A Tale of the Other Kind: A Therian Novel (17 page)

‘After they were killed, Ymir gave his body to form the world. His blood is now the ocean, his tears are the rivers, his flesh the earth, his bones the mountains, his teeth became the rocks, his skull the sky and his hair and brain was used to create trees and the clouds. But before he did this, he gave life to one last child whom he ordered to strengthen its kind by mating with the trolls. Ogel is one of only a few still left. Because of their age, they carry many ancient secrets from the underworld and the realm of lost souls. 

‘Ogel can conjure the
Umbrae Damnati
– these are the lost souls of all supernatural beings that have been slaughtered by Quinn for falling in love with humans. The
Umbrae Damnati
are powerful and they will mean much more for our side than just the three of us. They can help us.’

‘Okay, so, how do we reach them? Do we just say a spell or whatever and then they appear?’ Kai asked.

‘No, it’s much more than that. I don’t just look this ugly and smell this disgusting for no reason at all. To conjure the
Umbrae Damnati
I use my own energy, which depletes fast. As you can see, I look horrendously old even though I’m immortal. 

‘Conjuring the
Umbrae Damnati
sucks the life-force out of me, depleting my energy. I have never tried to conjure so many
Umbrae Damnati
souls as we’ll need, but I’ll try my best,’ Ogel replied. His tears dried up and the river they created disappeared. 

‘We can only do it once, though,’ Astrid warned. 

‘We need to time the raising of the Umbrae Damnati perfectly because Ogel doesn’t have enough power to sustain them for too long or for more than once. 

‘Every time he brings their life into being, he is their being and he dies a little bit every time they are called, which causes the smell.’ 

‘Ogel, are you sure you want to do this?’ Kai asked, worried about the implications their intentions might have for the large oaf.

Ogel gave a happy grunt, ‘Oh yeah, I definitely do.’ He started dancing on one spot and clapping his hands, much to Kai’s curiosity. The big troll had a kind of magical, uplifting spirit despite his unusual looks and smell. 

His delight was a relief to Kai’s sombre mood and his strained expression dropped into a lopsided smile. ‘Well then, team, let’s get planning.’

Soon enough, posters with a drawing of Astrid’s face were distributed all over town. On the other side of town, Kai got a glimpse of the pictures and was shocked at what had happened. 

How could they know about Astrid and why are they looking for her? He placed his hands on his heads as he thought of what this might mean. If they got caught, then there would be nobody to protect Sienna. She would be more exposed to Quinn than ever before. 

Kai knew they had to hide. It was the only way they could ensure that they’d be around to protect her from the evil that was coming. He took a deep breath and changed form as he entered the forest shortcut towards his house. Outside were five police cars, which prompted him to hide. He focussed his hearing and tried to listen to what was going on. 

He could see his mother standing on the porch of their house reeling with anxiety that her son had been dragged into all of this. He couldn’t even enter the deeper edges of the forest as it was crawling with uniformed police, armed with weapons, searching for Astrid. He knew he had to warn Astrid and Ogel, but he was reluctant to enter the forest in shape form – he knew the police would gun him down the moment they saw him. But before he could decide on his next move, he saw Astrid and Ogel approach him from the east. He could sense their panic.

‘We have to get out of here,’ Astrid said breathlessly. 

‘They’re searching for me, and most probably you too.’ 

‘I know, your picture is plastered all over town offering a reward for any leads towards your arrests,’ he replied, unpleased by the turn of events. 

Astrid stomped her foot hard against the ground irritated by this news. ‘It’s that stupid girlfriend of yours,’ she said, pacing up and down. 

‘What? Why would you think she had anything to do with this?’

She shot him an exhausted look, too agitated to even try and explain why she was certain that Sienna had gone to the police.

‘Okay, well, let’s say you’re right. How do you suppose we get around them, then? They will only be an unnecessary distraction while we try and fend off the real enemy.’ 

Astrid scratched at her head, deep in thought. ‘I don’t know,’ she finally replied. 

Suddenly, Kai saw Sienna arrive. His mother was standing on the front porch, looking shaken by the news that Kai might know something about Allison’s murder.

‘Kai doesn’t know anything about this,’ she shook her head. 

Kai felt helpless at that moment, knowing what this was doing to her. Kai stooped low behind a bush, trying to stay out of sight, but close enough so he could hear.

‘Mrs Emery!’ Sienna called, running quickly towards Kai’s mother. 

‘Oh Sienna dear, what are you doing here?’ 

