Chapter 28

Gunshots echoed as my ears were treated to a rough breeze of wind.

Too loud, The mental complaint floated in the mind as I remained in a warm, comfortable spot of darkness. Two scents stayed strongly at my nose, familiar, valued. It was better than trying to smell deeply, the remnants of blood was ruining my rest.

“Ivory–Ivory, wait, please, please.” Rook pleaded with a quiver to his voice. “I know I don’t have the right to speak. And you must be in so much pain. However, you must stop and pause! Listen to me, you can’t kill Mother! On her behalf, I am sorry for what she has done. You have already taken out the others–I insist you don’t follow through with this!”

Ivory? Did I come back? My very being felt sluggish, groggy. Even now it was difficult to hear the background.

At the very least, my chest harbored no ache.

“Shut up. Move before I shoot you through her.” Ivory commanded with sub-zero frost on the fangs. “Your Mother’s life was forfeit the moment she harmed us. The minute Opal died. The second she hurt Sister,” Ivory’s rant squeezed into a snarl. “She wanted to beat a pet into her? I’ll deliver that Dulling’s head to Sister myself.”

“Ivory!” Rook protested with distressed strain.

“Listen to the Beast’s servant, Rook, move.” Queen Wazir hissed. “I bet he has a horrid shot anyways, I don’t need my incompetent son to die to some kind of mutant, blind as a bat.”

Ivory cocked the gun, the rattling loud and prepared.

“Stop trying to sound tough! Both of you!” Rook shouted back. “We can talk about this, no one else needs to bleed today!”

I forced my eyes to snap open, uncaring of the rough blast of color into vision. Movement was aborted due to the tightly wrapped fabric around my upper half. My legs wriggled from the odd experience of trapped arms. The smell of blood and ash caused my mouth to purse in disgust.

“Shepard?” Ebony rasped, and it was then I realized I had been wrapped in two jackets. Within a moment, I was lifted into Ebony’s arms. “You’re alright?” Ebony’s hoarse voice and red-stained eyes created a crinkle of guilt in my heart. Then, I realize his mouth is covered in red. Ebony’s fingers are equally coated in dried blood.

“...What is Ivory doing?” I cranked my head around to catch the situation, unnerved with a twitch of a mint tail. “What happened?”

It was a bloodbath. Some of the hunters were missing, likely having retreated, but the ones who remained were maimed into silence or lifeless on the ground. Then, there was Ivory, Rook, and that stupid Queen. From the distance, I knew Ivory could hear us, and I hoped he'd shoot her now rather than later. Then, I realized, there was something wrong with this scene, too many Dullings and only one of my wards.

“Where are my wolves,” I trembled, glancing every direction, finding pawsteps in the ground but not a hint of gems or shiny pelts. “They were here when I last closed my eyes, are they safe?” Did something worse happen when I was down for the count?

“The Gem Wolves are fine, they ran after the remaining hunters.” Ebony rambled out, still scanning me up and down, while moving to gently unwrap my prison. “After you…Went down, the Gem Wolves went ballistic. I’ll admit, we did too, I remember little of it.” Ebony wheezed out. “That was horrifying. Do not do that to us again.” Ebony hissed. “Do you hear me, Shepard? We…I don’t want to feel that for the third time.” Ebony sounded lost, dark eyes teary.

I cannot get angry at his previously consuming grief. I would’ve reacted similarly. “I’m sorry you had to kill for me.” I told him, mouth tasting of bittered guilt.

“I told you that we would,” Ebony rubbed at his eyes with a wrist, ears lowered. “And I’m sorry for failing you.” Ebony lowered his head. “Nothing can make up for our misstep. You suffered, as did Opal, and I couldn’t protect Ivory well either,” Ebony’s lip trembled. “I am a horrible brother.”

I threw my hand onto his head and gave his hair a rough ruffle. Ebony quelled with a soft whine, as if he were in wolf form.

“You’re not allowed to think of yourself in such a way, especially when I know you fought tooth and nail to keep Ivory safe.” I chidded him. “I made mistakes too, and the oldest. The fault lies with me. It seems despite no longer being human, we’re still subjected to error.” I offered Ebony a smile in the dead quiet. “Humanity hoarding everything meaningful is much too boring. I already promised a friend, but I’ll invite you to this vow, too. Let’s do better for ourselves, alright? Ebony?”

Ebony didn’t say anything for a few seconds before I felt his head bob. “Who did you promise?”

How odd, Ebony’s voice was overly hoarse and teary, like the time his counterpart’s younger self accidentally left a newly potted plant in a hurricane. It stirred my heart with revered nostalgia, enough to bring the truth. “I saw Opal for a brief moment.”

Ebony’s head snapped up, his dark eyes wide and awed.

“I got to hold them in my arms, Ebony. Opal felt so happy where they are now. Opal would’ve wanted you to forgive yourself too. I’m trying to do better, so let’s go on that journey together.” I retracted my hand, but Ebony blinked hard to get rid of his tears, I let him recover in silence.

