The Heart of the Ancients

by Elizabeth Isaacs

  My first night on Edna’s mountain proved my father was wrong. Prayer healed; faith was real—I could see it in Edna’s eyes. Her hope coated my raw spirit like a balm.

  And then I knew.

  Power didn’t come from brute strength or money. It came from the heart. Had my father been able to see the truth, faith would have eased his grief. Love, not only for his wife but his daughter, would have helped him heal. And hope would have given him a future. Instead, he died trying to find happiness at the bottom of a bottle.

  Gavin pulled me near. “I’m so sorry, love.”

  A Urisk battle cry echoed in the distance, and Gavin and Weylin pulled me into the woods. Molly and Rune sprinted ahead, leaving a small guard surrounding us. The rest of the Urisks took off into the night.

  “Relax,” Gavin whispered. “They aren’t near.”

  I took in a deep breath. He was right. Only the metal-tinged scent of the forest could be found.

  Gavin’s emotions faded. I rubbed my palm across my chest, hating the emptiness I felt every time he pulled away from me.

  Weylin stepped onto the highway. “Sun’s headed this way. Time’s on our side.”

  Urisks came from the woods, lining the road.

  “We’d better get going.” Gavin took my hand. Pinks and oranges painted the horizon as we picked up the pace and ran. My heart found a steady rhythm while sweat dripped down my back. No longer able to feel my feet, I concentrated on bringing one leg up at a time and then putting it back down.

  We crested the top of a hill, and I slowed to a walk. The road stretched for miles but ahead was a rusty blue sign hanging by one bolt.

  Gavin kept the pace, urging me on. “Rune says we’re almost there. This was a ski resort at one time, but there’s a port nearby. The Urisk are securing a boat that will take us to Newfoundland and Labrador—or whatever they call it now.”

  The off-ramp was nothing more than brambles and large chunks of pavement. Dilapidated houses sprung up along the road. Occasionally a gaunt face would peek from behind a window or door. As soon as they spotted a Urisk, they shoved the curtains closed. We picked up the pace again and didn’t stop until the distinct smell of fresh water and fish filtered on the breeze. Beyond the row of abandoned buildings, water glimmered like a million diamonds on blue satin.

  Exhausted, I stopped and sat on a crumbling curb. Weylin stayed silent, his eyes continually scouring the horizon.

  Rune patted my head and then faced Gavin. “We’d be wantin’ t’ be gettin’ on the water, but it’ll not be happenin’ till the morn. We’ll be needin’ somewhere to stay tonight.”

  “It looks like we have our pick of places.” Sarcasm threaded through Weylin’s tone as he handed me yet another drink.

  “Aye. Looks’ll be deceivin’, now wouldn’ they, Guardian?” Rune grumbled. “Finn’ll be here soon. They’ll have scouted the area by now.”

  Molly sat beside me as Gavin flipped off my worn boots and ran his palm along my arch. We’d covered so much distance the balls of my feet were bloody. I leaned back and moaned. The numbness I’d enjoyed the last few hours flamed into a blistering ache and then, mercifully, dulled to a small throb.

  “That should last for a while,” Gavin said. After healing me, he dug into his pack for fresh socks and kissed the top of my foot before slipping them on. “Molly has the Urisk searching for coats and supplies. Had we known the world was in such chaos, we would have planned accordingly.”

  Something silver reflected the light of the waning sun, and I squinted. “What’s that?” I pointed between two row houses.

  “That’d be Kyla. Lord knows I’ll be glad when her feathers of youth’ll be turning black.” Molly stood as Finn and his group made their way toward us.

  “I kind of like them,” I said as Gavin finished tying my boots.

  Molly smiled. “That’ll be because you’ll be havin’ a bit of the same in yer mane.”

  Long gray fingers reached over and fiddled with the slippery patch of silver hair I’d gotten during the last battle with the Dokkalfar.

  Kyla skipped over to Rena while Finn glared.

  “What is it you’d be findin’?” Molly asked Finn.

  He pulled his gaze from Kyla. “An old lighthouse, Nayshell. It’ll be sturdy, and it’ll be seein’ us through the night. There’d be a dwellin’ next to it, and it’ll be havin’ extra wear for our Light and her crew.”

