Darling, There Are Wolves in the Woods

by Lydia Russell

  I yelped as he grabbed my hand and threw me out of the door, slamming it shut behind me. I stood alone on the doorstep, my mouth open in shock, strangely hurt that he had thrown me out. I turned to face the surrounding trees, the narrow pathways all covered with brambles or fallen logs. Even with the sunlight glittering through the canopy, it looked dark...dangerous...stupid.

  I sucked in a breath, allowing it to hiss through my teeth as I slammed my fist against the door. I cursed him loudly, screaming obscenities that I had no doubts he heard with his stupid pointy ears. I kicked the door for good measure, my boots making a decent thumping sound, as I seethed on his doorstep.

  “You are looking for your sister, yes?”

  I jumped at the sound of her voice, a soft whisper that sang from her bloodless lips. She sat near the shadows of the giant oaks that shaded Laphaniel’s house, her body curled up like a cat.

  “What is it to you?” I said, taking a wary step toward her, tensing as she sat up.

  Lily blinked and stretched, hands reaching up high, stretching the white of her skin so her ribs were shockingly visible. “I know where she is.”

  “Are you offering to take me to her?”

  “Would you follow me?” she answered, cocking her head slowly to one side, silvery hair swirling around her like mist.

  “I’m not going into the woods with you.”

  Her smile was a nightmare, revealing the row of sharp teeth she had hidden behind her ghostly mouth. “Are you going to stay with him then?”

  I glanced back at Laphaniel’s door. “No…”

  “He won’t let you go, you know that don’t you? He never does. There are silly girls just like you buried all over these woods.”

  Cold prickled down my spine. “Where’s Niven?”

  Lily outstretched her bone white hand. “Follow me.”

  I hesitated before taking her hand, her sharp nails digging into my skin. I knew it was foolish to trust a creature like Lily, but I couldn’t wander the woods without knowing where I was going. That hadn’t worked out well before, and I was unlikely to find a map that would lead me to my sister. I was getting nowhere with Laphaniel, who had made it abundantly clear he was not going to help me. I couldn’t stay and hope to change his mind, and then there was a shameful part of me that was starting to like the way he looked at me.

  I followed her through the winding pathways, the sunlight overhead piercing through the treetops to settle upon the lush leaves below. Flowers awoke as the sunlight touched them, uncurling to reveal a rainbow of blooms that covered the paths and hid away our footprints.

  “Where are you taking me?” I demanded, as Lily led me over mounds and down rocky paths that I slid down in my too big boots. “Stop!”

  She turned to me, as swift as a snake. “Do you want to find your sister?”

  “Yes…”

  “Hush then.”

  “What do you get out of this?”

  She closed her eyes for a moment, looking almost wistful. “I want him back.”

  “Laphaniel?”

  “He looks at you strangely,” she said, the words hissing through her teeth. “Like he believes there is something beneath the skin you wear that is worth something.”

  “Which you don’t.” Not a question, but Lily nodded…a quick tilt of her head that was all I needed from her.

  “I miss the taste of him,” she purred, closing her eyes as she ran her tongue over her lips.

  “If it’s any consolation, I don’t think he likes me much.” I said, unable to dwell on what kind of relationship Lily had with Laphaniel.

  Lily blinked, her nose flaring as she scented me, a low growl shuddering past her lips. “He wouldn’t come to me, instead he was at your side ensuring that you still drew breath.”

  She paused, squatting back onto her haunches as she trailed her eyes down my body, her disgust plain on her otherworldly face.

  “I didn’t know…”

  “Three nights you festered away in his bed,” she continued, cutting me off. “In the room I am forbidden to enter. He finally emerged when at last you stopped your infernal thrashing and screeching, and he reeked of sweat and bile, you foul little thing.

  I had no idea. I had sensed someone over me as I slept…as I fought off the nightmares, but I couldn’t comprehend that I had been sleeping for days…that he hadn’t left me, that I was sick all over him…again. Fear, along with a dreaded realisation crept down my spine.

  “Where are we really going?”

