She knew she was setting a terrible example for her daughter, and sometimes she would go a night without drinking. She would tell herself she’d do better, and then the next night she would give in and pour herself more wine. Every time she felt so much guilt. As the night went on the guilt transformed into rage and the rage would hold on until she blacked out again, always waking up in the spare bedroom. She wondered sometimes if she put herself there or if Henry, disgusted with the person she’d become, led her there to sleep. She usually couldn’t remember going to bed.
Caitlin’s depression threatened to engulf her when Marjorie appeared with a steaming plate of food. She placed it down in front of Caitlin with a glass of water. “I hope you enjoy.” She left Caitlin with another dimpled smile and headed back behind the counter.
Caitlin pushed her thoughts aside and dug in. Other than the egg yolks being a pale green color, all of her food looked like one would expect breakfast food to look. Caitlin took an experimental bite of a strip of meat on her plate. It was exceptionally tender with spices, both familiar and unfamiliar, that complimented the meat’s flavor. It reminded her of the gyro meat she got at her favorite Greek restaurant.
Although Marjorie told her the pastries wouldn’t be ready, she did provide Caitlin with a thick slice of dark brown bread sweetened with honey. Caitlin was sure it must have just finished baking, as it retained the heat from the fire. Eventually, she even braved the oddly colored eggs and found them to be so similar to chicken eggs she wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference if she were blindfolded.
After only a few minutes, Caitlin devoured all the food on her plate. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten such a hearty meal. The food helped her shaking considerably, and her anxiety had been dialed way down. “How much do I owe you?” she asked.
“Two palows and a cronum, if you please,” the woman responded. “What’d you think?”
“It was absolutely perfect,” exclaimed Caitlin, pulling three coins from a small bag attached to her belt. She was pretty sure she had given the woman the right amount. If she hadn’t, Marjorie did not correct her. “Thank you so much.”
Caitlin left the shop and started making her way back to the inn. Her belly was slightly uncomfortable as the food settled, but she would take overly full to anxious and nauseous any day. The sun was working on removing the morning chill from the air and was comforting on her skin. She stopped for a moment with her eyes closed and let it wash over her face. It was still extremely early, but more foot traffic was around now than there had been. A polite, “’scuse me, miss,” had her opening her eyes and murmuring apologies as she stepped out of the way of a man loaded down with what looked like white carrots.
She wasn’t completely free of the jitters, but the reprieve was much appreciated. Her mind felt clearer. So much information had been thrown at her the last few days. She hadn’t had time to process it all. It still felt so unreal. When she was young, she had dreamt of possessing magic of her own. She would create elaborate worlds in her imagination where she was a beautiful sorceress who contained all of the magic of the lands she ruled. It had merely been an overactive imagination. Something all kids fantasized about to one extreme or another. Never in her wildest dreams did she think it could actually come true.
Now that she focused on it, though, something pulsed inside her. Something separate from the jitters. Something electric. It felt right somehow, like it was always meant to be there. What bothered her was how she’d attained it. It first showed up in a moment of extreme emotion and then again during a separate, but no less extreme, emotion. She had no idea what it meant or how to tap into it.
She’d grill Esme while they travelled. The old woman would be stuck with her. Eventually, she would have to answer Caitlin’s questions. Even if Caitlin had to find some way to blackmail the old witch, she would get her answers. She had been so out of control for so many months it was now imperative for her to take control back.
Slowly, Caitlin made her way back to the inn. Her hour wasn’t up, so she wandered around the side to the stables in back. They were located in an expansive building with an even larger fenced outdoor arena just beyond. Jaqueel had told her the previous day the inn was just a side business to help pay for his true passion. He bred and showed horses all across Clarensdell. He was giddy as he described the different breeds that he housed in his stables. Most of the horses boarded there were owned by merchants in town. His elite breeders were kept in a smaller stable on the opposite side of the arena. He informed her, with a wink, that their foals were priced for noblemen and royalty.
