From Out Of The Shadows Page 2
There were shouts and cursing, audible although muffled. She could make out a howling or growling, much like a dog fighting its master. Her first thought was that the new prisoner was giving his captors difficulty. It had to be a man rather than a woman or child; perhaps more than one man. It definitely sounded as though several jailors had their hands full with their recalcitrant victim. Silently she wished the new prisoner luck at fighting the baron’s men. If he was being brought here, it meant that the baron wanted him alive. Otherwise the soldiers would have already killed him.
The struggle came nearer until it stopped at her door. Suddenly, there was a key in the lock, and the door flew open so hard it slammed into the wall. Before it could bounce back at least a dozen men began to pour into the tiny cell, struggling to keep the prisoner from escaping. In their midst was a net made of heavy rope wherein their captive fought to escape. One man carried a lantern, but the pale light did little to illuminate things enough for her to see clearly.
The cursing and screaming was deafening. Tora squeezed herself against the wall as tightly as she could, never taking her eyes off of the dark form being beaten into submission. They used whatever they had to punish the man: chains; rifle butts; boots. The baron’s men eventually dropped their victim, but instead of backing away, they continued to pummel the man.
She knew it would be useless to beg the soldiers to leave the man be. Still, she had to tightly press her lips together to keep from yelling at them. For what seemed like hours, the guards savagely attacked the poor soul. Someone came in with a whip. The sound of it hitting raw flesh was sickening. They cursed at their target, spat on it, and some laughed. Tora flinched at the brutality inflicted. Tears fell when she heard the crunch of bones being broken, and the wet squelch of bleeding wounds. A thin trail of blood trickled across the stone floor between the soldiers� feet, and nearly reached her. In the singular light of the lantern the wetness was as black as the night sky.
She was on the verge of covering her ears with her hands when the beatings finally stopped. The soldiers stepped back, ripping the net away from their victim. For several long minutes they silently eyed the still form, until one of their number spoke up.
“Is he dead?”
“Naw. But when he comes to he’ll wish he was,â�� another answered.
They turned and began filing out of the cell. One man glanced over at where Tora was huddled against the wall. She couldn’t see his face, but she knew he was smiling. The soldiers always smiled after inflicting any sort of cruelty on another helpless human being.
The last armed man gave the still figure a final kick before he left, locking the door behind him. With the only source of light gone, the cell once again grew pitch black. Her quiet world shifted back into placeâ��only now she was sharing it with another person. A person who had been beaten nearly to death. From where she sat, Tora could hear the poor man’s labored breathing. Every few seconds he would groan in pain. Her heart went out to him.
Slowly, carefully, she got onto her knees and inched her way over to the unconscious figure. Holding out a hand, she sought the man’s pulse, hoping she would find it strong. Many years ago she had discovered she could survive almost anything. But if this man died and was allowed to rot in this place, Tora wondered if she could live through that experience.
Could she survive another long and agonizing death?
“Sir…sir, let me help you.â�� She lowered her hand, expecting to encounter chilled, if not bloodied flesh. Instead, her fingers felt hair. Long, thick hair.
Not believing what she was feeling, she extended her arm as far as it would reach to find his shoulder. An arm. And more thick, fur. Her immediate reaction was to jerk back in sudden terror.
Oh, please. God, no! It couldn’t be. It was a man lying on the blisteringly cold stone floor. It was a man who had been the target of those soldiersâ�� venom. It had to be. There was no way it could be…
Lupan.
Even the thought of the possibility that she could be trapped in here with a half-man, half-wolf creature sent terror pulsing through her body. Solid reasoning reminded her that there were no such beings as Lupans anymore. Lupans hadn’t existed for centuries. In fact, they were considered extinct, if they had ever lived at all. Creatures now of myth and legend. Monsters only kept alive in stories to be told to children in order to make them behave.
Tora squeezed her eyes shut, counted to ten, and opened them hoping to see more of the being lying nearby. Unfortunately there was no moon tonight, and no other outside light could penetrate the darkness. Still, she could barely make out the man’s…beast’s…shape. Cautiously, she reached out again to find a thick pelt, now sticky and warm.
Blood. Its sickly smell filled the room.
The man gave a shuddering breath and moaned. The sound was heartbreaking. Worse, it sounded human. Terrifying creature of myth or not, he was in excruciating pain. Gathering her courage, Tora spread her fingers over his back, letting the dense hairs tickle her palm. Then little by little she opened herself up to his agony.
It was like absorbing fire.
Tora hissed as the burning pain seeped through her skin, surged into her blood vessels, and penetrated her muscles. With the pain came the additional torment of broken and shattered bones. She mentally located them�two ribs, the lower left arm, and his left collarbone. As she continued to examine him, reaching where she could, she discovered several areas where his flesh was raw and pulpy. Yet everywhere she touched she met fur. And the more she investigated, the less evidence she found that felt human.
