and his bones breaking. His sight sharpened, suddenly; everything so acute that it almost pained his eyes to see. His hearing deepened, so that he could hear rats scratching in the ceiling and the footsteps of pedestrians in the far-off street.

  And he could smell the demon. That familiar, acrid scent. He could feel saliva spring into his mouth. He ached to get the creature between his jaws and break its neck in two.

  And then, everything blurred.

  ***

  The wolf leapt into the air, landing on top of the demon.

  It was a strong, lithe creature, with a magnificent coat of dark hair, the same shade as Evan’s. His deep blue eyes stared out of its face as it opened its jaws, snapping at the demon.

  But the demon was strong, too, and knew how to fight. Its claws were sharp, and it fended off the wolf ferociously. They tumbled on the floor, crashing into racks, sending them careering to the ground.

  The wolf pinned it to the ground, triumphantly. It was just about to swoop down, intending to sever the jugular vein, when the demon reared up again. It grabbed a rack, jettisoning it onto the wolf’s back. The wolf wasn’t expecting it, and howled, distracted. The demon quickly slithered out from beneath the wolf and fled into the night.

  The wolf got up, slowly, panting. It knew not to pursue the creature down the hallways of the theatre and draw attention. Instead, it limped to a spot behind a rack on a wall and slunk into the ground, catching its breath.

  ***

  Evan felt his consciousness returning slowly, almost like a hazy fog descending over the city at daybreak. Where was he?

  Slowly, it all started tumbling back into his mind. Leonie, changing into the demon and sensing him watching her. He had turned into the wolf. What had happened, in the battle? He was just about to stand up and start searching for the demon again, when he heard Jack enter the room, the light from his torch twisting in the air, making circular patterns on the wall like a crazed firefly.

  “What on earth?” Jack stared down at the overturned racks, scratching his head.

  Evan held his breath. He looked down quickly. Of course, he was completely naked, his clothes shredded. He really didn’t want to explain this to Jack if he was discovered. It would destroy his credibility, and he doubted that Jack would welcome him back to this theatre.

  The security guard was muttering underneath his breath, picking up racks and setting them back in place. He stuffed costumes on them randomly, without care. He didn’t seem keen to explore the room any further. As soon as he had set the racks properly, he quickly exited, closing the door firmly behind him.

  Evan smiled slowly. If he didn’t know any better, he would say that Jack had been spooked. The evil in this room had obviously affected the security guard as much as it did everyone else, and he hadn’t wanted to linger. Evan doubted there would even be a mention of this when he wrote his nightly report.

  He had a lucky break.

  He stood up, slowly, shivering in the dark. The demon had obviously retreated; she wasn’t in this room any longer. He sensed it even before his mind had deduced it.

  He walked to where she had placed the ill-wish, crouching down. Yes, there it was. He reached out and grabbed it. But before he could examine it further, it was consumed with fire, and he dropped it. He watched it burn to ashes before his astonished eyes.

  Was that it, then? He had never dealt with these things before and wasn’t sure. Was it because he was a shapeshifter, and its mortal enemy, that it had dissolved to nothing like this? Did this mean that its power over this room was vanquished?

  He reached out and picked up a piece of smouldering ash, smearing it between his fingers. It seemed to be gone. He sat back, staring around the room, trying to sense if it was any different. But nothing was detectable yet.

  Well, there wasn’t any more that he could do now, anyway. The ill-wish had burnt to ashes; whether that meant that its power was gone, he didn’t know. And now he was almost one hundred percent sure that it had been the same one that Maya had seen at the ritual. The fact that Leonie had come here, in the night, to return it to its usual spot confirmed it.

  He shivered in the dark room. How much time had passed since he had transformed? He needed to get back to Maya, and see that she was safe.

  There was the small matter of his clothing. He walked back and picked up his torn t-shirt and jeans. He couldn’t put them back on and walk the city streets, hail a cab, in them. He looked around quickly.

  Shrugging, he grabbed the nearest
costume off a rack and put in on. He would probably look like he was going to a costume party, but he had little choice.

  ***

  Maya’s eyes widened in astonishment as Evan walked into the hotel room.

