“I don’t want you to fight, but I think I understand why you must. I’m not sure whether I can watch what happens from the window. It will be a bloody battle.”
“It will. I’ll draw down the blind before I leave so that no one will know you’re here. I can open the slats if you want me to do that? Then you can peep out maybe now and again.”
“Yes. I suppose I should know what’s happening.”
“Let’s try to think positive about the coming situation. You’re going to live here with me and can still work at the school. With the rogues gone, both of our lives will be different. I’m sure they’ll prey on people in other cities, but it will no longer be our problem.” He kissed her and continued, “I’ll take you around my home and make sure you know where everything is and how things work. That’s just in case I don’t come back, and you have to stay here for a couple of days.”
“Okay, but I hope it won’t be necessary. I can’t imagine my life without you.”
They spent the next two hours walking around the cave while Radon explained whatever she would need to know. He showed her how to work the generator and chopped and brought loads of more wood inside. During their last hour together, he talked about his love for her, letting her know how much she’d impacted on him the very first time he saw her standing with the elf group. She, in turn, spoke about her fear of him in the beginning, but then she’d realized he was the only one who could make her truly happy.
Before going outside, he handed her the front door keys and said, “Fasten all of the locks as soon as I leave and don’t open the door to anyone other than me. I love you, Marlee, and I’ll fight in order to keep you safe.” He inclined his head and stepped out of the cave.
Chapter Ten
Marlee secured the locks of the front door and walked over to the window. She peeped through one of the slat openings and saw a number of lycans standing in three groups. They appeared to be talking and not in any way bothered about anything. Radon joined one of the groups, so she presumed they were the hunters. More lycans came into the field, and now a line of them from one group was forming, and another from Radon’s stood facing them. It was difficult at this distance to count their numbers, but she presumed that when they were complete, there would be fifty hunters and fifty rogues. Those, who didn’t stand in line, went over to the third group and moved a distance away from the others. Then she noticed that one lycan hadn’t stepped back. He approached the lines and raised an arm. He glanced at his wrist watch, lowered his arm, and walked away.
Both lines shifted into their wolf forms, and she could see that Radon was in the middle of his row. Some lycans must have only worn imaginary clothes, while others discarded their torn clothing. Then, without warning, they all charged at each other as fierce animals.
Marlee watched for a few minutes and saw the huge black wolf bringing down first one, and then another opponent as he tore out their throats. Soon she was looking at a dreadful scene of raging wolves and mutilated bodies that were oozing blood. Even through the closed door and window, she could hear howls, menacing growls, and the loud whimpering of the dying. It was too much for her to witness and so she went and sat down at the table. I’ll keep my eye on the time and go back to the window when the fight should end.
The minutes ticked by so slowly. She kept glancing at the wall clock, and the big hand barely seemed to move. I’ll close my eyes and try to think of something pleasant. At first, the wonderful sex she’d shared with Radon came to mind, but then knowing it might never happen again if he died, she brought her thoughts to something else. She was in the classroom teaching the young elves. One student had captured her attention when she first met him. Like her, he was half-human and had difficulty managing even the simplest spell. I must work with him more closely and make sure he doesn’t feel disillusioned. The other day I told him about one of my failures, and that seemed to cheer him. I must give him more examples of my own disasters.
After what seemed forever, Marlee looked at the clock and knew the battle was about to end. She stood up, walked to the window, and saw a scene of utter horror. There was a large number of dead, and even those who were alive looked injured and exhausted. As she watched, the same Council member raised and then lowered his arm. Those lycans that were not dead stopped fighting and waited while another lycan onlooker came over and started inspecting each dead body. She presumed he was making sure they were no longer alive, as well as counting them.
The first Council member strode over to the second one, who had now stopped looking at the dead. They spoke for a few moments, and then the first one shouted something. Loud howls rang out from what was left of the hunters, and she knew they must have won. That’s wonderful. No one in the city will need to kill the rogues anymore.
She watched most of those who were still alive change back into human form. They gathered up the dead, threw them into a pile, and set it ablaze. Then, they went their separate ways. The onlookers also left, and the few fighters who had remained as wolves moved away from the killing ground, but she couldn’t see Radon among them. Where is he? Marlee felt sick, and her heart pounded against her chest.
A few moments later, there was a noise at the door. Should she go there and see what had caused it? Was it a lycan carrying Radon’s dead body? I must be brave no matter what has happened to him.
She walked to the front door, unlocked and opened it. The big black wolf was laying on his stomach and looking exhausted. Radon didn’t die! Marlee was overjoyed but also concerned because, as he attempted to stand, his right back leg seemed to be injured. He dragged it when he limped on his other three paws over to the fireplace and lay down in front of it. Then, Radon shifted into his human form.
She could see his leg was badly gouged and there was also a deep wound at the top of his chest.
“Do you have any first aid items?”
“Yes… They are in the … bathroom cabinet.”
Marlee went and found bandages, a disinfectant spray, and Band-Aids. Well, the latter won’t be needed, his injuries are too big. She also took a bowl, filled it with warm water and placed a clean cloth in it. When she returned to Radon, she knelt down and gently bathed, disinfected, and bandaged the wounds.
He attempted to smile at her, yet it looked more like a grimace. “I guess I’ll have some new … scars now. Do you think you’ll … still love me?”
“Of course I will. You’re my brave and loyal lycan. I’ll never stop loving you, but we need to make sure no infection sets into your injuries. You must see a doctor and get an antibiotic.”
“I know a lycan doctor who will prescribe … for me. I’m sure he’ll be attending to some … others who fought today. I’ll … call him tomorrow.”
“You should do that today. It doesn’t take long for an infection to set in, Radon.”
“I know, yet you’re forgetting … I have you here with me. Cast one of your elf spells … to protect me … until I take the antibiotic.”
“Okay, but be aware that sometimes my spells don’t work.”
“I have faith in you … my little one. Cast away.”
She lay her hands on his chest below the bandaged wound and spoke the magic elf words out loud.
He placed his hands on top of hers and said, “I can feel the energy of your spell coursing through my body.”
This time he smiled properly at her, but then shivered.
“You’re cold. I’ll get the comforter for you.” She ran to the bedroom, grabbed the needed article and hurried back to him. After wrapping it around him, she asked, “Does that feel better?”
He looked doubtful and answered, “Not really. You have to … snuggle up under here with me, and we can talk about our future together with no rogues … to interfere in our lives.”
Marlee got under the comforter, and he pulled her close. She kissed his scarred cheek and felt happier than she had ever done before.
THE END
Author Biography
Marion Webb-De
Sisto was born and grew up in the UK, but spent many years working and raising her family in the US. At present, she lives in South East England with her American husband. She describes him as her hero. Marion enjoys creating romantic tales about demons, fallen angels, shifters, and vampyres. Her heroes are dark and threatening, but have a core of goodness inside them. Her heroines, who are not always fully human, fight for what they believe in.
This author describes herself as a people watcher and uses her many years of working and communicating with people as a blueprint for ‘fleshing out’ her fictional characters. She has also written several non-fiction books that explore certain metaphysical subjects.
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MARION WEBB-DE SISTO
WWW.LUMINOSITYPUBLISHING.COM
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