An Eternal Wintre

Chapter 4

Anai tracks mud through the castle as her dress weighs her down with mud all over down the front of it. Mud dries on her hands but she doesn't stop to wash them or pick up her dress to not ruin the rugs. Guards watch her, some actually stepping forward and asking if she needed any assistance which she politely always declined.

Once in her room, she carefully takes out the feather and places it on her desk before striping off her dress and putting it in the bathroom for Ruby to wash later. She washes her hands and face then lets her hair free into loose waves, placing each pearl in a small bowl before going out to the feather.

She sits at her vanity naked and holds up the feather to look at it better. Rain pounds on the window, shaking the glass.

The feather is blacker than any shade she's ever seen. Was it a crow's feather or a raven's? If it was a crow's then something has just died. If it was a raven's, then somebody is about to die. She hopes it's a crow feather.

The feather's tip is sharp and pricks her finger when she presses gently against it. Blood wells sweetly from the puncture and she sucks on her finger to cleanse it. Turning the feather every which way, it seems normal save for its sharp tip. When she takes her finger out, the wound's already healed over and it's as if she was never injured. Something dark bodes horribly in the back of her mind as she places the feather back down.

Still sitting in front of the mirror, she looks hard at it, at the girl in the reflection. Her skin looks even paler than ever, like snow or even ice. When she breathes out, a small cloud appears before her mouth. Her pupils look almost animalistic but when she blinks they're normal again. Other than the paleness of her skin and the cloud of air, she's normal.

Howls pierce the silence that follows the rain's onslaught. Birds scream in answer and more howls take up. Anai goes to the window and opens it, letting in rain. It spatters all over her naked skin and onto the floor, ruining it and the rug. She listens hard to the howls and screams, hearing people screaming under all of it. Her ears twitch as she tries to hear more.

As sudden as it all started, it all grows quiet, letting the rain take over once more. But Anai can still hear something under the rain as it hits the castle. Padded feet and hooves run over cobblestone streets, step for step, coming straight for the castle. A snarling sound and the scent of bloodlust fills the air.

Anai is quick to dress in a simple outfit of boots, a woolen shirt, and wool pants. She ties her hair back into a ponytail and runs out of her room, straight for the king's office.

Guards all touch their sword hilts as the girl runs past, her hair trailing behind her in a long, solid line. None move, however. The first mistake.

When Anai reaches the office, she yanks the door open and interrupts a meeting between the king and the General of the army. She suddenly stops and looks at the two most important men in all of Lutenia. "Anai, this is General Jackson. He's here to survey the incident with the recent attack of the shape shifters," the king says, motioning towards the broad man sitting across from him. Anai doesn't even glance at that man.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but I think you should send men to the town right now," she starts, her throat suddenly closing up on her. The two men regard her with confused eyes.

"Whatever is the matter Anai?" the king asks, genuine concern in his voice. She only shakes her head in anger and frustration.

"Just send men there, please. I heard something when the rain was softer and I heard hooves and paws. Shape shifters are coming." At the mention of their worst enemy, the two men actually stand up, erect. Both hold hard gazes, their eyes as sharp as blades.