Caitlin entered the larger stable. No matter how different the creatures looked, they smelled exactly the same as the horses from home. The scent wasn’t unpleasant. It conjured up memories of mucking stalls on hot summer days and emptying wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow. Her favorite horse was named Katie. She was a stunted haflinger with a long, flowing blonde mane. Caitlin had always felt a kinship with her, sharing both name and locks.
She glanced to her right, where Katie would have stood, and a mare with lemon-yellow spots poked her head over the door. A bucket by the front entrance held some of the white carrots. Caitlin picked one up and held it open-palmed in front of the horse. The mare licked up the treat and crunched happily. Caitlin scratched her behind the ear and murmured, “Good girl.” A few more heads popped out at the sound of the horse munching, hoping for a treat as well. Caitlin petted her for another minute until she heard the now familiar bugle of her moose.
She patted the mare once more and walked down to the last stall on the right. The stall opposite was empty. As were the two stalls next to Oscar. The horse kitty-corner to the moose was flush against the opposite wall looking desperately at the closed door that led to his personal outdoor enclosure. He whinnied his disapproval.
Caitlin made a “tsk” sound with her tongue and said, “Stop scaring the horses, Oscar.”
The moose had his back side toward Caitlin. At her words, he turned his big head to look at her and snorted. He then turned his head back and actively ignored her presence. “Awww, don’t be like that,” Caitlin said. When he continued to disregard her, she crossed her arms and turned her back on him. “Fine, I guess I’ll take these funny looking carrots and give them to the rest of the horses.”
Caitlin took one step forward and was immediately engulfed by a gigantic antler. She turned back around and produced one of the white vegetables she’d snagged from the bucket. Oscar sniffed it, swiftly raised his head to lick her cheek, and stole it out of her hand. He munched contentedly as she opened the latch to his stall. She was going to take him out in the sunshine and relax until it was time to grab Esme.
As soon as his freedom was assured, Oscar stepped out and exaggeratedly stretched every limb on his body. He glared at the horses he passed on his way out, and they each backed as far away from him as they could.
A smug look crossed his face. Caitlin smiled at him and gave his nose a gentle boop. “You’re nothing but trouble,” she said.
She rubbed her hands on his cheeks and behind his ears. Oscar made a crooning sound and nuzzled her. “I hope you don’t mind me removing you from your stall so early,” Caitlin continued. “I was feeling awful and couldn’t sleep. You’ve heard Esme snore, right? Sure, you have. It’s like a car that backfires all night. Not that you know what a car is, I suppose. Well, whatever, never mind that. It was loud. I thought we could hang out until it’s time to head out. Sound good?”
In response, Oscar started walking away toward the woods. Caitlin followed him. After a short while, they broke through trees into a nice sunny opening. Caitlin could still hear the ever-increasing noise of the market, and the inn’s property was still in view. Even so, it felt like the perfect semi-secluded location for the two to wait. Oscar lay down, curling his legs underneath him, and gave a contented sigh. Caitlin lowered herself and leaned up against his side.
Her body was still trying to protest against h
er. The headache had never gone away entirely, though she’d been able to distract herself from it. Caitlin focused on the large creature breathing beneath her and the sunshine lighting her face. She closed her eyes and took comfort in her surroundings as best she could. Slowly, she began slipping into slumber. The humming in the air was incredibly soothing. Her consciousness attempted to pique, but she pushed it aside.
Just as the sweet blackness of true sleep threatened to sweep her under, Oscar jumped to his feet. Caitlin fell hard against the ground. She was completely disoriented as little lights flashed into her eyesight. She thought they were from hitting her head until one of the lights landed on her forearm and jerked her entirely awake with a sizzling sting. “Ow!” she cried out as Oscar bellowed.
To her horror, the stinging lights completely surrounded her friend. “Oscar,” she screamed, jumping to her feet. She got to his side and attempted to shoo the lights away from him. Oscar lowered back down to the ground, and she jumped onto his back. He sprang up and ran away from the inhabited marketplace into the forested mountains. The lights chased after them, occasionally landing to give an electric zap.
