Flowers were not high on the list of things that she expected to see at her brother’s grave. If she were being dramatic, she imagined the ground at his grave to be sapped of life and grey with death. Not allowing any plants to grow there and small animals would avoid it like an ill gotten plague.
But they were pretty flowers. White and yellow lilies circled around the blade of the shovel as it dug into the ground. The runes that lined the shaft of it were long since devoid of any magic though seeing them and how they were a similar companion to her own made her smile.
The shovel with its ring of flowers was to the side of the garden. Just beyond the cottage itself but not far. It was near Hector’s garden of tomatoes, peppers, and other veggies. And given how clean the grave was of weeds, it was taken care of well.
Ryza pressed the remains of her shovel’s blade into the ground beside her brothers. She shoved the shaft in behind it and sat down facing it. She looked over her shoulder and saw Snow and Stephanie both watching from just beyond the edge of the house. They wanted to give her some space but didn’t want to leave her alone. The wolves did not understand that sentiment at all.
Grey sat down beside her panting softly while Ginger lay down near her. Rustle on the other hand was looking and sniffing through the garden and Ryza had to call him out to not eat anything. Hector opened up the back door and looked out at them, motioning toward the wulves.
“Come inside. I’ve just taken bread out. I’m sure you’re hungry.”
They hesitated but Ryza waved at them, “It’s alright. Knowing Ryze he wouldn’t have wanted an audience anyway.”
Snow and Stephanie called for Ginger and Rustle and brought them inside at Hector’s wishes. She could smell a bit of the fresh bread that was resting and sighed happily. That would be nice to eat once things were all said and done.
But she took a deep breath and let it out just as slowly. To get on with the reason that she came here in the first place. “Hi brother. It’s been a long time since I’ve come here. Since I left your shovel here. I figured of all the places to leave it behind, with Isaac and Hector would be one of your preferred choices.”
She looked away because she wasn’t sure what to even say. What she wanted to say. It had been a long time since she’d properly thought about her brother. She’d meant to come by more often but finding Snow and Luthagen hadn’t been in her plans. Meeting Stephanie and starting a pack definitely wasn’t.
“It feels like it’s been a year since I was here last. And a lot has changed. For me at least.” She looked at her hand and saw her claws manifest. “I’m a wulf. A shapeshifter flavored like a wolf. It comes with its ups and downs. I definitely enjoy the enhanced senses and the strength and speed. It doesn’t hurt to be able to communicate with another species effectively. Definitely more like dogs than I gave them credit for. Once you get past the whole pack and needing a good leader.”
She laughed and sighed getting to the more difficult part. She brushed her fingers through Grey’s fur absently. He was a comforting presence even now. Looking at her brother’s grave she nodded slowly. “I’m dying Ryze. A curse of a demon no less. Something both of us would have loved to examine ourselves.
“It eats away at my magic. Makes it painful to do my necromancy, a deep part of both of us. Too painful to continue my own experiments that’s for sure. I guess neither of us ever really found immortality. I was close though. So close.”
She laughed softly and held a hand against her chest. She felt the ache again and the urge to cough but she fought it back. Shutting her eyes tightly she sighed. “I don’t know how much time I have left. I can’t imagine it’s much. Demons aren’t exactly generous in most ways.”
She stood up and grunted. Grey moved to her side quickly but she shook her head as she finally got up properly. Standing and taking a deep breath she reached out to his shovel and felt a small spark of magic. It wasn’t her own but it was close enough.
“Good bye Ryze. I don’t know if there’s going to be a proper afterlife for us to interact with. But I may be seeing you again soon. Come on Grey.”
She brought the wolf forward with her and went into the cottage. More food had been baked and made. A nice breakfast of bread, jams, and fruit. Definitely different than their usual fare. As Ryza came back inside, she met her mate and girlfriend’s gazes with a worn smile. She sat in the space between them and they pushed a piece of bread toward her.
“Eat this Ryry. Hector is amazing.” Stephanie said taking another piece of bread.
“My gran would have loved you,” Snow said.
Hector shook his head raising a mug to his lips and sipping from it, “It comes from taking care of an orphanage full of boys. You get good at making tasty simple food.”
“Don’t sell yourself short Hector,” Isaac beamed at him. “You are pretty amazing to me.”
“You’re very biased Isy,” Hector rubbed his leg under the table gently. “But thank you. I appreciate the praise.”
