The smouldering remains of a building reflected in Rena's eyes. The damage was substantial, but she didn't have time to linger. A howl beckoned her. Most of the raiders had returned from whence they came, but she could not take for granted that there weren't stragglers. Ever vigilant, Rena followed the call of her pack.
Filibuster and Blarney sniffed and wandered in circles. Once they saw Rena, they greeted her with wagging tails. She approached them, rubbing their snouts and letting them chew affectionately on her arms. Blarney whined and scratched at cellar doors which had been barred shut with a pitchfork and sturdy rope.
Rena knelt down and concentrated. Two heartbeats were detected below. Prisoners? One of them was very fast and familiar.
"Maple? Are you down there?"
"Rena?" came Nel's muffled response. "Rena! Get us out!"
Rena didn't need any further encouragement. She cut the rope and slid the tool out, and pulled the doors open. "Nel? Maple?"
Nel looked up at Rena, raising a hand and squinting from the light shone on her. "Maple's resting. But you need to find Ash! They took him!"
Rena's heart skipped a beat. "What happened?"
"Ash ran off to go help Cat. Maple was sick so I was attending to her. Before I could go get Ash, I was locked in and he was screaming for help! You need to find him! YOU MUST!"
"I will!" Rena stood up and dusted the snow from her knees. "Go home for now. I've already been by, and Jillian is safe."
"And Peter? What of Peter?"
"Wounded, but alive." Rena patted Blarney who leaned his shoulder against her leg. Nel looked as though she might faint. Rena reached out to steady her, but Nel put up a hand.
"Go. Just go. I'll be fine."
"But..."
"GO!"
"As you wish. Here, take my light; I don't need it," Rena set her hand-crank flashlight on the steps. She patted Blarney and then whistled to get Filibuster's attention. "Come on boys, let's go find Ash."
Rena picked up a discarded tuque which she recognised. Inspecting the tracks left behind, she observed signs of a struggle in their chaotic arrangement. Rena scratched Filibuster's ear and placed the knitted cap in front of him. "Give that a good sniff."
Nel finally emerged from the cellar as Filibuster hopped side to side and barked. He chased his tail a few times before sniffing the ground and heading off along the trail. Rena looked over her shoulder as Nel guided a very shaken Maple back home. She exchanged glances with Nel, her jaw set in determination. Guilt chased the light out of Nel's eyes moments before she looked away.
Filibuster accelerated to a trot, forcing Rena to keep up. Eventually the trail led to one of the palisades surrounding the town. Other footprints converged with them at that spot, and there were many impressions in the snow. Rena knelt down as Filibuster whined and scratched at the thick wood that barred his path. Blarney caught up and decided to roll right in the middle of the tracks Rena was analysing. "BLARNEY!" Rena scolded. He quickly rolled onto his belly, lowering himself, pinning his ears back and dropping his tail. He whined through his nose meekly. "You should be sorry."
Rena sighed and examined the wall. Fibres stuck out between the tapered timbres. Using a nearby crate for a boost, Rena climbed up to inspect the trace further. "Hemp..." Rena muttered. Fresh perforations in the wood caught her attention. "Perhaps a grappling hook and rope."
Rena carefully placed her hands between spikes and hoisted herself further up to peek over the wall. Trying to get over without being grazed was proving difficult. She could not imagine how mortals would have done it easily while carrying a fighting child. At the base of the palisades on the other side were a series of shapes in the snow. Her eyes went to a pile of discarded planks. "Makeshift ramp, maybe."
Rena dropped back down. Blarney looked up at her then quickly away, still lying in the snow. Rena scratched his ears. "Blarney, you're fine."
Rena glanced towards the east where omens of dawn manifesting on the horizon. "I'm sorry Ash... hold on a while longer." Rena was just about to turn and head back when Filibuster and Blarney began barking excitedly. Although they could not speak with words Rena could understand that they caught a fresh scent. Ash may be close, but not for long. Rena stared at the horizon with great trepidation.
"Alright, you two, I'm trusting you."
