Mortiswood: Kaelia Awakening (Mortiswood Tales)

by Gina Dickerson

  Jade gasped, eyes widening, she pulled at her hair before running her hands over her body. ‘The most amazing feeling ever!’

  Cadence grabbed Jade, hoping to shake sense into her. ‘Snap out of it. What are you talking about?’

  An immensely tall, pale-blue skinned, figure materialised before them. ‘She is talking about me.’

  Jade whimpered and raced to the figure. Clasping one of his hands, she dropped to her knees, repeatedly kissing his hand.

  Cadence swallowed nervously. There was no doubt in her mind as to what the blue-skinned being was. ‘Jade?’ her voice wobbled. ‘Come back here.’

  Enthralled, Jade was deaf. She shuddered excitedly and stroked the Draugr’s chest, her face raised adoringly. Huge hands peeled her jumper from her shoulders, exposing the bare flesh of her neck. Cadence noticed a symbol carved into Jade’s left-shoulder, glowing with the same shade of blue as Thom’s skin.

  Cadence’s hair billowed. She muttered words, calling the air element. ‘Jade!’ she screamed. ‘Snap out of it, he’s tricked you!’ Her eyes swirled grey storm clouds and the wind whipped around her.

  Jade half turned her head, a simpering look on her face. ‘But I love him!’

  ‘You don’t love him,’ Cadence countered. ‘He’s a Draugr, he’s blood-thralled you into thinking you love him but you don’t!’

  Thom cackled, his vile breath reaching Cadence. ‘I’m not a Draugr, I’m the Draugr!’

  Cadence froze, the wind freezing also. ‘Thom.’ Her face cracked with the mere mention of his name. She wanted to run, to disappear but she couldn’t leave Jade. As much as she pushed Jade around, Jade was her friend and friends didn’t abandon each other.

  ‘Go to her.’ Thom bent in half to whisper in Jade’s ear. ‘Tell her to give herself to me.’ He trailed a finger down Jade’s neck, piercing her skin with his fingernail before twisting his finger into the wound.

  Jade shuddered delightedly, so entranced she was numb to the pain. She skipped over to Cadence, a stream of blood running from the finger wound and soaking into her cream, wool jumper.

  Cadence disgustedly watched Thom suck his finger, Jade’s blood crimson against his blue lips. She grabbed Jade and slapped her across the cheek in an attempt to snap her friend out of the Draugr’s spell.

  Jade cocked her head to one side, a euphoric smile plumping her cheeks despite the imprint of Cadence’s hand colouring her skin red. ‘Join me.’ Jade held out a hand. ‘Give yourself to Thom.’

  ‘No way,’ Cadence hissed. ‘Did you do this willingly?’

  Jade cocked her head to the opposite side. ‘Thom saved me.’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

  Jade didn’t stop smiling. ‘I tried to kill myself the night I ran away from the academy after my parents died but Thom found me and wouldn’t let me die.’ She touched her left shoulder. ‘He made me his and when he wants me, he calls and I feel it, here.’

  Cadence gulped; this had been going on for years. Terror clutched at her. She knew she needed to take Jade back to the academy - where Harriet would surely have something to break the tie. ‘Come with me, Jade.’ She tried to pull her friend with her.

  Jade shook her head. ‘Thom wants me and now he wants you. You will give yourself to him. It will hurt for a minute as he feeds his blood into you.’

  Cadence, realising she would have to save Jade even though Jade didn’t think she wanted saving, shot in front of her friend and summoned up all of her powers. Wind swirled around Cadence before she sent it twisting around Thom, earth exploded from the ground at his feet, covering him in a cloud, bracken shot up from the ground, snaking fast around him. Cadence grabbed Jade and ran, dragging her friend behind her. She glanced behind, the wind, earth, and bracken still working on their own. Then she hit something hard and crashed to the ground.

  Jade, who hadn’t fallen, laughed gaily. ‘I told you, he wants you.’

  Cadence looked up in horror. Thom was the something hard she had hit. His fiery eyes caught hers, immobilising her. Her mind told her to move but her body couldn’t obey. She couldn’t even so much as blink.

  ‘You can not defeat me, Sifar.’ Thom lowered his head to her level, his hot breath, rancid. ‘But you put up a mighty show. Far better than this one.’ He nodded in Jade’s direction, who simpered in adoration. ‘I think you will serve my purpose well.’

