FOREVER KNIGHTS: #13 Salvaging Souls

As he entered Serdephe’s room he saw her straddling a woman in her bed. The woman was now limp. Red eyes staring at the doorway as Teverius entered.

She’s dead. But Serdephe still clung to her throat with a fierce grip. Unwilling to let go. The disarray of her hair, torn clothes, and the deep scratches on her neck made it clear.

She was attacked. He knew instantly that she’d defended herself.

“My Wolf!” She sobbed. Dropping off the bed and crawling backward from the limp form on the bed. It was the body of a young woman with black waving hair. Her eyes red.

I’m not in the form of the wolf. Tev recognized dully that Serdephe had recognized him anyway. He didn’t consider it further in that woman.

Looking at the body he realized he’d seen her before. In the dream Chavias had shown him, Radix had called to this woman when Serdephe was just ja child.

“She wasn’t-I-” Serdephe had collapsed next to him near the doorway. “She was Hales but I-I…Who is she?”

Without looking down at her, Tev rose onto his back legs and transitioned into the straightening form of a human. Pulling clothes around him as his white hair unraveled down his back. “Her name was Lorna.”

He didn’t bother hiding he was shapeshifting from her. She obviously knows it’s me.

Serdephe looked up at him in confusion. “Who is Lorna?”

One of Radix’s Firoque.

A man’s shout emerged from downstairs.

“Luca!”

“Ser! Stop the water!” He was gargling.

Both she and Tev took the stairs and saw the water had nearly reached the ceiling of the bottom level. Overcoming Luca.

Serdephe screamed in horror. Clapping her hands before her and using her power to force her arms slowly apart. Separating the water. Sending furniture and floating objects clattering to the floor between it. She turned her hands up and used great force to shove the water back out the door.

Tev gave her a confused look. “You called the water?”

“I didn’t know I was doing it.” She admitted. Eyes still large and terrified.

But Luca did.

“He knows you call water?” Betrayal entered his voice as he gestured to Luca who was floundering to stay afloat until the water left the cottage and he could finally land on his feet. Gasping for air.

Not a swimmer, obviously.

Shame. Tev thought dryly. He dropped over the twining railing of the stairs and landed on the floor stalking toward the other man. Catching his throat, he lifted him by the throat.

Luca’s hands gripped his wrists to brace himself as Teverius walked with him until able to pin him against a wall.

“What are you?” Tev demanded. Sensing the power in the stranger now.

Clawing at Tev’s hand enough to break the grip of a few of his fingers Luca spat out. “You’re the lover, I take it.” He smiled wanly as he still huffed for air.

Then what do you call yourself? Frowning, Tev released him and let him slide to sit on the floor.

Luca clutched his throat with one hand and his side with the other.

“What happened?” Serdephe asked him. Crouching worriedly next to him. There was no accusation in her voice.

She doesn’t believe any of this is his fault.

Tev’s brow knitted, as he looked from one to the other. Is he her lover?

Tev suddenly wanted to leave. I don’t want to witness her tending him.

Luca looked at her. “I’m okay, Ser. She attacked me while I was sleeping…I think it was her…”

“It was.” Serdephe supplied.

“She cut me in the side and was suffocating me. I felt like I couldn’t get air and my nose was…” He gestured to it. Black fluid seeped from his nostrils. “I couldn’t breathe. So I struck her in the head to get her off me. She crawled over the floor like a serpent and jumped up to go upstairs. I knew she was coming after you, but I was wretching the fluid.” He gestured confusedly to his nose again. Giving Teverius a quick look as if he could understand more.

“I strangled her.” Serdephe said brokenly.

“I’m sorry.” Luca took one of her hands and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

Tev looked away and aimed for the door.

Strangely it was Luca’s voice that stopped him. “Are you going back to avoiding her? Please, don’t.”

Avoiding Serdephe? Yes, that’s exactly my intention. Tev twirled on his heel and gave them both a dark look.

“Why would you give two shits?” His threatening gaze set on Luca.

You should be wanting me gone as much as I want to be out of this picture.