Ryza took a big bite of the bread her teeth chunking it and her eyes widened slightly. Sweet and warm combined with the cool jam and took her by surprise. She took another bite and nodded quickly. “It’s very good.”
Taking a few pieces of fruit from the table she pealed and broke them down into pieces. She fed them one by one to Grey who munched them up eagerly. He licked at his chops quickly and looked up at her wanting more. He sat up putting his head on the table looking around for more.
Rustle came over to him, getting his attention, and then they both turned and looked. There was a bowl of old bones on the floor and another one with water on the ground. He looked at Ryza and she nodded. The pair roamed away to the opposite side of the room and Grey took one and immediately started gnawing on it, tail wagging slowly.
“Scraps from cooking that we can’t eat,” Hector said. “Normally I use them for soup broth but I can spare a few.”
Isaac left and came back with a tray of mugs handing one out to each of them. A simple sniff let them know that they were mugs of tea. Though one smelled like coffee Hector took that one once the rest were sent away.
“Thank you. I know this was sudden but,” Ryza sighed.
“You said you were dying,” Isaac said. “What happened?”
“A demon’s curse. No real way to cure it. I don’t know how much time until it takes me. So I wanted to see Ryze one more time before then.”
Isaac gave her an uneasy frown and Hector set down his mug. “I’m sorry Ryza. I wish there was something we could do to help. The whims of our Father can be cruel.”
“That he can be,” Ryza chuckled and tried not to speak ill.
“You really sound like my gran now,” Snow said shaking her head. “I don’t think she was really that devout but it was how she was raised back in the day.”
“That’s the god of the Sanctum right?” Stephanie asked.
“Yeah.”
“I don’t think I remember if my parents had ever been religious or not,” she frowned in thought. “And in Luthagen no one really cares.”
“Luthagen,” Hector repeated. “That’s a real place? I thought it was just a legend from the traders out west.”
“It’s very real. Just getting there isn’t easy without a guide. And no guides exist that aren’t one of us,” Stephanie tapped her nose and winked.
Isaac chuckled, “So will you three stay around, or will you be leaving?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe we can spend a day longer if you’d like?” Ryza asked looking at the others. “You both came along on my whim.”
“Of course,” Snow said squeezing her hand. “Being back in my home country isn’t great but I see why you wanted to come.”
“That goes ditto for me,” Stephanie replied. “But as for being here longer. I don’t think I mind. No more than anything else.”
“I’d like to but I think it’s better that we head back home. Take the long way,” Ryza sighed.
Isaac motioned to their home, “I wish you could stay but I understand. Being home is better than being in a strange new place. Especially like this. At the very least let me ride with you toward the border.”
Ryza smiled, “Sure. The company would be nice.”
She raised her mug to her mouth and then it broke in her grasp. Her eyes widened to pin pricks and she pressed a hand to her throat. It was as if she couldn’t breathe. She grabbed the edge of the table holding her throat gasping for breath. Snow and Stephanie jumped and the wolves started panic barking.
“What’s wrong?” Stephanie took her hand eyes wide.
“Ryza! Come on Ryza talk to me,” Snow said taking her other hand and pulling her head up slightly.
“Isaac get my medicine box!” Hector stood up quickly knocking over one of his chairs.
Once Isaac came back Hector slid aside the top. He took a few herbs out of it and crushed them into one of the tea mugs. When he finished he took a utensil and swirled it around quickly before moving to their side trying to get closer.
Snow turned toward him snarling, eyes wide and fangs open. But he met her gaze calmly and Snow blinked, the fear replacing the anger there. “Help her drink this,” he said softly. “It’ll help. Trust me.”
She looked at the drink and sniffed it lightly, smelling the herbs in the water. She made a face but turned toward Ryza. She raised her head and looked her in the eye. Her eyes were barely open, her not even registering what was going on around her. Snow with shaking hands pressed the cup against her lips.
“Ryry. It’s Snow. Please. Just tilt your head back.” She said softly. “Stephanie hold her still.”
She did as she was asked and put her hands on her shoulder, taking one of her wrists and then the other. Stilling her hand, she helped to open her mouth and then tipped the mug back slowly. Ryza sputtered at first but with some help from Snow, she managed to drink. When it was finally done, she gasped pressing her forehead against the table.
When she looked up there were minor tears in her eyes as she shook her head. “Ryza?”
