Twenty-seventh of Nirakos

Year 1182 of Emancipation

Belkai dropped the dagger to the floor as she fell to her knees beside Davos. Grasping his head in her hands she pressed her lips to his and kissed him longingly. After their lips parted, she picked up the dagger and stood to free his hands.

“It’s a trap,” Davos said quietly, his voice hoarse. “They took me to draw you out. They’re going to kill you.”

“I know.” Belkai sliced through the ropes tying his hands and caught him as he fell. She sat down and laid his head in her lap, feeling his weakness. She ran a hand through his hair and spat blood onto the floor. “But I had to come.”

He reached up and cupped her cheek. She leant into his hand and sighed.

“I knew you would,” he said. “You killed the vampires?”

“All of them,” Belkai whispered.

“Kane and Adrianna?” He felt her body stiffen.

“They’ve been watching,” Belkai told him. “Biding their time.”

“Waiting until you have me, you mean.” Davos grimaced. “You have to go. This world needs you, Belkai. You won’t make it out with me.”

She took hold of his chin and raised his head so he was looking up at her. She gave him a smile and said,

“We’re leaving. Together. And if those scum try to stop me, it will be the last thing that they do.”

She helped Davos sit, then cut his legs loose.

“Can you stand?”

“I think so.” Belkai held his arm as he struggled to his feet. He swayed once, then straightened and nodded. “I’m good.”

“There’s food and water in my pack,” Belkai told him. “We just have to make it to the edge of town.”

She handed him the dagger and pulled the sword off her back. “Let’s get out of this place.”

They moved cautiously. Belkai didn’t sense anything nearby, but she didn’t let her guard down. She hid her pain from Davos, ignoring the aches and burning from her injuries. The vampires might not have hurt her badly, but they’d knocked her around enough to make life uncomfortable.

“Did they hurt you?” she asked as they made their way through the corridors.

“No,” Davos replied, shaking his head. “I’m starved and dehydrated, but that’s it. They didn’t care much about me. It was just the bait to bring you here. How did you find me, anyway?”

“Dwarves tracked the vampires, and this was the best guess about where to find them.” Belkai frowned. “Which, in hindsight, does seem a little coincidental.”

At the time, she had been so caught in her anger that she hadn’t paused to consider the situation in its fullness. Greywall had seemed genuinely surprised by the attack on the Temple. The timing, however, almost seemed planned, even if Greywall himself wasn’t responsible. It had never been about leaving Belkai to search for him. She was meant to come here, to be left alone for the hunt.

“Coincidences do happen,” Davos pointed out, too busy eating some of the food from Belkai’s pack to recognise her thoughts. “No one has mentioned the dwarves around me.”

He stood back as Belkai pushed open the golden door at the entrance to the temple. She scanned the streets and waved him forward.

“Tell me if you sense anything,” she told him. “The Arcane are helping them. My senses are being lessened.”

“Not your fighting skill,” Davos noted, and she shot him a smile before turning back to the streets ahead. She headed north, back through the residential area that she’d come through initially. Davos noted the dead vampire and asked,

“Friend of yours?”

“Brief acquaintance.” Belkai didn’t give the corpse so much as a glance. “Can you sense anything?”

“They’re close,” Davos told her. “I can smell them.”

“Where?” She raised her sword as she turned to walk backwards for a few steps. She saw nothing.

“I don’t know, but they’re here.”

“Don’t stop moving,” Belkai warned. She reached out, trying to find their stalkers, but could only feel that they were being watched. Davos stayed by her side, and they both kept alert as they moved down the narrow street. Belkai could feel his heart racing, and laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Breathe, Davos,” she said, keeping her voice steady. Davos nodded, but she saw him flex his hand on the dagger. They were approaching the end of the residential area, but there was no sign of the creatures that she’d killed earlier. She glanced up at a nearby watchtower, sensing movement, but it was empty. She frowned. Where are you? She felt a familiar presence under the sand, and reached out to it, but there was no sign of the wolves.

“On the left!” Davos yelled. Belkai spun around in time to see a brown blur flash through the air and slam into Davos. They both crashed to the ground as the massive wolves stood above them and growled. Davos swung the dagger, but the wolf caught his hand in its mouth and tossed him aside. He smacked into a wall and went limp. Belkai couldn’t see the dagger and cursed as she braced herself for the wolf’s strike.

When Adrianna struck, it was from behind. Belkai was just about to meet Kane with a heavy blow when the second wolf knocked her to the dirt. She threw her hands up, taking a hold of her fur, and sent a pulse through her skin. The wolf yelped and jolted backwards as Belkai leapt to her feet and grabbed her sword just as Kane sprang forward. Belkai knocked his paw aside with the blade, though it didn’t pierce his thick skin. He gathered himself for another strike.