As her fingers traveled over a large, bleeding tear near the damaged arm, the man-beast shrank slightly from her touch, and a deep growl softly warned her to be careful. This time Tora immediately retreated back to her side of the room.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you,â�� she told him in a gentle voice, and hoped he wouldn’t notice it was also quaking. â��I know where you’re hurt, and I wish I could help, but I can’t when it’s dark like this.â�� She could feel the blood cooling and congealing on her hand. She wiped as much of it as she could on her skirt. â��Come daylight I’ll see what I can do, but I’m afraid it won’t be enough. You’ve been badly injured, and you’ve lost a lot of blood. You also have some broken ribs, plus a broken bone in your arm and collarbone.â�� Sighing loudly, Tora added, â��I don’t have anything to clean your wounds or bind them. I’m sorry. It looks like it’s going to be a long night for both of us I’m afraid.”
She waited, listening intently for the creature to respond. After a while it was clear it wasn’t going to say anything. Maybe it wasn’t capable of human speech.
Curling up as tightly as she could, Tora tried to find a comfortable position in which to get some sleep. The attempt would prove futile, as the cold made it nearly impossible to rest. Add the fact that a huge creature she had believed no longer existed lay unchained less than six feet away, compounded her fear and distress.
The worst was yet to come, and the thought of what she had still to face filled her with dread. In the morning, she would see for the first time what her hands had described. And if the legends and tales proved true, it could very well be her last morning of life.
Because everyone knew how much Lupans craved human flesh.
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Chapter 3
Truth
She could smell the sage and dead grasses as she plunged through the thicket. She had been running for her life for so long she could no longer remember when she had started running, or how far she had come.
It didn’t matter, though. She was on the verge of collapse. A dozen heartbeats away from giving up. Behind her she could sense the creature getting closer. So close she could smell its fetid breath and hear its own gasps for air. It was tiring, but she would give out long before it did.
Her lungs could not draw any more air. She was struggling, fighting for every breath. Her legs w
ere watery and unable to take many more steps. Her heart in her chest was pumping so hard it felt like it was trying to ram its way out through her ribs.
Twice the creature had nearly caught her. The dark, horrendous shape had nipped at her heels almost from the start. Twice she had escaped by the thinnest margin, by the sheerest thread of luck. Luck no longer sat on her shoulder. The next time, this next time, the beast would overtake her. And when it did, it would devour her with relish, starting first with her pounding heart, and following it with her entrails.
Terror and dread were sharp knives slicing away her hope and her sanity. Still, she continued to run. Tall, dried weeds raked her legs. Naked bushes with thorny branches dug gouges in her arms, hands, and legs. Her dress was in tatters. Sharp stones punctured her thinly-soled shoes, allowing the blood to seep out. The trail she left behind made the creature’s job ridiculously easy.
It was playing with her. She had no doubt about its intention. It wanted her to tire herself out. That way, when she finally collapsed, she would have no more energy left to fight it off. Then it could take her at its leisure. Like a typical predator, it liked to play with the food before settling down to enjoy the feast.
The toe of her slipper hit a rock. She stumbled, nearly fell, and the beast behind her made a laughing sound. Soon. Very soon. Then all her running would be over with.
She sobbed, knowing she couldn’t escape. Knowing the chase and her life would soon be over. Tora cried out again, and this time she was answered with a triumphant howl. The sound of it froze her blood.
The creature was panting heavily, grunting from its own exertions, then it howled once more. She had expected it, but when she finally heard the cry repeated, she fell to her knees. Pulling herself into a tight little ball, she covered the back of her neck with her hands, tightly shut her eyes, and waited. She was prepared for the worst.
The creature stopped directly behind her. It panted as it licked its chops. Suddenly it howled again, so close, the warmth of its breath blew over her back.
Tora shuddered. A whimper of despair died in her throat. Caught between reality and dreams, she remained motionless, eyes closed, and waited to see if the cry would sound again. She could hear her heart thundering in her chest, but there was no way she could move from where she lay. Her hands were numb, and her legs had lost all feeling. Every inch of her skin felt like it was encased in a thin layer of ice. If the cold and conditions in her cell didn’t kill her the creature would. It was simply a matter of time before she found out which one would win.
The howl vibrated in the air around her. This time it was low, almost heartrending. And following it was a single strangled word…
“Water.”
Tora snapped her head up. Daylight was filtering into the cell. Gradually she turned her face, holding her breath as her fear rose. As the fog of her nightmare dissipated, she realized she had been dreaming, fighting her terror in her sleep, but unable to rest because of her overactive imagination. But the cause of her fright was still there, trapped inside her prison with her. As much a victim as she was.
She could see the man-beast very clearly now. He was lying in the same place, in the same position as the soldiers had left him. Fortunately he was facing away from her, allowing her the chance to study him without him staring back.
He was long, meaning he was tall. His back, buttocks, and legs were bare except for a rich, full pelt the color of dead leaves. Heavily-muscled shoulders tapered to a narrow waist. He had a rounded behind, and tree-trunk size thighs. His calves were thick and human, without the jointed knees typical of a real animal that walked on all fours. Splotches like rust stood out on his coatâ��bloody souvenirs left by the soldiers. She couldn’t see his feet, but she could imagine how they would appear. If his lower anatomy was human, it would make sense his feet would look like a normal man’s, too. On the other hand, he had animalistic ears that came to points on either side of his narrow head. Tora didn’t need to look at his face to know he would have an elongated muzzle. Plus a mouth filled with sharp teeth. That feature was always savagely described during each story’s retelling.
