Red 4

It had grown quiet in the dark cellar, silent except for the sound of Lenneth’s breathing. Her pants for air increased in tempo, taking on a panicked feel to them, and she nervously ran a hand through her bangs, finding her forehead damp with perspiration. Lenneth kept turning to look at the doors that kept her from freedom, staring hard at the imposing metal. Muffled swear words issued out of her mouth, and she continued to move around the cellar, her steps becoming more frantic as she paced.

“Think Lenneth, think!” She muttered to herself. “There’s got to be a way out of here…” But she found it difficult to concentrate, worry and fear for the wolf clouding her thoughts, letting rationality slip through her fingertips. She ran up the stone steps, once again striking the metal with her fists, slamming them over and over against the door until her knuckles began to turn red and bleed. And still she banged, screaming wildly, sometimes crying, begging for someone, anyone to come let her out. But there was no answer, the villagers ignoring her.

“I’m running out of time!” She backed away from the door, drying her bloodied hands on her skirt, tears welling up in her eyes. She wasn’t even sure how long she had been imprisoned, for all she knew it could already be too late. “Lezard!” She cried out his name mournfully, her heart aching.

Lenneth resumed her pacing, squinting in the darkness. There was little light here, filtering in from a small window set high near the ceiling. It offered ventilation to the room, as well as allowed the sun to shine in. She walked over towards the items her father kept in the basement, sifting through his tools, finding a heavy iron crowbar. She picked it up now, eyeing it in consideration.

Returning to the door, she let out a wild scream, thrusting her arms forward with all her might. She tried to jam the iron stick into the crack between the two doors, hoping to pry it open. She failed, and the crow bar clattered to the floor, Lenneth soon joining it as she sank down to her knees, tears trailing down her cheeks. “Lezard….I am so sorry…” She sobbed her heart out, picturing his face, fearing she would never see his eyes shine with the light of life again.

Lenneth knew she was giving in to the hopelessness of the situation, and it was a struggle to rise from her despair. She picked up the crowbar, futilely hitting the doors with it. More curses from her as she walked down the steps, returning to her father’s tool box. As she dug through the box, shifting aside items, a thought worked it’s way into her mind. ~The window!~

She turned, taking a closer look at it. Of course! Why hadn”t she thought of this sooner? It was small, but so was she. But how to reach it…? A frown on her face, she began looking around the contents of the cellar, recalling her father had kept a small step ladder for storage down here. Lenneth began moving boxes around, haphazardly setting them aside, knocking things over as she searched. Eventually she found it, and dragged it over to the wall, situating it underneath the window.

She returned to the tool box, Lenneth grabbing her father’s hammer. She walked back to the window, and careful to shield her face with one arm, flung the hammer with all her might at the window. Glass shattered, falling to the ground, and she was careful as she stepped over the shards littering the ground. Lenneth retrieved the fallen hammer before moving towards the ladder. She climbed up the rungs of the ladder, and paused before the window. Jagged edges of glass still remained, and the girl began smashing them away with the hammer.

Once the glass was cleared away, Lenneth pushed the hammer through the window, leaving it to lie on the cobblestones. She reached forward, and began hoisting herself up through the window. Her head easily went through, though it was a tight fit around her shoulders. The girl feared she would become stuck, and she wiggled desperately, holding her breath as she slowly inched forward, bit by bit.

At last she was free, and she scrambled up onto her knees, grabbing the hammer. It wasn’t much as far as weapons go, but at least it was something. She was just getting to her feet, hastily smoothing her skirt down, when a voice called out to her.

“Lenneth.”

She turned, a wary expression on her face. “Mother…” She said gravely, clutching the handle of the hammer a little tighter.

“I heard the crash of the window breaking.” Freya said, pausing before Lenneth in the pathway.

“Did you come to stop me?” Lenneth asked. She laughed then, full of bitterness. “Of course you did…If you were here to let me out, you would have done it before I had to resort to breaking the window.”

“Lenneth….my daughter, please. Don’t go.” Freya urged, a hint of pleading to her voice.

“Don’t try and stop me, mother.” Lenneth took a step forward, but Freya stood her ground. “I won’t let them do this…Lezard is innocent!”

“Lezard….the wolf?” A question, and then she was shaking her head, blond hair falling forward to obscure her face. “Forget about him Lenneth. He’s a wolf. Their kind is no good.”

“You don’t know that! You don’t know him!” Lenneth said angrily. She tried to walk past her mother, and the woman reached out, grabbing her by the arm.

“I know about the stories! I know what wolves do!” Freya shouted, digging her fingers into her daughter’s arm.

