Lady Shade

by Ymir A Lethe

  “I will separate you both. You will be freed from the human urge to destroy and feed, and you’ll be his partner, his golden wolf.”

  “No, I am my own—”

  The orange smoke rushed up the Golden Wolf’s nostrils and it staggered back, clutching its throat. It cried out in gasps and fell to its knees. No, this is mine. I was meant to be the last lycanthrope. I was going to find the cure. I was going to purge—

  Tubiel opened his eyes and yawned. He jumped out of bed, threw on his robes, and opened the door.

  “Come on, Golden!” Tubiel patted his leg. “We’ve got farming to do.”

  The giant hound looked up to him pulled its body up on its legs, swished its tail, and joined his side.

  Tubiel walked out into the bright day and looked out over his view of the forest and the town. Then he checked the irrigation.

  The Grey Lady

  “I’m an old lady in pain, Miss Shade. Haven’t turned in twenty years. Every full moon my mind and body just try to turn. I’m a threat to no one. And you would kill my dear Nathaniel’s mother? Are you that cruel?”

  “I’m a huntress, Miss Flowers,” the orange-haired lady said. “I’m simply doing the job I swore to do. I cannot break my oaths.”

  It was a warm autumn day. The dark clouds had given over to open skies and the sun shone through Miss Flowers’s window. News spread fast that the mother of local everyman Nathaniel had turned ill again. The one called Milla Shade had figured it out quickly. Even now, she thumbed over a journal, which Miss Flowers assumed was observations about lycanthropes.

  “Awfully pretty dress for a huntress.”

  “I know.” Milla looked up. “What I’m interested in is who sired you. Was it Green-Eyes or Fire-Eyes?”

  “Green-Eyes. I have no clue who he is, by the way. He only sired me to save my life. He came in and bit me, gently. That night, I turned. The next day, I was healed.”

  “So… an act of benevolence?”

  “Yes”

  “Ethelra, may I ask, how come I’ve never heard of another wolf? A third one.”

  She showed Milla her bracelets. “Used to stop me from turning. Now they ease the pain.”

  It was true what Nathaniel had said—Milla Shade was indeed beautiful. But she was like a sour berry. Poisonous killer. The pretty part just made you trust her more. She knew how to dress and paint her face, but the truly beautiful part about her was her hunting instinct. Ethelra knew why this woman was allowed to be a huntress. Because she was extremely adept.

  “How long have you been a Lycan?” Milla asked.

  “I am not a Lycan. I’m someone with lycanthropy.”

  Milla remained silent.

  “Only… hm, five years. I think I was awfully old to turn. I only turned, what, nine times before it became weaker. The beast is eager. My body, not so much.”

  “You’re being very honest.” Milla wrote something.

  “You won’t find Green-Eyes. He’s incredibly smart.”

  “You were given lycanthropy. Someone who develops it through miasma usually has some kind of strange gift. His must be intelligence.”

  “He can choose not to turn, you know. I think he has complete control over the beast. Or the beast is human, too.”

  “How do you know this?”

  “Because when I was bitten, I rushed out and saw a man walking away. I didn’t see who it was. And you think a Lycan could get inside this house? Preposterous, Miss Shade!”

  “He’s the toughest lycanthrope I’ve ever heard of. But I just need to find the man. And you just told me, I’m looking for a man.”

  “You think in the dark of a night and in the shade of trees I could tell the difference? Goodness, and here I thought you cunning.”

  “I see why you haven’t lied so far. And I survived Green-Eyes once.”

  “Thanks to the pagan.” Ethelra scoffed. “Ugh, to die to you. A serpent. You cannot be trusted, Miss Shade.”

  “The opposite. I can be trusted. Just don’t let me close, if you’re a monster.”

  “Are you sure of that?”

  “A woman is dead. An innocent woman. I don’t know if it was Green-Eyes or Fire-Eyes, but I know both of them could kill again.”

  “Green-Eyes is a protector of this town. Its guardian. He wouldn’t kill anything if it wasn’t a threat to us.”

  “Then why isn’t Fire-Eyes dead?”

