Blood ran from my face. Before I could get to my feet, they lunged at me. I wrestled with them, but they held me down. Ruth’s claws pierced deep into my chest. The searing pain causing vision a of black. In a dizzying blur, I screamed, and collapsed in the darkness.
I stirred. My head heavy with a hazy dull ache. Covered in a cool dew, I rose to my feet. I was back in the forest.
A twig snapped. Heavy footfalls. My heart thumped loudly. I ran.
68
A few hours later, slumped in a chair beside the bed, I waited, watching over her. Stone had not moved or made a sound since earlier.
Vee stroked her hair. It angered me with fire in my belly, and eyes seeing red, to watch them together, but I understood why they were. I’d never been more than a friend to her. If only she knew.
Velkan provoked me on purpose because he didn’t get why I hadn’t claimed her yet. But his intent, it was pure. He cared about her. It saddened and enraged me. Sad because I wanted her to be happy, and angry because it should be with me, not him.
I would not allow my arrogance or stupidity to fuck up Stone’s chance at healing. Sucking up my pride was a small, bitter, sacrifice I could make for her. And I’d deal with Velkan later.
Kamila appeared at the doorway. Cathwulf had three she-wolves at her command - Luciana, Cora, and Kamila. Kamila was the most senior of the three, and together with the alphas, kept us wolves in line. At six-feet tall with a bodybuilder’s physique, she was a powerhouse. Long straight blonde hair, and blue eyes, her facial features were the only soft thing about her.
“So, this is the human causing all the fuss,” she said, approaching the bed, with her hands behind her back, peering down her nose. “Not doing so well, is she.”
“What do you want Kamila?” I asked.
“Your presence is required in the hall, both of you. We have an audience.” She waved her hand gesturing us to get out. “Off you go. Cai and I, will watch over the human until you return.”
Cai appeared in the doorway. “Velkan. Jay.”
Walking down the hallway, a hum of voices could be heard. We took a sharp left turn and as we entered, it was crowded. Every wolf in our pack was present, except Cai and Kamila. At the front of the room, Torgrer and Mozgur. Two large black ravens, wearing engraved breast plated armour, and each held a long black shaft with an arrowhead on one end. They were the messengers that travelled between worlds, including the depths of the underworld. I’d seen them only a handful of times. It was said, that, they were as old as the wind itself, never aging, never showing any weakness, true immortal messengers.
Beside them was a dark figure, shackled down on its knees with its head bowed. Ruth. Dassies and Perry stood on either side of it, holding the chains connected to the shackles.
Next to Perry, stood three plump dwarf-like women, dressed in drab medieval dresses. I didn’t recognise them.
We took our place beside the other members of our pack.
Cathwulf stood and the room went silent. “You are here because two humans have been attacked by this demon. The humans, two females, are of the same bloodline. This demon may have acted alone, but we all know that they are never alone.”
She was right. No demon was ever alone, someone was always pulling the strings.
Ruth let out a low cackle.
“Silence demon,” Cathwulf yelled.
Dassies and Perry yanked on the chains, and Ruth stopped laughing with a gurgled yelp.
Cathwulf turned to the ravens. “Have you heard anything pertaining to this?”
One of the ravens stepped forward. “We have not heard any information regarding the recent demon attacks on humans.”
“Two attacked by one. A foul wind me senses. A pawn,” the black-haired dwarf woman said.
“We are of one mind sister. A pawn indeed. But what says you,” the red-haired one said turning to the blonde-haired one.
“Humans are fragile beings. If not dead yet, me thinks they won’t live long,” she said.
Their voices were painful, high pitched, like nails across a chalk board.
“That is why you are here, Artimena,” Cathwulf said, then turned to address everyone in the room. “This is Dragonia, Cloudia, and Artimena.” She gestured to the red haired, black haired, and blonde haired one in sequence.
“These women are Tieflings. Once powerful witches, but many centuries ago, were stripped of their magic by King Frederick. We made an agreement, bound in blood, that they help us when called upon.” She paused. “But a warning, do not engage them, their alliance is with me. They are always searching for ways to get their magic back, at any cost.”
