Rise of the Dark Queen

Chapter 2

I began to turn back towards the inn when several figures stepped out of the shadows from behind the stables and the trees. It was the soldiers. They had evil smiles playing on their lips as they prowled closer to me. It seems they did not appreciate being cowed by Tiberius last night and were out for a little payback. I went to scream only to have rough hands grab me from behind and cover my mouth. Years of living with the gruff war veteran meant lots of self defense and combat training. Tiberius was nothing if not overprotective, and out so close to the wilds a woman did well to know how to defend herself. But the odds weren’t in my favor. There were too many of them and I had only a single dagger hidden up my sleeve, while they each had swords.

Yet I was hardly one to go quietly into darkness. They fanned out cornering me like an animal cutting me off from the safety of the inn. Hardly necessary when I was being held by one of them in a death grip. They must have been afraid of me getting back to the inn for help. If I managed to get away, gods help them if I did, Tiberius would kill them all.

“Not so high and mighty now, are you, you stuck up bitch.” The leader hissed into my ear as I struggled in his grip. He started dragging me towards the woods behind the stables, no doubt eager to put distance between himself and the war legend who was unaware of what these cowards were up to. “Here’s what gonna happen, your gonna apologize for the trouble and embarrassment you’ve caused us, then we’re gonna use you until you’re nothing more than a husk and I’ll slit that pretty throat of yours and leave your body in the wilds.” He sneered as he dragged me towards the forest.

We stumbled into a small clearing, I steeled myself, I had the smallest window to do what I needed to get myself away from these lowlife pricks. I felt his grip loosen, no doubt believing I had resigned myself to my fate. I jerked my head back with all my strength, slamming it into his nose. He cursed and let go of me, the back of my head was throbbing but I had no time to waste, I reached for my dagger I had hidden up my sleeve, whipping around, I saw him holding his now bloody and broken nose. I slammed the dagger into his thigh, twisting the blade as I pulled it out. He screamed as blood spewed from his wound and staggered to the forest floor.

His men looked in stunned silence for a split second before shouting curses and running towards me. I was already turning, heading for the darkest part of the forest, adrenaline coursing through my veins pushing me to run faster than I have ever run in my life. I hiked my soaked dress up to my knees as I ran headlong into the complete darkness of the wilds.

“Get back here you f*****g w***e!” One of the men screamed, their loud footfalls followed close behind me. I could still hear the pained screams of their leader as I leapt over thick gnarled roots. Branches and brambles lashed over me and snagged on my clothes, scraping my arms and legs as I ran deeper and deeper into the wilds. They may be solders but I knew these woods, I ventured into them all the time, seeking the darkness and solace of the thick canopy the trees provided when I needed quiet moments to myself. But this, this was anything but solace or quiet. My pulse roared in my ears and my lungs burned with exertion as I flew through the forest.

I wound my way through the trees, crouching down to concealing myself in the shadows as they gave chase. Some flew right past my hiding spot, shouting to one another as the fanned out. The sound of a heavy footfall to my right had me sucking in a deep breath. I waited as his boot stepped less than a foot in front of me. I took my dagger and slammed it through his boot, the blade speared it all the way through. He let out a shriek of pain as I pulled out my dagger then turned to run. He would not be giving chase with a hole through his foot but his asshole friends would no doubt be drawn to his screams.

Ahead of me I saw one of the men doubling back while I heard someone else closing in from behind. I had no choice but to hide. If it wasn’t for my soaked dress and the fact I was so poorly armed and so greatly outnumbered, I know I could have fought and won most of these assholes. I cursed internally as I forces my way into the thorny bushes. I could smell the coopery tang of my blood mix into the scent of the damp earth and rotted leaves.

“Come out you f*****g slut, it will be so much worse for you if you don’t!” One of them yelled. I could see the soldier who had been closing in from behind step into my line of sight, he whistled at the other soldier, gesturing with his hand for him to go left. He followed his direction and disappeared into the darkness.

I pressed deeper into the brush, seemingly melting into the shadows. Thorns dug deeper into my flesh, I felt blood trickling down my arms and legs. This deep into the woods it was dark as twilight, the tree canopy blocking out the gloomy overcast sky. Luckily it mostly blocked the rain too. I really hoped they gave up and assumed I’d just get lost or die soon because we were already too deep into the wilds and with all the racket these fools were making they were going to draw out the monsters. I’ve seen things, the few times I dared to venture this deep, things that made me involuntarily shiver to think of. One problem at a time Coralleigha.

