A New Life

by Payton Cavallo

  Despite the fact that she was no longer in a beastly formed, she pushed herself up with her arms and lunged forward, her teeth bared as her anger overwhelmed her. The Rune pulsed on her forehead, sending its magical energy into her body, but she was dying anyway, and refused to lay down like some dog.

  Not after doing it her whole life.

  “You’re the most foolish woman I know Aethel! You left your child in the hands of the woman who did this to me! Reduced the daughter of a prestigious Rune Crafter to little more than an attack dog with her experiments! Where do you think I got these potions from huh?!” She held a vial in her hand. “No werewolves have ever been outside Angabey, and yet there is one, an ocean away? How is there no werewolf outbreak despite months of me operating in this area? By Miion, you fools lack so many brain cells it’s a wonder you can breathe!” The laugh she let out was one of a dying woman, filled with anger and rage at the world that had treated her so cruelly.

  Aethel would have replied, her mind running through all the things she overlooked. Lianza was right. So many things overlapped, so many things that should have happened but didn’t. There would have been an outbreak in Athsbane had there been a real werewolf, and the one controlling the hunter was Ailbe. All those thoughts and more ran through her mind, but one stood above the rest.

  “Oh Miion, I left my child with a monster.” She whispered out.

  Lianza grinned as it got harder and harder for her to breath, her lungs slowly failing. “That’s right you fool! You wanted to go werewolf hunting and put your child out of harm’s way, and now you put him right in its path!” Her eyes were wide with a mixture of rage and a distorted happiness, joy only obtained from a sadistic pleasure. “How does it feel, to be so physically powerful, enough to toss me around like a rag doll in my human form, and yet there isn’t a thing you can do to save your child? How does it feel to be powerless once again?” Lianza was silent for a moment. “How does it feel to be me?”

  “Oh cut the crap.” Rayan said as he laid his father down, the man needing to rest due to the condition his body was in. “You’re nothing but a filthy murderer. Even if you didn’t kill them, you sent them to Ms. Alcott to be tormented.”

  “Heh, a former corporal calling me a murderer. That’s funny,” She coughed again. This time, blood came out. “but you know what’s even funnier? The way Glorina screamed when Ms. Alcott carved her flesh up and made her into one of those things that follows her little abomination around.” She eyed Aethel, the woman as still as death. Lianza didn’t know if it was shock from what the woman had done to her child, accidentally what was most precious to her in harm’s way, or she had gone past that and become completely numb to the world. Either way, anything to hurt her was worth it in the brunette’s mind.

  “You know who I’m talking about, don’t you Aethel?” Lianza said as she grinned up at the tall woman, a toothy one full of malice and hatred. “Her little tumor girl Mona. The best part is, she’s probably cutting up your little boy now. He’s probably screaming, wondering where his mother is and why she isn’t there to save him as Ms. Alcott drags her scalpel deeper and deeper and readies her chemicals to turn him into yet another monstrosity-“

  A punch silenced her. “That is ENOUGH!” Rayan was enraged, his blue eyes full of fury at Lianza. “First you talk about my mother like she was some stupid animal you hunted, and now you’re talking about Aethel’s child being tortured?! And you were talking like you were some sort of oppressed person who could do no wrong!”

  “I am not. I’m merely telling her of the futility of it all. The rich and powerful can do whatever they want to the small people like us. The commoners, the useless, the desperate. Hell, Ms. Alcott is a loan shark who indebted my father to her and never let him go, and I had to carry the slack of that prick. What choice did I have but to get on my knees and beg for a way to pay her back?” Liazna asked.

  “Tch, what a load of crattlerat dung.” He opened up the grey shirt he wore, trying not to aggravate the wound she had given him on his chest. Several star-like scars were dotted across his chest, similar to the shrapnel scars Aethel had on her leg. “Do you see these? This is what sacrifice looks like. I fought for my nation and country through things that would break lesser men, and taken missions that were pretty much glorified suicide. I sacrificed for this nation, and I did it by choice.”