Rena knelt down and picked up Blarney, hoisting him up on her shoulders. From there, he was able to scramble over the wall without catching himself on the sharpened tips. Filibuster followed. Lastly, Rena crested the palisade and landed on the other side. The brothers sprinted ahead and Rena dashed after them.
Just shy of the treeline, the wolfdogs halted and growled. An image in her mind formed. Cat. Gun. Danger. Rena glanced up just in time to see Cat and John step out from behind a pair of poplars.
"What have you done with Ash?" Rena demanded, raising a hand to shield her eyes from the light they shone on her face.
"Only one came to retrieve the boy?" John scoffed.
"We'll take what we can get." Cat fired a shot at Rena. Liquid pain injected into her thigh. But once the shock wore off, Rena concentrated on that crippling pain until she could will it away. Ready for a fight, Rena charged at Cat. Seeing the whites of Cat's eyes was satisfying to Rena as her foe fell to her assault, a hand clutching the scavenger's throat. Before John could pull her off of Cat, Rena had grabbed the gun and pointed it at Cat's forehead. John's hands, which had seized Rena's shoulders, froze, neither letting go, nor trying to pull her away.
"I will ask one more time. Where is Ash?"
Cat went from staring in awe to a haughty glower. With a small shake of her head, she cued something to John. He released Rena and made a run for it, leaving Cat to her fate. Rena briefly glanced over to the two dogs who had been laying low and gave a head tilt with a sharp whistle. Immediately, they set off after John. Rena looked back down at Cat.
"If you don't want John to be a feast for the wolves, you will tell me what you did with Ash."
"John can handle himself," Cat said calmly, her drooping eyelids and out of focus eyes showing a dissatisfying lack of alarm about the gun pressed into her forehead.
"We'll see," Rena muttered. She glanced back up at the sky. She didn't have time. Rena closed her eyes and focused on the two wolf dogs. Their hearts were racing as they chased the fleeing raider. Do not attack. Stalk. Follow. Find their home. With this intention firmly in mind, she howled. Hearing the howls in response, she opened her eyes again. "Good night, Cat."
Rena's other hand clamped down on Cat's throat in a blood choke. She focused on the other woman's heart and circulation as it was cut off from her brain. Rena mentally counted to eight, and her captive lost consciousness. Rena held her throat only a few seconds longer while her other hand set the gun down and worked on undoing her belt. Once it was free, Rena removed the pressure. She had to work quickly to bind Cat so that when she woke up, she was not a threat.
Rena hefted a groggy Cat onto her shoulder and sped off back to the settlement. She could sense the impending sunrise, and panic urged her forward. She had to hope that her canine companions would fulfil their mission without more casualties. But it was a lot to ask of them.
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Hot water would have been a blessing. Layla sat upon her bedroll with her legs crossed, an arm raised as she cleaned her armpit with her flannel. Hygiene was a lesser concern as a vampire. They themselves could not get diseases from filth. But Layla preferred feeling clean, and even if all she had for water was melted snow, she was determined to observe her ritual cleansing. She could see through the diffuse red light that the sun was setting.
"Need help with those hard to reach spots?"
"You're awake early," Layla observed, not bothering to look back at Cyrus. There was no privacy in the tent they shared, but she didn't need it. There was nothing she needed to hide from him.
"Yeah, well, I passed out almost as soon as the tent was up."
Layla continued to wipe herself down, ignoring Cyrus. Unusual silence followed. She had no desire to disturb it. Eventually Cyrus would say or do something.
Layla's wrist was grabbed from behind and the cloth taken out of her hand. She looked over her shoulder at Cyrus who was close behind her. "Women always take too long." Cyrus muttered as he began to wash her back. "And if all goes well, we'll have a busy evening." Layla instead began unbraiding her hair, grabbing her comb which she'd set atop her neatly folded clothes, using her time efficiently. "Sometimes seeing you like this, I can almost smell jasmine. It's just a memory, but I enjoy it."
"How sentimental," Layla said as she worked out a small tangle. Cyrus was almost done with her back.
