“You are his brethren?” I asked Sebastian, though I couldn’t see him. Simply yearning to speak to him.Desperately wanting some answers.I was grateful for where Mardichi stood though.And his soothing touch.Because it seemed the longer I couldn’t see Sebastian, the less I felt that intoxicating dizziness that had me staring at him like a dumb animal.“I am.” Bast answered anyway. “Has he tried to convince you he’s the worst manner of beast, yet?”That’s putting it mildly.He bit me.I looked up at Mardichi, searching his face. “Yes.”Mardichi blinked slowly down at me.“Don’t fall for it.” Bast said. “He’s a far better man than he’d have you believing.”“Shh.” Mardichi said to him, without looking away from me. His full lips jutting to make the sound. Almost lending it a seductive air. “Ye need not be sayin’ such nonsense to the lass.”“Whyever not?” I heard Sebastian leaning off the wall to approach.“Ye stay back, ye.” Mardichi glowered over his shoulder.Why?***“Why is that?” B
The giant black feline lifted its head as if in answer.I was trying to wrap my mind around the idea that someone could go from being a flesh and blood man, then to this giant, sleek creature.As Mardichi had turned into the wolf.Back at home, in my village, I’d heard many tales of creature’s that could do such things. Demons that could come to your door in any guise.Or steal the bodies of your loved ones. I wondered if that was what I was witnessing. Demons taking other forms.Is that what Mardichi is? He could alternate so quickly between being ice cold and being laughing and warm, that I was having an impossible time gauging him.And Sebastian, whom I instinctively trusted, had said Mardichi was a far better man then he let on.I already knew he was no mindless barbarian, as I’d first assumed.But this slinky black creature was very real. One look at the flinting gold eyes and I had that same dizzying feeling that I was looking into an eternity, that I’d had when I looked upon Se
Monsters filled the air. The large bird carrying me and the beasts pursuing us.When this great hawk carrying me flapped sideways, I realized she carried me beneath other giant birds of similar size.She's part of a flock.Where are they taking me? Why? My mind raced.I looked below me at the tree tops which now seemed so far away. Even if I could get away from this bird I’m going to plummet to my death.I squinted through the trees, trying to see if Mardichi and Sebastian were down there somewhere. Running through the fog.But there was nothing.No one there.The hawk adjusted its grip on me, and a talon scraped along my arm. Leaving a long, thin cut.I hissed through my teeth at the pain.The great red and gold giants behind us must’ve scented my blood. They began roaring. Rumbling screeching sounds that echoed over everything and made my body quake. Unsettling the flock of giant hawks.I understood their fear. I looked over my shoulder at the scaled monsters. Blood red and glinting
They’re shapeshifters. That much was obvious to me now.Not just wolves.Not just a panther.The bird set me down and hopped after me as I stalked toward the towering creatures. Each of which looking as big as a castle as it peered down at me.The red one crooned softly and lowered his head to rest along the sand. He dropped to his belly and awaited my approach.When I drew near enough, I put a palm to each side of that massive, intimidating snout. Peering into nostrils bigger than me as it tipped its nose down enough I could peer into those huge eyes. Recognizing the vivid sky blue the moment I saw them.Mardichi.“What are you?” I asked softly.It huffed and a tendril of smoke rose from a nostril. Smelling acrid.Like eggs kept too long.***“Dragons.” Sebastian appeared from behind him. Thankfully wearing pants and a billowing white shirt.Mardichi put up a clawed paw to block my view of him.To keep me from looking at him.And falling under his bloody spell. I laughed slightly. St
That’s not possible. I couldn’t even figure out a way up there. Even climbing his leg was out of the question. It was too long and smooth for me to grip anything.And if I fell, it could kill me.“Yes.” Sebastian said. “Or you can go on foot next to me.”He plans to go back as the panther.I can’t keep up with that.He’s making a joke. He thinks that’s funny. My deadened mind barely registered it. If I could’ve looked at him, I’d have given him a dry look to show my lack of appreciation for his humor just now.“Mardichi!” I called up to the big read monster. “How am I supposed to get up there?”Giving a low, drawn out, grunt he shuffled sideways and lowered a long wing down to me. Trimmed with feathers along the bone but otherwise made of thin skin. He cast me a look over his shoulder. As if waiting.For what?For me to climb up that.Drawing a steadying breath and shaking my head at the idiocy of the whole thing, I headed up. Catching the first wide bone and climbing over it. Then sc
“Is someone going to tell me what’s going on?” I asked them.“Come, Lass.” Mardichi wrapped his large, muscled arm about my shoulders and turned me toward the hut. “Let’s have some ale.”“How about I go to the next house.” Sebastian nodded in that direction. “And see if I can purchase you a real dress.”Mardichi snorted.Clearly not approving that idea.He likes me running about naked.Sebastian was already strolling off in the opposite direction.Mardichi led me inside. “Don’t listen to everything he says.”“He says you can’t keep me?” I asked softly. “Why?”Mardichi opened a cupboard and pulled out a wooden cup. Popping the cork from a strange cask with square markings and pouring himself a glass and then me one.I lifted it and swirled the strange brown liquid. The smell emanating from it was anything but delicious.It may have gone bad. I debated.But Mardichi was already tossing back his head to throw it down in one hearty swig. “Let’s wait for the Lad to get back. He’s a bit mor
“Watchers take human form. They look like beautiful young women but the magic they can summon is powerful. It can be either as beautiful as they, themselves, or it can be twisted by Radix into something dark and sickly.”“Dark magic?”“If he is able to sway them to his cause.”“Are you saying that is what I am?”A Watcher? A sort of fallen angel?There were many myths in Sourthern, a country rich in tales. Yet I’d never heard this one.“You are a Watcher, yes.”“You’re mistaken!” I stared at him in horrified disbelief.Surely that was something I’d know.I’d have seen some hint of that before coming to this bloody country! My befuddled expression was only broken when there was a fierce pounding at the door.Mardichi groaned. Telling me, “One moment, I’ll let the bloody bastard in.”Sebastian has returned.***When Mardichi opened the door, it was as I’d suspected. Revealing the golden-haired man standing there with a dress folded atop his palm. Like some grand gift he came bearing for
Mardichi turned the key in the door and forced it open.Causing the small creatures to scream in fury as he squished one behind the door and dragged it over the tail of another.Mardichi and Sebastian were an explosion of movement. Once the door was thrown open, Sebastian skid out on his knees. Stabbing through the backs of creatures.One tried to leap at Sebastian’s face, but Mardichi caught it by the scruff and dropped it level over his foot which he brought up to send the thing flying into the brush with an audible crunch.I winced as I watched their dangerous movements.They were vicious killing machines. Working through the swarm of black creatures.I was most horrified by the glinting orange eyes staring up at me. Bits of yellow and red coursing through them like a fire was reflected in black eyes. They licked at pointed yellow teeth greedily and seemed fixated on me once they’d spotted me.They divided around Sebastian and began to swarm into the hut.I shrieked and leapt atop