Wolves in the Shadows (The Wolf Clan Chronicles) (9 page)

“Open your eyes,”
Marcus echoed his father’s words. 

A slash of light ripped through the darkness. 

Elizabeth’s eyes flew open.  She gasped for breath. 

“Just breathe,” Marcus said.  “You’ll be okay. 

Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.  The pain in her temples subsided into a dull throbbing. 

Romulus whined and put his head on her knee. 

“I warned you, Romulus,” Marcus’ voice shook with anger.  “You had no right to show her that.” 

The Romulus
growled in response. 

“How?” Elizabeth managed to choke out at last.  “And why?” 
             

The pain in her temples began to intensify as she looked into the wolf’s eyes.  They were still blazing with that horrible blue fire. 

“Get out of my head!” she yelled without thinking.  She felt as if some kind of energy had suddenly burst from her body sending ripples of heat in all directions. 

Romulus yelped, and his eyes flickered back to their usual hue. 

The pain was gone completely.  Elizabeth blinked in astonishment. 

Lord Reginald and Sir Marcus exchanged surprised glances and then stared at her.  It was clear that they were as confused as she was. 

“I’m sorry, Romulus,” Elizabeth said softly, unable to bear the awkward silence. 

“I don’t know what just happened,” she said as she gave the wolf a tentative pat on the head.  “I just can’t have you messing around inside my head like that.” 

Romulus licked her hand with his rough tongue and whined as if in apology.  For a brief moment, Elizabeth thought that there was something almost like fear in his eyes.  But the moment passed quickly, and he curled up on the floor at her feet and laid his head between his paws. 

“Romulus is deeply sorry, young Elizabeth,” Lord Reginald said. 
“He was just overexcited.” 

“Overexcited?” Elizabeth had trouble keeping her voice from squeaking.  “I don’t understand what just happened!  Are you ever going to tell me what the hell he is and how he can do that?”

Lord Reginald seemed older than ever as he spoke.  “Romulus has been my faithful companion since I entered the gates of the abyss.”  He sighed and shook his head sadly before he continued.  “I cannot say exactly who or what he is beyond that.  He was born in the darkness besides me, and he somehow carries within him the souls of my lost comrades.” 

“I don’t understand,” Eli
zabeth said.  For once, she didn’t feel embarrassed by her confusion.  Her curiosity was far too potent.  “What did he just show me?” 

“When my Anya died,” Lord Reginald said; his voice was heavy with grief.  “I pursued the one responsible down to the very gates of Hell with all those loyal to me at my back.  How long we fought in the deep places beneath the earth, I cannot say, but when at last I
triumphed, all that remained was darkness and silence. 

T
he souls of my comrades were not willing to leave my side, partially out of loyalty, but I think even more out of fear.  For they knew that their souls would be damned for all eternity to despair and torment if they dared leave the mortal realm.  So we waited underground, in the womb of the earth, clinging to the barest hope that we might one day return to walk the earth in the light of the moon. 

Even
I, the mighty Lord Reginald Wolfrick shuddered to imagine the terror that awaited me in death.  When Marcus found me at last, the bodies of all my companions had long ago been turned to dust, but this creature, in the form of a wolf, lay at my side.  He carries within him all of the thoughts and memories of my noble companions that sacrificed themselves for my sake and for the sake of my beloved Anya.  But he is also himself.  He is unlike any creature that I have ever encountered.  How he came to be at my side, I cannot imagine, but he has been a faithful companion ever since.” 

“I think I understand, at least in part,” Elizabeth said.  “So many souls within a single creature all clamoring to be heard and remembered.  Sounds like it would be easy for h
im to lose control.” 

“Indeed,” Lord Reginald said.  “The collective power of all my fallen comrades is within him.  It
is incredible that he is able to hold all of it within himself.  I know of no other being in existence with such strength.” 

Elizabeth frowned as a thought struck her.  “But then,” she said, “If he’s so powerful, how was I able to get him out of my head like that?” 

“You are my mortal heir,” Lord Reginald said with a hint of pride in his voice.  “He will obey any command that you might give him.  He was just eager for you to know his story, and he knew that you wanted to know it as well.  You seem to be developing a very strong connection with him.” 

“I wish it didn’t hurt as much,” Elizabeth said. 

“In time, you will be able to endure it,” Lord Reginald said.  “You are already growing more and more powerful yourself, though you are not aware of it.” 

“The vision that Romulus showed you could have killed you,” Sir Marcus said. 

Elizabeth jumped slightly.  She had almost forgotten that he was with them. 

“You were strong enough to break the connection when it became too much,” he said. 

Elizabeth gave a sarcastic laugh.  “I don’t feel very strong or powerful,” she said.  “I felt like my head was going to explode.” 

“One can never know how strong they are until they have reached the very edge of despair,” Lord Reginald said in a low voice, more to himself than to Elizabeth or Marcus.  “I fear that soon, your strength will be tested in ways that you cannot possibly imagine.” 

A shiver ran down Elizabeth’s spine at his words. 

Sir Marcus laughed aloud.  “But not tonight, father,” he said.  “Her mind has been tampered with quite enough for one night.  Come on, Elizabeth, I will take you back to your dorm.” 

Lord Reginald nodded but remained silent. 

“Goodnight, my lord,” Elizabeth murmured as rose and follo
wed Sir Marcus out of the room. 

Chapter 11

“What did he mean back there about my strength being tested?” Elizabeth asked as she walked with Sir Marcus. 

Marcus shrugged nonchalantly.  “He’s just worrying himself,” he said.  Anya’s death weighs heavily on his heart tonight, and Romulus bringing up memories of the abyss didn’t help either.” 