"I also miss balmy Mediterranean nights." Cyrus handed her back the cloth. "And the warmth. I wonder if they have hot baths here." As Layla plaited her hair she felt Cyrus kiss her neck. But her fingers did not stall as she focused on the task at hand.
"Does this mean I am forgiven?" Layla asked as she tied the end of her ebony locks with a ribbon.
"I told you I couldn't stay mad," Cyrus said. He placed a hand on her shoulder, but then stood up. "But I'm not going to forget any time soon."
Layla shrugged and shifted position, bringing up one knee to reach her foot. She could hear shuffling behind her and the whisper of fabric, ending with the sharp sound of a zipper.
"I hope those Day sisters got that meeting set up. I want to get our business here done as quickly as possible and get on our way." Cyrus walked around in front of Layla, squatting down in front of her as he watched her, staring at her face, willing her to respond.
"But you prefer civilisation," Layla went through the motions. He wanted a conversation, thus a conversation he would have.
"Eh. I came through this place briefly with Rena and got strip searched by a mannish woman with a gun." Layla looked up from her toes and fixed Cyrus with a long, weighted stare. She didn't need to say anything, as he immediately launched into further explanation. "Yes, yes, I know. What's the problem with that? I mean, I'm not ashamed of my body as you well know. It was just her attitude. Also did I mention that Rena had staked me just the evening prior? I still had a wound from that and she prodded at it. I mean, rude!"
"Rena staked you?"
"Oh yeah, I didn't mention that, did I? No big deal. She only tried to stake and decapitate me. I got out of the way and we had a bit of a tussle. But we worked things out. I suppose I shouldn't have kissed her, but I was just happy to see her after all that time away." Layla listened, her eyebrows furrowing as she finished cleaning. She wrapped herself up in a dry blanket while her mind picked over the revelation. She had taken a greater risk than she had realised in sending Cyrus here ahead of herself. She had miscalculated the strength of Rena's grudge versus her obligation to her grand sire. Troubling.
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"Someone approaches," Layla observed upon hearing the muffled creak of footsteps in powdered snow.
"Well hurry and get your clothes on, woman." Layla stared at him, for his words were spoken intentionally loud enough anyone outside would hear. There was a pause and a small gasp, as twin heartbeats both grew quicker for a moment before settling down. A common pattern in embarrassment. Silently Layla began pulling on the various layers of clothing necessary to keep warm and limber while Cyrus stepped outside.
"Ah, just on time, ladies. Have you began the recruitment drive?" Cyrus voice drifted in as Layla's fingers deftly fastened her belt.
"Madam Gold's agreed to a meetin'. There'll be advisors, too. We ain't recruiting no one without her say-so, so don't embarrass us, Cyrus." Layla identified the voice as Linda's as she pulled on her kuspuk. She picked up her fur-lined parka and pulled it over her head.
"Embarrass you? I promise, I will be a perfect gentleman!"
"Not sure folk here got the same idea of gentleman you do. Just tone it down, alright, Cyrus?" Lily entreated softly.
"For you? Anything," Cyrus' response was so saccharine it was a mockery of all things kind and sweet. Layla could detect a change in their heartbeats again. Linda was unmistakably angry. Lily, though, it was harder to tell without visual cues whether she was upset, afraid, or flattered. Layla finished lacing her boots and finally stepped outside.
"Let's go."
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Lily led everyone into the community hall, lit by dying pot lights. Metal collapsible chairs were set up in neat rows facing the main platform, where an empty podium stood. Butterflies danced in her stomach as she turned to Cyrus and Layla.
"I'm sure Madam Gold will be along shortly." At least, she hoped she would.
A clack-clip-clock announced the telltale arrival of Madam Gold. Assisted by an ornate but functional cane, she strode with purpose to the podium. She was followed by three others, all wearing thick winter coats. It was a relief to see modern clothes again, after living among the homespun styles of Fisham. But Lily's relief soon drained when she realised they weren't Madam Gold's advisors with her. These were all security, including Sheriff Black. Lily quickly pinched her cheek to coax some colour out of them, then ran her hands over her thighs to wick the sweat forming on her palms.
