Angst Box Set 2

by David Pedersen

  Marisha paused, looking at him with a startled expression. “Angst,” she said, her high-pitched voice quavering. “What’s happening to me?”

  “Bring me to the ground,” Angst said. “We’ll figure this out, together.”

  The bright moon illuminated her face, and it was filled with confusion and panic. She looked so unsure he worried she would let go.

  “Something is terribly wrong with you,” he said. “Let me help.”

  “No,” she squawked, suddenly diving to the ground.

  They crashed hard, knocking the air from his lungs and the sense from his head. He should’ve died, but at the last second, Marisha had rolled to her back and taken the brunt of the blow. She was fighting whatever was changing her. Angst had to hurry and snap her out of it before she snapped him. He pushed himself away with a wheeze as she struggled to sit.

  They were back at The Fette. With the bonfire blazing behind him, he could see what was wrong, and it was very wrong. Her wings were now shiny black, with fleshy claws protruding from the ends. Her feet, that his jaw had great experience with, had been replaced with vicious talons. And those beautiful, muscular, tanned legs he’d been so fond of were now covered in oily feathers all the way up her torso. Under any other circumstances, he would’ve been distracted by her bare breasts, but instead he was focused on her steel-clawed fingers. It was as if all that pent up Berfemmian anger had been entirely unleashed and wrapped in an ugly package.

  “How did this happen?” Angst asked, reaching for her.

  “I’m a monster,” she cried, looking down in horror. “I just wanted the feather so I could revenge my essent. Please help me, Angst.” Marisha looked up at him with her stunning green eyes that begged for a hero.

  “Felking Angorian harpy,” Bella shouted, drawing a large mace from nowhere and swinging it at Marisha’s head. “I’ll tear off your wings!”

  “Stop,” Angst shouted. “I was just getting through to her.”

  Marisha’s hand blurred as she caught the mace in her steel-clawed hand and bent it. Her green eyes went glossy black, as all her humanity washed away. Arrows whizzed by Angst’s ear only to be batted away by black wings.

  “Bella, we’ve got to go,” Karina shouted. “There’s no time.”

  “We can’t leave Angst,” Bella said, desperation in her voice as she wielded another mace.

  Marisha’s wings spread in a dangerous arc around Angst, striking Bella with a crack. The twin crashed into her sister and they rolled to a stop. She shakily pushed herself up with one arm, her eyes wild with a fury that matched Marisha’s.

  “Angst,” Bella said. “I’m so sorry. We stayed too long, and I promised we wouldn’t.”

  Karina reached for Bella’s hand.

  “We love—” But before Bella could finish the sentence, they were gone in a flash of light.

  “Don’t mind me,” Angst said to no one. “I’ll be fi—”

  Marisha wrapped her arms around him in a crushing hold once again and flew into the sky so fast he lost his breath.

  “Get her, Angst,” Alloria cried after him. It didn’t help.

  The Berfemmian flew so fast, he wondered if she’d been turned into a swifen. He could’ve crushed her bones or created an air shield for her to fly into, but the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. She was Faeoris’s best friend. He’d liked her before she was covered in greasy, black feathers and smelled like she’d never bathed. Angst tried shouting, and pleading, but Marisha continued diving up into the clouds. There had to be another way to distract her, to grab her attention and reason with her. He had to bring her back again, and only one thing came to mind.

  Angst turned his head to take a deep breath of fresh air, puckered his lips, and kissed her full on the mouth. Her eyes went wide, but she didn’t pull back. Instead, she met his lips with a burning passion. Marisha’s hunger went far deeper than he’d expected, and that was when he remembered. The Berfemmian were stuck in their mating cycle.

  Whatever dark magic had overtaken Marisha hadn’t quashed her base instinct to procreate. In another world, in another lifetime, this could’ve been amazing. Except, it wasn’t. This Berfemmian, this harpy’s desire was instinct. His physical reaction was instinct, but he didn’t want to be with her every bit as much as he didn’t want to be with Alloria.

  They’d stopped high in the clouds while he tried to think as she made love to his face. There was no keeping up with her hunger, and he was grateful no one could hear his comical moaning noises. She clawed at his back, digging into his skin. It burned and felt wet. She pulled away to smell the blood. Now the moaning was less funny.

