Shade waited there until night came. Nobody could be seen outside anymore. In that moment he decided to go and check out the tavern in which Helena went. The rain showed no sign of stopping and the road was muddy, but he didn’t seem to be touching the ground, rather walking slightly above it.
The whole town was silent, but as he approached the tavern things were getting noise. The people inside seemed to be in high spirits, talking and laughing loudly. He looked from the outside at the building, it was similiar to the one he was in back in Hazefol but smaller. Shade walked towards the door and with a heavy punch he shattered the wodden door to pieces.
All the joy and chatter that filled that place had all but vanished the moment that door was broken down. Everyone turned their heads towards the door, seeing the tall figure walk in. They were caught by surprise, cosnidering the fact they were drunk it took them some time to react.
Meanwhile Shade went straight to the tavern keeper that was sitting at the counter cleaning up a glass. The keeper was all shaking in his boots, frozen as he saw the tall figure approach him. He gave the keeper an angry look, his eyes were all cold and some kind of glimer could be seen from them “A girl wearing a cloak like mine came here. Where is she?” Shade addresed the keeper with an intimidating and chilling voice, although calm.
The tavern keeper seemed to have calmed down a little, but his voice was still shaking as he talked “N-No girl came by t-today. D-Definitly not one w-wearing a cloak like yours.” the keeper voice was shaking just as much as him, barely able to talk.
Just as Shade was about to say something, someone came from behind him, placing his hand on his shoulder, pulling him around “Who do you think you are? Breaking the door and ruining all the mood?” a man that was almost as tall as Shade said to him. His face was all mashed up, scars and burns. He was wearing a bandana over his head, a brown leather jacket with two knife holders around his chests, both of them filled with multiple knives, two blades at his wasit. Behind that man there were a few others as well, they seemed to be mercenaries or bandits.
Shade looked at him with a pissed face from beneath the hood, he shook off the man’s hand as he turned around to talk to the keeper. But the man didn’t let it slide off as he grabbed his hood, trying to pull him down. He only managed to get it off his head without making Shade move even a centimeter.
He turned around with an angry face, both of his horns and long ears could be seen now, since the hood wasn’t covering his head anymore. He grabbed the man by the neck and slamed him into the counter, breaking it to pieces. After which with a loud and angry tone he yelled “Where is the girl that came here today?”
Two of the men that were behind him pulled their swords and tried to attack him, but from beneath his cloak, his tail raised cutting ones arm as it rushed to the others neck, coiling around it as it lifted him in the air. His body convulsed and shaked until it finally grew still, he was then tossed to the side, knocking down a few tables. Everyone in the tavern had sober up at this point, they didn’t even dared shake at this point. Sitting still as if they were already dead.
Shade stepped on the face of the guy with which he broke the counter, squashing his head beneath his foot. He grabbed the tavern keeper by his face and lifted him up “Where is the girl?” he asked him again, but the man couldn’t even speak he was just muttering as he was crying. Shade’s fingers almost looked as if they were growing longer, until they grabbed hold of his head completely before squeezing it. The tavern keepers veins could be seen all over his face as it was turning read, one of his eyes popped out of his skull while the other was bleeding. In a matter of seconds his whole skull was crushed.
Shade turned around towards the others that were inside the tavern, looking all angry “Where is the girl?” he said with a loud voice, lowering his bloody hand down.
One of the men that was sitting in the tavern stood up, he looked like some commoner that got here after a day of work, judging by his colthes. He stood firm although his legs were shaking “Some people came behind her and hit her in the head. They wrapped her in some kind of bag before taking her away.” the man told Shade with a clear voice as he kept his distance.
Hearing what the man said, Shade’s eyes widen up, his gaze focused on that man. He walked towards him “Who took her? Where did they go with her?” although Shade’s tone did not change from how he addresed the keeper, this man didn’t seem to be afraid of him.