"I am Madam Gold, leader and protector of this huddle," Madam Gold croaked, her voice having lost most of its timber, leaving some hollow, scratchy noise behind. "You must be Layla and Cyrus, from Fisham."
Lily and Linda quickly rose to their feet, hands on their thighs as they bowed. Layla immediately stood and did the same. Cyrus glanced around, and then lagged behind with the same gesture.
"You are correct. I am Cyrus Tinker, and this is Layla Samara." Cyrus gestured with an open hand to Layla, and she nodded. Lily glanced anxiously at Madam Gold, who did not look overly impressed. Cyrus continued, "Layla and I have not been at Fisham long, but we represent their interests all the same. We have left Fisham on a most important mission."
Madam gold leaned on the podium for support and began tapping her index finger. "A mission? And what has it to do with us?"
"I said it was important, did I not?" Layla discreetly stroked Cyrus' elbow, then tapped her foot three times. A few days prior Lily would not have caught these subtle communications, but after spending time alone with them, she noticed they had a language all unto themselves. Cyrus cleared his throat. "The Bleak is expanding. With it, these vamps, as you call them, are on the rise. We seek answers to the cause of the White Plague, and to its eradication. We have obtained information that suggests answers lay in a city about eight hundred kilometres southwest of here. But we need supplies and volunteers."
Madam Gold narrowed her dark eyes. "Supplies? And what'll stop you from just running off and never being seen again? Think we ain't heard miracle cures and the like before?"
"We're not saying we have the cure. We're saying we're looking for it. Or the knowledge we need to develop it. Fisham has an impressive medical lab in the making. Isn't that right, Lily?" Cyrus looked over meaningfully. She stared at him, stuttering a moment before looking at Madam Gold. Lily didn't like being put on the spot.
"It's true. They got a hospital and beds and supplies and doctors." Lily hadn't realised she was fidgeting until her sister stilled her hand. "And I'm gonna go with them on their journey, that's how much I believe in them." Lily gave Linda's hand squeeze.
"I'd advise against it, Lily. You're young and don't know the ways of the world," Madam Gold rasped disapprovingly.
"Oh, I've been learning," Lily responded, but she edged even closer to Linda, their arms touching.
Madam Gold arched a pencil thin eyebrow, then dismissively looked back to Layla and Cyrus. "Well, like you said, skinny, them vamps will be flooding in." Cyrus opened his mouth to protest, but quickly shut it when Madam Gold noisily cleared her throat and continued. "White Warrens already been hit by some vamps, and I hear Fisham was too. We need everyone protecting Goldilocks. But Willowbrook and Perch probably got folk to spare."
"Heh. Well I don't mean to boast..." Cyrus began, quickly earning a scathing look from Linda, "...but I fought off quite a few of the vamps that hit Fisham. But if we can find a cure, then you won't have to put so much into patrols and vamp-hunts." Cyrus smiled as pleasantly as he could. "And if we get a large enough party, we can split up and cover more ground. Why not call a meeting where we can present our case to your people, and let them decide if any are brave enough to come along with us?"
Madam Gold tapped her finger on the podium. "I decide for the town, for their own good. It's how we survive," Madam Gold said severely. "For that matter, Lily, you should go back to your parents. Linda. I'm surprised you allowed Lily to leave."
Linda stared at Madam Gold. She had been unusually silent. "We had our reasons," Linda said, her voice not as forceful or confident as it had been in the past. Lily swallowed hard and looked down, feeling miserable under Madam Gold's scrutiny. But the Madam was always critical of her, but she was never sure why.
"Would it have something to do with that Perch boy?" Madam Gold's lined face twisted into a haughty sneer.
How did she know? Lily felt a panic swell up, but it also might explain the disdain directed towards her. Linda wore an equally hostile sneer, but quickly subdued her expression. "What do you know of Jay?" Lily finally asked.
"He spoke of a madman who tore Beth's throat out, then imprisoned him. Pale, black hair..." Madam Gold looked over at Cyrus. Cyrus, who had been slouching, sat up straight. Lily also looked at Cyrus. While her eyes were wide before, they were positively bulging now as a shaky hand covered her agape mouth. Cyrus' eyebrows shot up and he looked between Lily and Madam Gold. The revelations just kept getting worse.