“That’s just it….it’s only stories!” Lenneth jerked her arm free. “Have you ever even MET a wolf….talked with one? Of course not! You hide in the village where the wolves dare not come, never bothering to broaden your horizons and get to know one!”

“They are savages!” snarled Freya. “Brutes! ANIMALS!”

“Funny…from where I stand, the only savages are Lucian and his mob!” Lenneth raised a shaking hand, pointing at the forest. “If the wolves were really as bad as everyone says, why haven’t they ever attacked the village?! Why hasn’t anyone even seen a wolf in recent years?!”

“I…they know better than to mess with the townspeople. They know what will happen if they dare.” retorted Freya.

“Is that how you rationalize it? Claim they don’t do their evil because the good people will rise up and punish them for their wicked ways?!” Lenneth laughed once more. “Come off it mother. They just want to live in peace…!”

“You don’t know that!” Freya pointed out. “You only met one wolf and suddenly you think you are an expert!”

“It’s more than you know at least!” retorted Lenneth. She shook her head. “I don’t have time to argue with you about this. Lezard needs me!”

“Your family needs you more.” Freya said. “Lenneth please….forget about him…We can start over, pretend it never happened.”

“I can’t forget….I can’t and I WON’T!” Lenneth shrieked out, her cries drawing curious glances into the yard. She started to hurry away from her mother, and Freya called out of her, voice ripe with anger.

“If you go to him now….if you step one foot outside this property….don’t ever come back!”

Lenneth’s gait slowed, and her shoulders hunched in defeat. “Fine…” Freya smiled, relived. Lenneth turned to look at her mother one last time, tears in her eyes. “I guess this is good-bye then mother…”

“Lenneth wait!” Freya called out, but Lenneth was already hitching up her skirts, breaking into a full run. The girl all but flew through the village, running past people, not seeing their startled expressions through the blurring of her wet eyes. A few people called out to her, but she ignored them, not wanting any further delays.

She reached the edge of the woods in record time, seeing the ground littered with foot prints, the mark of the mob marching by. Lenneth ran deeper into the forest, waiting until the village was no longer in sight of the woods, and then she deviated from the dirt path, crashing through bushes, and brushing aside low hanging tree branches. Her clothing snagged on tree limbs, and she fought to get free, but she didn’t return to the cleared pathway. Lenneth knew if she went that way she’d never catch up with the mob in time to stop them. No, she must take a different path, a less known about shortcut to her grandfather’s house. Perhaps she’d make it in time to spirit Lezard away, get him hidden safely in the woods. At the very least she could make one last stand with him as they battled the mob.

As she ran, the quiet of the woods was broken up with the sound of a wolf howling. Soon the lone cry was taken up by another wolf, and another, more and more howls thundering all around her. It frightened her, made her fear the meaning behind their cries. She pushed forward, hearing the crunch of twigs underfoot, a wolf’s lonely sounding cry sounding far too close for her liking.

“Is anyone there?!” Lenneth cried out, turning to peer nervously over her shoulder. She kept moving, walking backwards as she scanned the area behind her, gripping her hammer nervously. Suddenly the wind was knocked out of her, Lenneth falling face first into the hard ground, the grass doing little to cushion her fall. Something landed on her back, a growl in her ear, causing Lenneth to freeze in fear.

“I….” She opened her mouth to speak, and again that growl, it’s warning not lost on Lenneth. She fell silent, trying to control her breathing, keep from twitching as a nose buried itself in her hair, sniffling loudly.

“You smell of wolf…” A female’s voice hissed in her ear. “But you’re not one of us…”

“I smell like a wolf?!” asked Lenneth, licking her lips nervously.

“The smell is all over you…” Again that sniffing sound, the owner of the nose scenting her, inhaling deeply. “Wolf and….and sex…” Lenneth’s cheeks flamed, embarrassed.

“Please get off of me…” She begged. “I don’t have time for this…” She was surprised when the weight left her back, and she hastily rolled over, staring wide eyed at the woman before her. She was crouched down on all fours, with long greenish blonde hair that fell down to her waist. She was beautiful with red rust colored ears and a tail that peeked out underneath her short purple skirt. She stared at Lenneth, eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

“I mistook you for a wolf at first.” She slowly blinked her eyes, still staring hard at Lenneth. “I smelled you before I saw you, you see…and I wondered what a wolf was doing heading towards danger…”

“Danger?!” Lenneth asked. “That’s what the howls were about!” Her eyes widened in realization.

“Yes.” The woman nodded. “There’s a human hunting party in these woods. They’re out for blood…The howls are call for the pack to return to the safety of their dens.” She sighed. “We will hide and hope the humans lose interest in this sport.”

