Masquerade

by Cambria Hebert

  She was toying with me.

  I knew this because I knew that she could run faster than Jasper. She could have taken us down the minute she came upon us, but she didn’t. She simply ran behind, chasing us, scaring Jasper and scaring me. My heart raced at a speed I never thought possible, and I struggled to get air into my lungs. Why was she delaying? Was she so vile that it wasn’t enough to kill me but she had to torture me before I died? Visions of the car crash filled my mind and so did flashes of the newly discovered memories of the attack that left me disfigured. I wanted this torture to stop; yet, at the same time, I knew I should be grateful, because the more she played, the longer Sam had to get here.

  Heven? Are you all right?

  She’s still chasing us. I don’t know how much longer Jasper can run like this.

  I’m almost there.

  Hurry.

  I was deep into the woods and knew that we should be nearing water. Grandma owned a lot of property that backed up to a small lake. I wasn’t familiar with this part of the property because she didn’t own the lake, and I’d never ventured this far in. I dared a glance behind me and earned a smack from a low-lying branch for my effort. I put my hands up trying to protect myself, but nearly lost my balance. I buried my hands in Jasper’s mane and bent over him, trying to stay on. If I fell off…

  She’s getting closer.

  Use your whistle!

  Of course! I’d forgotten! I fumbled beneath my shirt and pulled out the small, silver whistle. With shaking hands I put it in my mouth and blew as hard as I could.

  I heard nothing.

  But the horse sure did. He reared up and I fell off, hitting the ground and rolling. Pain rocked my body, but I kept rolling and pushed to my feet. I looked back in time to see him stomp down right where I fell. I shuddered, thinking how close I came to having a broken bone and giving China even more of an advantage.

  Heven!

  Jasper heard it, too. I fell off.

  Are you hurt?

  No.

  My legs were shaking as I tried to quickly calm Jasper. It was no use. I looked around for China, frightened that, because I was no longer running, she would decide just to end things now. My anxiety grew the longer I went without a glimpse of her jet black form – maybe I should be thankful for the lack of her presence, but I knew how cunning she was. I couldn’t let my guard down. Just because I couldn’t see her didn’t mean that she wasn’t there and ready to pounce. I made a feeble attempt to get back on Jasper, but he wasn’t having it; he was too upset. After a few tries I gave up trying to mount him, and instead I got him to turn toward the house. I hit him on the rump, hard. He took off without looking back.

  Then I was alone.

  China slithered from behind a large tree.

  We stared at each other.

  She sank down low and prepared to jump.

  I blew the whistle again and she dropped down, cringing. Taking advantage of the moment I looked around for something to use as a weapon. There was nothing I could use against a large, angry hellhound.

  She stood, shaking her head. I placed the whistle against my lips and she lunged. I blew it and she fell out of the sky onto the ground. The noise didn’t appear to hurt her, it just seemed to stun her enough that she couldn’t think.

  Climb a tree! Sam told me urgently.

  Just my luck, there was a tree nearby that I thought I might be able to hoist up into. I blew the whistle as I ran toward it, keeping China back. I scrambled up about halfway. Perched on a teetering branch, I looked down. China was growling and pacing at the bottom.

  I put the whistle back to my lips.

  I’m here.

  I let the whistle fall, not wanting to hurt Sam with it.

  I’m up in a tree.

  I can smell you. Stay put.

  China put her big paws up on the tree and tried to shake it. When that didn’t work she tested her claws for climbing. My breath caught in my throat as I looked down in panic. Could she climb this tree?

  A streak of black shot out from behind the tree and came around the side, barreling into her and knocking her to the ground. The two animals went rolling, and I bit my lip to keep from screaming. I watched as the two went at each other again and again. They were so tightly wound together that I could barely distinguish where one began and the other ended. It was beyond maddening. The angry howls and snarls that they were making would echo through my nightmares forever. I watched as razor sharp teeth gnashed together and white, angry foam filled their mouths and pooled around their lips. They were fighting to the death.