  Thoughts rushed through Cadence’s mind. Would she end up an enthralled beck-and-call slave like Jade? Thom’s large hand wrapped easily around her neck and his fingers squeezed. An evil grin darkened his face. Cadence’s eyes protruded from their sockets. With his other free hand, Thom roughly loosened her leather jacket and trailed a finger across the swell of her ample cleavage. His nail cut into her flesh and he wriggled a finger into the wound before withdrawing it and hungrily suckling at the blood. ‘I will enjoy you.’

  The last thing Cadence saw was Thom beckon Jade to him before darkness took her. Thom squeezed the final breath from Cadence’s body, released his hold and waited. The moment Cadence’s soul rose from her body he instantly snatched it up, dragging her spirit underground and swimming through the rocks of the earth, leaving an adoring Jade waiting patiently by Cadence’s lifeless body for his return.

  * * *

  Kaelia squeezed the brake on the motorbike, causing the rear end of the machine to skid as they roared into the clearing where the Vallesm was waiting. Bran was leant against a tree in the outer edge of the circle, his face cloaked in shadows.

  ‘It is time.’ Bran stepped into the clearing, sunshine highlighting the pointed paleness of his face. ‘I will show you the way to Niflheim. Are you travelling with him?’

  Kaelia knew Bran meant Calix. ‘No. Calix can have the bike to himself. I will run with you.’ She looked at the Vallesm and it loped over to her. ‘Correction, we will run with you. It will be good practise for me.’

  ‘Can you keep up?’ Bran asked.

  ‘We can beat you.’ Kaelia nodded at the Vallesm, hoping it understood. ‘Don’t start thinking you’re special.’

  ‘I didn’t mean you. I meant the human with the machine.’

  Calix jumped the bike into life. ‘Don’t flatter yourself, Necromancer, you’re not all that.’

  Bran tipped his head back, clutching his chest. ‘Oh, I’m petrified. Remember your place,’ he sneered. ‘Physician.’

  * * *

  Cadence stirred. Stretching out, she wondered why the bed was so cold. She opened her eyes and screamed. She couldn’t see.

  ‘I’m blind!’

  ‘No, you are not.’ Thom’s rough hand covered Cadence’s eyes and he uttered the words he had used previously on Kaelia, providing Cadence with the ability to see in the barren void beneath the earth.

  Cadence dragged herself backwards in fear, scraping against the lumpy, dank smelling ground. ‘I remember. You killed me!’ She glanced around. ‘I’m dead!’

  Thom paced around her, laughing.

  ‘Where’s Jade?’ Cadence asked, shaking all over.

  ‘Waiting patiently by your dead body for our return.’

  ‘But I’m dead!’

  Thom offered his hand to help her to her feet. ‘I can offer you a chance to live again.’

  Cadence ignored the hand and stood up by herself. ‘But you killed me. Why would you offer me a chance to live again after you murdered me?’

  Thom did not move his hand. ‘You can be the same as me. Not a mere servant like Jade but more of an equal. I can show you the world how you have never seen it before.’

  Cadence’s first response was to say no yet something held her tongue back. ‘Would it mean I’d look like you?’

  Thom nodded. ‘In a way.’

  Cadence shook her head. ‘But you’re—’

  Thom’s pointed teeth glimmered yellow in the gloom. ‘What am I?’

  ‘Frightening, gross, disgusting, and your skin is a funny colour.’

  Thom’s long arms extended, spider leg fingers creeping
to entwine with Cadence’s hair. His face neared hers.

  ‘And you stink!’ Cadence turned her head away, controlling the urge to retch.

  ‘Would you prefer me like this?’ Thom’s voice lowered seductively.

  Cadence reluctantly looked back to him. Gone was the pale-blue tinged skin, pointed teeth, immense height, and foul smell. In place of the terrifying figure he was, stood a Thom with a more manageable height, although still a good foot taller than Cadence. His eyes were still fiery but now framed with long, black lashes. His hair remained the same, raven-black, and tied back. His skin glowed healthy, humanlike, and he no longer smelt of decay. Thom looked, Cadence thought, dangerous instead of terrifying. Her stomach did something strange. It flipped. A part of Cadence hated herself.

  ‘Well?’ Thom’s lips lifted to reveal perfect, human teeth. The hand he stroked her cheek with was warm, soft.

  Cadence’s tongue turned to cotton wool. Everything slowed down. The silence was suffocating. She couldn’t even hear the rushing of blood pumping in her ears but then she realised of course she couldn’t. She was dead. ‘How can you touch me if I’m a spirit and why am I here, shouldn’t I be, you know, in the afterlife?’

