Page 6

Chapter 6

The wraith waited out in the snow dusted street, attention locked on the shop’s door. Strangers bustled in and out of the establishment, their emotions licking its flesh as they passed. A teaspoon of sadness here, a dab of fear there, a peppering of anger on top, all of it making its empty belly growl. But none of these beings were worthy of its hunger. None of them were Rowan.

It longed to be inside with him, but the wards had forced it out right after a fleeting touch of Rowan’s cheek. It was flung outside, drained, and worn. And there it waited.

The time ticked by. No sign of him. The longer the wraith waited, the weaker it became, having deprived itself of other nourishment beyond the witch for far too long. Damnit, it would have to eat something soon or fade back into the realm of the dead for good.

It reached out, snatching a silver thread of despair from a young girl’s heart. She stumbled, oblivious to the wraith’s presence and tears rained from her eyes. Her friends consoled her as she fell to her knees and sobbed. It slurped the sorrow down, the girl’s thoughts flooding its tongue; flashes of an argument with a boy, cruel words exchanged, and then the sadness as he stormed away. It was fine. Perhaps even tasty. Yet the food soured its belly.

How could it betray Rowan like this? How could it take another so easily? No, Rowan was all it wanted, all it needed. It whispered a soft apology, spitting the remains into the air before it could be sated. The weakness returned, making it dizzy. I must latch onto him now or lose him completely. Rowan. Its prize. Its love. Its obsession.

The wraith had known Rowan wasn’t some average veil walker the moment it had seen him. He had arrived in the realm of the dead, curiously peering at the wraith, as if was just a mere shade. Of course, it played into that sham. If Rowan knew what it truly was, he would have fled like every other walker.

It still remembered his gentle smile. How he talked so softly, so warmly, as if to comfort it. Silly witch, thinking it needed such cajoling. But it was charmed none the less, and curious enough to take a taste of him while he passed. It didn’t expect pure ecstasy.

His guilt had tasted so fresh, so new, despite the decades that had passed. The accident. His parents. His sisters in peril. One taste became another. Then another. And with every sip, his despair grew. Yet Rowan soldiered on despite his huge loving heart being torn to pieces. A huge loving heart that now belonged to the wraith alone. My beautiful, loving prize.

A month had passed and it had latched onto him in the living realm, unable to fight the addiction to Rowan’s sorrow. They were inseparable. They were bound. That is until he came here and went to that fucking house. So many damn wards that drained its power. So many obstacles between it and Rowan.

There was a tinkle of a bell and the shop door opened. Rowan. The wraith shot up, only to waver, still dizzy from hunger. Its prize kissed his aunts goodbye, then hurried to his car. Why are you waiting!? Go after him! It stumbled again, fingertips brushing his ankle as he slid into the driver’s seat. The car started and off he went. No! Dammit, no!

The wraith tore a chunk of rage from a passing man, shoving it between its lips, restoring what little strength it had. The man ranted and raved at a pedestrian as it took to the air, following Rowan’s car as it twisted up the mountain roads. Down it swooped, latching onto the car’s bumper and crawling over its trunk. It pressed its face against the back window. Oh Gods, it missed him so much. How could it miss him so much after only a day? Even after seeing his dreams last night before that damn house threw it out? Because he is yours. Your prize for all time. Bound forever.

The air around them rippled and a shock of agony sliced through the wraith. It screeched as the wards took hold, tossing it from the car into the prickly treetops of the tall pines. What strength is had gained from the stranger was gone, and it flickered, almost slipping past the veil. The wraith clung to the tree before it was sucked away, roaring, “Damn you!” to the sky. No, it wouldn’t end like this. It needed to see Rowan. It had to slip into his dreams again somehow.

Movement below caught its attention. Two figures wandered through the snow, female by the looks of them, wearing thick winter coats and overstuffed backpacks. One was strong, her body thick with muscle, her skin golden, and her long-braided tresses as dark as night. The other was so pale it was like she was encased in ice, her white, blonde hair stick-straight and tied in a severe bun.

The wraith scurried down the tree. Yes, it would consume their emotions, devour all it could. Anything to go on another day and see its Rowan again. Auras of magic radiated around the two. The wraith paused, tilting its head. Witches? Yes, this area was ripe with their kind but these two smelled different. They lacked the forest that tinted the mountain folk.

“The cabin is in the other direction,” the pale one said, thin hands shoved deep into the pockets of her puffy white coat.

