The Elder Mother

by Carrie Whitethorne

  He seemed surprised at my gratitude. “Don’t mention it,” he said gruffly. “What would you like to do this afternoon?”

  “I have a job to do. None of this is about what I would like,” I said, confused by his question. “Surely I should be working to find the escapee?”

  His mouth turned down briefly at the corners as he shrugged. “Up to you. I think you’re entitled to a couple of days to acclimatise. I was never given a time schedule to work to.”

  I was left to consider this as the serving girl arrived with dessert.

  Elian dug into a large slice of sticky looking brown cake. I looked down at my plate and realised he’d ordered me the same. The serving was more than generous and I’d already over eaten. I picked up my spoon and pushed at a small white sphere that sat to the side.

  “That’s ice cream,” he explained, pointing his spoon at my plate. “Frozen cow’s milk that’s been sweetened, for want of a better description. The cake is chocolate fudge. You don’t have to eat it all, just try it.”

  I didn’t need to be told twice.

  Physically trying to stop my eyes rolling back, I grinned as Elian laughed. “You have a real sweet tooth, don’t you?”

  “I don’t know what that means, but if it means that I like cake, then yes.”

  He finished his dessert and watched me devour mine with amusement.

  How I cleared that plate, I have no idea, and I could barely move when I’d finished.

  “Well, I’ve no idea where you’ve put that. You look like you could do with a nap.”

  I chuckled. I was tired after such a large meal and would happily return to his apartment to sleep the afternoon away. Unfortunately, we had work to do. I shook my head and he frowned.

  “Okay, I’m going to have a coffee, then we’ll go. Would you like one?”

  “Tea, please.” I looked back out of the window.

  I wondered at his incredible kindness as I fiddled with my amulet and watched daffodils bob their pretty heads in a light breeze outside. Could that be why he'd been sent? He didn't seem to have any confidence in his Druid abilities, or any willingness to use them, so their sending me someone unwilling to shift seemed an odd choice. Why was he so reluctant to use his full capability? It was such a special gift, to be able to become so truly close to nature. Not as close as I’d been, admittedly, but close enough. He could become anything he wished to be, and choose not to. It was extremely puzzling.

  My gaze moved from the dancing flowers and up to the field full of lambs. I loved spring; all it represented. New life and new beginnings. I didn’t look around as our table was cleared, or as Elian returned with our drinks. He left me to think, to work everything out. I hadn’t been there much more than a day; there was much to make sense of.

  When I finally looked back at him, he was watching me, and I realised he’d poured my tea.

  “Thank you. What do you propose we do now? We must hunt the beast down, but I have little knowledge of the city.”

  He gave me a wan smile and sipped his drink. “Well, what sort of places have you searched in the past?”

  “They usually inhabit the darkest corners of human society, dens of filth and debauchery. More vulnerable humans will always look to those who appear to hold power, and demons secrete it.”

  “Red light district it is, then,” he said with clear distaste.

  “What’s that?” I frowned, not familiar with the terminology.

  “We don’t have whore houses any more. As a result, the girls working in that industry walk the streets and wait to be picked up. It’s far from safe and the police do move them on, but…”

  “Perhaps we can help some of them,” I mused, setting my cup on the saucer and sitting back in my seat. “If we can get a few away from the streets, at least they’re safe.”

  I looked up at him as I picked up on a strong outpouring of emotion. Anger and sadness mainly, but there was something else. I couldn’t make it out. He was so outwardly calm, yet this intense, burning emotion slumbered beneath the surface. Even when provoked, they remained hidden. To all except me.

  Despite the intensity of his feelings, his voice remained even. “One night won’t make much difference. Many of them can’t be saved, Seren.”

  He honestly believed it. He really thought that one act of kindness, one chance at turning from such a path couldn’t be enough to save someone. I frowned and left my seat.

  “Toilet?”

  He noted the change in my tone. “Straight back there. I’ll wait by the door.”

  I nodded and left him. With each step, I told myself he was wrong.

