Midnightstar (Creatures of the Lands Book 5)

by Natalie Erin

  “I’ll go check it out,” Snapfoot promised, plastering on a fake smile, and the other wolves chuckled. “Just to make sure.”

  “Thank you, Snapfoot,” the wolf said with admiration. “It’s such a relief to know we have a leader like you.”

  Snapfoot nodded weakly at the young wolf, leaving camp. Once he had gotten out of eyesight, he broke into a run, looking for the Bloodluster that had caused all the trouble.

  What he found, leaning on a tree patiently and humming a tune, was Valdus.

  “Sorry about that,” Valdus said as he saw Snapfoot start towards him. “One of ours wasn’t careful. I’ll make sure he hears about it.”

  “Sorry? You could have caused the whole pack to panic!” Snapfoot exploded. “If another one of your kind makes a move, the deal is off!”

  Valdus’ face morphed from friendly, to threatening. “What deal? So far, we’ve fed your pack as much as you’ve asked, and there are no dead Ortusans.”

  “My pack is still tired from settling in, and so am I! We have no energy to hunt Ortusans yet,” Snapfoot said angrily.

  “You must kill an Ortusan soon. Don’t forget who you’re dealing with, wolf!”

  “I’m not about to,” Snapfoot said. “I don’t want any bloodshed.”

  Valdus gritted his fangs as Snapfoot turned his back on him. “Remember that if you break our pact, you still lose! You can’t fight us, young alpha!”

  Snapfoot ignored him. He didn’t want to start another argument. He had to pair with the Bloodlusters to survive, but tomorrow might be a different story. If that was the case, he would deal with it then. All he knew was that there was no room to have any more slip-ups.

  “Come on!” Omaira encouraged, dragging the wolves along. “We’re nearly there! Only a bit farther.”

  Shadowin and Jade panted behind her. Ortusans were naturally stronger than wolves, so they’d been traveling nonstop for hours.

  “Don’t forget we’re…uh…still young, Omaira,” Shadowin added, inventing wildly as he went. “We’re not as strong as you.”

  Omaira leaned against him adoringly. “Of course, my love. I forgot. But don’t fret, we’re so close! You can relax all you want once you get to the city, after we buy a house. Jade can live right next to us. It’ll be grand!”

  Along the way, Omaira had taken it upon herself to establish Shadowin as her unofficial mate. She hadn’t done anything, not when Jade was around, but Shadowin knew the instant that Omaira got him alone, she would strike. And it wouldn’t be to eat him, either.

  “How much farther?” Jade asked, her eyes drooping.

  “Right around this bend!” Omaira broke into a run, and the other two followed, struggling to keep up with her quick pace.

  The trees broke, and then they were staring at a huge fortress. A long stone wall encircled the city, protected by a great mahogany gate. The gate was carved with illustrations of Ortusans dancing, Ortusans playing, Ortusans in love…

  And Ortusans eating. On the gate, animals and fairies were being slaughtered, devoured by the Ortusans carved within the wood. To the wolves, it was disgusting, but to Omaira and the loving gaze she gave it, the gate was art.

  Omaira strode up to the gate and howled. “Hey! Let us in!”

  An Ortusan peeked over the top of the wall. “Names?”

  “Omaira, Jade, and Shadowin,” Omaira said, smiling.

  “OMAIRA!” a voice cried, and another Ortusan’s head popped over the wall. “I WAS WONDERING WHEN YOU’D GET HERE!”

  “Achello!” Omaira burst, and she began bouncing up and down “A-chel-lo, A-chel-lo, A-chel-lo!!!”

  “Yes, it’s me! It’s about time you showed up! We can party!” Achello shouted back, grinning wildly.

  “Not yet, dear! I still have to get a house and…put some things in order,” Omaira said, flirtatiously batting her eyes at Shadowin.

  “Oh…oh I see, I see!” the other Ortusan said mischievously, and he broke out laughing.

  “I love you!” Omaira shouted, her tail wagging frantically.

  “I LOVE YOU, TOO!” the other Ortusan burst out.

  The wolves looked at each other. “Um…okay then,” Shadowin said.

