Son of hell: Blood of wolves

by Michaela Burdová

  Neran looked at her, his teeth tightly clenched, his heart pounding. His mind was in turmoil. He was angry and did not want to hear all of these reasons. Yet, everything she had just told him made perfect sense. The anger slowly subsided and he felt himself calm down. The reassuring explanation was healing his wounded heart, but he wanted it to stop. How was it possible that he had become such a softy? Why did her words always make him so weak? He should be tougher. Just as tough and unforgiving as to all others.

  "Neran, we all have our secrets. You didn’t tell me about your brother and about Aragen, either. But believe me, everything I have told you is true. Besides, I saved your life today."

  Somewhere deep down, Neran believed her. "I would have got them even without you," he muttered, and began to check out his handcuffs. They had to figure a way out of there. "How come Aragen hooked up with a demon?"

  "It's a long story, I'll tell you later."

  "First, she conspires with him and then betrays him," Neran marvelled at the thought while trying to loosen his chains. "She was always crazy."

  "Yet, it seems you had a soft spot for her," Liadel said a little sarcastically. Neran saw a bucket of water on the table. His burned throat almost howled in despair. Until that point, he had almost forgotten the pain, but the vision of water cooling his burned throat had stirred him.

  "Come on, do it!" The chains just would not loosen. There was only one thing left for it – tear them. Neran hoped that they were not too strong.

  "Even if you get out of the chains, how do you want to get through a camp full of darkwolves?" Liadel argued.

  Neran stretched all his muscles and used all of his physical strength. His blood rose to his head and temples pounding from exertion - and then the chains broke.

  Neran took off his leather collar and thrilled by his little victory, got up to free Liadel too. "We'll escape through the back. This hut is pretty flimsy, nothing but sticks."

  Liadel slipped out of the broken ropes. Neran emptied the bucket of water he had been eyeing up before and began to explore the wall. The water had refreshed him. He carefully loosened two sticks, feeling a rush of energy flow through his veins. They were almost out. They would succeed in the end. They would escape from there and when Aragen returned and did not find them there, she would go mad. The idea almost made Neran laugh. "I’m almost done," he muttered as he broke another stick. "You can squeeze through, go ahead."

  Suddenly, the chain took off from the floor and wrapped itself around Neran’s neck.

  Aragen stood in the doorway with her hand extended forward. Neran could not breathe as the chain crushed his throat. Liadel stood in front of him, while the air filled with electrical vibrations like just before a storm. Small bolts of lightning shot towards Aragen, but she caught them in the palm of her hand.

  Liadel went weak in the knees and staggered about. Her face was dripping with sweat. Aragen stared in amazement and laughed madly. "Incredible! I can feel it! I can feel your power as if it´s running through me!"

  Liadel probably felt it too, because she had begun to shake uncontrollably, until she finally collapsed. Mesmerized Aragen examined her shimmering hands. "Our union will not allow you to use force against me, powerful Liadel." Her pale eyes sparkled. "You cannot destroy me."

  Neran’s chain gave way and he fell to the ground. Black spots danced before his eyes. Air once again slowly penetrated his bruised throat and burned his lungs. Liadel beside him was also gasping for breath but for completely different reasons. Her skin was a sickly grey and she had dark circles under the eyes. She fainted before Neran could reach her.

  Fortunately, he could still feel her pulse, although it was very slow. He put his hand on her forehead. She was hot. The infection must have entered her bloodstream. Liadel may not last long. Neran was furious. He wanted to attack Aragen.

  "Don’t try it," she warned him with a smile. "It's too late anyhow, my dear. The preparations are underway for the ritual. Fortunately it is not too complicated, so we can be ready by dawn. Would you like to watch, or better not? You know what? I think you´d like to. You´ll like it." She winked at him and then ordered Drel to carry Liadel away. Neran jumped at her, but Aragen was quickly beside him and grabbed him by the hair from behind.

  "Stop making me angry, Neran," she growled into his ear. "Do not forget that in order to produce offspring, you need only one body part. I can easily deprive you of your arms and legs."

