A Grim Situation

by Whit McClendon

  Ariana crept closer, her gun at the ready as she scanned the area for additional guards. When she saw none, she walked over to her captive, rolled him over, and pulled him into a sitting position with his back against the stone wall next to the entrance. When he seemed comfortable, she knelt and looked into his wide, confused eyes. As he took in the sight of her, his eyes narrowed in an angry glare.

  Excited, she whispered, “Did you know that spider silk is five times stronger than steel?” She grinned, her blue eyes twinkling in the moonlight. The guard shook his head. “Well, it is! You’ll just have to be patient. The enchantment will fade when the sun hits it in the morning. You good?” His eyes narrowed as he thought about his situation. He struggled briefly, found that he truly couldn’t move, other than to thrash about like a man-sized worm, then relaxed in surrender and nodded. Ariana’s grin widened. “Yeah, it’s my new favorite spell!” She nodded towards the entrance. “Tanya in there?” The guard glared harder at her but didn’t move. “Oh, come on, we were getting along so well. Do I need to get rough with you?” She drew a six-inch throwing knife from her boot and cleaned her nails with it. She saw his eyes tracking the razor-sharp blade. She gestured with it when she spoke again. “Look, I’m a nice girl…mostly. Don’t make me prove otherwise. Now let’s try again. Tanya in there somewhere?”

  The guard’s eyes flicked towards the entrance, then back to Ariana. He sighed through his nostrils, then nodded.

  “Good. She got the cop in there with her? Avery?”

  He took a moment to decide whether to tell her anything, but rolled his eyes in disgust at himself, then nodded.

  That’s good news, at least, she thought. Then another, less pleasant thought occurred to her, and urgency found its way into her voice. “Is she all right?”

  The guard shrugged his shoulders, which Ariana interpreted as meaning, “Last I knew, she was.”

  Relieved, she sighed. Then she raised an eyebrow at her captive. “You might want to rethink your career, man. Your boss is killing innocent people. That makes you an accomplice at the very least. You know that, right?”

  The guard looked at her, then looked away. He heard Ariana say, “Karma’s not a picky bitch. She’ll come for you, too.” He stared off into the night, contemplating. When he turned back, she was gone.

  Chapter 28

  Avery couldn’t believe what she was seeing, and she’d seen a lot of unbelievable things the last few days. Here she was, chained to a post, forced to watch a naked sorceress make a bargain with a hideous, demonic entity that looked like something out of a nightmare. The air in the cavern was hot and cloying, and the pain in her arms and shoulders grew more intense with each passing minute. The spectacle playing out before her, though, drew her attention from the pain.

  Tanya filled the bowl with pieces of each animal, as well as the bits of flesh from Avery and Diana, and carried it to the fire in the center of the ritual circle. She knelt before it and picked up a small bottle that she’d placed there. Chanting, she poured a thick, red liquid into the bowl, then dropped the empty bottle so she could hold the bowl with both hands. She leaned over the fire, holding the vessel over the flames, somehow ignoring the pain it must have caused in her hands. Her song never wavered. The demon, Atahasia, murmured in approval, then swiped its hair out of its face, again drawing its own blood with the flint knife and ignoring it.

  Drink, the demon encouraged her, follow the Witchery Way. Walk on four legs and hunt. Soar through the night sky and spy on your enemies. Through claw, talon, and tooth, through serpent’s coil and cougar’s bite, wreak havoc on your enemies. With the power of rain and wind, you will triumph. With the power of suggestion, you will sway others to your will. Yes, little witch, gain everything you’ve ever wished for, Atahasia laughed, a low mirthless sound, and pay the price.

  Tanya swayed in time with her chant, then stopped long enough to drink the contents of the bowl. She gagged once, then gasped as the grisly concoction made its way down her throat. Her hands went to her stomach, and she hunched over, coughing. Her breathing became harsh and ragged, and she grunted in pain. Atahasia laughed. She convulsed and fell over on her side, clenching herself around her agony as the potion began to remake her.

