by Arizona Tape
“Well, while you’re taking your time, I’m helping Chesca.” I pushed past him, the puddles splashing as I crossed the room towards the young woman. Darren’s footsteps echoed as he ran behind me and slammed me into the cold wall. The bricks scraped my face, my bones bruising from the assault but it was no worse than I endured from Father.
“Shhh, be quiet,” he hissed in my ear, forcing my head towards the entrance. Two hooded figures emerged from the orange shadows, their coats bearing the insignia of what I assumed was their house.
“Master is finally getting what he wants,” one of them spoke, his voice shrill and boyish. If we weren’t in such a predicament, I’d have trouble not laughing.
“It was worth chasing those stupid wolves. We were lucky to snatch the priceless jewel from them,” the other man replied.
“Can’t believe they let that silly girl wear the Great Wolf’s amulet.”
“I know, it was so easy to steal it from her.”
My heartbeat thundered in my throat as I pressed myself as hard into the wall as I could. Just a simple movement would betray us and I didn’t want to end up like Chesca.
“What an idiot.” That was the man with the high voice again.
“If that stupid Puma hadn’t trailed us, we could’ve left the city by nightfall.”
“Yes, but the Master wants to dispose of her properly.”
“Is he going to use her blood?” He sounded so eager, it turned my stomach in disgust. Who were these men and what did they want?
“I hope so.”
“At least he’s not using the blood of that silly wolf girl.”
“I doubt there’s any power to her. She was so easy to fool.”
Anger welled up as the men mocked me right in front of me. There words were awful, but the worst part was that I couldn’t disagree. They were right, I was stupid. For not taking care of the amulet, for not even noticing it got stolen, for believing I could be trusted with something so valuable. Even without the amulet in my presence, the ashes of rage flickered into flames as the desire to hurt and kill filled my chest. I wouldn’t be useless, not for much longer.
The shadows hid us well and with the noise of their steel swords clicking against their metal greaves, they passed us without a hitch. The blackwood bookcase sprung open with the touch of a book and the two men disappeared into a hidden tunnel. Darren and I held our breaths until they were long gone and only dared to breathe when the door fell back into its lock.
“I really thought they’d catch us,” I mumbled, not daring to raise my voice.
“Me too. But damn, that’s definitely Hystericia. Did you see the H and the quills?” Darren muttered, his voice filled with disgust. “That’s their crest.”
“Okay, but what does that mean?”
“One, they have the amulet in their possession. And two, they’re definitely not on our side.”
“So Chesca didn’t betray us. We need to save her.”
“We have more important things to do first. We need the amulet. Besides, if we unchain her and someone notices, they will know for sure that we’ve infiltrated.”
“But...” I bit my lip, his logic clashing with my desire to help her.
“Think about it, Akira. This is the best way to get both of them. We’ll get her on the way back.”
“You promise?” I caught his eyes, hoping his reluctancy wouldn’t get the better of him. I never doubted he wouldn’t keep his word, but his intense hatred for her might just skew things when it came to it.
“Yes, I promise. Now let’s get the necklace back.”
“Okay...” I glanced at the Puma, regret bubbling up inside of me. “I’m sorry, Chesca. We’ll be back, I promise.”
The poor girl was too out of it to even react and I hoped she wouldn’t remember any of the conversation. I didn’t want more animosity to stir between the members of my pack. Group. Friends. Whatever they were.
I held my breath captive in my chest, willing my heartbeat to slow down. The adrenaline and rapid pounding was making me a little lightheaded and it was hard to keep my thoughts clear. Especially with Darren breathing down my neck, his determination and darkness emitting from him. If I hadn’t been confronted with the voices, I’d have been terrified. Now I was just cautious and hoping he wouldn’t get lost in his desire for vengeance. Or that I wouldn’t...
With every step, the whispers grew stronger. Louder. They were calling for me, drawing me in closer. I was so tempted to ask Darren if he could hear them too, but this wasn’t the time. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever ask him that, it was too intimate. And I didn’t want him to believe I was crazy.