  “Bring us to the ground,” he muttered, gently. “Where we can be together.”

  She drew back long enough to screech, “Yesssss.” It was far less sexy than any fantasy he would’ve had of Marisha. Not that he’d fantasized about her. Nope.

  He’d hoped to come up with a plan during their slow descent but spent most of his time dodging her pointy, bird-like tongue that darted at his mouth like an attacking wasp. Any time he’d pull back for a breath, she’d jerk his head forward with a painful grip. Without warning, Marisha threw him to the ground.

  The landing jarred every bone from shoulder to hip. The sudden ground and lack of air made him dizzy. They had landed by the fire once again. Her clawed feet held down his legs as her steely fingers slashed away his shirt and cut into his chest. Would she actually sex him to death like Faeoris had initially planned to do? It wouldn’t be the worst way to die. Though, with this version of Marisha, it might.

  A steely hand grasped the back of her neck and drew Marisha off, throwing her to the ground. The silver flash of a blade swung back and forth in a blur, reflecting firelight in burning arcs. Dark feathers flew as though a pillow had broken its seams, and Marisha rose into the air. Her eyes went from black to green and then black again as they looked at Angst with hurt and betrayal. With a final screech, she flew away into the night.

  “Marisha,” Angst called, reaching after her. “Let me help you.”

  That same, armored hand grasped his and pulled Angst to standing. The tall man removed both gauntlets, dropping them on the ground before removing his helm.

  “No,” Alloria gasped.

  “Yes,” Ivan said, his snide tone resonating in Angst’s head like a bad chord.

  Angst reeled in shock, looking from Ivan to Alloria. The tall knight grabbed him by the remains of his tunic and slapped him across the face.

  16

  The raven-feathered Berfemmian launched at the giant wolf and struck it across the mouth. Her lochaber axe met bone with a crack, and the wolf yelped. A bloody tooth flew out, and globs of red dribbled from its chin.

  The tooth landed with a thud mere inches from Tori. She gasped at the size of it, breathing in the gamey copper scent of the wolf’s wound. The fear that kept her from moving also held in the contents of her stomach. Victoria didn’t want to be anywhere near the battle between these two predators. Even if she survived their fight, she had no interest in being next.

  She pushed herself up, and both creatures took note. Alyss screeched like a hawk, raising the axe high over Victoria. The wolf’s ear-ringing bark stopped the dark woman. Alyss looked from Victoria to the wolf and then the sky. The Berfemmian leaped up and turned to flee, her black wings reaching wide. The giant wolf lunged, its jaws clamping hard around Alyss’s tiny waist, pulling her back to the ground.

  It shook its head back and forth violently, like a dog winning tug-of-war. Blood splattered nearby trees as feathers drifted in the air. There was a gurgling scream and a crunching sound. The great wolf wagged its tail and eyed Victoria. Lowering his enormous head, he let the Berfemmian’s body roll out with a stream of red slobber. It landed next to the giant tooth.

  Her heart raced, but the beast just stood there, smiling. His tail wagged excitedly as if he’d just delivered his favorite stick.

  “Good…dog?” Victoria squeaked between breaths.


  A head peeked out from behind the dire wolf’s ear. Sean waved, his teeth shining in a broad grin. The young man grasped handfuls of white fur as he climbed down the wolf’s shoulder. He patted the beast and nodded slowly. After a few more tail-wags, the wolf ran off with its prize.

  “Thanks,” Victoria said, clutching her ribs. She struggled to catch her breath. Fortunately, the pain in her ankle kept her from passing out. “Sean, can you…see to the others.” Gasp. “Try waking them.”

  He nodded, rushing to his brother. That made sense; Simon could heal. She dragged herself to a satchel lying near a tree and fumbled for a flask of water. Mead would’ve been better. After gulping generous quantities of not-mead, she coughed and hacked her way to Mirim. The dark-skinned captain was moaning, pressing her palms against her temples.

  Victoria reached out, handing over the flask.

  “This better be mead,” Mirim grumbled.

  She shook her head. “You okay?”

  “More frustrated than hurt,” Mirim said as she capped the flask. “We lost that fight and have a lot to cover, Your Majesty.”