“Shepard, you’re awake,” Ivory’s declaration had raised in volume, reaching me through sheer stubbornness. “If you do not want to remember the sound, cover your ears. You don’t need to hear the wail of this dying cretin, Sister.” Ivory sneered.

“No!” Rook’s scream scraped my ears.

“Hold it, Ivory,” I clicked my tongue, only faintly amused by Ivory’s impatient growl. How uncharacteristic of him! “If you kill her, it would be a disservice.” I stand up, tying Ebony’s cloak onto my right arm, and tying Ivory’s on my left. “Let me handle it. Ebony? Return to the wolves and wait for us to find you.”

I believe the only reason why Ivory nor Ebony didn’t disobey, was because they reasoned I would deliver poetic justice.

Within seconds, I am there beside Ivory, feet buzzing from energy. My ears are perked and my tail, swaying once from glee.

Rook is badly startled, and Wazir eyes me with a wild look, spooked by my Green Bill of Health.

“How are you,” Queen Wazir sputtered, unable to complete her sentence.

“You cannot kill that which is already long dead,” I snarled with a grin.

Both Dullings were staring at the blue crook raised high in the air, held firmly by my claws.

“What,” Rook breathed, in disbelief. “What are you doing with that?”

I swung the crook.

Queen Wazir’s shriek was cut off as she fell from the crook-styled backhand. The scrape of rocks and dirt was enlightening to my ears.

“Mother!” Rook moved, but a transformed snow-white wolf was faster, pinning him. “...Mother!”

“Calm down, Rook, I won’t kill her,” I began to walk, gripping the crook tighter. “It’s your reward for helping us get this far without any more deaths. On my side, that is.” And I was ever-so grateful. “I give virtuous people their deserved pay. You are allowed to keep your Mother’s life in exchange for your excellent performance.”

“Rook, you…?” Queen Wazir gaped at him.

“I’m sorry Mother,” Rook rushed out, “But you were in the wrong! I knew you would stumble in strategy plans the second I became entangled. I just wanted my friend and his family to leave as fast as possible, to live their own lives as freely as we…!”

“Nines, you’re just like your aunt, it’s sickening…! Argh,” Queen Wazir moved a hand to her mouth, pulling back, and I didn’t need to see the damage.

I can smell the fresh copper in the air.

“What’s wrong, broke a tooth?” I cooed. “Now, what did you imply? If I willingly joined you…What? You’d file down my fangs?” To be more presentable, a loyal pet butler.

I am upon Queen Wazir once more, crook raised to the ready.

Smack, then a whimper. Music to my ears! May my crook bath in the blood of idiots.

Smack.

“You know, the world where I come from, people have forgotten what it means to be punched in the face. This is called consequences, I do hope you are understanding this.” I am fairly certain I heard her jaw dislocate.

“Shepard! Shepard, she’s had enough!” Rook yelped even as Ivory kept a firm paw on his head.

“I’m not going to stop until all of Wazir’s teeth are broken.” Deliverance trickled down my promise. “It’s the least I can do for Opal, the wolf she degraded. I’d be gathering their remains too, if I didn’t already know this bigot gave them to the Hunters. I don’t have time to go searching finding every last piece, and I already have their main gem,”

Smack. Smack. Smack.

“Mother,” Rook murmured, mortified.

Ivory merely huffed, I knew he would’ve done worse in my shoes.

Wazir spat out blood and bits of teeth. She was trembling, likely from the pain rather than fear. A box fell out of her armor, lightly the power source I had demanded. She tried to pick it up but surrendered to trying to cover her mouth protectively instead.

“...east,” Wazir hissed through her bleeding mouth. “...east!” Her emerald eyes were full of hatred, of vengefulness despite the pain.

“What? You want me to hit you east? Gladly.” Yet for me, her agony wasn’t just for Opal. It was for myself, for the twins, for Wazir’s greed to snag the wolves and keep them like objects. All of the difficulties resulted because of this one Dulling and her incessant pride. A game that was no longer a game because someone died. Opal is gone for good, and it’s this crazy Dulling’s fault!

Smack.

Wazir wheezed out something wet.

“Speak up,” I hissed, my eyes on the broken bits of teeth scattered on the ground. “I can always end this by stabbing out an eye,” Which I genuinely would not do because this crook was a gift from Ivory. I wasn’t going to let eye-gore stain this hand-made gift!

Wazir quivered nonetheless, and I considered the threat a success.

“You know, I’ve been called a Wandering Star,” I begin, crook under Wazir’s chin and forcing her to face me. “And still I find parallels from where I came from, to here. Tell me, Wazir. How does it feel to have a Beast’s attention? Was this entire set-up worth it?” I didn’t have to strike her again to cause pain, instead I increased pressure on lifting her jaw. Wazir wheezed a scream. “It’s embarrassing to weep in front of your child like this. Where’s your parental pride?”

I wasn’t going to kill her. I wasn’t going to kill her.

I can still remember how Opal looked in the grass, unmoving, unseeing.

I already promised. I did not have to kill anyone. Wazir would live.

I was not going to kill this horrible Dulling. Just a few more hits will be enough.