  Lily straightened, a flicker of glee flashing over her pallid skin. “Somewhere no one will ever find you.”

  “You lied to me.”

  Lily shook her head, a smirk creeping over her mouth. “You don’t ask the right questions. I do know where your sister is, I never said I would take you to her.”

  Lily launched herself at me with a piercing cry, scattering the restless birds overhead towards the skies. I swung quickly and the rock I had been carrying since I began following her collided with her face. There was a sickening crack and a spray of blood, as Lily fell to the moss-covered ground and didn’t move.

  “Fuck.” I spluttered, dropping the bloodied rock and trying vainly to get a sense of my surroundings. I backed along the way I had come…or thought I had come, I wasn’t sure anymore for everything looked the same…but was so, so different.

  The ground beneath my feet was damp, inclining downwards into a murky swamp that writhed and moved with unfathomable creatures beneath the green waters. Something crunched beneath my feet and looking down I noticed dozens and dozens of bones littered over the ground, all picked clean.

  I looked back to where Lily had fallen, my heart freezing when I realised she was gone.

  “Bitch,” I hissed, creeping away from the swamp, scanning the swaying trees for any sign of her.

  Something else was waiting.

  Something bigger.

  I could feel its eyes upon me, sense the trees around me grow quiet, the chatter of birdsong dying out until there was nothing but silence. Then a low, soft hiss.

  A heron shot out from the reeds, its sharp cry drowning out mine as a huge black shadow launched forwards, passing over the terrified bird to disappear back into the shadows.

  For a moment I thought it had missed its prey, but the heron fell to the ground with a soft thump, eyes wide and strangely white. It jerked, before folding in on itself, feathers decaying as it withered at my feet.

  With my hands clamped around my mouth, I dragged myself behind a cluster of skinny trees, just as the long shining form of a giant snake slithered back out of the shadows, its monstrous face scanning the woods. I looked away, not daring to meet its gaze after what it did to the bird.

  Sucking noises filled my ears, the wet lapping of flesh that should have been solid, but no longer was. I swallowed quickly, willing myself not to throw up as I slipped away.

  I knew it followed me before I heard the hiss, and without looking back, I ran as fast as I could through the forest, not giving one damn where I was headed. I clambered over rocks and slid down moss-covered banks, splashing through the shallow waters of the swamp and disturbing creatures that dwelled beneath.

  Teeth sliced at my skin, tiny fish-like creatures flung themselves at my legs, gaping mouths stretched wide to clamp down and suckle at me. I tore them off, yelping as my skin came away too.

  Behind me I heard the trees snap. I scurried up the bank as the writhing mass hunted me, its black scales seeming to suck in the light. With a loud thwack it lashed out with the tip of its long, long tail, catching me on the back of my legs so I was sent flying.

  I rolled, sprang back to my feet, not daring to look as it lunged again and caught a frightened doe that ran across my path instead. The deer froze, frightened black eyes milking over as it bubbled, skin sinking against its bones, its flesh turning into jelly as the monster loomed over it and sucked it dry.

  With stinging, bloodied legs I ran, clawing my way up over the slick ground and
back around to the shadow of the thicker trees, away from the swamp. I spotted Laphaniel before he saw me and not having enough breath in my lungs to call out his name, I slammed into him instead. I had no time to be grateful that I had found him, nor to wonder at the look of relief that passed over his face as he caught my arms.

  “No!” I gasped. “Just go…run!”

  “What…”

  “Shut up and run!” I shoved him forwards, dragging him by the arm as he hesitated.

  “What is it?” he called to me, dragging me up as I stumbled. “Teya?”

  “Giant snake.” I managed to gasp, “Lily lured me to it.”

  He spun me around, his hand tight on mine, his breaths coming out as sharp as mine. “Why would you follow Lily?”

  “I thought she was taking me to Niven.”

  “You really are stupid…”

  I tugged on his arm hard, forcing him to turn down a winding path, thick with brambles, instead of the one he had chosen. “Not that way!”

  “My house is this way!” he snapped.