  “And the ship?” Molly placed her hands on her hips.

  “It’ll be ready by morn. I’d be askin’ the craftsmen to go back over the hull. With the length of travelin’ we’d be needin’ it for, well, I’d rather be makin’ sure it can handle rough seas.”

  Gavin helped me to my feet, and I groaned. Surely there had to be a bike around here ... something.

  “It’s not that far, love. I can carry you if you’d like.”

  “No, thanks.” Gavin looked as tired as I felt. “I’ll make it.”

  As the sun headed west, I kept my eyes on the ground, marching to a tune playing over and over in my head.

  Finally, a cylindrical tower loomed in the distance. The roof’s bright red paint bled through large patches of rust and muck. Some of the arched windows at the top were still intact, but most had been destroyed through weather and time. Peeling white paint speckled the stone, and an iron gate, barely hanging from one hinge, creaked as the wind blew across its path. The two-story home across the way had boards in front of the windows, but the door stood open, unguarded.

  Rena, Tark, Elias, and Elaine ran into the dwelling, looking for anything that might be of use, while Gavin, Weylin and I made our way to the lighthouse.

  Gavin put his hand around my waist. “Nora, you’re about to drop.”

  I leaned into him, and we started toward the door.

  “You’ll be waitin’ a minute,” Rune growled, holding up a hand. Urisks poured into the lighthouse, scouring the place for Dokkalfar as Weylin stayed by me. “Finn’d already be checkin’ the place, but after the caves. Well, I’d like t’ be makin’ sure.”

  I locked my knees and gritted my teeth. Finally, Rune motioned us forward, and we crossed the crumbling threshold.

  The Urisk had found a few lanterns that still held oil, and lamplight filled the lower level. Cobwebs netted every corner and laced through the iron railing that guarded the stairway, which wound around the curved wall leading to the floors above. The wind whistled through broken windowpanes, and I shivered.

  “There’ll be a nest on the next floor. That’ll be good as place as any fer ya t’ rest, Lass. We’ll be stayin’ above and below, keepin’ watch.” He faced Gavin. “Now go on, get her arse up there. The others’ll be along soon.”

  Too tired to care what “nest” he was talking about, I shook my head and walked across the room. The stairs creaked as we trudged our way to the second floor.

  I stopped on the landing and froze.

  Several dozen mattresses stood on end, blocking the windows from view. Large nails jutted from the mattresses’ piping, keeping them in place while serving as insulation from the cold. Ash and soot covered the fireplace along the back wall. The corner farthest from the windows held a bunch of worn blankets and old curtains. The raised outer edge and indent in the middle looked as if someone had burrowed under them, protecting them from the cold.

  “He wasn’t kidding when he called it a nest. I wonder who lives here.”

  Gavin frowned. “Or what. The mattresses block sunlight, and Dokkalfar create nests out of anything they can find.”

  “But their scent isn’t here. I can’t smell them, can you?”

  Gavin shook his head. “No. The scent is definitely human. But why live like a Dokkalfar?”

  “We’d be thinkin’ the same.” Finn came up the stairs, followed closely by Kyla.

  She crinkled her nose. “Humans live here?”

  “So, it would seem,” Finn grunted.

  I bent over and sniffed. A hint of citrus lay among the cloth, its fr
esh, tangy scent stood out from the stale, dank air.

  Puzzled, Gavin came over. “I didn’t know humans had a distinct scent.”

  Neither did I.

  Heavy footfalls echoed up the stairs. Weylin made his way across the room, his arms full of clothes and three sets of boots.

  “I found a small closet on the lower floor. Good thing too. These must have been their winter stores because these boots look like they can handle the worst conditions.” His eyes narrowed as he stared at the bundle of blankets in the corner.

  “What is that?”

  “I’d be a human’s nest.” Kyla chimed in.

  He glanced at Kyla, shrugged and then dropped the pile of clothes on the floor.

  “This is what we’ve found so far. Elias and Elaine went to another cottage down the road.” He reached down and pulled out a pair of insulated pants. “Put these on.” He handed them to me and then walked away.