Despite his intimidating voice and horns. Most people around already figured out that he is a demon or something similar, reason why they all stood there frozen. But this man although scared, he tried to hide his fear.“They are probably bandits from how they looked.” the man making often pauses betwen sentances and taking deep breaths of air in order to stay calm “I saw them staying at an old barn... At the side of the town ... For the past couple of days.” making a bigger pause as he finished “So they might have taken her there.” he pointed in the direction in which the barn is.
Shade looked at him up closely, he extended his hands towards the man, which closed his eyes and gulped in a full breath of air. He thought that this was the end for him, that he might end up like other guys from earlier.
But to his surprise the demon only placed his hand on his shoulder, which made him suddenly jolt up, opening his eyes and giving out weird scream, Shade ignored all that “You shall take me there.”
He didn’t dare refuse him, how could he after all that happened. He couldn’t muster the strength to talk anymore after that scare so he answered just by noding his head. He walked towards the taverns exist as Shade followed close behind him.
Both of them got out, the man stopped for a moment in order to pick up one of the lamps that was hanging by the taverns door. The man pulled the hood from his cloak over his head as he went into the rain.
They walked through the village, it was all dark, the rain already made ground all muddy and the man started to move slower cause of that. He was taking glances behind him from time to time for he did not hear anything, footsteps or even a sign of movement, it was as if nothing was behind him. As he looked again behind he noticed that he wasn’t even touching the ground, he turned his head back to the road in an instant. His face was all sweating and filled with disblief.
The man was all shocked for a moment but then thought that he might be a mage of some sort. He couldn’t help but wonder what has he gotten himself into, he can’t do anything about it now so he shaked off the thought of it. After a few more minutes of walking the man made a sign with his hand, pointing towards an old barn. Although dim some light could be seen inside of that place.
Shade passed by the man, walking straight towards the place at a rushed pace. Quickly reaching its door and breaking it with a kick as he approached. Inside, the whole place was a huge open space filled with hay on the sides. An old wodden carriage on the right side, in the middle of place there was a lamp hanging by a rope.
On the opposite side of the entrance, there was a chair on which someone was sitting. Although you could barely see that person Shade immediatly recognized Helena, which was tied up. He took a few steps towards her and in that momemt tens of arrows came flying at him, each one of them hitting their mark and piercing Shade’s chest.
All around the place torches started to lit up, most of them being on the second floor of the barn. The light from each one of them revealing multiple people well armed, sitting in wait with bows ready to fire again. They were dressed similar to the ones he had killed back at the tavern.
Shade turned his head looking at those around as all the arrows that pierced him fell on the ground. Not even a single drop of blood dripped from where the arrows pierced, the men that were watching were all a bit shocked. Just as the last arrow dropped from his body, they all began firing again and again.
This time they couldn’t hit him anymore. He moved between those arrows like a snake, leaving an after image behind him. He rushed to one side of the barn and with one jump reaching its second floor and landing on one on of his attackers, crushing his chest with his legs. The quickly mades his way towards the rest that were on that same ledge as him. All the while avoiding the arrows that came from the other side of the barn.
Even so, they were too many and he would end up getting hit by one or two of the incoming arrows. Each time he got hit by one he would growl, not pain but anger. He ripped apart those attacking him, arms and legs where flying behind him. Some of them would break in half as he pulled their limbs apart leaving only organs spiled on the ground.
As he was butchering everyone inside the barn, a shadow appeared at the gate, a man covered in black rags. You couldn’t see his face or anything, with a voice thick as mud he yelled at those who were still standing “YOU FOOLS, SHOOT THE GIRL!”
All the men turned towards the direction the voice came from and immediatly took aim at Helena, sending their first volley of arrows at her. Shade saw them as they were about to shot and grabbed one of the bodies around him tossing it in front of Hecate, managing to block a few arrows and knocking her down so she wouldn’t be as an easy target as before.
Three still managed to hit her, two in her leg and one in the shoulder. She woke up with a scream as the arrows pierced her body. As she was crying in pain the bandits where preparing their second round of arrows.
