The Dawn of Courage

by Anne Zedwick

  “And I don’t really care either. I’ve killed people before.”

  “You’re a monster!”

  “I know.”

  Evelyn stood up and held her knives in front of her. “Where is the antidote? I’ll kill you!”

  “No, you are powerless against me. You won’t be able to.”

  “And just why not?”

  “Well,” he said almost happily. “First off, you know that I was a human once, and that will keep you from killing me. Second, if that doesn’t stop you, I can easily stop you without blinking an eye.”

  Evelyn glared at him. “Don’t play games with me.”

  “Oh, but it’s so much fun to play games.” He leaned up against a tree and twirled his knife casually.

  “David isn’t the only reason I’m here.” Evelyn spat out at him. “What did you do to Dyret?”

  “Dyret? Oh, I assure you, I haven’t done anything to that devil.”

  “Don’t lie to me! I know you did—he’s going crazy! He’s turning into an animal. You had something to do with it.”

  “No. Actually, I don’t have anything to do with it. Although, I can see Dyret as an animal…he’s already quite like one, really.”

  “Shut up!”

  “Me? Shut up? You’re telling me to shut up?” Claw laughed. “You’re in no place to be giving orders.” He took her knives from her hands easily, though she resisted with all she had.

  Evelyn fell to the ground beside David, holding his head in her lap. Tears dripped from her cheeks, but she turned her head so Claw wouldn’t see. “I hate you.” She whispered.

  “All I want is to be human again.” Claw whispered back. “I don’t want to hurt you or your brother. But if that’s what it takes…”

  “Maybe if you just asked for my help nicely, I’d be willing to help you find a way.” Evelyn wiped her cheeks. “Maybe if you didn’t try to kill my family and friends and destroy my life, maybe then I’d be willing to help you out a little! If you weren’t such a thick-headed idiot that doesn’t know how to ask any favors without threatening people, maybe I would help you!”

  Claw brought up his clawed hand and gripped Evelyn’s wrist tightly, pulling her against his gigantic body and drew her face close to his. “If you think for one single moment that I enjoy hurting people, you’re wrong. I do what I have to, to get my life back. If I had any choice, then you wouldn’t be here right now. If I had a choice, you wouldn’t hate me. If I had a choice, I could be living with my family.” He let go of her and Evelyn crumpled to the ground.

  She looked up at him, her eyes defiant. “And you’re the biggest liar I’ve ever met in my life!”

  Claw hit her face with his hand, his claws out. Blood oozed from the claw marks on her face. Evelyn lifted a frail hand to touch her bloodied cheek and brought her hand back with red fingers. “And that proves that you didn’t mean a word you just said.” She whispered. “You can kill me. I won’t help you.”

  “Then think about your brother.” Claw told her quietly. “Think about whether or not you want to take him,” he nodded at David, “to the grave with you.”

  Evelyn looked at David’s sweaty face, and pale skin. She couldn’t let him die, but she didn’t know where her grandmother was. It seemed as though she had no choice. Why did her life have to be so difficult? Why did everything have to go wrong? She just wanted David to be okay, and for Dyret to be his normal, loving self. She wanted to be able to care about people without having them taken away from her.

  Evelyn leaned over David, putting her hand on his chest. “It’ll be okay, David.” She whispered. “You have to fight it. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”

  Chapter Nine

  Evelyn stumbled along behind Black Claw. Her hands were tied tightly with a rough rope and Claw pulled her while he carried the still-unconscious David. Evelyn’s feet felt like jelly and she could barely walk. She placed one foot in front of the other as fast as she could, trying to keep up with Claw. They’d been walking for three days without stopping for anything but food and water, and little of that when they did stop. Evelyn was exhausted, but Claw was indefatigable.

  She tripped on a rock jutting out of the ground and fell on her face. Claw kept walking, unheeding her plea to pause so she could get back up. He dragged her along on the ground relentlessly. Rocks and sticks cut into her arms and legs. She tried to get up, but kept falling down again. Her pant leg tore on a branch, leaving a piece of the fabric behind. Evelyn got to her hands and knees and tried to crawl but just fell over again. Exhaustion won over everything else, and eventually everything went dark.