  “We really need to work on his social skills,” I muttered, pulling the pants over the ones I already had on. Warmth settled around my thighs, and I grew painfully aware that the backs of my legs had been cold since the boat ride in the underground river. Gavin found a large coat and covered my shoulders. Finn brought in firewood and kindling, and in no time warmth settled through the room. Gavin flipped over an old wooden crate and pulled it close to the fire. He set me down, pulled out some snacks from his pack and kissed my forehead.

  “I’ll be right back.” He walked to Rune.

  I didn’t know what they were talking about, but soon Rune and Gavin were checking behind the mattresses, tearing them from the wall and leaving only those that were blocking broken windows.

  “Gavin took a blanket from his pack and laid it on the mattress closest to the fire. He took Edna’s quilt from my pack and layered it on top of his.

  Rune went downstairs while Gavin led me to the makeshift bed. He sat next to me.

  I handed him a bag of dried fruit. “Maybe whoever lives here had the windows covered so no one could see in at night. After all, the Dokkalfar would be drawn to anything that looked like it was trying to survive.”

  “Probably, but that’s nothing you need to worry about.” He stood and put on a coat that Weylin had brought in. “I’m going to check with Elias. Weylin is downstairs.”

  I listened to Gavin trudge down the steps. The door creaked open then closed. I shivered, my eyes growing heavy as the wind howled outside. I yawned and crawled under Edna’s quilt.

  COLD AIR WHISKED ACROSS my face, and I awoke with a start. Embers glowed through blackened wood and ash, casting just enough light to see the empty room.

  Sitting up, I rubbed my sternum. Gavin? Where is everyone?

  My chest ached as it always did when Gavin kept his emotions from me. I knew they weren’t far. Weylin wouldn’t leave his post, and Gavin knew better than to fight without his source.

  I stood, making my way toward the fire when a Urisk battle cry sounded from outside. White noise buzzed in the distance, and I stumbled to the stairs.

  Nasty possibilities ran through my mind. Something horrible must have happened. Gavin had never left me alone. Especially at night and here, where Dokkalfar could easily attack.

  I jumped down the stairs two at a time, not bothering to try and be quiet. Frigid air circulated throughout the room.

  Why was the front door open?

  As soon as my feet found the landing, strong arms grabbed me from behind, lifting me off the floor and knocking the wind out of me.

  “What in the Sam Hill is going on?” I shouted, grabbing the large palm gripping my side.

  “Quiet,” Weylin hissed in my ear. “Nothing is wrong. Gavin’s fine. He hoped you would sleep through the night, but apparently, that’s not the case.”

  Weylin set my feet on the floor but kept his arm firmly around me. “Gavin sensed the Dokkalfar were near, and we’re drawing them in.”

  My heart raced as the wind whipped through the open front door. Gavin shifted, looking at me from the road before turning back. The white noise grew louder.

  “Weylin, he’ll need me. Now let go!” I hissed.

  “My way, Princess.” His grip tightened. “You know the drill. We do things my way.”

  Frustrated, I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth. My head knew that Weylin would never risk the Prince’s life, but my heart screamed that Gavin’s source should be there to protect him.

  Moonlight filtered through the trees. Gavin drifted a few feet to the right, water vapor clouded around his face as he exhaled.

  “Why isn’t he letting me feel him?” I whispered to Weylin.

  “He’s embracing the darkness. He’s calling them here.”

  “What?” I turned to Weylin, horrified. “Why?”

  “We need to see how many there are. The Urisk are waiting in the water and the forest. You need not worry.”

  How was he calling to them? The bitter taste of bile made my mouth water as the familiar scent of decay assaulted the breeze. My heart dropped to my stomach. The air stilled; the underbrush shook. Almond eyes peeked from the across the road as jagged yellow teeth glimmered in the limited light.

  Weylin pulled me under the stairs, making sure we stayed hidden from view.

  A dozen or so black demons came from the trees. Their onyx skin gleamed in the moonlight, their ears, sharp as daggers, jutted from the sides of their heads. They charged across the road, running straight for Gavin.

  Elias, Elaine, Rena, and Tark bolted out of the woods, followed by a small group of Urisks. White noise screams echoed as the first of the Dokkalfar fell.

