Chapter 14
JACOB
HONAU
Ilift my head off my desk. I must have fallen asleep last night writing.
The dawn is too bright and cheerful for my dark thoughts.
My back aches as I shamble to the window and peer outside.
The sun is spilling a lemon-yellow glow across the snow-covered cobblestones.
Villagers are already out and about running their errands.
I mentally kick myself for wasting precious hours sleeping.
“Thought you were so eager to get out and slay those dragons,” Wilhelm says, coming downstairs.
“Couldn’t sleep with Rumpelstiltskin’s snoring. So loud, the menace likely woke the dead.”
I splash my face with icy water and push aside the cabinet, revealing our weapon collection filling the wall. I attach my sword to my waist, then reach for the ax, but Wilhelm snatches it from me.
“What are you doing?” I ask. “It’s one thing for you to disagree with me, but quite another to stop me.”
“I’m helping you, brother. After our encounter with the Enchantress last night, I’ve decided we need to be on the same side. Besides, I can’t let you get ripped to shreds by bloodthirsty wolves.”
“You should stay here. Maybe do some research on those witches she talked about.”
“That makes me feel needed.” He rolls his eyes, but relinquishes the ax, picking out a bow and quiver full of arrows instead. “While you were snoring the morning away, I did some reconnaissance work.”
“Do you even know how to do such things?” I tease.
“Hilarious.” He checks to make sure the steel tips are on the arrows. “I’ve learned a lot about these wolves of yours.”
“Now they’re my wolves?”
“Some townsfolk say they’re men in daylight and wolves by moon. Others talk about how they hunt humans and eat them whole. Sounds like the king called upon the right brothers to set things right.”
I stop my preparations to stare at him. He really wants to help. This changes everything.
“Indeed, the king did.” I grin, slapping my hand on his shoulder. “With so many potential hits in one place, we might complete our list before the year is done.”
“When did my older brother become such an optimist?”
“Optimist? Hardly.” I snort and pick up the hourglass. A new ember name glows on the top: Little Red Cap. That usual panic starts pumping through my veins. “Looks like a new story is ready for us.”
The blood trickles with its usual slow drizzle, but I know better than to be lulled into thinking we have plenty of time.
“Red Cap, huh?” Wilhelm rubs his ear. “The word little makes it sound like a kid.”
After asking around town for anyone with the name or nickname of Red Cap and coming up empty-handed, we decide to investigate the wolves while it’s still daylight.
Snowflakes drift from silver-threaded clouds as we ride out of the village toward Ella’s manor. We debate over the villagers’ rumors of the wolves.
“I can see the stalking of clueless wanderers,” I admit to Wilhelm, “but swallowing a man whole and transforming into wolf? Sounds a bit far-fetched.”
“And Rumpelstiltskin spinning straw to gold and a goose laying gold eggs doesn’t?”
“Fine, you win,” I grumble.
The snow-laden trees give way, revealing the Maier Manor with its white stone walls and lone turret. It reminds me of our childhood home in Steinau before Father died.
“So there’s nothing special about this Maier family?” Wilhelm asks as we plod down the manor’s main drive. “The place has an odd feel to it.”
“You and your premonitions,” I scoff, studying the place closer.
A few of the shutters hang loose, and dormant ivy covers the front of the house.
“The manor needs repair, but that doesn’t mean it belongs to the Forbidden.
It must be the birds you sense. See them in the distance by that massive hazel tree?
There’s something strange about them for sure. ”
“Once we deal with the wolves, I want to investigate this place next.”
I’m not going to argue with him about spending time at Ella’s house. The cold air bites at my lungs, and snow clings to the land, creating the illusion we are riding through silver fields. The birds swoop above, back and forth, cawing as if warning us.
“You’re right,” Wilhelm says. “These birds seem smarter than what makes me comfortable.”
The wind shifts, rustling the leaves. And that’s when I hear it. Soft feet padding on the dirt path up ahead. My heart thumps against my chest, and I look over at my brother. He nods in understanding.
Ever since we began working for the Enchantress, it’s as if our senses had been awakened. My sight is sharper, especially in tune with the Forbidden. I can run faster and fight better than anyone. We aren’t immortal, but we’re nearly impossible to kill.
At the forest’s edge, we dismount and tie up the horses.
Then we creep into the thick, gnarled trees, senses alert.
A dark form swishes through the bushes, merely a rock’s throw.
I pause, but it moves on, so we follow. A prickling sensation scurries along my skin.
Something is different about this hunt. Almost like we are, in fact, the ones being hunted.
I don’t like it.
A low rumbling growl shatters the heavy silence. A beast bounds out of the thick bramble, claws outstretched, and green drool flinging through the air. Its fur spikes up sharper than knives. Red eyes looking hungry.
This isn’t a wolf. This is something straight from hell.