by Holly Evans
“He ran into me then took off down the road. There was no talking," I said sharply.
Viktor made a quiet rumbling sound of dissent, but no one acknowledged him.
Quin said, “We have been hunters our whole lives, are you questioning our position here?"
Matyas leaned back and put his hands up appeasingly. "No, no, of course not. We couldn't find the hound, was all."
I raised an eyebrow.
“And you thought, what, I spoke some magic words and stuffed in my pocket?” I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Well, it doesn't matter now, they're our problem," I said.
There was a rivalry between the hunters. We were united in our hate of the creatures, and our desire to protect the innocents, but there was a lot of money to be made, too. Quin and I had worked very hard to carve out a good reputation, and we weren't going to back down and risk losing that.
Quin pushed his chair back and said, “If we get anything on the shades, we'll let you know."
I fought to hold down a victorious smirk; it was good to have my twin on my side. We’d done what we needed to do without allowing them to ask too many awkward questions.
Matyas said, “Of course, of course. We will do the same with the hounds."
I said in the sweetest tone I could muster, "Thank you all; a pleasure, as always."
I could feel Quin's tension as he walked out of the pub in front of me. The hunters barely waited for us to leave the room before they began whispering again. There were too many questions. My hands were trembling again. I was walking a fine line.
Quin hissed, “Want to tell me what happened, sis?"
I growled back, “When we're home, away from eavesdroppers."
The ride back home was tense. I didn't like hiding something from Quin. I didn’t know how I was supposed to break it to him. I knew he was my brother, he would stand by me, but it was bigger than anything we’d faced before. We didn't have secrets, we couldn't afford them. They would be too easy to manipulate, and we needed each other. I reminded myself that we were a team.
The trees were beginning to show signs of spring proper, bright green buds spreading along the branches of the trees lining the road. Someone had planted crocuses and daffodils in the flower beds along the edges of the park. The city was always so grey through winter, it wore it like a mourning veil. There was something thoughtful and contemplative about it, but I was glad to have colour once more.
The moment the front door was closed, Quin said, “What didn't you tell me, Evie?"
I pulled off my boots and explained about the blood bond and what Elise had said. His anger dissipated and was replaced by concern.
He pulled me into a hug, and the anxiety melted away. I wasn’t in it alone; he would stand by me.
He said, “Oh, Evie, what have you got yourself into this time? I know I said you needed to get laid, but this was a bit much."
I had to laugh. The entire situation was past absurd. He made some coffee and I curled up on the sofa. I knew he was going to say something. I didn't like when he refused to look at me.
He perched on the edge of the coffee table and said quietly, “We should speak to Kadrix about this. He'll have some information."
I glared at him. “You really think we can trust that damn elf with something as important, as dangerous, as this?"
His expression darkened and he stood. “Kadrix isn't just an elf. He's helped us many times over the years."
I ground my teeth together and watched as he paced a small circle in front of his seat.
“You wouldn't have found me if it weren't for his help,” he said firmly.
“He fucked me around!"
“You were too closed-minded to ask the right questions!"
It felt like a slap in the face. He'd taken the cursed elf's side over mine.
Ten
Once again we were standing in Kadrix's lab… workshop… thing. Quin had apologised an hour or so later, but it still stung. I'd retired to my room after dinner and watched some trashy movie while I tried to figure out what I was supposed to do. Strange emotions started lingering in the back of my mind, unexplained sensations. I was growing more concerned, and I felt as though I had no one to turn to. Elise had the serene calm from her lady and the absolute faith that everything would be ok. She seemed more concerned about my keeping the damn hound safe than whatever I was going through. Quin had taken the elf’s side.
Quin explained what had happened to Kadrix whose eyes lit up at the prospect of my being bound to a damn hellhound. I leant back against one of the workbenches and crossed my arms over my chest to fight the urge to spin my blades; the risk of the elf pissing me off was too high. Quin was apparently attached to him, and he wouldn’t approve of my slitting the alchemist’s throat. Kadrix walked around Quin, his hand brushing Quin's arm. I ground my teeth; I was beginning to see just how far Quin’s trust ran.