A. Few. More.

“Move.” The command leaves my fangs the second a blur of fancy runs into the dirt and rocks, blocking any direct hit. The scent of the prince is hardly an afterthought as I debated kicking him out of the way.

“I won’t.” Rook grit, practically baring his dull teeth like Ruby would when the pup was stubborn.

“Then I suppose you’ll take the beat down in her place.” The warning is expected to bring the Prince back to reality.

“If that’s what you believe will sedate your anger, yes.” Rook met my challenge without blinking.

I laughed, harsh and burning the throat. “Ivory? Your friend is strange.”

Ivory, now by my legs, said nothing, still in wolf form and watching the scene. I could feel his fur against my leg, his nose pressed against my elbow. I could feel AngerCalmWaitingAcceptance radiating from him.

I knew Ivory was trusting me to do what was best. He would’ve absolutely gone further and beyond to punish this Dulling, as would Ebony if our sibling were here.

“Your family caused mine so much pain,” I sneered at the two of them. “We will mourn for weeks, I can feel it. Even now, I can only hope Hunters won’t run after us the second they detect a howl in the wind, hoping it belonged to one of my wolves.” It was unacceptable, disgraceful, I wanted more red on my crook. “We cannot mourn in peace, cannot stop to breathe, whose fault is this?”

Wazir tried to speak but her words were full of ruined teeth and an ill-adjusted jaw. She tried to keep eye contact, regardless of how hazy her irises stayed.

Rook kept an arm out as defense, daring to glare at me. “Mother wanted to give me a pack of gem wolves for my birthday. I am…Now aware of the damage she caused at the lengths to do this. I am sorry. She is sorry. Mother has too much pride and not enough sense at times, but I assure you, should you let her go, you will not be pursued by either nation.” Rook’s mouth pursed. “I swear it.”

“And why the Hell should I listen to you?!” I raised the crook, prepared to strike down this foolish prince.

This ridiculous young Dulling protecting this…This…

Rook had lunged forward to pull his mother behind him completely, eyes blazing, but lip quivering.

…His mother. The last family he’s ever known.

“My wolf is dead. That is her fault.” I whispered, staring at Rook, unable to blankly eye Wazir down.

“I know. I am deeply sorry for that.”

I hated him, and I hated her! Rook sounded like one of those government officials who won’t do a thing to help their citizens, but will issue a formal apology. All while protecting the abuser. The killer. The one who caused all this. There will never be actual punishment from them.

Look at her, recovering, Wazir certainly hadn’t been pitiful when she crushed a tool into Opal’s corpse, digging for their gem. When she orchestrated an attack on my family.

“Apologies mean nothing when a life is gone for good.” My words felt hollow, the crook in hand felt cold. “It means nothing when we’ll have lasting trauma for years to think about. To dream about. To always think of.” Does he not understand, the spoiled brat?

“...I also know that, but that is all we know how to give.” Rook quietly told me.

The longer I look at him, the longer I see something I shouldn’t. Goosebumps crawl up my dark skin.

“I want it in writing.” I tiredly agreed to his terms. “And toss me the power source. Asken won’t be getting it back.” I will not negotiate.

“Of course.” Rook resolutely nodded.

“I don’t want to see that Dullings face ever again.” I tackled on, a growl in the throat.

“You did say you were leaving, weren’t you? We won’t get in the way. In fact, feel free to use our lands to start the spell. We surrender that land to you.” Rook vowed without hesitation. “Not even the citizens of Asken, our allies, will intrude. There’s no more need for bloodshed, or broken anything,”

Wazir…Did not screech, did not protest. She only breathed, in and out at a practiced pace. As if she was struggling to stay connected to the present.

“Fine.” The word felt like acid eating at my chest.

I loathed how when I look at this battered mother and desperate son…I see my past self and her mother.

A little girl, clinging to her bruised parent’s arm, wondering if she could be strong enough to pull her Mom to safety in the face of a monster. How in the future, the older girl, soon young woman, decided to be stronger for her additional family members. To shield them no matter what may come, no matter what monster eventually showed up on their doorstep.

Rook offered a smile, hesitant. “Then…We have a deal.”

If only that little vision could fade away with my younger self’s relieved smile.

I have a feeling this scene will haunt me for weeks afterward.

Ivory nuzzled my wrist, his wave of UnderstandingSupportComfort preventing the worst of a blowup.

I finally lowered the crook.

My ears shouldn’t be so low, it’s distasteful.

Then, I quietly wept with an audience, hoping I wasn’t anything like my father.

A monster so horrible, he’d be willing to strangle a supposed princess as she scratched at his uncaring wrists.

She had died a martyr, but had the evolution to ‘Shepherd’ made her anything different?

Who knows.

“I’m exhausted, Ivory, let’s just go.”

At least Ivory let me lean on him the entire walk to rejoin Ebony and the others. This felt familiar, Ivory’s counterpart also comforted me in silence. He’d knock on my door with two bubble teas in hand, two gaming consoles in the other. Sometimes, there was no need to talk. Just being there, in one another’s presence, was enough.

I’m glad Ivory’s okay.

Soon, we will all be safe.

I’ll make sure of it.