  As promised, he was waiting for me, my coat slung over his arm. I returned his smile and thanked him as he held open the door.

  “Seren? Is something the matter?”

  “Why would there be anything wrong?” I stopped at the passenger side of the car and turned to face him. “Thank you for lunch.”

  “I do want to, you know,” he said, opening my door and closing it once I was seated. As he opened his own, he continued, “I’d like nothing more than to see those people safe, but it’s an impossible task. For every person we get into a suitable home, stable job, better life, two more fall into the trap. Believe me, I’ve tried.”

  The reason for his anger, I realised. He’d been trying, and failing, for a while. “We have to keep trying, Elian.”

  I glanced sidelong and saw him nod his agreement.

  Six

  Seren

  I managed to push all negative feeling away on the journey back to Elian’s apartment. We travelled in uneasy silence. I could feel his uncertainty, knew he believed he had upset me in some way, and while it wasn’t an accurate assessment, I couldn’t bring myself to explain. It wasn’t him I was upset with. It was the whole situation. Those people in need of help, guidance, reassurance that it could be better, failed by their own. In many ways they hadn’t moved on, I realised, watching the pleasant green of the countryside fade to dull, lifeless grey as we passed into the city.

  The car stopped before his building and he turned off the engine. Twisting slightly in his seat, he said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so…I do want to help them. I do try to help them. Not only the girls; those with no home, those with addictions. I have for years. Not all are beyond help. The system is incredibly slow and it’s very frustrating for me to see them struggle for so long.”

  While I was grateful for his candour, I automatically assessed his feelings. I had to be sure. What I saw drained me entirely. The whole spectrum of emotion that came from him hit me with such dizzying force, I couldn’t help but gasp.

  His eyes widened as I slumped back, and he grasped my hand. “Seren? What’s wrong?”

  I shook my head and murmured, “Nothing, I’m fine. Tired.”

  “This is not fine,” he snapped, slamming his car door. Moments later, he hauled me from my seat and carried me into the building.

  “Elian, I can walk,” I said in weak protest, unable to lift my head from his chest. “I…I’m just a little bit tired.”

  He unlocked the door and carried me into my room. Settling me on the bed, his eyes met mine as he said, “I don’t know what happened, but you’re staying here and you’re going to rest. I’ll check on you in a couple of hours.”

  His gaze held me. He’s firm voice commanded me, and I was too exhausted to argue. With a weak nod, I turned onto my side. Elian covered me with the duvet, and I fell instantly asleep under its comforting weight.

  I dreamed. For the first time in eons, I dreamed. Nothing was clear, just vivid colours and things moving in the periphery of my vision, but it was a dream nonetheless. I felt myself rousing and willed myself to stay asleep a while longer. Tugging the duvet up around my ears, I tried desperately to hold on to the strange, blurred images, to make some sense of them, but it was no good. I was awake.

  Groaning, I turned over and found myself facing Elian. He was sitting on the floor, his back against the wall, looking
down at a mobile phone in his hand.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Fine, thank you. I’m sorry—”

  “What happened?” he asked, cutting my apology short as he stuffed the phone into his jacket pocket.

  “I…I’d rather not say.”

  “Why? Because you were poking around with those empathy powers of yours?” he smirked as he revealed his knowledge of my snooping.

  I focused on a point on the wall, just above his head, avoiding eye contact as I muttered confirmation.

  Shaking his head, he laughed and stood up. “Serves you right, then. You hungry?”

  “I don’t think I’m going to feel hungry for a week after what I ate earlier,” I said, shoving the duvet back. The room felt cold, and I looked to the window. It was dark outside. “What time is it?”

  “Nine. If you’re up to it, we can go and have a look for our demon.”

  I grinned. Finally, doing something worthwhile, I thought. “Definitely. I just need a few minutes.”

  He nodded and headed for the door. “Dress warm,” he said over his shoulder as I made my way into the bathroom.