"Hey now, that could be anyone," Cyrus said, hands out in a placating manner. "Do I look like a madman to you?"
Layla rose to her feet almost the same time Lily did. Both spoke at the same time, their words lost to each other. They looked at each other, and Layla quickly sat back down, giving Lily the priority. Trying to hide her trembling, Lily faced Cyrus "You hurt Jay? You're the reason he never showed up!? The reason I thought he..." She thought he'd abandoned her. But all along, he had been a prisoner of Cyrus.
Linda sprang to her feet, quick to pounce on anything that further blackened Cyrus's reputation. "You're the reason Lily was attacked! If not for you, she'd still be-" Linda had to stop herself short, looking towards Madam Gold.
"Still be what?" Madam Gold asked sharply.
"She'd... still be home and safe. Not runnin' about with, with... him!" Linda pointed her thick finger at Cyrus.
Madam Gold noisily cleared her throat and rapped her cane on the platform. She looked at one of the men stationed behind her. "Bring him in." Wordlessly, the man rose and headed to a side door. Sheriff Black sighed and leaned back, looking disinterested in the proceedings.
Cyrus snorted. "You're all getting ahead of yourselves."
"We'll see," Madam Gold interjected before Linda could bombard Cyrus with more accusations. "Bring him in."
The door creaked, and Lily could not believe who stepped into the room. "Jay!" Lily called out excitedly, rushing over to him with arms wide. His strong arms wrapped around her and she nuzzled her face into his leather coat. She looked up at him as an expression of bewilderment turned to relief. It was short lived once Jay caught sight of Cyrus.
"That's him. That's the monster!" Jay condemned. Lily held him tighter, craning her neck to see Cyrus's response. This was not how she wanted this meeting to go.
"Woah now! Before you gather the angry mob, that woman came at me first, and this upstart only saw me defending myself!"
"Defending yourself!? You tore out her throat with your teeth! You're no man!"
Immediately, the two men who had accompanied Madam Gold had weapons out. Sheriff Black remained seated, but lazily drew her revolver. In response, Cyrus rose, and if not for Layla placing a hand on his chest to stay him, he looked ready to launch himself into a brawl.
Immediately, fingers began pointing, and a cacophony of words trying to speak over each other hammered on Lily's senses. She looked imploringly at Madam Gold who seemed agitated, her voice unable to compete with the hollering, accusations, and indignations filling the air. The cane came down on the podium with a resounding THWACK. Everyone paused and this time looked at the Madam. After an expanse of time spent clearing her throat, Madam Gold spoke. "You said you came from Fisham. Was it a mistake letting them into the Ward?"
"No." Layla said resolutely. "We only recently arrived in Fisham."
"Really? Cause sounded like you lot were speaking for them." Madam Gold hooked her cane in the crook of her arm so she could cross them, lifting her chin and peering down her pinched nose at Layla and Cyrus.
"Someone from Fisher was gonna join us, but couldn't come. But let me say the time we spent at Fisham, they're good folk!" Lily insisted. She stepped away from Jay, who looked astonished at Lily, as if something occurred to him.
"Lily, you been carrying on with these psychos?" Jay asked, tilting his head to Cyrus and Layla.
"Layla's not a psycho. I don't think. Cyrus..." Lily frowned and wrapped her arms around herself uncomfortably. "...fooled us all."
"Lily!" Cyrus placed his hands on his hips. Layla bumped his elbow with her own, catching his eye and giving him a shake of her head. Cyrus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he looked down for a moment. He then dropped his hand, giving a unilateral shrug. "Look, you might not believe us, but both of us..." Cyrus gestured to Layla, "...came here from Europe."
"Europe?" Madam Gold repeated the word as if it took her a moment to think what it meant. "Overseas? Folk ain't come here from overseas in hundreds of years."
"You exaggerate! It's only been a bit over one century since North America became off limits," Cyrus corrected. He remained unabashed by all of the glares his comment collected.