  “Probably because he doesn’t know who it is. It’s not easy to identify who’s a beast and who isn’t.”

  “That’s true.”

  Ethelra looked down at her withered hands. She was just an old lady in an armchair, at this point.

  She smiled. “Have you harmed anyone in the town yet?”

  “No.”

  “Then, are you going to do anything to me? Because that’ll make him even angrier. I think after the first time, he decided to back off.”

  “It was cloudy last night and I’ve been in safe places every night since then. Not really a chance for him to come for me. And the same will be true tonight. And the next night. Hunt by day, hide by night. It’s a simple, reliable process.”

  “Kill by day, too. You could’ve at least killed me when it was cloudy. This is too pleasant a day to die.”

  “This is the perfect day to die. Understand, Ethelra, I don’t hate you. I just know that any time an exception is made, something goes terribly wrong. I know that all too well.”

  “How?”

  “What’s your preferred way to die?” Milla placed a red apple on Ethelra’s lap. “Eat that. It tastes delicious, so I’ve heard. And it’s poisonous, but it’s a painless death. Then I’ll make your death look like an accident. Like your heart stopped beating in your sleep. You won’t suffer, and your son will be able to move on.”

  “Or you could let me live. But you’re too damn stubborn to realize that we’re not a danger anymore. That we can control ourselves, and the only time there’s a problem is when someone comes rolling into town, hunting for us. If you just made us public knowledge, told us how to avoid turning, how to stay safe—”

  “You think I haven’t heard of that? The problem with lycanthropes isn’t the wolf. It’s the man. The man avoids admitting what he is. He avoids admitting what will become of him. He makes up some story that the wolf is a gift. That he should share it or let it free. You understand? Man is too foolish with power.”

  Ethelra looked Milla up and down. “I misjudged you.” She picked up the fruit and bit. “You’re not a serpent. You’re a fox. You hunt, but you won’t face the real monster.”

  “And what would that be?”

  Ethelra took a second bite and then set the fruit on the table beside her. “Your fear.” She sat back. “Now leave me. I’m going to die like you wanted, and I’ll wait for Green-Eyes to send you to me.”

  Milla wrote one last thing in the journal and then closed it. She put it in her journey and took out a bag of gold.

  “I’ll leave this under your bed, for Nathaniel to find I do not do this lightly, Miss Flowers. The notebook says to never give lycanthropes a peaceful death.”

  “Like that makes it better,” Ethelra spat.

  Milla strode out of her house.

  Ethelra sat back and waited for death. A bird landed on the windowsill and tilted its head towards her. The blue bird chirped to the sky and that’s where Ethelra went. She didn’t go to heaven, but it was still a pleasant place, where all people lived in hues of grey and orange and blue and green. There, she was with her wolf, but the wolf was now mild, stripped of the human desire to glutton, and she found peace.

  An Excerpt, The Mind of the Wolf

  …the day I met a lycanthrope who’d been imprisoned in the mountains in the North of Wales. He lived in a cave and had agreed to live there in order for his life to be spared. I found him a surprisingly pleasant man, and I spent a lot of time talking to him. One thing I noticed is that he never realized he was a lycanthrope until he was told of it. He genuinely believed
a false narrative of reality, past, present and future. When asked about the bite mark on his arm, he said it was a tattoo he got when he was a sailor going between England and the Pale, and he could describe the history of it in great detail…

  Uvire

  The Militiaman

  Offle’s was the largest brewery in Eratta’s fief, with twelve round tables. Uvire sat at one in the corner, sipping his ale. Funeral preparations for Nathaniel’s mother were already underway, and Nathaniel was drinking with him. Losing someone’s mother was difficult, but Nathaniel had been expecting it for some time. She’d collapsed in the garden of their home and died looking up at a clear blue sky.

  Daniel was with them, too—three old comrades drinking together. They’d hoped Eratta could join them, but he had to oversee the chopping of trees to expand Gratche and to rebuild its granary.

  “Lycanthropes.” Uvire said. “You really think they exist?”

  “Well, do you believe Eratta?” Daniel asked.