  “Later,” Victoria said.

  “You look pale,” Simon said shakily. “Let me heal you.”

  “Just the ankle,” Victoria said, braving a smile. “Let’s make sure you have enough energy for this mess. Why don’t you see to the idiots next? Probably Dallow. I think he can heal too.”

  At one end of the clearing, Jaden lay flat on his back, his arms spread wide as though he’d lost a drinking battle with a bachelor party. At the other end, Dallow had collapsed after body-hugging a tree. His eyebrows and bangs had been completely burnt away, and ash covered a face of burn scars. After repairing Victoria’s ankle, Simon made his way to Dallow and placed a hand on his chest.

  “This sort of healing isn’t my specialty,” Simon said, his hands glowing blue. “I never know how much…”

  There was a flash of light followed by a loud pop. Dallow gasped as his body writhed. The scars washed away, and hair sprouted from his brows. “What was that?” Dallow said, his body still jerking. “Did you give it to me all at once?”

  “Sorry,” Simon said. “I was nervous.”

  “You did great,” Victoria said, coughing out a chuckle. “Please heal Jaden too. I think he’s more injured, so try a little harder.”

  “If you’re sure.” Simon looked at Victoria warily.

  “I insist,” Victoria said with a wry smile.

  As if struck by a tiny bolt of lightning, Jaden went rigid. Before the young man could speak, his body convulsed in that same wiggly dance Dallow had done. He then sat up straight and shouted, “Don’t you ever heal me like that again. And you…” He shakily pushed himself up and stumbled to Dallow. “I told you to wait. Those two spells, cast at the same time…you almost killed us all!”

  “Me,” Dallow said, pointing a trembling finger at Jaden. “I made it perfectly clear what I was going to do, and you still—”

  “Enough,” Victoria shouted. Her lungs protested with a vengeance of bloody coughing that silenced everyone. The rest of her words came out in a whisper. “Another word, another spell, and I’ll command Simon to heal you again. Understand?”

  Both men nodded, their anger replaced with concern.

  “Don’t touch me,” Mirim said, dodging Simon’s glowing hand. “I can handle pain. Not sure I can handle your cure.”

  Simon looked exhausted when he finished healing Nikkola, as if he was pouring his own life into the others.

  “Sean,” Victoria said. “Can you have your, uh, friends help us find Rose?”

  Sean began chittering and squeaking. Dozens of squirrels leaped from nearby trees and brush, rushing off into the forest.

  “Found her,” Simon said, patting Sean on the shoulder.

  “So quick?” Mirim asked in surprise.

  “Lots of squirrels in the forest,” Simon said. “She’s in bad shape. We should hurry.”

  After ten minutes of chasing squirrels, they found Rose. She lay very still on a pile of branches and sticks as if dropped from the sky, which she probably had been. A dark-feathered Berfemmian lay in a small clearing nearby with the two foci daggers lodged in her chest. Rose had won the battle at a terrible cost. Her body was a sprawling mess of blood, held together by her armor. Everything bent wrong. Her arms and legs appeared to have new joints, some of the bones jutting out from between her armor. The branches that had probably slowed her fall had taken their price by gouging any skin not protected by plate or chainmail.

  “No,” Dallow called out, rushing to her. Rather than holding her dead body close, he straightened her limbs as best he could. He bowed his head in concentration and grasped Rose’s hand.

  “He’s going to try and heal her,” Jaden whispered to Victoria, shaking his head. “She may be Al’eyrn, but she’s only human.”

  “He loves her, and that’s enough reason to try,” Victoria said. “Would you give up so easily?”

  “No,” Jaden said sincerely. “I would never give up.” And with that, he made his way to Rose’s other hand.

  There was waiting, and more waiting as the two men did their best to revive her. The bleeding slowed but didn’t stop. Victoria felt like she was waiting for Rose to die. They needed time. Was it possible for Dallow to try poisoning Death again?

  “Simon, get over here,” Jaden snapped. “Maybe your…unique healing will help.”

  Simon stumbled over and knelt beside the young woman, squeezing his eyes shut in concentration.

  “We need to…we need to…” Dallow was stuttering, his eyes wild. “Simon, try harder.”