The strong one ignored the statement, striding onward with determination in her mahogany eyes. “Did you notice that house? We should investigate. See if there’s anyone living there.”

The pale one shook her head, her expression as serene as the other’s stormy. “Mother said we needed to settle first, Threnody. The cabin is just ahead. We’ll settle and wait for further instruction.”

The cranky witch, Threnody it seemed, rolled her eyes. “The longer we wait, the more time those assholes have to run. Or worse, grow stronger.”

The pale one sighed. “It”s not Mother’s will.”

Threnody clenched her jaw, stopping in her tracks. “I’m Mother’s will. She put me in charge of this mission.” She thrust a finger into the small witch’s face. “We investigate. And if the killers are there then…”

“Then what? What will we do, sister? Attack? Force ourselves through the wards you can feel from here? You’re being so reckless.” She snorted a soft chuckle. “And here I thought you wanted your revenge.”

Threnody clenched her jaw. “This isn’t about revenge. It’s about justice.”

“It”s about your emotions. Your lack of control.” The pale witch said. “You’ve lacked control since Aster died, sister.”

“I don’t have time for your bullshit Judith.” Threnody spun on her heels.

But Judith didn’t back down. She folded her arms across her bony frame, the corner of her mouth lifting “It”s as if she’d taken a piece of you with her. Aster dies and you wither away. I always thought you were stronger than that. Clearly, I was wrong. We all were.”

Thunder rumbled in the distance as Threnody clenched her fists. “Watch your tone.” Clouds swarmed overhead, the wind picking up in the trees.

Judith glanced at the gray that swarmed above them. “Ah there she is. The formidable storm witch finally shows up without her pretty pet by her side.”

A crack of lightning hit the ground beside them, making Judith flinch. Threnody’s eyes narrowed. “Drop that subject. Now.”

Judith shrugged, her expression placid. “I’m only stating facts.”

The storm faded as Threnody marched off, boots crunching in the snow. “Gods, you’re a pain in the ass.”

A delicious scent filled the air. The wraith leaned towards Threnody moving slow in case she could detect its presence. But both were too wrapped up in their drama to detect it. It took a deep whiff then moaned. Grief. Fear. Despair. Sadness. Threnody was a bubbling cauldron of emotion, enough to fill its belly and return its strength.

“Since you’re so determined, how do you expect to get through that barrier?” Judith called to her retreating comrade.

“I have ten tons of spell books in my backpack, I’ll figure it out.” Threnody marched on, as the wraith chased. It opened it arms and embraced her, its blowing flesh cocooning her like blanket before it sunk its teeth into her skull. Wisps of fog seeped through the invisible wounds. It tasted Aster, a sweet witch with bright blue eyes and strawberry hair. Her smile. Her laughter. Their powerful bond shattering as the woman Threnody called mother declared her murdered in cold blood. An amused chuckle shook its bones. How curious. It had seen this Aster in Rowan’s mind too. His sister, the one he thought he’d lost. What a small world.

Threnody wobbled on her feet, swiping her eyes before tears could fall. “Are you coming or not?” she snapped.

“Of course, I am.” Judith replied. “Someone has to watch those wards tear you apart. It’ll be fun.”

“Ha-ha. You’re hilarious.”

Judith clicked her tongue. “Can’t get your justice when you’re dead, sister.”

And it couldn’t get its nourishment either. The wraith bent to Threnody’s ear, whispering, “The bitch is right. Perhaps a plan is in order.”

Threnody paused, straightening her shoulders with a heavy grunt. “Fine. We’ll go to the cabin and research. Anything to shut you up at least.”

“And when we do break in, what do you intend to do?”

Threnody bared her teeth. “Kill every one of the mother fuckers in there.”

The wraith fed as they trudged away. Threnody would do for now, give it enough strength to slip back into Rowan’s dreams at the very least. But it still wasn’t enough. It needed more if it was to return to its prize the way it had been.

A shadow flickered above, barely significant through the dense clouds that covered the sky, a surge following it. Foreboding. Brooding. The wraith looked up, spying a bat winged beast, weaving between the shadows of the treetops, silent as the grave. A gargoyle. The King of Shadows. It dove, crossing through the wards as if they didn”t exist.

The wraith whipped its tongue across its rows of teeth, licking the witch’s essence from them. Now there was the power it needed. The strength it desired. Yes, it would get that gargoyle in its clutches. Then Rowan would be wrapped in its embrace again. And this time it would never let go.