The Marradith Ryder Series Part 35
Leighton ran towards Marradith.
He felt her now, so close. The screaming in his head kept going. The armies of dead cried out for their revenge. Was Caroline laughing? Did she hate him so much?
“Ashes, ashes,” he cried, gasping for breath. “There came a girl in the wood. Lover, brother, father, which will kill her first?”
He knew that Justin was behind him, but he did not care. He felt the hot breath of the werewolf on the back of his neck. It was too late to stop him from reaching his reward.
What was the blood of a Lamia like, he wondered? Vampires claimed it was bitter. But he had never known of a Wolf that had drank of one. If her blood were strong enough to fix him, as he believed it could, he would turn her. Make her into a werewolf like himself.
It would be possible to have her; the ultimate replacement to Caroline.
He tried to smile, but his half contorted snout could not move.
I will leave nothing of her for you, Son, he thought bitterly.
Justin’s claws tore into his back just then. Leighton howled in pain. He crawled on hands and knees as Justin’s claws ripped into his back. He cried blasphemies. When relief was so close, what kind of angry god would deny what belonged to him?
“JUSTIN. NO! STOP!”
Leighton heard her voice. He looked up, and for the first time, saw his great-granddaughter in the flesh.
Justin snorted, and then let out a growl. But to Leighton’s shock he felt the Wolf climb off of him. He was angry, but he obeyed. His green eyes were like fire.
It was raining. Leighton only realized this because he saw that her face and hair were wet.
She kneeled before him, taking his face in her hands. Her touch was gentle. He sighed, finding it hard to breathe. There was the echo of his Caroline in her, but also of his own blood. A little of his Mother, perhaps. Her soft mouth moved with words in the primal language, so low that he barely heard them.
Such a relief to know that his Marradith was indeed real, and not a figment of his imagination. He mouthed the words along with her. His addled mind recognized the rhythm long before the meaning became clear.
“I wish you into the stillness. May darkness bind you. May the words no longer form into being from your mouth. Struggle no more. Cry no more.”
It was a prayer. A prayer from the very oldest of Wolves, from long before men learned to worship. How did this child know such things? His heart swelled with paternal pride. He had created her, after all. His life made hers possible.
His eyes filled with tears. He’d never felt anything like this before.
How gentle she is, and not scared of me at all, he thought. The screaming in his head was gone.
He trembled, even as he struggled to put his arms around her.
She kissed his forehead.
And then he felt it; the energy that poured from her hands: electricity.
****
Marradith felt the energy moving through her body. She heard Leighton’s screams as it flowed into him. But this time was different than with Will or Scott.
She fell into a trance. And she could not let go of him.
She found herself in a place full of darkness. Somehow she could see.
Leighton stood on a patch of something that looked like quicksand. From the mire below, creatures with yawning mouths and silver teeth stretched out their steel arms to him.
He tried to scream, but no longer had any voice. He was lowered deep into the quicksand, swallowed by those who awaited their revenge. The last thing she saw were his eyes, which bled a black substance like tar. His mouth opened wide, full of corruption. And then he was gone.
©2009 Artwork by Raul Faria: http://www.fariagraphics.com
©2009 Story by Lori Titus
Lori Titus’s The Marradith Ryder Series appears each Wednesday on Flashes in the Dark. She is the short story editor for Sonar4 ezine. Her stories have appeared on MicroHorror, Shadeworks, and The Daily Tourniquet. Her first anthology of horror stories, Tales for the Dark, is scheduled for release in 2010.
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August 26th, 2009 at 5:44 am
Wow…Leighton’s gone…or is he? Great story Lori! Can’t wait to see where you’re going next?
June 16th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Well that is the end of a nasty piece of work.