Chapter Twenty
With a pleasurable moan, Shalyer slid off the bed, Eoli’s scream still echoing in his ears. He’d been holding back, consuming only a little of her essence each time he lay with her. But his boredom was making him irascible, and he’d decided it was time to put his plan into motion.
He moved languidly towards the window, breathing deeply, savouring the taste of the young woman. He became aware of the presence of another entering the room. He did not need to turn to know it was Gwilliyn who crept in; he could feel her fear as she stole towards the bed. An expectant smile twisted his lips as he wondered how long it would take her to recognise her daughter.
A strangled gasp escaped Gwilliyn. “Eoli?” Her voice, no more than a croak changed into a gurgling scream as she fell back.
Shalyer stood before her. He made no move to cover his nakedness, his skin so pale it seemed to glow. “Yes, woman, that is your daughter... a tastier morsel than I expected.”
“What... what have you...?” Gwilliyn’s sobs left her wordless as she struggled to form her question, her gaze fixed on the naked, wrinkled crone lying lifeless on the bed.
“It is time for me to leave. I have a task to perform that I can delay no longer; it burns in me. Yet I could not leave Eoli; that would have broken her heart. So I have taken her life force. That way we will never be apart.” A small laugh escaped him as he stepped past the distraught woman, and retrieved his robe. “But do not worry, I will return. And maybe then I may choose you to join with me in the same way.”
As he shrugged on his robe, Shalyer could sense anger building in Gwilliyn. She launched herself at him with a maddened howl, fingers hooked, ready to claw at him.
He raised a hand as he turned to face his wild-eyed attacker. With one nonchalant gesture, he brought her to a halt.
Frowning, her gaze darted from him to her legs. Her eyes bulged, dark pupils stark against the white, as her body rose to hover in the air. Jerking like a trapped string caught in the wind, Gwilliyn began to move towards him.
Shalyer stepped back, leaving nothing between her and the wall. He tilted his head as if studying an insect, as she fought against the invisible force that had hold of her. She began to move towards the wall, gathering speed, her mouth stretched wide in a silent scream until she slammed against the wall.
Shalyer released her broken body, and it slid to the ground, scarring the white wall with bloody streaks. With a sigh, he shook his head; such a waste of life energy. Then he turned away, binding his long, dark hair before wrapping a cloth around his head for protection. As he pulled on his long coat, he hesitated by the bed. Reaching down, he removed the thick, red cord from Eoli’s neck; threaded through with silver spheres, the cords were worn only by the womenfolk of a Kurabaran leader.
He strode from the buildings, challenged by none even though dusk was falling. He continued until he was out of the city, where his wraiths waited patiently for him, visible only to him.
Their ethereal forms sighed ceaselessly around him, moving against him, moving through him. He moaned, feeling unsteady as they came into contact. Their voices, thoughts echoed in his mind… seeking, wanting, needing to be fed for hadn’t he promised them that their needs would be met.
“Yes... yes,” he said, moaning softly. “The time has come. You will feed soon. But not here, this place is for later. We leave now to cross Arcspan. To the one who betrayed my mother. And on the way, we will feed. Now come, my faithful ones.”
They gathered around him, cocooning him in their midst and they moved, picking up speed as they travelled a large fast-moving dust cloud… deadly and silent.