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Glancing up, I could see a tower that rose high above the rest of the castle. Four spires rose from it, and the sound of whipping as each with a flag fluttered violently from the winds.
As the sun crawled higher, I could just make out a sigil on each.
A broom and black cat, a wolf’s head on another, fanged teeth and, on the fourth flag, clawed wings. I guessed witches, vampires, werewolves, and demons.
The turreted wall beside me towered high. Pockets of trees and shrubs broke some of the force from the gales that now stirred faster.
Lycaon leaned into me, rasping. He yelled over the gale, “We have to find a way down, away from the sunrise perhaps. Isn’t that the edge of the cliff?”
I peered around him. On the horizon, the rising sun looked like it was melting into the ocean, orange and copper mixed with the indigo sea. I jolted as shouting echoed above us, the stampeding of feet, then something else higher up stirred.
Stone grated on stone. Sweat broke on my forehead as I edged forward. Looking up, I saw the huge silhouette move. Clawed wings beating slowly, the creature tilted its head. Its huge over brow revealed hooded eyes that narrowed as it sniffed the air, smelling Lycaon’s blood. Opening its massive jaw, I could see barbed teeth. I tensed, wincing as its scream pierced through the sky.
It unhooked its talons from the ledge, muscular torso and limbs flexing, and a rippling through its wings as its stare burned through me. Trying to repress a shiver as I felt my blood turn to ice, Lycaon suppressed a gasp, leaning against the wall clutching his bleeding wound on his chest.
In the seconds that followed, the memory of me, from a few weeks ago, hunkered down at home in my PJs, with a book living a quiet life seemed surreal. Had that been me? Who was I now, a fighter? I didn’t feel like one.
I didn’t feel brave or strong. Lucky, perhaps that I was still alive, but with every step forward I took, it seemed that my life was held in the balance.
Slowly, I edged in front of Lycaon, my heart beating faster. The beast above wouldn’t smell his blood for much longer. Whipping out my athame, I sliced my fingertip, frowning as the pain nipped.
Whispering, Lycaon reached for me. “No! Elsa, I… I didn’t realise what I was doing. They put some kind of spell on me. I’m so sorry, I would never hurt you. Please don’t do this.”
His words pulled on my heart, but he had told me before that he was dangerous. And if they hadn’t stopped him, then, well, I wouldn’t be alive now. This whole situation was a nightmare. They could control either of us, especially him, it seemed.
I stepped forward.
As I moved away, Lycaon’s words were lost in the wind.
Unable to stop myself from trembling, fear rippled through me. The grinding sounds. I realised I was looking at a gargoyle. Now it honed in on me. Stone wings became looser as it flapped them. Then it launched itself off the castle turret, it came hurtling, claws extended, screeching towards me with such speed…
