Fabula Obscrua

Branding - 1

“My father is surely turning over in his grave,” Belita moaned, then winced as Elloreah set the pen to her skin.

“Its only the stencil, you baby,” the fair woman laughed, her eyes dancing with the light hearted amusement that Belita feared soon would fade.

They were on the run. Hayeta's demand for blood had come soon after Elloreah had managed to cave Lokni's head in with a pipe, then proceeded to beat his face into a bloody pulp.  Out of respect they'd let his sister collect the body, and she'd turned on them, despite Sitala's patient explaintions that Elloreah had simply been defending herself.

She swore revenge, and Elloreah took the fox-woman's threats seriously. She feared for Belita's life, and cursed herself for putting her companion in danger. Their time at Sitala's was the last preparation before they left California to put distance between them. They were under the protection of the Tutelar while Mingan was able to spare his time and energy, but it would be short lived. The western Tutelar were stretched thin. A nymph and human girl were hardly priority. Elloreah had arranged for them to escape to the East coast, buy themselves time and distance from their would-be tracker.

“I’m sure your father has long since tired of rolling around in that grave of his.” Elloreah teased.

“Tell me again why henna won’t work?” Belita asked, ignoring the second comment. Her eyes scrunched closed as long fingered hands worked to transfer the intricate design Elloreah had spent hours sketching.

“Henna will fade too quickly,” Elloreah explained, pausing to reference her original design, and set back to work once more.   “Protection runes need permanence to be effective long term..."

“They need to be imbedded in your flesh,” Mingan cut in. He stood, arms crossed, looming from where he leaned on the doorway. Belita had almost forgohtten he was there. Almost.

“This isn’t a tattoo,” he continued,  “these are symbolic, physically and spiritually. Even if we were to use nothing more than bloodlines, they need to be set into your flesh to truly protect you in the face of what you will be following Elloreah into.

Belita nodded, fears silenced by the finality of his tone. His eyes shone gold, fiery embers that hinted at the power that filled the room despite his unremarkable, lanky frame.  

“Can it Mingan,” Elloreah growled. She rubbed Belita’s upper arms gently. “Don’t let the cranky old man scare you.” She glared in Mingan’s direction, “He’s all bark.”

“Tallis, inform me when the stenciling is done,” he said sharply. He turned to leave, pulling a cigarette from behind his ear.

“Why do you taunt him?” Tallis hissed to Elloreah. “After all he has done, there is no reason he should even be here. Liwanu could have...”

“As if he would have let Liwanu touch my runes,” Elloreah replied. “Marking Belita is simply a formality.”

Tallis shook her head. “I will never understand you two.

“What exactly is he?” Belita whispered, caught between the two women, terrified in the presence of the immortals as it was, let alone this clandestine talk of theirs.

“Mingan,” Elloreah sighed, pausing in her work. Belita watched her fair companion’s brow knit briefly as she considered, searching for the right words, “Mingan is possessed by a god, of sorts.”

“A god?” Belita whispered, “And you treat them like that?”

***

This is part 1 of the prequel to "Caught in the Undertow." I will be uploading pieces of this story as I finish writing and editing it. Once this piece is done, I will be adding a follow up story for the events that will take place during "Caught in the Undertow."