Hair of Gold: Just Right (Urban Fairytales Book 6) (13 page)

She narrowed her eyes with a scolding look at the men, which looked out of place on a little girl, betraying the centuries she has roamed the world, never aging, static. She said, “They skirt the line and bend the rules all in their game to create a balance between good and evil so that the... others... stay away from the mortal realm. Preventing them from wiping mankind, their failed experiment, from the Earth and starting over.”

I swallowed at that. There were greater beings, and they wanted to destroy mankind? Then I understood as she snapped her mouth shut with a worried look, like she feared she had said too much.

I looked up at The Scales, this new insight as to their purpose and goals making me understand that these games they apparently play, helping both good and evil to maintain this balance they seek is all to save the human race? That was a huge burden, and at times when they had to move the pieces of that game around for evil must eat at their souls. Did they have souls? But it was a necessary evil to prevent these others which Isla spoke of from destroying all they are trying to protect.

I was suddenly sad for the men who just stood there somberly. My agitation with them waning. I looked down at the girl who looked distressed at how much she had shared, and I couldn't help it. I bent and hoisted her to my hip.

She blinked at me then smiled and laid her head on my shoulder like any other young child would do. I wondered if she was lonely wandering the world as a specter.

Wilhelm seemed to smile slightly at us then asked her, “Watcher, may we give a warning?”

The girl seemed to ponder this for a moment then nodded and said, “Do not overstep. I like this one, she is nice to me.”

Jacob spoke like he was the one to ask her permission. I was starting to understand the Scales a little more. I think they were two halves of the same personality that balanced each other out like the equilibrium they strove to create between good and evil in the world. “Do not call upon the power of the amulet too much. The more you pull, the more it's nature will pull back. It embodies the nature of the bear so exhaustion can cause hibernation, to restore the power used.”

Wilhelm cocked an eyebrow at Isla as if asking if that were alright. She smiled and nodded, shaking a finger at Jacob, “That toes the line but well worded.” Then she turned to Gretel. “Thank you for the amusement, the Scales sometimes need to be taught humility.”

Then the little one looked at me, I saw an endless infinity in her eyes, a void, and endless sorrow. But there was a flickering of something brighter, deep inside that void. She smiled and said, “Thank you for this gift.” She indicated me holding her. Then she kissed my cheek with her ice cold lips, frost building on my skin. “For your kindness I show you my favor, may it help you when the time is right.”

Wilhelm chuckled and said, “Why that sneaky little...” Under his breath as Jacob chuckled. Then she was gone like she had never been there, except for the spot on my cheek that was chilled like ice.

Jacob grinned and said, “Good, she's gone.” Wilhelm grimaced and squinted one eye like he was in pain. Jacob squinted an eye too with an 'oops' look on his face. He looked around and said into the air, “Sorry.” They feared the little one?

Wilhelm said, “Well then...”

Gretel was in motion, her hands held wide as she herded the men to the door, “Well then nothing. You've caused too much trouble already.” They chuckled at her and inclined their heads to me as she shoved them out the door then pulled it closed.

I had a question so I stepped beside her and opened the door to ask but there was nobody there, I looked up and down the lane but they were nowhere to be seen. Gretel chuckled as she pulled me back in by the hand, “They do that. Just to be annoying. Fuckin' Scales.”

I stood there a moment, looking at the closed door, digesting everything that just happened. Thinking about the warning. I called upon the amulet in the fight inadvertently. And I slept for two days... hibernating?

Then I cocked my eyebrow at her and gave her a crooked smile, asking, “You know the Scales? I had thought them an old wives tale.”

She sighed and nodded. “They pester Hansel and me from time to time when we mess with their machinations. In other words, when we help someone out who they had other plans for.” Then she blushed and looked down and apologized cutely, “I'm sorry for my foul mouth. Those two just bring out the worst in me.”

I felt playful for some reason, maybe because I felt hopeful. Isla had spoken with my parents, and they were proud. I leaned down and caught her lips with mine. It was pure bliss as my body heated like there was a fire inside, desperately trying to get free. I wanted this woman more than I have wanted anything in my life.