I said a silent prayer that the remaining soldier would turn away in another direction, but it seems I was having no luck today. I should have listened to my instincts this morning, they are never wrong. My breathing shallowed as he neared and my pulse pounded in my ears. When he was just one pace away I drew my dagger and leapt onto him, plunging my dagger into his exposed neck as we crashed into the ground. I landed heavily on top of him, pain screaming in my limbs and lungs from the impact. I pulled out my dagger and rolled off of him, he couldn’t even scream, he gurgled for breath as blood poured from his wound. I froze as I watched the life leave his eyes.

I’ve never killed a man before. Sure, Tiberius taught me how, but I’ve never had to put it into practice until now. The dark reality of what I had just done washed through me, turning my gut. My body unlocked and I forced myself to flee. My eyes burned as I stumbled, unable to see through the haze of tears clouding my vision. I felt a hand whip out and grab my arm. In a panic I slashed my dagger wildly at my would be captor. I heard him curse loudly as he released me, my tears abandoned me as icy terror trickled through my veins. My vision cleared in time so watch his sword swinging to s***h across my chest. I twisted and fell back to avoid the blow but I was too slow. Pain lanced through me as the sword glanced from my shoulder to my arm. Blood began to pour from my injury and I landed heavily on the ground as I clutches uselessly at my wound.

Now in complete panic mode, I grabbed my dagger where it had fallen next to me, and flung it at his face. He ducked to avoid it but it gave me the opening I needed to gather myself up and make a mad dash into the shadows.

“Get back here you filthy gods damn b***h!” My attacker screamed from behind me, his voice seething with malice and frustration.

I ran faster, holding my dress with one hand and my wound with another. Pain burned hot and bright in my arm and shoulder. I needed to hide, there was no way I could get away injured like this. Not with with six or possibly seven men still giving chase, armed while I’d given up my only weapon in a moment of panic. Gods damn it! Why the f**k did I do that? I can picture Tiberius tisking as he shakes his head at that foolish and desperate move. ‘Only the desperate do dumb things girl, you ain’t dumb so don’t be desperate’ he would say.

I kept running, blood now dripping down my arm to the forest floor. They could easily track me now. I ducked into a tight group of trees, pressing myself into the shadows, my lungs ached and my shoulder was in agony. Panic began to set in. No no no, I couldn’t die like this. I sucked in a sharp breath and a sob escaped my throat. I squeezed my eyes shut, sending a silent cry into the darkness for help. Please gods, don’t let me die like this.

As my thoughts began to spiral, a low growl sounded out in front of me. My eyes flew open and I sucked in a sharp breath and froze. My heartbeat thundered in my chest as my gaze caught glowing red eyes, seemingly floating in the darkness. They had their deathly gaze trained on me. Slowly, a wolf black as midnight crept from the shadows towards me. Time seemed to slow, the few raindrops that made it past the thick layer of the tree tops seemed to suspend in mid air. The shadows seemed to pulse around me to the slowing beat of my heart. I wasn’t even breathing, his movements seemed to slow, it was then I realized his fur was seemingly made of shadows, they floated and danced around him like water moving in a stream.

I was equally mesmerized and terrified. He was as tall as a horse, ten times larger than any wolf ought to be. He was beautiful. Strange thought to have of a giant shadow wolf, but, he was. Almost in a daze I slowly lifted my arm. Shadows swirled around me as he stalked closer. Time began to speed up again back to normal, a strange buzzing seemed to fill my head. The wolf now stood mere inches from my outstretched hand. He lowered his head and I dared to stretch the tips of my fingers to touch his muzzle. His shadow fur was soft and wispy, cool to the touch. I locked eyes with him as he leaned into my hand, the buzzing seemed to intensify and I was frozen in place. His eyes seemed to hold an unnatural intelligence for a wolf. The shadows swirling around me seemed to grow denser then began to slide towards the wolf and dance with the shadows radiating off of him.

Abruptly the buzzing stopped and the wolf whined then began to nuzzle me. I sucked in a startled breath as he began to whimper and nuzzle me like a puppy trying to get pets from its master. What. The. Actual. f**k. He began to lick at my wound I winced and suppressed a particularly undignified shriek at his bazar behavior and the shock of pain I felt as shadows seemed to close over my wound to slow the bleeding. I looked on in stunned silence, it wasn’t healing but at least I wouldn’t bleed to death now. I looked up and watched him warily. He remained calm, watching me with his head c****d.