"So how'd you get here?" Madam Gold asked. Lily looked curiously over at Cyrus. Jay, just placed a hand on her shoulder, but he was feeling twitchy as if impatient.
"Well, that's a funny story in and of itself..." Cyrus said, eyes lighting up with the opportunity to regale the room.
"Cyrus stowed away in an air drop, and I crossed the Bering Strait." Cyrus gave Layla an irritated glance, but didn't chastise her.
"Cross the what?" Madam Gold repeated, tilting her head.
Layla stared at the room. "Bering Strait. Narrow part of the sea between Alaska and Russia." Lily looked around, feeling relieved by the blank stares that she was not the only one who still had no frame of reference. Madam Gold made a valiant effort to hide her ignorance with a sage nod.
"Why ain't more people crossing the... Boring Strait?"
"Military outposts. But Russia destabilised. It gave me an opportunity to sneak across." Layla sat back down, placing her hands on her lap.
"Oh who cares about straits and Russia?" Jay finally interrupted, balling his fists. "We have a monster among us! And in Perch, we don't let monsters live. So why is he still standing?"
"Jay!" Lily blurted defensively. "He's not all bad!" She felt attacked. It hurt to have Jay speak of monsters, knowing that she was on the verge of becoming one herself.
Jay grabbed Lily, spinning her around. With his hands on her shoulders he stared intensely into her eyes. "You said yourself you were fooled. Why do you defend..." Jay slowed down, his eyes widening then narrowing as he looked Lily over with more scrutiny. "...Him?" Before Lily could stop him, he snatched off the scarf tied around her head, exposing her shaved scalp. "Lily...? No..." Jay gave her a push back while stepping away from her quickly, as if he'd stuck his hand in a fire. Lily barely managed to catch herself from falling on her rump. But she immediately felt the pangs of rejection and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Jay... what..." Lily's hands went to her shorn head. Linda bounded over to her sister's side. "What's wrong? It's just hair. It will grow back..." Lily knew it was more than about her hair. But she couldn't face it. What had Jay seen in her?
"And will it be white when it does?" Jay asked.
"What are you..." Fear needled her gut.
"Her eyes. They're red!" Surprised, Linda looked at Lily, peering closely into her eyes. Lily stared at Linda, shaking. What was her sister seeing? What did Jay see? Lily wished desperately that she had a mirror and she looked around, but there were no reflective surfaces. The windows had been replaced by wooden shutters long ago.
Lily was caught off guard at hearing Cyrus's voice cussing behind her. A hand came heavily on her shoulder and she flailed, but was spun around despite her protests to face Cyrus. His eyes darted around and then gazed into her eyes. "Well, damn." He frowned. The tears that had been forming finally began falling down Lily's cheeks as she struggled to get out of Cyrus's grasp. She needed to get away. She needed to see for herself. Her legs took off, but her momentum was quickly cut short as her arms were painfully yanked back.
"Let me go! Let me go, please, I'm not a monster!" Lily exclaimed, fighting with Sheriff Black, who had seized her. She heard Linda yell something incomprehensible and turned and saw her sister fighting against one of the other men, who was holding her back from attacking the Sheriff.
"Fighting's no good," Sheriff Black said tiredly.
"Bring her," Madam Gold instructed. Lily looked to Cyrus pleadingly, and Linda continued to try and stop Lily from being taken away.
"Let my sister go! You KNOW Lily! She's a good girl!" Linda got a blow to the side of her head for her troubles, causing her to stagger back. Lily screamed and fought harder, but Sheriff Black had been doing this a long time.
Lily was forced to stand in front of Madam Gold for inspection. "Pale skin. Red eyes." Madam Gold ran her veiny hand over the stubble of Lily's shaved crown. "Patches of white... hard to see, but my eyes ain't easy to fool," Madam Gold tapped Lily's trembling lips, before forcing them apart. "No fangs. Yet." Madam Gold frowned. "But the signs are all here.
"So, what do we do with her?" Sheriff Black asked.
"Take her to be executed."