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“A wounded deer leaps highest.”
–Emily Dickinson–
Elisandra
“You’re... Declan.” My mouth is dry, and she seems to have eased up at the back. Or maybe I took control. Either way, my hand is still in Declan’s and he’s looking at me like I’m the most curious thing he has come across.
“Guilty as charged.” The grin is blinding in the moonlight, but it doesn’t warm up his eyes. Nothing could, my heart tells me.
“What... Why did you call me here?”
Declan tilts his head to the side. Again, that feeling like he’s a cat and I’m its prey. “Why did you come?”
I can’t answer that, so I don’t. Instead, I take in the crater, his still naked self – a blush creeps on my cheeks – and the Reapers around. For the second time, I notice their eyes, much like Cade’s. I’d originally thought it was the moon reflecting on them, but no – it’s something else. Their stillness clues me in. They’re too obedient.
“What did you do to them?”
Declan shrugs. “The fools thought that because they brought me back, it meant I was indebted to them.”
“What did they want with you? Why raise... All this?’ I gesture to the crater, at a loss for words.
“Because humans are greedy.” Declan stretches again, and then in a wash of runes, he’s wearing some loose breeches like I’ve seen in medieval TV shows, and a shirt that comes to his elbows. He remains bare feet, which on another man would have looked hot as sin. On Declan, it’s plain dangerous.
“Besides which,” he adds, “their greed has suited me nicely. It feels good being back after so long imprisoned.”
I can only stare at Declan, mesmerized by the power emanating off him. Part of it is her fascination, but I can’t deny there’s a big portion that also comes from me. Here stands another ancestor of mine, as different from Tytus as day and night are. It’s a chance to learn, maybe, or at least find out more about everything that being me entails.
A deep breath, and I try to speak. “Tytus said...”
“My brother is here?” His eyes narrow, and a change goes over his features. They contort in rage, and in two fell swoops he’s in my face, grabbing me by the throat. “Where is he?”
Panic flares through me, but I keep my mouth shut. His eyes narrow even further and he says, “You are not the one. I want her back.”
His touch on my skin burns a second, then she’s back front and centre, grinning at him. “Me, lover?”
Declan eases then, letting go of our neck. “Perfect. Now do me a favor and stay here.”
“She keeps trying to take control. Damn morals.”
“Then don’t let her.” Even my alter knows not to reply anything to that tone. “Now, where is my brother?”
“Some house in the woods, last I saw him. He’s surrounded by wolves and the witch who brought you back. And, unless I’m mistaken, he planned to come looking for you.”
Declan smirks at that, flexing his fists. “Let him try.”
His gaze drifts around the surroundings, on the forest, and he closes his eyes as if sensing something. It oddly reminds me of what happened to Tytus in the car – the vision, he called it.
When Declan opens his eyes, I see the remnants of white leave his gaze. His dark glare settles on the wolves, and with a swoop of his hand they snap out of their obedient state.
“Go stop the mutts heading here. Their scent is on the wind, and I need my skies clear for what comes next.”
Mutts? He must mean Lucas and the pack – and Finn! Despite my outburst, he’s coming for me.
She relishes his words, taking a step closer to Declan. “And what’s that?”
“The fight of a lifetime.”
Finn
We’re swerving in and off the scent. I don’t know what’s causing it, unless it’s some weird magic, but it’s hard to find a trail and stick to it. I pull to the side, motioning Dani to join me.
Panting in her wolf form, she meets my gaze with her amber one. What is it?
This is going nowhere. I haven’t gotten anything more than the faintness of the witch’s trace.
Dani shakes her head. We have to keep trying, Finn. No way we’re letting those bastardos get away with what they did, or Elle be taken. And Fiona’s scent will lead us to them.
My throat constricts, out of nowhere. Air is hard to take into my lungs. Dani panics, I can hear her whimpers, but there’s nothing she can do. My vision blurs, my breathing nonexistent – then I’m released once more.
Panting, I get up on my feet, and I realize what it was. Elle is in danger.
How do you know that?
Because that – what I felt – was happening to her.
Dani’s eyes widen. Before she stops me, I’m back on the run. I can’t let anything happen to Elle – nothing, and no one, can stop me.
Elisandra
With the Reapers gone, it’s quiet in the crater. Declan keeps pacing, but there’s nothing stressed about it. More like he’s eager for the fight coming to him. Then he stops, and an odd smile spreads on his lips.
“Always the dramatic entrance, brother,” he whispers.
Slowly, his gaze goes up, up into the darkening clouds. Like an avenging warrior comes Tytus, in full zmeu form. I’m so stunned – as is my alter – by the ferocious look about him, it takes us a minute to realize he’s got someone on his back.