The other presence made itself known. A pair of two-foot talons burst out of the sand and dug themselves into Kane’s hind leg. He roared and spun, pulling the reptilian creature out of the sand. It pulled out its talons and went for a second strike, but this time Adrianna was ready. She pounced on its back, transforming into her human form as she slammed her curved sword into one of its talons, the blade slicing through the thick flesh like a hot knife through butter. A second and third blow severed the other talon, then she carved off its head.

The distraction had been enough. Belkai had managed to reach Davos and wake him, and he had pulled the dagger out from behind him. His right hand was broken, but he held the blade in his left as he and Belkai stood side by side and faced the wolves. Adrianna twirled her sword as she stepped forward. Kane was beside her, saliva dripping from his massive jaws.

“Plan?” Davos whispered.

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“Don’t die,” was Belkai’s only response. Adrianna gave a wicked smile, and a purple cloud enveloped Kane. They moved closer to each other, ready for anything, as a cloud appeared around them. The wolf came out of nowhere, knocking Belkai to the ground, and in the back of her mind she finally understood.

There was no time to dwell on it as she put her hand on Kane’s stomach and sent a raging pain through his veins even as she jabbed at his side with the sword. He bucked at the pain, and snapped backwards as the blade cut through the thinner skin of his belly. The cloud appeared again and he disappeared, but this time Belkai was ready.

“Drop!” she yelled, and Davos went to the ground without hesitation. Belkai closed her eyes, knowing now what she was looking for. The cloud wasn’t a form of teleportation like she had thought. It was only a cover as he moved with supernatural speed. Unfortunately for him, once the trick was learned, there were forces that could stop it. Belkai didn’t try to control her aim. Her senses were locked onto Kane as he sped around her, and she let instinct guide her as she threw the sword.

Adrianna froze when she saw her brother come flying out of the cloud and slam, headless, into the side of a house. Belkai’s sword, broken in two by the impact, clattered to the ground as Kane’s head rolled across the sand, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. Adrianna screamed with an agony that she had never known possible, and didn’t bother with the cloud as she sped forward, tackled Davos, and raced for the nearby watchtower.

Belkai had barely opened her eyes when she saw the blur seize Davos and disappear. She cursed, dropping down to snatch up the fallen dagger. She had no use for the broken sword, but she stayed still as she tried to find Davos. There. She could feel his heartbeat in the tower, and began running as Adrianna’s voice came through the air, her once sweet tones now ruined by her fury.

“Wench! I am going to rip him limb from limb!”

The tower was about three stories tall, made from now-cracking stone bricks. Five bodies in various stages of decay hung from nooses, three dwarven and two Svaletan. Belkai could feel Davos’ heart racing, and took hold of it. She forced him to slow down, to breathe, to allow his mind to clear. She didn’t know if he could hear her, but she tried to put her thoughts in his mind as she ran. I’m coming. I swear I’m coming.

She burst through the ruined doors of the tower and took the spiralling stairs two at a time as she fought to keep her own breathing steady.

“This was all for nothing, you hear me?” Adrianna was screaming. “I will tear your world down!”

The staircase ended at a decayed wooden door, which Belkai shouldered through without slowing. She came to a halt as she found herself on the roof. It was surrounded by a jagged stone parapet at chest height, crumbling in parts but mostly solid. Across from her, Adrianna held Davos tight against her chest, her sword pressed against his throat.

“Not one more step, wench,” Adrianna growled. “I will gut him if you come closer.”

Belkai nodded, not moving a muscle as she studied her enemy for the first time. She would have been beautiful if her eyes weren’t filled with such venom. She didn’t look like a killer, but Belkai imagined that a lot of men had made the mistake of believing that. Below the surface was a lust for violence, an anger that ran deeper than Belkai had known to be possible.

“My brother has killed far more powerful beings than you,” Adrianna shouted. “You don’t deserve to live.”

“Let him go!” Belkai called back. “You can walk away. We can end this here.”

Adrianna laughed. “It won’t matter, Belkai. You are marked by the gods. There is no victory for you. No happy ending. It doesn’t matter what you do. Either way, they will take everything that matters to you.”

“What have I done?” Belkai threw her arms out and saw Davos’ eyes shift to the dagger as he stayed still. He gave the faintest of nods, but she didn’t respond.

“Does it matter?” Adrianna scoffed. “Delorax demands your soul. And he will have it.”

Before Belkai could act, Adrianna threw Davos to the side, seizing him by the throat and hanging him over the edge. She looked Belkai in the eye and smiled.

“I hope you feel this.”

As Belkai charged forward, Adrianna let go and Davos fell.

Belkai lowered her shoulder and rammed into Adrianna, sending them both over the edge. Forgive me, she thought, and as they fell she rammed her dagger into Davos’ shoulder, lodging it into the bone.