Cathwulf walked over and glared down her nose at them. “You will help the human.”
The Tiefling’s cowered beneath her ferocity.
She turned her attention to the kneeling figure. “Shall we?”
Dassies and Perry yanked on the chains, pulling the cloaked figure, Ruth, to her feet. As the cloak was removed, my gaze narrowed. The old woman didn’t look like the demon I’d seen attacking Stone, her appearance was human. But it was the woman that slapped Stone. This was Ruth?
Molten fury boiled within me. This thing hurt my love. My hands balled at my sides.
“So, tell me demon, who sent you?” Cathwulf asked.
She said nothing. Her black eyes glared at Cathwulf.
“Answer me.”
“Excuse me, Chief,” I said.
“What is it?”
“I believe this demon to be the grandmother’s sister, Ruth, who went missing over half a century ago.”
“Is this true?” Cathwulf asked. Her glare darting from me to Velkan.
“Yes, Danielle told me that as well.”
“When Gran, or Claire, was thirteen years old, she and her sister, Ruth, saw a gargoyle. The next night Ruth disappeared,” I added. Knowing that this would change everything. Stone would become of importance to more than just me and Velkan. “Until recently when she turned up on the streets as this.” Pointing to her drab appearance.
The room filled with gasps and silent mutterings.
“And Danielle has seen a man following her recently, didn’t you say?” Vee asked.
“Yes, that’s right. And a couple of nights ago, she was almost attacked by a serpent demon disguised as an elderly man. But a gargoyle intervened just before I got to her,” I said.
“I know about the serpent,” Cathwulf said.
The room fell silent.
“You’ve been absent from the Earth’s plane for quite some time, Ruth. Why have you returned?” Cathwulf stood unmoved.
One of her hands hanging at her side, started to transform into a paw. She swiftly lifted it and stabbed her nails into Ruth’s shoulder. She shrieked. Dassies and Perry pulled the chains tighter. Ruth’s mouth parted, creasing upwards into a creepy grin.
“Answer me,” Cathwulf demanded. “Why are you attacking your family?”
Again, Ruth didn’t answer. Cathwulf drove her nails in deeper. Ruth hissed, gritting her teeth. Black saliva slid down her chin.
“I know Radu sent you, filth. But I also know those he takes, never return.” She paused. “You escaped. You’re afraid of him.”
“His greed knows no limits,” Ruth hissed.
“Why attack your family though?”
Ruth didn’t answer.
Cathwulf stared at her, then stepped back, pulling her claws out.
“You think I would tell you anything, you stinking mutt,” Ruth spat in exaggerated breaths.
Cathwulf’s rich brown eyes lit up with wild ferocity. “Have it your way. If you won’t talk, you are of no use to me. But I know someone who would so delight in seeing you. Should I send for them?”
The smile on Ruth’s face faded.
“Ah, you do know who I mean,” Cathwulf said, and then turned on her heel. “You know more than you appear to, demon.”
“He is mine.”
Cathwulf halted and looked back. “Radu?”
Ruth shook
her head. “He is coming for her, but she can’t have him, he is mine.”
“Take her away,” Cathwulf said.
Ruth’s eyes darted to me, black and soulless like an abyss of nothing. “The girl, she must die.”
Fucking bitch. My hands curled into tight fists. The rage inside me lit up like the great forges of old. But just like water, extinguishing them, my fury was replaced with sadness. Stone couldn’t die, she just couldn’t.
Dassies kicked Ruth in the back of the knee, dropping her to the floor. Together Dassies and Perry dragged her away. Cathwulf stood still, her eyes glazed over. I recognized that troubled look on her face. She knew something we didn’t.
69
“Any more screaming?” I asked.
“No, not while we’ve been here,” Cai said. “Although, I had to stop Luciana from causing further screams. Sadist, that girl.”