“I’m here,” she whispered. Both women wrapped their arms around her tightly. She panted against the two of them and then looked at Hector. “I don’t know what you did. But thank you.”
“What happened?” Stephanie asked her face in her hair. “Are you okay?”
“I. I,” she put her hand against her head and shook it slowly. “It’s here. It’s coming.”
“What’s coming Ryza?” Snow said softly. “What happened?”
Ryza got to her feet slowly, “It was the demon.”
“What?”
She scratched at her throat and breathed shakily. “It’s the demon that cursed me. I can.” She shuddered. “I can feel it.”
“What?” Snow stood up quickly. “We need to get out of here. Go back home. You all need to run too.”
“How is it even here?” Stephanie asked.
Snow shook her head, “I don’t know. It’s a demon. What makes them do anything is a mystery to most people let alone us.”
Ryza started to say something when the pain hit her again. She stumbled into Snow’s chest and opened her eyes wide but she wasn’t seeing them anymore. She saw it, the demon with its strange sneering face, both of its horns broken. Well, one was broken, and the other had been ripped out. Its hooves struck the ground with uneven steps.
It was looking ahead and it wasn’t looking at the castle. It was looking right at the cottage. Ryza came back holding her hand over her eye and panted. “It’s here.”
“What?”
“It came from the east,” Stephanie mumbled. “This must be its territory. Or at least where it roamed.” She hit her forehead. “And we came right to it.”
“Its. Here.” She shut her eyes tighter and then looked at each of them. “Outside.”
She walked toward the door slowly and growled under her breath. Stephanie and Snow trailed behind her. She faced the morning sun and stared at the empty plain. Stared at the demon as it approached them. Its limp was far more noticeable, its gait awkward without the second tendril.
But even then, she still shook fear and hate burning in her chest. Baring her teeth her tail thrashed and manifested her claws. The demon hissed looking at her and she heard the voice in her mind again. The voice that had no tone. It just echoed through her ears. No words. Just a sound. Like rending metal with the rhythm of laughter.
Snow and Stephanie stood at either side of her, their fangs bared and claws forming as well. They bristled looking at the demon as it came closer but Ryza shook her head, “No. My time here is limited. Yours isn’t. You have a future.”
“Cut the shit Ryza,” Snow growled. “Curse or no curse. I’ll never abandon you. I don’t care what happens in the process.”
“I’ve never been happier than with you two,” Stephanie smiled for a moment then glared at the demon. “And that thing snatched it away from me. So yeah. I’m not going anywhere until we tear it apart.”
Ryza looked at them both and scoffed, “You two are way too stubborn.”
“Well that’s what love looks like,” Isaac said joining the three of them sword in hand and eyes glowing a dull purple. “I told Hector to ride into town for help just in case things go bad.”
“Love and loyalty,” Ryza couldn’t not smile. “Good. In case the four of us aren’t enough it won’ be for nothing,”
Ryza sighed letting her magic waft over her and change letting her wulf out again. The fur flowed, her teeth elongated and power welled inside her. Stephanie and Snow did the same and Isaac took a slow step aside but let out a silent prayer of thanks that they were on his side.
The demon looked at the four of them, tilting its head lopsidedly. It stood still for the barest of a moment and then it seemed to vanish. But it didn’t really, it just moved very fast. Snow moved first whirling around and raising her arm.
The demon’s claw collided with it as she snarled looking at its face. But looking at it made her take a step back instinctively. The demon turned and one of its tendrils whipped forward hitting Snow in the chest, blowing her backward. Landing on its hands it kicked both legs out hitting Isaac and Stephanie square in the chest.
Standing in front of Ryza it stood slowly and vibrated with each step it took being shaking and controlled. But when it raised its face Ryza’s heart skipped a beat. Its body was covered in claw marks now, one right over the white sneer pattern on its face. But it looked at her and then darted forward screeching.
That snapped her back into focus as it finally appeared over her. It flipped forward bringing down both of its hooves like a pair of sledgehammers. One she stepped around and the other she blocked with her arms. That didn’t stop the tendrils from shooting forward and driving into her chest like two steel balls.
Her eyes bulged as she was lifted off the ground and into the waiting claws of the creature. They wrapped around her throat and then pinned her down against the ground. She struggled under its grip but then the pain in her chest flared up. She let out a howl that was cut off by more pressure from the demon.