Just as the kiss became more desperate and heated, her hands leaving a trail of fire in their wake as she stroked my sides, there was a knock at the door. We both froze, not breathing. She exhaled and shook her head as we reluctantly separated. I muttered as I reached for the door, “For the love of the gods, can't we just get a few minutes alone?”

I opened the door, and Hansel was standing there looking far too innocent. Why had he knocked? Had he known we were... I blushed and looked at his far too pleased sister, rocking on her heels with her hands clasped cutely behind her back. Oh lord, he knew what we had been doing.

He said with a smirk to me as he moved past, “Subtle, you two are not.”

Gretel giggled, and I just blushed harder.

Then he added, “It was odd, when I reached Elder Leif, he said he hadn't sent for us.”

My girl and I looked at each other for a long three count then started laughing uncontrollably at the confused man. I agreed with Gret's assertion. Fucking Scales.

The next seven years were filled with the hunt. For the scattered demons and Baird. Gretel and Hansel at my side. My new family. I never returned home to Chernivtsi, it would be a painful reminder of what has become of my brothers who's spirits we had learned were trapped inside the amulet.

In that time, Gretel had matured from a pretty nineteen-year-old into a woman that took my breath away every time I glanced over at her. Time had been very generous with her.

We learned quickly that I had the strength of my three bears and even some mannerisms of a wild bear's nature that seeped into my personality. If I depended too much on that strength, I would get exhausted beyond words and sleep soundly for twelve hours.

I could call upon my brothers, which was much more of an effort, and they would again walk the world with us for approximately six hours before the amulet called them away from us again. I would sleep at least a day for each of them I called fourth. The more power I used in out fights with the demons, the more I would sleep.

At one time I had slept for a month, my love always at my side, protecting me as I slept. Her brother standing sentinel over us both.

There were times I missed my old life with my brothers so terribly that I would call them out for nothing more than to speak with them, and wrestle them, and pretend that life was how it used to be. I happily paid the price of the hibernation in those instances, though I felt guilty for robbing my Gretel of our time together as I slept. But she was loving and understanding. I had never known love could be so wonderful, as to... complete, all that I am.

I opened my eyes from a hibernation wondering how long it had been this time. It seemed that I was getting more and more exhausted because recently, the battles have been getting ever more violent. We had tracked down dozens of the hellspawn and sent them back to the underworld with prejudice. The ones remaining are the sneakiest and most powerful of the lot and fight with a desperation that tells of their baser desire to stay in the mortal realm unchained, corrupting good people, feeding off of their emotions and flesh.

I blinked at the smiling face just inches from mine on the straw mat in what smelled like a livery stable. Her hot breath on my face making me aware of the icy spot on my cheek that had not warmed, the spot where little Isla had kissed me, it was always ice cold as her lips had been. I smiled back softly. I thank the gods that may be for this woman and that smile that warms the embers of my heart. She said, “You smell like bear and horse manure.”

I chuckled. “Da. I love you too.”

She seemed to melt at the words as she snuggled in closer. Then I whispered, “How long?”

She looked away for a moment, almost haunted. I winced, knowing how unfair it was for her to have to wait for me to return to her each time. Hansel's voice came from behind us as he answered the question, “Six days this time.”

I winced. I had only called Little Bear to us when I tired after pulling all of their strength into me to fight that brutish pair of demons who towered over us by at least five feet. They seemed linked like they could see through each other's eyes and anticipate my strikes. They had enthralled humans that kept Gretel and Hansel busy trying to stop without killing them. I had fought at full strength for almost an hour before calling Pavel.

I shook my head mumbling, “The intervals are getting longer and longer. Is the amulet reaching its limit now? Have I overused it these years?”

Gretel gave me a concerned look like she had thought the same then she seemed to shake it off, and she leaned in and gave me a whisper of a kiss, our lips barely brushing. That merest of touches was enough to reignite the fire inside me and the memory of her touch. I smiled and then we were laughing at Hansel a moment later when he exhaled loudly and complained, “Get a room you two.”