  I bit back yet another cry when China sunk her teeth into Sam, and he let out an enraged yowl. Tears pooled in my eyes and blurred my vision. I swiped them away and looked for something, anything that I could use to help. I shouldn’t hide up here like this, I should help – or at least attempt to help myself and Sam.

  My eyes landed on a branch not far above my head; it was bare, and the leaves hadn’t grown on it. The branch looked angry and stark against the greenery of the other branches. The end of it was pointed and sharp, emphasizing its lack of fitting in amongst the others. I reached for it, my arm not long enough, and the branch remained out of reach. I let out a frustrated sound that mixed with the snarling below, and I glanced down. China was charging Sam, leaping off a tree into mid-air, but Sam met her half way and sent her body spiraling back and into a large, mature tree. It shuddered with the force of her hit but it stood tall and strong. Seeing the way the tree held its ground inspired me. Don’t give up.

  On trembling knees I raised myself up to balance of the shaky branch, pausing only long enough to reach out to steady myself against the tumultuous ledge I perched on. Then, pushing past my fear, I leaned up and grasped the dead branch in my hands and pulled. It wouldn’t give. Sure, it bowed to me. It bent. But it refused to break. I felt it mocking my weakness.

  I heard another scream below, and I saw China take Sam by surprise and tackle him to the ground. She lifted her claws and made a motion to slash open his belly. I screamed and grabbed up my whistle and blew long and hard. I blew so hard that my lungs seized for air and I felt lightheaded. China collapsed on the ground next to Sam and neither of them moved. I took my chance and quickly stood, ignoring the way the branch bowed and sagged beneath my weight. Then I grabbed that dead branch – my only available weapon – and I yanked as hard as I could.

  It gave way with a sharp, ear piercing crack.

  My triumph was short lived because the branch I was standing on also gave way. I fell, down through the hard, unforgiving branches and leaves, gripping the weapon I fought so hard to get, refusing to release it.

  I didn’t hit the ground. It seems my weapon, the angry branch, saved me. It got caught between two other branches and I hung there, my feet dangling a few feet above the ground. China’s red, vile eyes laughed with glee as she raced toward me. I went to grab for my whistle and realized I couldn’t – if I let go of the branch I would fall into her waiting claws.

  I prepared to kick out but Sam launched off the ground and snatched her backwards by the neck and ripped out a clump of black fur. China screamed in agony and turned. She swiped at him with her claws, catching him at the shoulder. He stumbled only to get right back up and snap his ferocious teeth at her. His black lips folded back over blacker gums and his teeth dripped with excess saliva. His pointy ears laid flat against his head, and he keened a sound that made my ears ring.

  China jumped at him, but Sam slammed her sleek and bloody figure into the hard earth without any trouble, pinning her down with his considerable weight. When she struggled he used his teeth on one of her legs, a loud, snapping noise announced the bone breaking. When he let go it fell at an odd, painful angle.

  My shoulders were burning and shaking from holding myself up here for so long. The weight of my body seemed to drag me down, and I could feel the skin on my palms ripping from the rough bark on the branch. I looked down, wondering how much it would hurt when I fell.


  I heard another yelp and I looked down – expecting to see another leg broken for China. I screamed, realizing that the yelp hadn’t been hers but Sam’s. China had managed to get on top of him and was biting into the vulnerable flesh of his neck.

  The scene frightened me so much that, without thinking, I let go of the branch and fell to the ground with a thud. Stunned, I went to my hands and knees and looked up, through the hair that fell around me. China was still biting down on Sam’s neck, but she was looking at me.

  I stared her down, I looked into her red unblinking eyes with a glare that I hoped challenged her. “Come on, you sick bitch,” I taunted. “Come and get me.”

  I saw her eyes flash, and she released Sam to come after me. I reached for my necklace only to realize that I must have lost it when I fell through the tree. Shit! China was on me in mere seconds. I tried to kick out – to fend her off. She snapped at my shoe, ripping it off my foot and tossing it away. I tried to see past her, to see if Sam was alright, but her huge black mass filled my vision.