Elizabeth sighed.  She would never have said it out loud, but she had been relieved when Sir Marcus had led her away from Lord Reginald and Romulus.  She had been feeling so tired that she had worried about making it home, but now that she was walking through the grove, she felt herself becoming strangely alert. 

“The night air is invigorating,” Sir Marcus said as if he had read her mind.  “Especially after such a grueling affair.” 

“I feel like my mind has been turned to mush,” Elizabeth said. 

“Anyone else’s mind would have been turned to mush after all that,” Sir Marcus said grimly. 

Elizabeth ran her fingers through her hair nervously. 

“In the vision that Romulus showed me,” Elizabeth said after a few minutes of silence contemplation.  “What was that big shadowy wolf that followed Lord Reginald and the others into the abyss?  Could that have been Romulus himself?” 

“That was Augustus,” Sir Marcus said.  “He was bringing my father a message from me.  I was very worried when he did not return.  It took me years to find out what had happened to him.” 

“What was the message?” Elizabeth ask
ed.  “And where were you?” 

“Sometimes I wish you weren’t so inquisitive,” Sir Marcus said.  “You remind me of my sister.” 

“Well, according to Lord Reginald, I am descended from her.” 

Sir Marcus chuckled. 

“Sorry to be so nosy,” Elizabeth said. 

“I sent Augustus to tell my father that Mallory was safe and that I had succeeded in destroying those that had killed Anya.”  Sir Marcus said. 

Elizabeth frowned and cocked her head to the side. 

“I thought that was what Lord Reginald was doing,” she said. 

“He was after the one that ordered her death,” Sir Marcus said.  The bitterness in his voice could have cut through steel.  “I was after the men who actually killed her and kidnapped my sister.  I swore an oath that I would rescue Mallory and reign death and destruction upon those who had taken her and killed my mother and that I would not leave a single member of their families alive.  I begged my father to turn me so that I would be strong enough to fulfill my vow.” 

Elizabeth shuddered.  She could feel the heat of Sir Marcus’ anger radiating from him like a furnace. 
She felt especially fragile and small next to him right now. 

“Forgive me, Elizabeth,” he said.  He seemed to be struggling to maintain his composure.  “I do not wish to burden you with
more of our family’s history tonight.  You have enough to bear already.” 

Elizabeth felt herself smile in spite of her fear. 

“You said ‘our family,’” she said. 

The tension in the air around Sir Marcus began to dissipate.  He looked down at Elizabeth and returned her smile. 

“We are family,” he said.  “Regardless of how many centuries have passed and how many generations divide us.  I can see clearly that my mother and sister live on in you.” 

“I haven’t had a family in a long time,” Elizabeth said sadly. 

“You have,” Sir Marcus said.  “You just didn’t know it.” 

“Did you end up fulfilling your vow?”
Elizabeth asked before she could stop herself.  Part of her wished that he wouldn’t answer, but he did. 

“
I did not keep my vow,” Sir Marcus said.  “I couldn’t.” 

Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief.  The thought of Sir Marcus killing off entire families for the sake of vengeance had been extremely troubling to her. 

Sir Marcus frowned but did not reply. 

“One more question,” Elizabeth said as they re
ached the gap in the hedge. 

“At least for tonight, you mean,” Sir Marcus said
. 

“Lord Reginald’s companions in the vision were all dead,” Elizabeth’s voice f
altered at the troubled expression of Sir Marcus’ face. 

“
Then how could they have followed him into the abyss?” Sir Marcus finished her question. 

Elizabeth nodded. 

Sir Marcus sighed. 

“Only death can open the doors to the abyss.” He said.  “The entire clan sacrificed themselves so that Lord Reginald could tread the path between the mortal realm and the pit of Hell.” 

“But they’re still alive somehow?” Elizabeth said. 

“In a way,” Sir Marcus replied.  There was a sort of finality in his voice that told Elizabeth that he would not answer
any more questions. 

She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. 

“Thank you, Uncle Marcus,” she whispered in his ear.  “Goodnight.” 

Before he could reply, she jogged ac
ross the street to the back door of West Hall.  Before she went in, she turned and waved. 

Sir Marcus waved back and chuckled to himself. 

“Uncle Marcus?  I haven’t been called that in centuries.” 

Saturday

Chapter 1

“Wake up, Lizzy!” Michelle’s voice woke Elizabeth with a start. 

“Go away,” Elizabeth mumbled.  She had been tossing and turning all night and had no desire to get out of bed just yet. 

“Elizabeth!  That Chase guy is on the phone for you!”  Michelle started shaking her.  Her voice
was annoyingly cheerful. 

“Tell him I’m sleeping,” Elizabeth said with a yawn. 

“Ah!  But that would be lying!” 

Elizabeth rolled over and looked
at Michelle. 

“I
was
sleeping, Michie.” 

“But not anymore!” Michelle said as she thrust the phone into Elizabeth’s hands before she could protest further. 

“Hello?” Elizabeth said groggily into the receiver. 

“Oh, sorry,” Chase’s voice came through the earpiece.  “Sounds like you really were sleeping.” 

“Yup,” Elizabeth replied.  She halfheartedly threw her pillow at Michelle who was now prancing in front of her bed with her tongue out. 

Michelle caught it and threw it back playfully. 

“It’s almost noon,” Chase said.  “I was thinking that maybe we could get some lunch, and in your case, maybe some coffee?” 

Elizabeth yawned again. 

“Lunch?  Sure.” 

“Awesome,” Chase said.  Elizabeth could picture him smiling that adorable crooked smile of his. 

“I can pick you up,” he said.  “You’re in West Hall, right?” 

Elizabeth smiled.  Surely she had been a little hard on him yesterday.  He really did seem like a nice guy.