Forest ran, the world around her blurred by tears. She ran like a small child to its mother for comfort. But the mother she was seeking was her surrogate, Shi. She felt weighed down with sorrow. Everything she'd felt since the first moment she'd laid eyes on Syrus seemed to meld and roll up into a ball. The combination equated only to sorrow.
Forest tripped and fell on her face three miles from where she left Syrus. She pulled herself into a sitting position, her tears momentarily stymied as she looked at her surroundings. She was in the Dryad graveyard. The monuments of stone trees were broken and toppled. The whole graveyard was a ruin. The destruction had happened long before she had been born, and it was the one story Shi would never tell her. She said it was too painful for her to discuss.
Forest sat against a large broken trunk and pulled her knees into her chest. “Shi?” she said quietly. “Shi, please answer me.”
She felt the breeze first then she heard the faint, whispering voice. “I’m here child.”
Forest looked around. Shi materialized in a sitting position next to her. She looked the same as she always did, green and long, twiggy arms and legs with large wise eyes that were reflective and insect like. Forest immediately placed her head on Shi’s lap, and Shi stroked her insubstantial fingers over Forest’s forehead.
“Oh, Shi, tell me what to do.”
“About what?”
“Me…and Syrus.”
“In the past I would have, but not now. Not with this problem. You alone must answer it so you have no one to thank or curse but yourself when you finally land on your feet.”
“You don’t hate me for having a vampire as a mate?” Forest asked.
Shi chuckled lightly. “You didn’t choose him. I don’t know why you are always mixed up with their kind. But I am a little amazed at what is inside you for him and also what is inside him for you, especially since he doesn’t even know that you are mates.”
“What is inside him, Shi?”
“Hmm…It feels like cheating to tell you anything else.”
“Is he sincere, or just confused by our partial connection?” Forest asked.
“Are you confused by your partial connection?”
Forest was quiet, biting on her lower lip. Shi continued to stroke her hair back from her face. It felt more like a light breeze than tangible fingers.
“My strong adopted daughter, how I long to see you free from that which binds you.”
They both were quiet for a few moments.
“You are so tangled up inside, Forest. Just answer one simple question. Are you really willing to turn your back and never see him again?”
“No. That’s the simple truth, Shi. No.”
“There you are then. I’ve always told you to simplify things, haven’t I?”
Forest chuckled. “Yes, you have, countless times.”
Shi continued to stroke Forest’s hair. After a moment she laughed. “Silly girl, you haven’t even asked me where the wizard is.”
Forest gasped and sat up. “Yes! The wizard! Where is the wizard?”
Shi smiled and pointed straight ahead of her. “How many times have you sat in this graveyard, Forest?”
Forest shrugged. “Too many to count.”
“And since you know this place so well, tell me, do you recognize that stone tree over there?”
Forest looked where Shi was pointing. Sure enough, there was a stone tree more intact than any of the others. It was an anomaly among them. She had never seen it before.
“Look there at the base, the fracture line running down the length of it. Do you see?” Shi asked.
Forest nodded, and standing up, she took a step toward it. “It’s an illusion! That’s his front door!”
“Yes indeed. Now you know where he is, and how I wish we could sit here and have a nice long talk, but right now you must run.”
Forest felt it a millisecond before Shi said anything about running; her heart seized in a terrible panic. It was unlike any distress she had ever experienced. She jolted, her hand over her heart, unable to breathe.
Shi’s form was still there next to her, but Forest could tell that her eyes were elsewhere in the wood.
“What has happened?” Forest gasped.
“They’ve taken him. Eight wolves in man form. He surrendered; too outnumbered. He’s injured, but alive. What you’re feeling is your connection to Syrus, alerting you that he is in mortal danger. They are taking him to the Lair.”
Forest hesitated only long enough to shift into a form she had not used since she was a youth, a she-wolf. Shi watched her fly, contemplating how best she could help. She had no powers past the boundary of the Wood. She traveled to the other side of the Wood in a blink of an eye and looked down on the troop of vampires she had confused. She appeared before Redge.
Shi had to admire the way the vampire covered his alarm at the sight of her. The rest of his troop was more obvious. One even made to run in the opposite direction.