He swoops in and I think he’s only going to take one bite out of Declan. But then Declan rears his head back and turns into fire in front of my eyes.
There is no other way to explain it. Flames engulf him, burning away the human, and in its place is a massive dragon. Or what looks like a dragon, given what I’ve learned.
I’m left staring at not one, but two zmei. Unlike Tytus’ red scales, Declan is all black. With a single push on his powerful back legs, he’s in the air, stretching his wings and blowing a gust of wind towards Tytus.
He rears back, roaring and spitting fire. In so doing, he turns a little to the side and I see the most unexpected person riding him – Fiona. The witch looks like she’s got a hard time clinging onto him. Tytus seems to notice as well and backs off Declan, trying to turn in an attempt – I’m guessing – to drop her closer to the ground.
But Declan’s on his tail, reaching with his talons and blocking his escape. His head bumps Tytus in the chest, and they clash in the sky. Declan swipes at Tytus as a cat would, and blood whooshes in the air, falling like rain droplets in front of me. Unable to decide, unable to move, I can only stare as Declan then digs his claws into Tytus’ thigh – he roars in agony.
Fiona turns on Tytus’ back, gathering magic. My own hands lift up of their own accord. No, not their own accord. She’s controlling them, trying to retaliate before the witch can hurt Declan. But I can’t let her.
It’s bad enough she made me turn my back on Finn and the others. Bad enough I haven’t been able to get rid of her, and all she’s done is feed me to Declan on a silver platter. I can’t miss this chance to set things right. So I focus all my mental energy on taking control of my hands, visualizing the muscles, clenching them, trying to pry them from her control...
She growls aloud. “Let me go!”
No. Way. In. Hell.
By the time we’re done struggling, it’s too late. Fiona’s taken aim, a crown of runes around her head. Bursts of magic shoot from them and hit Declan’s muzzle, sending him toppling into a downward spiral.
He doesn’t fall, though. At the last possible moment, he rights himself up and beats his wings – away from us, disappearing into the clouds.
“Where the hell is he going?”
I’m hoping he’s forgotten all about us.
But, no. Declan only meant to show exactly who we’re dealing with. As Tytus swoops close to the ground, Fiona jumps off him and lands in the grass. My alter wants nothing more than to throttle her, but we’re both searching the skies for Declan.
“No...”
Her pained moan draws both our attention. Fiona is clutching her head, as if in physical pain. Then I smell smoke. I glance up to see a blaze in the distance – it’s the town! Declan’s burned it.
Bile rises up my throat, but she takes over again, and clears it. “Grow a pair, would you?” Then her gaze narrows on Fiona. “As for you...”
I force my feet to stay rooted in the ground, no matter how she tries to yank out of my mental grip. Then Declan’s back, drawing her attention away from Fiona. Tytus roars up in the sky, and comes out of clouds with his talons pointed towards Declan’s chest. They roll in the air, until they both land with the heaviest thud on the ground.
It sends me flying up in the air, and I land hard enough to rattle my teeth.
By the time I look up, Declan’s going at Tytus, trying to nick him in the wings, but Tytus pulls out of the way in time. Fiona’s still crumpled on the ground, unable to help him as she moans in pain. The thought crosses my mind that she’s somehow able to sense the agony of humans miles away, but then it’s wiped away by her.
“Shut up about the damn witch already,” she says with my voice, “and look at this majestic one.”
In tune with her words, Tytus flies above Declan, and kicks out his back feet, hitting him in the line of his spine. This sends Declan spiralling again, and I’m afraid he’s about to pull another disappearing act and burn the town some more.
Tytus is there though, blocking his exit. He roars a gust of fire in his brother’s face, which gets blown away by wind. Seeing them go at each other, a clash of red and black scales, is straight out of a fantasy movie. Clouds gather round even more, turning the landscape black as if night was here. Talons, scales flying, flames thrown around – neither gives up, always coming back for more.
Seeing he can’t win, Declan switches strategy mid–flight and pulls his worst move to date.
He feints to the side, and goes under Tytus, heading straight for Fiona – who’s still on the ground, clenching her head in pain, and oblivious to the danger. Tytus roars his rage and ducks in the air after Declan. At the last possible moment, he grabs his brother by the tail, pulling him back.
Declan, however, is no fool – he curls his wings around his body, letting himself go with the pull. When he’s a foot away, he unfurls the wings and digs his talons into Tytus’ chest, then reaches out with one back leg and rips into his wing.
Tytus wrestles against him, and they’re circling, falling, each clinging to the other – then Declan disengages, letting Tytus drop alone.
Like a bulldozer, he hits the ground with a velocity out of this world. For the second time, I go flying, only this time my alter is prepared for it and makes us land on our feet. Then she stands, smirking, and takes a few steps towards Tytus.
