Killarney, Ireland, 1847
The pain shooting through Aaron’s body was agonizing. Though it tended to radiate through his limbs most of the time, there were moments when his stomach muscles contracted so tightly, he thought he might pass out from the pain. Likewise, he’d had a throbbing headache for the last several weeks, and each time he moved he felt like his cranium might split in half.
The Transformation process had begun nearly three months ago, and though it had started off with just the uncomfortable shooting pains in his limbs and soreness in his muscles, with each passing day it grew more unbearable to the point that he wasn’t sure how much longer he could take it.
Despite the anguish, he had work to do, and so he pushed through the pain each day from sunup to sundown, getting us much work done on the farm as he could, though he knew he would’ve managed so much more if he’d only been pain free.
Kian was also in severe pain, though it didn’t seem to Aaron that he was suffering quite as much. Early on, his complaints were minimal. Then, a month or more in, he’d spent a few days in bed, much to Shannon’s chagrin. Now, his aches seemed to be lessening, though Aaron was not experiencing that himself. His friend’s symptoms tapering off gave him hope that this would get better for him soon, as well, if he just managed to make it through the worst of it.
Aislyn had no idea what was happening. On the way back from their discussion with Ward, Aaron and Kian had decided not to tell their wives. Since neither of them could Transform, they didn’t see the point. Shannon was likely to make fun of them and blabber all over the village about her husband’s and his friend’s crazy ideas. And if they couldn’t tell Shannon, they couldn’t tell Aislyn because that both seemed unfair and they couldn’t trust Aislyn not to tell Shannon. The pair had become quite close since they were fairly isolated now without a lot of other women to talk to.
Each evening when Aaron came in from the field, Aislyn would have a warm bath drawn for him, which helped with the aches in his muscles. She urged him to go into the village and see a physician or a midwife, but he played it off as if he was just sore and tired from moving too many heavy boulders and digging in the rocky ground. While he could see the concern in her eyes, she let it be. She did her best to take care of him and it was her love that got him through the roughest part.
Finally, nearly four months after he and Kian had destroyed the Vampires, the pain started to subside, and Aaron began to feel like his old self again.
Except for he knew he was not his old self. He was much stronger, much faster. He could run great distances quickly without tiring. Often, he realized he was moving so quickly, he had to consciously slow himself so that Aislyn and others wouldn’t realize something was different. His mind also seemed to work differently. He noticed greater detail in his surroundings. Animals sounded different. He could see further and more clearly. No, he definitely was not the Aaron McReynolds he used to be, but what to do with these newfound skills eluded him. For now, he chose to continue to farm his land, check on his mother and granddad, and love his wife. If he was meant for anything more than that, fate would have to intervene.
The little girls were now part of the gang of Vampires that struck the village each night, and whenever Aaron traveled into town, he heard stories of their merciless slaughters. Their mother had been right to fear them; they returned that very night for her, but rather than claim her as their own, they were greedy and took too much. A neighbor discovered her body the next morning.
Ward’s trip was taking longer than Aaron anticipated. He had several questions now he wished to ask the other Guardian, but without his presence, he wasn’t sure where to turn for assistance. He’d mentioned there were others who might be able to help, but Aaron didn’t know who they were, and if they were truly aware of his existence the way Ward had alluded to, then they should be approaching him—but they weren’t. Nor were they doing anything to destroy the girls.
Kian was also more distant. They often traveled to town together and spoke briefly while working in their plots, but the secret they held had strained their relationship, and while he still considered Kian his best friend in the world—next to Aislyn—things had certainly changed. Anytime he mentioned to Kian his concern over the children, he quickly changed the subject. Clearly, he still did not want to consider hunting them down. Aaron felt that, since Kian was the Hunter, he should be the one to initiate such activity, and he would go along to keep him safe. He wasn’t sure why he felt that way, but it seemed to be part of this new intuition he had, and so he was willing to accept it.
For the last few weeks, Kian had mentioned that Shannon was not feeling well, that she was acting odd. The two of them still were not getting along all that well, and Aaron dismissed much of what he said, assuming it was just Kian deciding his wife was sick instead of angry. However, when he showed up one fall afternoon saying that she was so ill she couldn’t get out of bed, Aaron became genuinely concerned, and Kian called for the midwife.
Aaron knew that not all people who were taken changed over night; sometimes it took weeks or months for them to indicate to family members that something wasn’t right. Sometimes they even managed to fool those they lived with for a time before their new disturbing nature revealed itself. While Aaron feared that Shannon may have been infected, Kian nursed her, and Aaron kept a close eye on Aislyn, hoping she had not spent much time with Shannon recently.
