by Kim Faulks
More Echo pack warriors scurried over the wall behind him.
But instead of the hard glint of murder in their eyes, they held fear.
Bricks fractured, then collapsed as long, thin legs followed. A black beast of eight legs mounted the wall, then scampered over, moving faster than two legs ever could.
Xael had partially shifted, the Scorpio, had come.
Inky armor glinted from its arachnid body, like the monster had been dipped in Hell itself. Half-scorpion, half-woman, this beast vaguely resembled the dragon Xael had once been, but even in her weakened state, my sister was terrifying. I blinked through the glare and caught sight of her tail and the long barbed spear whipped through the air toward the Echo pack wolves and the heavy throb inside my chest quickened.
Something whipped through the air, a long shadow followed, then there were the screams. The chilling shriek fractured mid-flight, ending in cold, stony silence.
Xael rose and swallowed the sun, then swept reptilian eyes toward me, seizing me with a carnivorous stare before she turned to our attackers. Movement came from one of the wolves on my right, followed by a battle cry.
I threw my wing out wide, catching the female wolf with a hard sweep and threw her against the balustrade.
The ebony creature let out a fierce howl and lunged. Glass fragments scattered at my feet as our attacker slammed into the wall beside me. Bones snapped, something wet and warm hit my face, and a sickening tear filled the air. The gun jerked in the male shifter’s grip, yet he had that look of sudden shock. The whites of his eyes peeked around big black pupils, growing wider with each second as a barb the size of my arm impaled the wolf to the wall.
Night glistened as the creature loomed closer. The wolf whimpered behind me and the smell of urine saturated the air. I lifted my gaze to stare into bottomless black pools and whispered her name. “Xael.”
“Nice of you to join us brother.” The creature growled. Her lips parted, drawing in my scent. Her long black legs scratched and tap danced on the glass as her pale lips stretched into a smile. “Bloodletter? It’s about time you made your presence known, it’s only been what? A thousand years? But it seems you’re a little late to the party.”
My knee buckled. I clutched the cracked bannister as my muscles stretched and strained and my wings straightened. In the bottomless black of her eyes I saw my reflection. My dragon opened his mouth and razor sharp teeth sparkled white. Denim tore, cool air licked parts of my body that should remain covered.
A howl tore from the woods. Octaves increased, pulsing with terror until the cry ended. I wrenched my head back to my sister and whispered. “Zadoc?”
Xael’s smile stretched as she leaned close and shoved her talon deeper into the wolf’s chest, then yanked her tail free. The dead wolf hit the ground at my feet. “I think he’s the only one having a good time. The male wolves came from the mountain and demanded your wolf and the mage. They didn’t like it when we told them no.”
Something dug into my side. I uncurled my wings and turned to see wide eyes. The woman whimpered at the sight of my face. I flinched from the sight of her fear and snarled. “If I wanted to hurt you. I wouldn’t have saved your life.”
The shifter shook her head and inhaled before whispering. “You’re right, thank you.”
I bowed my head and let loose a grumble. “Upstairs in my bedroom, there’s gauze and antiseptic to clean your feet.”
She flattened her spine, taking a look at the dead wolf at my feet and edged along the railing. I reached out, grasping her arm and scraped her skin. She squealed at the touch, then clamped her mouth shut. I jerked my hand away. “There’s an old woman hidden in the closet, take care of her.”
I gripped the banister and turned as she limped up the stairs. My nails drew a line in the shattered fragments as I dragged each heavy foot. “Abrial?”
“Last time I saw her she was trading blows with her father.”
I swung my head toward the trees and dropped my weight onto my front feet. Blood red splashed against the shattered glass as I crushed the fragments under my claws. I ducked my head and eased through the opening, feeling my weight shift and expand.
A shiver raced through my body, shaking lose the last shackles of the man. I inhaled the air, searching for her scent and found nothing. Wolf. Her beast rose, stinging my mind with rage. You’re not taking my sister again! Leave her alone. Leave. Her. Alone. Rowen… Rowen!
Abrial. My muscles quivered as the wolf’s senses flooded me. I couldn’t scent her, but I could feel her.