Casting Luciana a growling staunch fire infused stare, she received it with immense caution and bolted from the room.
Stone laid motionless. She had been moved, positioned on her side. The wounds on her back visible, and the extent of them, horrific. It punched me in the heart all over again. Nothing further was going to happen to Stone, not on my watch.
The three stumps of women walked around the bed. Examining Stone, Dragonia pressed her fingers into the wounds on her back. They started talking between themselves, in a language I didn’t recognize.
“What is it?” I asked, stepping forward. My fists clenched.
Dragonia looked up. Her eyes were cold, hollow, giving me little comfort. “Dark magic.”
I already knew that.
Cloudia stepped forward, placed her hand over one of the open wounds, and closed her eyes. After a few painstaking seconds, she opened them. “This poison be not killing her. Preserves the body, attacks her mind, weakening it.” As she spoke her eyes lit up, almost twinkling in delight.
Her words spiralled like a rollercoaster through my mind. I’d never seen poison from a demon do this to a human. Under normal circumstances, the poison killed them painfully, taking its time.
“Why would the poison be weakening her mind?” Vee asked.
Cloudia reached into the pocket on her drab pleated skirt and pulled out a small vial of black liquid. “Here,” she said, handing Vee the vial. “She must drink this at once to slow the poison from overpowering her mind.”
Vee looked at me. I didn’t know what to do, it was worth a shot, anything was, if it would save her. But could we trust these women?
“Do it,” Cathwulf said. “They wouldn’t dare cross me, over a human.”
Velkan knelt beside the bed, and parted Stone’s mouth, pressing the vial against her lips. Drops rolled, disappearing into her mouth. I stared down at her. My heart started racing, hoping that any moment she would wake up.
“We did what was asked, we must go,” Dragonia said.
They did what they were asked? They fucking did nothing. Absolutely nothing. I didn’t look up as they walked away. My eyes were glued on Stone’s face, but as I waited eagerly for a flitter of her eyes. A lump choked me. The black inside her was moving around her body, like liquid flowing.
“Wait. What is that?” I asked.
The Tieflings stopped and looked back at Stone. With haste, they gathered back beside the bed, examining the liquified blackness, slithering beneath her skin. Without saying a word, Artimena pressed her fingers deep into one of the wounds on Stone’s back and then lifted her blood-soaked fingers to her mouth, placing the blood on her tongue.
What the hell? What could she learn from tasting her blood? It was disgusting.
Claws scraping at my insides. My protective instincts surged hitting me like a wave crashing on the shore, taking my breath away. Stone was mine. There was nothing I could do about it until she woke, because until then, she was his, but she would be mine. But I waited in silence.
“Cassandriella,” Artimena gasped. Her eyes widened, almost haunted.
“It cannot be,” said Cloudia.
“The blood does not lie.”
“Cassandriella,” Cathwulf said.
“Who is Cassandriella?” I asked. I had to. Stone’s life was on the line. But my question was ignored.
The Tieflings were talking to each other in that language again. Cathwulf no longer stood at the foot of the bed. I turned my head, scanning the room behind me, but she was not there.
“What does this mean?” I asked in a raised voice, interrupting the Tiefling’s private conversation.
They turned to Vee, with fear in their eyes.
“The elixir cannot save her,” Dragonia said.
“What? Why not?” I asked, frustrated.
“What flows in her veins does be stronger and more powerful than me,” Dragonia replied.
“Cassandriella flows through her veins, I can feel her presence in the blood,” Artimena said.
My heart sunk. Nothing they could do would save her. What the actual fuck? What did we do now?
“We must go,” Cloudia said, then turned and left the room promptly accompanied by Dragonia and Artimena.
“Do you know who you do who Cassandriella is?” I asked Velkan.
His head hung low and sighed. “I do.”
I waited for him to continue, but he didn’t. “Are you going to tell me?”
“It means there’s a reason Radu is after her. And you’re not going to like it.”
70
“It makes sense now,” Cathwulf said.
“What does?” Vee asked.
