Blood By Candle-Light

Chapter Three: So She Flees

Abandoned Cottage – Continued

Moans synchronized from Augustus’s sucking and Thrimina’s arousal permeating the corner of the dismal bedroom. Thrimina forced her eyes open as she felt her life force slipping away.

She gyrated against him, causing his member to erect further. He unlatched, groaning with delight. From here, he carried her to the bed, where she forcibly flipped him to lay on his back. Thrimina straddled him, looking back at a small candle holder that sat on the floor next to her. Her eyes gleamed, trying to seduce Augustus.

It appeared to work, as his gloved hands pranced along her belly down to her flower. She arched back, reached over, and retrieved the candle holder. With one stroke, she slammed the object against his skull, knocking him out. Leaping off, she sprinted out the door and down the hall, looking for the entrance or back door to escape through.

Once she found the back door, she nearly jumped out before she felt a cold hand gripped her ankle. It was Augustus. Laying on the dirt, she kicked and kicked until his hat fluttered in the air, and his face started to rot. He let go and she darted into the forest.

Augustus would have to wait for nightfall before pursuing her further.

***

Thrimina Feilde’s POV

I look back, thinking Augustus was catching up with me. His face sizzling in the sunlight makes me laugh while still running for my life. As I look back once more, I trip and fall flat on my face. I skid about a few feet, which created a few scrapes along my breasts, hips, and legs.

The cool breeze is comforting as it brushes across my dainty nose, though the cuts sting a bit. Must find some water.

I can’t remember the last time I ate or drank. It’s been months, at least. Ever since the increasing rate of deaths within my pack, I feared leaving the bunker my mother created for us. And whenever we sent one out, we could feel their lives being drained. Some died from hunger, others from dehydration while in hiding, however. When she and I were the only ones left, she made the choice to escape, bringing me with her, but she was ambushed by a rather large and dark force, and she told me to run.

Tears flow from me as I manage to find a small creek of freshwater, remembering what has happened in the past couple of days. I kneel and lap my tongue over the water as though I’m in my animal form, hungrily consuming as much as I can before dipping my feet in. I should clean up, maybe that will heal me of my moderate afflictions, I think to myself.

The water feels soothing against my skin, and my cuts and puncture wounds heal in minutes. My feathered-fox, Diecana, hasn’t been out in some time. It’s time for her to emerge.

My back arches to the sky as the bones separate and realign themselves. Feather chutes spring forth from the pores of my spin. The jaw stretches, extending four inches forward, fitting my canines in order. My eyes adjust to gold, with hints of blue around the iris. Diecana’s tail plumes back, intertwining with fur and elongated feathers in all shades of blue and gold. The snout is the darkest shade of midnight blue, sprinkled with dots that resemble stars. An inverted crescent adorns the center above Diecana’s eyes.

“Long time, no see,” I say, my spirit sitting on the middle of her back.

She tilts her head to the side, panting. “Likewise.” Her nails dig into the compacted earth, then sprints forward. With the wind blowing against us, I feel so calm and free.

Diecana gravitates forward, crashing on her side while yelping. I scream along with her as the weight of her body crushes me. I lift up and turn my head back, seeing a star dagger on the ground. Pushing myself away from Diecana, I see gold blood oozing from her ribcage.

“No, no, no, no!” I blurt out, pressing my ghostly hand against her.

She looks behind me, growling.

“Finally caught you, b***h,” a woman says.

I have to do something, quickly. The woman can’t see my spirit, just the feathered-fox. I focus my energy on the dagger. I dash towards it, pick it up, then swivel around.

I am taken aback by her appearance. She’s short, possibly around five-foot-two, covered in gold tribal markings. Her skin is warm and earthy, like umber, and her lips are plump and tinted like a pink rose. Her hair is pulled back, tied with silk strands, embedded with silver jewels.

I’m ashamed to see her clothed in feathers and fur, it reminds me of Mother. The fur is sunflower yellow, with onyx feathered strewn between the strands. She wears them in two pieces, exposing her arms, legs, and belly.

I make a calculated throw so that the dagger rips through her stomach. “An eye for an eye,” I say, rushing back to Diecana.

The woman grips her stomach, looking around to see who threw her dagger. Her eyes widen as she sees Diecana’s wound healing. She scuffles back, seeming afraid of what Diecana might do.