  “Eratta saw it.” Nathaniel said. “It’s just hard to believe. Honestly, I’m glad my mother passed while all this was happening, rather than after. If what they’re saying is true, this could end in a tragedy.”

  “We’ve got to find them,” Daniel said. “What do they call them? Green-Eyes and Fire-Eyes?”

  “That’s it,” Tubiel said, from behind Uvire.

  “Hey, Tubiel.” Nathaniel smiled.

  “Care if a join you?”

  “Not at all.” Nathaniel nodded to an open seat.

  “Don’t mind Golden.” Tubiel gestured to the golden wolfhound beside him. “He’s well-behaved.”

  “I didn’t know you had a wolfhound,” Uvire said.

  “Well, this good behavior is fairly new. I found out he’d had a giant thorn lodged in his paw for about six months.” Tubiel sighed, patting the hound. “I feel bad.”

  “He’s beautiful,” Nathaniel said. “And massive.”

  “Keeps my home safe, don’t you, boy?” Tubiel beamed.

  “You’ve got a radiance about you that you didn’t have when I last saw you,” Daniel said. “Did something happen?”

  “No.” Tubiel shrugged. “Guess I escaped my melancholy. Sorry to hear about your mother, Nathaniel. The natural order can be cruel sometimes.”

  “Look at this gathering!”

  Uvire looked back to see Lady Shade walking towards them. She pulled up a chair and sat beside them, looking down at the golden wolfhound beside her. She rubbed its head and it waggled its pointed ears.

  “I’m sorry about your mother, Nathaniel,” she said. “Truly. I lost my mother not long ago as well. She was sick, too.”

  “I was expecting it.” He sighed. “She could barely walk and was having these horrible seizures every night. I couldn’t imagine the pain she was in.”

  “She’s in a better place now.” Lady Shade turned to Uvire. “We haven’t properly met, have we?”

  “No.” He smiled. “I’m Uvire.”

  “Milla.” She nodded. “I heard you were soldiers in France. I was a nurse.”

  “Nurses. We all relied on them at some point!” Uvire beamed. “I noticed you carry a pistol around with you. Ever used it?”

  “Of course. You all know—”

  “They know about the Lycans,” Tubiel said.

  “But they don’t know I’m a huntress? Well, what’s the point of being a huntress if I can’t show off my Spartan spirit?”

  Daniel chuckled.

  “What’s a Spartan?” Nathaniel asked.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Daniel said. “So that’s why you’re here. The whole thing with Eratta, is that just—”

  “No, no,” Milla shook her head. “I just caught wind that there was a Lycan when I heard about the murder, right before I got to town. They said it was probably carried out by a giant animal that tossed a horse through the air. I guessed what it was.”

  “And you two have seen it, right?” Uvire asked.

  “Yeah.” Tubiel nodded. “Tough motherfucker. Silver bullets usually hurts them, but it was even immune to that. So we have to find the person.”

  “That’s annoying.” Uvire sighed. “So much going on in this town at the same time.”

  “I’m dry.” Nathaniel raised his glass.

  “Same.” Uvire stared down at his empty cup.

  “I’ll pay for a round.” Milla grabbed her pouch and took out three gold coins. “This’ll pay for… three rounds, actually. I know you guys are going through a lot at the moment.”

  “Yeah.” Nathaniel smiled. “Thanks.”

  “No problem.” Milla gestured to Mr. Offle. “A round. And two more when I ask for them.”

  “No problem.” He pocketed the coins. “That’s enough for four, actually.”

  Milla chuckled. “Then four it is.”

  Mr. Offle scooped up the cups and returned to the bar.

  “Did any of you know the lady who was murdered?” Milla asked.

  “No one even saw her,” Daniel said. “And when she was found, she was in full gear for riding. She seemed a city type, like you.”

  “Huh.” Milla looked up in the air. “Interesting. I just want to know what dumb motherfuckers cleared it up.”

  “Two Lycans,” Tubiel said. “They probably walked together. I mean, they could’ve probably gone back, eaten the horse, and tossed it all down a ravine or something. God knows there’s plenty of those in the glade.”

