The black wolf sprinted across the waters. Her nose was down at the ground trying to find a way out. The darkness hid the trees and the moon was dim in the sky. A barely crescent smile that usually was like a friend but now was a sneering foe. She didn’t know why the moon had betrayed her now. All the wolf knew was that she had no idea where she was.
Sliding across the dark stones and feeling the water across her paws she jumped, feeling something wrong. She looked at the water and suddenly felt one leg sink down. Letting out a panicked shout she looked down and watched her leg sink into the waters. She struggled and tried to pull it back out but it just sank deeper down.
Her eyes widened and she let out another cry as she sank down to her shoulder. Scrabbling across the stones she stared at the sky, looked for the moon for anything that could give her hope.
But it was gone. The dark sky held nothing but contempt for her as she struggled against the water and sank further and further. It was like claws were digging into her flesh, dragging her deeper and deeper into the waters and away from the light. Her eye widened as she saw the last of the light disappear into the suffocating darkness.
Ryza’s eyes snapped open and she jerked upright, clutching her chest and trying to breathe. Trying to ignore the pain radiating through her. She shut her eyes tightly and dug her fingers into her own thigh. It felt like a hand was pulling away her insides and leaving tar to fill it. It had felt like she was breathing in fire.
But after a long few minutes, it went away. The burn got less intense and breathing became less of a chore. Eventually, she was able to see where she was again and realize she was where she’d fallen asleep. In the bed of her mate and her girlfriend and her wolves.
She was home.
She was safe.
But as she looked back at them, watched them sleep, and felt the echo of her pain. She felt the hand inside her chest as her own hovered against her skin and looked away quickly. Forcing herself to her feet, she ignored her pain and walked to the edge of their den.
Barely three days since their trip to the oasis. Over a week since she’d left the healers. To be at home in her own bed. And it had been a good few days. No hunting. No working. No research. Just relaxing and spending time with them.
Ryza sat on the edge of the den, enjoying the winds that came in from the desert. Her hand never left her chest, the phantom pain gnawing at her consciousness. The third time since she’d had this nightmare. The first night she’d woken up with one, she’d woken up screaming and scared the hell out of everyone. The second time she’d woke up whimpering and shaking. She thought that scared them more.
Ryza thought it was just her having PTSD from the attack, from the dream she’d had while recovering. The same darkness. The same attacking liquid. The same feeling of drowning in fire. Forcing her eyes open she forced herself to breathe. To think of other things.
But that was everything that she’d shown them. The thing she hadn’t shown them was something that she didn’t want to be true. Something that she had just ignored beforehand but now she was truly afraid was real.
Looking at her dark palm she took a steadying breath and let her magic run its course through her. Brought it to her command and turn into what she needed it to be. A ball of fire appeared just above her palm, a simple spell any child could do. But then she felt it. Felt the flash of pain in her chest, so sudden that she gasped and nearly cried out. The flames dissipated and she sank forward. She clutched her chest so tightly it hurt. She stared at her hands and set her lips in a grim line.
She tried something different. She reached toward the dead. There were dead everywhere from insects to rodents. She could feel their souls near her. She tried to pull on them, to bring them back. To come to her and it stung. Stung like a small knife digging into her skin. Grunting she looked away and jerked her hands back.
“My magic isn’t gone. I can feel it. So why does it hurt so goddamn much to use it.”
‘I’ll be waiting little spellcaster’
She gasped hearing that thing’s voice in her head again. Glaring at the ground she hit her hand against the ground and glared at the sand below. “That thing. It wasn’t real. It was just a dream. A nightmare. No matter what it felt like.” She held herself tightly. “It wasn’t. It can’t be.”
She wasn’t sure how long she stayed out there. She raised her head slowly and blinked quickly staring at the brightening sky. She felt stiff from having sat there all night. Something nudged her back and she looked back expecting it to be Snow or Stephanie. For a moment she saw her wolf, the spectral creature manifesting in front of her again. But she realized instead that it was Grey.
The wolf looked at her and pressed his head against her own rubbing his body against hers. She smiled wrapping her arm around him as he licked her cheek. “Guess you can feel something’s wrong can’t you. I can’t hide it forever. Especially being out here all night. Probably isn’t good for me either.”