A few days later, Aaron returned home to find Aislyn on her knees, retching into a bucket. Running to her, he dropped down next to her, pulling loose strands of her red hair back out of the way. “Are you all right?” he asked once she had finished and began to steady herself.
“I’m fine,” she assured him, managing a smile.
He rushed to bring her water and a towel to wipe her mouth. Once he helped her up and over to the bed, where she insisted on sitting instead of lying down, he took care of the bucket and ran back to her side. “Aislyn, do you have fever?” he asked, feeling her forehead. “When did you start feeling ill?”
“A few weeks ago,” she replied, but she was still smiling, and though he had no idea what there was to be happy about, he took a deep breath and let her continue. “Aaron, I’m not ill,” she assured him, placing her thin hand on his knee.
“What do you mean?” he asked. “You were vomiting.”
“Yes, I know. I’ve been vomiting for a few weeks, but then it’s usually in the morning. Sometimes, like today, it hits later. I’m fine.”
“Aislyn, if you’ve been throwing up for weeks, something is wrong. We need to get you to a physician.”
“I told you I’m not ill, Aaron. I’m certain of it. I went to town last week and spoke to my mother. I’m just fine.”
“What does your mother know of this type of illness?” he asked, brushing her hair back over her shoulder where it had attached to her clammy skin.
“Plenty. I’m not ill—I’m carrying a child,” she explained, her smile even wider now.
Aaron could hardly believe what he was hearing. “What’s that?” he asked. “A child?”
“Yes, our child,” she said. Taking his hand, she placed it on her abdomen. “I know you can’t feel anything yet, but soon enough you’ll see. I’ll have a nice bump right here, and wee little legs kicking, in a rush to get out into the world and meet the most wonderful da a babe could ever have.”
“You’re going to have a baby?” The information still hadn’t settled in. Aislyn had leaned her head back into his chest so that his arms were around her. He sat there holding her, contemplating her message, wondering how it was possible that he was going to be someone’s da.
“Isn’t it wonderful?” she asked, her voice sounding sleepy.
Despite the lack of food, the failing potatoes, the Vampires, the uncertainty of who he was and what he was destined to become, Aaron agreed that Aislyn’s news was wonderful indeed. “Yes,” he replied. “It’s the most wonderful thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life.” He leaned back on the bed, pulling her into his arms and held her, marveling about how fortunate he was. He was married to the most beautiful woman in the world, who was carrying his child. How could life be any better than this?
The next morning, Kian was out in the field waiting for him, a concerned look on his face. Aaron could not put away his smile, and he was sure he looked like a fool as he approached his friend. He didn’t care. He was going to be a father.
“Aaron, something’s wrong. I just know it,” Kian said, his voice hardly above a whisper, no regard whatsoever for the ridiculous smirk on his friend’s face.
“Good morning, Kian,” Aaron replied as if he hadn’t understood the statement. “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s not,” Kian assured him. “Aaron, something is wrong with Shannon. And I fear the worst.”
Disregarding Kian’s negativity, Aaron went about the first task he needed to complete that day. There was a rather large boulder in the middle of his field that he’d been working around. Today was the day this boulder would meet its demise.
“Aaron, she’s been completely non-responsive for three days. Then, this morning, she’s up out of bed, chipper as all get out, telling me how I’m a wonderful, loving husband, and making me fresh eggs.”
“That’s lovely,” Aaron replied, taking the hoe to the rock and striking it along the edge, intending to break it into smaller pieces. The rock broke into two halves, and he realized he could likely pick each of them up now and toss them out of his acreage.
“We don’t even have chickens,” Kian reminded him. “Where the hell did she get eggs?”
Picking up the first half, the larger of the two, Aaron lifted it up over his shoulder and swung it around, sending it sailing off into the woods on the edge of his rented property. It crashed into the top of a few of the larger pines, snapping them and tumbling out of sight. “Maybe she got some the last time she was in town.”
“That was months ago,” Kian argued.
The second half was even lighter and ended up clearing the tops of the trees, disappearing over the horizon. Aaron was proud of himself for finding a constructive way to use his newfound strength. “I don’t know, Kian. Maybe a visitor brought them to her while you were in the field.”
With that, Kian relaxed a little bit. Running his hand through his hair, he muttered, “Maybe. I don’t know. I just don’t feel she’s quite herself.”
“Keep an eye on her,” Aaron recommended, wondering what he might do with the rest of his morning now that the boulder was cleared, “and see how she acts. Kian, you always suspect the worst. It’s likely nothing.”
Though Kian’s expression didn’t show that he completely believed his friend, he nodded and went back to his own field to start his day. Meanwhile, having nothing else to do until later that afternoon, Aaron returned home eager to kiss his perfect wife and remind her of how much he loved her.