The second tunnel wound deep into the earth, a low humming greeting us as we descended down. With every step, I grew very aware of how hard it’d be to escape if something went wrong. When something went wrong. I was getting myself deeper into trouble and I was starting to wish I’d let Ashleigh come along. Or anyone else from the group, for that matter. But it was too late for regret now, I’d just have to hope everything would turn out well. But then... When did things ever turn out well for me?
“Wait.” The tunnel fell into a room and the sight brought goosebumps to my skin. The humming turned into a low chanting and the golden altar left little to the imagination. With golden quills sticking out of the H and an assortment of ornaments decorating the shrine, it was hard to mistake what was going on. The chanting grew more legible and I discerned the words in their song. In their prayer. No, I was wrong. This wasn’t a prayer, this was a curse.
The five men surrounding the golden chalice seemed lost in their chanting, but I didn’t want to take any chances. Not with the amulet glimmering at the far end on their shrine. How would we ever get to it?
“What are they trying to do?” I breathed, my pulse hammering through my veins. The fear was creeping through me, corrupting any courage or desire to be brave. Why was I doing this again? Would me trying to impress Ashleigh cost me my life? That was a bit counterproductive...
“I’m not sure, I don’t know much about blood magic, just that it’s forbidden and old. Really old. Just as old as the magic in our necklace. I wish JP was here, he’d know what to do,” Darren admitted, his own voice shaking. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have thought he was scared. But I couldn’t blame him, I wished Ashleigh was here. I just had no way of contacting here, not with my wolf chained.
I stared at my friend. But he could?
“Can your wolf call for Danny?”
He scratched the back of his head, saddened by my question. I didn’t need to wait for his reply to know that he couldn’t.
“So you can’t call for Danny and I don’t have the amulet to call for Ashleigh.”
A grin lit up his face. “But you could. You don’t have to wear the amulet for it to listen. Your call just has to be stronger than theirs.”
“And how do I do that?”
He shrugged. “How did you do it before?”
I chewed my lip as I thought back to last time. “The first time, Chesca talked to me about an invisible lake and stuff. But the second time, it was because of Aspen’s Alpha. He was calling and I refused him. It hurt. So badly. There was pain.” The memory washed over me, a shiver running down my spine and I grew cold. “So much pain.”
“And?” Darren egged me on, nodding encouragingly.
“I felt myself slip, as if death came knocking. My bones broke, my muscles tore. Excruciating pain...” A gust of magic flared up from the amulet and I was surprised none of the men at the altar noticed. Like a wisp of smoke, it curled itself around me, tempting me, corrupting me. The voices flared up, released by promise of a shift. The anger flamed up, the rage awakening from the bottom of my stomach. I groaned in pain, buckling to my knees. The voices were overwhelming me, their darkness seeping into me, calling for me. For my wolf. Faster, much faster than last time, the mirror shattered and my wolf broke free. She charged through the room, attacking the first man she encountered. Red splattered across
my face before the world turned dark.
Chapter 16. Jacob
Enemies. Traitors. Sinners.
I smelled the evil in their blood, the poison that corrupted their minds. These five men were no different than any other priests I encountered, no different than any other man. And it was my mission to vanquish them all from my sight, to eradicate the world from their crime. To save my soul from being tainted by the abomination they brought along with their hatred and greed. As the master of my clan, this was my task. To live up to my name, Jacob The Great, I needed to cleanse the world from every sinner across my path. Death, death to them all.
I slashed my strong claws into their tender flesh, ripping their bodies apart with a fury bestowed upon me by the Great Wolf. I was his defender and in his right, I rid the world from anyone not born by his blood.
The men screamed, begging for their own Spirit to save them, but I didn’t relent or hold back. Nobody ever came. Why would it be different this time?
I bit down, a bone shattering between my strong teeth. The taste of metal foamed on my tongue, the blood dripping in my fur. More. I always wanted more.