She dug her fingers into his fur and used him as leverage so that she could stand. Once she was upright, she walked with him back toward the den. She watched as Snow and Ginger yawned getting up slowly. But Ginger shook herself and then moved closer to Stephanie and Rustle. Stephanie rolled over in their bed snoring as Rustle’s leg twitched.
Snow looked at her and gave a lazy smile, her tail wagging quickly. “Morning Ryry. You’re up early.”
“Yeah,” she sighed looking elsewhere. “How’d you sleep?”
“I’ve had worse. What about you?”
“I. I didn’t sleep at all. I think. I think something may be wrong with me Snow.”
“What?” she turned serious and crossed over to stand near her. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Nothing new. Remember the nightmares?”
“You had another one?”
“Yeah. And something I’ve been keeping from you.”
Snow’s face grew serious and she almost glared, “What?”
“I wasn’t keeping it from you on purpose. I just. Wanted to make sure it was true. And I think it is.”
“What’s true? Be straight with me,” Snow said softly.
“Whatever the demon did. I think it interfered with my ability to use my magic,” Ryza scowled looking down flattening her ears. “Now, doing any of my magic. It hurts. Even simple magic. I haven’t been able to even resurrect anything without hurting myself.”
“What? But you’ve been able to transform,” Snow said. “I thought that was magic too.”
“It is but it’s not the same. They draw from different sources. It’s complicated to explain Snow.”
“Don’t even bother trying Ryry,” she shook her head. “Are you okay?”
She frowned hard. Frowned because she was admitting something she hated, “I don’t know. I really don’t. And I think. I think I have to see someone who does.”
“Who the healer?”
She shook her head. “It’s time to make another trip.”
“A trip?” Stephanie yawned sitting up and groggily looked at the two of them. “A trip where?”
“The Free City. I need to go see a friend.”
“A friend?” Stephanie mumbled looking at Snow for clarification.
She was just as confused but then it dawned on her, “Alison?” Ryza nodded. “Okay. You sure?”
“Not sure of a lot right now but I need to do something. And that something isn’t sitting still.”
Snow frowned hard but met her grey eyes and then looked at the ring at her finger. Stephanie did the same and they both nodded. “Okay.”
Ryza smiled a tired smile, “Thank you.”
They spent the morning getting ready and tidying up the place. They knew they’d be gone for a few days so Stephanie called Kayla for a favor to make sure that their wolves were looked after while they were gone. None of them, Grey especially, liked being told to stay put. But they listened eventually.
When they were ready to go the three wolves did go with them to the edge of the village. The guards greeted the six of them and Ryza recognized Claudia amongst them. She arched her eyebrow, “Aren’t you three moving around a bit too much.”
Snow snorted, “Asking these two to relax is like asking the sky to not rain. Hard headed and stubborn.”
Ryza rolled her eyes and Stephanie giggled. “We’ll be gone for a little while Claudia. Going on a trip.”
“Mm? Alright. Be safe. Something’s got us feeling on edge. Maybe a storm.”
They all looked toward the empty sky above their heads and Snow and Stephanie gave her confused looks but Ryza nodded slowly. “We’ll keep an eye out. Thank you. Come on girls.”
Touching the ground, they changed together one after the other until they were four legged and furry. Ryza turned and blinked once nodding her head at Grey and the others. They made soft whimpers but turned running back toward their den. Ryza nodded one more time and sprinted into the desert itself.
They ran in a tight formation of Ryza leading, Stephanie behind her and Snow at the rear. Ryza knew the path back to the city and the others wanted to keep an eye on her. But she ran without incident. It wasn’t her body that was the problem. It was something internal. Even now she felt it panging, a reminder that something was wrong.
They ran for hours, pausing to rest here and there for water or to find shade. Even though they were used to it the sun wasn’t an easy master to endure. And without Ryza’s magic, they were even more under its glare.
The tall walls of the Free City came into view and just as the sun began to set, Ryza changed back and made a point for them to do the same. When they were on two legs and human enough, they walked to the gates.
“Halt strangers. State your business before entering the Free City!”
Ryza narrowed her eyes looking at the guard and nodded, “Travelers from the south. We’ve come to see old friends. Vincent and Alison.”
Another guard laughed shaking his head, “Vincent and Alison have many visitors these days. All foreigners. I assume you know the rules of the city.”
“Respect its people and leave my problems outside the gate,” she replied.