Caitlin soon lost all track of time. It felt like hours before the tiny creatures finally fell back. Oscar kept up his breath-taking speed until well after the lights disappeared. Between one step and the next, he collapsed. Caitlin dove off of his side before his enormous weight could trap her. The moose’s tongue lolled out of his mouth, and his breaths were quick and ragged.
Caitlin ignored her bumps and bruises to focus on her companion. She crawled on hands and knees until she reached his head. She stroked him gently whispering, “Shhhh, shhhh…. Good boy, Oscar. Shhh…. You did really good.”
The moose turned his visible eye up to look at her. White, frothy foam fell from his lips and drool came off in sheets from his long, pink tongue. Caitlin continued her quiet praise until the beast’s breathing slowed and evened out. “Okay, my friend. Let me take a look at you,” she said, releasing herself from his massive head. He kept his eyes focused on her but made no move to stand. Caitlin inspected his body. She was zapped four or five times while they fled. To her horror, Oscar had hundreds of red welts rising beneath black, singed fur. Many of the welts had burst open and spewed putrid yellow-green pus down his side.
Vomit rose up her throat, and she swallowed hard to keep herself from letting it fly. Tears welled in her eyes as she took in the full extent of her friend’s wounds. “Oh, Oscar,” she said, reaching out to touch a small area of his fur that was unharmed. “What do I do?” Oscar let out a pathetic moan in response. She moved back up to his head. “It will be okay. I will make this okay. I have to find you water. I can hear some, so it shouldn’t be too far away. I’ll bring you water, and then we’ll figure this out.”
Caitlin stood, her body shaking. Oscar attempted to stand as well. “No,” Caitlin said firmly, “stay here and rest. We escaped the danger. You saved us, now let me save you.” The look on his face told her how scared he was and how hopeless he felt. It was all she could do not to curl up beside him. He needed her help now, so she turned her back on him and walked toward the sound of rushing water. He stayed where she left him.
Caitlin was worried about leaving Oscar for too long. He was injured so badly he wouldn’t be able to defend himself if some nasty creature showed up. The thought of him helpless and alone brought an image of Elise to the forefront of her mind. Caitlin increased her speed. She needed to be quick for both of them.
About ten minutes later she came upon a river. It was narrow with a fast current. She was getting ready to lower herself onto the rocky bank when the terrifying humming started up again. Caitlin’s heart pounded as she turned to run. Immediately, she was blocked by a wall of lights. She turned around but was greeted by an identical wall. Thousands of the shocking creatures surrounded her. She braced herself for the sheer, blinding pain that was to come. Clenching her eyes shut, Caitlin balled her hands into fists and waited… and waited… and waited.
Tentatively, she opened her eyes. The creatures remained in their walls, sifting from side to side minimally with the light breeze. Caitlin was unsure how to proceed. They appeared to be waiting. Very slowly, she took two steps forward. The lights in front of her jerked forward, causing her to fall hard on her backside, and then resumed their position. She turned around slowly, remaining on the ground. There wasn’t a single inch-wide gap. She couldn’t even see the trees beyond them.
Before her mind had time to run through all of the possible outcomes, the lights on her right moved apart. Behind them stood the most terrifying creature she had ever seen. Its jaws were elongated like those of a crocodile. It had boney protrusions thrusting from its face with enormously long, serrated teeth. Two gigantic horns thrust to the sky from the top of the creature’s head. Its long, serpentine neck was studded with smaller spikes. The skin wasn’t covered in scales, but instead, in a short, downy fur that started a deep copper red along the top of its back and lightened down to its belly. It had three tails. Two followed the color theme and the third had a white tip. The entire body looked like it belonged to an enormous wolf.