Shade already rushed down, taking Helena from there and to a more covered place. She started to kick and squirm around as she felt that someone grabbed her, “Calm down” Shade to her. That made her stop struggling “I’ll go finish the rest, then we can leave.” he continued as he let her down behind the wooden carriage.
He rushed to deal with the rest of the thugs. As he was fighting them, the silhouette that was standing in front of the doors of the barn, tossed inside a round object that was set ablaze at one end. When it touched the ground the sphere broke to pieces and the fire spread like wild through out the place. Covering everything in falmes in a few moments, all the hay that was inside only helping the fire spread even faster.
Just as Shade managed to kill two of the remaining thugs, from below Helena started screaming with a panicked and shaking voice as the flames had completely surrounded her “Shade, help me out.” The smoke and fire covered the whole place and you could barely see where she was, but Shade managed to find her and got out by breaking through the barns wooden walls.
Screams could be heard from the barn as the remaining thugs were burned alive. The man that set the place ablaze couldn’t be seen anymore although Shade looked around after he got out. He laid Helena on the ground, cutting the ropes that binded her with his tail, she still had the arrows in her leg and shoulder, he reached out to pull one of them out, but Helena raised her hand stopping him, she barely speaked “Healer.” she made a pause “Take me there.” again another pause “The arrows... are poisoned.”
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Shade looked at her, he didn’t quite understand the concept of poison. But he did as he told her and turned into a wolf and with the help of his tail Helena managed to climb on him. He rushed towards the house of the healer. Through that dark night he made his way, the rain didn’t slow him down but something else did.
Helena fell off from his back as he crossed over a field. She wa coughing blood and could barely stand, she didn’t look good at all. Shade came close to her, licking her shoulder, a lot of blood came out of that wound, but dispate all that she managed to climb back on him.
He started running towards the healers house again, but a wild pair of deers that were running towards them made Shade jump so he wouldn’t hit them. That made Helena fall from his back again, he noticed immedialty and as soon as he touched the ground he jumped backwards making her fall on him so she wouldn’t get hurt.
As he looked at her, he noticed that she wasn’t doing well at all. She was breathing so heavily and loudly, not even a reaction or movement after all that happened. He whole body was shiverring while starring in the direction her head was pointed, not even blinking. Shade carefuly got up, from his back multiple dark strings grew. They went and wrapped themselves around Helena, pulling her on his back and keeping here safe.
After one hour of running he finally made it. He could see the forest where the Healers house is, the rain had already stopped. He didn’t stop in front of the door at all, he busted through it and went inside of the house while still in his wolf form.
The old woman was sleeping on the couch, in front of the fire in the living room. She jumped up in an instant as she heard the noise of her door breaking. “Oh, what have we here? Little puppy got lost?” the old woman said as she saw Shade in his wolf form with quite the surprised face “You shouldn’t barge into other peoples houses like that, it isn’t polite.” she continued while making some weird signs in the air with her hand, finishing with a push of her palm towards Shade.
A strong wind came blowing from her direction that sent him outside rolling, Helena was kept safe by the strings that wrapped around her although Shade got a bit roughed up from that. With a few more waves the old woman fixed her door and went back to sitting on the couch by the fire.
But not even a moment had passed and Shade barrged in again. This time the woman was already sober and noticed the strange cocoon like thing on his back “My, what an odd thing to have on your back.” just as she finished and Shade laid down on the floor. The strings on his back slowly unwrapping, revealing that which was inside. The old woman was amazed by that ability, but her face grew sever as she saw what was inside. Shade placed Helena on the floor using the strings. The old woman immediatly went towards her, checking her out. Shade took a few steps back as he started to turn back into his humanoid form.
The old woman checked her after pulling the arrows out. There was blood coming out of her nose, her mouth was slightly opened, her eyes were wide open but oddly frozen, her skin slightly more pale than before.
