The Dawn of Courage

by Anne Zedwick

  ***

  Dyret sighed and stared out the window. His dark eyes took in every detail of the garden below him. She didn’t hate him now that she knew. That was good. She wasn’t going to kill his friends anymore. He smiled inside. For the first time in years, he felt just a little bit happy.

  Dyret spun around when he heard a growl from behind him. His eyes widened. Before him stood an old enemy that he had hoped he would never see again. He took in the monster before him: dark black fur, yellow eyes, snarling fangs.

  “Black Claw…” he whispered quietly. “What do you want?”

  “You know what I want.” Black Claw glared at him, and took a step forward.

  “No, I actually don’t.”

  “You have the girl here.”

  “No I don’t. She’s not here.”

  “Don’t lie to me, Dyret! Her brother was looking for her. She is here, I just know it.”

  “Was here,” Dyret corrected. Inside, icy fear gripped his heart. “What do you want with her?”

  “That is no concern of yours.”

  Dyret bared his teeth. “She isn’t going to help you, Claw.”

  “She will… if she doesn’t have a choice.”

  “She doesn’t even know that magic runs in her veins. She doesn’t know who the witch is.”

  “We’ll see about that,” Black Claw snapped. “Where is she? Tell me now.”

  “She isn’t here. She left.”

  Black Claw laughed. The low grumbling sound shook the room. It came very close to a growl. “Then, where is she?”

  “I’m not telling you.”

  He lunged at Dyret, pinning him to the wall with his claws. “Where is she?!” He growled, his teeth flashing close to Dyret’s face.

  Dyret stayed quiet.

  Claw shook him. “Tell me!”

  Dyret shoved Claw back, roaring, “No!”

  Claw’s eyes turned to a murderous glowing yellow. He roared loudly, shaking the whole building. A chair fell over. He charged, extending long, black claws and cutting across Dyret’s chest. Dark blood stained Dyret’s fur. Dyret growled weakly as he fell to the floor. He knew he could not beat Claw. “You can beat me as much as you want. Kill me if you like, but I won’t tell you where she is.”

  “She’s back at her house, isn’t she?”

  “Of course not.” Dyret growled.

  Black Claw laughed and poked a long claw into Dyret’s chin, drawing more blood. His claws were red with the sticky blood that was still oozing from Dyret’s body. “Then you won’t mind if I go check, right, Dyret?” He laughed.

  As he turned to leave, Dyret launched himself at the black beast.

  “Stay away from her! She won’t help you. And even if you get to the witch, she’ll kill you. Not help you!” He bit down on Claw’s shoulder, blood filling his mouth.

  Black Claw shook him off easily and pounded his huge hand into Dyret’s head. Dyret crumpled to the ground, unmoving. His chest rose and fell only barely.

  Black Claw snorted and left Dyret alone on the now crimson floor.

  Chapter Four

  That night, Evelyn climbed into bed and fell into an uneasy sleep. Her hair was still wet from playing in the pond with David. She drifted into a dream that shook her to the bone:

  Drifting shadows filled Evelyn’s eyes as whispers echoed across the blackness. The air was thick with screams. Dyret struggled with a figure, obscured by the shadows. Evelyn tried to go to him but her feet had frozen to the ground…or maybe they were chains holding her back. She could only watch as he fought with the thing. And then he was lying there, whispering to her.

  “Go…” The one word echoed across the blackness. “He’s coming…coming…coming. He’ll hurt you…run…run...run…run…”

  Evelyn couldn’t feel her body. Rather she only felt Dyret’s ethereal, mind-numbing pain. She understood his warning only partially. What was coming? Who? Why? Blackness swirled in her mind and the whispers continued, whispering the same thing: “Go. Run. Get away.” The words echoed through the dark again and again.

  Evelyn shot up, tiny beads of sweat on her brow. Her breath came hard. Who was coming for her?

  She knew Dyret was hurt. She could see it in her dream and hear it in his voice. She had to go to him. Evelyn shot out of bed and fumbled through the darkness for her clothes. She pulled on knee-high boots hurriedly and left her room. She cracked open the door of the little hut, and stepped quietly out into the chill of the night. Evelyn shivered. She took a hesitant step forward and then another bolder one.