The guard nodded satisfied, “Welcome to the Free City.”
The gates were lifted in greeting to them. Ryza was used to them opening with a creak and slink of chains. But this was smoother, almost silent. Ryza walked in slowly seeing the gears turn and marveled at how far this paradise in the desert had come. But the inside was the same as she remembered. Loud traders, excited children, and abrasive bandits. A true den of thieves.
It reminded Stephanie of Luthagen except bigger.
Ryza didn’t know where exactly they would be but she had an idea of where to start looking. Looking up toward the horizon she could see the tower still standing in the sky. She waved with her hand and led her wulves through town with them.
The paths were winding and crowds thick, especially this late in the afternoon. Ryza had to slow down and take the hands of both her wulves to keep them from getting lost. The abundance of scents made their noses almost useless and without her, they’d be lost. Eventually, she pulled them through the crowd and came out to the opening of the courtyard.
Empty of most people Snow and Stephanie both were glad to be away from people. Stephanie wrapped one arm around Snow’s shoulders sighing. “Jeez there’s so many people. And they always want things. To sell things. Or want us to buy things. It’s insanity.”
“I’ve only been here a couple times before. It was the same back then,” Snow let out a winded breath. Both of them had their ears down and sat against the ground.
Stephanie groaned, “So many people. Never thought I’d miss Luthagen so much.”
Ryza looked back at them and chuckled, “That’s right Stephanie. You were born in Luthagen right?”
“Raised there. I was from a small village before. “
“That’s right. You were attacked by a wulf, it’s how you lost your parents,” Snow said softly.
Stephanie nodded, “If it weren’t for Dioh I’d have really been on my own.”
“I’m glad for Dioh then. And glad you have us now,” Ryza smiled at her going back and kissing her softly.
Stephanie kissed her back hugging her tightly and sighed, “So what are we doing here Ryry?”
Before she could answer Ryza stumbled as a person ran into her. She looked down and saw the startled girl looking up at her. She couldn’t have been older than ten or eleven. She had dark brown skin and bright orange hair that in the sun seemed to be on fire. Her eyes were equally bright orange and the way she looked at Ryza it was only excitement. She was wearing a short red dress with brown shorts underneath.
“Whoa. You feel like mama! Are you a mage too?”
“Um. I am,” Ryza said hesitantly. “Who are you?”
“Brynie! Brynie get back here!”
They all turned as Alison came running down the street. She looked at the three of them, one eye brown and the other black with veins around it. She had more twists, with even more beads in her dark hair. She looked at the three of them eyes wide but then looked down at the girl.
“Mama!” she shouted and ran back to Alison and pointed. “Lookie. She’s a mage too mama!”
“Yes she is. But you know what we’ve told you about running in the city,” she nearly scolded.
She looked down slowly almost deflating, “I’m sorry mama.”
“It’s fine Brynie. Just stay with us and we can see everything in the city. Even old friends.” She said looking at the trio.
“Hello Alison,” Ryza said raising her eyebrows.
“Hi Ryza. Sorry about all of that. Our daughter gets excited. Introduce yourself, sweetie,” she said looking down at her.
The little girl smiled wide, putting her hands on her hips, “My names Brynadette. Brynie for short!”
“Yes it is. We remember you,” Alison motioned toward Snow and then looked at Stephanie. “But you. You’re new. Our names Alison.”
“Stephanie,” she tried not to stare at her eye but it was difficult.
Alison giggled and covered her eyes then wink at her with the other. “Don’t worry. We know that our appearance has gotten strange in the past couple of months. Our contract is evolving and so is our appearance to match. Vince at least doesn’t complain.”
“You have a daughter,” Ryza said and looked at the girl. “Who’s. Much older than I would have guessed.”
“Us and Vince adopted her. It’s a long story. But what are you doing here?”
“I was overdue for a visit with you. You never did fully explain your contract with a demon,” she said smiling. “I’m very interested still.”
“It’s just like you to want to discuss immortality?” Alison said wryly. “Two like minds can solve problems one can struggle with.”
“That sounds like something my brother would have enjoyed,” she chuckled. “Though imagining him as an active team player is difficult.”
“It is funny isn’t it?” They laughed together and Alison looked at her seriously. “Not that we’re not glad to see you but what brings you here Ryza? It could be a friendly visit but something tells us it isn’t.”