  Her skin rippled as if something moved just beneath its surface, and she screamed. Fur pushed its way through her pores, a golden-brown pelt that soon covered her entire body. Her scream rose in pitch, becoming a feline yowl of pain, as sharp, curved talons pushed their way through her fingertips, spurting blood as they broke the skin. Tanya writhed and squirmed as bones popped and muscles reordered themselves, causing torment she could never have understood before now. Her form became more cat than human, then shifted into an enormous mountain lion. Before she recovered, another transformation began. Feathers burst through the furry skin on the huge cat’s back, long and black. The cat thing curled into a tight ball as its front legs broke, healed, stretched, and changed into wings. Soon, a misshapen raven flapped frantically in the center of the circle even as another animal began to push its way to the fore. Tanya wailed in agony, her voice slowly morphing into a sharp hiss as her tongue forked and her legs began to mold themselves together, merging into one long, slender tail that thrashed and coiled as the snake emerged from somewhere in Tanya’s spirit.

  Again and again, the being on the floor howled and changed, its body morphing into all manner of beasts. Some were ferocious, while others were quick and furtive. Finally, Tanya’s human form pushed its way to the surface again, and she lay still. Her tanned, nude limbs were now devoid of paint and glistening with sweat. She panted as though she’d just finished a marathon, her eyes open, but unseeing.

  Avery frowned as she stared at her captor. She was human again, yes, but the proportions of her body were somehow…wrong. Her legs seemed just a touch too long in the calf, her feet and hands likewise longer. Tanya lay on the floor, quivering, quietly moaning with each breath. Awareness gradually returned to her eyes, and she sat up. Moving carefully as she recovered her composure, she gathered her feet beneath her. She stood slowly, as if testing her limbs for the first time. She stretched her arms out in front of her and examined them, turned her hands over and stared at the overlong palms and extended fingers. She closed her eyes and exerted her will. Bones popped, and the palms slowly adjusted, shrinking to their former lengths. Tanya looked down at her legs and repeated the process as she made similar changes to her calves and feet. When she had shrunk to her normal height, she glanced over at Avery, who was still staring at her.

  “There, now,” she said, beaming. “Just right.”

  “You’re…” Avery spoke, finding it difficult to get the words out. “You’re insane!”

  Tanya laughed, dismissing Avery from her attention, looked back at Atahasia and bowed her head. “I walk with you now, Father. I walk the Witchery Way.”

  The demon’s low chuckle echoed in the cave. “Indeed, you do, daughter. Now guard yourself. One comes who means to kill you. A fitting test for your new power.”

  Tanya yelped in surprise as the enormous demon burst into a cloud of thick, swirling shadows. Sinuous tentacles of darkness snaked across the walls until they found the shadows that birthed them, leaving the two women alone in the room with the crackling fire. Tanya’s head whipped around towards the largest tunnel, the one that led to the surface. A low growl escaped her just before three shots rang out in rapid succession. One of the bullets clipped her shoulder, and blood flew in the air. Tanya uttered a short scream and fell to one knee, clutching the wound, then she scuttled out of view of the tunnel and pressed her body against the stone of the wall.

  “Avery!” Ariana’s voice echoed throughout the cavern. “Are you in there? Are you all right?”

  Avery took a deep breath to reply, but Tanya extended one hand, blood still dripping from it. “Hush!” she hissed, and Avery’s scream made no sound whatsoever. She glared at her captor, only to see Tanya changing. Her body roiled and shuddered. Her pixie-short
hair, formerly dark brown, extended into shoulder-length black tresses. Her body shortened, grew denser with muscle, and curvier. Clothes appeared, battered slacks and a deep blue blouse, covered with stains that mirrored those on the garments Avery wore. Tanya ran her hands over herself, as if trying out her new body, then she raised both hands and gestured at the detective once more. A barrier of energy rose around Avery, making the surrounding air hazy and blurry. When Tanya next spoke, it was with the detective’s own voice.

  She whispered, “There now, a veil should keep you out of sight. Behave yourself!” Raising her voice, she yelled out, “Don’t shoot! It’s me, I’m here!” Tossing a wicked grin at the real Avery, Tanya raised her right hand, which suddenly shifted and changed, becoming a hideous hybrid between a human hand and a cougar’s paw, deadly talons flashing in the firelight. Tanya called out again, putting as much fear into her stolen voice as she could. “She’s hiding in the tunnels! I’m hurt…help me!” Tanya affected a limp, then staggered into the middle of the room where anyone in the tunnel could see her. Tanya-Avery stumbled and fell, grunting in feigned agony as she did so and hiding her right hand as if it were injured.

