Dark Story – Part 14

(Originally from October 2007)

 

This is a study in free flow writing. It may not make sense when it’s finished. Oh well.

**Mature content warning**

• Part1
• Part2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9
• Part 10
• Part 11
• Part 12
• Part 13

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The warm sun washed her skin and warmed her face. Keena woke, blinking at the golden beams and trying to get her bearings. she lifted a hand to shade her eyes and nearly cried out as she beheld her flesh returned to its former youth.

“You’re awake.”

She looked up to see Querin standing over her. He still wore the mud stained clothes from the night before and weariness clung around his eyes and mouth, but he couldn’t hide the relief on his face.

“Yes.. where am I?” She sat up uncertainly. The small sunlit room seemed familiar, but somehow foriegn.

His voice as rich with amusement, “You’re in the house of your aunt where sunlight has scarce been, though I am afraid she won’t be able to conduct her hosting duties.”

“Where is she?” It was a question that needed asked, though she dreaded what the answer might be.

“Gone” he replied simply. “Her magic was strong but her sprit was not strong enough to withstand the spells.”

She didn’t know what to say, so she simply nodded and asked another question. “The  village?”

“Some survived.”

She dropped back into the bed and closed her eyes. “I don’t understand where they came from. Those… things.”

“You can thank your aunt, though she ceased to be your aunt years ago, after she gave her soul to the dark prince. The winter of the wolves was brought on by her and her attempts to summon demons from beyond the veil.  She mistakenly created the pack, and when the village sent its men, my brother included, to kill the wolves, the wolves simply made their hunters like themselves. She went to find them, seeing her husband, and tried to use magic far too strong for her to handle, which is how she withered herself.”

Keena silently allowed his words to sink in.

“She has been taken by the earth now,” he added. “I have no doubt her soul, such as it was, is now in the keeping of Beelzebub himself.”

Keena studied him intently. “And what will you do now that you’ve found your brother?”

“I will go home,” he said simply.  “I have found everything I sought, so I have no need to remain.”

“Oh,” se replied, he voice small.  “Of course.”

“If you were wise, you would go with me,” he said casually. “You have a great power slumbering within you, as have all of your line for many generations.” He offered her his hand. “I was trained from infancy by the greatest warlock in our country. A man with hair of red copper, who left this town when he was but a child, leaving behind his sisters. I know whose blood runs through your veins, and who your ancestors are, just as they knew you when they saw you. At the death of my master I swore never again to use my powers for darkness, and should you make such a vow then I would ask you this: Come with me, and together we can hide from all the great sorcerers, mages and witches of the world.”

Keena cocked her head to one side, thoughtfully. Her village was decimated, her aunt, her last remaining family, dead. Her life was destroyed and there was nothing but vile memories left for her. “Yes,” she said softy. “I will go with you.” But she would make no vow.

The end

(I see that there is room for a sequel. There will be no sequel. One was enough for me!)