‘I, I’ve come to see Kai. I guess he isn’t here?’ she pried.

‘No dear, he isn’t. I haven’t seen him since yesterday. Do you have any idea why these men would think that my boy is involved in this murder?’ she asked, sounding distraught.

Sienna looked at the ground. ‘It’s entirely my fault. I told them that his friend Astrid could be a suspect. I didn’t mean to...’ she stammered as tears fell from her eyes.

‘Wait? What do you mean? So, they don’t think he’s the murderer?’ 

‘No, I don’t think so, but they might be thinking that he knows something about it,’ she said as she grabbed Bethany’s hands. 

‘You have to believe that I didn’t know that they were going to involve him in all of this. I’m so sorry,’ she said sobbing.

‘Oh dear Sienna, I know you didn’t,’ Bethany looked at her with pity and invited her into the house. Kai couldn’t stand there, knowing their anguish. 

‘Come on, let’s go. No one will go after her while this place is crawling with cops. We need to hide, right now,’ Astrid said, softly touching Kai’s arm. 

He turned around with a defeated look on his face and nodded. 

They quickly ran as deep as they could into the woods, knowing well that the sun was to set soon and the forest would be too dark for them to catch them.

****

‘Damn it!’ a voice yelled. ‘Kai, where are you?’ Kai heard. ‘Sienna?’ he mumbled to himself, uncertain. 

‘How could I have been so dumb,’ she said out loud. 

‘Easy,’ came Astrid’s voice. 

Kai looked up from where he’d been hiding, stalking a small buck that he was preparing to catch for the three of them. He heard Sienna’s panicked voice and Astrid taunting her. Moving through the trees he could see Sienna jump a little and almost lost her balance on the rock, but quickly found her feet. 

‘What? Why? What are you doing here?’ Sienna stuttered. ‘I’m not scared of you,’ she said, trying to steady her voice to sound as confident as possible.

‘Oh come on, Sienna, we both know you are pissing your pants,’ Astrid teased as she took a step closer. ‘I still can’t fathom why he is so besotted with you,’ she said snarling, revealing her fangs. Astrid let out an amused laugh, turned around and sat down on a large rock. ‘Don’t worry dear, your betrothed will be here soon,’ Astrid teased. 

‘What have you done with him?’ Sienna yelled. 

‘Oh, shut it. I haven’t done anything to him. You know, you are so annoying,’ Astrid replied, rolling her eyes. 

‘And you are a despicable human-being and you deserve to be locked up!’ Sienna yelled with rage. 

‘Human-being?’ Astrid laughed loudly, ‘I’m not a human little girl. Are you blind?’ Astrid flashed her teeth. ‘I’m a vampire dear girl. I
drink
blood for a living,’ she teased in a darkening voice. ‘Would you care to be my meal for the evening?’

‘Astrid, stop it!’ came Kai’s stern voice from the edge of the forest. 

Sienna looked relieved that he was there but her eyes grew wide when she saw Ogel approaching behind him. 

Kai swiftly moved across the ground to where she was standing. ‘Don’t be scared. Look at me,’ he said, taking her face into his hands. ‘They’re not going to hurt you. I promise you,’ he said softly, trying to convince her to remain calm. He motioned towards Ogel and introduced him. 'This is my friend Ogel,' he pointed at the beast. 

‘Ma’am,’ Ogel said, bowing respectfully. 

‘And Astrid here is just trying to upset you, because she is mean,’ Kai said, staring at Astrid, displeased with her behaviour. 

She rolled her eyes, ‘I’m sorry,’ she replied sarcastically. 

‘Kai,
why
are you friends with her? She is dangerous! And what is that … that thing,’ she said, lifting a finger towards Ogel. 

Kai breathed in deeply and, before he knew it, he was telling her the entire story from beginning to end, including the horror that the master of the underworld was looking to kill them both for being in love. 

‘So, you are trying to protect me?’ she asked Kai. 

‘Yes, I am, and I always will. I told you before that I will not let anything happen to you,’ he said, stroking her face. 

She lay her head against his chest, ‘Don’t ever leave me again,’ she begged, ‘I cannot stand it.’

‘I won’t,’ Kai promised. 

By the time night fell, the police had given up their search. But Kai still felt that something was amiss. He looked over at Sienna who was sitting next to the fire. He wondered whether he was capable of protecting her the way she needed to be protected. Being with him meant that she would always be in danger. He couldn’t rid himself of the nagging feeling that continuously plagued his mind. He knew she wasn’t safe out here in the open, but it was too late now to turn back. They would only be captured by the police, or worse – by Quinn himself. Meanwhile, Astrid walked over to Sienna. She plopped herself down next to the fire and took a long look at Sienna who refused to return the look. 