  Evelyn woke with Claw carrying her. She looked over and saw David limp in Claw’s other arm. She didn’t have the strength to try and get out of Claw’s grip. She just let him carry her to wherever they were going.

  They soon came to a swamp and Claw threw Evelyn and David down onto the muddy ground. Evelyn sank into the dampness of the mire. The shock of the slimy cold brought David to his senses and he groaned. Evelyn waded through the knee-deep mud over to him and supported his weight with her shoulder. “David?”

  “Uhh? Ev? Is that you?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, David, I’m right here. It’s all gonna be okay.” She held him close to her. It felt strange holding him when he had so often held her. The roles had reversed. Normally she looked to him for comfort, but now, she was the one supporting him. “I’m sorry, David. I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”

  “What’s going on…?”

  Claw growled. “Get up!”

  Evelyn looked up at him, narrowing her eyes. David shouldn’t be a part of this. It wasn’t fair to him when he had nothing to do with any of it. Her eyes flickered with anger. “He can’t stand! Because of you, I might mention,” she snapped.

  “I don’t care if both of his legs are broken. Both of you. Get up right now.”

  Anger boiled inside of Evelyn. “Why did you bring him into this? What did David ever do? Why torture him?!”

  “So that you have a little…” he paused, sneering, “motivation.”

  Evelyn bit back her anger and helped David to his feet. “I don’t know what you expect me to do,” she told Claw in a dangerous, but quiet, tone. “I truly don’t know where she is.”

  “Stop lying and start moving.”

  Evelyn groaned in pent-up frustration, “I can’t take you to her! I don’t know where to take you! Believe me. If I knew where to look, I would have brought you there already!”

  “I said move!” Claw grabbed David’s shirt and lifted him into the air, “Unless, of course, you don’t care about your brother…”

  “I can’t take you to her!” Evelyn screamed, agony filling her voice. Tears came to her eyes as she saw David’s ragged, limp form. He was always so strong. But Claw had reduced him to a weak boy that relied on others for everything. “I don’t know where she is! Why won’t you believe me? I don’t know…I don’t know!”

  “Well then, you’d better start making some guesses.”

  ***

  The witch watched the exchange quietly. She made no noise. The ones that searched for her were oblivious to the fact that she was so close to them. The witch smiled. Something deep inside her stirred: a memory that she had long ago forgotten.

  A tiny baby laughed in her arms, looking up at her with her beautiful brown eyes, full of innocence. The baby lifted her hands in the air, cooing, and touched her face. A toddler waddled over to her and pulled on her skirts. He smiled, lifting his hands into the air for her to pick him up. His mother came into the room, her black hair falling in waves around her shoulders. The witch sighed at the memory. Her daughter, her beautiful daughter.

  The witch closed her eyes and a single tear dripped down her cheek. Then the darkness of magic filled her heart again, squeezing it tight and taking away all her happy memories. The magic scornfully reminded her that her daughter was dead. Her daughter was dead, and magic was the only way to escape the pain of that reality. She then welcom
ed the darkness back into her heart.

  Her attention drifted back to the intruders that still stood in her swamp. Her granddaughter Evelyn was on her knees, weeping and yelling that she couldn’t help Claw.

  That black monster held David up, just watching the girl with uncaring eyes, only wanting to find the witch who was so close to them…and yet so far.

  ***

  Dyret staggered through the woods. Must find…Evelyn…

  Why? Why do you have to find her? The voice in his head kept saying. You’re a monster. She hates you. You hate her. She killed your friends, didn’t she? The voice maliciously whispered, sending poisonous daggers through his soul.

  No…I have to find her…she’s in danger…I can feel it.

  All you can feel is your own hatred for her. You’re a danger to her. Leave her to die.

  “No! I won’t!” Dyret yelled. “I…I love her.”

  No you don’t. Stop lying to yourself. You’re incapable of love.

  Dyret fell to his knees. “I am not! I can love… I know I can…”

  Liar. You’re just a monster. Face it, Dyret. You will never be human again. How could she possibly love a monster? Monster…monster…monster…monster….monster….