Again, that rending metal laugh echoed. But then the pressure was lifted and the demon was yanked back by both tendrils. Snow and Stephanie howled together and turned throwing it down away from her. The collision was heavy enough to stun it. Both wulves raised their claws ready to bring them down when the tendrils shot up grabbing them both by the wrist.
It yanked and they jerked forward colliding with one another. It jumped to its feet and then screeched stumbling forward. It shook as it looked over its shoulder meeting Isaac’s glowing eyes. He jerked his sword out of its back, energy crackling along his hand. The demon hacked and tried to turn around but it wasn’t nearly as responsive.
Isaac knew this pattern before and swung his sword quickly digging into its shoulder. The blade managed to slice in a bit, just enough to piss off the demon. It jerked its shoulder away from the sword and lunged for him. Its arm was sloppy but it was fast. It missed Isaac’s throat but grabbed his shoulder.
Its claws dug deep into him keeping him close as its tendrils managed to do their job. The first struck and shattered the sword, and the second hit him in the jaw knocking him off his feet. But the demon dragged him back close and drove the remains of its horn into his chest sending him sliding backward.
He coughed, grinding his teeth together and feeling blood coming down his mouth. The hole in his chest hurt more than any sword he’d been stabbed with. Looking at the demon he scowled and tossed away his broken sword and just raised his fists.
The demon slumped forward and then its head jerked upward. The air was rippling in front of it and Isaac’s eyes widened. Every instinct in his permanently preserved lich body was telling him to move. To run right this instant.
He started to move when the ground ruptured beneath its feet. Spectral chains struck up from the ground and wrapped around its arm, its waist, and its neck. The green fingers dug into its body and groaned together. The air continued to tear but this time the demon’s head whipped around and stared at Ryza.
She stood panting her wolf form fallen away and the black tar dripping down her nose and out of the corner of her mouth. “You’ve ruined one life. You’re not going to ruin another,” she growled through the pain. “Your fight is with me!”
It looked at her and its head cracked to the side. It stared at her and the magic it conjured in the air changed directions. It tore through the air, ripping them apart, and struck her in the chest. Her eyes widened as she clutched her chest and sank down to her knees.
The spectral chains rattled against the demon as it struggled and then snapped them. Pieces hung from its limbs like a recently escaped prisoner. It lowered itself and sprinted at Ryza. Snow and Stephanie got in its path before it could even get to her. It jumped over Stephanie and tried to dart past Snow when it was knocked backward.
Grey had his jaws locked around the demon’s neck, with Rustle and Ginger holding down one of its arms and shoulder. Snow didn’t miss a beat as she raced forward, shoving her claws into one of its scars. Her claws sank into its wound and the demon screeched in her face. Loud enough to make her eyes go cross. She stumbled back, her claws jerking out of its chest.
The wolves whimpered backing away as the demon got to its feet. Its tendrils thrashed on the air as it moved past focused on Snow. It raised the tendrils and sent them like missiles at the wulf. And then one tendril flipped into the air and flew away.
Isaac stood in front of Snow his glowing hand brought down like a blade. The other tendril he held in his hand not giving up. The demon tried to jerk free but Isaac’s grip was tight. It hissed starting to move backward when the other tendril was severed. It snarled stepping back and stared at the bone that shot up from the ground.
Ryza flashed a smirk coughing again. It took a step backward and pointed a sharp claw at Ryza. Her eyes widened and she fought the urge to cough. She looked at her wolves, at Issaac, and her girls as pain radiated in her chest hard enough to steal her voice. The demon snarled before disappearing in a tuft of dirt. In the silence, everyone else looked to the sky, watching the demon leap away and then disappear into the horizon. Everything was silent.
Snow breathed heavily and her form faded away. “You okay Ryry?”
She turned to look over her shoulder but after counting heads she realized very quickly that one person was missing. “Ryza?” Snow looked back and forth quickly and took a step forward but her legs went weak. She barely caught herself as she found the spot where Ryza’s scent had been. She sniffed and dug at the dirt but nothing changed.
She was gone. Like she’d never been there to begin with. Snow looked in every direction along with the wolves but none of them could see her. None could sense her. With shaking hands Snow leaned her head back, changing fully into her wolf form, and howled, an answering sorrowful howl coming from Stephanie and the wolves.
The Harlequin Library 