HOW THE SHADOWS FEAST || ONC 2024 ✔

v. what we hide in our shadows

HOW THE SHADOWS FEAST
v. what we hide in our shadows

the third night

❅          ❅          ❅

THE BLACK DOG WAS GONE. Not even traces of it in the snow betrayed the place where it had just sat, as though it had never been there.

Saskia stared at it, head spinning and in the hope this dreadful night would eventually reveal its secret to her. However, it reminded her once again that her power possessed her more than she possessed it—a curse haunting her but denying her to use it.

The world of ghosts showed itself to her; but whenever Saskia wanted to see, it mischievously chose to stay hidden.

There was nothing but the soft touch of wind on her cheeks and the strange whisper. "Do not fret about a dead man, desetnitsa. His soul is already safe in the underworld—and you are free. What else could you wish for?"

However, she did not dare to answer. Who—what are you?

It was the iron grip of the priestess's hand around her arm that shook Saskia from her lethargy.
"Go inside. Tell the others to seal their doors, burn their herbs, speak their prayers," Mother Gesa snarled. "And ring the bells."

"But what about yo—" Didn't she hear that voice?

"Go now!"

And Saskia did, bringing chaos with her to the convent.

When she reached Katinka, already praying in their cell, the convent bells began to chime. It was not the soft sound you would hear at night, the almost teasingly lovely sound of the hooved beasts of the twelve nights—the Perchten—but thundered through the night loud enough to reach the Fortress of the Order.

They never had to use it since Saskia lived here.

"What—"
Katinka stopped, her fists pressing to her mouth so violently her knuckles showed white. Staring. Eyes wide, teary, and dark like ink. They were locked at Saskia's feet, where, as she slowly lowered her gaze, a hound with coal-black fur appeared just like the one outside.

But half of its face was laid bare from any flesh as if it had withdrawn from his flew up to his head. From the mouth, hot smoky breath sprung, filling the room with the smell of something burning, ... something rotten. Its eyes were glowing embers.

This thing was dead.

And its mouth spoke with a voice coming straight from the darkest depths of the underworld, where only hellish creatures dwelled and no soul would ever go: "Your prayers were heard. Now you're the one to give."

While Saskia found herself frozen in place, Katinka let out a sharp scream as though the hound of hell had already sunken its bony teeth into her soft flesh. However, it did not even cross the threshold protected by white runes.

Instead, the creature lowered its head like in a mocking little bow and left with claws scraping over the stones, sending sparks flying.

"No... This can't be... This mustn't be...," Katinka sobbed hysterically, covering her tear-stained face into shaking hands. "Please, Perhta, make it stop!"

Saskia rushed to her, falling to her knees, and wrapped her arms around her sister's trembling body. Her cursed sister. The thought made her blood run cold.
"Shh. Everything is fine."

"No. They are here, Saskia. They are here," she cried almost unintelligibly, pressing her face into Saskia's habit, who softly stroked her head.

"Nothing can hurt you here, srnitsa."