A few days later, Kian was back. This time, he swore he’d seen Shannon sneaking in late at night, though he wasn’t positive he wasn’t dreaming. Once again, Aaron calmed his fears and sent him home, hopeful that there truly was no need for alarm.
However, as the days passed, he began to realize something wasn’t quite right with Aislyn either. At first, he had thought it was just the pregnancy. She was becoming more and more lethargic. Her skin was even more pale than usual, and her eyes had dark rings beneath them. He insisted she spend her days in bed, even though she argued, saying she was fine and had much to do around the house. He won out, however, and she continued to rest. Even with more sleep, she didn’t improve, and when she broke into a fever, Aaron panicked. He checked her entire body for any signs of infection. She insisted she was fine—that she had not interacted with any of the Dark Ones. She would recover fully with more rest.
Aaron ran into town to find a midwife. By the time he returned, Aislyn was hardly even lucid. The woman checked her over and assured him that if she drank an herbal remedy, she would be fine in a day or two. She believed it was only the pregnancy wearing her down.
The next morning, he was greeted by her sparkling green eyes. The herbs seemed to have done the trick, but though she appeared to be on the mend, Aaron insisted she stay in bed. He had lost much time in the field and went out to see what he could get accomplished that morning, knowing he’d return to her side just as soon as possible.
Not five minutes after he began to work on the trench he was digging, Kian was at his side. “Aaron, I’ve been needing to talk to you,” he said, the concern in his voice causing it to shake. “It’s Shannon. It’s bad, Aaron.”
“I’m sorry, Kian,” Aaron replied, stopping his work to give his full attention to his friend. Kian had approached him, concerned about his wife, and Aaron had ignored him, so wound up in his own happiness he hadn’t bothered to take any interest at all in his friend’s situation. “How is she?”
“I wasn’t certain at first, Aaron, but now I am. She’s definitely turned.”
Aaron was shocked. He dropped the hoe. “What do you mean? How do you know?”
“Last night, I caught her creeping back in. She’s not herself. Not at all. She doesn’t eat. She looks—different. Her eyes are… gray. With black circles beneath them. Her skin is cold. I… I know it’s not my Shannon, Aaron. And I fear she must be going out at night to feed, that she’s killing other villagers.”
“My God,” Aaron mumbled, unable to think about how his friend must feel. “I’m so sorry, Kian.”
“That’s not all. Whenever I’m around her, I have this feeling in my stomach, like it’s full of butterflies. I think that’s my way of reacting to her… as a Hunter. It’s an internal warning of sorts, I think.”
Aaron nodded. He imagined there must be some sort of a reaction whenever the enemy was nearby. “What are you planning to do?” he asked.
Clearing his throat, Kian reached into the back of his trousers and produced a wooden stake, shaped like a cross, about two feet by one foot. The tip appeared to be cast in silver. “I believe I have no choice but to use this.”
“A wooden stake?” Aaron questioned. “Where did you get that?”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ve heard it’s the most humane way to end them, that they hardly feel it. I believe it would be easiest if it were done while she is sleeping, before she wakes to feed.”
Nodding, Aaron said, “This cannot have been an easy decision for you, my friend.”
“No, it hasn’t been,” Kian agreed.
“You know I will support you however I can,” Aaron assured him.
“Good,” Kian replied. “Because I need you to do it for me.”
“Do it for you?” Aaron echoed. “What is that? You want me to drive a stake through your wife’s heart?”
“Yes,” Kian said. “There’s no way I can do it myself.”
“What makes you think I can?” Aaron asked. “I’ve known Shannon for years. What if you’re wrong?”
“I’m not wrong,” Kian replied. “You have to trust me. Please, Aaron. There’s no one else I trust to do this. You have to.”
“Listen, Kian, I haven’t told you this, but Aislyn is with child,” Aaron began, cautiously. “She hasn’t been feeling well lately. I’m not sure I’m up to this right now.”
“Aaron,” Kian said, placing his hand on Aaron’s shoulder, “if you were in my position, what would you do?”
Aaron refused to even consider the possibility of changing places with Kian. Discovering that Aislyn had been turned, contemplating destroying her? He could never…. He could never.
“Please? Come over tonight, around midnight. She should be sleeping by then, and she won’t be up and ready to feed for a few more hours. I need you to do this for me.”
Without another word, Aaron slowly nodded his head. The thought of driving a wooden stake through the heart of a woman he’d known longer than he could remember, especially when he had no firsthand knowledge that she was anything other than the Shannon he’d always known, was more than he cared to think about, and as Kian patted him on the shoulder and turned to go, he determined to concentrate on the field and put Shannon out of his mind.
