AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Fifteen
Baine
Marco leaned up against the table, staring down at the map of the estate. “Patrol last night found another dead animal here and here.”
Two black marks notated areas on the map, one was in the perimeter of the mansion, the other far at the south side of the estate in the middle of the orchard. A massive iron gate surrounded the orchard to keep the wandering animals out which made it odd that anything was found inside.
“Tell me what happened at the orchard.”
“Dead birds.”
“How many?”
“Four, maybe five, not a lot but they were all around the same area, but there’s more.” Marco scratched the back of his head, a nervous tick he had whenever something unsettled him. “There were eaten apples by the birds.”
“Eaten by what?”
He got up and walked over to a satchel hanging on the hook near the door. He opened it up and took out an apple core then tossed me the fruit.
Birds didn’t have the physical ability to make bites like this. The teeth marks around the apple could only be made by one creature. “Someone is sneaking out at night.”
“Impossible. One of the patrols would have noticed.”
I dropped the apple on the table. “There’s no lock on the gate. It’s only to keep animals out.”
“I got a bad feeling about this. Dead birds? We haven’t had anything like this on the estate in over a decade. Bringing all that magic here is like lighting a beacon to every monster close by.”
“I’m going to patrol.”
“It’s pouring out.”
After leaving my weapons by the door, I opened it. “Keep watch over the mansion. Make sure no one leaves.”
“Where are you going?”
“Hunting.” With that I shifted and stepped out into the pelting rain.
My paws sunk into the mud, and I lifted my muzzle, inhaling the earthy scent of the storm. Thunder boomed in the night sky, the sound drowning out Marco’s grumbling about dinner. He’d moved into the dining area of the barracks where the guards ate.
Launching into a run, I sprinted toward the orchard, letting my animalistic senses take over. Water drenched my fur but did nothing to slow me down. If darkthings had entered the grounds, their foul stench would be easy to pick up in this form.
The world passed by in shades of shifting gray. Lightning crackling in the sky provided the only form of light, which was more than enough for what I needed. I was the only wolf on the estate, and the biggest predator here. Lord Demious had cleansed the grounds many years before after my arrival, and only docile animals were allowed in the area.
Memories of Rosalie being taken by ash raptors flickered in my thoughts. The creatures were not aggressive by nature, which made their behavior odd. What had they been trying to do with her? Were they connected to what was happening on the estate?
I shook my head, jarring the image of Rosalie out. I couldn’t think about her now. My duty to keeping the estate safe came first.
A coppery scent hit my nose, and I slid to a stop. Slowly, I eyed the area, watching for shadows and movement then stalked toward the metallic aroma cautiously. The smell intensified and I could make out a large shape huddled on the ground.
Using my keen hearing, I listened to the storm, paying attention to the lightest sound that echoed within it. When I was only met with the rain and thunder, I stalked the lump on the grass.
Dark liquid pooled beneath the mass. The closer I came, I could decipher the distinct outline of a human arm laid out, the rest of the body covered with a cloak. I nudged the hand with my nose.
Ice cold.
No pulse, no breath.
Blood covered the dirty fingertips.