“Show me your hand, Evelyn," Kadrix said.
I didn't like his brusque tone. He stepped closer to me.
“Evelyn, I am trying to give you some answers, now show me your hand."
I looked to Quin for support and found none. I held out my hand that had a faint white line across the palm and nothing more. I’d never healed that quickly before. I was a normal human; I healed at normal human speeds. I wondered if that was part of the bond. If he could affect my healing so quickly, what other things would the bond do to me? Kadrix lifted my hand and inspected the palm, he poked at the line and pursed his lips. He reached across one of the benches and picked up a sparkly blue powder. I pulled my hand back. It was one thing when Quin used healing powders on me. It was another when an alchemist went poking around a blood bond with a hellhound.
The elf had made it quite clear that his priority was knowledge; I had no doubt that he wouldn’t think twice about harming me if it meant he gained more information.
Kadrix rolled his eyes at me and said, “Do you want answers or not?"
I ground my teeth together and held out my palm once more. I had to trust that he wasn’t going to poison me or some such. He was the only potential lead that I had, and I needed to know what I was facing. He sprinkled it in the blue powder that burst into a bright green flame almost immediately. I watched it in fascination. There was no pain. It tickled a little, as though someone were blowing lightly across my palm. The flames died out after some thirty seconds or so. Quin and I looked to Kadrix expectantly.
He shrugged and said, “You're bonded to a hellhound."
"I knew that! You were supposed to tell me something more, like why, or how!"
I shouldn't have lost my temper, but I couldn't help it. He wasn’t taking my situation at all seriously. I could be facing a slow death, and yet he was treating it like it was nothing. He waved his hand in a dismissive gesture and walked away from me.
“Your blood was mixed, that's how. I don't have more details than that, my crystal ball broke last week."
I curled my hands into fists, my fingernails bit down into the palms of my hands. I would not smash his face in. We needed him as an alchemist. I glared at him and ground my teeth together.
Quin offered me a small smile. “At least we know what we're dealing with now."
I took a deep breath and said as calmly as I could manage, “Elise already told me I was bound to a hellhound."
A feeling of elation burst into the back of my mind. I couldn't pinpoint where it'd come from, I knew it didn't belong to me though. I tried to calm myself, snapping at Quin and the elf wasn't going to do me any good. I needed to collect my thoughts and break the bond with the hellhound. Surely that wasn’t going to be too difficult?
"Kadrix, what do you know about these bonds?" I tried to be as polite as possible.
He sighed melodramatically, his mouth tightened. I could see the cogs turning in his mind. He was preparing to ask for a sacrifice in return for the information. Elves required a sacrifice for everything. His eyes settled on Quin and his expression changed.
He leaned back against the bench behind him, making a pewter bowl wobble. “They're very unusual on this plane. They can only bond with those with demon blood; now, if you'd like to give me some of your blood, I can confirm if that's the case with you."
“Not a chance in hell,” I said.
Blood was incredibly potent; giving him some of my blood would open me to far too many potential problems. It would give him potential control over me. He could have used it in all sorts of concoctions. No, there was far too much risk there.
He smirked at me. “Don't say I didn't offer. It is a very strong bond, unlike anything on this plane. You will be able to feel and track each other. That is likely how he found you in the first place."
“He was stalking me before he initiated the blood bond."
I swallowed hard and dragged my fingers through my hair. A hellhound had been stalking me so that he could form a blood bond. I pulled out my blades and began spinning them.
“He must have had some tie to you to help pull him through into this world to begin with. He can't belong to a demon, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to bond to you."
His condescending tone was grating on my nerves. He was acting as though I’d just met my first nymph rather than had my life thrown into turmoil.