  Chapter 17

  Temptation

  Temptation, the treacherous beast

  Allures you to evil deeds

  No defiance, it screams and chokes

  Whispered words and gentle strokes

  Yet plague always from sweet lips flows

  Temptation, seductive smiles

  In the shadows it still hides

  Surrender, dreadful is the sight

  Forever trapped in the grip of the night

  Neran sat with his back to the fire. His hands were tied behind his back with three thick chains. He knew that he could not break them, unless he transformed. Even then, he would probably not stand a chance. There were too many darkwolves around and they constantly watched him. Two plump women continuously pestered him. They examined his hair, skin, muscles, and several times they tried to open his mouth. They did not cover their breasts and were rubbing Neran purposefully with them. He felt like goods on a market.

  "Enough!" Aragen’s stern voice resonated. She walked around them and the two women instantly left. Aragen smiled at Neran. "This one is mine."

  Neran was furious. Suddenly, they brought Liadel. She was unconscious and Neran began to really worry about her. He had to get out of the chains right away, or he would lose her. He would have to transform himself. He would have to rely on the element of surprise, even though he knew that hoping for a miracle was useless. Maybe it was suicide, but it was better than having to sit there and watch them kill Liadel. He would have to wait for the right moment.

  Apart from the large fire that burned behind Neran’s back, there were also a number of smaller fires. The smaller fires flanked a path to a large flat rock among the trees a short distance away.The wolves must have dragged it there from somewhere in the forest.Moonlight fell through the branches directly onto the stone.That is where they now lay Liadel down.She was tied up with ropes.Presumably, just in case she woke up.Three men leaning on red painted spears stood at side of the large fire.A young girl walked behind Aragen, her hands outstretched in front of her, holding a large red dagger. The girl was naked and Neran noticed that she had a symbol painted on her back.

  Neran could not understand how Aragen could risk Liadel’s death if they were allegedly connected. Aragen gladly explained why she could. Liadel would not die immediately. Aragen would gradually draw all her dark and life forces, which would pour directly into Aragen, thus interrupting the bond. Since Aragen would possess all the power, no connection would be needed. It was a clever plan. It was just a pity that Neran would have to upset it.

  He grinned in his mind as he imagined Aragen’s surprised expression. His optimism soon dissipated as he looked around him. There were darkwolves everywhere, most of them in their animal forms. Aragen, painted in dark colours, walked to the altar completely naked. On each side of the stone stood two men - Wenir and another, both covered only by a veil.

  The werewolves began howling.

  The booming sound of a drum began to fill the air. Neran saw the drummer sitting nearby. Deep, rhythmic tones underlined the tense mood. Neran was getting hot and his heart began beating to the rhythm. Even if he transformed now, he wouldn’t be able to get to Liadel in time. All the darkwolves would turn on him, and if they didn’t kill him, they would restrain him long enough for Aragen to perform her ritual.

  His eyes frantically searched for something that could help him, for some ideas, inspiration, simply anything ... He noticed the men with spears standing by the fire. If he could just get one of the spears ... He looked at Aragen again. She
now stood near the stone, some twenty feet from a large fire, directly opposite Neran. The girl stood beside her, still holding the dagger in her hand. Aragen began to recite something in the ancient language of Arrival. Neran thought feverishly.

  He then remembered a way to get out of his chains unnoticed. His father had taught him how to do it long ago. Unfortunately, Neran had never really paid much attention and always maintained that with strength you could do anything. If he succeeded, he would thank his father in spirit, even though he had vowed to never think about him again.

  He tried to totally relax his body and mind. Not an easy task when confronted by the ritual in progress and considering the tension throughout his body, but after a while he began to succeed. He closed his eyes and focused on relaxing every muscle in his whole body. He had to imagine that he was made of jelly.

  He heard Aragen´s voice getting louder and the drum beat intensify. His heart was pounding while his mind wandered. Aragen and Liadel are linked. If Aragen begins to drain Liadel’s strength, the connection will be interrupted. Perhaps, for just the briefest of moments. Actually, Neran did not know it for sure, but he had no choice but to believe it.