“Please…” Lenneth sat up, reaching forward to grab the startled wolf’s hands. “You’ve got to help me! There is one of your own who is in dire peril!” Her eyes were pleading with the girl, trying to make her understand the urgency of the situation. “A wolf….my mate is the cause of the hunting party.”

“Your mate?!” The wolf’s eyes widened in understanding.

“He’s badly injured and they are after him!” Once more Lenneth felt on the verge of tears. “It’s all my fault!”

“….” The wolf was quiet, in deep thought.

“Please!”

“What’s your name?” asked the wolf.

“Lenneth….Lezard is my mate.” She added, hoping the name would mean something to the woman.

“I’m Mystina. My mate is leader of this forest’s pack.” She sighed. “It would tear my heart in half were something to happen to him…”

“I feel the same way about Lezard…” Lenneth said.

“This is very unusual….a wolf and a human as mates…” Mystina sighed again. “Such unions cause nothing but trouble for wolves.”

“I’m sorry…” Lenneth hung her head down low.

“Don’t be.” Mystina shook her head. “I won’t let a fellow wolf die if I can prevent it.” She got to her feet, holding out her hand to Lenneth. The girl took it gratefully, rising to stand. Mystina bent her head backwards, exposing her throat, and allowed her lips to part. A howl issued out of her mouth, startling loud, causing Lenneth to clamp down hands over her ears.

The howl echoed throughout the woods, one after another, forming an S.O.S. of sorts. Other wolves picked up the call, adding their voices to the symphony that played in the forest. It reached deeper and deeper into the woods, causing the mob to cast nervous, suspicious glances around them. It sped to and past the angry crowd, sound traveling far faster than their feet ever could, reaching the cabin that lay near the heart of the forest.

Lezard shot straight up in bed, his ears rotating towards the direction of the window. He turned to peer nervously at the glass, an answering howl forming on his lips. “Sure is noisy today.” Odin commented, the gray haired man seated next to Lezard’s bed, a deck of cards in his hand. “I wonder what all the fuss is about?”

“Danger…” Lezard growled, digging his claws into the mattress, stuffing being torn out of the bed in his nervousness.

“Danger? Odin lowered his arms, setting the cards on the edge of the bed. “Care to elaborate…?”

“Can’t.” Lezard’s brow furrowed as he listened to the cries. “The howls don’t say. It’s a warning, telling all wolves to return to a safe spot.”

“I see….” Odin tried to smile, but his eyes were worried. “Well no need to worry about it. You’re safe here. No one besides my granddaughter knows you are here, and even she doesn’t know you are a wolf.”

“…….” Lezard was quiet, feeling bad for deceiving the old man. The howls outside picked up in tempo, taking on a more urgent feel to them.

“It’s changed…” Odin noted, looking to Lezard for an explanation.

“You have good ears for a human.” He responded. “Yes…it’s a call for help now…”

“Does that mean the danger has caught up with the caller….?” asked Odin.

“I don’t know…” Lezard was bridling over with frustration, nervous energy causing his hackles to rise. He had a bad feeling, something not associated with the pack’s cries, an inner instinct that told him something terrible was about to happen. “I should go…”

“Go? Go where?!” demanded Odin as the wolf swung his legs over to the edge of the bed. “Not in your condition.” He added firmly, standing at the same time Lezard did. Lezard ignored him, the urge to flee rising, making his whole body want to twitch with the need to run. He took a step away from the bed, and Odin grabbed him by the arm, sternly saying, “I didn’t patch you up just so you could run off and do something foolish!”

“Let go of me!” Lezard hissed, his voice almost a growl.

“Not until you get back into that bed!” Odin ordered, his voice warning against arguing with him. Lezard’s tail wagged, a sign of his agitation, and he gave a tug on his arm, testing the strength of Odin’s grip. The man’s fingers dug into his flesh, holding on to him tightly.

“This is a mistake.” Lezard said at last, but reluctantly moved to get back into the bed. He watched as Odin sat down, reaching for the cards, and the wolf slumped against the pillows in defeat.

“A card game will take your mind off the troubles of the woods.” Odin said, beginning to shuffle the deck. “It’ll be a good distraction…”

“Won’t work…” grumbled Lezard, the howls coming almost non stop now. They thundered all around them, Lezard grumpily watching as Odin dealt him a hand of cards. Both men tried to ignore the noise of the forest, to concentrate on their game, difficult though it was. It was when Odin won the fourth hand in a row, that Lezard spoke, turning to stare pointedly at the window. “Company’s coming…”

“Oh….?” Odin sat down the cards, looking at Lezard curiously. “Wolves…?”

“No….worse…” Lezard growled. “Men…and lots of them!”