He pushed himself off the bench and said, “I have work to do. Take your money."
I gave him a sharp nod, took the money he handed to me, and left. I'd had enough of his company for a long time anyway. I didn't understand how Quin got on with him so well.
I didn't want to go home. I wanted to pace, to run. I paused for a moment; the desire to run wasn't something I usually felt. The hound was there, in the back of my mind, influencing my thoughts.
Quin put his arm around my shoulders. “It'll be ok, sis. We'll figure it out."
“I'll need lots of caffeine and alcohol between here and there. Does Starbucks have an Irish option?"
Quin laughed. “I don't believe so, I'll treat you to an extra-large something or other, though."
We went in Starbucks maybe twice a year; I wasn't sure what they had on offer. I did know that they all had caffeine and sugar though.
The barista girl gave Quin her best coy smile as she fluttered her eyelashes at him; I tried not to roll my eyes. I really wasn't in the mood to watch another girl throw herself at my brother. He ordered us both something with copious amounts of cream, sugar, and flavourings. We headed downstairs and claimed a quiet corner for ourselves; I needed to be somewhere away from home. Somewhere I could clear my mind.
The desire to run bubbled in the back of my consciousness; it ate at me. I took a big gulp of my coffee and tried to push it away while telling myself that I was still sane. There was a solid, known cause for the feelings in the back of my mind. Outside sources had confirmed as much. I was sane. I kept reminding myself that we would resolve the problem. I was going to be ok.
Quin said quietly, “Talk to me, Evie. You're worrying me."
I gave him a half-hearted smile. “I'm worrying myself."
I enjoyed the coffee for a couple of minutes while I tried to gather my thoughts. There were surprisingly few people in the underground section of the Starbucks that was conveniently sectioned out. The decor was very typical for the brand, but the ceilings were arched much like the interior of one of the churches. It would never compare to Elise's, but it was a pleasant change of scenery.
I said quietly, so the small group of students crowded around the table on the other side of the room couldn't hear, “I can feel desires and emotions other than my own."
Quin frowned. “You can feel... him? I suppose Kadrix did mention as much, what does it feel like?"
I looked away and said softly, “Quin, I really don't want to be a guinea pig right now."
He squeezed my hand. “Sorry, sorry, that was very inconsiderate of me. Are you ok? Is it pushing you to do anything... predatory?"
I shook my head. “No, I just have the desire to run. It's there behind my own thoughts, a bizarre niggling want that won't quite go away."
He pulled out his phone, his fingers flew over the screen. It lit back up showing a text response had come back in under a minute. "Kadrix says it's normal and expected."
I raised an eyebrow. "What did he actually say?"
He smiled at me and read from the screen. "It's a normal part of the bond, what does she want? A gold star?"
Eleven
After a night of tossing and turning, I woke up restless. The desire to run hadn't left me. I felt lost. I needed to run, to find my place in things. To stretch my muscles and feel the power there. Quin grew gradually more concerned over the day. He kept asking if I knew where the hound was or if I could feel anything about the second one. I couldn't bear it any more. I gave in to the feelings, the need. I hoped that it would lead me to him, as he was the only one who could give me some much-needed answers.
I'd headed all the way out to Holešovice and the large park there. It was where I'd been pulled. I took a deep breath and allowed the need to take over. My feet carried me along the tarmac paths, down the gentle slope and along the main path that would eventually lead to the lake. The trees around me were bristling with bright green buds, desperate for a clear day to make them unfurl and embrace the sun. The grass was short but determined, a soft canvas covering the open ground between me and my destination.
I pushed myself harder, the adrenaline and endorphins beginning to filter into my system. Even on the cool spring day, the park was populated with lots of people: mothers with their prams and pushchairs, rollerbladers enjoying the long flat paths, dog walkers giving their dogs some much-needed exercise. I finally went up the steep hill through the denser woods, over the bridge with the option to head back into the city.