  “Do you really want that thing in your back garden?”

  “No…”

  “Didn’t think so,” I panted, leaning back against a tree to catch my breath, feeling it burn against my lungs.

  “Did you look at it?” he asked, raising a hand as if to touch me, but seemed to think better of it, and allowed it to drop back to his side.

  “Since I’m not a pile of mush, I guess not.”

  His eyes narrowed, the violet darkening as he glared at me. “Don’t you snap at me.”

  “I’m pissed off,” I hissed, turning to scan the surrounding trees for any signs of movement. “I’m a little tired of things trying to eat me.”

  “I told you…”

  “I’m tired of you telling me all the ways I’m going to die, okay?” I said, angry tears threatening against my eyes. “Just stop it!”

  “I was trying to help.”

  “No,” I said softly, taking a breath as the trees around us remained still and calm. “You’re trying to frighten me.”

  For a moment he said nothing, his own eyes darting at the shadows the trees made, head tilting slightly as he listened. “I didn’t think you would run off.”

  “Were you hoping I would sit and wait on your doorstep like a little puppy?” I said. “I’m not yours to order around…to manipulate and torment.”

  “Yes, you are,” he replied, his hand reaching out to grasp my wrist. “Don’t forget that.”

  “I don’t think you’ll let me.” I hissed, wrenching my hand away. “Keep moving, I don’t fancy having the flesh melted from my bones today.”

  “Give me your hand.”

  “Why?”

  “Because the snake has your scent, and it won’t stop following you unless we can lure it elsewhere.”

  I hesitated before reaching my hand out, eyeing the little knife in his hands warily. I barely had time to react as he sliced the blade over my arm, cutting deep enough that blood pooled down over my fingers.

  “Ow...”

  “Hush!” he snapped, crouching low, one hand still clamped around mine. He closed his eyes, going very still as I looked on. His free hand shot out, moving before I could blink, to grab the screeching body of a terrified hare from the bushes. He held it by the scruff, and hastily rubbed my blood all over it, until the soft brown of its coat was sticky with red. I couldn’t help but pity the poor creature.

  “Wait,” he said, taking a breath, his voice softer. “Tie this around your arm.”

  He tore a strip of his shirt for me to use, wiping his own hands over the frantic animal, his eyes darting to the trees, head cocked as he listened.

  “We should climb up.” I said, peering up.

  “Good idea…go.”

  I didn’t need to be told twice. I forced myself up onto the lower branches of a looming oak tree, hoisting myself up deep into its canopy, my arm throbbing. I looked down as Laphaniel released the hare, just as the coiling form of the mighty snake slithered into view. It stilled, waiting, watching. Laphaniel climbed noiselessly behind me, a strong arm coming around to steady me on the branch.

  We both stood tense as the snake tasted the air, and I didn’t protest as Laphaniel guided my head against his chest, forcing me to look away. I was trembling, my heartbeat whacking against my ribcage, echoing the thump of Laphaniel’s. My fingers gripped his shirt, but I didn’t care, I didn’t dare move, holding my breath until it was forced through my lips in a shuddering rasp.

  “It’s gone,” Laphaniel whispered. “It’s following the hare.”

  I pushed away from him, my breaths coming out sharp and panicked as I fumbled back down the tree. He landed gracefully beside me, placing a concerned hand on my shoulder, hurt flashing over his face as I jerked away.

  “Don’t,” I murmured, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Unless you want to see what hysteria looks like, please just give me a minute.”

  I sucked in a shaky breath, rubbing away the stray, frightened tears that trickled over my cheeks, suddenly feeling weak and useless.

  He gave me space, eyes narrowing as he watched me.

  “What?”

  “I didn’t say anything.”

  “You’re staring at me,” I said, drawing a steadier breath. “This is a human reaction to nearly being eaten, take note.”

  He didn’t take his eyes off me. “I am.”

  “Shall we go back, then?” I said, uncomfortable under his scrutinizing gaze. “You’re not going to slam the door in my face again?”

  “Probably not,” he replied. “The snake won’t bother you again if you don’t come back to the swamp. In its mind, you’re already dead.”