  She smelled…like rotting meat and bleeding flesh. When I sucked in gulps of oxygen I could taste the metallic hint of blood on my tongue. She was definitely injured with what looked like two broken legs. How she supported herself at all was astounding. Hate was an incredible motivator.

  I fell back when she pounced on me. Blood from her cuts dripped onto my face, and I wanted to flinch away, but I wouldn’t allow myself. I wouldn’t show her my fear any longer. She bent low, blowing her putrid breath into my face and then snapped her teeth at me. I did not flinch.

  She raised her paw – an unbroken one – and I knew that she meant to maim my face once more. I lifted my chin and turned my cheek giving her full access. “Even if you tear half my face off, I’ll still be more than you could ever be,” I taunted her.

  With an enraged roar, she brought her claw slashing down, but it never met my skin. Sam ripped her away, and they went crashing into a tree. I watched as he grabbed hold of her tail and ripped, the terrible sound of ripping flesh was hideous. Then another crack filled my ears as yet another of her bones broke. She tried to dash away but fell. Three broken legs and a missing tail rendered her too injured to run.

  Sam didn’t seem to notice that she was nearing defeat. He kept attacking, launching himself at her. The sounds he made were inhuman as he ripped her apart. I turned my face away, waiting for the horror to end.

  I thought of slapping my hands over my ears, but I figured there was no use. The sounds that they were making – there was no escape. From the sound of things, China had found yet another burst of life and the two went at it again…

  Until all fell silent.

  I sat up from my position against the tree, pushing at my hair and looking around. Sam? I pushed out hesitantly, using the Mindbond. For some reason disturbing this silence seemed wrong.

  He didn’t respond. What if China had somehow gotten the upper hand and Sam was killed? What if I had laid here and did nothing while he died?

  My eyes took in the patches of black fur and the lumps of body parts littering the forest floor. Sam! I stood, ignoring the way my legs threatened to buckle and turned in a circle, searching…

  My eyes landed on a large black heap.

  He was alive! He was there, lying on his belly. I jumped up and ran toward him. He lifted his head as I rushed forward and dropped to my knees beside him.

  She’s dead. He told me, raising his bulk up into a sitting position. His usually gleaming black fur was matted and dull from dirt and blood and other things I didn’t even want to think about. Then he peeled back his lips in what looked like a snarl, but I recognized it as his houndish smile.

  China was dead.

  For good.

  Excitement and relief coursed through me that this nightmare was over. I turned and looked once more at the body parts that lay scattered. The enormity of what just happened hit me, and it was all too much; my stomach lurched. I ran to the trees and vomited.

  When I turned back, Sam was standing near a tree watching me with unreadable eyes. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

  “Are you all right?” I asked, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

  He nodded.

  He was completely naked, and I kept my gaze up over his shoulder. “You’re bleeding.”

  “Just a scratch,” he sounded exhausted. And something else…“You were out here alone.”

  He was angry. At me.

  “I…I didn’t think.”

  “You didn’t think at all! You almost got yourself killed!”

  I recoiled from being yelled at. I didn’t like it. Mostly because I realized he was right.

  He sighed. “Do you have any idea how close that was? How afraid I was I wouldn’t make it in time?”

  “I’m sorry.” I said, feebly. My legs were shaking and I leaned back against the tree. I closed my eyes. “I’m sorry you had to do that.”

  I heard his movement, but didn’t open my eyes. I couldn’t stand to see him so angry at me. “She can’t hurt you ever again.” His voice was soft and came from directly in front of me.

  I opened my eyes. His were burning with golden flames.

  Is it wrong to be so relieved that someone is dead?

  He shook his head and a smile took hold of his face and lighted his features. The he grabbed me up and spun me around, his laugh echoing in the trees. It was so wonderful that it pushed away the memory of the horrific sounds from before. “Finally! She’s dead!”