The flood of positive emotions was tainted when Matyas and co. walked over to me. They spread themselves out forming an arc around me, making their intent very clear. I stood tall and put my shoulders back; I wasn't going to be intimidated.
Viktor spoke. "What happened with that hound?"
His accent was thicker than I'd remembered. I glared at him and stepped sideways to move around them.
"I told you what happened, don't push me."
I didn't appreciate them doubting me; it led nowhere good.
They exchanged a look before Matyas said, "We're watching you."
I let out a harsh mocking laugh. "Oh really? Your lives are so boring you have to follow me around? Now be good little boys and deal with the shades instead of wasting my time."
Viktor clenched his hands into fists but stepped back to give me room. I jogged off past them to the tram stop near the peculiar fairground for small children. I knew they were watching me, and it pissed me off. It also concerned me. I didn't know what would happen if they found out I was bound to a hellhound. Would I be treated like the other creatures of the city? Would I be relegated to the supernal community? I gritted my teeth. I wouldn't allow it to happen. I was better than that.
We got word that the shades were around the big tourist spots: Old Town Square, the Charles Bridge, Malá Strana, and the castle. Fortunately for the other hunters, they seemed to just be causing mischief. Quin filled me in after Dimitri rang him trying to convince him to help. I was growing tired of them, and my plan to be more friendly wasn't looking like such a good one after all.
The need to run evaporated by early evening, but the need to find it, him, grew. I needed answers.
Quin couldn't bear my pacing around the living room any longer and took me back to Kadrix's lab. The elf was still poking at something that was bubbling and smelt oddly of cherry blossom and green tea. I thought that showing some interest in his work might get him on my side.
When I asked what it was, I was expecting him to say a protection salve or some such; Instead, he shook his head and said, "Tea, I'm rather thirsty."
I returned to pacing, although it was much more difficult when I had to wind my way between the tables and piles of books.
/> "What do you expect me to do?" Kadrix asked while drinking some of his tea.
Quin looked over to me.
I said, "Give me some answers. Tell me what the fuck I'm supposed to do."
"I'm an alchemist, girl. Not a demon, or a witch. You could have asked Serena, if you hadn't have killed her."
"She tried to kill me,” I snarled.
"Evie, Kadrix is trying to help you."
I didn't appreciate Quin's firm tone.
Kadrix stood and said, "You are feeling the hound’s stronger emotions and desires. It's quite normal. If you could gain the strength of mind to stop panicking and focus, then you'd be able to track him down the same way he did you. Then you could interrogate him instead of me."
I bit back my curses and said, "Thank you. Kadrix."
“It really wouldn't kill you to open your eyes and learn some manners, Evelyn. There are a lot of people who help you."
"I grow tired of your condescension, elf. You are my alchemist, not my father or teacher."
"Evie!"
I was surprised by Quin's outburst. It was unlike him to raise his voice.
"Kadrix has been very good to both of us over the years. You're being infantile and ungrateful. Do I need to remind you again that you wouldn't have found me without his help? Nor would you be nicely healed from those injuries you incurred. A little gratitude really wouldn't go amiss."
I took a deep breath and set my shoulders back as I held the elf's strong eye contact. "Thank you, Kadrix. As Quin said, you have been good to us. My apologies for pushing."
I left before he could make a sarcastic retort.
I was growing weary of Quin taking the elf's side in things. He was my twin, we were inseparable. He remained with Kadrix as I walked out into the cool night air. I opted to wander across the Charles Bridge and walk some of the way home. I needed to clear my head.
Twelve
I'd entirely forgotten that the shades were around the Charles Bridge. I wandered past the crystal shops and other tourist shops. Some of the local garnet jewellery caught my eye, but none of it was to my taste. I wasn't one for jewellery anyway. I’d much rather someone gave me a pretty blade than a sparkly gemstone. I turned away from the gemstones and walked down to the tower marking the entrance to the bridge.