  “Easy for you to say. Your father didn’t leave you thirty-thousand silver crowns in debt.” Lianza sneered. “There was no way to pay off that money.”

  “Just…just shut up.” Aethel said, her tone full of disgust. “I’m twenty-four and my son is eight. My life hasn’t exactly been the definition of easy, but you know what? I still tried.” Aethel said, glaring at Lianza. “I had to take care of my son with nothing but my wits and what little cash I could scrounge up. A lot of the time, I skipped meals. And I did things that made me disgusted to look at myself in the mirror every day. But you know what, Lianza?”

  “I did them for Craeft. And even after I got my shop, after saving up for so long, it still was hard. And when I was forced to move out here because my child’s life was threatened, it’s still hard.” She walked up to the woman, while Lianza slowly tried to back away. “Life is hard Lianza. And the fact that you were just so willing to lay down and quit, disgusts me to my core.”

  Aethel looked at her with something akin to pity, which made Lianza hate her all the more. “You know, I’ve spent all this time hating you, but now that I know what a wretched person you are, I just can’t help but pity you.”

  Lianza was shocked for a moment, before she sneered. “Like I care what you think of me? I’m dying anyway, so Miion will be the judge of my soul.” She looked up at Rayan, his blue eyes filled with the intent to kill. “Go ahead big man, finish me.”

  Aethel wanted to look away as Rayan held up his caster and pulled the trigger, but she couldn’t. She had to see the beast that had haunted her die.

  Aethel tried to ignore the queasy feeling in her stomach at having been privy to an execution.

  No, she had to correct herself.

  This wasn’t an execution, because executions were for human beings.

  This woman had given that up long ago to become a beast of the night.

  The only thing left was to put her down.

  Aethel saw the frown spread across Rayan’s face. “I…didn’t want you to see that.” Rayan said. “You’re just a civilian and I-“

  “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen a corpse.” Aethel said. “Just…just get rid of it will you?”

  Rayan quickly nodded before he held his hands together, palms pointed outward as flames greedily leapt forth, quickly devouring Lianza’s form. If Aethel thought she was feeling sick before, the stench of burning flesh forced her to hold back a gag.

  But she had to steady herself and focus on what was truly important. Her disgust could wait till later.

  “Craeft…” Aethel whispered out, “I’ve got to go get him.”

  “Aethel, we can’t go just yet, we’ve still got to recover for a bit before we-“ Rayan tried to interrupt.

  “Rayan, do you have any kids?” She asked and he shook his head. “Then be silent. I’m going to Ailbe’s mansion and I’m saving my son, whether you like it or not. You can either come with me or stick here with Gawain, either way I’m getting Craeft back.” Aethel made a move to leave, but Rayan grabbed her hand, stopping her. “If you don’t let go of my hand-“

  “Ma’am, I know you’re worried about your son-“

  “Stop saying ma’am.” Aethel snapped. “We’re familiar enough now as it is, and it makes me feel old.”

  “Sorry about that ma-I mean Aethel. Old military habits die hard.” Rayan gave her a small grin. “But we can’t go get your son just yet. Father and I are still injured, and you seem rather exhausted yourself. Let’s just wait a few hours and then we’ll leave for the mansion.”

  “A few hours?!” Aethel yelled. “I don’t want my son near
that woman for the next few seconds, let alone hours!”

  “And if you go in without preparing yourself, at the very least making some new runes to help break into her home, Craeft will be spending the rest of his life with her, however short that may be in her hands.” Rayan said, causing Aethel to slump slightly as she felt despair well up in her heart.

  “You just don’t get it Rayan. Craeft means everything to me and if anything happens to him, I’d never be able to forgive myself.” Aethel said, feeling rather vulnerable as a few tears slid down her face, the stress and exhaustion finally hitting her like a wave as the adrenaline from the fight wore off.

  “I know Aethel, but we’ll just rest up for a bit, and then we’ll go the mansion, and find your son,” Rayan laid a hand on her shoulder. “together.”

