Game On

Chapter Forty-Three: A Howling time

The soft crinkling and popping nearby coaxed Sean to open his eyes. Wincing at the warm light that bathed over him from the fireplace, he slowly sat up. His wings shuddered behind him as a cold draft puffed across his back, forcing him to look over his shoulder into the darker sections of the building he was in. A backdoor was kicked closed by a large white wolf that stood on all fours. Shaking the snow from its body, it snorted before meeting his eyes. Sean tensed his body, readying for a fight, but the wolf's expression didn't come off as hostile. Instead, it surprised him by speaking in a sultry voice. "How are you feeling?" Raising an eyebrow, Sean gawked at the wolf, unsure what to say to him. The wolf moved slowly toward the fire, keeping a good distance between them as it told him calmly. "Cat got your tongue, Ljosalfar?" Willing himself to speak, Sean blurted out in a raw voice. "Where am I? Who...? What are you?" The white wolf sat down majestically. His sitting height matching the large chair beside him. With his ears perked up, the wolf answered casually. "You're at the edge of the world. Home of Skadi. The giantess of winter and those lost to it."

Glancing around hastily, Sean blurted out. "Mark? It Mark here?" The wolf kept expressionless features on him when he answered stoically. "He's with Skadi." Nodding, Sean started to get to his feet, until the wolf lightly growled out. "You are to remain here. When they are finished, you can see him." Seating himself back down, Sean anxiously asked. "What do you mean? What are they doing?" The wolf blinked, seeming to consider his words carefully before replying openly. "He's recovering. It's a process. Skadi doesn't like being disturbed when she's working. Causes accidents. She's used to... the silence." Forcing himself to relax, he asked the wolf with deep concern. "How badly was he injured?" The wolf snorted with what appeared to be minor disgust, before answering through a light growl. "Barely a scratch externally. But internally... he's was dead." Snorting, Sean shakily got to his feet, chuckling out. "He's a vampire. You can't cure him of that. He's probably just hungry. I should go to him."

The wolf remained seated, telling him with guarded eyes. "He was. Not anymore." The eerie way he'd said it made a chill run down Sean's spine. Locking eyes with him, Sean sternly questioned him. "What do you mean by that? What is she doing to him?" The wolf's ears flattened out to the sides, when he informed him seriously. "Skadi has done nothing he didn't agree to. For without her, you wouldn't be standing here. You'd do well to remember that." Approaching the wolf, Sean fearlessly sneered back. "Take me to see him. Or I start yelling for him." The wolf carefully rose up onto his powerful back legs, causing him to gulp at how muscular and tall he was compared to himself. Bringing his muzzle to his face, the wolf growled back menacing enough that Sean shuddered uncontrollably with fear. "I don't take orders from you, light elf. I am to watch over you. Nothing more." Taking a step back, Sean found his courage enough to say sassily. "Then you can 'watch' me look for him."

The wolf's lips briefly tugged into an amused smile. Stepping aside, he gestured to the wooden door under the stairs, stating flatly. "If that is how you'd like to die. Who am I to stop you?" A sudden scream tore through the house, causing the wolf to glance at the basement door with perked up ears as he mumbled out. "It's starting. If I were you-" Recognizing the scream, Sean darted past him, cutting the wolf off to yell out. "Well, I'm not you!" The wolf snorted behind him. Racing to the door, Sean tried to open it, until he saw the strong row of locked bolts down the frame. Sliding the bolts open as fast as he could, he yanked open the door and ran down the dark steps two at a time. Near the bottom of the steps, Sean stopped and called out Mark's name. Only to go pale as he was him. The basement was made entirely of stone with a single candlelit chandelier highlighting the center of the room. Where Mark was chained up.

Mark's wrists were shackled in cuffs that were chained to a thick ring on the floor. Around his neck was a large collar with more chains that were attached to rings on the far walls. Over his mouth and nose was a strange chainmail looking mask. His body had been stripped of all armor and weaponry, leaving him naked. The worst of it was seeing the tubes attached to his arms that were draining him of his blood. Running over to him, he cupped his face, his voice trembling when he asked Mark. "Are you ok? What are they doing to you?!" Despite the chainmail mask on his face, Mark clearly told him in a panicked voice. "Sean, you've got to go! Now!" Shaking his head, he demanded angrily. "What are they doing to you?!" Mark tugged on his restraints, snapping out to someone else in the room. "Take him out of here!" Turning around, Sean noticed the woman who had kissed him. Who had saved him. She stood in the far corner, sliding her fingers over a branding iron that was frosted over in thick flawless ice.