Mean time Shade turned back into his humanoid form and came closer to where they were “Seems like you took kind of long to get here.” the old woman said with a bit of a disappointed tone, as she moved her hand over by Helena’s eyes closing them as it passed.
Shade looked at her confused “What do you mean?” leaning his head to the right while looking down at her, his face completely emotionless.
The old woman got up, looking straight at Shade which was a lot taller than her “Her condition isn’t a really good one, she might die, very soon actually. The arrows that were left inside were poisoned, but if you pulled the one in her shoulder she would have bled to death. And because of that she got severly poisoned.” as the woman talked, Shade listend. His expression did not change at all, he looked so calm that you could say he didn’t care at all, it seems that the woman didn’t really like that.
“Can you help her out?” Shade asked her, but the woman looked at him with keen eyes, noticed not only the horns, but the tail as well and then it was that wolf form he had earlier “Maybe, but what is she, a human, to a demon like you?” she asked him straight away.
Shade took a bit to answer, the horns on his head vanished into a black smoke “She helped me out when i needed help the most, she had no reason to do so. If someone helped me, i will help them as well no matter what that might be.” he replied to her with a smooth and chilly voice “And, i’m not a demon as you say.”
The old woman was surprised to hear that from him, the last part was the most shocking one, she didn’t dare ask what he might be. Instead turned and looked down at Helena which was laying on the floor “Take her in your arms and follow me.” she told Shade which did as she said.
They reached a bedroom in the back of the house, it was a nice and warm place filled with plants and bookshelves “Place her on the bed.” the woman pointed towards the bed on the right side of the room.
Shade sat a few meters away from the bed, observing whatever the woman was doing. She took a few bottles with her, opening all of them, before placing them on a small chair that was by the bed. She then moved on towards Helena’s leg, pulling out one of the arrows. Squeezing the wound a little then grabbing one of the bottles and pouring its content onto the wound.
While she poured the liquid from the bottle she looked at Helena’s face, which didn’t even make the slightest gesture. She quickly continued removing the second arrow from her leg and doing the same thing, still no reaction. As for the last arrows, she had to tear apart the top of her dress since it was getting in the way, revealing her chest completely. Before pulling this one out she poured some of that liquid around the wound, then carefully removed it, placing a bandage over it to stop the bleeding. But even then she still didn’t show the slightest reaction.
The old woman looked a little concerned, she quickly jumped from the bed and rushed out of the room, slamming the door open as she left only to return after a few moments, she was holding a large leather pack with her, which she laid on the floor, inside of it there were lots of bottles, crystal and tools that Shade did not recognize.
The woman picked a few of the gems and a bottle along with a small knife as she headed back towards Helena, placing the bottle on the chair along with the crystals while holding the small knife in her hand “Can you help me a bit? Hold her hand like this.” she pointed out to Shade, which did as he was told without the slightest delay.
The woman made a cut on her wrist large enough to make blood flow without stopping, she threw the knife away and quickly opened the bottle she left on the chair along with the crystals, she poured the content on the wound, a black liquid sealed it off quickly. She dragged the small crystals across the liquid, making them go inside of her veins and upwards on her arm, the liquid slowly starting to glow blue inside of her. She held another crystal above her wrist, this one was blue which made those inside of her veins glow in a bright red. She started to move the crystal slowly across her body, which made both the crystals and liquid move through his body.
“She has a lot of poison in her system, look how blue its glowing and its not even half way yet.” she pointed out towards the liquid that had turned into almost a long blue snake moving inside of her “Keep presure just above the cut so she doesn’t lose blood.” she said with a rather calm voice to Shade as she continued to focus on getting the poison out.
The whole process took over two hours. The blue poisoned snake that formed finally reached her left arm “Give me the knife, quickly.” she raise her voice at Shade while extending her arm. He used a shadow like string to grab it and place it on her hand.
