~ Orchid Silverthorn, fae ~
The Darkscape is quiet, but for the sounds of our feet as we trudge through the underbrush. None of us have the Gorgian shackles anymore, and so, our powers are back. But, so is the need to eat, sleep, drink, and use the bathroom.
I am not alone out here, I'm in a group with a handful of others.
Tala Wolfblood, a werewolf. Oriana Delaglo, a demi-demon. Yurika Havencall, a helcat. Callum Tarrent, a vampire. And finally, Morgana Dorcas, another fae.
The six of us trudge through the woods, none of us speaking for so long that I begin to wonder if any of us even can speak. But then, Callum speaks.
"This whole concept of this Darkscape bullshit, it's a deathtrap for us, isn't it?"
"The gods made it so we could die here and they could get their fill of our blood," says Yurika, her tone dry. "The gods, after all, are twisted beings."
"Yeah, don't we all know that," mutters Morgana.
Tala, who is in the lead, stops. She sniffs the air, tilting her head this way and that. Then, she says, "Run."
We obey.
The six of us bolt forward, each of us running in sync with the other. Tala morphs into her wolf form, and she runs ahead of us. Yurika curses loudly.
"What is it?!" Callum asks her.
"Shades!"
"Fuckin.... fuck shit!"
If it wasn't a life-or-death situation, I'd laugh at what Callum just said. But Shades are a lot like wraiths. But instead of being able to be kind and empathic, these are monstrous creatures. Bloodthirsty, perhaps more so than even the gods who put us here. And Shades are not known for ever showing mercy to their victims.
Shades appear as a variety of creatures, but always are inky shadowy beasts with either red or white eyes. And their bites give you a scar that will never heal fully. They are ravenous. Monsters with a lust for the pain of their victims.
And when Morgana, who is beside me, glances back at the Shades, she curses loudly. "There are eight of them!"
Oriana, who's on my left, summons her hellfire. The red and black flames dance on her hands, and she nods to me before blasting them behind us. Callum whoops in excitement.
"Now there are four!"
Yurika and Tala both guide us toward an opening in the woods, and Morgana and Oriana both keep blasting fire at the Shades. But the remaining four are a bit smarter than the others.
The leader leaps forward, bringing its claws down on my back. I scream as the icy burn tears its way through my back, down to the bottom of my spine. My wings, large, purple bat wings, twitch violently and my back spasms. I shriek as the pain makes its way throughout my back.
Stumbling, I nearly smack my face on the ground, but Morgana and Oriana both catch me. Callum supports me from behind, and Yurika and Tala morph back and run to us.
"Back off, demons!" Tala yells.
But the Shades are almost upon us then. I yelp as Oriana releases one hand from its hold on my arm, just so she can blast the Shades once more.
They scream as they are burned up, turned to ash and bonedust. Once they're all gone, I collapse into Morgana's arms.
The moment my eyes close, I pass out.
YOU ARE READING
The Blood Witch
FantasyWhen you come from the bloodthirsty gods and goddesses, you become bloodthirsty yourself. When they force you to feel their power, or either make your life a hellish experience in order to get what they want from you, chances are, you'll do what the...