  But she didn’t get far before a huge hairy hand covered her mouth and an arm snatched her tightly. She tried to scream, but the hand at her mouth was held too tightly against her lips and only a small whimper escaped. A raspy, hard voice came from behind her. “I will take my hand off your mouth only if you swear to be quiet. If you scream, I will kill you. Do you understand?”

  Evelyn nodded. Her brown eyes were big as the hand moved slowly from her mouth. She turned only to see the monster she’d seen Dyret fighting in her dream. He had the same dark black fur and yellow eyes.

  “Who are you…?” she whispered carefully.

  “My name now is Black Claw.”

  Evelyn gulped. “What did you do to Dyret?”

  “That is none of your concern.”

  “Yes it is!” Evelyn checked her annoyance, and kept her voice down when she saw Black Claw’s warning glare. “Tell me!”

  “He might be dead, might be alive. Who knows? If his wounds weren’t tended to, then he’s most likely dead.”

  Evelyn bit her lip to keep from letting out a confused cry of anger, surprise, and sorrow. She looked back at him. “Why do you want me?” She resisted the urge to spit at him.

  “You’re going to help me.”

  “I don’t even know you.”

  “You don’t have to. All I need is for you to help me find your grandmother.”

  “Why? I’ve only met her twice. I don’t even know where she lives.”

  “Of course you do. You’re just trying to protect Dyret.”

  “What does this have to do with him?” Evelyn felt a lump forming in her throat.

  “You’re grandmother is the witch that cursed us.”

  Evelyn couldn't hold back her gasp of surprise. “W…what? No! My grandmother isn’t a witch! How dare you insult my family like that…?”

  “Yes, she is a witch. Now, you can help me willingly, or…I can take some more extreme measures to get what I want.”

  “I’m not doing anything for you. Dyret might be dead because of you.”

  “Have it your way.” He had her in his death grip before Evelyn could even move. His sharp claws dug into her shoulders and neck painfully. She gritted her teeth to keep from screaming. Claw carried her away from her hut and she stared at the closed door, hoping desperately that David would come out. She could scream, but she knew that with the beast’s claws where they were, all he had to do was squeeze a little harder, and she’d be dead. David would be awakened, but he would be too late. A scream wouldn’t do any good. But Evelyn kept hoping he would emerge.

  David did not come. And Evelyn was carried off into the night silently with no one to help her. He had no resistance from anyone, and she was helpless against him. If only she’d had the element of surprise she always had when she hunted the beasts before. Why hadn’t Dyret mentioned this strange, black beast called Black Claw?

  Evelyn could feel blood soaking through her clothes as Claw walked on, through the field and into the forest. He stopped and plopped Evelyn down, none too gently. She grunted as she hit the ground on her side and as a tree root stuck into the wounds that had been caused by Claw’s hard, unforgiving grip. When she saw the three people before her, tied tightly to a tree, she gasped in surprise.

  “Father? Josh, Isaiah? What are you guys doing here?” Her heart twisted. Black Claw had caught them. There was no need for her to ask that question at all. She already knew the answer. />
  Her father grunted. “What is going on, Evelyn?”

  Claw growled— a low noise that shook Evelyn to her core. “If you don’t tell me where the witch is,” Claw told her angrily. “Then I will hurt your family…. very badly.”

  Evelyn didn’t know where to find her grandmother, and she suspected that her father and brothers didn’t either. Her grandmother had been missing for years. She couldn’t let her family die or get hurt because of her, even though they weren’t deserving of her love. Her eyes darted around the forest ground, searching for anything she could use as a weapon. Her gaze lit upon a small, yet sharp, rock nearby. A plan began to form in her mind. She just hoped that her father would take her hint. She kicked the rock by his hand and was relieved to see him slide it behind him quickly and dart a glance at her.

  Claw pushed Evelyn against a tree. “Well? Are you going to do anything or not? Are you just going to let me kill your family?” His voice was low and dangerous.

  Evelyn heard the scraping of rock against rope.

  “I’ll have to think about your offer…” she mused, trying to buy time.

  Claw forced her against the tree harder, his claws digging into her shoulders. “You don’t have a choice!”