I looked over to the man who was sitting on a barrel at the end of a row of stalls, I gave him a grin, and he rolled his eyes muttering, “I need to find a girlfriend.” This got us chuckling at the poor man again.

I tilted my head to regard my sort-of-brother. He was a handsome man, all lean muscle, and athletic build. His ruggedly square jaw belied the looks of his father who I had met just last year. Their father wasn't as large as my brothers, but he was close and had sinuous muscles coiled like bands of steel which he got from being a woodcutter like my siblings. Hansel took after him, with his looks and moral core, he would make some woman a fine catch. Now, if he wasn't so damn shy around them.

I smiled as I remembered how nervous I was when we traveled to the Black Forest in the Germanic region on rumors of a sighting of Baird and my new family excitedly said we should visit their home.

Their father, Hans, took me in like I was his own kin. The man was so thankful that I watched over his children. I don't think he realized just how capable the two were, or he still saw them as his babies, seeing them through the eyes of a parent. He didn't seem surprised when Gretel introduced me as her woman, he only gave me a bearhug worthy of Andrei and said, “Then welcome home Katiana.”

One surprise was that he had re-married during the time his children were away, and his new wife, Adette, was pregnant with their future baby brother or sister. Gretel seemed relieved and happy and took to Adette quickly. She explained to me later, how her father was devastated by the loss of their mother and they feared he would never take another wife with his heart broken so.

For some reason, I was not surprised to learn the man went out on every Wolf Moon with his broad woodsman's axe to protect their village when the sparse Wolf Hunters of the region were out of the area. I saw easily where my girl and Hansel got their courage and moral compasses.

I yawned and sat up. My stomach rumbled, and Gretel sighed over-dramatically, “I suppose we should feed you before anything. I swear you're going to run us out of coin every time you wake up.” Then she teased as she hopped up and dragged me to my feet, “You eat like a bear.”

I gave her and her chuckling brother a toothy grin and shook my head. “Nyet. I eat like three bears.” This got them laughing merrily which just made my smile grow even larger.

As we ate in the local tavern of the gated town, just a couple days walk from their home, I asked over my fourth bowl of stew, “Any news?”

Hansel nodded as he smirked at me wolfing down the food. I needed calories to power myself, and I moved far past being embarrassed about it over the years. This was the new me. I was a beast of nature and needed the fuel to stand up to the evils we had unleashed upon this world. He said thoughtfully, “We have heard whispers of a man fitting Baird's description in London.”

I paused in thought as I said, “That's the third such whispering in as many months.”

They were nodding in agreement.

We had run off on the merest news of sightings before only to find nothing, we started being more selective on which tips we followed, so waited for two or more different sources to corroborate a sighting. Those efforts bore more fruit, we had found a couple of his old abandoned lairs that stank of the man and of the sulfur scent of demons and demon magic. I feared he was summoning more of them to bind to him since he lost his prior army with the death of his mother. He was always gone when we arrived.

I absently wondered how long it took to summon a demon so that we might know how many he has called forth over these years. We had surely stopped most of those we had released from their bonds. By our estimation, there were only two or three of the most powerful of that lot left.

Which is why we were on our way to the Burgundian Netherlands to confront what is being called a greater demon that has been hunting two men who's descriptions sounded suspiciously like the Scales. Did they know they were being stalked? Could they fight to defend themselves or was that against their precious rules of non-interference?

Well, whatever the circumstances, we would attempt to deal with the threat, then if we survive, we could cross the neck of the North Sea to Britain to investigate the reports of the man we have heard about.

The little girl inside of me was secretly excited to see a great walled city like the one my parents and I had been trekking to when my life was changed forever.

I glanced down and grinned as my sneaky love dipped her bread into my stew to sop up some of my gravy. I slapped her knuckles with my spoon. She chuckled then made a show of licking off the gravy from her fingers. Dear lords above.

Hansel groaned, “I hate you both.”