“Men?” Odin frowned, getting up. He hurried towards the window, easing it open. Scents wafted in on the breeze, carrying intent and emotions in their smell. Angry excitement, dark intentions, nervousness and suspicion. The wolf picked up on them all, and he had to bite his lip to keep from letting out a warning howl. Other things came to his nose, the smell of wood burning, of oil and lead, the sweaty musk of men traveling in huge crowds.

Odin swore, closing his window shut, drawing down the curtains. “Stay here…” He advised the wolf, hurrying towards the bedroom’s exit. He ran into the next room, pausing long enough to fetch his rifle from the closet. Odin stashed it near the door, praying he would not have need of it. He reached for the door knob, opening it just as the mob of men reached the front of his house.

“Evening gentleman…” Odin said gravely, leaning nonchalantly against the door frame. “What brings all of you out here so late in the day?” He tried to feign being unconcerned, trying to let his body language read at ease as he gazed at the gathered men before him.

“Odin…” Lucian stepped forward, the apparent ring leader of this unruly gang. “Stand aside old man….this doesn’t concern you.”

“I don’t take kindly to orders, especially from young whelps like you who haven’t even grown enough hair to shave.” Odin smirked, hands hanging loosely by his side, fingers ready to grab the butt of his gun at the slightest provocation. Nervous laughter from the crowd, causing Lucian to turn red and bluster angrily.

“I said move!”

“Now see here!” Odin snapped, annoyed. “This is my home, my property, and I don’t take kindly to people trespassing.” He straightened up, glaring at Lucian. “If you don’t have any business with me, than be on your way!”

“I’ve no quarrel with you old man…” Lucian began. “But the fugitive you house, is another matter entirely.”

“Fugitive?” Odin feigned ignorance. “I know not what you mean. Tis no one here but me.”

“Don’t lie to save him!” Lucian said, his voice barely under a shout. “I know you have company!”

“Company? Ah…you must mean my darling granddaughter Lenneth.” Odin smiled. “Yes, she was here earlier this morning, but she left for the village hours ago. There’s no one here now but an ailing old man.”

“….If that’s true…” A slow smirk spread across Lucian’s face. “Then you won’t be objecting to us checking your house then….just to be sure.”

“Ah….now that I can’t allow.” Odin retorted.

“Oh?” Lucian turned to smirk at the men behind him. “And why is that?”

“A man’s home is his castle. How many of you would allow someone to come in uninvited when you’ve done nothing wrong?!” The crowd was hesitating, Odin could see them turning to look at each other, muttering as they considered his words. “You there, Brahms, how would you feel if this unruly mob showed up wanting—-nay demanding entrance to your home?”

“Er…I wouldn’t like that at all…” Brahms said, a thoughtful expression on his face.

“And you Jun, would you let them in just like that?” Odin asked.

“No….no I wouldn’t.” The black haired man said. “What’s more, I wouldn’t like it one bit!”

“He’s trying to distract you!” Lucian snarled, taking a step towards Odin. “Give the wolf a chance to escape!”

“A wolf?! Is that what this is about?!” Odin let out a jovial laugh, though his eyes were empty of such warm expression. “I know of no wolf near my house, let alone one inside…”

“You’re lying!” Lucian said, and reached out to shove Odin out of the way.

“Now that’s a pretty big accusation.” The rifle was in his hands, pointed at Lucian’s chest. “I wouldn’t be tossing that word around without proof to back it up!”

“You don’t know, do you?” Lucian asked, raising his hands in the air to placate the old man. He eyed the gun nervously, and spoke quickly. “You can’t possibly know what he has done….and to who…”

“……..” Odin was quiet, merely staring down the barrel of the gun at Lucian.

“If you did…” continued Lucian. “You wouldn’t be protecting him. You’d hand him over gladly!”

“What are you talking about?” Odin asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

“Lenneth….the granddaughter you so cherish…” Lucian began, slow to speak, wanting to relish the expression on Odin’s face when he told him what the wolf had done. “Has been attacked.”

“What…?” The gun wavered, but did not lower.

“It happened yesterday….the poor girl was walking alone in the woods…on the way to visit you….when she came across a wolf…” Lucian said. “He pounced on her, mauling and tearing at her clothes…who knows what he would have done if *I* hadn’t come along…”

“No….”

“I had my father’s rifle with me….and I shot him….got him right in the side…” Odin’s face paled, slowly putting two and two together, the gun lowering. “Lenneth returned to the village this morning grateful…and she told me how she feared for her dear old granddad’s life….that he was living with the wolf and did not even know it!” The gun lowered some more, and Lucian took advantage of Odin’s stunned state, slamming the heel of his hand into the bridge of his nose. Odin cried out, blood spurting out his nostrils, and he fell against the doorway.