  Avery’s blood was boiling. Bound, silenced, and hidden, she knew Tanya would easily fool Ariana long enough for the newly-minted Skinwalker to surprise her, maybe even kill her. She tried to scream, but nothing got through Tanya’s enchantment. She tried rattling her chains, but the spell kept them soundless as well. Cursing, she reached into the tingling energy she felt deep inside her, struggling to find a way to use it.

  *****

  Ariana had followed the tunnel from the surface, keeping her gun at the ready. This far in, she doubted she’d have much of a chance to do anything but shoot any of Tanya’s thugs if they appeared, but so far, she’d seen no one. The oppressive dread of the place hammered at her relentlessly, trying to push its way through the mental shields she’d erected.

  When she’d spied Tanya standing naked in the chamber up ahead, she’d seen her opportunity. As much as she hated killing unsuspecting people, she knew without a doubt that Tanya was bad people. She was a cold-blooded murderess who would kill anyone who got in her way. Holding that knowledge in the front of her mind, Ariana had taken careful aim and fired off three shots. Only one had struck her target, and she cursed herself for not sticking with one of her own weapons for the longer shot as she watched Tanya duck out of sight. Too late now, she thought, and she stalked closer to the chamber’s entrance, watching for Tanya to come back into view. When she didn’t appear, Ariana took a chance and yelled out, “Avery!” She waited only briefly before calling out again, “Are you in there? Are you all right?”

  After a moment’s pause, she heard Avery respond, “Don’t shoot! It’s me, I’m here!” Pain was thick in her voice. “She’s hiding in the tunnels! I’m hurt…help me!” Avery stumbled into the center of the chamber up ahead and fell to her knees, hair covering her face.

  Ariana raised her gun to cover the kneeling figure as she moved into the large, circular chamber. As she stepped inside, the raw, hateful aura in the cave hit her hard, making her guts churn with nausea. She took in the wall paintings, the ceremonial items laid out around the circle, and knew she’d found the right place. Whoa, seriously bad stuff going on in here, she thought even as she steeled herself against it. When she saw the chamber was empty but for the two of them, she lowered her gun and rushed to Avery’s side. She knelt and gently grabbed the battered detective’s arm, intending to help her to her feet. Her eyes darted to the two smaller tunnels that led away from the chamber. She’s got to be in one of those, but which one? Resolving to figure it out once she got Avery to safety, she focused her attention on the kneeling detective. “Can you walk?” Ariana asked, concerned.

  Avery nodded, then turned her head slightly. A glint of scarlet flashed in her eyes, and that’s all that saved Ariana’s life. She flung herself backwards just as Avery lashed out with her mutated right hand, aiming for Ariana’s vulnerable throat. The razor-sharp claws scored her neck and left deeper slashes in her shirt and tactical vest, but she lived. She frantically crab-walked backwards until she fetched up against the stone wall, then found her weapon still hanging on its strap around her neck. She pointed it at the scarlet-eyed detective, who now stood tall and proud in the center of the circle.

  “Avery! What the hell are you doing?” Regaining her composure, she got to her feet, struggling to maintain trigger discipline. “Did she put a demon in you? Talk to me!”

  Even as she asked the question, she knew that wasn’t the case. The others had wide, yellow eyes. This Avery’s eyes looked normal until the light hit them just so, causing them to gleam scarlet. And something about her was both wrong and familiar. She moved haughtily, with a certain arrogance that Ariana had never seen the detective display. A sly smirk tugged one corner of Avery’s mouth, and Ariana recognized the expression from a hundred pictures on social media. She finally understood. She’d arrived too late; Tanya had become a Skinwalker.

  Tanya laughed with Avery’s lips and spoke, “Stupid little witch. My powers are now more than you can even fathom.” She threw back her head as her body rippled and changed, yellowish fur pushing its way to the surface. A grunt escaped her, more feline than human. Her arms lengthened, her snout pushed forward, and fangs sprouted as she worked her jaw muscles. In moments, a lithe half-human, half-puma stood before Ariana, nearly six feet of lean muscle and deadly claws. Her voice was altered, lower and menacing. “I can taste your fear, darling, and it’s delicious. Do your worst.”