  ‘This is my domain and I can do whatever I please here. I can keep you here for ever if I so wish. But, Cadence, I offer you power. Join me, join The Salloki. Pledge your allegiance to us. To me.’

  Cadence thought of Calix and Jade, and emitted a sob.

  Thom gently stroked her hair before grasping the back of her neck and pulling her closer until his eyelashes tickled her forehead. ‘You must leave behind all you know. You cannot return to the world as you knew it.’ Thom’s eyes burned into her, the tentacles of his mind exploring hers.

  Cadence felt him enter her mind. It frightened her and she recoiled yet wherever she tried to turn away and hide, he was already there. As fast as his mind had invaded hers, it left and she was strangely empty.

  ‘You do not have to decide now.’ Thom saw the struggle behind Cadence’s eyes. He smiled inwardly; she would break and this time he was determined he would not lose, not like he had with Kaelia. Besides, converting Cadence offered the perfect chance for a practise run. His last wife had only lasted a few days. He picked his teeth. She had been far too annoying but her young flesh had been butter-soft.

  Cadence rocked backwards as Thom released her.

  ‘I can wait.’ Thom waved his hand, a plume of violet smoke wafted and dispersed to reveal an invitingly normal sofa. He dropped into it, waved his hand again and conjured up a coffee table which he immediately put his feet up on. Stretching back, he splayed his long arms atop the back of the sofa, looking surprisingly attractive. Human. ‘I will be right here when you have made up your mind, Cadence.’

  * * *

  Kaelia, Bran, and the Vallesm had been waiting ten minutes by the time Calix pulled up on the motorbike.

  ‘I knew this would take ages.’ Bran shifted on the trunk of the fallen tree he was sat on. ‘I do hope you don’t get us killed.’

  Calix glared at him. ‘I’m still coming as far as I can, you won’t put me off.’ He adjusted the bag on his back. ‘I have some tricks up my sleeve if I need them.’

  Bran laughed. ‘Don’t make me laugh. Your punitive potions aren’t a match for someone with real powers.’

  ‘Real powers?’ Calix spat. ‘You think you have real powers but you don’t know what I can do with the right herbs and plants.’

  ‘Herbs and plants?’ Bran laughed so hard he slid off the tree trunk. Hastily, he brushed himself down and straightened his coat. ‘Your remedies can’t even cure the common cold.’

  ‘Now you’re being facetious.’

  ‘That’s a big word for you.’

  ‘I have another big word. Arsehole.’

  ‘That’s not a big word.’

  ‘No,’ Calix replied. ‘But you whenever you open your mouth, crap comes out so you’re one, giant arsehole!’

  Bran raised an eyebrow. ‘Are you trying to rile me?’

  ‘What do you think? Arsehole.’

  ‘One more word out of you and I’ll set your hair on fire.’

  ‘Go on, try it. See what you get!’

  ‘Don’t tempt me.’

  ‘Arsehole!’

  ‘Right, that’s it!’

  Kaelia, sitting crossed legged beside the Vallesm, jumped up. ‘Will you two shut up? You bicker worse than an old married couple.’ She strode off, glancing at the two men. ‘Well, are you coming or staying there arguing all day?’

  The Vallesm paced past the pair of them, its grey-white fur shuddering with each heavy paw-step it took, and growled. Bran was beside Kaelia in a flash but the wolf slunk between them, forcing him aside. Calix, realising Kaelia was walking normally now to accommodate him, pushed the heavy motorbike through the bracken and wished for the umpteenth time he had powers of his own.

  ‘Why are we walking?’ he grumbled. ‘If you three slow down a bit, I’ll be able to keep up on the bike. I hate being the normal one.’

  ‘Deal with it, you’ll always be normal and slow.’ Bran looked over his shoulder. ‘I left my motorbike up by the stream. Will it make you feel less left out if I use the machine instead of my powers? Although I don’t see why I should, it’s not my fault you’re inadequate.’

  ‘You have a bike?’ Calix asked. ‘Why on earth do you have one? I presumed you’re an action hero who zooms around all of the time, showing off. Isn’t it a bit lazy of you to have a bike?’

  ‘I do attempt to look normal occasionally.’ Bran parted some branches that were blocking the way and gestured for Kaelia to step through the gap before him. He held back as the Vallesm weaved after her. ‘Kaelia and I can’t very well race through the town like superhuman whirlwinds and go undetected now, can we?’

