Beautiful Darkness

➵Savior of the Wolves

| The photo above is Lincoln in his human form |

I'm not completely sure who ran faster- the wolves or us. Natalia is the first to react as two swords twist beneath her fingertips. The deadly precision in her flawless movements impresses me. An intense look in her eyes consumes her entire face as instead of running from the fight she embraces it. Whoever is at the end of her gaze has a very low chance of survival.

The pack of wolves are charging at us like we are the only food source remaining on the planet. In my sight alone I count four as they waste no time to split up. Four wolves band together and set their eyes straight on me. My wide eyes flicker to Roman. I don't have a single weapon. Just as his face clicks with understanding, one of the furry beasts tackles him to the ground. Instinct takes over as I make my way to him only to be hit from the side.

Sharp teeth snap at my neck as I hold its weight off of me. If it gets any closer to my neck I really will be the next meal. I gather all my strength and shove the grey wolf and it falls back. I jump to my feet awaiting the next assault.

"Arailia!" Daniel's grabs my attention as he tosses a dagger towards me while defending himself and Natalia. I gratefully catch it and turn to face the wolf. I dare it to attack with my narrowed eyes. It takes off at a dead run. As it lunges I duck and slash the dagger underneath the wolf's form efficiently slicing its belly. With loud whines it crashes to the floor and no longer becomes a threat.

An unbearable pain in my shoulder extracts a painful scream from my lungs. Large teeth have bitten down hard enough to cause endless amounts of blood to flow from the wound. I thrust the dagger into its eye with my uninjured arm. The wolf momentarily lets go in pain. Somehow I manage to get back onto my feet. Lincoln is at my side in an instant, killing the offender with brutal strength. My breath is deep as pain laces its way through my entire being. I can already feel myself growing weak.

Other than a few scratches, Roman seems fine. He is currently up against three wolves as they play a deadly game of chase. Davina, however, is in worse shape. Her left leg has several bites dug into it. She lays up against a tree as Natalia protectively guards her to the best of her capability. I realize that we won't survive this attack unless I interfere.

My fear reaches an insurmountable amount as I try to convince myself. What's a little darkness if it can save lives?

I take a deep breath and ball up my shaking hands into fists.

I am not afraid.

I am not afraid.

As soon as a fraction of my mind opens to the darkness it takes full advantage. It seeps throughout every inch of me as an overwhelming sense of evil and despair screams within me. I hear cries and whispers of commands that are not my own. At least, I don't think they are. As I exhale a new surge of power tingles inside of me. It reaches every inch of me- every organ, every breath. I am frightened as my grip tightens, clinging to my missing soul.

I focus my concentration on the wolves. Using very little effort I manage to easily slip into their minds. A new thought twists in a mind I no longer recognize. Control them. Killing is too easy. Make them servants of your nefarious deeds.

"Stop." I speak the command aloud. They all obey without hesitation. I briefly acknowledge the group's cautious eyes that are centered on me.

"Come." I'm afraid to test the capability of what I can do. The depth to my gift is something I'd rather not find out. On cue, the foreign and wicked part of me refutes my refusal. It craves more. It craves all. The wolves gather around me and look at me with worshipful eyes.