She didn’t even look at him, as soon as she felt the cold steel in her hand, she sliced open her other wris, making all the blue liquid flow out. Again she threw the knife away and grabbed the other bottle which she used before pouring the content on both wrists. This time a faint reaction of pain could be seen from Helena. She moved the large crystal she had in hand over Helena’s wrists, which turned from blue to yellow, sealing her wounds.
The old lady got up from the bed, sitting down on her floor, resting her back against the wall on the bedside. She looked towards Shade “I did all i could, there shouldn’t be any poison left in her body anymore.” she made a slight pause, wipping her face with a towel “But it was there for quite some time and might have done some damage. I can’t even say if she’ll get better, but if she doesn’t wake up in at most three weeks i don’t think she’ll make it.” she tried to exlained to him as best as she could and in the nicest way possible.
Although he was paying attention to her and heard every word, his expression remained blank during the whole time, not even a blink. He just noded his head after she finished. He moved towards the window and started looking at the night’s sky.
The old lady went back to her room, while Shade remained there standing, looking outside through the window. The night passed by quickly since half of it was spent with treating Helena. The morning sun rised up, making Shade go away from the window. He looked at Helena for a bit before going out of the room.
As he opened the door and on the other side the old lady was trying to come in with a plate filled up. There was a bowl of food on it while the rest of the things looked more like stuff to treat someone as welll as some of those stones she used yesterday “I thought you might get hungry, so i’ve brought you some food.” she pointed out towards the food, Shade moved out of the way letting her go in.
She placed the bowl on a small table on the side of the room, making a gesutre for him to come and eat. He just stood next to the door, not carrying about the foot. Resting his back against the wall while observing her every move.
She didn’t insist at all on him eating it and moved up towards Helena, which was laying on the bed, her body covered with a blanket with her arms outside of it. She checked her out quickly to see if she got any better or worse. She grabbed the stones, placing four of them around her pillow, two on the left side and two on the right side, four more at her feet in the same manner and lastly one stone in both of her palms. Closing her hands and tieing them up with a clean rag to keep the stones in place.
After finishing placing the stones and checking her wounds she left the room. Shade followed her towards the living room since he didn’t have anything to do. The whole place was filled with light and the smell of flowers from all the plants hanging around. She sat down on her chair, turning her head towards Shade which was looking at the shelves filled with books “How should I adrress you?” with tender voice she asked.
He turned his head in her direction, making quite a pause before answering “Shade.” his answer was straight.
She got up from her chair and walked over to him, pulling out a book from the shelf “You can call me Cyath.” she extended the book towards Shade “If you are that interested in book, you can start with this one, you might learn something from it.”
He didn’t react at first, he only looked at the book’s cover. It was covered with a greenish leather, rather old with no writing on it. He took it from her hand and started shuffling through it. It was well written and had some pictures from time to time showing some herbs as well as tools. Shade seemed to be quickly caught up by its content, but in just half an hour he managed to finished reading all of it.
He went towards Cyath which was sitting on her chair reading her own book. He placed it on the small table on her right side.
She looked at him “Did you get bored of it already?” a smile showed up as she said it, almost as if she expected it to happen.
But Shade’s reply was something she didn’t expect “I finished it, can i get another one?” he asked with a straight and blunt face.
She couldn’t believe it that someone could finish such a large book this fast “Sure, you can grab any from the shelf.” she said while making a gesture with her hand pointing towards it.
Shade stood in front of the shelf, reading book after book and placing them back from where he got them. The lady would pass by him from time to time but he didn’t even turn around, she even tried to make some sudden noises to see if he’ll react. But nothing would make him flinch, not even when she cooked some delicous food that filled the air within the house, almost as if he wasn’t there and what she was seeing was just a shadow.
She soon gave up on him and went to check on Helena. She did so regulary, around five times a day, each day. No matter when she would go into the living room, Shade would be reading books, but the amount of books that were in the house wasn’t that small so it would take him quite some time to finish them and maybe that’s why he is even reading, to make time pass by faster.