  He took a deep breath and this time managed to clear his mind. He concentrated more and more intensely on his body and its sheer relaxation.

  His chains suddenly slipped from his wrist and fell to the ground.

  He opened his eyes, trembling with excitement. It had worked!

  He gently stretched his muscles. Nobody had noticed anything because they were all engrossed in watching the ceremony. Aragen had just taken the dagger and cut her own hand. He watched on as Aragen took Liadel’s limp hand on which an identical cut had appeared. She put their palms together and mixed their blood. A pressure wave burst around the two women, nearly sweeping Aragen away. The darkwolf kept her footing as the air around them began to sparkle. Whilst Aragen continued her invocation, Liadel twitched and opened her eyes, her chest heaving violently.

  Aragen had apparently begun to drain her.

  Neran saw his opportunity and waited no longer. He jumped up, snatched the spears from the men’s hands and threw one of them straight ahead. Aragen cried out when the spear entered her back. She bent at the waist and fell to her knees.

  Everyone froze in surprise.

  The drumming stopped.

  Neran rushed over to Liadel, pushing both guards to the ground. He looked at her and saw no sign of the injury from the spear. The painted girl jumped over the altar and nearly knocked Neran to the ground. He had obviously underestimated her. She was like a madwoman with crazy eyes. He grabbed her head and smashed her skull against the stone.

  Before he could touch Liadel, two darkwolves were there. Others rushed towards them too. The disadvantage had now turned into an advantage for Neran. There were too many of them, they were bumping into one another and snapping their jaws at each other in anger.

  Aragen straightened up. The tip of the spear was sticking out of her stomach. Her eyes blazed not only with hellish heat, but above all with rage. She broke the tip off, pulled the spear out of her flesh and tossed it aside. She bared her fangs and slit Neran's arm. He blocked her, but she was incredibly agile. Her claws slashed his face. She then dealt him a blow to the stomach, so heavy that he felt as if she had broken through it. When she attempted another blow, he grabbed her by the arm and threw her against a boulder until her back cracked.

  A darkwolf knocked him to the ground. He nearly bit through his throat. Neran thrust his fist into the darkwolf’s eye and kicked him away. Then another one jumped at him. Neran felt how he tore his calf, while another one bit into his bone.

  "ENOUGH!"

  The darkwolves flew sideways, as if swept away by a storm. Aragen bent over Neran, grabbed him by the throat, and lifted him into the air like a feather. With her other hand, she grabbed Liadel again. She looked intently into Neran’s eyes, her tongue pouring out words in the language of Arrival without hesitation or a break, as if she had no need to breathe.

  Neran despaired. He wriggled as much as he could to try and break free, but could only watch as Aragen sucked the life out of Liadel.

  The elven shook violently and was gasping for breath. Her hair beginning to turn grey.

  "NO!" Neran shouted while choking. "Enough, stop it!"

  Aragen triumphantly flashed her eyes at him. The words of her invocation accelerated, becoming faster all the time. The rush of power apparently became enjoyable because she closed her eyes and a blissful expression appeared on her face. Nonetheless, she continued her invocation.

  Liadel’s breathing was slowing, her skin wrinkling. Neran’s heart was breaking into pieces. This cannot happen. He would not let her die in front of his eyes. He would not allow it! But nothing seemed to work on Aragen. He had tried to crush the hand with which she clutched him, thrust his claws into her flesh, nothing. It was as if she was immune to pain.

  Then she paused and froze.

  Her eyes widened.

  It seemed that she could not breathe.

  She let Neran go and grabbed her own throat. Veins appeared on her temples. She desperately touched at her throat with her hands, as if trying to find the place that prevented her from breathing.

  Neran lay on his back and stared on in bewilderment, not understanding what was going on.

  All the fires suddenly went out. This was the first time he had seen the darkwolves terrified. He then felt a rush of power. A foul stench filled the air which froze the blood. The darkwolves huddled together.