Ryza nodded. “I need your help.”
The two mages sat at the top of the tower, cross legged and apart from one another. Ryza had both her hands on her knees. Alison sat but beside her was her dark reflection, Penny. Snow and Stephanie were both on the ground below the tower, both in their wolf forms, Brynadette with her father. The demon stared at Ryza with pure black eyes while Alison’s brown ones appraised her. But Ryza was staring at the demon intrigued.
“That wasn’t a dream you had,” Penny said finally. “You saw my realm. The realm of demons.”
“That’s pleasant. That dimension is where you live?”
“Exist is a more apt description.”
“Even then.”
“You’re lucky to have come back from there alive,” Penny snorted and glanced at Alison. “I like this one. Almost as much as you.”
“You’re different. Very different from what I’m used to,” Ryza said.
“You’ve met plenty of demons before,” Alison replied. “But none under a contract.”
“Well my uncle. But even then, I couldn’t see it.” Ryza frowned thinking of Vayne. “Not like this.”
Penny stared at Ryza intensely but not in the heated way of two wulves. There was a coldness to their gaze. A coldness that reminded Ryza of the grave, of her necromancy. In some ways, it was comforting to see something so familiar.
“Your souls been cursed,” Penny said abruptly.
Both women looked at the demon shocked at the sudden statement. But Penny didn’t look elsewhere. Their black eyes never left Ryza’s silver ones. “What do you mean by cursed?”
“It’s something that my kind can do. A way to feed on the living. At times play with our food. Depends on the demon. And how old.”
“Have you ever cursed someone Penny?” Alison asked.
“No. I was not born into this world via the calamity. And no spellcasters before you were foolish enough to find me in my plane.” They turned to face Alison. “At least until you.”
“I can thank my master for that,” Alison smirked and grew serious. “But a curse Penny? Can something like that really prevent one of us from using our magic?”
“Not prevent. Just make it painful. Add a cost to it. More than any mage is used to. The demon that did it probably did it to taunt you. Or maybe to enjoy your suffering.”
“Spellcaster.”
“What?”
“The thing that taunted me in my dreams. It always called me spellcaster.”
“Strange,” Penny shrugged. “Demons have their preferences, I guess. I’m used to mage but maybe that’s because of Alison.”
“How can I get rid of it?”
“Get rid of it?”
“The curse. How do I make it go away?”
“The easy way is to kill the demon that cursed you,” Penny said motioning toward her. “The fact that you’re here means it’s still alive.”
“It is and it’s old. It nearly killed me. Could have if it wanted it to. The First, my leader, drove it off.”
“If the demon who cursed you can’t be killed. And likely won’t lift it. There’s nothing to be done.”
Ryza stared at Penny almost confused. But she understood the demon’s words. They were just something that she had hopped wouldn’t be uttered here. She had hoped that there was something that could be done. But Ryza wasn’t an optimist. She had prepared for the truth.
“So what happens to me then? I live my life a cursed mage?” Ryza laughed and then growled, a sound so guttural and foreign that it startled Alison.
“Worse than that.”
“What?”
Penny met Ryza’s eyes and the silver that was in them had changed to something dark. A dark amber that belayed the animal inside her. But Penny met that gaze and said, “A demon’s curse isn’t something you live with. It’s something you die with.”
Penny stood up and walked toward her slowly. They crouched in front of Ryza and made a face somewhere between pity and contempt. Ryza scowled but there was something behind it, something she tried to hide that Penny saw. Once upon a time, they would have enjoyed that.
“What do you mean it’s something we die with?”
“That curse will take from you. Whether you use your magic or not. And eventually, there’ll be nothing left to take. Each demon finishes their prey in a different way. I’ve seen some turn them to dust. Others let them burn from the inside out. If I had my chance to curse a mortal, I’d eat them. Devour them whole and leave their eyes. I liked seeing their eyes. Right before they were dead. Before I consumed them.”
“And what does this one plan to do with me?” Ryza asked steadily.
Penny stared at her. Looked her in the eye and saw things with eyes that were more than corporeal. Saw with eyes that had seen the other side. “I don’t know. That demon is older than me. Time and space are child’s play for demon’s old enough. But what it’s going to do. To you. It won’t be pleasant. For what it’s worth. I’m sorry.”
The Harlequin Library 