  Omaira laughed. “Poor dear. Drunk on too much blood. He’s got a problem, you know, but none of us will try to stop him. Alright you two, let us in!”

  Without another word, the great gates opened. “Welcome to Sanctus Cruor,” Omaira said happily.

  The wolves gazed upwards, their mouths dropping open in shock. Tall citadels and castles climbed into the sky, glimmering and golden. Among these monstrosities were large houses, constructed from the forest surrounding the giant stone wall.

  Quite a bit of construction was still taking place. Jade looked closer and realized that the people working on the buildings weren’t Ortusans. The slaves were malnourished, bruised, and wore tattered clothing that was little more than threads. Every so often, their wings would appear and disappear, flickering in and out of vision like a candle that was just about to go out.

  “Fairies make such good slaves,” Omaira said happily as they passed them by. “After all, none of them want to be eaten.”

  Jade’s stomach boiled as she passed a little fairy girl no older than five hammering away on a post. A couple slave masters were nearby…and they looked hungry.

  “They pick off the weakest ones, see, and feed off of them,” Omaira explained. “That way the city gets built faster and we don’t waste any food.”

  “Are the streets paved with gold?” Shadowin said, forcing himself to change the subject so not to lose his temper.

  “Darling, the whole city is made of gold,” Omaira giggled. “We Ortusans wouldn’t have it any other way. After all, we’ve lived in dirty old hovels for centuries because of those fairies. It’s time we had something nice.”

  Everywhere Ortusans were jostling each other, some in wolf form and some not, buying from the various stores and the carts that lined the streets.

  “People are so rude!” Shadowin exclaimed as an Ortusan shoved him out of the way to get to a sale on makeup and perfume at a peddling cart across the street.

  “Just attack them,” Omaira shrugged. “Nobody cares if you kill off another Ortusan, just as long as you make sure he or she wasn’t anybody’s mate so you don’t cause a major disruption.”

  “I will next time,” Shadowin said slowly, but he knew better. If he bit just one of these creatures, he’d blow their cover. “Do we go find a house now?”

  “Of course not,” Omaira said. “We first have to offer sacrifices to Saint Aravoni and Saint Carmilya at the temple. After we offer a sacrifice we can go and get a free house!”

  “What do we have to give them?” Shadowin asked.

  “You’ll see.” Omaira grinned.

  The wolves looked at each other, but nobody said anything. After they had crossed several blocks, they came to a massive stone castle, with a small temple in front of it. Giant pillars were grouped at every entrance to the building, two at every door. Jade looked up and saw that the pillars were carved in the shapes of two people...a beautiful, elaborate goddess with a cruel smile, and a muscular hero with long, dreadful fangs.

  “That’s our king and queen,” Omaira explained. “Saint Carmilya and Saint Aravoni. They live in the biggest castle. They don’t come out often, but I don’t blame them. Royalty shouldn’t have to deal with some of the scum that comes through here.”

  “They’re terrifying. No way they look like that in real life,” Shadowin scoffed.

  “I wouldn’t see why not,” Omaira shrugged. “They are Bloodlusters.”

  “Why do Bloodlusters run an Ortusan city?” Jade questioned.

  “Because they were the ones who brought us together,” Omaira responded. “The other Bloodlusters said it was best to stay hidden, but Carmilya and Aravoni came to us all, coven by coven, and inspired us to rebel against the fairies and form as one! We take what we want now, and it’s because of them. They have
ushered in an age of glory for our kind that the world has never seen! They have saved us all!”

  “You speak of them as if you worship them,” Shadowin added.

  “Oh, I do. We all do, and you will, too,” Omaira said.

  “Have you ever met them?” Jade asked.

  “No. But I know they must be great. I can’t meet them because I’m not worthy. I could never measure up to their power. I tried to be a palace servant, but I wasn’t picked.” Omaira sounded heavily disappointed. “I was devastated for days. They wouldn’t even take me as one of Aravoni’s girls, but maybe when I go back and reapply, they will. It’s my dream to be one of his females.”

  Omaira’s daydreamy face faded as she leaned on Shadowin. “But I guess you’ll have to do for now.”