  Dyret growled as the echo filled his head. He rammed his head into a tree. “Get out of me! I’m not a monster!” He rammed into the tree again. “I will not listen to you!” He continued to ram his head against the tree again and again until he finally fell to the ground, tears spilling out of his eyes. “I love Evelyn!” He screamed. “And nothing—no one—nothing—can change that!”

  The voice in his head went quiet and plagued him no more.

  Chapter Ten

  “Okay, already!” Evelyn stood up, her clothes soaked with the swamp water and mud. “I’ll help you. Just please….heal David.”

  “After you lead me to the witch,” Black Claw smirked.

  Evelyn grimaced. “He won’t last that long!”

  “Well then, you’d better lead me to her quickly.”

  Evelyn stomped off into the swamp. This is perfect! How am I gonna find her? Then she saw movement behind one of the trees. “There!” She could only hope that it wasn’t just an animal. “She’s there.”

  Claw left David groaning on the ground and went to the tree. A girl with slender form stepped out in front of him. Her wavy, golden-brown hair reached her waist. “Hello?” she whispered.

  “What are you doing in this swamp? Who are you? What’s your name?” Claw growled.

  “I got lost and my name is…Mary.”

  “You hesitated. That really isn’t your name, is it?”

  Mary stared at him. Evelyn shook her head and went back to David.

  “Why aren’t you afraid of me?” Claw’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.

  “Why am I not afraid?” She chuckled. The girl’s face warped into an old, wrinkly one and her hair grew gray streaks that soon overtook the brown. Her girlish form contorted into a hunched, menacing figure. She stared into Claw’s eyes. “Because I made you.”

  Claw grabbed the witch’s shoulders and shook her. “Give me back my human form! Give it back!” He roared as his hideous beast form melted into a human for a moment.

  Evelyn looked over at the two forms and gasped. Claw’s human form was actually quite handsome. The witch laughed.

  “See this?” Claw pointed at his human face, which was already beginning to turn back into beast form. “Give it back to me!”

  “You have strange fantasies, Jeffery,” Her milky, empty eyes seemed to bore holes in his head as she cackled. “You know there’s only one thing that can break my spell. And it’s something neither you, nor any of the other beasts, will ever find.”

  “What is it?” Claw demanded as he dug his claws into her forearms. The witch didn’t seem to notice.

  “True love,” She giggled.

  Evelyn’s eyes darted to the witch.

  “Only true love’s kiss can break my spell. And as I said, none of you will ever get it. You’re too hideous and scary for any girl to ever love you.” She snickered, “You least of all, Jeffery. You’re cruel and ugly.”

  Claw snarled at the witch. She whispered a short spell and her skin began to melt into flames. Claw yowled in pain and let her go. Her skin then cooled. Before he could grab her again, she disappeared in a puff of gray smoke.

  Black Claw stalked back to Evelyn.

  “Now, please give David the antidote,” Evelyn told him.

  Claw was angry—very angry. He grabbed Evelyn by the throat and lifted her off her feet. He brought her up to his face. “Let’s get one thing clear,” his voice was gruff. “No.”

  Evelyn gasped for breath. “You…you promised…” she choked out. It was a mistake to speak. Claw tightened his grip.

  He’s going to kill me, Evelyn realized.

  She opened her mouth, hoping to get some small breath, but none came. Her lungs were empty.

  “You will never get to him.” Claw growled at her. “I’ve seen how you look at Dyret, and I’m telling you now: you will never love him. If I can’t be human, neither can he. Your pathetic life,” he snarled, “is over.”

  Evelyn’s eyes bulged and rolled up in her head. She went limp in his huge hands.

  “No!” Dyret’s voice roared around the swamp.

  Black Claw turned, dropping Evelyn on the swamp floor. He sneered, “You’re too late, lover boy.”

  “No!” Dyret bellowed again. He rushed at Claw and tackled him.

  The two beasts rolled on the swamp floor, biting and clawing at each other. Dyret bashed Black Claw into a tree, shaking the whole thing fiercely. Dyret landed punch after punch on Claw’s face until he could see that Claw was plainly unconscious.