  “I don’t?”

  “No!”

  Evelyn knew she shouldn’t keep infuriating him, but she knew no other way to keep him focused on her.

  “Well then, that’s not very nice—”she didn’t get a chance to finish.

  Claw brought his face very close to hers, his breath washing across her face. It filled her nose with the stench of rotting meat. She almost gagged.

  “I’m not a very nice guy,” He hissed, teeth inches from her face.

  Evelyn heard the rope snap. She couldn’t keep from grinning in victory as her brothers and father freed themselves and ran away into the forest as quickly as they could. She was glad they had been spared, but she couldn’t help but feel irritated at their abandonment when they did nothing to help her. She gasped as Claw’s strong, hairy hand clasped around her neck. He didn’t seem to be bothered much that they had just escaped. Fear clutched Evelyn’s heart as she tried to breathe.

  “You will tell me where she is!”

  Evelyn tried to nod. “Okay! I will take you to her…” she choked the words out between gasps for breath.

  Claw released her and Evelyn fell to the ground, trying to regain her breath.

  “Take me there now.” Claw ordered. “And if you try anything, then I swear you’ll be dead before you can take three steps in the wrong direction.” He pulled her roughly to her feet. “Show me! Now!”

  Evelyn stumbled forward and gripped a nearby tree for support. “It’s…ah…this way.” Evelyn knew the forest like the back of her hand, and she desperately hoped that he didn’t. Maybe if she just led him in circles and then looped around to Dyret’s castle…maybe she could get help.

  Evelyn led him on a twisting path that winded through the forest and a few fields in a complicated trail that she hoped he would not recognize. In a few hours, she headed around to go to Dyret’s castle. Claw didn’t seem to notice anything. He lumbered on behind her, grunting and occasionally growling insults at her and telling her to hurry up.

  Claw suddenly stopped. Evelyn could see the tip of Dyret’s castle in the distance.

  “Stop. You’re leading me to Dyret, aren’t you? Do you think I’m stupid?!”

  “Yes…” Evelyn looked toward the castle, hoping for someone to come through the woods to her rescue. No one came. She only had one thing left to do. Evelyn ran as fast as she could, ducking away from Claw with expert accuracy. He roared and pursued her. She bolted for the castle, not knowing where else to go. She didn’t expect to make it there alive, but she tried anyway. In a desperate attempt for escape, Evelyn pushed her way through the forest, her side burning where the shallow wounds from Claw’s claws had cut into her. Claw was closing in.

  She made it into the rose garden outside Dyret’s castle, and ran for the door. She banged on the wooden door with her fists, yelling. “Someone! Let me in! Please!”

  Claw came ever closer. She closed her eyes and waited for the end. Then, the door swung open and someone grabbed her and pulled her in, slamming the door behind her. One of the beasts held her up, supporting her. Evelyn’s legs felt like jelly. Her breath came in ragged gasps. “Thank you.”

  Black Claw pounded outside the door as Evelyn let the beast lead her up a flight of stairs and into a bedroom. A huge bed with silky curtains was on one wall with a table next to it. A blue and white rug was laid on the floor. Evelyn rushed to the bed when she saw Dyret lying there, weak.

  “Evelyn.” His voice was so quiet she could barely hear it. “Are you alright?”

  Evelyn nodded, she held his hand. “I’m fine. I’m so sorry I didn’t get here sooner…”

  “You have to stay here… where it’s safe. Promise me you won’t leave this place, Evelyn.”

  Evelyn nodded, tears in her eyes. “You’ll be all right, won’t you?”

  Dyret smiled. “I don’t know. But if I’m not, then my friends will keep you safe.”

  “Dyret?”

  “Hmm…?”

  “I’m sorry I killed so many of your friends…you’re being so kind to me when I kill so many of your loved ones…just…thank you for being nice to me and keeping me safe and…everything…”

  Dyret squeezed her hand weakly. “Always.”

  “Please be okay, Dyret. Be okay.” She leaned over her chest, her voice only a whisper. “I don’t want more of you to die. I’ve already caused so much pain for you.”

  “Shhh. I’ll be fine, Evelyn. It’s going to be okay.”