  “I did,” Simon said, pulling his hands away.

  “Everyone quiet,” Jaden said. He shot a look at Sean. “Everyone.”

  The forest quieted.

  There it was. Rose gasped for breath like a fish out of water. Victoria wheezed and winced as she knelt beside the young Al’eyrn. Placing a hand on Rose’s forehead, Victoria concentrated. Was it possible to save her? Did she even have a future?

  Victoria struggled to concentrate. Everything was a distraction. She couldn’t catch her breath; her own wounds had taken their toll while getting to Rose. There was still time. Somehow, Rose lived. Deathly futures blurred by as Victoria sought that one glimpse of hope. The sight of what could be had passed almost too quickly, but there it was. There was one possibility Rose would live out of the many, many futures she saw. And it was so obvious, she was almost embarrassed to share.

  “She needs her daggers,” Victoria whispered.

  “How?” Nikkola asked. “Nobody here can pick them up.”

  “Everyone help move her to the clearing,” Victoria commanded. “Get her off those branches as gently as possible.”

  “Rose will die if we move her,” Dallow said.

  Victoria shot Mirim a look. The captain nodded once and bent over to pick Rose up. Dallow tried pushing her hands away, but she gently shoved him over. Mirim struggled to find a part of her that wasn’t damaged as she lifted Rose’s tiny body. Nikkola helped, and together they rested her on leaves near the Berfemmian. Mirim set Rose’s hand on a dagger and stepped back. Breathless moments passed.

  “You killed her,” Dallow said, his lip trembling. “You killed her!”

  “Wait for it,” Victoria whispered.

  A grotesque crunch of bone was soon followed by the slurpy sound of muscle and skin knitting together. Her calf straightened as her foot twisted around until it was facing the right direction. Rose’s body began to glow a cool green as the other leg righted, and her spine stretched out to its proper length. Magic happened, and Rose became whole once again.

  “Al’eyrn,” Jaden said in reverence.

  “That bitch,” Rose snapped, opening her eyes. The dam broke, and a flood of curses poured from her mouth.

  “Good,” Victoria said in relief, gripping her side. She nodded once and collapsed.

  17

  Angst struggled to recapture reality. Ivan contin
ued slapping him across the mouth. Smack. Marisha was now evil and wanted Angst dead. Smack. He couldn’t see straight; he just needed to get his footing. Smack. The twins were here, weren’t they? Had he imagined that? Smack. How could Ivan be alive after Angst had already killed him? Smack. Distant songs warned him of something. Were his foci finally singing to him again? Smack. More than anything, he just wanted this to be over. He wanted his children back. He missed Heather desperately.

  “Stop,” Alloria shouted, grabbing Ivan’s hand.

  The knight backhanded the young princess, knocking her to the ground. That moment, that breath, gave Angst enough time to regain his senses. Reality would be something to deal with later.

  A sudden anger welled up in him, hungry to feed on this enemy he’d already killed. Lightning sparked about his arms before spilling from them, reaching out, crawling across the ground in all directions. The blue and red strings of power carefully danced around Alloria as Sir Ivan let go and shuffled away.

  “No,” Ivan cried out, trying to slap sparks away like a nest of killer bees. He took a step back, and his foot sank knee-deep into the ground. “Stop this, Angst. You deserved to be slapped. You beat me to humiliation, hunted me down, and killed me. I was a god.”

  “You were nothing more than a bully,” Angst said, his voice practically a growl. He willed the lightning to form a circle around Ivan.

  “I was sick, and you forced me away,” Ivan said, jerking away from every threatening pop. “I thought heroes were supposed to have compassion.”

  “Other heroes,” Angst said, grasping the man’s armor with his mind. More than anything, he wanted to squeeze this overripe banana until everything oozed out the top.

  “Angst, stop,” Alloria pleaded. She was suddenly at his side, tugging at an arm. She kissed his cheek, and then his lips, whispering. “Please. Please, stop. Magic sent him.”

  “I’ll send him back,” Angst shouted, his voice loud enough to shake the ground.

  Alloria winced, turning away and covering her ears. “Magic sent him,” Alloria shouted, her voice desperate. “He knows the way to Prendere. We need him to save your family.”