  He ran to Evelyn. Her face was white and badly scraped up, blood dripping from her mouth. A hand reached out and touched his. He turned to see Evelyn’s brother, David, on the ground. He looked worse than Evelyn did. His brown eyes were glassy and distant and his face had a deadly pallor to it.

  Dyret whispered, “Yes? David?”

  “Take…care of her…” He went completely still.

  Dyret forgot about Evelyn for the moment. “No, don’t die, David. Evelyn needs you. David, stay with me.” He tried shaking the man, compressing his chest, but the brother was already gone.

  In despair, Dyret turned back to Evelyn. Her chest rose and fell only in the slightest. She was alive. Oh, she was alive!

  Dyret picked her up gently and held her in his arms. “It’s gonna be okay,” He whispered. “You’re safe now.” He shifted Evelyn to one arm and lifted David with the other. Evelyn’s brother would have an honorable funeral.

  Chapter Eleven

  Evelyn was stuck, stuck in the horrible moment of her death. She couldn’t get air into her lungs, she couldn’t breathe. She was dying and she had no way to save herself. But the pain and agony was numbing. She didn’t even know who she was anymore. Had she been like this for years? She had the numb sensation of a soul leaving the living world. She didn’t know who, but it felt familiar somehow. She felt herself being lifted, but at the same time, she felt still. The claws around her neck had just as tight a grip on her as before. It seemed that she would never be able to breathe again…everything was dark. So, so dark… she couldn’t see. She couldn’t hear. She couldn’t smell. Everything was dark and unreal. She floated into a void, a perpetual abyss.

  Dyret watched Evelyn worriedly. He had flown on feet like wings to a small village. The people scattered when he arrived. He brought her into an abandoned house, borrowing a soft bed. She looked so frigid and pale. Sweat beaded her brow and she struggled under the covers, stuck in some nightmare. Had he been too late? Would she ever wake up?

  Air rushed into Evelyn’s lungs and she took in a huge breath. Her dark eyes flashed open and she breathed heavily. She could breathe. She could breathe. She was alive. Dyret’s worried face was leaning over her, his chocolate eyes deathly concerned.

  “Dyret
,” Evelyn whispered.

  “You’re awake.” His voice was obviously relived, but there was a hint of sadness.

  “Dyret…” she said again.

  Dyret put his large, furry hand over hers. “Do you feel okay?”

  “I think so…” Now that she was awake, she could barely remember the nightmare. The cobwebs of pain were brushed aside, the last wisps of the vision vanishing like mist over a valley.

  Her neck throbbed with dull pain, but otherwise, she felt okay. Gingerly, she sat up. Dyret leaned her against the wooden back of the bed. The room was small with wooden floorboards. Creamy white curtains covered the window, yet still let the golden yellow light of the evening in.

  “Can we go outside? I need some fresh air.” Evelyn pushed down the covers and let Dyret help her up.

  “If you think you’re up to it, then of course we can,” Dyret smiled. Something haunting lay just behind his eyes, but Evelyn attributed it to worry for her.

  They went outside to the garden. There, they sat on a curved, stone bench. The sunset lit up the garden with an almost heavenly light. Dyret picked a red rose and placed it in Evelyn’s hands.

  Evelyn smiled at him and leaned up toward his face. “Thank you, Dyret,” she whispered as she pressed her red lips to his black ones.

  Dyret’s arms were soon around her. They were encircled in each other’s embrace. Magical light surrounded them and when it cleared, Evelyn wasn’t kissing the beast. She was kissing Dyret, the human.

  ***

  The witch watched the two of them. They were pathetic. Did that girl really think she could end the spell that easily? Have a happily ever after that easily? She was terribly wrong. Just because the curse was broken didn’t mean that their troubles were over. Oh no. She would ruin their pathetic little lives and destroy all those tendrils of hope that they’d been hanging onto.

  If she couldn’t have her happily ever after, then they wouldn’t either. Dyret had ruined her life. Now she was going to ruin his. Maybe it was better that he was human again, that he thought he’d be happy and that he had found his true love. Maybe it was better that way. Because now, he would be just that much more hurt. She should thank her granddaughter.