His breaths get slower as black blood streaks his chest, but the last time I thought this monster was dead, he surprised me and lived, even though I hit the artery in his neck. Now he will never hurt my family again.

Ran? I ask.

She growls from the corner, an almost happy sound, even as the man I’m watching takes a slightly deeper breath and twitches, the wound growing smaller.

I have him. Get Jack, Ran says.

Black blood pools within the wound, and something like wriggling worms begin to pull it back together. I watch in morbid fascination. The wormy creatures writhe and wiggle, pulling the internal muscles first and then the skin.

Ran growls, and I look up at the sharp sound that was both inside my mind and out, breaking me from my shock. I take a deep breath, trying to push back the part of me that longs to slit his throat and watch the creatures again. I want to cause him the pain he’s caused me. It’s a morbid, slippery slope… but I don’t want to become a monster. I don’t want to let them create such darkness in me. I want to be better than that.

Ran prowls from the dark corner of the room, a snarl on her lips and her eyes glowing a red so deep they look almost black.

A rumble begins from her chest and shakes the cavern. A stalagmite falls in a far corner, shattering against the ground and sending shards of rock and dirt splattering against the shield Rose erected around Jack until I could get to him.

My heart warms in my chest at her protectiveness of those I care for. I didn’t even ask. She merely shielded my brother from the fire beneath him while I fought. I started on rocky grounds with Rose, but now... I finally trust her. And so she does me. Despite the aches and pains from my ribs and bruises and cuts... the knowledge that we're friends makes me smile.

Friends, she whispers, and the light around me pulses once, going to the far reaches of the cavern, and obliterating the darkness.

A high-pitched scream comes from a far corner of the cavern… opposite the monster being ravaged by Ran near the entrance fires. The scream sounded remarkably small and terribly frightened, but even so, my heart jumps in my chest and adrenaline floods my veins.

I turn too quickly, stumbling over my own feet and going down to a knee. My body calls me all kinds of names for pushing it past its brink. But the gift from Jenny saved my life from the sharp rocks that would’ve torn me apart. They still did a number on me, but not anything too life threatening.

Just a little longer, I think to my body.

I don't think it works like that, rider, Ran says, looking up from the monster, black blood dribbling down her saber teeth and staining the white fur around her mouth. The man’s throat is torn out. I don’t think he can recover from that.

Better believe it, Ran says, pride coming over the bond. She licks her lips. It’s good to have a blood-thirsty animal on your side at times, I suppose. He actually tastes good, she says, sounding surprised.

Bile burns the back of my throat as my stomach tries to revolt against that statement.

Can I? she asks, slightly hesitant, her big red eyes begging me and ears pricked forward.

I gag. But if I were to let her eat anyone, this guy deserves it… Go for it. Better this guy than some poor bunny.

Her tail wags, slapping against her sides. I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time. The rest, too? She glances at the pile of bodies along the back wall… and my legs almost betray me, but I shove back the shock and guilt trying to bring me to my knees.

This is the reason I find your slobber disgusting, I say, thinking back… and wondering what she’d ate the day. The rocky ground ends up with everything that was in my stomach.

I wipe my mouth, looking at the corner where the high-pitched scream came from. Maybe whatever is there will get my mind off of Ran and her… meal. I gag again, but keep this one from splattering against the rocks.

Three little forms glance out from behind a rock formation that looks like a duck, watching me with wide eyes. Their faces are drawn with fear, their bodies haggard and wings drooping. Fairies. Likely the fairies who were forced into a bond with the creature Ran is making sure never returns to hurt anyone again.

I step in front of the gory mess Ran’s made, giving them a small smile. They quaver and pull back in fear.

Ran crunches and slurps behind me. My stomach churns and stomach acid burns the back of my throat before I swallow it back down where it belongs.

You look no less frightening than me, rider, Ran says, humor ringing the golden bond connecting us.

She sends me an image of a person in a cloak who glows from within like some sort of specter. The face under the cloak is hazy and indistinct because of the light. Then I realize it’s an image of me.

Grand.

"It's alright, I'm a friend. I know Natasha, who shared her Spark with me," I say softly, keeping my eyes on the fairies even as I walk over to Jack, who watches me with a hooded fear in his pain-filled eyes.

"That really you, sis?" He squints at me, his muddy and bruised face twisted in confusion and pain. His hazel eyes shimmer, and I–I almost can’t believe it. He’s alive. He’s here. My body doesn’t feel like my own, and I know shock is trying to worm its fingers into my system.

"It's me, Jack." I have to choke back a sob. I limp over, thanking Rose for protecting my brother from the fire beneath him. Now to figure out a way to get him down.

I have this, Rose whispers, her voice gentle.

A shimmering knife cuts the rope at the same time Rose softly wraps my brother in the shield to prevent further injury. It’s odd, seeing someone float through the air on shimmering, almost cloud-like sparkles of light that don’t seem entirely real enough to hold anything of import.