  Shadowin sighed. As they entered the temple, mosaics of Aravoni and Carmilya tiled the walls and the floors. There was a great red altar at the front of a stained glass window portraying the gods of Sanctus Cruor. Ortusans were crowded into the space, throwing various offerings upon the altar, singing as they went.

  “From every mountain to shining sea,

  We pledge eternal loyalty.

  The mother and father of our race,

  We weep aloud for their beaming grace.

  The other gods, they’re all a lie,

  The Creator’s gone, they made him die!

  Ortusans now have all control,

  To lift our champions is our goal!

  To Carmilya and Aravoni we give our life,

  And every single sacrifice!”

  As they sang that dreadful song…and it really was dreadful, because besides the awful lyrics, none of the Ortusans could hit a note…Jade’s eyes wandered around the room. As they did so, she caught a horrifying sight.

  Wooden cages were stacked against the walls, one right on top of the other, encasing animals of all kinds within their grasp. Deer, birds, bears, goats, raccoons, mountain lions, rabbits, and all kinds of various other creatures were trapped within the cages. As Ortusans approached the altar, animals were taken out and killed upon it, some right before their very families. Jade could see that they wanted to cry out in protest, but the ones that did were the next ones to die. Most of the animals huddled up in a frightened fashion in the back of their cages, trying to remain as unseen as possible. Jade wanted to lunge away from the group and free them, but knew there was nothing she could do.

  “I’m going to get an offering from the priest. Stay here,” Omaira said eagerly. She then happily trotted off to talk to a tall Ortusan by the altar.

  Once she was gone, Jade whirled on her brother. “I won’t do this,” she said. “I won’t bow down to their idols.”

  “Jade, we have to. It’s the only way,” Shadowin argued.

  “No! They’ve taken away everything else. They won’t take away this!” Jade snapped.

  Omaira pointed with her paw to a porcupine shivering in a cage. The priest grabbed the creature, and it wailed loudly as the Ortusan dove his long nails into the creature’s belly, disemboweling it quickly before tossing the body on top of the red altar with all the others.

  Jade had to struggle not to throw up as Omaira padded back to her. “It’s done. We can go to our new home now.”

  As Omaira led them out of the temple, a skip in her step, Jade struggled to keep a low growl under control. “That was sick, Shadowin. We should’ve done something,” Jade argued.

  “We will, Jade,” Shadowin whispered back to her. “Give it a little more time.”

  Omaira led them all to a large, tall building, one with many Ortusans going in and out. “It’s called an apartment. Isn’t it grand?” Omaira said as they entered, climbing various flights of stairs until they had reached the very top of the building.

  She turned to the wolves. “Jade can take the one next to us, Shadowin.”

  “Great,” Shadowin said. Omaira got up on her hind legs and opened the door for Jade with her paw. The apartment was large, and filled with luxurious furniture.

  “Let’s settle in,” Omaira said. She then opened up her own room and stepped inside, dragging Shadowin with her. “You have a nice evening, Jade, and we’ll see you in the morning,” Omaira said pleasantly.

  Before Jade could come to the rescue, Omaira shut the door in her face. “Finally,” Omaira said dramatically. “We’re alone.”

  Without a second’s hesitation, Omaira changed into a tall, naked woman, her orange eyes sparkling as she smiled mischievously, fangs glistening in the sunset. Ortusans were always naked when they transformed, but Omaira made no move to reach for a dress.

  “Come to bed with me, Shadowin,” Omaira said, her long, red hair flowing down to her bare hips. “We can make love until morning, you and I.”

  Shadowin shook his head. “No, Omaira. Not now, I...”

  “Aw. The shy type. I like them like that. So much easier to handle.” Omaira gave a lusty, low chuckle.

  Shadowin’s breathing quickened. “Don’t come near me!” he said, backing away.

  “Why? You afraid? You should be. Change, darling. Change, so I can get a good look at you.”

  “No!”

  “Change!” Omaira grabbed onto him with her nails, digging into his sides, and he let out a yelp. Though he wriggled, he couldn’t break free from her grasp.

  Omaira held him there in the air, suspended for a minute, before she recognized the truth and dropped him to the floor. “A wolf!” she cried, and she went from playful to angry, hissing her displeasure and displaying her fangs.