  Dark bodies lay strewn across the road. Gavin closed his eyes as if to call for them again.

  This time, a pack twice as large darted toward the lighthouse. As soon as they crossed the road, they split into two groups. Half charged Gavin, the other half headed toward the open door.

  “Stay here.” Weylin inched from under the stairs, and then crouched with his whip in hand.

  “Nooooo!” A woman’s cry screeched from down the lane. Weylin and I glanced up the road to see a petite frame with a mass of black hair flying behind her, a murderous expression on her face. She charged, a knife strapped to her side, a makeshift sickle in her hands. The curved metal blade gleamed, the wooden shaft’s black stain told of numerous battles. Her deep brown eyes shone with a weird mix of sheer tenacity and profound joy. The demons hissed and spit as she neared, their movements becoming clumsy as if they were losing energy. She whipped the sickle around like a baseball bat and beheaded two Dokkalfar at one time.

  A Urisk bellowed, startling the woman. Finn and his warriors streamed from the woods, killing the Dokkalfar as they ran toward us. Silver feathers flickered, drawing the woman’s attention, and she raised her scythe toward Kyla.

  I ran from beneath the stairs. “Stop!”

  Confused, the woman looked back.

  “They aren’t the enemy.” I tried to get past Weylin. “They’ve come to help fight.”

  She kept her weapon up; her brown eyes stared right through me.

  “Not taking that chance,” she said, ready to swing.

  White noise echoed from the hill as more Dokkalfar poured across the road. One ran straight for the woman, but Kyla jumped in front of her and ripped his throat out with her teeth. She threw his carcass on a growing pile a few feet away.

  “Get over here!” Weylin lunged, grabbing the woman’s arm and pulling her close.

  The amulet warmed as I created a shield around the three of us.

  “And give me these before you hurt someone.” Weylin jerked her sickle out of her hands and took the knife from her side.

  “You’re going to get us killed, you idiot!” She shrieked, fighting him with everything she had.

  He rolled his eyes and dropped the weapons behind us, kicking them back into the lighthouse. She punched and scratched anything she could get her hands on, but he wrapped his arm around her middle, pinning her hands to her waist.

 
Weylin grunted as she kicked his shins with the back of her heel, but he caught both her feet in between his calves, restraining those too.

  “Who the hell do you think you are?” she screeched, twisting and turning, trying to escape.

  “I’m a warrior, female. You’d be wise to remember it.” Weylin’s voice grew husky.

  Gavin, Elias, Elaine, Rena, Tark, and Rune kept a tight perimeter around us as the Dokkalfar screams grew less and less until there was nothing but silence. Black blood streamed across the road, but the Urisk set fire to it before it contaminated the water.

  Molly came forward. “Yer mate’ll be wantin’ t’ stay, seein’ how many we can take out before dawn, but I’m sensing weather’s on the way. It’ll be better t’ be restin’ instead of playin’ in the rain.” She grinned.

  Seeing Molly up close seemed to bring the woman back to life, and she strained and fought, trying to break free. She glared at me. “Who are you people?” Her eyes found Molly. “And what in the hell are you?”

  “You first, Pumpkin,” Weylin crooned next to the woman’s ear. “You gonna tell us what you’re doing here, or are we playing twenty questions?” He grinned. “Because I have to be honest. I love that game.”

  The woman’s deep brown eyes angrily glittered. Everyone stopped and stared. Her delicate brows lowered to two sharp lines. She was almost as small as Rena, but whereas Rena had a lithe dancer’s body, this woman was curvy. Apparently, the attention put her on the defensive because she started to struggle again.

  “You’re a feisty little thing, aren’t you?” Weylin grinned as she growled. “And I thought you said there weren’t any of your kind left, Princess.”

  “Get. Off. Me.” The woman snarled as she tried to sink her teeth into Weylin’s forearm.

  “Be at ease.” Elaine took a step forward. “We wish you no harm.”

  “’Be at ease.’” She mocked Elaine. “Who talks like that?” She kept her head high even though her feet were still off the ground. “And not wanting to harm me? Yeah, right. Tell that to Ace over here.”

  “Weylin, let her go.”