“Listen well, Redge of Halussis. Your prince had been captured by werewolves and is being taken to the Lair as we speak. Forest will do all she can to save him, but I fear she may need your assistance in the end. I have kept you here wandering in a loop, but I now release you. Follow me swiftly. I will cut a path for you straight through the wood to the Lair. I will keep any wolves away from you. Come now!”
Redge didn’t need telling twice. He waved for his men to follow, and they all fell in behind him, single file. With Shi flying ahead, they moved like a bullet train, the sun glinting off their clinking armor.
Forest ran on all fours, faster than she had ever moved before. Her sword, clinging awkwardly around her animal body, was the only catch in her fluid speed. Panic made her crazed, and the fear of loss drove her focus to unnatural heights. The trees and foliage and uneven terrain was nothing to her—she exploded through it all, gaining in speed and momentum. She knew she couldn’t just charge in, kill them all, and take Syrus back to Maxcarion. She needed a watertight plan.
As she drew near, she could smell Syrus’ burning flesh. They had chained him with silver. Since they were all in man form and she was in wolf, she had to wait for them to emerge from the wood before she could charge through the boundaries of the Lair. She quickly decided how she would handle the situation and hoped with everything she had that it would work.
Forest hunkered down, hidden from view in some bushes at the edge of the Wood. Remember the plan! Remember the plan! She screamed to herself as she saw Syrus pulled behind four of the wolves, the other four bringing up the rear. Silver chains wrapped around his wrists, one tangled around his neck. Smoke rose off his skin. They had obviously beaten him—he was bloody and bruised. The desire to kill had never pulsed through her so strongly. If you fight, both you and Syrus will die.
She stayed still as they emerged from the wood and approached the wolf community’s low-lying, solider training camp. Luckily for her, soldiers were whom she preferred to deal with in this circumstance.
“Hey! Hey! Hey!” one in front shouted to someone in the camp. “Look what we caught in the Wood!”
A wolf Forest recognized stepped out to meet them—Gahu. She had met him back when she was making regular trips to the Lair, bringing Philippe smuggled French wine. Gahu had purchased some grape soda and a package of Twinkies from her once and had been friendly to her every time she visited. It looked as if he had gained some rank. She hoped it was enough and that he remembered her fondly.
Gahu approached Syrus, his lips twisted back from his teeth. The wolves that had brought him in backed away.
“He was alone?” Gahu asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“Maybe you didn’t see anyone else, but I doubt he was alone. Look at him. Look at his hair. He’s someone’s servant.” Gahu turned his attention wholly on Syrus. “Who are you with?”
Syrus said nothing, keeping his face tilted toward the ground.
“How many of you are there? Where is your master?”
Still, Syrus said no
thing. Gahu growled at him from deep in his throat. “It seems you have a high pain tolerance.” Gahu gestured at the silver chains. “I don’t mind a little challenge. Let's see what it takes to open that sharp mouth of yours.”
More wolves had come out from tents and stopped their sparring exercises to see what was going on. As soon as they laid eyes on Syrus, they all had the same malevolent light in their eyes. Gahu drove his fist deep into Syrus’ stomach, sending him to his knees. Howling and barking erupted around them. It was time for Forest to make her appearance before Syrus was torn apart.
The crowd had their backs to her as she came charging towards them on all fours. She broke through, knocking aside those in her way. Shouts of surprise and alarm went up as she crashed into the center, using her body as a barrier between Gahu and Syrus. Gahu’s mouth fell open as this unknown she-wolf snarled at him, protecting a vampire.
“What the hell is this?”
The crowd fell silent in confusion. Forest saw Gahu’s nostrils flare as he caught her scent. She needed him to recognize her before he gave the word and they were both killed. Forest shifted back into a woman, pulling from her mind one of the sexiest forms she had ever assumed; long curly black hair, playboy bunny curves, and full pouty crimson lips. The response to her new shape from the surrounding soldiers was expected and exactly what she was wanting. They howled, whistled and made lewd comments.
Gahu looked closely at her pointy ears and her forever-unchanging eyes, and the light of comprehension dawned on his face.
