Deals With the Devil

NO TRESPASSING

“Are you sure no one is here?” Elizabeth Lykaios asked her best friend and adopted sister, Molly, as they climbed over the fence. She glanced at the lightly rusted No Trespassing sign a few yards down the fence, not really reading the words. “I have a really bad feeling about this.”

“Come on, Beth,” Molly teased as she slipped off the fence. “We’ve done this five times already. No one lives here. That sign is just for show!”

Beth rolled her eyes. “I’m not talking about the sign, Molly. I just have a bad feeling about doing this today, and I’ve learned to trust my gut.”

“Sweetie. I can’t smell anyone near us; the only scents I have found are those of us, wild animals, and members of the pack. Dad has had a warrior check the forest every week since we found you.” Molly grabbed Beth’s hand and pulled her down their faintly marked path. “I want to hear the rest of your story, and this is the best place for you to read it aloud.”

Although she was leery, Beth let Molly lead her through the forest. Only someone actively searching for their markings would be able to faintly see, let alone understand, the significance of the tiny divots etched into the bark of less than a dozen trees throughout the forest. Even their father’s warriors could not find the girls' hiding place in the forest.

The duo walked past zones of majestic trees during their twenty minute hike from the entrance of the forest to their destination: the Elder Tree. This tree loomed miles above the rest with its natural nest of branches, making the perfect seat for the two teenage girls.

Beth’s hand rested on the hilt of the dagger that rested on her waist; the same dagger that she had held onto since she met her new family. She vigilantly scanned the area while Molly climbed the tree to the nest. After glancing over her shoulder one last time, Beth tossed her satchel bag up to Molly and scaled the tree.

“See? We are perfectly safe up here,” Molly teased, trying to stifle a yawn. “You can watch the ground if you want while I take a well deserved nap.”

“Are you kidding me?” Beth asked with a scowl, not taking her eyes from her survey of the forest below. “You dragged me all the way out here just to take a nap?”

Hearing no response, she glanced back over at her sister and couldn’t help but smile. Molly was fast asleep with her head propped against the satchel bag. Beth took one last glance around the tree before resting her back against its branches. Gradually, her eyes grew heavier and heavier. Although she desperately tried to fight it, the urge to fall asleep quickly took over Beth’s body.

The two girls slept for the rest of the morning in peace before Beth woke up with a start. Her hand dropped her dagger as she looked around her surroundings, having to remind herself that she wasn’t in a basement. She stretched her tired limbs before peering over the edge of the branches.

As she settled back down into her seat, perhaps to take another nap, something in her mind clicked, and she looked back over the edge of the branches. With nearly a silent gasp, Beth shook Molly awake, motioning for her to remain quiet and take a look.

A slight whisper of fear filled both their minds as they watched more than a dozen black-clad soldiers march closer and closer to their tree. These soldiers created a circle almost completely around them, stopping barely a meter from the base of the tree. They stood at attention, not even a breeze creating a touch of motion around them.

A lone man, dressed in a formal uniform, rode his jet black horse to the only gap in the circle. Two riderless horses followed behind him, stopping at a subtle flick of the man’s hand.

“We know you are awake, ladies,” the man on the horse said with a voice that screamed Beta. He was these men’s leader, but he was not their Alpha. “Toss your bag to the ground before climbing down yourselves. Two of my men will grab your bag and help you mount your horses. You will let them do this, and you will let us take you to the king.”

The two girls glanced at each other. “Is there an Alpha King?” Beth asked.

“No. These men aren’t wolves. I think they are humans, but we have never found any humans living in this forest,” Molly whispered back. “I don’t know how we haven’t found them if they supposedly have a king.”

“Just watch my back while I slide down. Let’s see their “king” before we make any decisions,” Beth said confidently. “We don’t have a way to tell the pack what is going on anyway.”

Climbing down, Beth made sure that she only had her back to the soldier for a few seconds at a time. She called up the tree without looking away from them once she had reached the ground. As Molly tossed down her bag, Beth broke eye contact for a split second. Molly followed moments later, dropping the last meter and landing on her feet; the perks of being a werewolf. Two men stepped out of the circle to take the bag from Beth.

“Get on the horses,” the larger of the two ordered, shoving the girls roughly. “Now.”

“Come on, Molly. They won’t hurt us if they do what they say,” Beth murmured, pulling her sister behind her. What she didn’t say was that she wanted to hide the fact that Molly was, in fact, a werewolf for as long as they could. “It’s not worth the fight yet.”

The group started moving barely a moment after Beth was seated in the saddle of her horse. The commander took her bag from his soldier and rode a few paces behind the girls. Half of his soldiers marched in front, and the other half marched behind the commander. At a steady jog, the group traveled much deeper into the forest.

After traveling nearly five leagues, the group approached an old, run-down, stone house. There was a smaller stable to the side, where they left the three horses. With a hand on each of the girls’ shoulders, the commander led them into the house.

“That house can’t hold all of us!” Molly whispered, grabbing Beth’s hand tightly. Like most wolves, she hated being in cramped quarters. “What are they going to do to us?”

“There must be a basement,” Beth muttered to herself. “But it must be huge to fit all of these men at the ‘king’ that they speak of.”

The commander grumbled at their speed. “Come on, girli-”

Her teacher was standing there. His tie had been removed, and his lavender purple shirt was slightly untucked.

“Come on, girlie,” he said in his deep voice. “I need your help.”

Beth shuddered slightly at the memory before focusing on the little house. Just inside the door was a staircase leading deeper into the earth. Molly was shaking slightly with fear and claustrophobia while Beth gently pulled her along.

“How come you aren’t scared, Beth?” Molly whispered like a squeaky mouse while they struggled down the steep stairs.

“I’m terrified, but this isn’t my forest rodeo,” Beth replied. “Nor am I afraid of small spaces. Follow my lead and let me do all the speaking since they are human.”

At the bottom of the forty-five stairs - yes, Beth counted - stood a set of gigantic, double doors. They appeared to be made of solid wood. The commander strode over to the door. As he was about to open them, he spotted the dagger at Beth’s waist.

“Give me the dagger,” he ordered, holding out his hand.

“No. I will not give up my only sense of protection.”

He was interrupted by a voice from the other side of the door. “Lord Sadiki. Let her keep her weapons for now. She will not be able to harm me.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Lord Sadiki said with a slight bow. He pushed open the double doors before turning back to the girls. “Follow me, ladies.”

Beth and Molly followed cautiously. The warriors stood at the entrance to the long hall. At first, the room was nearly pitch black. As they ventured further, they saw flickering torches placed along the walls. The distance between the torches grew smaller and smaller as they went deeper into the "kingdom".