  Golden began growling, and Milla looked up to see that a man had entered the room. High Inquisitor August, and his inquisitors in their purple and white robes followed him in. The brewery became silent and he pointed to their table. The inquisitors advanced and all five people at the table jumped up. Milla pulled out her pistol and pointed it at the inquisitors.

  “You aren’t the authority here, August,” Milla spat. “What do you want?”

  He moved forward, through the mob of inquisitors. “To ask you some questions.”

  “Then sit and join us like a civilized man,” she replied. “You aren’t a paleman.

  August looked back at his men. “Wait outside.”

  They turned and marched out. August grabbed a chair and sat between Uvire and Milla.

  Uvire glanced out the window. It was getting dark and the blue sky was becoming drenched in orange. Any beasts among them would be revealed now.

  “What do you want to know?” Nathaniel asked. “Keep in mind, I’m mourning my mother.”

  “I know,” August said. “But the safety of the townsfolk comes first. Have any of you seen Solace recently?”

  Everyone was silent for a moment.

  “He came by the market a couple days ago,” Nathaniel said. “But I haven’t seen anything. Why?”

  “I have reason to believe he’s a warlock. I think he put the lycanthrope’s curse upon this town.”

  “You really don’t know much about Lycans, do you?” Milla said. “It’s a disease brought about by miasma.”

  “Please! A woman isn’t educated enough on the essence of demons and angels. You likely don’t even—”

  “What are you hoping to achieve?” Milla said.

  “Look, while you go around wearing those pretty dresses and fancy jewelry, you don’t get to speak down to me.”

  “You don’t get to talk to her like that,” Tubiel said.

  August turned to him, with his eyes wide and mouth agape. “You—”

  “I’m not a part of the Order, remember,” Tubiel hissed. “I was too disorderly for you lot of ponces, and—”

  “That’s not why you were exiled,” August said. “And—”

  The sky turned red.

  “Look,” Tubiel said, “you’re here because you want to prove that none of us are lycanthropes, right? It’s pretty obvious what you need to do.”

  “Yeah, I’m here to make sure you don’t turn.” August sighed. “It’s the last full moon tonight, anyway. So I guess I have to try this.”

  “Yeah, I’m here to make su
re you don’t turn”, August sighed. “It’s the last full moon tonight, anyway. So… guess I have to try this.”

  “What are you going to do after that?” Milla asked. “If one of us does turn? If one of us is Green-Eyes, you’re all fucked. If one of us is Fire-Eyes, this town burns to the ground. Seems like a bad place to confront us.”

  “Why did you think I wanted to take this outside?” August said.

  “Fair.” Milla shrugged. “But I don’t think any of us are.”

  “You’re all wearing sleeves. Could you lift them? To check you’re not—”

  A crash resounded, followed by screams. August spun around right as a table was flung across the room and it struck him in the chest. He was thrown over the group’s table and the five scrambled to their feet. Others scattered and ran, and Tubiel helped August to his feet.

  “It’s still dusk.” August gasped. “How—”

  There it stood, filling the gigantic hole in the wall. Green-Eyes, covered in gleaming white fur. Milla aimed her pistol and fired. The shot hit its eye, knocking its head to the side. Then it turned back to face her. A pistol wasn’t powerful enough to penetrate even its eyes.

  It pointed at August, eyes full of rage, and then advanced. August scrambled out the door to join his inquisitors. The beast followed.

  “Stay away from it!” Tubiel yelled. “It’s too strong for us to take on, even with all those inquisitors armed with silver. It’ll be a massacre.”

  Uvire ran to the doorway and saw Green-Eyes in the center of the empty square, the wind whipping its fur. The men in robes surrounded it, all armed with silver weapons—daggers, swords, maces, axes, wood staffs with silver tips. Green-Eyes glanced around.

  “Go!” Milla shouted. “Get out of here. Uvire, you too!”

  “Are you staying?” Daniel asked her.

  “No. I’m just telling you all to get out of here. I know these beasts better than you.”

  One of the inquisitors swung at Green-Eyes’s stomach and his silver sword shattered against the muscle. It swiped the man, with back of its hand and sent him flying through the air, blood spraying from his mouth.