Knowing she had bought them only a few moments she continued with her performance. Forest turned to face the group with a deadly stare. “Idiots!” She spat, reaching down to remove the silver chains from Syrus. “You’ll jeopardize my whole mission!”
She quickly felt his pulse. He was even weaker than he looked. The silver had burned its way deep into his skin. She pulled on it gently so she didn’t cause any more damage. Pretending to examine the wounds on his neck she leaned very close to his ear and whispered, “Don’t believe anything I’m about to say.”
She turned back to Gahu and threw the silver aggressively on the ground.
“Forest, what in all of Regia do you think you’re doing? Have you lost your mind?”
“Under different circumstances, I’d say it’s good to see you, Gahu.”
She heard murmuring through the onlookers. “It’s Forest. The Shape shifter. The smuggler. She’s friends with Philippe. She kills vampires for fun. Why is she with one?”
“I’ve got strict orders, Forest. I must kill any vampire I encounter. New orders recommend the same treatment of Elves now that they have lumped in with the suckers. Shape shifters are welcome on a case by case basis,” Gahu said severely. “Seeing as you are a Halfling, you are regrettably half my enemy. The fact that you have always had a good standing relationship with Philippe has bought you a few seconds to explain yourself.”
“I, unquestioningly, know how bad it looks for me to be in the company of a vampire. Believe me, enduring his company has been the foulest trial of my life. You know how I hate suckers. Unfortunately, his life is tied to the success of my mission; a mission for the Lair and for the victory of the wolves in this war.” She gave a meaningful look around at the bystanders. “But that is all I can tell you here. I must see Philippe at once!”
Forest watched Gahu as he considered her words. She knew she had said all the right things. He was an officer of the army and acted predictably. If in doubt, escalate the problem up the chain of command.
Gahu looked at the men standing around. “Back to work!” he barked loudly. Within seconds, they were alone.
“All right, Forest. Let’s go see Philippe.”
“Thank you, Gahu,” she said, bending down and pulling Syrus’ arm across her shoulders, helping him to his feet.
The three of them began walking towards the ground entrance of the mountain. Many wolves hissed and growled at Syrus, but none did any more than that because of the warning look they got from Gahu. Forest maintained her solid exterior, but inside she felt like a scared little girl. At any moment, Syrus’ presence would push one of them a little too far, and in the blink of an eye, Syrus could be dead. She was relieved once they stepped through the entrance of the mountain, out of the open.
The air inside the mountain was cool and slightly moist with a smell of minerals. She had been in this place many times before as a guest. It was a huge entrance hall with many doorways leading off to various locations within the mountain. Gahu seemed as relieved as she was that there was no one in the large room except a few guards.
Two massive and menacing wolves guarded the entrance to the long ascending hallway that led to Philippe’s chambers. Chosen, no doubt, for this post because of their natural ability to invoke fear. Gahu stepped up to them and began talking quietly. One of the guards bristled at Syrus, but the other eyed Forest closely. She could see the light of male appreciation in his eyes. She winked at him, causing his cheeks to color red.
Gahu came back to her. “Okay. You can go up, but the sucker has to stay here.”
“No,” Forest said forcefully.
Gahu raised his hands in surrender to her vehemence. “Sorry. If you want to see Philippe then you have to leave the sucker here. I doubt he could make the climb anyway by the look of him.”
“That’s just the problem. He can’t take much more abuse, and as much as I’d like to see him dead, as I told you before, my success hinges on his life. I need him alive and able to travel. I can’t just leave him here where anyone can see him and have access to him.”
Gahu nodded. “You’re right. Okay, let’s take him somewhere more private.”
He turned, and Forest followed, pulling Syrus along. He led them into a side hallway and through a low door into a small weapons room.
“You can leave him here with me. I promise that nothing will happen to him. I’ll guard him myself until you return. Okay?” Gahu said.
Forest eased Syrus down to a sitting position on the floor, propped against the stone wall. She felt his pulse again and squeezed his hand reassuringly. He didn’t respond at all and kept his face to the ground. She wanted to hold him and tell him she was sorry for leaving him alone. She wanted to weep over the pain he had suffered because of her weakness. He would most surely scar around his neck and wrists. The silver had burned deep. And she wished she could offer him the remedy of her blood to help heal him, but she could do nothing but leave him and hope that it was not the last time she would ever see him.
