The Darkness

Ekon

I bounded down the tunnel, following the scent of Bambi’s blood, hoping I wasn’t too late.

~If that bastard hurt her, I’ll fucking kill him…even if he is my brother.~

A disturbing feminine laughter began to echo off the walls, and it threw off my senses.

“Who’s there?” I snarled.

“You know who it is,” she taunted. “Don’t you recognize your dear sister?”

I couldn’t tell where the voice was coming from. I had no choice but to let my wolf surface, but I’d have to be careful.

As my sight was restored, the rest of my senses dulled and my rage increased. It was hard to stay rational when I shifted, even partially, but I’d just have to keep it under control.

Suddenly all the torches in the tunnel lit up, and I saw my sister, the witch, floating above me in a flowing red cloak.

She looked just like my mother. The resemblance was uncanny.

I was stunned, and as Devina dove at me, I couldn’t move.

“Ekon, watch out!” Max raced down the tunnel and tackled me just before Devina grabbed me with her talon-like claws.

I regained my footing and drew my own claws. “Where the fuck is my mate, you evil cunt!?”

Devina clicked her tongue in disapproval. “Such foul language, brother. Maybe I should’ve taken your voice instead of your sight.”

I lunged at her, but she disappeared in a puff of smoke and reappeared behind me.

“There’s no need for violence. I only came to greet you.” She smirked.

“I don’t want your greeting. I want your head,” I snarled.

I could feel my rage beginning to take over, and I needed to keep it in check.

“No, you want your mate, and I can give her to you,” Devina said, moving closer. “All I need from you is a simple signature.”

A book and quill appeared in the air by magic and floated in front of me.

“What is this dark magic?” I growled. “I’m not signing anything.”

“We belong together—you, me, and Matthias. It’s destiny. If you bind yourself to us, I’ll set your mate free. I’ll even return your sight. But if you don’t…little Bambi will be broken.”

“You fucking bitch,” Max growled, starting to shift himself.

Bambi’s scream suddenly echoed through the corridor, and my body felt like it was on fire. My mate was in pain.

“Make your choice ~quickly~.” Devina sneered. “Sign the grimoire.”

There was no way to get through Devina…she was too damn powerful.

But signing that book wasn’t an option.

A blood-curdling scream pierced my ears again, and I felt myself losing control.

~Fuck, what can I do?~

~CRACK.~

What looked like a bolt of lightning suddenly exploded between me and Devina.

As the blinding light faded away, a young blonde-haired girl stood in its place.

~Holly.~

“Holly! How the hell did you find us?”

“Locator spell. And then a teleportation spell. Well, a few of them really. Sixth time’s the charm.” She grinned.

“Another witch?” Devina ignited a fireball in her palm. “Let’s see what you can do!”

She threw the fireball at Holly, who blocked it with a shield of water.

Both witches cast curses at each other simultaneously, creating an explosion of opposing magic, causing a standoff between them.

“Go! I’ll hold her off!” Holly shouted. “But hurry! I don’t know how long I can last!”

I didn’t know when she had gotten so powerful, but I thanked the Goddess that Bambi convinced me to let her train.

I sprinted past the witches with Maximus at my heel, and we reached a chamber full of fancy old furniture and antiques.

Bambi was covered in blood, unconscious in an armchair next to another lifeless girl.

“Bambi!” I roared furiously, bounding over to her.

I tried to stir her awake, but she was limp and unresponsive.

“Brother, we meet again. It’s been too long.”

I whipped around to see Matthias, looking nearly the same as he had sixteen years ago, alive and healthy.

I narrowed my eyes and bared my fangs. “You haven’t aged a day. Impressive for a man I mutilated, burned, and threw into a ravine.”

“Some of us come back stronger when we’re struck down.” He grinned.

“I agree,” I growled. “Maximus, watch over my mate.”

I dropped to all fours and charged at Matthias, knocking him to the ground.

For as strong as he looked, he fell too easily. He seemed to be enjoying this.

“Let it out, brother. I know it’s in there.” He laughed.

I slammed his body against the ground again and again. My mind was starting to get hazy, and I couldn’t think straight.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I snarled.

“Your darkness, Ekon. Release it and join us,” he coaxed.

“No…no, I don’t want to do this,” I said, stumbling backwards.

“Just shift, Ekon. Let your wolf take control.”

“Don’t listen to him!” Max shouted. “You’re a survivor, remember? We all are!”