We shot him matching evil grins. Like always, we were all joking around making light of the situation, trying not to think about the upcoming trials and battles we would face as we stepped into the crucible yet again. I think it was so that our stress and anxiety didn't consume us. And besides, it was great fun.

As Gretel finished her bread, and with her mouth still full she asked, “Have either of you ever thought of us getting a horse or two? It would reduce the time we spent on the road and increase our chances of catching up with Baird.”

I shook my head as I looked down at my empty bowl in disappointment, I was still hungry. “Nyet, horses are spooked by my...” I paused at the thought of my brothers, this reminding me of their absence as I trailed off on the last word, “...brothers.”

Gretel laid a hand on my arm to comfort me. I shrugged, and she prompted her brother, “Perhaps my Goldilocks here won't spook them if she isn't calling upon the Kodiak Amulet.”

I flicked her nose, and she made a squeaking sound. I secretly liked it when she called me that, but it was so much fun to give her grief about it.

I paused a moment then asked what I had been thinking since the day my brothers became trapped in the godforsaken amulet that was now part of me, “Do you... do you think Baird will be able to free my brothers?”

She pursed her lips and then shrugged ever so slightly as she rested a hand on my arm. “I don't know, but if anyone can, he can since he helped his mother prepare the dark ritual.”

I nodded once, and back on topic Hansel asked, “Where would we get the coin for horses, Gret?”

She shrugged and pointed at the handbills that were tacked to a post by the stable doors. The top parchment fluttered lightly in the breeze from the open door. It had a drawing of a werewolf on it and proclaimed a twenty marks in coin bounty on the head of any feral killed on a full moon.

That is what they were calling the people infected with the were contagion who chose not to lock themselves up on a Wolf Moon. Ferals. The Wolf Hunters were so few and far between as the plague seemed to sweep the lands, infecting more and more people.

Just in the past five years alone it was becoming commonplace for villages to have many infected now, and they locked themselves away on the full moons so they did not spread the curse. I was watching the world slowly change before my eyes.

Gated towns like this one, and the walled cities, didn't allow the infected inside their gates to protect the Clean Bloods. It was discriminatory but effective, and more and more were popping up, dividing the populace.

I blinked at her and then Hansel as he nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. I protested, “We do not kill for coin. We only kill to protect those who cannot protect themselves. The Wolf Hunters kill for coin.”

Gretel looked hurt at that last statement, and she shook her head and countered, “You have never met someone like Nicole of Arad then. Aye, most Wolf Hunters are in it for the thrill, the fame, and the coin, but some truly wish to help out those in need. And they have to eat and buy supplies and maintain horses to do that, so they take the bounties only when it suits them. Why could we not do the same? It would just aid us in accomplishing our goal of stopping the demons that we...”

She didn't finish the sentence, but I heard it anyway “That we unleashed upon the world.” She was driven like me, she and Hansel were just as guilt-ridden about the evils we had visited upon the world when we unbound the demons. We all stood in silence and stepped over to look at the handbill.

I swallowed hard at the rules of bounty collection written at the bottom of the parchment. To deliver the heads of the slain to any parish in the lands to claim the bounty. In even smaller print, there was an edict that it was a crime punishable by death if you took the head of an infected when it was not a full moon.

This told me that many people have done just that for the bounties so they felt the need to add the notice. Thought they weren't too upset about it judging by how small and easily overlooked the print was. There was that bigotry and hate again, which was seeping into the world, fueled by fear. People would kill their neighbors just for a little money if they were infected. I absently wondered if that kind of subtle and insipid evil played into the precious balance the Scales spoke of.

I shook my head and said, “If we are attacked while patrolling the villages we pass through or have to kill to defend against wolf attack... then we can collect the bounties to aid in our quest. But I will not willfully go on a wolf hunt. The infected never chose what they have become, but the demons and dark magic users like Narcisa and Baird made their choices, and I will hunt them to the ends of the Earth.

The siblings had equally serious, and thoughtful looks on their faces and Hansel just nodded once somberly. My girl just hugged my arm, laying her head on my shoulder and nodded into it and affirmed, “Aye, no wolf hunts.”