The guards at the entrance to Philippe’s hallway stood aside as she approached and let her pass without a word. Her feet moved swiftly as she built lies inside her mind to convince Philippe to let them go. All she had to do was get them out. If they could get out, they could go directly to Maxcarion and then escape all surrounding danger completely.
She wound through the heart of the mountain in the dark passage and met no one on the way. Philippe’s ornate wooden door loomed before her, and she crossed her fingers, praying that his affection for her had not waned since she had last seen him. If only she had a bottle of French wine on her.
She knocked. There was no answer. She knocked louder. Nothing. She pushed the door open. The antechamber was empty. She strode through it to the door of the bedchamber and knocked; again, there was no answer. She pushed this door open as well and walked in. Philippe was not in his chambers. Forest’s hands were shaking, and she had to concentrate on breathing slowly once the heavy door closed behind her. Why hadn’t they told her that he was out?
A gust of warm afternoon breeze blew through the open balcony doors, but it didn’t feel good to Forest. She shivered. This was bad. The longer she had to be away from Syrus, the more likely everything would fall to pieces and they both would end up dead. She moved toward the balcony to look out. She could see the army below, amazed at their number. Her old loyalties would have delighted in this sight. How could the wolves fail now? They looked more than ready to overt
hrow the vampires. However, she didn’t delight in the sight at all. Syrus had caused everything inside her to shift, and she found herself on the other side of the fence now.
“Who are you?”
The voice that came from behind Forest made her jump. She whirled around but saw no one. She drew her sword, her eyes darting over every inch of the room. She saw the eyes buried under fur on Philippe’s massive bed.
“Show yourself,” Forest said, moving forward slowly.
Netriet moved out from the pelt into a slumped sitting position. I’ve seen it all now, Forest thought. A sickly, one-armed, female vampire on Philippe’s bed; she scarcely believed her own eyes.
Netriet smiled at the look on Forest’s face. “Shocking, I know. But don’t worry, you’re not hallucinating. What is your name?”
“Forest,” she said weakly. “Are you sure I’m not hallucinating?”
“I wish I was only a figment of your imagination.”
Forest sheathed her sword and came closer to the bed. “Who are you, and how did you get here?”
“My name is Netriet, but I’m no one, obviously. I was sent here as a sacrificial messenger. Most regrettably, for me, after I delivered my message, Philippe decided to keep me instead of kill me. He’s been experimenting on me.” She took a deep shuddering breath, her emaciated frame shaking with the effort of talking so much. “So, what brings you here?”
“I have to convince Philippe to let me and the vampire I travel with, go.”
Netriet raised one eyebrow. “How are you going to do that?”
“Philippe is very fond of me. I have a chance.”
“You’re an Elf, right?” Netriet asked, a confused look on her face.
“Half. I’m also a shifter.”
“And you travel with a vampire?”
“Yeah. He’s down in the base of the mountain under guard. I have to get him out before they kill him.”
“Who is he?” she asked.
Forest hesitated. “I can’t tell you that. We’re on a mission for Fortress.”
“Fortress!” Netriet said through her teeth like it was a dirty word. “I was sent here by a traitor inside Fortress. A mole who feeds Philippe secrets.”
Forest’s eyes widened. “Who? Who is it?”
“I don’t know, an elf. A woman with lots of power.”
Forest’s mind crashed through the possibilities of who the mole might be. “Was she a member of the Rune-dy?” Forest asked.
Netriet shrugged. “Could be…yeah…possibly.”
“Does Philippe know the identity of the mole?”
“No. He’s asked me many times.”
Forest’s thin hope grew a small layer of fat. “Will you help me?” Forest asked. “I promise once I get out, I won’t leave you here like this. I swear on my life, I’ll send someone back for you.”
Netriet hesitated, seeming to mull it over. “You know if you would have showed up yesterday, I would have begged you to kill me. But last night I came up with a plan. Don’t bother sending anyone after me. I’m going to end Philippe. I’ll help you any way I can, not that it will be much.”
“Thank you.”
