Chapter 4 Shadows in the Blood

Elaria's POV

The wind is howling crazily through the doors to the balcony, which I left open. It smells like rain mixed with something else, a darker, wilder scent I can't pin down. I'm standing here totally frozen, my heart feels like it's trying to beat its way out of my chest. What Aldric just said is still hanging in the air, it feels super bad.

Another attack happened. Seriously? And this time it was way too close, like right past the river. I'm digging my fingernails into the edge of this wooden table. It hurts, but it kind of keeps me from freaking out. Man, I should've seen this coming. These baddies aren't just poking around to see what we've got but pushing into our territory more and more.

Rowan walks up beside me, and his face is like a stone wall. Did anyone get hurt, tell me something? he asks.

Aldric's jaw tightens up, and he says, It was a scouting party that got hit really hard. Two of them didn't make it. One's alive, barely. He pauses for a second and my stomach drops. He's in bad shape.

Where is he? I want to see what happen? I ask as I'm already heading for the door.

The healers took him downstairs to tend to him. Aldric shifts his weight like he's nervous. Elaria… you need to see him yourself.

The way he said that sends a shiver down my spine. I walk past him without saying anything else; I feel like I could win a marathon from how speedy I feel. Rowan's right behind me, which helps. He makes me feel secure, even if things are weird between us right now. Whatever almost happened earlier, that pull I felt towards him, is something to take care of later.

The halls of the fortress are a blur as I hurry down the winding stairs. Down here, it's damp, and the torches flicker, casting weird shadows on the stone walls. The deeper we go, the colder it feels. Now, the air is thick, and smells like blood.

The healer, a woman with eyes like a hawk, nods towards the middle of the room. I look where she's pointing and see a guy lying still on a cot. He looks barely alive.

He's got cuts all over his body, and his skin is super pale and stretched out. But what really throws me off is his color. His skin has this gross gray tint to it. His breath comes in short gasps.

I swallow hard and ask, Has he said anything at all?

The healer just shakes her head. Nothing that makes any sense, hon, she says.

Rowan crouches down next to him, pressing his fingers against the blood on the guy's arm. His face gets dark. These cuts weren't made by wolves.

I take another step closer, feeling a knot in my stomach. He is right, those wounds are too clean and sharp. Not scratches or bites. Something else did this.

The warrior suddenly sits up straight, making this horrible choking sound. His eyes snap open, and they're completely black.

Aldric curses and stumbles back, I can't believe it.

Hold him, quick! the healer yells.

Rowan and I jump into action, holding him down on the cot while he thrashes like crazy. He's got this weird strength as he struggles to break free. And then: They are here, he gasps.

The room goes totally silent. I feel cold.

What do you mean, huh? I ask, leaning in closer to him.

He gets worse and his whole body tenses up. The darkness, it's moving, he says. It sees you too.

His chest rises and falls real fast. Then, he lets out this gurgling sound.

Then nothing.

His body goes limp, and the air feels heavy.

I put my fingers against his neck. No pulse.

He's gone, I whisper.

Aldric curses under his breath, rubbing his hand over his face. Rowan lets out a slow breath and his jaw gets tight.

He knew something, I say quietly, looking at the body. Something we don't.

Rowan stands up, his eyes look sharp. Then we need to figure out what it is fast.

The council chamber is dead silent as I tell them what happened last night. The elders were already jumpy, but now they sound even worse.

This isn't just a fluke, I say, looking at everyone around the table. Someone is pulling the strings here.

Elder Osric, who is as straight as they come, crosses his arms and asks, Are you saying someone's using magic?

I'm saying we need to think that we're dealing with something even nastier here.

People in the room start murmuring and worrying.

Rowan speaks up and says, She is right. This is not just bad luck. Someone is scheming. Thinking about these attacks.

Osric scoffs. And what you want us to do, hide from some enemy?

Rowan gives a smirk. No, we find whoever is causing this and stop them before people get injured.

I nod in agreement and make plans, saying I'm leading a team to the river when the sun rises. If whoever hurt our warriors left something behind. We will scout to find it.

Osric narrows his eyes and his tone changes as he responds withYou're our Alpha Queen. You cannot be in danger at all.

I am not going to just sit when my people are getting slaughter. I say with seriousness.

It goes silent.

Osric then says Take more warriors with you.

Yes. 

Later that night, the sky covers the fortress while Rowan and I were getting ready for departure. I am in my room, and the fire is cracking, making weird moving shadows on the walls.

Rowan is leaning against the wall, abit blocked. His face looks far away like he's thinking about something.

You don't have to come by the way, you can rest easy. I respond gently.

He laughs a bit and says, You really think I'd let you go all alone in this?

Well, yes. That is the usual answer.

I sigh and rub my head. This thing whatever attacked our scouting squad… it's freaky beyond what we know. The wounds, the warrior pale state, dark eyes.

We have it covered, Rowan says with a pause, coming real closer. He gets more serious and adds Together.

I want to say something to change the mood here but I am lost in the moment. The atmosphere is weird and charged up.

My heart start beating too quick! I tried to avoid looking at his eyes in close proximity. We are getting up early. Sleep now Rowan we are departing in the morning.

He stops himself from saying what he has in mind but is not brave enough. He nods and says Good night Elaria.

He exited the room. I tried to take on the weight of this situation.

What is actually waiting by the river is not something we can fight with teeth.

I am not sure I am ready.