I feel her manipulating what should merely be air… I feel how she does what she’s doing, even if I can’t quite figure out what it is. She uses my golden string and all those it’s attached to manipulate reality in ways that shouldn’t be possible.

Everything is possible, if you believe, Rose whispers.

Jack moves toward me... floating. He catches my eye, and grins, his eyes wide and still frantic but sparkling in excitement at the feat he’s experiencing. What am I to do with him? He should be screaming in terror, afraid of dropping into the fire, not smiling because he finds flying by entirely unknown means fun.

Don’t confuse your courageous, fun-loving brother with yourself, two-legs, Ran comments. But I feel her relief and her joy, and her poking fun at me is how she knows to cope with… everything.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Maybe that’s why we make such a good team. She gets me out of the shell I’d be hiding in, and I bring her back to reality and give her something to laugh at.

Rose settles Jack gently before me. The shield disappears with a pop. She surrounds him in a gentle glow, and I watch as his eyes widen in fascination as some wounds and marks on his face, arms, and chest recede just a bit.

I've taken the edge from his wounds. Nothing is life threatening now, Rose says, her voice drawn and almost indistinct with wariness. I worry she pushed herself too far on my behalf. I must rest now.

Thank you, Rose. Thank you. Take as long as you need.

I almost tackle Jack when the glow recedes. Sobs wrack my shoulders and I tremble in a mix of adrenaline and relief.

He catches me, letting me bury my head into his shoulder. My brother has grown since I last saw him. He seems... bigger. But it's more than just physical. He seems older, too.

Something bursts inside me and the pain and worry I’d held within calms with the embrace of my brother.

“Easy, sis. I’ve got you.” I hear dad in his voice. The steady, even strength. The calming, deep cadence.

My little brother grew up without my permission.

And I somehow feel dad wrap his arms around the both of us, granting us his strength.

Jack pulls back, taking my shoulders and looking me in the eye. His hazel ones regard me seriously.

“Jill and Momma?”

I sniffle and nod, pulling myself together with dregs of strength that try to unravel as soon as I gather them. Ran helps, tethering herself to my unraveling sanity and giving me a place to focus.

They’re fine. Get the fairies. Get out. Ran comes up beside us, and Jack smiles at her, his eyes twinkling.

“Ria finally let you eat someone, huh, Granny?” She playfully growls and nips at him, even as her tail wags behind her. Jack laughs. “Good to see you, too,” he says, setting a hand on her head. A grumble of contentment comes from her chest and she leans into him, her eyes going from red to warm amber right before her eyes close and she basks in his safety.

“You—“ the soft voice intrudes on our reunion, and Ran snaps off a growl.

The fairy who was brave enough to approach trembles in fear, recoiling as if we’re going to attack her.

“It’s alright. You just scared her,” I say gently.

“I scared her?” the fairy says, watching my terrifying bond warily.

I chuckle. It’s something wet and kinda broken, but it’s a happier sound than my sobs.

“It’s ok. We’re here to help.”

“You—you are not with them.”

“No,” I say emphatically. I wipe my eyes, my mask taking care of the—erm—moisture running from my nose.

Jack rises to his feet, almost falling. I stand and catch his shoulders. In return he catches me when I almost topple. Ran puts her back against us, keeping us upright.

Jack shares a grin with me, his eyes sparkling with humor. “Sheesh, sis. Couldn’t ya have warned me ya’d be in worse shape than me?”

A chuckle catches in my throat. “Little bro, if you think I’m worse than you, you got another thing coming.” I’d pinch his cheek cause I know he hates that… but it’d take too much energy. “What happened?”

His eyes grow dark with thoughts. “Many things, sis. I’ll tell ya later.”

I nod, knowing it was worse than he’s letting on. He has scars now, on both body and soul, that weren't there before. He’s lost his boyhood and has become a man.

I give him one last hug. I still can’t quite believe he’s here… alive. It makes me almost giddy with relief. “Let’s go.”

Ran bows so we can get on.

“Do you all want to come with us? I’d recommend it… but will not force you,” I say to the three tiny fairies who watch us with wide eyes and fluttering wings. They are skinny and frail, looking as if a small breeze would blow them away.

The fairy in front, who has wings and tattered dress of pastel green, exchanges glances with the others. She turns back to me and nods, emerald green hair falling in front of her face. She pushes it back with a huff, making me smile.

Ran?

Fine. Just get on. We need to go. My leg is going to sleep.

I scratch her ear from where she still bows before me, and her ears perk up and her tail wags slowly despite her grumpiness.

I get the fairies situated in front of us, and Jack gets on behind me. He wraps his arms around my waist and I grab Ran’s harness. There's something gooey I don’t want to think about on the ground as we go out of the cavern back into the darker passageways leading to freedom.

“What’s with the glow, sis?”