I sense her intent to hurt him and struggle against her hold, enough to make us pause in our steps and freeze. While we mentally fight for control, Tytus lifts himself up and drags his body to Fiona, placing his bulk in front of her.
It takes me a second to realize what he’s doing – protecting her with his bulk, as though a last stand. But Declan is still in the sky, circling above us, which means there’s only one threat he’s trying to protect her from – me.
I told you so, she says smugly. You were only good until he found someone way better, stupid one.
“You’re a liar,” I whisper, my words carrying across.
Tytus, breathing heavily, looks up. His stormy grey eyes land on me with all the warmth of the North Pole, and I shiver. Only then do I realize my hands had been raised this entire time, as though ready to attack him.
I drop them by my side, shaking. I want to tell him I’m sorry, that I –
Grow a pair already, would you? You’ve picked a side, now it’s time to stick with it.
As though hearing her, Declan touches ground by my side. In comparison to Tytus’ fumble, his landing is as gracious as a swan’s. When I try to take a step towards Tytus, he drops one wing in front of me, effectively blocking me from doing so.
My gaze lands on Tytus again. On shaking knees, Fiona gets up and places her palm to his bleeding wing, which now covers her in a cocoon of protection. I realize she’s trying to heal him as fast as she can, in anticipation of another fight.
One I’m not sure he’ll survive.
Besides his torn wing, Tytus is a mess. Scales are missing all over his body, ripped away by Declan. Where they once provided protection, there are now only gashes and wounds, bleeding heavily and infusing the ground with his blood.
His eyes are half–mast, as though he’s having a hard time standing up. My trembling intensifies, afraid for him – afraid of what else Declan will do.
A line of fire shoots out, and I look up at Declan in surprise. He’s burning the ground between Tytus and us, barring him from moving further. Declan stares at his brother for a beat. Then he moves closer to me, nudging me with his head.
“I’m not—” She cuts me off, taking over me swifter than I thought possible. “Lead the way, handsome.”
The second after, we’re back in the air, leaving the world I’ve always known behind. I keep hoping someone will follow, yearning for that elusive rescue, but no one does.
Not even Tytus.
Finn
As we run through the woods, the air changes. Smoke fills it, and me and Dani stop to sniff it properly. It smells like...
Charred flesh, Dani finishes.
Declan?
Must be.
We pick up speed, hoping to get to them before he does anything major. When we get closer to the scent, wolves pop out of the woods.
Just feckin’ amazing, their timing!
That looks like the entire Reaper clan, Dani says, and steps closer to me. Got a plan?
Elle and Tytus are past these bastards, you know it as well as I. Declan must have sent them to stop us.
She throws me a nervous glance. But we don’t have the force to fight them off, Finn.
We do if you use your magic.
Dani hesitates. She’s been hinting at this for a while, to get her skills more and more used, but even she must know this is a suicide mission. My desperation makes me reckless. I’ll risk anything – anyone – if it means I can get to Elle before it’s too late.
She senses this, and nods. I know what I’m getting into with this and risking, but be warned. If I end up dead, Tristan will kill you.
Noted, I say dryly.
As she morphs to human, the wolves attack. Dani ducks one attack, blasts another with a rune, and whistles as she straightens up. I catch the sound of leaves moving fast – then ravens pop out of the woods, spreading like a swarm over the Reapers.
The birds listen to her because of her magic, but I know it’s taking her concentration to keep them bound to her will and use magic. So I focus my efforts on watching her back, while at the same time trying to force a path through the Reapers for us.
With the ravens blinding the Reapers – more than one loses an eye – and Dani’s spells, I’m almost positive we can cut through. Then more wolves come out, this time led by Cade. He keeps himself in their midst, but it’s hard to miss his dark glare.
Bollocks!
Truth is, we’re outnumbered. And even with Dani using runes as fast as possible, there’s no way we can get out of this without help.
Ask, and you shall receive.
The woods part and out comes a rusty colored wolf, followed by a very pissed–off looking dark grey one.
“Finalmente!” Dani breathes, and shifts back to wolf.
With Lucas and Tristan, it’s not exactly a fair fight, but we manage. At least until Cade jumps out of the shadows, and takes control of the pack. It’s about damn time you paid for all the trouble you’ve caused me, don’t you think?
Lucas, who until now has done his utmost to preserve the peace in this town, growls. He slams a paw on the ground and the vibration shakes under all of us. Even Cade’s wolves stop moving, tilting their heads to listen.
Then Lucas speaks, only not in our way. His mouth moves, and actual words come out of him. “Payment? Sure. Let’s talk payment.”
The second after, he’s lunging in the air, toppling over Cade, his claws dug into his neck hard enough that they pull blood. “You have pushed my last buttons, trash. Now get the fuck off my territory.”