A blur moved through the trees and the scent of male saturated the air. I propelled my body forward, watching the shifter lower his head and sprinted toward me. My top lip curled as I inhaled the male’s scent and lunged. Branches snapped, gouging my side as I forced my way through. The shifter charged around the thicket, his head was down until my shadow swept across his path.
His head tilted, a tiny cry slipped from his mouth at the sight. The rancid stench of terror filled me as fear staked its claim. His legs buckled. He reached out, but it was too late to stop.
I opened my mouth and my dragon took over, lunging to sever the man in two. His head butted against the roof of my mouth, bones snapped, piercing the soft flesh as I thrashed my head from side to side. My throat opened and the warm, salty liquid ran down my throat as my dragon bellowed. You came for the wolf? Then, you’ll have to go through me.
Light pierced the trees. I jerked from the glare and the remains of the shifter fell from my mouth, hitting the ground with a thud as I hissed. The burn spread along the back of my leg as the light grew, then faded. Blackened scales sloughed away, crimson glistened underneath. I sniffed the stench of burning flesh and felt the fire leak from my belly to sear my throat.
The scent of burning pine followed as another flash lit up the sky. I closed my eyes to the glare and the scent of scorched earth stung my nose. The thin pines creaked and moaned like a tired old man as I barged through the small gap.
A grunt echoed, followed by a male growl that was all too familiar. The Sheriff wrestled with Rowen in one hand and pointed the gun at Abrial with the other. “Try that again and I’ll knock you out. Now, move or the sister gets a head full of pellets. You wolves are tough, I’ll give you that. But the boss gave strict instructions. It’s either the both of you, or you alone. Now, I don’t give a fuck about the redhead, but you… you’re my ticket out of this fucking place.”
The power of my dragon hummed with a deadly charge, sending a shiver along my scales, then like the turn of a dial the energy died away. I shoved my way through the thicket, catching red amongst the green. Abrial dragged herself up from the ground. Fresh blood coated her face, running in a rivulet down her forehead. She swiped her cheek, jerking her head toward the thud as my feet hit the ground.
The pain in her eyes sliced me down the middle. She lifted her head, taking in every inch of the beast, then smiled and muttered. “I knew you’d come.”
A low keening sound echoed from my chest to resound along my throat. She called the Bloodletter and he answered. He loved her as much as I did. The Sheriff’s hooded gaze widened as he swung his focus from Abrial to me. His lips moved, mouthing words I didn’t care to hear. I stilled while the scent of Abrial’s blood swirled in my veins and clenched a steel trap around my heart.
“Do what he says, child. No one else needs to get hurt.” I spun toward the sound as Abrial’s father slid from the shadows. He risked a glance to his daughter, then fixed his gaze on me. “Easy now, all they want is the mage.”
Abrial’s face turned as red as her hair. She climbed to her feet and swayed, spitting her words like venom. “You! Don’t you dare call me child. Her name is Rowen, you spineless bastard! You can at least say her name, seeing as though you betrayed her twice!”
Her father flinched. His words cold as ice. “You’re right. I tried, Abrial. You don’t understand how hard I tried. But I couldn’t save the pack, or my family. I had to choose.”
>
Abrial’s gaze never moved, but the tone turned lethal. “And you made that choice perfectly clear.”
“Let them take Rowen and this will all be over.”
Abrial barked a laugh and shook her head, sending strands of her hair into the air like sparks against a night sky. “It’ll never be over. Don’t you get that by now? I’ll never stop looking for her. I’ll never stop fighting for her.”
“You always seemed to fight for the wrong things.” A voice echoed from the darkness. I yanked my head toward movement as one of the Bloodstone pack slipped from the shadows.
“Hurron.” Abrial spat.
His long hair glistened and stuck with blood to the side of his face. I dropped my gaze to his sodden hands, crusted nails darkened with the life of his enemy. His sleeves stuck to thin arms and the blood held Abrial’s gaze.
Her shoulders rose. The sudden draw of air seemed to linger and in this moment she stood like a giant, before the gush left her body and she was my little wolf once more. “Bloodstone blood.”
His eyes widened. I caught a nerve twitch at the corner of his eye before he answered. “Seems I’ve outgrown this pack anyway.”