“Stop it, Akira!” A young man jumped in front of me. His blood reeked of the Wolf, but he was in my way. If he wasn’t with me, he was against me. I growled lowly, my last warning. If he didn’t move, I’d send him back to the Great Spirit, just like the other sinners.
“It’s over, please stop.” He held out his hands, as if he was trying to beg me of something. Who was he, why was he calling me Akira instead of using my own name, my real name? Jacob The Great.
Move. I thought, willing this man to step aside. I wouldn’t let my quest be halted by a young wolf, not when I still had so much work left to do.
“Akira. Look at me. This isn’t you.”
I’m not Akira. I licked my thin lips, drawing in the rivulets of blood pouring down my snout. Delicious.
“Stop it!” He charged at me, determination painted on his face. Big mistake, boy. His strong arms wrapped around my neck, but I wouldn’t be contained by that. With a ferocity I reserved for the worst of the sinners, I bit down on him. He howled in pain, but his hold didn’t lessen. Stupid boy. I flexed all my muscles, drawing the rage and magic to my shoulders. I’d shake off this kid and be done with it.
“Stop fighting, Akira! It’s me, Darren. I’m your friend, look at me. Stop!”
A strange sensation tickled the back of my head and I stared at the man in front of me. What was I doing? He looked familiar. Was he hugging me?
No, his hold was too tight, too violent. Was he fighting me? He didn’t seem to want to harm me.
Darren... That name sounded familiar. I knew a Darren once, he was a friend of Ashleigh. Ashleigh... I knew who that was! That was my mate, and Darren, the young prince, he was my friend.
I grew motionless in his arms, only now noticing the burn in my limbs and muscles. The pain overwhelmed me as it washed over me. What was going on? Why was Darren holding me? When did I shift?
“Akira?”
I looked up at my friend, a strange taste lingering in the back of my throat. I dismissed the thought as I caught the man lying behind Darren. No, not just one man. Five men. Bleeding. Blood. It was blood I was tasting.
Panic welled up in me, dread sinking to the pit of my stomach. Did I... Did I do this?
“Please shift back.” Darren’s eyes were brimming with compassion, with pity. The sadness in his eyes answered my question.
Yes, I did this.
I reached for the magic, begging it to give me my human form back. My peaceful form. The whispers clouded my mind, their words harsh and accusing. They flamed on the guilt, the despair, the regret. They promised false solaces and fake comfort, and yet, it would be so easy just to give in. To let the voices guide me to a new place, a safe place.
“Akira. No.” Darren snapped his fingers in front of me, shaking me back to reality. “Shift back.”
With all the might I had, I shoved the voices to the back of my head, banning them from corrupting me. The magic shrieked and groaned, threatening to take what I loved from me, but I wouldn’t head their warnings. I pushed harder, taking back what belonged to me. My human form.
The magic hissed as it released what it held captive, the hold of the amulet breaking. The world rushed back to me, fresh air drawn into my chest as I pushed myself up from the ground. My legs quaked, my arms trembled. Arms? I had arms again!
I patted myself down, my fingers running across my battered and bruised skin. I was human again. Me again.
As I regained myself, the scenario in front of me made itself known. Five men, slashed to the ground. With bite marks riddled across their bodies and blood pooling on the dirty floor. “Darren... What did I do?” I asked, my teeth clattering in fear.
“I’ll tell you later. We need to get out of here.”
“Are they dead?” I studied the men, wishing for a sign of movement.
“It doesn’t matter, let’s move.”
“I need to know!” I kneeled down to one of the men, my fingers pressed against his throat. I begged the Great Wolf for a sign, a pulse, even if it was weak.
“Get up before someone catches us.” He clawed his hand around me, trying to pull me away.
“Stop it. I need to make sure they’re going to be okay. I didn’t mean to do this, I promise.”
“For fuck’s sake.” Darren rushed to the other men and checked their vitals with an aggression and haste that should’ve scared me if I wasn’t surrounded by five bleeding bodies. Blood that had been spilled by my hand.
“And?” I asked, panic laced in my voice. The pulse on this man was weak, but it was there.