The purple haze appeared, and Belkai felt the wind rush past her and threaten to pull her free. She kept hold of Adrianna with one hand while the other gripped the dagger with all of her might. It wasn’t enough, and she felt the weapon pull out of her hand as Davos disappeared from view. A moment later, she slammed into the ground, her fall broken by Adrianna’s body, and she was thrown aside by the impact. Belkai raised herself to her knees as she cursed, glancing up in time to see Adrianna’s sword swinging at her face. She ducked, feeling the blade part the air just above her head.

“You bitch!” Adrianna screamed. She brought the sword back around for another blow. “You’re dead anyway!”

Belkai went for her knees, and tackled her to the ground as she grabbed her sword hand. With all her might, she twisted the hand until she heard bones crack, and the sword fell uselessly to the ground. Adrianna didn’t hesitate. Before the sword had hit the sand, her fist smacked into Belkai’s face, bruising her eye and throwing her to the ground. She saw Davos laying nearby, not moving, the dagger still lodged in his shoulder.

She rolled back over as Adrianna screamed in fury. Belkai watched in horror as red hair grew across her body and her limbs began to stretch. She could hear bones popping and lungs expanding as the woman before her changed into the wolf that had terrorised so many people over the centuries.

“Elkur preserve us,” Belkai whispered, and focused her energies as green light shone from her hands. She had no weapon but herself, and she prayed that that would be enough. Adriana roared and charged, her jaws opening to reveal rows of teeth ready to crush and tear Belkai’s flesh. Belkai rolled out of the way and sent a jolt of pain through the wolf. It wasn’t enough – her anger was drowning out all pain signals as she leapt forward and took Belkai’s arm in her jaws. Belkai knew what was coming, and tried to take hold of her lungs. It was only enough to make Adrianna gag, but that was all Belkai needed to pull her arm free and move back. She didn’t know what magic Falkar had used to create this monster, but it was resistant to her own power. Not only was she hard to locate, killing her would take all Belkai’s strength. She glanced over at the fallen sword, but as she ran for it Adrianna knocked her to the ground, slashing at her chest with her massive paw. Belkai screamed as claws ripped through her flesh, and seized a hold of the leg as it came back around. It took all of her focus, but she felt the bone snap and Adrianna collapsed beside her, struggling to pull herself back up. Belkai took the chance and ran for the sword, tripping over herself and landing beside it. She brought it up as Adrianna raced for her, still fast despite her limp. Belkai braced and swung the sword, catching Adrianna’s chest before stepping back. The wolf slammed to the ground and whimpered before shuddering. Belkai fell to her knees, her chest burning from the slash. Adrianna whimpered as she returned to her human form.

Whatever damage Belkai had done didn’t translate into Adrianna’s humanity. Nonetheless, it had taken its toll. She was sprawled across the ground, her body bruised. Her dress was in tatters, and she clenched her fists as she slowly, painfully, rose to her feet, swaying unsteadily.

“You are nothing,” she hissed, and took an awkward step forward. “Your world will burn.”

Belkai groaned as the pain seemed to spread. She felt her grip on the sword loosening, and looked up as Adrianna reached her. The Palian seized her by the throat and lifted her up. Belkai tried to swing the sword up, but Adrianna snatched her wrist and bent it until the pain made her open her hand and drop the blade. Adrianna brought her face close and looked into Belkai’s eyes.

“I see why he loved you,” she whispered. “Another life, we could have known each other better.”

Belkai knew that there was only one way to win. She closed her eyes, stopped fighting, and let her body go limp as Adrianna’s grip on her throat tightened. Her mind ran through Adrianna’s body, searching for weaknesses. She had only one shot.

If Adrianna had had the strength, she would have torn Belkai’s head from her shoulders. Her beast form was hurt badly but given time it would heal. That would be too long for her hate. She hated this witch for all that she had done. She hated her for taking her brother, for nearly taking the beast that had for centuries sated her thirst for blood.

“Join Davos in hell,” she growled.

It was her hatred that killed her, with Belkai’s help. As her anger grew, her heart beat faster and faster as adrenaline flooded her system. As she growled this final curse, the strain became too much. With Belkai fuelling her feelings and speeding her heart, it burst with enough force to crack her rib cage and send bone shards into her lungs. Her eyes went wide as her blood drained inside her. Her body went limp and Belkai dropped to the ground gasping for air.

Adrianna fell beside her, her amber eyes softening as she tried to understand why she was taking her last breath. A single tear rolled down her face and sizzled as it hit the hot sand. Adrianna closed her eyes for the last time as the child and beauty of the Palians finally left her world for the last time.

Belkai turned away and tried to stand, collapsing back down and sending pain shooting through her body. She whimpered and dragged herself through the sand towards Davos, eyes locked on his unmoving body. Don’t leave me. Gods, don’t leave me.

She finally hauled herself behind him and used her last strength to take hold of his torn shirt and rip it open. She kissed his neck, tears flowing freely, and dropped her head onto his chest. She could feel her blood soaking the ground beneath her as she finally felt the warmth of his skin on her own.

Belkai felt his heart beat faintly, and she smiled one last time before she faded into darkness.