“You double-crossing bastard!” Abrial’s father lunged, grasping Hurron by his blood-soaked shirt. “What have you done? What have you done!”
“Kill him.” Hurron snarled the command and a boom followed the words.
Crimson bloomed in the center of his chest as the Bloodstone Alpha stumbled backwards. He hovered for a second. His eyes widened as his brow arched high as he whispered. “Why?”
“No!” Abrial scrambled forward, clutching her father’s arm as he dropped to the ground. “Dad... Dad!”
The shadow of death descended, without a whisper to call its name. Her father jerked and shuddered. A bloody mist splattered Abrial’s face as she clawed him close. Those beautiful lips twisted in torment, and for a second I wished for her to never turn, for fear her anguish would consume me.
“Abrial.” A croak tore from Rowen’s lips as she reached for her sister.
My muscles strained. My heart clenched, and every drop of blood froze in my veins. It wasn’t the mindless terror in his gaze that filled me with dread, only the hard tremble of the muzzle that pointed at my wolf.
The sheriff moved faster than his girth should allow. He lunged and grasped a handful of long dark hair. Rowen screamed as he yanked, dragging her body against his chest. Dark hair sprouted between his fat fingers. He clutched her neck and whispered. “Now, no more magic. Or my finger might just slip and splatter your sweet sister all over the ground next to dear old dad.”
He lifted his gaze, and his cruel smile stretched wide. “Now, I heard the stories, but I never once thought they were true. You’re a terrifying beast, I’ll give you that. But you’re a day late and a dollar short. The bitch has got to go.”
“Why?” I hissed.
“Why what? You think your little piece of paper would protect us forever? Look around you, dragon. You’re dead. Your family’s dead. Your damn name is dead. You’re nothing but a memory. A fable to scare naughty children and entertain tired old women.” The sheriff pumped the shotgun and smiled.
I closed my eyes as Inanna filled me, all fire and fury… tasting like sex and the wolf. Fight, she whispered, burn them all to hell. “The Gods will never die.”
“Leave him alone you spineless fucking rat. You want me, then come and get me.” Abrial growled, her voice turned husky. I forced my head to move, silver eyes glinted when she glanced at me. “You think Sol’s going to take you with him?”
The sheriff spun, taking the gun with him. “Shut up.”
“He’s going to slit your throat and leave you in this forest.” Her eyes lit up like the moon on a cloudless night. “Or worse, you’ve seen the black beast, the one they call Xael. Maybe Sol will leave you for her, let her drive those spikes through your belly.”
The muzzle trembled. The sheriff turned his head to scan the trees and bushes. Fire raged like bile in my throat. Red filled me. Red of fire and flames and I could almost taste his death.
He was too far away. I’d never reach her in time.
Burn them. Burn them all to hell.
The sheriff clenched Rowen tighter. I’d burn her sister too.
Abrial’s foot snaked out, gouging through the dirt as she shoved backwards. I clenched my fist as the fat fuck sniggered “You think you can get to me before this bullet gets to her? I’m a betting man myself, and I don’t like your odds.”
His eyes hardened and his finger twitched. I lunged a second before the boom, but my muscles felt like lead. I moved too slow. I moved too fucking slow.
I slammed my wings around her tight as the shotgun sprayed. A hundred daggers sliced deep. Metal carved through my wings and embedded deep into bone as the ratchet of the shotgun rang out.
My legs buckled as the blast tore scales and sliced deep. Something hit my chest, so close to my heart. I dropped my head, lips curled, ready to rip and tear until I stared into those emerald eyes. My wings slipped. I clutched her close with all that remained.
And when I couldn’t say the words, I let the silence speak for my heart.
I love you.
Light sliced through my ravaged wings bathing her face in a crimson glow, and for a second I saw blood. My heavy breath scattered her hair as shredded muscles gave way. The howl welled in my belly as I clenched my insides and dragged the useless limb close, as a boom rocked the forest.
My muscles trembled, straining until the ground shook and the scent of wolves filled me. I felt no agony, no pain—only the searing heat of rage. Abrial’s fingers gouged my neck as the sheriff slumped to the ground.
