Dust And Shadows

Magic

Vasya, the third born daughter of King Castimir had always thought of herself as safe. She may have been a princess but she wasn't heir to the throne like her sister Bela or as beautiful as her other sister Sonia. Unfortunately, the man following her through the citadel didn't see these as important. She knew that he definitely hadn't mistaken her for either of her sisters, they had her father's golden curls while she had her mother's dark waves. She turned down a dark corridor where she knew that a guard would walk down in three minutes and where she knew there was at least one sword hung on the wall. She stopped to pretend to admire one of the swords and touched the hilt as the man kept approaching, not bothering to hide, probably thinking there was no escape.

"You're mine, Princess," The man growled and she yanked the sword off the wall, pointing it at his throat. "A little sword is no match for me." His eyes glowed yellow and she knew exactly what it was.

"Werewolf," She whispered before running at the werewolf as it changed into a wolf and sliced its head off as the guard appeared, right on time. "I just did your job. Don't let it happen again." She forced an arrogant smile and walked away, trying not to think about how scared she had been...And how much she had enjoyed it.

***

By dinner, the entire citadel knew what happened and her father had hidden himself in his study, leaving instructions for Vasya to 'be guarded day and night'. Monsters were getting bolder...Their numbers were multiplying. Vasya walked to her rooms with her new guards on either side of her until she reached the door.

"Call us if you need us, Princess Vasilisa." The younger one called, Dmitri. She nodded and went inside, closing the door before going to her bathtub. Her bathtub was a massive pool of water, warmed from the kitchens below. She quickly undressed and slipped in, she had been doing everything fast since the werewolf attack. She heard a knock and two familiar, annoying voices continuing their conversation as they entered the room without knocking.

"Vasya, tell her that the werewolf was a man and that I'm not assuming all monsters are men!" Sonia whined and Vasya sighed, sinking into the bath until it hit her chin.

"It was a man. Although I believe female werewolves are called she-wolves so werewolf is more of a masculine term."

"Why was he after you?" Bela asked before dunking her feet into the bath.

"I was too busy chopping his head off to ask," Vasya missed when her bath only had one person in it. "As much as I adore the both of you, can you fuck off so I can finish this bath and go to sleep?" Bela shared a look with Sonia before shaking her head.

"Do you remember when Father told us about the wendigo?" Vasya nodded. "Did he ever tell you about the Shadow who saved him? The one he owes a life debt to?" Vasya shook her head.

"No but I know the Shadows Code. He claimed me, the third born?" They nodded, looking everywhere but Vasya's face. "He's claiming me soon?" Sonia swallowed, glancing up.

"He said he'd come for you when you were in danger...Which seems to be now...Father's writing to him now." Vasya sank to the bottom of the bath and sat there until she saw her sisters leave. She got out of the bath and threw on her nightgown before climbing into her bed...Maybe for the last time. She sniffed and blew out her candle before closing her eyes.

***

Gavril laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, the cord between him and the third born taunt with pain. Were they hurt? Were they in trouble? Tap. He sat up in bed, his scars white in the moonlight and climbed out of the bed, not bothering to put on any clothing. He pushed the curtain back and opened the window to let the hawk land on the bed. It held out its leg and he carefully untied the scroll attached to its leg. It flew away and Gavril opened the scroll, pushing his white blond hair out of his eyes.