  Calix snorted. ‘What about the Vallesm? A wolf the size of a pony is hardly inconspicuous. People will notice and there’ll be chaos. Idiots will try to catch it, or kill it as a trophy.’ The Vallesm growled and Calix shrugged. ‘Well, they probably would. Either that or there’ll be mass hysteria as they run away in fear. Imagine the headline: “Monstrous Beast Massacres Hundreds”, or “Beast of Bodmin Moor Terrorises Kent”.’

  ‘The Beast of Bodmin Moor is a wild cat not a wolf.’ Bran sighed in exasperation. ‘What goes on in your little pea-brain? Never mind, I don’t want to know. The Vallesm can follow the coast; it knows how to hide. With your inability to master a machine, you’ll be the one who stands out the most. Where did you learn to ride a motorbike, from a blind person?’

  ‘Now you’re just insulting blind people.’

  ‘No, I was insulting you.’

  A scream from Kaelia silenced Calix’s and Bran’s bickering. Her face, when she turned to them, was pale, emphasising her red freckles. ‘Oh, Calix.’ Kaelia’s eyes glistened. ‘I’m so sorry.’

  The Vallesm reached the scene first. It paced the area, sniffing and snarling menacingly. The motorbike slipped from Calix’s hands without him even noticing, crashing to the ground. His feet moved through the dense bracken, blind to its bite.

  ‘What happened?’ Calix raced over to where Cadence’s body lay prone between fallen leaves and rough bracken.

  Jade, standing guard patiently by Cadence’s body, smiled oddly but didn’t answer.

  Calix turned on her. ‘What happened?’ He shook her this time.

  Jade’s smile didn’t falter. ‘He has her now. He loves us both.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’ Calix raised a hand to strike Jade with.

  ‘No!’ Kaelia jumped in Calix’s way. ‘Leave Jade alone, slapping her won’t help.’

  ‘Jade needs some sense knocked into her! What’s she talking about and what’s wrong with Cadence?’ Calix’s shoulders sagged and he collapsed besides Cadence’s lifeless body, taking her in his arms, he rocked her back and forth. Kaelia tentatively touched his shoulder and he flinched.

  ‘Help her!’ Calix turned his tear streaked fac
e to Kaelia.

  ‘I can’t. She’s gone. It’s too late.’ Kaelia’s heart cracked with the anguish radiating from Calix.

  Calix turned to Bran, who was leaning against a tree, arms folded across his chest, dark hair flopping against his pale forehead. ‘Help her, Bran. Bring her back.’

  Bran unfolded his arms. ‘If you ask nicely.’

  ‘Please.’ Calix smoothed Cadence’s fringe from her forehead, her skin was cold against his lips as he kissed her.

  Kaelia startled Bran by touching his arm. ‘Please help him.’

  Sparks fizzed between Bran and Kaelia. He ran a finger across her lips then pressed it to his. ‘For you, anything.’ He reached Cadence’s body in a flash and pushed Calix over, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

  The Vallesm expelled a low warning howl as Jade moved. It whipped in front of her, stretching to its full size. Jade’s eyes, frosted over, angled towards the wolf.

  ‘He loves us,’ Jade said, her voice treacle soft.

  Calix, on the ground in the bracken where Bran had knocked him, asked, ‘What’s wrong with Jade? She looks weird and will someone tell me who she is talking about?’

  Kaelia, watching Bran work his magic on Cadence’s body, shrugged. ‘I don’t know, ask her but I think she’s in shock. You may not get a sensible answer.’

  Calix cautiously stepped around the wolf. ‘Jade, who are you talking about?’

  Jade’s murky eyes turned to him but didn’t focus. ‘Why, him of course. He is who I’m waiting for.’

  Calix frowned. ‘Who? Tell us what happened.’

  ‘He wants her.’ Jade’s smile didn’t falter. ‘He wants her so much!’

  ‘Who?’ Calix shook Jade but she just kept on smiling.

  ‘Thom. He is behind this!’ Bran yelled. ‘This is the Draugr’s work. I can feel it. Blondie is babbling because of him. Kaelia, you need to knock Jade unconscious, she’ll be providing a telepathic link to Thom and he’ll see everything we’re doing.’

  Kaelia hesitated. ‘How do you know Thom is behind this?’

  Bran lowered Cadence’s body back to the woodland floor and gestured for Kaelia and Calix to join him. ‘There.’ He pointed at the wound on Cadence’s chest. ‘He’s tasted her. I bet little blondie has a similar wound and I’m guessing she’s his slave, enthralled by his blood. I told you, Kaelia, to knock her out.’ With a flick of a finger he sent a bolt of violet light at Jade’s head, instantly knocking her to the ground.