Rowen fell, dragged by her hair entangled in the bastard’s grasp. She clawed his hand, yanking her hair free as a voice rang out. “Come, Rowen. There’s no need for anymore bloodshed.”
She whimpered at the sound, shaking her head as the mutant scum emerged from the trees, flanked by wolves. Light glinted off stark white hair as Rowen whimpered. “Sol.”
But I only heard Abrial inside my head as she whispered. Burn them. Save my sister, but burn them all.
I heaved my shattered wing against my body, and inhaled pain and rage. Burn them. Burn them all. I opened my mouth and fire poured out, licking the air with hungry yellow tongues as the fireball consumed Sol’s army of wolves with insatiable hunger.
Sol leapt to the right, missing the ball of fire. Flames smothered the wolves next to him and held tight. One warrior wind-milled his arms, slapping thick furs as a boom rocked the air. The blast peppered my side. I swung my head, searching the shattered bones of my wing. Abrial held onto my side, unhurt and alive.
Pain beat a dull drum in the middle of my chest, but I refused to listen. I inhaled soot and the heady scent of burning flesh and swung as the muzzle lifted higher.
Lightning ripped a jagged hole in the air, bright sparks jumped from Rowen’s hand as the salty, smell of the sea clogged my nose. I lifted my head to the movement in front of me.
Victor took flight, as the heavy pulse turned into the thunder of paws. I spun my head as a wolf bounded through the trees from my right and lunged. White fur glistened bright with blood, savage eyes aimed at my side, it wasn’t me he wanted to kill.
Abrial!
My brother ran faster than the brute could leap, driving a fist into his belly and slamming the warrior to the ground. Water swelled from the bastard’s mouth to leak from his eyes and his ears as the wolf melted away and became the man.
In the middle of nowhere. Hundreds of miles from the nearest lighthouse, the sea came to claim Sol as water spilled from his mouth. But I wouldn’t give up so easy. I swallowed the air and felt the fire in my belly. My words no more than a growl. “They say you can see your future in the flames. I wonder if you’ll see your future in this.”
Fire ran a rancid tongue along my throat as I unleashed the flames. His hair singed and his skin blackened. The sickening scent of burning
flesh felt victorious and I swallowed every lingering taste.
Evander bounded through the thicket, followed by Byron, Isaiah and Michael, then Xael. My sister swung her murderous gaze to the sheriff as my brothers went after the wolves.
The flash of white light dulled as the shotgun went off. The spray hitting the trees inches from Rowen’s head. Xael lashed the air with her tail, slicing right through the sheriff’s neck. Blood shot into the air as the sheriff’s head hit the ground. His body wobbled then followed with a thump.
“No!”
The shrill scream hit me like a sonic boom. I stumbled as the wave came again, throwing out my hands to grasp something… anything. Abrial cried out and fell, hitting the ground beside me.
From the edge of the trees a demon rose. A black cloak swallowed his body and yet I felt its mark, under my flesh and bone, under my bull and my dragon. His hood pulled low to cover his face. His pale hand, tinged with blue peeked from under the wide sleeves to grip his blade.
The demon swung. One quick sweep caught my brother in his chest, yet the simple touch of the blade was enough. Victor clawed his chest as the demon reared once more. Water leaked from between his fingers, pouring out as though it were his life blood. He stumbled and fell.
My feet refused to move. Fear staked me where I stood as the demon swung the blade high and I knew Victor wouldn’t survive. A tiny blur scrambled out of nowhere, all blonde hair and frantic hands. Odessa threw her hands up and leapt—but it wasn’t the tiny Odessa who came down.
Out of the sweet faced woman came a mist. Darkness seeped from her pores, her ears, her nose and her mouth to devour the flesh. And out of that fog came a wolf. A monstrous wolf of shadows.
The wolf of my vision.
Power rocked the trees and trembled the earth, and I felt that tremble to my soul. My flayed nerves fired, sending my pulse thundering like a stampede. The sun seemed to fade through the canopy overhead as the black mist swallowed the demon. The demon stumbled and swayed, swinging the blade through the air to protect itself. The blade sliced the mist, cutting the shadow across the wolf’s face.