An hour dragged along like a snake with a wounded belly. Forest paced the floor restlessly, waiting and constantly beating back the emotion that screamed and clawed at the bars she put around them.
“Forest!” Philippe bellowed jovially when he finally came back to his chambers. “How are you?”
Forest couldn’t answer because Philippe swooped down on her, picking her up off the ground and planting a hard kiss on her mouth. She stumbled to the side when he dropped her back on the ground. “It’s fantastic to see you. I love your new shape.” His eyes raked her hungrily. “Very appealing,” he half growled. “So what is all this nonsense I hear from my guards that you’ve brought a vampire into my mountain?”
“He’s not the first,” she said smiling, gesturing to Netriet.
“Ah yes.” He blushed. “Has she told you why she’s here?”
“She didn’t need to. I’m the one who sent her.”
Philippe narrowed his eyes at her. “So you’re the mole?”
She smiled confidently. “Didn’t you guess? I thought for sure you would have.”
Philippe twisted a strand of his beard around a finger. “You did come to mind from time to time.” He raised his eyebrows at Netriet who nodded in agreement.
“So, you’re here yourself now. What is going on? Why did you tell me to wait in the message you sent with Nettie?”
“I hadn’t intended to be here until tomorrow. However, a little pack of yours captured my slave and brought him here, so here I am. I told you to wait because I have, or will have if you let me leave tonight, a weapon for you that will take away all doubt of victory.”
Philippe’s eyes widened in excitement. “What is it?”
“There is a wizard residing in your Wood. I have been in contact with him, and he will join your army against the suckers, but he insisted that I come personally and complete the transaction.”
“Well, what are we waiting for? Let us go now together, you and I.”
“No. I must follow his instructions. That is why I brought the sucker downstairs. The wizard wants him for some kind of ritual sacrifice. But it is private, evil magic. The wizard demanded that I come alone with a vampire no one would miss. He said he would only deal with me.”
Philippe sat down and eyed her closely. “You can’t expect me to just take your word for it.”
“I don’t,” she said plainly.
“You play marvelous games, Forest. I know you. But I cannot fathom why you would lie to me about such a thing. Or why you of all people would be in the company of a sucker if it weren’t for the reason you said.” He chuckled darkly. “I believe you hate them more than I do.”
Forest smiled as though this were a great compliment.
“Still…I sense there is something…something wrong with this picture…perhaps something you’re not telling me?”
“Philippe,” she drew his name out seductively. “There are many things I’ve not told you…” She gave him a hot look that did not fall short on him. “I’m a woman.”
Netriet, who watched silently from the bed, had to commend Forest on her wiles.
He stroked his beard a few more times before getting to his feet again. “All right, I’ll let you go, but since I’m not sure how far to trust you, you shall go collared.”
“Of course,” she said shrugging, but her insides were filled with dread. Netriet had told her enough about that thing.
Philippe rolled the ring in his fingers. “Let me see…” he said to himself. “How best to command you? Hmmm…”
Forest saw the fearful look in Netriet’s eyes; it did nothing to calm her.
“Aha. I have it,” Philippe said putting the ring on his own finger. Forest watched unsure what was happening. He closed his eyes for a moment before pulling the ring off, smiling at her. “Which hand would you prefer?”
Forest held out her left hand.
“You know it caused me quite the problem when you sent me this without instructions how to use it. That’s why I kept Nettie. Why she doesn’t still have both of her arms.”
“I’m sorry about that. I was in a hurry to get the message to you, and I was remiss.”
Philippe took her hand and slid the heavy ring onto her index finger. The stone was a deep iridescent grey just like Syrus’ eyes. It was beautiful, she thought, before it bit down into her finger. The spikes on the inside of the ring pierced all the way through the bone. She swore loudly.
“You have nothing to fear if you told me the truth. The collar will pose no threat to your life so long as you reach the wizard before the sun rises and complete the transaction.”
“That’s all?”
Philippe chuckled at her. “The collar is tied to the life of the vampire you brought with you. It will kill you at sunrise if he still lives.”
All the blood drained f
rom Forest’s face.
“What’s wrong?” Philippe asked.