  Aethel bit her lip for a moment, fighting back more tears from all the stress she had been going through.

  “Thank you, Rayan.”

  Chapter Nine

  It had been an hour since the battle, and after Rayan burned the body, Aethel had settled into the living room of Gawain’s home. It was comfy place, a nice leather couch and a few wooden pieces of furniture decorating the room.

  “You two going to be alright?” Gawain asked. Aethel saw the grimace on his face as he tried to move the hand that wasn’t there, bandages surrounding the stump, and couldn’t help but wince. It wasn’t like he, Rayan, or her could go to the hospital. If what Lianza said was true, and the older redhead had no doubt that it was, then they were in danger if they went there. “I’m going to go head to the back and rest up.”

  “Yes father, we’ll be fine.” Rayan replied, his shirt off revealing the new scars he had acquired from Lianza, fully healed, but still a painfully bright red. He had used a pale green liquid that Gawain used for his farm animals to heal their wounds. Though it stung like mad if the small hisses she heard from him were anything to go by, it seemed to work just fine on humans.

  “Good.” Gawain simply replied, sounding too burnt out to care about anything. Aethel couldn’t help but pity the man. Rayan had told him about his wife currents status, and it seemed to have greatly disturbed the older man, his eyes filled with fury as he walked off, leaving the two alone.

  “Now take off your shirt.” Aethel blushed slightly at Rayan’s brazen words, but she did as he said. It had been a long while since she had revealed herself to a man like this and though she had very little shame, it still made her feel a little odd to do it in front of Rayan. She had a bit of an awkward smile on her face, as she felt his cold hands on her back.

  The smile didn’t last for long as she hissed as he poured the pale green liquid onto the gash on her chest, the small wound healing up with a sizzle as the flesh mended itself together. “There, good as new.” Rayan said as he put a cork back on the bottle.

  “Thank you.” Aethel said. Her mind was filled with nothing but hopelessness as she remembered Lianza’s proclamation about Ailbe. It had left her distraught, confused, and yet, Rayan had been by her side. It was a small comfort, but one she had latched onto as her world was flipped upside down once again.

  It left her feeling helpless, like she was back in Rubrary and had to flee her store to save her son’s life.

  She hated that feeling.

  “I appreciate you taking down Lianza. You both didn’t have to do it, put your life on the line like that, but you did.” She hugged him. “So, thanks.”

  “It was no problem Aethel.” He replied as he returned the hug. They stayed like that for a moment, before Aethel let go. “We would’ve fought it anyway. Though, I’ve got to admit, it sucks that my mother still isn’t avenged after all this time.” He gritted his teeth, frustration clawing at his mind. “We’ve still got to get into Ms. Alcott’s home and take her out as well, and make sure to cover it up so the authorities don’t come our way.”

  Aethel was silent for a moment. “Do you really believe that Ailbe would do this?” The blonde hadn’t wanted to believe that the woman she had left her child with, the woman who she would share tea with and actually liked, was the monster that Lianza said she was. She knew the brunette would’ve said anything to hurt her out of some sick sort of revenge, her mind fueled by nothing but bitterness and hatred, but she simply didn’t want to believe that she had left her child with a monster in human skin.

  “Of course. It’s the only thing that makes sense.” Rayan said. “Besides, where else would she get the vials from. You and I both know that Lianza wasn’t the brightest, and only someone with alchemy knowledge could create those abominations.”

  “I know…it’s just…” Aethel felt her eyes grow watery as she let some of her insecurities rise to the surface. “I just wanted Craeft to be safe.” A few tears leaked down her face, “And I just…gave him away to Ailbe so I could go play werewolf hunter.” She cradled her head in her hands. The sound of sniffles reached Rayan’s ears as the woman seemed to break down. “Lianza was right. I am a terrible mother.”

  Rayan’s voice was quiet as he replied. “Are you really listening to what she said?”

  “W-what?” Aethel asked, a few tears leaving her eyes.