  “What on earth are you wearing?” she exclaimed. “You look like the Pied Piper!”

  Evan laughed, peering down at his outfit of red leggings and voluminous multi-coloured shirt. “Necessity is the mother of invention,” he remarked drily. “Never say that I am not open-minded.”

  Maya gaped, almost speechless. “Evan, what happened?”

  He sat down on a chair, staring at her. “I had a confrontation with Leonie,” he replied slowly. “I had to change into the wolf to battle her.”

  Maya’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, no. Are you alright?”

  He nodded wearily. “I’m fine,” he said. “A few scratches, that’s all. I’m just bitterly disappointed that I didn’t kill her, once and for all.”

  “She escaped?”

  “Yes, she did.” He frowned. “And I have no idea if she is injured or not. When I came back to my usual self, she was gone. There is good news, though.” He paused, staring at her. “The ill-wish is gone. It burnt to ashes in my hand.”

  Maya’s eyes widened, again. “So you found it?”

  “She came in while I was searching for it,” he replied. “She placed it in its usual spot, and then transformed into a demon, muttering over it. She sensed that I was in the room. That was why I had to fight her.”

  Maya nodded, her face white. “Evan, does that mean its power is gone? And that it was the same one that she placed on the coffee table at the house?”

  “I think it’s the same one,” he said, slowly. “It would explain why I couldn’t find it, and why she was there returning it. As to whether its power is gone…well, I simply don’t know yet.”

  She walked over to him, slowly, and kneeled in front of him. She stared up at him with her large brown eyes, which were swimming with tears.

  “Are you sure you are okay?” she whispered, taking his hand.

  He stared down at her. “I’m okay,” he said. “Just tired, and I feel a little bit sick. That’s all normal after a transformation. It takes a lot out of me.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered, hesitantly. “For everything. You are so brave.” She blinked back tears. “I never thought of what it must be like, changing…into a wolf. I can’t even imagine.”

  He stroked her hand, gently. “The first time it ever happened was insane,” he said slowly. “Even though I had been told to expect it, it was still the scariest thing that had ever happened to me. Like I said, it takes a lot of out of you. Some shifters have it worse than others, though. I recover fairly quickly, but it is still disorienting not being able to remember what happens when I am the wolf.”

  She nodded. “You can’t remember anything?”

  He shook his head. “Not really. Some things come back, but I wouldn’t call them memories. More like sense impressions. A smell, or a feeling. Everything is heightened as the wolf, and that lingers sometimes.”

  She stared up at him. “It must be so hard, being…like you are. Being forced to live the life you do. You don’t have a choice, do you?”

  He sighed, shaking his head. “I am what I am,” he replied. “You learn to accept it. And to tell you the truth, realising and accepting that I can change into a wolf has been easier than living under a curse.”

  Her hand tightened on his. “We are going to change that,” she whispered fiercely. “You aren’t going to die, Evan.”

  He smiled slightly. “I don’t know if I can change it, Maya,” he said. “Even if I kill Leonie, and even with the ill-wish destroyed, I just don’t know. It might be permanent.”

  She shook her head wildly. “No. You have to believe that if she is defeated, the curse will be defeated as well.” She paused, staring at him. “It’s better than nothing, isn’t it?”

  He sighed. “Yes, it is better than nothing. And I can almost believe that I was meant to get this case, so that I could confront the demon that did this to my family.” He took a deep breath. “It’s like it has come full circle. I didn’t want to take this case, Maya. I thought that some of my brothers were better suited to it, and I argued against it. But I am so glad now that I was sent to that theatre.”

  Maya nodded. “Yes. You have the chance to break the curse, once and for all.”

  He smiled. “That’s not the main reason I am grateful.” He gazed at her, his eyes shining. “I am grateful because it led me to you, Maya. I think that it was meant to be for another reason.”

  She gasped. The air was so full of emotion between them that it was as if it was consuming the room.

  “I think it was meant to be, too,” she whispered, her heart so heavy with yearning she could barely speak.

  He reached out and gently stroked her face. She turned towards his hand and kissed it.