“Oh, and Aaron?” Kian called as he crossed onto his land. “Congratulations. That’s wonderful news.”
Aaron called out his thanks, but he could tell by the tone of Kian’s voice his words were just an effort to be polite. How could he blame his friend for feeling anything but morose on such a day? Perhaps he would find love and joy again someday, though Aaron couldn’t imagine how that would be possible. If anything ever happened to Aislyn, he wouldn’t ever be able to go on. He’d already decided that when she was old and gray, and left this world for the next, he’d ask Kian to finish him as well. If Aislyn were not in this world, he would not want to be either.
Aislyn’s color had still looked good when Aaron returned from the field. She had wanted to get up and fix dinner, but he insisted she stay in bed and rest. He’d managed to catch a rabbit that afternoon, so he threw together a stew which wasn’t half bad.
He’d gone about his evening routine as normal so that Aislyn wouldn’t suspect anything, but his mind kept returning to what Kian was asking him to do. By the time midnight rolled around, his stomach was cramping and his palms were sweaty. With another glance at the sleeping face of his own angelic wife, he slipped out of bed and got dressed, praying that, by the time he reached the O’Braonain residence, Kian would have changed his mind.
Kian was standing outside in the moonlight when Aaron approached, the cross clutched in his hand. “You came,” he exclaimed, a look of relief washing over his face. “Thank you, Aaron. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you are willing to go through with this.”
Without being too dismissive of his feelings, Aaron nodded and asked, “Are you certain you want me to do this, Kian?”
“Yes,” he replied. “I know it is what must be done.”
“What if… what if you’re wrong?”
“I’m not. Don’t you feel it, Aaron? That anxious feeling, like your skin is on fire from the inside?”
He did feel it. In fact, as he had made his way over, the closer he got to the house, the more he began to feel the exact same reaction Kian had described earlier. With a nod, he said, “It’s just… there’s no going back.”
Kian looked him in the eye and said, “I know this is what we need to do.”
Aaron took the cross out of his friend’s hand and approached the front door. He was familiar with the home and not only knew where the bed was located but he knew that Shannon slept on the left side of the cot she shared with her husband. This would be the last time she ever lay her head to rest there.
All day, he’d been thinking about where to place the stake, how hard to press, whether he should raise it above his head or position it first. In the end, he hoped his instincts would take over and he would end her as painlessly as possible.
He opened the door, careful not to make it creak, and looking over his shoulder, he realized from the way he lingered in the yard Kian wasn’t even coming in. He had tears streaming down his cheeks, and Aaron knew this couldn’t be easy for him.
The sound of Shannon’s breathing filled the small space. The closer he got to the bed, the more he felt it in his gut. One look at her now not-so-familiar face let him know for certain this was not the Shannon they had known before.
She lay on her back, which made it much easier. Her arms were folded across her midsection, as if she were already in a coffin. With one last glance over his shoulder at Kian, whose frame filled the doorway, he placed the cross just over her chest, near where her heart would be, and with a silent prayer, plunged the wooden stake down into her chest.
As soon as the silver hit her flesh, Shannon’s eyes flew open. She inhaled deeply, and her arms shot straight out, as if she was falling and trying to catch herself. With the weight of Aaron on the cross, she couldn’t move, and as the silver drew the energy from her body, she let out a bloodcurdling scream, far more powerful and high-pitched than the previous ones they had heard. This one was heart-wrenching as well; unlike the filthy monsters on the ridge, this woman had been his friend.
A few moments later, the shriek died away, and Aaron found himself still holding the wooden stake, but it was positioned over a pile of ashes. Shannon was gone.
Kian flew into the room, sobbing now, and kneeled next to the bed, crying out for his wife. “Shannon!” he yelled into the night. “Oh, God! Why?” Shannon!”
In an attempt to comfort his friend, Aaron placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder, but Kian knocked it away. “Leave,” he said, his eyes narrowed.
Aaron was shocked. While he’d expected Kian to be upset, he never thought he would direct his anger at his best friend. Kian had asked him to do this after all. But seeing that he meant the command, Aaron backed to the door, hopeful that he would come around the next day and forgive him. He made his way home, realizing he was still clutching the stake. Deciding it would be best to put it somewhere for safekeeping, in case Kian asked for it back, he placed it in a hole in a tree and stopped at the well to wash his hands before he made his way back inside.
Aislyn was still sleeping peacefully, and he was able to slip back into bed beside her, but he knew he would get no rest that night. He understood that what he had done needed to be executed, but it didn’t make it any easier. The thought of losing Kian over it was almost more than he could bear. How could he continue this journey without the only other person who knew what it felt like to realize you really don’t know yourself at all?