  A blob of darkness appeared in front of them and began to expand, transforming itself into a human figure. A man wrapped in a cloak with a hood stood at the altar.

  Aragen collapsed to her knees. Her face had turned dangerously blue and her eyes were bulging. The man looked at her briefly and then went over to the altar. Aragen inhaled loudly, wheezing and gobbling the air like a drowning man who had just broken the surface.

  The man leaned over Liadel. He stretched out his hand and touched her face with his fingers. "Oh, my dear Liadalla..."

  He held out his other palm and ran his finger across the skin. Blood appeared.

  He then placed the palm of Liadel´s hand into his own bloody palm.

  As he did so, the air grew colder, almost to the point of freezing, and the darkness thickened around them.

  Neran watched with fascination as Liadel’s colour returned. Her face brightened, her skin smoothed out, and Liadel suddenly looked healthy and fresh. When she opened her eyes, she stared directly at the man, but did not speak.

  The demon turned to Aragen. "You betrayed me," he growled softly. Aragen had already got to her feet again, her eyes defiant. Being choked had apparently not been punishment enough for her.

  "Then we're even," she snapped coldly. "You hid our connection from me. You knew that the Thirteenth ate Wolfgar’s heart and you did not tell me."

  "Because you would do exactly this," he shouted. It was as if an ice storm had hit. "You're obsessed with power!"

  "Somehow it's in my blood," she frowned. "Whose fault is that?"

  The man stepped closer. "You’ll pay for your betrayal."

  Aragen bared her fangs. "Try it." The darkwolves crowded around her in support. It was as if their initial horror had waned and she had somehow forced them to stand by her. Neran saw that a fight was coming and sensed his chance.

  No one noticed when he silently stood up and sneaked over to Liadel. She was still tied up, but he tore the ropes with a single tug. He helped her slide down from the altar. It seemed that she had fully regained her energy. The quarrel between Aragen and the demon was coming to a peak. Their forces clashed, sending sparks through the air.

  Neran led Liadel into the forest, away from the nightmare. After a few steps, he put her on his back and he ran like the wind.

  * * *

  At one point, Aragen could swear that her pack would stand up for her. She was disappointed but not surprised when they deserted her when
the demon started spreading his power through the forest. The wickedness and danger radiating from him were terrifying. She herself nearly fell to her knees in front of him. She had severely underestimated him and it had been a fatal mistake.

  "You tricked me!" his thunderous voice roared. It echoed through the trees and Aragen felt that sooner or later it would knock them to their knees.

  "BETRAYED!"

  Both of them had already noticed that Liadel and Neran had escaped, which only served to enrage the demon even more.

  Despite all the horror that Aragen felt around her, despite the fear that made her tremble, she endeavoured to gather her courage. She knew that she was holding a trump card. She was now absolutely sure that there was some kind of bond between Gariel and the Thirteenth.

  "I knew you'd betray me first!" she snapped and tried to put on a confident face. She hated herself for the way her knees were knocking. Yet she proudly stuck out her chin. "Once you had what you wanted, you would have got rid of me!"

  "Liar!" the demon shouted, until all his robes ruffled.

  "You can´t deny it! If I had revealed to you how to deprive the Thirteenth of her soul, you would not have needed me anymore! That's why I decided to betray you first!"

  The Twelfth was silent, like the deep forest around them.

  "You're right," he finally growled and floated towards Aragen like a ghost. Before she could take a breath, he grasped her throat. "I will end it now."

  "You can´t," she said hoarsely. "Why do you think I performed the ritual?"

  The Twelfth paused.

  "No," he said in amazement. "It’s not true. It is just a superstition..."

  "It isn’t! It´s true!" Aragen hissed into his face. "We're connected! If you kill me, you’ll kill her, as well!"

  The demon screamed angrily for what seemed like an eternity. He eventually released Aragen, turned his back on her and remained silent for a while. "I thought it was impossible. I knew you´d believe it and would want to kill her, but I thought ... it wouldn´t work."