The beast’s eyes were clouded milky white. Caitlin had seen a blind dog once with a similar film, but these eyes were so much more shocking. The creature looked her over slowly. It inhaled deeply next to Caitlin’s cheek and flicked out its tongue to taste her. Caitlin remained statue still, too petrified to move. She was shocked when the creature said in a gravelly, feminine voice, “You must come. He requires you.” The voice slurred slightly, like someone who’d had one too many drinks.
Caitlin stammered out, “H…he?”
“He who rules. He requires you,” the wyvern-wolf creature repeated.
“Wh… where are you… you going t…to take me?” Caitlin’s body vibrated. She couldn’t keep her adrenaline under control.
“Castle. His castle. He requires you.”
“Yeah, I kind of put that together,” said Caitlin, her jaw rattling. The thought of being dragged to Helenab’s castle was as frightening as the thought of being torn apart by the powerful jaws in front of her. She had no doubt that was where the hell-beast was intending on taking her. Yeah, hell-beast seems like a good descriptor, Caitlin thought. Okay brain, now tell me how to get out of this without my face being eaten.
Electricity built within every nerve in Caitlin’s body. The vibrations synced together. She felt like she was on fire, but the fire felt right. It felt like power. She pulled in the flames and directed them to the palms of her hands. She continued to focus it until she couldn’t contain the inferno anymore. Then, she sat up straight on her knees and pointed the fire at the hell-beast. A blinding white light tore from her hands. An involuntary scream ripped from her lips as the wave of power flowed out of her. An explosion of ecstasy rippled within her as the creature shrieked.
Caitlin was so caught up in the new sensation she took no notice of the river water, now visible, rising up behind the hell-beast in a thin, swirling spiral. It hung suspended for a moment and then forcefully punctured Caitlin’s left shoulder. The intense pain made Caitlin fall all the way to the ground, effectively destroying her magical assault. Blood dripped from a wound no larger than a nickel. The water had pierced cleanly through her shoulder. She imagined being shot would feel similar.
“He requires you,” said the beast in her same slurring tone. “He does not require you whole.”
Caitlin raised her head up to look and was satisfied at the sight of a large, circular injury dripping black ichor on the hell-beast’s side. Satisfaction transformed to dismay as the wound knitted itself back together. Rage flooded off of the beast in waves. It filled Caitlin’s lungs and made her breathing labored. A rumbling growl reverberated in her chest as the beast lowered her head and raised a paw to slice the woman to ribbons.
“Shuri!” A deep, bass voice yelled. The beast hesitated, turning her head. That instant cost her as another creature similar in size landed on her back
and buried his jaws into her neck.
He was another hell-beast, with a blood-red coat and a black patch of fur leading from the tip of his nose to the tips of his three tails. Ichor dripped from his mouth as he opened it to strike again further up the female’s neck. She let out a demonic scream. The lights left their posts and swarmed the male. He fell off of her as they struck him again and again with their electric shocks.
“You know the scouts cannot harm me,” he said. He ran to the edge of the forest with the scouts covering him and then released an electric pulse so strong all the hairs on Caitlin’s body stood at attention. The lights brightened blindingly until they exploded. Tiny, lifeless bodies littered the ground around him.
The female hell-beast wasted no time on her attack. She reared up on her hind legs and brought her sharpened claws down onto his side. Blood rained from his body. He didn’t let out a single sound. Instead, he reared up and caught the female as she went in for a second attack. Their bodies came together with an audible smack. Caitlin’s eyes were unable to process the action quickly enough as the beasts came together, fell apart, and came together again in unprecedented violence. Blood and ichor covered the ground beneath them, intertwining into a brown, viscous fluid.
Caitlin backed away slowly. She was determined to get back to Oscar and get him up and moving. He would just have to hold on until she could treat his wounds. She reached the trees as the female let out another scream. Caitlin was prepared to start running, but something compelled her to turn back. The female was retreating with the few lights that had survived the pulse attack. Caitlin turned again and started back in the direction of her wounded companion, praying the male was too damaged to pursue her.
A World Divided Page 18