The Elder Mother

by Carrie Whitethorne

  He was laughing as the thing lurched, swinging its fists wildly, trying to land a strike. My blade still imbedded in its back, I knew that was my only option and walked that way. The big one was stirring, Elian’s knife sticking from its head. I paused to tug it free before continuing.

  I weighed the small knife in my palm, understanding now why he’d chosen them. “Hey!”

  As the Destroyer glanced around, I threw the knife and it struck him in the forehead. He fell, staggering into Elian, and I watched it shift into its demon form, my dagger dislodging with the movement, clattering to the ground.

  Elian was trapped between a rusted old vat and the now fully formed demon. My stomach turned over. Frozen, I watched in horror as the beast opened its fanged jaws and snapped at his face. Knives gripped in each hand, Elian kicked it away before launching a vicious counter attack. Every skilfully angled thrust, every swing, landed, and did nothing. It should have been dead by now. They didn’t survive that number of injuries with silver weapons.

  It was besting him. I watched as it overpowered him. I screamed his name as it closed its jaws around him.

  The sound of my scream drew its attention. It had figured out our ruse. With Elian incapacitated, it turned its attention to me, gnashing its sharp teeth as it stalked my way, letting out a piercing shriek. I felt arms close around my upper body. It should have been trying to kill me, not capture me. The beasts were clearly under orders: capture me; kill the Druid. Fury clenched my stomach and I bucked and kicked to get away, but the big one was up and holding me firm. I tried to look to Elian, but the inky form of the demon before me obscured my view. I screamed my fury, spitting insults at the creature as it advanced on me.

  My vision changed. The room had taken on an emerald hue. I grinned as the amulet on my chest heated, laughed as the beast finally grasped what was happening and released me.

  Gripping the wrist of the larger demon, I felt The Mother stir.

  “Don’t go,” I said sweetly as her power overcame me. The demon crumbled at my touch, the skin and bone of its human form dissolving before my eyes, baring its teeth, and roaring at me one final time before vanishing in a plume of dust.

  I looked up at the other. It stood before me, jaws snapping in defiance as it tried to decide on a course of action.

  “You cannot save yourself, beast.”

  It turned to flee, and I struck it down with the flick of a single finger. I watched as it disintegrated, feeling the room for further threats in case the commotion had summoned more of Kern’s guards. There was only one other being in the room.

  I rushed to him as The Mother’s power ebbed and I summoned the little power I held of my own. He’d shifted back, whether deliberately or because he was so badly injured, I didn’t know. Blood poured from his shoulder; his leather vest tattered where the demon’s sharp fangs had torn through into flesh and bone.

  The corruption it had left behind was spreading rapidly; his skin taking on a grey pallor, his blood vessels turning black as his beating heart pushed the poison around his body.

  “Elian?” I sobbed. “Elian, wake up.”

  He didn’t move. I desperately reached for his dagger and cut the leather away, then pressed my hands against the wound. The pressure should have been agonising, but he didn’t flinch or make a single sound. “Elian, please!” I begged as his face faded from view beneath the blinding light of my healing. “Please...”

  Removing my hands, I checked the damage. The skin was healing, but was still discoloured. I tried again, leaning my weight against him as I pushed my power into his body. “Please, I can’t do this on my own. Don’t leave me, Elian…”

  He moved. I felt him move his shoulder slightly beneath my blood-soaked hands. I pulled them away quickly, the light fading, and grasped his face. “Elian?”

  “I’m not going anywhere, Seren,” he mumbled, wincing.

  I cried with relief, kissing his forehead. “I thought you’d gone. I thought you’d left me; that I was alone again,” I murmured, my lips still pressed to his skin.

  “So did I,” he grunted, moving his legs. I sat back, allowing him room to sit up. “I see you managed.”

  “Yes, but I didn’t see where they came from.”

  He shuffled to lean his back against the large metal vat behind him and looked down at his chest. The skin was almost fully healed over, all trace of the demon’s corruption gone. “I can clear that up,” I offered, raising a hand.