  “There isn’t time now,” he said roughly. “For everything that I want. We must be on full alert. But, Maya…” he hesitated, then plunged on. “After this is all over, and if we win, can you tell me that I might have a chance with you?”

  She swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat. “Yes, Evan. Most definitely.”

  They didn’t speak any further. They simply leaned in towards each other, yearning for something that might never have the chance to blossom fully.

  ***

  Maya dabbed the powder on her face one last time. She stared at herself in the dressing room mirror, surrounded by bright lights. She knew that she was pale beneath the heavy stage makeup, but no one else should notice.

  She was no longer herself. She was the character of Giselle.

  She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself amid the frantic chaos of the dressing room. It was opening night, and everyone’s nerves were frayed. People were tripping over each other in the small space; one dancer had managed to tear her costume, and Sian the seamstress was doing an emergency repair to the gown; Vera and Freddie were barking last-minute instructions over the babble of nervous conversation.

  She closed her eyes, trying to find that calm centre in herself that she needed to perform properly. She was used to opening-night nerves, but it never got any easier. And, of course, it was especially fraught for this performance.

  She opened her eyes, again, staring at herself in the mirror. And that was when she saw Leonie, gazing at her in the mirror. The woman was standing directly behind her, and her eyes were cold.

  Then Leonie smiled, briefly, and moved away.

  Maya felt a shiver go through her, from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet. She looked down, and could see that her hands were trembling violently.

  It was only the second time that she had seen Leonie since Evan had fought her that night. The next day she had called up, saying that she was sick and needed time off. Freddie had almost had a stroke, but there was nothing he could do about it. Leonie had assured him that she would be fine for opening night.

  She had been true to her word. She had attended the last rehearsal today, and here she was now, all dressed for her role as Myrtha, the Queen of the Wilis.

  Maya had been grateful that Leonie had been absent, but she still had to contend with the other girls. The strain of it, plus the anxiety over opening night, had almost been too much. But she had pushed through it all, with the support of Evan.

  He had barely left her side, even sleeping on the sofa in the hotel room, so that she would feel safe while she slept. She had longed to call out to him in the night and ask him to share the large bed with her, but she knew it wasn’t the time. She had to focus, and so did he.

  It was almost over. Another month of performances, and then they would be able to finally explore the promise of what lay between them.

  If he defeated the demons, of course. She felt another shiver go through her at the thought of the danger he was in.

  He had wanted to go and put an end to the demons, but she
had stopped him, telling him that Leonie and the others were needed in Giselle. It would be too much for Freddie to replace all of them at the last minute, and if she had committed herself to this, she needed it to succeed. There was little point sacrificing herself by staying here for it if it was all going to crumble to ruins anyway.

  Evan had not been happy. In fact, they had argued the point heatedly. But he had agreed, eventually.

  She picked up her powder puff and dabbed at her nose, absentmindedly. In the mirror, she could see Leonie sitting at her own mirror, applying her lipstick. Maya watched her, trying not to make it obvious.

  What had been wrong with her? Evan had said that she was probably injured from their battle and healing her wounds. Lying low, so she could fight another day. Maya cast her eyes over Leonie, trying to find any evidence that she had been hurt. But she couldn’t see anything, and the woman had been walking as normal. In fact, she had been especially supple during rehearsal that day.

  She took a deep breath and placed her powder puff on the dressing table. She couldn’t think about it any further. She had to concentrate on what was just ahead.

  She stood up. The dancers were all moving out of the dressing room now, ready to take their places in the wings. To wait for the moment when the performance would start.

  Maya walked past Leonie, feeling her skin prickle. This was going to be hard, but she was a professional.

  The show must go on.

  ***

  Maya peeped through the curtain, taking a deep breath. The theatre was almost full; she could see that most people had taken their places, but some were still being escorted to their seats. All were dressed in their finest; the women were resplendent in long, flowing gowns and jewels, and the men smart in black tuxedos.

  She gazed up at the boxes. Yes, she could see her parents were already in their box, staring down at their programmes. Her mother was wearing a new designer dress, one that she hadn’t seen before, but that was not unusual. Her mother bought a king’s treasure in new clothing all the time. Her father was wearing his old tux that had obviously been professionally pressed.