  I brushed my teeth and arranged my hair into a simple ponytail before donning a warm coat. I felt somewhat excited at the prospect of getting to work. On previous visits, I hadn’t sat idle for any length of time. I remembered my first time, when I’d found the demon in just a few short days. Of course, it had been simpler then. The creature was systematically working its way through the villages in the area and was easy to track, and I’d worked alone; I’d worked quickly. Things were very different this time.

  I pulled my amulet from beneath my sweater and held it in my palm. My centre, my reminder that this was why I was there. Letting it drop, I fiddled with the zip fastening of my coat and made my way out to Elian.

  He was leaning by the kitchen sink as I emerged from my room, waiting for me with a broad smile. “You look much better. Ready?”

  I smiled self-consciously and cast my eyes downwards. “Thank you. Yes, I’m ready.”

  I heard him chuckle, the leather of his jacket creaking as he walked toward the door. I followed meekly.

  “Cheer up. It wasn’t that bad. I expected you to feel me out, so stop worrying about it. It’s no different to me asking you questions, is it?” he said as I edged past him at the door.

  “No. I still feel I should apologise for the intrusion,” I said quietly as he locked the door and turned to face me.

  “Enough brooding, Seren. We’re working,” he said, walking past me to the stairs. “I thought we could pay the girls a visit, see if we can get a few to go home while we look for signs of the demon.”

  Despite my shame, I smiled and followed him. “How do you usually get them to go home?” I asked, skipping down the stairs.

  “Money. That’s all they’re out there for.” He held the door open and I passed beneath his outstretched arm. “I have to be careful. If they know I do it, I’ll be stopped from volunteering at the centre, but it’s worth it to give them the occasional night off, safely off the street.”

  I slid into the car and he closed the door softly. I was curious about the girls Elian had mentioned, about how they had gotten to where they were. I wondered at his attempts to help them. It wasn’t something I had imagined a Druid troubling themselves with, not that I knew a huge amount about them or their activities. I simply assumed they worked mostly with the natural world. “How long have you been helping them? Why do you?” I asked as the car moved slowly out onto the main road.

  “A few years, now. I spent some time over by the warehouses in that part of town and got talking to a couple of them. Nothing like that!” he added, when he glanced my way to see my brows had risen. “Honestly, I’m not that bloke. I was looking for someone, a friend, and asked if he’d been seen there. One of the girls wasn’t well, so I gave her money and sent her home.”

  I nodded and turned my head to watch out of the window as the glow of street lights merged into a blurred, orange haze. After a few more minutes, I felt the car slow and turned to look at Elian.

  “We’ll have to park here and walk up. I don’t want the police to pull me for soliciting. If I’m on foot, they can drive by and see it’s me.”

  “The local law enforcement knows you personally?” I asked, surprised.

  “Yeah, I have a good relationship with them. They work closely with the centre,” he explained, cutting the engine and removing his keys.

  I let myself out of the car and he locked it before looking up and down the street. “What’s wrong?” I asked, looking around us.

  “Nothing,” he said with a grin. “Come on.” He placed a hand in the small of my back and ushered me away from the car and onto a dark side street. “Relax, we’re safe enough,” he said brightly, sensing my unease.

  We walked, the street lights spaced further apart in this industrial area of the city, and I slowed my pace.

  “It isn’t the street, Elian…” I said, looking behind. “Something feels wrong.”

  “Honestly, it’s just the dark. It brightens up as you get to the—” He paused as I stopped dead and gripped his arm.

  “No. You need to make yourself scarce. Now. I’m okay, just…I don’t know, hide?”

  He gave me a quizzical look, but obviously believed me. “I’ll stay close, just in case, okay?”

  I nodded and looked around us again as he shifted.

  “Good choice,” I said, impressed at his form. He was perfect; not a hair out of place, from the tips of his glossy ears to the bushy end of his tail. “I’ve never seen such a healthy-looking fox. Now hide.”

  I could have sworn I saw his eyebrows raise and a grin spread across his face as he turned and darted through a gap in a nearby fence. When I could no longer hear him shuffling nearby, I gave the street a last sweeping glance and continued walking.