This is... Reaper....territo––
He doesn’t finish as Lucas presses heavier on his neck. “This. Is. My. Territory. All of it, including the pieces you think belong to you. Learn to recognize who you’re speaking to, and get the fuck away before I tear you to shreds.”
Cade scrambles away, but the minute Lucas turns his back one of the Reapers tries to catch him from behind. Lucas whirls with his paw up in the air and tears his throat off, not even blinking. Leaving the carcass behind, he resumes walking towards us.
“There is nothing for you here,” he says with a glare to me. “Elle left with Declan.”
That’s not...possible.
Lucas doesn’t answer, instead walks away. Dani follows him, seemingly in a shock over his display of power. When Tristan comes in front of me, it only takes me a second to realize it’s definitely not surprise he’s feeling – but anger.
It’s possible, alright. We were on the edge of the woods and saw the fight. Tytus is hurt, and Elle was trying to help Declan. Maybe she has been all along. Either way, we need to go see Dom now. He gets closer to me, his muzzle an inch from mine, and bares his teeth. And for the record, meu amigo, next time you put my mate in danger for the sake of your own, I’m going to have your hide.
Dejected, I follow in his footsteps. And while Elle is predominantly on my mind, there’s another thing that drags my attention more. What the hell is going on with Lucas?
Elisandra
At some point as we fly, I doze off, yet manage not to fall off Declan. I don’t know how, really, it’s almost like my body instinctively knows what to do. Either way, by the time the sun’s rays poke through the clouds and blind me, we emerge into the world again....
And we're no longer in Rockland Creek, I'm pretty sure. The mountains are too high up, and too damn cold. I’ve seen this kind of landscape – in books, on TV, but never in real life. So I can’t help my jaw dropping as we fly over majestics places.
“Is it okay for you to fly under the clouds now? Will no one see us?” Declan snorts, which I take it to mean no.
Much, much later, we swoop in between two mountains on a seemingly regular plateau. I dismount my zmeu, and stand there shivering in the coolness of the air.
When he shifts to human, Declan is naked once more, and seems completely unbothered by the cold.
“Would you put on some clothes?”
He throws me an amused look over his shoulder. “For your modesty, of course.”
I look around as he dons another pair of old–school breeches and one of those fluid, creamy shirts. “Where are we?”
“My home. And yours, for that matter.”
“What?” I take in the emptiness surrounding us, trying to make sense of it all.
Declan grins then, and he looks impossibly beautiful – and ruthless. The golden eyes shine with the thrill of being free, and he extends a hand to me, palm towards the sky. “Come here and touch my hand.”
I wait for her to show up, but she’s not in my head – yet. So when I follow his instructions, I do so freed from her influence, and fully aware I’m humoring the enemy. The minute our palms join, a pulsating beat releases, and the fog around us dissipates. From its misty depths, a castle is revealed, and my jaw drops.
If this were a fairytale, I still wouldn’t believe the image in front of me. White walls, a pont–levis across clear water, mountains in the background, the glare of the sun on windows made out of crystal. Rainbows dance off them, adding a unique quality to the whole landscape. With two towers on each side, the place looks like Camelot – or some mythical kingdom not meant for this world.
“What the...”
“Welcome home, Elisandra. Your real home.”
Declan struts across the bridge, while I'm still staring at the impossible building.
∞ ♦ ∞
It takes me a long time to snap out of my stupor – an hour, or close to. It’s the chilly wind, more than anything, which forces me to move.
A cobblestone path leads to the pont–levis, but once I step on it and glance back, I notice the path disappears. Recalling the fog that had surrounded this place, I realize they probably hadn’t meant it to be discovered by regular humans.
Whoever they are, that is.
My eyes take in the castle, which seems even more imposing the closer I get to it. Large oak doors painted white are open, handles made out of gold. I hesitate on the step, wondering whether to take it, or not.
A bit late for second–guessing yourself, no?
Her voice in my head draws out my hesitation. I’ve left my mate, all that I was used to, and come here... Why? What’s Declan’s angle, bringing me here?
“Step in, don’t be shy.”
Said the wolf to the sheep, I think to myself. She only laughs in my head, not offering any other help.
Gulping, I take a step closer, then another. I cross the threshold, and blink at the inside. So much light comes from the outside, dancing through the crystal windows into rainbows. It almost looks like there are disco balls everywhere.
The marble floors are dark, filled with the occasional golden lightning bolt. The end result is astounding, too much for my eyes.
“Why would you bring me here?”
Declan steps out from behind a column, and smiles. “To show you what you can really do. Everything you can be, and more, micuţă. Welcome to my childhood home, and your training ground.”