  Rayan gazed into her eyes, his bright blue ones looking into her emerald green ones. “Let me tell you something Aethel, Lianza was a bitter woman who gave up on life. It was just like you said, she was a quitter. Yet you seem ready to quit yourself ma’am, and seeing you do that, I just can’t let a thing like that happen.”

  Her eyes were filled with renewed life as he spoke, emerald orbs previously filled with despair were full of hope. “You aren’t a quitter Aethel. You’re one of the strongest women I’ve known, both physically and mentally. You do a laborious job that is hard on the body and you raised a son by yourself, and I’ve seen Craeft. He’s a well-behaved young man, and I think you did a great job as a mother to him, despite the difficulties you faced.”

  “Y-you really think so?” She wiped away a few tears.

  “I don’t think so, I know so.” He said, conviction in his voice. “I knew a lot of women during my travels, and most of them were either of the loose sort, bedwarmers we called them, or officers that outranked me who were cold to someone like me.” He shook his head. “What I’m trying to say, is that you are one of the strongest, not because of your body or your magic or even your brains, but because of your convictions. You’re a beautiful woman Aethel, but I find your inner strength to be your most beautiful trait of all.”

  Aethel looked down, a blush on her face. No one had ever said something so nice to her before. Men, and even some women, had lusted after her body.

  But Rayan…he had told her that he found her inner beauty to be what attracted him the most. Her heart fluttered slightly at the thought.

  “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.” She replied, before she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. He blushed as she pulled back, a small smile on his face. “And thank you. I really needed that.”

  She felt her heart warm. Aethel knew she was beginning to develop true feelings for the man, rather than just something to make the feeling of loneliness subside in her heart. The connection between the two was growing, she could feel it, and perhaps with just one last little push, he would return her feelings as well.

  But those feelings would have to wait. For now, she had to focus on saving her child.

  “Anytime.” He smiled. “Sorry for letting out my inner soldier, but I couldn’t stand seeing someone like you so down like that. Besides, you shouldn’t worry about Craeft. We’ll get him out of there as quickly as possible.” He frowned for a moment. “I remember you were invited to her place a while ago. She didn’t happen to give you any tour of the place when you went there did she?”

  “No, unfortunately we only toured the grounds, which, while very pretty and well kept, didn’t really give me much to go on.” Aethel grimaced. “The only thing I could really do is disable the runic stone that keeps the wards up, but even then, I’d need time to do the etch
ing required to make a runic stone buster.” She put her finger up to her chin. “Actually, I may be able to jury rig something up, but it’d only be temporary.”

  Rayan sighed. He rubbed his fore head as he spoke. “Now we’re going to be going into a mission blind. I always hated doing that, but this certainly wouldn’t be the first time. Still, at least the wards can be disabled, which is more than I could ask for on some of the missions I ran.”

  “What about Gawain? Is he going to be alright with this considering his…well…” Aethel hesitated to speak. “Missing hand?”

  “Do you honestly think he’d let the woman who hurt his wife go without retribution?” Rayan asked.

  “No.” Aethel replied. Gawain was many things, a simple farmer being one of them, but he was also a man who loved his wife dearly. She couldn’t blame him for wanting revenge, because if someone did the same to Craeft, she’d follow them to the ends of Kiximos to have her revenge.

  “Still, it’s going to be very difficult getting through all this. We’re going to have to invade the mansion, blind at that, and while two of us will be…well, not fully well off, but good enough, father is still going to have only one hand.” Rayan held a finger up to his chin. “I don’t really like these odds, but it’s not like we can run away. If Ms. Alcott finds out we killed her pet, she’d hunt us down like crattlerats because if what Lianza said was true, her experiments would be considered highly illegal, and even His Majesty would have to act.”

  “And we couldn’t just report her either.” Aethel frowned. “It would be her word against ours and considering she’s a noble, and we’re pretty much commoners, it would be a fool’s endeavor to even try that. We’d either be thrown in jail or more likely, disposed of.”