‘You know, one day you’ll like me,’ Astrid teased, ‘I’m not as bad as you think.’

Sienna huffed in protest. ‘No, you’re a saint,’ she replied sarcastically. 

She shifted closer to the fire to block out the cool evening breeze. Ogel was lying on his back in the water. He seemed completely at home in these surroundings. 

Kai wondered how he got it right to live so reclusively without getting lonely. He felt sorry for him, even though it didn’t look like he needed to. 

Ogel seemed happy, in a peculiar way. Kai leaned back against a rock and tried to think of happier times with Sienna, before everything went awry; before Allison’s death and before he knew about beasts and vampires – before he knew that he himself was a monster. But the confusion of his reality returned with force and he knew that there was no turning back now. 

Kai kept an eye on Astrid to make sure she didn’t frighten Sienna again. Astrid seemed to have drifted off into a meditative state, looking almost dead, which made Sienna shift away uncomfortably. Kai sat down next to her and placed an arm around her. 

‘You okay?’ he asked. 

‘I’m fine,’ she said, as she leaning against him. ‘Are you scared?’

Kai thought about it, and had to admit that he was. ‘Yes, I am,’ he said as he placed his chin gently on her soft hair. 

‘Me too,’ she replied as she drifted off to sleep. 

****

The next morning Kai woke up with a jolt of panic, and a tight rope around his neck. He couldn’t breathe. He frantically flailed around as he tried to break free, but within seconds the light seemed to grow dimmer and the images of Sienna’s fearful face lingered until only darkness remained.

****

‘Kai, wake up,’ Sienna said repeatedly as she tried to get Kai to wake from a deep sleep. He could only hear her faintly as he struggled against the darkness. 

Immediately after opening his eyes, he grabbed at her, ‘Are you okay?’ he spluttered in a panicked voice. 

‘Yes, yes, I’m fine, but I don’t know where we are,’ Sienna said as she sat back against a cold concrete wall. ‘It looks like some kind of dungeon.’ 

He looked around him, taking in his surroundings, but nothing looked familiar, ‘Where are Astrid and Ogel?’ he asked, realising that they weren’t in the dungeon with them. 

‘I don’t know,’ she replied with a sigh. ‘They weren’t with us when they took us.’ 

Still confused about what happened, he stood up and walked over towards the thickly barred cell door, ‘Who took us?’ 

‘I did,’ answered a dark voice from the corner of the cell. Sienna jumped at the sight of gleaming red eyes appearing from the walls. The eyes flowed out from the wall like liquid, transforming into a human. 

‘Who are you?’ Kai demanded.

‘Oh come on Kai, you already know who I am,’ the dark stranger said, flashing his teeth. 

‘I…’ Kai stammered, shaking his head, ‘I’ve seen you before,’ he said surprised. 

‘Don’t look so shocked dear boy. I’ve been watching you for a very long time,’ said the stranger closer towards Kai. 

‘You came into the bookstore. I know who you are!’ Kai said in disbelief, his voice shaking. 

A feeble laugh came from the red-eyed stranger. 

‘You find it amusing?’ Sienna yelled at him. 

‘Oh yes dear, I actually do,’ he said glancing at her, dissecting her with his eyes. Sienna moved closer into the corner furthest away from the odd-looking man. Kai threw a glimpse her way and desperately begged with his eyes for her to keep quiet, but before he could move, the stranger was standing over her, holding his clawed hand around her neck. 

‘One step closer and I’ll rip her throat out,’ the man screeched as Kai tried to stop him. He could feel his blood boil with anger and felt his body transforming slightly. 

‘Quinn, don’t,’ Kai shouted in protest. ‘Please, don’t hurt her,’ he begged. 

‘So, you do know who I am,’ Quinn smirked. 

‘Yes, I do, and I’ll do anything you want; just leave Sienna out of it. I was the one that broke the rules of the curse. I’ll take any punishment that comes my way,’ Kai said desperately.

‘Aww, but I was looking so forward to nibbling this dear girl’s heart. Besides, I warned you. I told you to stay away from these things that you were so eager to pursue. Maybe, if you had listened, and stayed away from this human, I would have been easy on you. Just like your father, you disobeyed my orders.