Origins Unkown

chapter 5

Rylan waited anxiously for Tess. He paced back and forth in the study so much he swore he actually saw a rut forming. She was close. He could feel it.

'Tess, where are you?'

'I'm helping Brenden get settled into a room.'

"Okay, I shall meet you in our room.'

Rylan walked slowly to his bedroom. Tess newfound brother intrigued and worried him a little. Why had her mother never told Tess about him before now? It just didn't seem to fit. Something was off.

He entered the room Tess and he shared to find it empty. How long did it take to show someone to a room?

'Tess?' He called to her mind, but could no longer sense her. "Tess!" He yelled out loud and still nothing. He called to his most trusted friend.

"Jon, I am sorry to break my promise to not bother you."

"It is fine, sir. What can I do for you?"

"Tess is back at the castle. Can you sense her?" Rylan asked anxiously.

Jon stood silent with his eyes closed for a minute. "Yes, sir. It's weak, but I can feel her. I am also getting something else." He said with a sudden look of shock.

"What?" Rylan asked, searching Jon's face.

"I'm not sure, sir. It's not clear, but it doesn't feel right."

"Can you tell me where she is, Jon?"

"She's in a room. I believe it's the room she used before the one she now shares with you, sir."

"Thank you." Rylan hurried past Jon down the hall. When he finally reached the room he didn't open the door right away. He listened carefully to the voices behind it.

"Brenden, are you okay? Oh God!"

He heard Tess scream out his name and he kicked the door down. He climbed over the downed door and saw Tess huddled in a corner with her arms over her face. He looked around the room and saw nothing except the broken window.

"Tess, what happened?" He said running to her.

"He's changing, Rylan. We were talking about what he would have to do to keep it under control and then, out of nowhere, he pushed me into this corner. He jumped out of the window only after telling me it was too late for him." She said through her sobbing and tears.

"He won't get far, Tess. I have many traps laid out all around the castle grounds. Come on, let's get you to bed and then I will go and look for him." Rylan helped her to her feet and then down the hall to their room. Once there, he helped her undress and get into bed. He kissed her forehead and before he left the room, she was asleep.

Rylan went back down the hall to the other room. He looked around a bit before going to the broken window. Looking down he didn't see any sign of Brenden. He didn't really expect to though, because if he was indeed changing, he could have easily survived the jump.

Rylan knocked the remaining glass out of the window, took a deep breath, and jumped into the night. He hit the ground hard and fought back a howl of pain.

'I'm getting too old for this shit.' He said to the dark, dusting off his clothes. It took him a few seconds to gather himself, and then he took off slowly in the direction he assumed Brenden would have gone.

Being what he was, he could see clearly in the dark and he kept a look out as he walked. Searching the ground, he found what he thought was blood in the dirt. Upon closer inspection he knew it was.