  “Good to know.”

  Chapter Eleven

  We walked the long way back with barely another word between us, my nerves simply too frazzled to engage in conversation. Laphaniel seemed uncomfortable, walking a little way ahead of me, only glancing back now and again to make sure I was still behind him. He asked if my arm was okay, stopping at a clear stream to help wash away the dried blood and grit, binding it tightly with another strip of his shirt. The rest of the walk we made in silence.

  I almost sighed in relief when his house came into view…but I stopped myself, I didn’t want the safety of his house…it wasn’t safe, and neither was Laphaniel. It was getting all too easy to forget that.

  “You’re strangely quiet,” I said finally, unable to bear the silence any longer. “Are you still pissed I ran off?”

  “I’m tired,” he said, and I was surprised at the honest, simple answer.

  “Can I ask you a question?”

  He nodded, waiting.

  “Do you enjoy tormenting me?”

  “Yes,” he said without hesitation.

  “Why?”

  He sighed and reached up to brush a stray strand of hair from my face. “Because you are so beautiful when you're angry.”

  I opened my mouth to utter a retort, but nothing came out, so I just stood there and gaped at him like a fish.

  Wrapping my arms around myself, I took a step away from him and wandered to a little garden at the side of the house. I didn’t look around until I had sat upon one of the stone steps, but I heard him follow me.

  I leant forward with my head against my knees, waiting until the burn in my chest eased up. I rubbed at my stinging legs, the grazes over my knees just filthy.

  Tilting my head back, I let the warm breeze brush over me, carrying with it every scent of the surrounding forest. There were roses everywhere in Laphaniel’s garden, creeping up vines and blooming from huge shrubs and bursting from hedgerows. Every colour flower imaginable blossomed in his garden, but the reds were simply breath-taking. Vivid scarlet and velvet soft, they filled the garden with a perfume that was unlike anything I had ever known.

  Laphaniel reached out and plucked one of the red roses and offered it to me, I hesitated before I took it, eyeing the beautiful bloom with distrust.

&nb
sp; “Will it turn into a snake if I touch it?”

  With a quick twist of his hands and a sly smile at his mouth, the rose vanished, in its place, a writhing snake coiled around his arm. It reared back as I jumped, baring its fangs and hissing at me.

  “Don't!” I cried, recoiling from him and the snake. Laphaniel swiftly moved his hand again turning the snake back into a rose and held it out to me once more.

  “It is just a flower, Teya. It has never been anything more, and never will be anything else.”

  “It was definitely a snake just then.”

  He laughed, and my rebellious heart danced at the sound. “Only because I wanted you to see a snake. You could have just as easily seen a rose.”

  “Oh, really?”

  Reaching forwards, he carefully took my hand and placed the rose between my fingers. “In the woods when I tried to get you to turn back, you resisted me. You have a sharper mind than you give yourself credit for.”

  “So, you used magic?”

  “Glamour,” he clarified. “an illusion, it's only real if you believe it is.”

  I laughed then and shook my head, allowing the rose to fall at my feet. The petals broke away from the stem as it hit the ground, and the gentle wind swirled them away like confetti. Laphaniel watched the petals dance, his face unreadable as the red shapes teased at his hair.

  “Can you hear that?” he asked.

  “Hear what?”

  “I think the wind is singing to you. Listen.”

  Laphaniel took my hand and drew me closer, as I closed my eyes and I strained to hear what he was hearing. I could hear his heart beating, the sound of his breathing...my own heart thumping out an erratic beat, but there was no music in the wind. “I can't...”

  “Try harder,” he whispered, his words tickling the edge of my ear.

  I smiled as I took a breath and really listened, remembering that I was in a world where the trees could sway to music that the wind sang for them. I heard it then, subtle at first but it grew louder as the breeze picked up. It was an orchestra of fallen leaves, of blades of grass and the creatures that trampled across them. It was the sound of laughter, of wild things...the sounds of screams, all carried together on the breath of a breeze and I was lost within it.