  Ariana needed no further urging. She began firing the AK-47 in controlled bursts, making sure as many rounds hit her target as possible. With each cluster of bullets, the horrid, cat-like beast jerked and spun, blood flew on the air, and bestial howls echoed from the walls. When the magazine ran empty, she tilted the gun sideways as she pulled a full mag from her vest, knocked the empty out, jammed in the new one and racked the slide before orienting it on the target once more and resuming fire. The echoes from the shots were deafening in the cave, and she found herself screaming, her yell blending with the noise of the gunfire until her last magazine ran empty. The beast stood, wavering on its misshapen legs, then it toppled to the floor.

  She stared at the creature, a mass of bloody fur and half-human limbs. As she watched, it moved. Slowly at first, it twitched and rolled over. A low growl rolled from the beast’s throat as it pushed itself up. The growl became lower, deeper, and words emerged.

  “If that’s the best you can do, then I’m really going to have some fun with you.” With frightening quickness, Tanya’s body changed again as it rose, expanding, its fur becoming darker as it took on a new, larger shape. “Yes, I’m going to rip you open and pull out your intestines. I’ll pull your arms off one at a time, and slowly. Then I’ll break your back. I’ll use my power to keep you alive while I do it. You’ll feel every single thing I do to you, and you’ll be powerless to do anything about it.”

  Within the space of a few frantic heartbeats, Tanya completed her metamorphosis, and now an enormous gray wolf fixed its scarlet gaze on her. It growled, a low, rumbling sound that sent a spear of terror through Ariana’s heart. She’d killed a lot of things in her time, many of them bigger than this. But the primal power of a wolf, the sheer size and energy of it, called to some ancient part of herself, a genetic memory of being lower on the food chain than such a dangerous creature. As it bared its white fangs, she felt fear grip her tightly.

  Along with fear came anger. Her eyes narrowed and she muttered, “Oh, hell, no.” Dropping the empty gun and moving into a stance that would allow her to quickly dodge in either direction, Ariana’s mind raced through her options. “Come on, you bitch!” she teased, trying to goad Tanya into an attack. One hand pulled a slim knife from her boot, hiding it alongside her body. “You want me? I’m right here. Come and get me!”

  The attack was fast, much too fast. Three hundred pounds of wolf shot forward, wide mouth agap
e, intending to rip out Ariana’s throat in one vicious motion. She ducked to her right and dove, slashing at its ribs with her dagger as she flew past, rolling on the hard stone floor and coming up in a crouch. The beast had trouble stopping its momentum and skidded on the stone as it howled in frustration. Its paws and their sharp nails did little good on the relatively slick surface and it fell heavily on its side.

  Jumping on the chance, Ariana raised her left hand and chanted strident words of power. A bright blue glow appeared as she gathered energy in her palm, focusing her will to the task until it shone with a brilliant glare too bright to look upon. Just as the wolf sprang to its feet and turned to face her, Ariana made a throwing motion and launched the spell across the intervening space. Lightning exploded across the distance, slamming into the wolf’s chest. It howled in agony as her power took it from its feet and drove it backwards. It hurtled through the air and smashed against the wall with an ominous thump, leaving a great spiderweb of cracks in the stone as it slid into a heap on the floor. Exhaustion from the casting of the spell hit her in a wave, and she dropped to one knee, but she wasn’t finished. Moving with the smoothness of long practice, she pulled her sidearm, racked the slide, and took aim at the beast’s shaggy head.

  “That’s right,” she said, panting, “you’ve got nothing.” She opened fire. Her special kills-everything bullets slammed into the wolf’s head and body, the wounds steaming on contact with the heavily enchanted lead. The animal shuddered with each impact and did not rise. Ariana emptied her magazine, then lowered her gun when the slide locked open. Bright motes of exhaustion spun before her eyes, and she sat heavily on the floor. The lightning spell had drained her deeply, and she knew it. Taking slow, deep breaths, she exchanged the empty magazine for a loaded one and stowed the empty on her belt. Once her gun was reloaded, she relaxed. Keeping her eyes on the dead creature across the cave, she scooted backwards until she reached the wall. Leaning on it, she sighed in relief and let the silence comfort her.