  Evelyn nodded; worry still gripped her heart. She tried to believe him, but wasn’t sure how she could. Evelyn didn’t know why she cared suddenly, but she did know that she was tired of being tough and strong. She just wanted to be herself and stop pretending. She didn’t stop the tears that came into her eyes and dripped down her cheeks onto Dyret’s soft fur. She didn’t stop the sobs from bursting away from her weakening grip and out of her mouth. Dyret put one of his huge arms weakly around her and she curled up next to him.

  “Why do you weep?”

  “I…I just can’t keep going like this…” She buried her face into his fur. “My whole life, I’ve been doing everything I can to make my father and brothers happy…I’ve been brave and strong for them. But I can’t do that anymore…it’s destroying me.”

  “You don’t have to do that anymore. You’re going to be safe here.” Dyret reached over to a table next to the bed. He gripped the stem of a vibrant red rose and handed it to Evelyn.

  Evelyn took the rose and looked at its intricate pedals and soft red color.

  “That rose is enchanted,” Dyret whispered. “It will keep you safe as long as you have it with you.”

  Evelyn ran a finger along one of the soft pedals. “I can’t take this…”

  “You must. It will keep you safe when I am not there to do so.”

  “But…”She loosened her grip and let it fall to Dyret’s chest. “You might need it…”

  Dyret picked it up and closed Evelyn’s delicate fingers over the green stem. “I’d be offended if you didn’t take it.” He coughed. “Besides, it would be selfish of me to keep it for my own safety. I’m a beast. You’re a girl. You need more protection.”

  Evelyn had to smile. “If you insist,” She said, as she tucked it into her pocket alongside one of her knives.

  “I do.” Dyret brushed his claw across her cheek. “Now, shoo. I need to rest.”

  Evelyn laughed. “Okay, okay.” She got up and walked out of the room. The beast that had led her there was gone. As the door slowly closed behind her, Evelyn sighed. Why did she even care about that guy? He was a monster, but somehow she could see deeper than that. Somehow she knew that was he said was true. Inside, he was human.

  Evelyn rubbed her forehead. She felt like she was being torn apart. She knew
that she would be safe here in the castle with Dyret, but she didn’t want to leave David alone where he could be in danger. And yet, if she went back, both of them would be in danger. There were so many things that she wasn’t sure about. Evelyn found a chair and sat down. She couldn’t leave David in danger, but she couldn’t leave Dyret when he was so sick either. Evelyn shook her head. Maybe she could just sneak back and bring David to the castle. Dyret wouldn’t mind.

  She stood. That’s what she had to do. Evelyn stood and swiftly made her way across the stones of the floor, her feet making barely a noise on the floor. She didn’t head for the door she had just come through. She didn’t want to run into that black beast again. That would be very bad. Very, very bad.

  She moved smoothly through the rooms, not sure where to go to find another door. Eventually, she found a back door that lead into the forest.

  Chapter Five

  Evelyn ran through the trees, leaves and sticks crunching beneath her feet. Her dark hair blew out behind her. When she reached the cottage that she had always known as home, her heart leapt. There was a flickering light inside from the fireplace. That meant someone was in there, right? David must be there. She burst through the door, and her eyes darted around the empty room. It was a mess. Furniture was overturned and broken. Evelyn almost screamed. Her dark eyes found a piece of paper that had sloppy writing on it.

  If you want him, come and get him.

  Evelyn ripped up the note and threw it into the dying fire. She knew who had left it, and she knew who the note was talking about. David. Darting through the small cottage, she searched every room.

  “David? David!” She screamed as loud as she could. The cottage was empty. She tore through the rooms, destroying what was still intact. Tears blurred her vision. Evelyn burst out of the tiny hut and sunk to her knees, sobbing, “David! Oh, David…”

  Her screams drifted through the fields and echoed back to her, but nobody answered her back except for the cool breeze that chilled her to the bone. Her tears dripped down her cheeks to her mouth, and the salty taste of them mingled in her screams for her brother. I can’t lose him. I can’t lose him. I can’t lose him! The thought ran through her head again and again. She bent over her knees, tucking into a ball, sobs racking her body.