I hope folks are enjoying the story so far. Please leave comments, as criticism both positive and constructive is inherently useful. Plus, I like reading comments, so that's cool.
Chapter 14: The Enemy of my Enemy
A fulminating circle of vivid fire ignited on the ground causing the newly fallen snow to sizzle briefly to sudden annihilation. In the darkness, the illumination of the brilliant flames lit the clearing and caused the bare trees to cast grotesque and lurid shadows. Then, with a sudden flash of sorcerous energies, the flames were all but snuffed out and the shadows were gone. All save one.
This orphan shadow was a pale figure, lithe and still, poised in an alert, predatory crouch as its head turned slowly this way and that. The gloom beneath the trees was no barrier as eyes like chips of dark flint peered about, missing no detail. The thing took in the sounds and scents of the surrounding wood for a moment until it was satisfied that its arrival had been unobserved by any prying eye. Only then did it move, gliding forward in utter silence as it melted into the darkness and swiftly vanished.
Wolves howled in the distance and the creature paused for a moment to listen to their melancholy song. Its perceptions and senses were so acute that it could still detect the unearthly stench of the Hellhounds, the vile aroma of the Barghests was faint now and snow covered their tracks but even so it followed their trail effortlessly, moving in silence and with great stealth as it crept towards the shrine, like some prowling burglar, filled with malicious intent, and an insatiable hunger.
The thing slithered aside en route, drawn by the red scent of fresh prey and soon enough it located a cave. Gleaming eyes easily pierced the darkness within and when sensitive fingers touched cold embers it gleaned much knowledge,
"Three there were, two young females and an older man, all human, all ripe. But... there was something else, something that left no tracks, no scent, but it was here nonetheless..."
With a sibilant hiss of frustration, the thing turned to follow the spoor of fresh meat towards the shrine.
A mist, easily conjured, shrouded the place, hiding movement and muffling sound as it continued its stealthy advance, creeping, half-crouched, like a wild creature, it was nigh invisible, save for eyes that glittered like hot coals.
The thing paused to listen and easily detected the shallow breathing of the three mortals inside the shrine. The murmuring sound of their hearts beating was like a lure, promising a hot rich and crimson reward, and it felt its fangs and claws elongating and sharpening instinctively as the desire to feed became more pronounced. It licked its lips with sinuous tongue and slid towards the doorway before hesitating,
"Seek first, observe, probe the mind of any you find, learn what may be learned, and when done, then, and only then, may you feed."
The instructions had been given by one he dared not defy and so with only a soft disgruntled snarl of hunger, the thing extended its senses towards the sleeping mortals as it sought to enter their dreams.
"Here now Clamach, what are ye doing out there?"
The old woman had watched the thing from the shadow inside the shrine before shaking her head sadly and shuffling forward almost to the threshold of the entranceway.
The creature froze as the woman came into view and it became so still it all but merged with the shadow and mist, but the crone peered into the dark and called his name a second time, "Clamach, come out now lad, let me see you."
The Abhartach moved from the gloom and the old woman's eyes twinkled in the moonlight as she smiled, "Och, there you are, why are you trying to scare an old woman now, your granny Jessie would be black affronted by this behaviour lad."
The thing felt its eyes bulge and it swallowed in shock at the woman's words.
"You cannot know those names, woman."
"Can I not? And was Jessie not the one who looked after ye when your folks were taken by the plague, and was she not one that followed the old ways? Come forth child, let me look at you."
The thing trembled as it stepped forward, drawn by her words. It shook its head as they dug up old memories, like disinterred bones from a festering grave, long forgotten, bitter like unwanted bile and its clawed hands shook.
His voice was a painful whisper, "That was sooo long ago, you cannot..."
The woman looked at the boy and sighed, "Oh, you're a poor wee thing are ye not, it's a hard road you've travelled these long years lad."
The lad sniffed, and swallowed, "You knew Jessie?"
The woman chuckled, "Och, I mind her well, a big red-haired woman with a hooked nose. She took you in when your folks perished. Every Beltain, and Imbolc she would come to the stones near your croft, just by the old barrow, with a cockerel, or a chicken, and make offering to Macha for the prosperity of her kin. I mind she gave the goddess a right scolding when her man died in yon blizzard, thought it unfair she did, and him a follower of Lugh of all things. You'd think she'd serve her complaints up on his platter, but no, it was the Goddess that drew her ire. Still, she was a good lass for all she had a temper on her, though she did like a dram now and again."
His voice was like a shadow of some bitterly frozen winter wind as it bared its fangs in a snarl, "And look what good her offerings did, see what the Gods have done to me."
"Aye, you do look a wee bit scunnered and ill-used. Still, I doubt Jessie would be happy to see you skulking about like this. Even so, I doubt her prayers were unheard, for here you are after all."
The old woman stepped closer, "Tell me lad, what happened?"
The creature shook and when it spoke its voice seemed to have lost some of the cold, inhuman hardness and sounded more like that of a frightened youth, filled with pain, misery and old loss, "I... I caught the plague, like my folks, and I could not stand it. In fear, I accepted a bad bargain. I'd always had nightmares after they died, for it was me that found them all black and cold on their bed. When I saw the sores on my own skin it was like being a child again and I was mortally afraid. So, like a coward, I took what was offered, with no thought to cost."
The woman shook her head, "You are no coward! When young Logain fell through the ice when you were fishing, who was it that went in after him and dragged him ashore? Almost at the cost of your own life, and you being but a lad at the time. Do you not remember how your folks were so proud of you that day."
"There is no way you could know such things, it's impossible, how...?"
She stepped almost to the very edge of the threshold and tapped her long nose with a gnarled finger, "Ask me no questions lad, and I'll tell ye no lies, is it not enough that I know?"
The boy lurched backwards, unbalanced as he threw up his hands. It hissed, fangs flashing in the silver moonlight, fingertips edged with black nails, as sharp as razors, "No! Come no closer, that boy is gone, long gone, I am a monster wearing his shape is all. I hunger so, and already you are close enough I could snatch you from the doorway in the blink of an eye."
The old woman smiled, "You cannot fool me Clamach, I see the lad in front of me. If he was gone, as you say you would not warn me so," she chuckled, "and if you go a snatching at some poor old woman like myself you might not be so happy with the result, I doubt you would find a gnarled bag of bones like me such a juicy morsel after all."
"Even so, I... I might... hurt you, and... I... I don't want to."
"You look to be in pain lad. Is there aught I can do?"
The boy shivered and he looked away, "No, it's just hunger, it never leaves, I am beyond help."
The woman whispered, "Why linger here lad, why not take the path to Tir Na NÓg, and be with your kin?"