“If he’s the one behind the attacks. It makes sense that the poison transferred during the attack isn’t killing her. It’s preparing her for his arrival and will make it easier for him to take possession of her mind. Once that happens, there is nothing we can do for her.”
“How do we stop it?” I asked.
“We don’t.” She paused, looking past us. “But I know who does and have sought their council.”
Cathwulf’s attention shifted. I turned around. Fuck. Three winged bastards, in their human form, ambled into the room.
Cathwulf walked towards them. “Thank you for coming,” she said, gesturing for them to join us at the table. “Iktok—” she said and continued speaking but in ancient Turkic.
He responded, with a bow of his head.
“Velkan, Jamie, I would like you to meet Iktok. He is one of three gargoyle elders, one of the very first, and an old friend, relic almost,” Cathwulf said, winking at Iktok.
He was so flawless, that he almost glowed. It grated me even more. Taller than Vee and me; with dark olive skin, raven black hair that contrasted against his hypnotic blue eyes. A distinct mixture of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern genes. Power radiated off him.
As Cathwulf relayed the current information to Iktok, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I had met a couple of them over the years, I didn’t like them much, they always butted in and used their age as superiority over our kind, but I’d never met an elder. If I hadn’t known he was supernatural, he could’ve been just another human being, but like a male model that just stepped off a catwalk.
“What does this all mean?” she asked.
“My dear Cath,” Iktok said. “It is possible that she is a descendant of Cassandriella. Where is the girl now?”
“She is being watched by one of our own.”
“I thought she was being hunted by Radu?” I interrupted, but I shouldn’t have.
“Silence.” Cathwulf glared at me.
“I am surprised that you have not taught your young wolves about the history of all demons,” Iktok said.
“Radu, is the devil’s star, isn’t he?” Velkan asked.
“In a sense.” Iktok paused. “But he was once a human, who fell in love with a married woman. She was a powerful witch, named Cassandriella. Their love was secret, euphoric, and potent. Until one day, she ended the affair. But she was his first love and had broken his heart. Because he could no longer have her, he became obsessed, stalki
ng her everywhere she went. One day, when she was at the local markets, he approached her. She told him to leave her alone, and he lost control of his emotions. Her husband, who was nearby, had heard everything, and with the help of his friends, they grabbed Radu, and tied him to a stake in the ground. They tortured him for days. On his last breath, he vowed revenge upon her and her young daughters. Before entering the gates of hell, he bartered a deal with the devil. Radu was granted everlasting life, but he was to sit amongst the stars, as the devil’s star, and do his bidding in exchange for the liberty to enact his revenge.”
“But what does that have to do with Stone?” I asked.
He ignored my question and continued. “It didn’t take long for rumours of a new evil disciple, carrying the name Radu, to find its way to Cassandriella. Terrified, she fled, taking her two daughters with her. They went underground, following the tunnels deep into the earth, that back then were only known to witches. That was where she found Kharachne, a creature viewed as a god by many witches, as she has walked these worlds for longer than the devil, and God.”
“Cassandriella and her daughters sought refuge and begged her to help them. Kharachne had heard on the wind, of the new evil. You see, Kharachne hated the devil. He had tried to trick her into making a deal with him, many centuries prior, but she wasn’t fooled, and he vanished before she could rein her anger down upon him. Kharachne was intrigued at the opportunity to help.”
“What did she do?” Velkan asked.
“She summoned us. Belvess, Byzain and I travelled deep into the ground, to sit with her. Kharachne was very clever. She had found a loophole in our curse that she could exploit, to benefit us and Cassandriella, and jilt Radu’s revenge.”
“Through that loophole, Kharachne bound Cassandriella’s blood to us. Any female human descendant of Cassandriella that carried her blood in their veins, would be protected by us. But a healer carries a more potent dose of Cassandriella’s blood than the others.”
“The Tiefling’s detected Cassandriella in Stone’s blood. Does that make her a healer?” I asked.
Curse of Stone Page 18