“Erm…”

It’s the light of love, Ran sings in my mind and my cheeks color as she sends an image of a certain silver-eyed man.

Hush, I admonish.

“I don’t really know, dude. Something about the light of The King.”

“He kept us safe until you came, didn’t he?” Jack whispers, leaning his head against my back.

I smile, peace and thankfulness warming my heart. “Yeah. Yeah, he did.”

~~~

Ran’s hackles raise, and she sniffs the air.

There are others here. Many others.

Who?

Good and wrong. Human and Other.

I should leave all to the fate of the Honor Knights coming in. I have Jack, that’s all I need.

But something in me is loath to leave any others to a fate like my family.

Ran knows what I must do. I close my eyes, and through Ran’s eyes I see the dark of the rocks shifting, coloring into lighter gray tones. The nuances of jagged rock formations of the cavern and branching passageways are illuminated by her keen eyesight. I see more passages into this place that I thought only to be dark corners, see the scuff where someone fell, and sense the overall pervasion of darkness that goes beyond physical.

Beneath her feet, she takes note of small tremors, the coming and going of larger animals and the soft footprint of humans.

She smells so many things… things that make my heart quiver.

Blood and bone. Entrails and torn skin. Ash and burning wood.

But the worst?

It’s the scents of almost cloying despair and fear. The smell of pain and suffering, thick as molten lava, emanates from further down, making me want to lose what little is in my stomach. I swallow thickly, hearing through Ran’s ears the faint screams and cries for help.

I pop open my eyes, and Ran looks back at me, her eyes a warm brown that see beyond my physical appearance and strike my heart with the love and compassion and pride within. I pat her sweaty, gore covered shoulder, and ask her for the one thing we both are not keen to do.

She closes her eyes and nods in a regal motion that almost seems more a bow than a nod.

It’s time for you to be all that you can be, my rider and sister. Don’t fear action, only fear when you choose not to act.

I hop down from her back, placing my forehead against hers and breathing in the scent of warm sunshine and free meadows that is my bond, even as it mixes with the coppery scent of blood streaking her chest.

Protect them, I whisper through the bond, knowing she will.

Jack watches me, hooded eyes still betraying so many emotions to one who knows him that it’s hard to pinpoint which is dominant. Hope, pain, fear, determination. Love.

“Mamma and Jill are fine. Ran will take you to them. Jack—“

He shakes his head, a tear trailing his cheek as he bites his lip. “No, sis. I won’t let you go alone.”

I grab his hand, knowing his heart. “Brother, I must. You’re the man of the house now, and if I don’t come back... take care of them. Trust Hans and Jenny. They will provide everything you all need.”

“No—” Ran bolts down the passageway, cutting him off, and Jack is forced to decide whether he will bail off or cling to her back and go with her.

My stubborn, jack-hinny of a brother bails, rolling along the hard floor and reopening some of his wounds. Blood splatters where he hit and I walk past the little red droplets to get to my brother, fear and anger competing for dominance in my heart-pounding chest.

“Jack, so help me,” I growl. “I need you to go with Ran, you little idiot!”

“Not until—“ he wheezes in a breath, coughing it back up as he sits up with a wince across his soot-streaked face. I support him even as I want to punch him for his foolishness. “Not until you promise to come back to us. Our family cannot lose another.”

I cup his cheek, tears raining down my face to match his. His blond hair, so much longer than Momma used to let it get, falls in front of his eyes. I push it back from his face and take a breath, the fear and anger dissipating in the face of his raw emotion. He’s Father’s blood, just as I am. A born protector. I just hope I can talk him into getting into something nice and safe–like sewing. Ran snorts a laugh from behind me. I really look at him, and I know I will need to start treating him, not as the boy he was, but as the man he’s become.

“I promise to do everything I can to come back. The King has something in store, and I don’t think anything will get between me and his plans. Pray for me and go take care of Jill. She needs you. You’ve always been the most unselfish one of us all, Jack. You care with your entire heart and love with all you are. Don’t lose that. Don’t lose yourself. And never blame yourself for the actions of evil folk. There will always be evil, but with hope, one can and will prevail... even if it’s not always when and how we expect.”

He nods, leaning his forehead against mine.

“Don’t make me kill you twice, Ria,” he says, trying to smile.

I choke out a laughing sob, knowing my brother would bring me back merely to kill me again. “Go on, you little scoundrel. Love ya.”

“Love you more, sis. May The King light your path and guard your ways.”

He throws me one last look, grinning at his pun. I shake my head, a smile pulling at my lips.

Silver materializes from the darkness, making Ran jump straight up and almost knocking Jack from her back.

I scowl at the man, but he doesn’t seem to notice. Perhaps because it’s under the mask and I’m still glowing like a blowtorch.

Lighting my path indeed.

Ran trots off, taking my brother and the now freed fairies to safety.

I look at Silver, who watches me through an unreadable gaze.

“It’s time to hunt,” I say.