  “Maybe later. I’m okay for now. Thank you, though. That should have killed me, so close to my heart.”

  I hung my head. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t get to it in time.”

  I felt his finger beneath my chin, and he lifted it slightly so that our eyes met. My breath hitched in my throat. “You did brilliantly.”

  Tears welled in my eyes again and I smiled. Clearing my throat and looking away, I asked, “Can you walk? Drive?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be okay in a few minutes. When did they work it out?”

  I didn’t want to admit it. “When it bit you and I screamed your name,” I said quietly.

  “Oh. Yeah, that’ll do it,” he groaned, shifting his weight.

  I watched as he got to his feet, teeth clenched against the pain in his shoulder, lifting that hand over his chest to support the weight. “Yeah, this needs another—whatever it is you do—back at the car” he admitted, reaching out his unaffected hand. I took it and headed out with him.

  “What about Kern?” I asked, glancing back.

  “Really?” he asked, looking down at me with a brow raised. “I’m half-eaten by demons and you want to go back?”

  “But you can get yourself out of almost anything,” I said, hiding a smirk.

  “Almost,” he said as he pulled me into his side and kissed the side of my head. “Wouldn’t have gotten out of that one without you, though.”

  “Wouldn’t have gotten into it if it weren’t for me,” I muttered, guilt prodding at my stomach as I thought of all the things I could have done to prevent it.

  “Yes, I would. Eventually, Kern would have shown his hand. The Fae would ask for help, and I’d be front of the queue because I live here. I’m better off with you.”

  He spoke so earnestly that a lump formed in my throat. He truly believed that he was better working with me than with them. I wondered why that was.

  Back at the car, I finished healing his shoulder. It was still stiff, but that would ease under a hot shower and with a good night’s rest. He thanked me once more before we left, and we travelled home in silence.

  I spent the time wondering if heard me begging him to stay with me. I was sure he was unconscious, but if he had? I didn’t want him to feel obliged to…to what? He was already stuck with me for the duration of this hunt. When it was over I would leave, as I was supposed to.

  Nineteen

  Elian

  She’d gone into one of her sullen silences again by the time we got home, and she disappeared into her room. Unable to stand it, I put a music channel on the TV and cooked dinner. I probably shouldn’t have been drinking after the day’s events, but I poured myself a large brandy to pass the time.

  She’d changed when the demons turned up. I liked it. I smiled, remembering how bolshie she’d become. She was more confident, more how I’d imagined her to be if she wasn’t constantly second-guessing herself.

  I was still annoyed for allowing myself to be so badly injured. The strength of the thing was incredible. The pain as its teeth sank into my shoulder rendered me useless. I’d never experienced anything like it. The speed in which its venom, or whatever that was, spread through my body took me completely by surprise.

  While I was trained to hunt and kill the things, I’d never actually come across one. I knew they were deadly, but had no idea how quickly they could incapacitate me. If she hadn’t been there, I would have died. I’d felt the life ebbing from me as she'd sobbed, begging me not to leave her. But I couldn’t speak. I had no way to comfort her. And the
healing. That wasn’t The Mother’s power; that was her own. She’d chosen to save me, to keep me with her. I know it was what she did, but it was hearing her words…

  She didn’t need me for this task. I’d seen how quickly she could take them down. She was the one who killed the two this morning. I’d simply distracted them while The Mother manifested her power.

  Her skill was incredible. The speed and grace of her movements, the way she’d scaled the demon and buried her dagger to the hilt in its neck filled me with awe. I was sure she hadn’t developed those skills in her previous life. That training would have meant she’d worked with Druids before. She certainly fought like one, but I was sure she hadn’t been one of us. She would have remembered.

  Seren didn’t emerge, so I poured another drink and prepared a salad to accompany dinner. I’d thought to contact Deb and check on the young girl Seren had helped at the centre.

  I was pissed off. How had I failed to notice these kids going missing? There didn’t seem to be any fewer girls working the streets or people visiting the centre.