  He sat me down and pressed a quick kiss to my lips and grinned again. We can actually go out without looking over our shoulders.

  I reached a hand out to his chest and splayed my fingers along his heart. It was pounding. With happiness and relief. Then I noticed all the blood smeared all over his chest and the long jagged cut near his collar bone. “Sam!”

  I tugged off my hoodie and pressed it to the wound. Breath hissed between his teeth. He took the sweatshirt and wrapped it around his waist.

  “I need to clean that.”

  He nodded. “Let’s go.”

  I hesitated and he turned back, a question in his eyes.

  “What about her?” I whispered, daring a glance at what was left of China.

  He made a rude noise. “Leave her. The birds and animals will eat what’s left.”

  “But won’t she smell? What if someone finds her?”

  “No one will know what she was, she’s too unrecognizable for that…besides the animals will make short work of her remains.”

  I nodded and turned away, hoping that the sight of her and the images of birds pecking at her decaying flesh wouldn’t haunt me.

  Sam squeezed my fingers. “She’s gone now. Let’s put her wrath behind us.”

  I nodded and together we started in the direction of the house.

  A few feet later he stopped and hauled me against him, twirling us around once more. I giggled. He bent low and his breath ticked my ear as he whispered, “Just me and you now…no more stalkers in the shadows, and no more worry over leaving you alone.”

  “I like the sound of that.” I sighed.

  He smiled and that mischievous glint came into his eyes. Just as he was about to say something, he stiffened, his head snapping up. Quick as lightening he shoved me behind him and a low menacing growl escaped his throat.

  I peeked around him to see what was wrong. Two sleek hellhounds stood just feet away.

  In a hard, cold voice that he never spoke to me in he said, “China’s dead. She attacked me and Heven; I killed her. Anyone have a problem with that?”

  I held my breath wondering about the wisdom of his words. He made it sound like a challenge. He was already hurt and exhausted – could he take on two more? I rested my cheek against his back, feeling the way his muscles rippled. Maybe he could.

  There was some rustling around and then I heard a deep human voice say, “Yeah, we saw. You really let her have it.”

  They had been watching? I was beyond ap
palled. Did that mean they stood around and watched Sam battle for his life – for my life? What kind of people were they? I looked around Sam again to see that the hellhounds had transformed into two guys who stood there, both naked. I averted my eyes. A girl with any sense of modesty is going to have a hard time with dealing with all of these shiftings. They were the same two guys we saw on the street weeks ago in Portland: his roommates. The guys he got into a fight with and then disappeared for three days to hide his injuries from me.

  “She got what was coming to her,” Sam said, his voice strong but quiet.

  “That was brutal,” one of them said. “The way you just went at her…” His voice trailed away, and he cleared his throat. “I didn’t know you had that in you…”

  “Are you claiming leader?”

  Sam’s muscles bunched and shifted. In him I felt an overwhelming sense of power and need. He was quiet for long moments. “Yeah, I am,” he said, the challenging tone back in his voice.

  What did they mean ‘leader’? Did that mean that he was going to control what they do? Did that mean they were going to be around a lot? I didn’t like that idea. I didn’t really know these guys, but I knew enough to know that I didn’t like them.

  “What if we don’t want you to be leader?” one of his roommates asked, his voice laced with menace.

  “Bring it on,” Sam snarled and motioned behind us to China’s scattered carcass. “Here’s a preview of what will happen to anyone who challenges me.”

  One of them snorted.

  I stood and stared in shock as the rapid movements of Sam caught me off guard.

  He grabbed one of his roommates by the neck and slammed him into the ground. He made a move like he would bend low into the struggling man’s face, but then he swiftly pulled back and delivered a hard punch to his face.

  He spoke so quietly that I had to strain to hear his words. “I am not in the mood for your shit. I’ve put up with a lot from you two and I’m done. You have a choice: accept me as leader or die.” The last word came out as a growl and the way his body arched over the stilled and listening roommate made me think he was fighting the urge to change. Then he shoved himself away and stood. “What’s it going to be?”