I slowly began to run my hands through his fur. Although the shadows wafting off of him were silky and cool his body was warm. I suppressed a shiver, only now realizing how chilled to the bone and tired I was. The pain of my escape crashed into me as my adrenaline wore off.

The huge beast of a wolfs company seemed to sooth my soul. I must be well and truly mad to be comforted by this deadly animal, but as he met my gaze I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he would do me no harm. He sat on his haunches and again nuzzled into me, seemingly understanding my injured and cold sorry state. I hugged him close, drawing warmth and comfort from my new beastly companion. Just as I began to relax I heard the distant shouts of my pursuers closing in nearby. I stiffened and my companion let out a deep and terrifying growl.

The massive wolf rose to his feet and crouched protectively in front of me. It seemed I had a new friend who was just as protective of me as Tiberius. Gods this was madness. How did I go from serving breakfast at the inn to making friends with a shadow beast of the wilds while running for my life?

The soldiers broke through the trees and stopped dead. My new and terrifying friend let loose a thunderous snarl. One of the soldiers fell onto his back in terror, the others drew their swords with unsteady hands, shaking in fear.

“What in the f**k is that thing!” One of the men cried out.

I peered around, seven men. The other two must have been too injured to give chase, I shivered as my mind drifted back to the man I killed. Only a second later the wolf lunged and snapped his massive jaws at one of the men, gripping him by his arm and flinging I’m into a tree. I heard a sickening snap, he remained unmoving. In a flurry of movement and shadow I heard screams and saw the glint of swords flailing in the dense wood, they could do nothing to stop their own slaughter. The trees too tightly packed for them to properly defend themselves. It was all over in but a few fleeting moments.

The wolf trotted back to me, with blood dripping from its mouth. I sucked in a breath at the terrifying sight. But he had just protected me, he would not turn on me now. It was strange the connection I felt to this animal, this monster of nightmares. He had a few shallow cuts but none of his injuries seemed serious. He sat in front of me again, lowering his head with his ears laying flat against his skull. I scratched the top of his head. He seemed to take it as approval and rose his head and let out a happy bark. I surveyed the mangled lifeless bodies around me and suppressed a shiver.

“Well boy, it seems I owe you a large debt of gratitude. You are truly terrifying, I am only glad you were on my side,” I said as I continued to cautiously stroke him. He let out a yip. I let out a startled weak laugh then closed my eyes and nuzzled into his side. I was well and truly mad now, befriended by a murderous wolf, lost in the dark wilds. What in all the realms was happening to me?

I began to shiver again and my eyes started to droop heavily. Most of the soldiers may have been dead but there were still two out there, maybe they were too injured to track me down but I was taking no chances. Besides, I was still lost, injured and soaked from the rain. I was both figuratively and literally not out of the woods yet.

He nudged me with his head, seemingly trying to get me to move, I was tired and wanted to rest but I certainly didn’t want to do it here amongst the c*****e. I began to follow my new companion as he deftly led me through the terrifying landscape. After a seemingly endless walk filled with my stumbling, only my giant wolf kept me from falling as we neared what looked to be a cave on the other side of a clearing.

He led me into the small cavern, tail wagging like a happy dog.

“Is this your den, boy?”

He let out a happy yip then unceremoniously flopped on the ground. I couldn’t agree more. I sank heavily onto the ground next to him, wrapping my now mangled, bloody and wet cloak around me and snuggling into his warm body. I was cold and in desperate need of a fire. The rain had finally stopped but it was now nearing nightfall and there was no way I would find wood or kindling dry enough to start a fire. I would have to make due with the body heat from my new furry companion and sleep here for the night.

“What should I call you boy? I can’t just call you wolf or shadow monster,” I mused, “you did save my life, I think it makes you worthy of a name.”

He let out a soft huff, seems he agreed with my sentiment. “How about Vindex? It means defender or champion.”

He let out a happy bark, Vindex it is then. He settled down to rest and I snuggled farther into his warmth. My very own shadow beast champion, my mother would be horrified. I let out a tired sigh then drifted off into a heavy deep sleep.