  Then again, few of the people I worked with were as young as her. That it was happening on my own doorstep was maddening. I’d been away for a short time, but it hadn’t been long enough to miss something like that.

  I continued to berate myself, going over all the things I could have done differently, wondering if I could have changed any of it.

  When dinner was ready, I knocked on Seren’s bedroom door and waited to be invited inside.

  “Are you hungry?” I asked from the doorway.

  She was laid on her bed, staring at the ceiling. “A bit.”

  I allowed the door to close on its own, returning to the kitchen to serve. I poured her a glass of wine and sat down to eat. She followed a few minutes later. “This looks lovely, thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. It’s just lasagne. Meat and vegetables layered between pasta,” I explained as she picked up her wine and took a large drink.

  “I heard from Deb. Emily is fine,” I said, trying to find a topic of conversation that would draw her interest.

  “Good, I’m glad she’s safe,” she said quietly, beginning her meal.

  She didn’t speak again, so I gave up trying and we ate in silence.

  When I was finished, I sat back and waited. Having barely touched her meal, I asked, “Would you like something else?”

  Her brows pulled in as she considered my question. “No, this is lovely. Why would I want anything else?”

  “Because you haven’t actually eaten anything yet?”

  “I’m sorry. I was thinking.”

  I nodded and took my plate to the sink, poured myself a glass of wine, and re-joined her at the table. I watched her push the food around her plate for a while, still in silence, before taking both our glasses and moving to the sofa. “Leave it. Come and sit down.”

  She slumped down beside me and took her glass. “Come on, then. What’s wrong?”

  She shook her head, reluctant to speak.

  “If you don’t tell me, I can’t help. What’s wrong?”

  “Why do you care?”

  “Why do I care that you haven’t eaten all day and won’t speak to me?”

  “No. Why do you care about me?”

  I wasn’t sure how to answer. I wasn’t sure about the question. In what sense? It was my job to keep her safe. I cared about her because she was my responsibility. I cared about her because she was kind, and caring, and selfless, and beautiful…

  “We’re friends, aren’t we?” I answered, shutting down my emotions. “I’m here to protect you, for what good I am. To keep you safe and look after you. I couldn’t do that if I didn’t care.”

  I extended my arm and she shuffled closer, resting her head against my shoulder. “I haven’t had friends in such a long time, I think I’ve forgotten how it works.”

  Resting my cheek on her head, I smiled sadly and said, “You’re doing fine. You got me out of there this afternoon. You’ve kept me company. You’ve even managed to make me laugh a few times, and that doesn't happen often. Trust me; you’re doing fine.”

  She didn’t respond, and I held her for a long while before she asked, “Why did you go to Avalon the other night?”

  “I told you: updates,” I said evasively. I hated lying to her. I felt so guilty keeping things from her. I sighed and said, “I spoke to Taran about the information he failed to give me before I agreed to work with you. Some things I would have preferred to know to avoid upsetting you. I’m sorry.”

  She took another large drink before turning to face me. Her eyes searching mine, she asked, “And what else?”

  I held her gaze. I wanted her to know that I meant everything I was saying, that I honestly believed she deserved it.

  “I wanted to know what he plans to do with you when this is over. I’ve told him that I want you to have choices. You don’t belong to them, Seren. You don’t belong to anyone, not even her. When this is over, I want you to have the option to choose for yourself.”

  Her eyes swam with unshed tears as I spoke. I smiled, and pulled her back into my side, braving a gentle kiss against the side of her head. She didn’t seem to mind.

  We didn’t speak any more for the rest of the evening. We didn’t need to. I brought the wine, and the duvet, and we watched a film before she said goodnight and went to her room.

  I stayed up a while, mulling over the day’s events, planning what to do next, but mostly, my thoughts drifted back to Seren.

