Monsters Beyond the Gate

Chapter fourteen: The Witch

*LYIRA'S POV*

In the distance I watched as a group of men swiftly approached on horseback. Even with my poor vision, I could tell they were guards and although it was known that they owned vehicles they chose not to drive them inside the gates to conserve gas. Most people got around on horseback or peddle bikes.

I knew they'd come eventually. In fact, I was surprised that it took them so long. Oh, how I'd love to throttle poor Adeline's stepmother. I always tried not to voice my distain for her in front of the children, but it was getting more and more difficult. How careless could a woman be to allow the children she's responsible for to be gone for days without doing anything about it.

I pushed my anger down in my chest and took a sip of my steaming hot green tea. Now was not the time for anger. I needed to remain calm and collected. Yet, I couldn't keep my hands from trembling around my warm mug when I glanced at the rug on the floor in front of the loveseat. Beneath it was a trap door leading to a room where Kirk the guard was half delirious from the pain of the change. The bite he received had "infected" him and as I figured he would, he lived to become a creature of the wild.

But because the change was inflicted instead of passed down through genetics he was in extreme agony and had been for the last few days. I was lucky to get some silver chains on him to contain the wolf, although I felt awful for having to do it. He understood though. Even through the pain he knew I was only trying to help.

A strong knock sounded at the door. I jumped, spilling some of my tea. I'd been so lost in thought that I didn't realize the guards had gotten all of the way up to my door.

I took a deep breath. I had to act calm. If they sensed my tension they'd want to come in and have a look around. If they found Kirk they would put him down like a rabid dog without even blinking an eye.

To them he would no longer be a bright eyed boy just out of school, eager to protect his community. To them he would be an animal that needed extermination.

The fire in my chest reared again.

I limped to the door, trying to keep the weight off of my bitten leg. It still ached a little, but it was healing nicely. Even through his pain Kirk had noticed it and seemed concerned for me. He asked if I would make the change too, silly boy, didn't he know that witches were immune to the bite of the wolf? I suppose not. Legends of my people had died out long ago. People rarely believed that magic folk still walked the earth, and if they did, they saw us only as a threat. Another threat to be exterminated.

I opened the door and looked expectantly at the tall, willowy guard who stood just outside. Rain drops dribbled from his dark hair. His gaze immediately fell to his feet when he glanced at my clouded eye, or my "seeing eye" as Adeline's mother used to call it.

It was true, the cloud in my eye had nothing to do with loss of vision from old age. It appeared long ago when I was still rather young. Right after I'd run away from home and traveled to the East Mountains where I met the four original witches who'd created the four original packs of wolves. Eldina, the most powerful witch who was their high priestess, took me in and taught me their ways. I lived there for two years when one night I dreamt of a powerful goddess. She told me I had proven myself to her and I was worthy of "the sight".

I shook my head. It was no time for reminiscing.

"Can I help you, young man?" I asked in the most passive voice I could produce.

He glanced up at me and then immediately shifted his gaze just past my shoulder. My stare was making him visibly nervous.

"Are you Liyra Lancaster?" he asked in a voice that was deep yet surprisingly soft.