“This damn thing really hurts,” she said holding up her hand. “Well, I’d better get my sucker and get going if I’m to make your time limit.”
Philippe walked down with her to the little room where Gahu was still guarding Syrus. Syrus looked a little better, able to stand on his own. Forest thanked Gahu and pulled Syrus behind her by the wrist. Philippe sent Gahu ahead to clear the way for them so random wolves didn't spot them, and to send the order that any and all wolves in the Wood were to return to the Lair immediately.
Everything around the Lair was quiet, devoid of prying eyes when Philippe and Gahu walked Forest and Syrus down to the edge of the Wood.
Philippe smiled broadly at her in parting. “I’ll see you soon.”
Forest only nodded and turned her back on them, the two of them disappearing into the trees.
Philippe waited for a few moments. “Get a team and follow them, Gahu.”
The sun was setting as Forest and Syrus reentered the wood. The pain around the collar throbbed and made her whole arm feel heavy. The words had not yet formed inside her head before then. I’m going to die in the morning. Syrus followed her as he had at the Lair, silently and with his head down. When she felt they were sufficiently away from where Philippe had sent them off, she turned to him and wrapped her arms around him.
“I’m sorry, Syrus. I’m so, so sorry! I should have never left you.”
He made no reply and was like a dead weight in her arms.
“Please, Syrus. Please forgive me.”
“What difference does it make?” he said in a low flat voice. “It’s all over now anyway.”
“It’s not! I found Maxcarion when I ran away from you. I know where he is. It’s not far at all!”
She stepped back from him, and he raised his head a little. “How did you get us out of there?”
“I told him half-truths, and he believed letting us go was in his best interest.” Forest turned and began walking again. She couldn’t tell him about the collar. She just had to get them to the wizard so he could have his sight back. When she had thought about this time before and how she would say good-bye to him, she didn’t realize how final it would be.
“So that’s it? You’re really not going to tell me the whole of it?” he asked incredulously.
“I’m tired, and we have to move quickly.”
Syrus didn’t push the issue further; he seemed too weak and dejected to argue. The shadows stretched along the ground as the sun sank below the treetops and the sky slowly undulated with its dusk colors. Forest looked up at the sunset, realizing with a sharp pang that it would be her last and she couldn’t even sit and enjoy it. She pushed ahead; she had to complete her mission. It was the only gift she could give Syrus. She wouldn’t die whining and crying. She would die with the stiff upper lip of a warrior.
Forest slowed her pace. They would be there soon enough. She reached for Syrus’ hand. He moved away from her. A sob rose in her throat. She couldn’t let it end like this. She reached for him again. “Please,” she whispered. “Please, hold my hand.”
He raised one eyebrow, but his face softened, and he held out his hand to her. She made sure to grasp it with her right hand. Her left felt so heavy now. She would have to hold it up with the other one before much longer.
The Dryad graveyard loomed in the distance ahead, and she couldn’t stop the tears in spite of her determination not to cry.
“What’s wrong?” Syrus asked. “I can smell your tears.”
“Oh, I’m just so happy,” she lied. “We’re here.”
The stone trees gave off a faint green glow in the darkness. They stood in the center of the graveyard. There was no noise here. The silence of the dead was absolute.
“I can feel his presence,” Syrus said quietly. “My magic recognizes his.”
“It’s time to say goodbye,” she said facing him.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not going in there with you. You don’t need me anymore.”
A number of different emotions flashed across his face. “Fine, don’t go in with me, but don’t leave yet. Please don’t leave before I get a chance to see you with my own eyes. It’s not over yet, Forest.”
“All right. I’ll stay right here and wait. You go. Do you need me to show you the door?”
“No. I can feel where it is.”
He framed her face gently with his hands. “Forest,” he whispered leaning his forehead against hers. “I do need you. Don’t run away.”
She could say nothing as he left her, knowing her voice would betray her; her words would confess the truths she’d hidden from him. She watched his retreating back disappear through the optical illusion into the tree. Her heart sobbed for him to come back.
Forest sank down on the ground with her back against a broken stone tree, cradling her screaming arm in her lap and listened to the tortured cries of her heart as the darkness of her last night closed in around her.
Chapter Nineteen