My mind felt like it was split in half, like I was two people in one body.

I hunched over and held my head, screaming from the pain.

My wolf wanted out, but I held him at bay. I was stronger than him, dammit!

“If you’re going to be difficult…” Matthias pulled a dagger from his boot and rushed toward Bambi, an evil grin on his face.

“NO! Bambi!”

In an instant, the darkness took hold, and my mind slipped away.

Bambi

~“NO! Bambi!”~

Ekon…he was in pain.

He needed me.

And I needed to wake up…

~WAKE UP!~

I jolted awake, finding myself in my brother’s arms.

“Bambi, you’re okay!” he gasped, gripping me.

Ekon was hunched over on the floor, howling in pain.

“Ekon, don’t shift!” I screamed, but it was too late.

His shirt ripped to shreds as his muscles bulged out of his back.

Fur sprouted from every inch of his skin, and a long, bushy tail burgeoned from his behind.

Within moments, he was on all fours, snarling and gnashing his teeth.

His wolf had taken control, and it was no longer clear to him who was a friend and who was a foe.

He looked at all of us hungrily, as if we were prey.

Fingernails suddenly dug into my arm as a piercing scream rang in my ear.

Jimmy had woken up, and the first thing she saw was Ekon’s monstrous wolf.

I threw my hand over Jimmy’s mouth to keep her from screaming again, but he immediately zeroed in on her, crouching and wagging his tail like he was ready to pounce—

And rip her to pieces.

Holly

I was beginning to fade as Devina threw all her magical energy at me and I did the same.

She was an extremely powerful witch, and I was still a witch in training.

“You’ve put up a good fight, girl, but I can feel your power waning. Give up now and I won’t be forced to decimate you,” she said in an intimidating tone.

“I…can…do…this…all…day,” I said, straining, focusing every ounce of my energy into blocking her.

“Pathetic.” She sneered.

My powers gave out, and a blast of magic hit me and threw me against the wall.

I struggled to breathe as the wind was knocked out of me.

Blood dripped out of my nose and mouth, and my vision started to blur.

“It’s not your fault, little witch. Maybe if I hadn’t burned your entire coven alive, you’d have received better training,” she said, laughing as she stood over my injured body.

I suddenly felt a surge of energy weaving through my veins. It was unlike anything I’d ever felt before.

I held my head up, and my jaw dropped open at the sight in front of me.

Hundreds of translucent specters, floating behind Devina.

Spirits of the dead.

Spirits with ~unfinished business~.

I gave Devina a wicked smile. “You made one mistake, Devina. This was my home, and those were my people. And they’re still here.”

Her eyes widened in horror.

The spirit of every Northern Pack member that Matthias and Devina had massacred combined into a silky, glowing orb.

I harnessed their power and sent it soaring into Devina like a spear.

She fell to her knees as blood oozed out of her side.

She stared at me blankly for a moment before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

Bambi

Ekon lunged at Jimmy, and I shielded her with my body as I prepared for the worst.

Another wolf rammed Ekon from the side, sending him flying into the wall.

“Max!”

My brother had shifted too, and he was snarling at Ekon as they grappled, tearing and biting each other.

I felt Jimmy yanked from my grasp as Matthias grabbed her by the wrist.

“You’re coming with me,” he growled.

“Stop, let me go!” she screamed, kicking and fighting him.

I tried to pull her away, but he pushed me to the ground and pulled out his knife.

“I have no more use for you.” He grinned.

Before Matthias could make another move, he dropped his knife, and his body started convulsing.

“Wh—what’s happening?” he said, fearfully.

I covered my mouth in horror as his skin started peeling from his face and burning boils began appearing across his body.

Jimmy looked at Matthias with pure revulsion as he managed to pull away.

~It’s him…the monster who attacked me in the woods!~

This was Matthias’ true form.

He hadn’t healed nearly as much as he’d let on…

That had just been Devina’s glamour charm.

Jimmy grabbed me tightly as Matthias backed away from us.

“Don’t look at me!” he screamed.

Devina suddenly teleported into the room in a wisp of smoke, grabbing hold of Matthias, and they were gone in the blink of an eye.

A high-pitched yelp pierced the air, and I swung around.

“No…” I cried as I took in the sight before me, tears spilling down my face. “NO!”

Because there was Max, panting and bleeding profusely, as Ekon sank his teeth into his side again and again.