A twinge in her back broke her inspection. She moved slightly to ease the cramping in her legs. The chain around her ankle jangled with her movements, and the Lupan instantly reacted. Tora started, gasping, and watched as it stilled, muscles under the skin bunching in preparation. An ear moved back, alerted to her presence. It was awake. Awake and in pain, and expecting more brutality, but unable to defend itself. She began to wonder if she’d actually heard it speak when the word was repeated.
“Water.”
Did it know she wasn’t one of the guards left behind to watch over it? Didn’t the rattle of her chains give her away as being another prisoner?
Tora blinked in shock. Her upper chest ached. Her left arm hung almost useless at her side. With every breath her sides bathed her in pain. His agony was now hers. It continued to plague her, as the surprising truth settled over her. In the past, once she’d made contact with anyone, she was aware of their every emotion. But when she broke that contact, the bridge between them disappeared. Always.
Until now.
For some unfathomable reason, Tora found herself still tied to the man creature through her unique ability. His agony would always shadow her. Not as intense, but continually there. Letting her know where the worst of it existed.
“Water,â�� the creature begged for the third time.
“I’m sorry. There’s no water. I’m sorry.”
The beast sighed again. His dejection flowed over her. More and more she was beginning to get the feeling that this half-man was no monster. But, he was also badly injured. If he had not been overwhelmed by those men and beaten, would she be sitting here having this conversation with him? Or would she be�
“Stay…away.”
His comment surprised her. Had he read her mind? Did he order her to remain as far away from him as she could for her benefit? Or for his? Was he afraid of hurting her? Or of her hurting him?
A nearly inaudible whimper broke the silence. â��I’m not going to hurt you,â�� Tora whispered, coming to her own conclusion.
The creature’s breathing never slowed. It continued to pant, partly from fear, mostly because of the pain. She could feel the fire racing inside his body, relentless and unending. Tora knew she would not be able to escape his suffering, but some activity on her part could help alleviate it a bit. She moved again, this time as far away from the beast as she could, when she heard another sound.
“Who?”
“It’s only me,â�� she said. â��The soldiers are gone.â�� She was surprised that she could understand him, although the diction was slightly distorted. How was it possible that a man-beast was able to talk? Or, for that matter, have cognizant thought?
“You are…â�� He sounded as though he was talking around a wad of cloth. He was probably bleeding internally, and there was nothing she could do to ease his suffering. Tears welled in her eyes.
“My name is Tora. I’m from the village of Neabush, on the southeastern border of Baron Agrino’s lands.â�� She shifted again, which made the chains rattle once more.
“You are in chains?â�� the creature asked. He spoke slowly, trying to make his words understandable. He had a deep voice that seemed to penetrate all the way through her. Tora shivered involuntarily.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Tora paused. Why? â��I don’t know,â�� she answered. â��I mean, I thought I knew. People have been disappearing from the villages for months. Not just men and women. Children, too. We believe the women were taken to satisfy the baron’s sexual appetites. Why I ended up here instead of at his estate, I don’t know.”
She saw him tentatively move a leg. â��You’re not chained.”
The movement ceased.
A familiar thumping sound came from outside the door. It would be the jailor with her only meal of the day
. Vaguely, Tora wondered if the man would be bringing two trays instead of one.
“Tell them I’m unconscious,â�� the man-beast whispered.
Surprised, Tora continued to stare at him as the guard opened the tiny door at the bottom.
“Hey, girlie! You still there?”
“Yes.”
The man snorted. It sounded impatient. â��How’s the beast?”
The callous tone irked her, and Tora shot back a heated, â��Badly injured, you sorry son of a bitch!â�� A second thought interrupted her before she could say more, and she quickly added, â��You bastards left a wounded animal in here! He could turn on me!”
Thank goodness her intuition kicked in when it did. If the man suspected she was building a rapport with the creature, it was possible they both could be punished. No, it would be best if the baron’s men believed she was terrified of what the Lupan might do once he awoke.
She needn’t have worried. Her riled answer must have amused him. She heard him give a bark of laughter. â��Don’t be pissed at me, girlie. You’ll change your tune soon enough when he recovers.”
“Why didn’t you chain him too?”
“No need to,â�� the man smirked. Her tray was shoved through the little door, and he closed the slot.
“Hey! What about the beast? What are you going to do about him? Aren’t you going to put him in chains like you did me?â�� she called out. She heard another muffled laugh before the jailor shuffled off.
As always, it was a bowl of tepid soup, a handful of stale bread, and two slices of dried meat. Hungrily, Tora sipped the soup.
“Tora.”
She nearly dropped the bowl in surprise when the creature spoke her name. â��Whâ�� uh…what?”
“Is there some water?”
“No,â�� she answered. â��They’ve never brought me any water. Just some soup. And this time they only brought one tray, like they usually do.â�� At the sound of his dejected sigh, she fought briefly with her fear then made her decision.