  “Time for you to go,” Shadowin said, and he crouched low. But before Shadowin could get a bite on her, Omaira opened her big mouth and shouted, “WOLVES! WOLVES!”

  Shadowin made a run for it. He slammed the door open and found Jade waiting outside. “Our welcome has worn out,” he said quickly. They headed for the exit, trailing down the winding stairs and into the city streets, where they still heard Omaira screaming, “WOLVES! WOLVES!”

  The Ortusans instantly went into hunting mode. The monsters in the city streets started jostling each other, accusing one another of being wolves and springing into attack. In all the confusion, nobody noticed Shadowin. There were still many Ortusans in wolf form, and because their eyes were so dark, nobody paid attention to them.

  But Jade’s bright green eyes were all too easily spotted.

  “I’ve got one! Let’s rip her to shreds!” a strong Ortusan shouted, lifting Jade into the air by the scruff of her neck.

  “No! Take her to Aravoni and Carmilya!” a female said loudly, and the others cheered. “They’ll know what to do with her!”

  Above the voices, Jade screamed, “Run, Shadowin! Go without me!”

  “No, Jade!” Shadowin whined, hiding within the masses of the crowd.

  “Run! They’ll kill you! Run!” Jade yelled again, and her voice fell silent as they slipped a muzzle over her mouth. Before Shadowin could make another move, Jade had vanished in the crowd.

  “Jade!” Shadowin shouted, but the crowd was becoming even more dangerous. Shadowin turned and ran towards the gate, pounding his paws upon it frantically.

  “What in the bleeding hell is going on down there?” one of the Ortusans yelled.

  “They’ve gone crazy! Let me out!” Shadowin said.

  The gates immediately opened, and Shadowin burst forth from the city, fleeing for his life.

  When he’d tumbled into the safety of the woods, he began to panic. Shadowin paced back and forth, looking at the city’s giant wall and wondering what he was going to do to get his sister out of there.

  The answer came to him quickly. Snapfoot and his pack. They could help. Sanctus Cruor was near the Verinian. They couldn’t be far.

  Shadowin headed into the woods, howling for his brother and hoping against hope that somehow, the wolf was close by.

  A week from the Bloodluster sighting, Snapfoot went on twilight patrol. The sun was no longer up...the days were shortening, and night was coming earlier each day now.
The last rays of sunlight had faded the minute he sent out, and a cold chill was spiraling through the air and sailing through his fur.

  It had been nearly three months since he discovered the tragedy of Allie’s death, and even longer since he had been separated from his siblings, especially Midnightstar, who had been gone since early spring.

  He missed them all dearly. Why couldn’t things be fun, carefree and simple, like they had been before the Second Despondent started? Why did he have to be separated from his siblings, his friends? He had no one left, not even his parents. The only friend that still was around was Aunt Lottie, but she was still angry with him after what had happened with the unicorn raid.

  He had Kaliska, until he’d pushed her away. He had never felt so alone. Even though he was a leader to his pack, all he felt like to them was a way to get a meal.

  A lone howl went up among the woods. Snapfoot paused to listen. Someone in his pack was giving out a cry. He howled back, but the sound wasn’t returned. Putting his ears down, he hung his head low and continued on his way.

  A loud whine could be heard from far, far away. Snapfoot spun around. What was going on? Screams of terror soon joined the whine, and Snapfoot realized that they were coming from his pack.

  “I’m coming!” Snapfoot yelled, and he put forth every bit of energy he had to get back to the group. He dived into the camp, teeth bared. What he got wasn’t what he had expected.

  “Die, you vicious beasts!” a unicorn yelled, stomping her hooves down. A wolf rolled out of the way and three of Snapfoot’s pack leapt on the back of the mare, dragging her to the ground.

  Snapfoot’s mind went blank. How had the unicorns found them, after they had traveled all this way? Even more so…why were they bothering to pursue them, after they had left?

  He knew the answer already. Crying Ice.

  He looked over his pack with terror. Just like before, there was no guard to defend them. Where were the Bloodlusters to offer the protection that was promised?

  And there she was, Crying Ice herself, charging her horn at wolf after wolf, not pausing to take a breath as she did so. “Drive them to the plains, so they can’t take cover!” she shouted.