  The dark shadows between street lamps provided ample camouflage for a shadow dwelling demon. It could be anywhere, waiting for me, and I couldn’t be sure in what form. If it were clever, it would flee.

  My lips twitched at the notion of a clever demon as I passed beneath a street lamp. I kept my pace, each foot falling evenly as I made my way to the end of the road, to the place Elian had said the girls would be working. I heard gentle foot falls behind me as I left the apparent safety of the soft, orange glow of the last lamp, and I slowed.

  The footsteps slowed with me and I wondered where Elian was. I hoped he was a safe distance away, not likely to be detected. Excitement fluttered in my stomach as I stopped and turned, coming face to face with my quarry. It was short lived. Excitement turned to fury as our eyes met. Those cold, lifeless eyes. I would never forget them. They cost me everything. I’d assumed he was gone forever. My blood turned to ice in my veins. Cold hatred. It froze me in place. I couldn’t think.

  His black hair fell neatly over one eye, his pale skin almost shining in the darkness. His lips twitched as he recognised me in return, cheeks dimpling as a smile grew. That mocking smile snapped me from my stupor.

  “You have no purpose here, Demon.”

  His obnoxious smirk lit a fire in my chest as he drawled his greeting. “Seren, as old friends, we should be on a first name basis. Please, call me Kern.”

  “Friends?” I scoffed. “I’m here to kill you, Kern.”

  “Oh now, Seren,” he said jovially, flicking the hair from over his eye with a finger. “Given our intimacy at our last meeting, we’re practically family. There really is no need for this hostility.”

  Battling to keep my tone even, I said, “You know why I’m here, Kern. Leave this realm, or I shall have to force you.”

  He stepped closer, looking me over, and I stiffened as he reached out a hand. Every fibre of my being screaming for me to run away, but my body unable to react. Bile rose in my throat as he ran a finger down my cheek. I flinched away, taking an unsteady step back. I felt for my power, but nothing was forthcoming. She was not ready for him. Nor was I. Elian wa
s close by, and that brought me comfort, but I hoped he would remain hidden.

  “No, Seren. I would suggest you leave. Or join me. Begin a new life and move on. This city is mine. Those girls, mine,” he said, pointing over my shoulder. He leaned in close, his voice soft, his breath an ice-cold caress on the side of my face. “These people have treated your world with nothing but contempt, Seren. I say we take it. Rule it. Show them what happens when you destroy The Mother’s creation. You could help me. Share all of this with me. Their fates are deserved; accept the inevitable.”

  With a brow arched, I turned my face to his. His black eyes boring into mine, he tried to read me to no avail. My face was a mask of calm. I would never show him the true effect he had on me. He could never see the revulsion I felt. That just the thought of him made me nauseous. Anger roiled in my veins; fear and hate and bitterness filling my thoughts. I didn’t need him to be this close to still feel the taint of his cold breath against my skin. He could never know my weakness.

  A demon could never breech the defences The Mother had imbued in me, and I was grateful for that assistance, but her absence worried me. I had nothing, and he appeared to know. He gave me a defiant smirk as I countered, looking for a way into his mind, a way to end this, a way to draw on The Mother. “You, Kern, know nothing of the inevitable. You understand nothing of fate,” I hissed through gritted teeth. “I am fate. I am death. I will see you returned to the underworld or destroyed, Mother help me.”

  He snorted, then he chuckled as he took a step away. “Seren, when has The Mother ever helped you before?” he chided.

  His mocking laugh resounded in my mind as he disappeared before me. I hung my head and remained frozen to the spot, unable to move. When I eventually looked up, I heard footsteps ahead and realised Elian had shifted back.

  I closed my eyes and murmured, “I let him get away…”

  “Why? What happened?” he asked softly. There was no judgment or annoyance in his tone, for which I was thankful. I was berating myself enough.

  “I don’t know. I froze…I don’t think I’m ready,” I lied. It wasn’t that. Not at all. It was him. He was the reason I was here. He did this to me. He took everything from me.