I, however, crouch down and slowly approach her. My nose is nearly touching hers now, and I sense she can feel my presence.

Her eyes remind me of luscious spring grass, with streams of jasmine extending out from her iris. God, she’s beautiful.

“We need to go, now!” Diecana says to me.

I sigh, brushing my hand across the woman’s cheek. I hurry back and climb onto Diecana’s back, my eyes hitched onto the woman as Diecana takes off into the forest.

***

Rania Shutpa’s POV

I wake up to a crackling fire in the middle of Querina Forest. I stretch my arms, yawning as the rising sun glints through the openings of surrounding trees. Great, I think, as I stand and stretch my arms and legs. My ears twitch and I shoot up. I smell something rich and fruity, like citrus and copper. Feathered-foxes. One is nearby, my lucky day.

I enter through the flaps of my makeshift tent and retrieve a bow and arrow, a few star daggers, and a filet knife. One can never be too careful. As a poacher, I’m paid well. Witches pay triple for feathered-foxes. They only ask that they be completely drained of their golden blood, transported in silver bottles, and the rest I can do with however I please.

Their fur and feathers are so rare, I keep them as trophies. I’m surprised there are still more out there, I could have sworn they went extinct.

With my last kill, I had trouble and partnered with Augustus Shetherport, a vampire. While his animal-like behavior and approach to killing were less than I can handle, I cannot deny that his tracking capabilities are superb. I managed to stop him from killing the beast completely, unfortunately, I couldn’t save most of the hide. The hide became comfortable pieces of clothing that have helped keep me warm for the past couple of nights.

Damn this forest! In my homeland, bushes didn’t have thorns to give your scent away or trees that thwart my efforts to climb up. I suppose my arrows will have to do. As I pierce the bark of a twisting tree, I hear splashing at a nearby creek. Now on a sturdy branch, I hop from tree to tree to investigate the noise.

The breeze is refreshing, but it’s cost me my trail. I look down to see a naked woman lying in the water. Her skin is like porcelain, with minor scratches, and hair blessed by the clouds in the sky. I bite my bottom lip but shake my head as I see her scars dissolve. So, she’s one? I pull out my bow and pull back an arrow.

Now, I’ve never seen a hybrid transform into a beast before, and it was magnificent to see a feathered-fox that resembles the night sky. Being as breathtaking in both human and animal form, she must be taken down. The hide will be a wonderful addition to my collection.

“s**t,” I whisper to myself as I watch the animal take off. I jump to the ground and start booking in the same direction. I can’t shoot my arrow while in motion, so a dagger will do nicely.

It spirals over, cutting through the beast’s ribcage. Witnessing the feathered-fox go down is heartbreaking, to say the least. Its whimpering does not make it easy for me, so I’ll put it out of its misery.

“Finally caught you, b***h,” I say, confidently. My shoulders shrug side to side happily. “It’s a shame that you have to die, but Bulna’s orders.” I once again pull out my bow and arrow, aiming just below the crescent on its forehead. Right before I release, I feel a sharp pain across my stomach. I drop my weapon and clutch my hands onto the fresh wound. I look back and forth and see that my dagger is what made contact with my skin. It made no sense. All I can do is pray that the dog takes me out of my misery quickly.

A chill sweeps over my face, and though the animal growls and has eyes set to kill, it turns away and dashes through the bushes, leaving me to waste away against a tree.

“I will get you, yet,” I say as I close my eyes. “Make you mine.”

***

Augustus Shetherport’s POV

Finally, it’s night. The burns and sores on my face have nearly dissipated no thanks to the blood I’ve consumed from the Florencia Tremadia pack. I’ve heard legends about their blood being used to give humans immortality but never believed it. I guess I do now.

As I walk out the door to the cottage, a copper smell swims under my nose. My fangs descend and retract, notifying me to feed. I sprint into the forest until I reach a clearing. Jumping into the air, I soar over the treetops, following the scent. I land next to a creek and then sniff the air. Whatever it is, it’s not too far.

I trudge to a pair of legs sticking out from behind a tree. Treading carefully, I notice fur of yellow with a few black feathers poking out. Can it be?

“Rania?” I chuckle.

“Augustus, how nice,” she replies, her lips curling into a frown. “I have a proposition. Interested?”

***