  The buzz of the front door woke me. I checked the time; too early for deliveries, and I wasn’t expecting any company. Pulling on my jeans, I left the apartment as quietly as I could and went down to see who it was. Half-expecting one of the princes, I was surprised to see a royal guard at the door. Why he was here in full uniform, I had no idea. He looked ridiculous. Smirking, I opened the door.

  “A gift for the Elder Mother,” he said quietly, handing me a package before disappearing.

  I studied the package for a moment before turning and heading back up the stairs.

  “Who was it?”

  Seren was leaning on the door frame, wearing shorts and a cami that left nothing to the imagination. “Guard from Avalon. Get inside before the neighbours come out drooling,” I laughed, ushering her in.

  She sat cross-legged on the sofa as I followed her, frowning at the gift in my hand.

  “This is for you. Looks like Taran listened to some degree.”

  “Why would he send me a gift?”

  I shrugged and sat beside her. It was wrapped in pale green paper, tied with a white organza ribbon. I groaned inwardly at the reference, but she seemed pleased with it. She unwrapped it very carefully, admiring the ribbon as it slid from the glossy surface of the paper.

  “Will you just open it?”

  “I am opening it…I wonder what it is?” she mused, carefully folding back the paper to reveal a small mahogany case.

  I was going to answer, but thought better of it, and watched closely as she opened the small clasp on the front of the case.

  “Oooh…” She instantly grasped her pendant and looked between it and the small daggers nestled on blue velvet inside the box. “They match!”

  “Hmm, looks like he’s asked around. Let’s have a look.”

  She handed me the case and I removed one of the slender weapons. It was very light, and nestled comfortably in my palm. Designed for swift strikes and maximum manoeuvrability, they were skilfully crafted from the same pearlescent green stone as her pendant, the guard inlaid with small emeralds.

  I glanced to her to see her flip the matching piece in one hand.

  “Where did you learn to use a dagger?” I asked as I replaced the dagger in its case.

  She shrugged her shoulders and looked at the weapon. “I didn’t. I just, sort of, know. It’s the same with my knowledge of the demon races and everything. The knowledge was sort of just there the first time I left the tree.”

  “That explains your
fighting skills back at the warehouse. I didn’t see that kind of grace in the gym the other day,” I said, winking at her. I noticed a small slip of parchment in the box and handed it to her. “There’s a note for you, too.”

  Passing it back, she said, “Could you?”

  “Dearest Seren,” I read out. She looked at me and rolled her eyes. “A small token of gratitude for your service and unwavering dedication. Taran.”

  Her lips curved up in a smile as she took the case from me and replaced the note and her dagger. “That’s very kind of him.”

  I grinned. He had paid attention. I looked back to her and asked, “What’s with the pendant, anyway?”

  She closed the box and placed it carefully on the coffee table before leaning back into the sofa. “It was a gift,” she explained. “It was a harsh winter; people were freezing. A young girl came to the tree and tore down a branch. Poor thing was so frail she barely managed, and she begged the Elder Mother not to haunt her. She left the amulet in exchange for the branch to burn.”

  I frowned. “The Elder Mother? That’s you, isn’t it?”

  A short, humourless laugh escaped her. “Yes, that’s me. The tale of the woman who saved the girl beneath the elder tree was passed on. The tale became legend, twisted as they are over the years with no written record of the true events.”

  “Oh, so the witch that dwells in the elder tree—”

  “Is me. Steal a branch from my boughs and I’ll haunt you, but take a fallen branch and it’ll protect the home from evil spirits.” She smiled sadly and shrugged her shoulders. “Just as I handed a fallen branch to the girl I died saving. ‘Take this branch. Protect yourself,’ is what I told her.”

  I looked at her in amazement. “Wow, a whole legend dedicated to you. Have you ever haunted anyone for stealing a branch?”

  “No! I only ever left the tree of my own accord once. The girl who left the amulet. I followed her home. I left firewood, furs, and food outside, then returned to the tree. I kept the amulet. I kept it to remind me of my humanity. I was that girl once, with a family to keep safe and warm. It’s why I do this, isn’t it?”