Lucian slammed his fists into the old man’s stomach, and winded, the gun fell from his limp hands, Lucian neatly catching the rifle before it could hit the ground. “Get inside…” He ordered with nary a glance over his shoulder.

“But…” Brahms said, the men hesitating, in shock and horrified over Lucian’s treatment of Odin.

“I said go!” roared Lucian, even as his hands were reaching under Odin’s armpits, dragging the half conscious man out of the doorway. He roughly dropped his body down into the flower bed, and backed away, a wicked smile on his face as he settled in to wait.

Noise came from inside the cabin, angry snarls and startled shouts of men. “Go in and help them.” Lucian said, pointing at two of the men. They exchanged nervous glances at each other, but hurried past Lucian.

Several minutes went by, Lucian growing impatient. Just when he was gearing up to send in more men, the initial four emerged, dragging the wolf out by his arms and legs. He struggled wildly, night dress riding up his legs, flashing glimpse of his thighs. “Let me go!!” The wolf howled, flexing his fingers, trying to dig them into the hands that were clamped around his wrists.

The wolf twisted about, trying to get free, and his eyes suddenly landed on Lucian, widening in recognition. “YOU!?!” His body bowed forward as he tried to spring free of the hold on him, and someone came and smashed the butt of their rifle into his stomach. Lezard let out a pained whimper, but continued to struggle, eyes locked on Lucian’s throat.

“He’s a wild one!” laughed Belneus as they stopped before Lucian, presenting their quarry to their leader. “Caught him trying to sneak out the window of the bedroom. It’s a good thing you left guards on all sides of the house. Smart thinking.”

“Just making sure all the angles are covered.” Lucian smirked, pleased. “Tie his hands and feet together.” He ordered coldly, watching as Brahms came forth with a thick rope held in his hands.

“No!!” howled Lezard, struggling, but more men joined in, some sitting on his stomach, weighing him down to the ground. It was when the wolf was fully restrained that Lucian dared come near him, gripping his face by the chin.

“So we meet again…” He said musingly. “I bet you wished you had never touched Lenneth, now don’t you?!”

Lezard tried to shake his head no, fighting against the grip of Lucian’s fingers. “No!! I do not! She’s my mate…”

“Shut up!” Lucian slapped the wolf across his face, laughing at the feeling of strength, of the power he held over the bound wolf. “It doesn’t matter….” He said conversationally. “Nothing you can say will change your fate…Heh…Nor the fate of any wolf that dares to touch a human. Right men?!”

“Right!” The crowd shouted in agreement, waving their weapons in the air. Lucian had partially turned to smile at his minions and it was then that Lezard struck, head jutting forward to sink his fangs into Lucian’s hand.

“AH!” Lucian was crying out, clutching his hand to his chest. Blood trickled out of the cut in his hand, and he glared hatefully at Lezard. “Do I have to muzzle you too?!” He shook his head. “No…I think not…I want to hear you scream….want to laugh at your dying howls…” He reached for the length of rope on his belt, pulling off the hangman’s noose. “Come on boys…we’re gonna have us a hanging!”

“No!!” Lezard snarled, teeth flashing as he tried to bite any who dared come near him. “I’ve done nothing wrong!”

“Hold him down!” advised Suo, men reaching over to grab onto his shoulders. Lucian threw the noose over the wolf’s head, and it was then that he tightened it, pulling it taught like a leash around his neck. Lezard let out a snarl, being pulled face first into the ground, the men having let go of him.

“Come on lil’ doggy…time to put you down for good!” laughed Lucian, as he began dragging Lezard forward by his neck. The crowd of men parted, insults flying, kicking and prodding the wolf with their weapons as Lucian walked past them. His grin was vicious, his eyes without mercy as he dragged the wolf towards the huge oak tree in Odin’s backyard.

Someone found a stool, and placed it underneath a low hanging branch. Others grabbed Lezard, hoisted him off his feet, placing him to stand on the top of the stool. Lucian threw the rope over a branch, and began walking backwards, looking for something to tie it too. He settled on tying it to the pipe of the house, figuring the lead would be strong enough to hold the wolf’s weight.

Still smirking, the blonde took his time sauntering back to the wolf, watching as the crowd issued cruel jeers at the creature. “Any last words?” Lucian asked, as he reached Lezard’s side.

The wolf was poised to tell him to go to hell, but what came out was completely different. “Tell Lenneth…tell her I love her…”

“Request denied!” Lucian laughed, and kicked out the stool from beneath Lezard’s feet.

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