“It’s critical, but they’ll live. I’m sure their masters will cure them with their blood magic. Now we need to go!” He threw his jacket over me, the heavy leather warm against my clammy skin. I pulled the fabric tight around me as I stepped over the rags of my dress. Too bad, I loved that dress. It was the only dress Mother ever made from me.
“Here, take the amulet. Let’s go.” Darren shoved the necklace in one of the pockets of his jacket. “Go!”
I stumbled through the room, the puddles of blood splashing up against my bare ankles. Every step was a battle, every move a symphony of pain shooting through me. I wanted to cry and weep, to beg the Great Spirit for forgiveness, but I knew Darren was right. This was not the moment to do so.
I clamped my hand around the amulet as we stumbled through the tunnels. At least I got the necklace back. And we cleared Chesca’s name.
“Wait! Chesca!” I tripped into Darren as I grabbed his shirt. “We need to free her.”
“We don’t have time for that,” he protested, hoisting me back to my feet.
“You promised,” I hissed, the strength quickly leaving my body. If we didn’t hurry, I was going to crash and it wouldn’t be pretty. “Please.”
“Fine, but I’m getting you out of here first.”
“But—”
“That’s not under discussion, Akira. You can barely stand, she’s going to be a mess. I can’t carry you both.”
“Okay, but you promise?”
“I promise. Now please move so we can get out of here.” He pushed me forward, the strain on my limbs becoming harder and harder to deal with. If I didn’t calculate every step, I’d buckle under the pressure and pain right here. The stairs were torture, but the promise of air and peace kept me stumbling forward. One more step. One more. The door was there, almost in my reach. One more, just one more.
The night had already fallen over the Golden City, but the cold air was a welcome respite on my skin. Darren half-carried me to a shaded corner and pressed his dagger in my limp hands. “Stay here, I’ll be right back.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I joked, the darkness threatening to overtake me. Not yet. I needed to make sure he brought Chesca back. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if we didn’t save her.
The time ticked away in what could’ve been
seconds or hours. The exhaustion teased me, promising me consolation in my sleep. I wanted to give in, to drown my sorrow in the peace of rest. I just needed Darren to return with the Puma, just so I knew they were all safe.
The doors fluttered open and I forced my eyes to focus. A dark figure approached from the bar and for a moment, I wondered what I’d do if it wasn’t my friend.
“I’ve got her. Let’s go.” Darren’s voice sounded near my ear and I found both his and Chesca’s face in front of me. They were safe.
“Thank the Spirit,” I muttered. I pushed myself up out of the dirt and promptly fell back down. Sleep was no longer a threat, it was here. And I had no choice but to answer it. The darkness and silence was a pleasant greeting after the excruciating pain and agony, a welcome relief.
Right before I fell into the sleep, the images of the bleeding bodies flashed in front of my eyes and I knew they’d torment me in my dreams. Even unconscious, I wouldn’t be able to escape my crimes.
Forgive me, Great Wolf. I’ve sinned.
Chapter 17. Voices
Sun prickled my eyelids and I stirred in the soft bedding. Surprisingly clear-headed, I willed my eyes to open and stared up at a wooden ceiling. The cracked oak was a different view than the tent I’d grown used to.
“You’re awake.”
“Ash?” I grunted, hoping I recognised the voice right.
“Don’t move too much.” My mate rushed to my side, the warmth of her hand soothing me. I relished in her touch, the relief filling my chest. Tears pooled in my eyes, prickling in the corners before they rolled down my cheeks.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Ashleigh cupped my face, her hands tender against my skin. “Are you hurt?”
“No, just really, really happy to see you,” I admitted. I didn’t know how or when I made it back to the inn, but I was glad I did. Darren must’ve gotten us here. Or at least, I hoped so? “Wait. Is Darren okay? What about Chesca?”
“Yes, he’s fine. He stumbled through the doors last night with a battered Chesca in tow and you unconscious on his back. But he seemed really pleased with himself.”
