Chapter 9: Freedom

  Time: 23:21, Day: Purigaz, Week: 3, Month: K?rgoyde, Year: 36651

  “Nephal, it's been three days. It's time to come into your own. The Beast God can only help you so much.” The voice rang, as Ayanna ducked into a small bushel of trees that looked like a picture of a black pyramid she had seen as a child in one of the books in the library of Salem Kingdom’s Rose Capital.

  “Well, in all fairness, I’ve been lost out here for two of those days.” Ayanna winced as a branch slipped from her grasp and cut across her cheek. Her wings were tucked tightly against her back, her tail helping her balance more than anything.

  “Why are you lost out here? Your path does not show me this future.” The voice called out, seeming to be more interested in the current exploration more than trying to get Ayanna to acknowledge her Nephalem traits.

  “To find my freedom. Or at least a freedom I can call my own. If someone else helps me with—” Ayanna stopped, quickly sucking down into a bush with strange blue and pink fruits. The sound was faint, but she knew it was close.

  She lightly sniffed the air, attempting to catch a scent the way she had seen Grim do.

  “Nephal, your nose isn't that sensitive.” The voice huffed, like a disappointed mother.

  “Shh.” Ayanna wafted her hand in front of her face, dismissing the disembodied voice.

  “You can't shush me, either.” The tone of the voice grew more motherly.

  A soft snap of twigs and rustle of underbrush came with an intense heat. Ayanna could tell it was magical in nature, since nothing seemed to be engulfed in flames.

  A few moments passed by, where Ayanna could plainly see the massive wolf with ember red fur. She pretended to stalk it, tripping over various branches and bushes. Then as she fell particularly hard, and surprised, into dirty swamp water she came to her hands and knees, eye to eye with the massive wolf.

  Ayanna swallowed hard, slowly getting to her feet, as the wolf growled low baring its fangs.

  Ayanna summoned flames to her right hand, a wicked smile crossing her face.

  The wolf sat down, kicking dirt at Ayanna with its front paws. It huffed and a sound that mimicked laughter came from its chest.

  “Are you mocking me?!” Ayanna flared out her wings, igniting both of her fists, “I am a Succubus Princess.”

  “No, Nephal, you're not. You're Nephalem.” The voice shot back with the same intensity as the bored stare from the massive wolf.

  “I'm not afraid of you!” Ayanna shouted at the wolf, taking a hesitant step forward.

  The wolf yawned and laid down, closing its eyes and wrapping its tail around itself.

  “Ha! I win, Wolf!” Ayanna dispersed her flames, and stood proudly with a wide smile and her wings flared out, her tails thumping against the ground.

  The wolf sat back up, eyes fixed on Ayanna. It took a deep breath in, then after a brief pause, expelled an intense black flame.

  Thankfully, Ayanna was quick enough to take flight, though her tail and some of her feathers were singed. In a panic, she flew away at a high speed.

  “In my time, the victors didn't rush off.” The voice mocked with a soft laugh.

  “You sure have been happy lately, and what do you mean your time. I thought you were just a random voice?” Ayanna found a purchase on a massive tree that reached up high above the forest's canopy. She looked out over the verdant expanse of Elix Forest.

  “It's just nice to see that at least one of us isn't in shackles, and one day when we meet I will tell you my tale.” The voice took on a more depressive tone.

  “That serious, huh?” Ayanna said, turning her vantage point to the way she had come. Instead of more bright and dark green trees, the hues changed from dark green to a dark brown to dead trees standing in swampland, “I wonder if this is that marsh he said he was heading back to.”

  “I don't know Nephal, Elix was much more vast than this in my time.” The voice relayed, making Ayanna wonder even more about both the voice and the world.

  After a long moment of relishing the beauty of the various biomes within Elix Forest. The Devil's Marsh to the north, the tips of Salem Kingdom's Obsidian Spire to the south west, and—waterfalls?

  Ayanna leapt up, her wings flapping hard to carry her quickly to the east, where she swore it looked like—

  “OH MY GODS! REAL WATERFALLS!” Ayanna exclaimed, diving down the surface of a massive waterfall, an excited smile plastered on her face. Her giddy laugh echoed off the waterfall and deeper into the forest. She couldn't help but dive into the deep pool at the bottom of the waterfall.

  “Nephal, are you sure you haven't found your freedom?” The voice asked with a knowing tone.

  “This is amazing! I may have!” Ayanna said, her wings flaring out as she exploded from the water.

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  She spun around, a perfect pirouette, on the water's surface. The water coming up and swirling around her, exploding outwards as her wings flared out, stopping her spin. She danced and played for hours, until the sun began to set.

  “Nephal, the Berserker Wolf has returned.” The voice warned, just Ayanna noticed the massive ember red furred wolf, sitting next to the waterfall’s pool.

  “You again? Ready for another fight?” Ayanna put her fists up, floating gracefully back down to the ground a few feet from the wolf.

  It let out a long whine, and patted the ground in front of itself, with its paw.

  “I don't really know what that means.” Ayanna said, her hands on her hips, her tail swaying gently. Her dress and hair were completely soaked.

  The wolf stood, and nudged its head as if telling Ayanna to follow. And Ayanna did.

  “Nephal, I don't like this.” The voice rang through Ayanna's mind like a mother's worry.

  “It's fine, don't worry, can't you see this path or whatever?” Ayanna asked, her voice barely a whisper.

  The wolf looked back at Ayanna, but then back forward, continuing through the trees. A strange smell of blood mixed with something Ayanna had never come across was strong on the wind. Then came the sound.

  A wild, screeching caw sound, in tandem with frantic fluttering.

  Ayanna paused, gasping as she covered her mouth with both hands, as she looked up above her. She could barely see them, but she could make out the small ivory bodies with wide open human mouths that were filled with rows and rows of jagged teeth. Their eyes were focused on something in the direction Ayanna was following the wolf.

  Slowly she began to follow the wolf again, keeping her head down and barely breathing. Her wings tucked close to her, her tail wrapped around her waist. She was too afraid to say anything, especially when the Berserker Wolf stopped and let out a deep howl. The bird-things scattered, cawing and screeching as they fluttered frantically, going higher into the canopy.

  “Nephal, something big is coming.” The voice warned Ayanna.

  Ayanna tensed up, as she both heard and felt massive footsteps come up behind her. Her entire body vibrated as the creature stopped behind her. She clenched her entire body, peeking through her eyelashes to see the ember red furred Berserker Wolf sitting in front of her, its head tilted to the side in confusion. Then Ayanna's eyes widened as she felt the top of head being sniffed frantically.

  Ayanna slowly turned around, her body relaxing into irritated relief.

  “WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?! I thought I was about to be eaten by something. What the fuck were those birds?” Ayanna shouted up at the massive blue-silver furred wolf with golden eyes that looked down at her. Her hands on her hips, and her wings flared. After a few moments, Grim returned to his humanoid form, laughing.

  “Cinder said you were wandering the forest, and something about trying to fight her.” Grim laughed, catching Ayanna off guard. She wasn't entirely sure that he was capable of laughter and happiness, yet here he was laughing and pointing at the ember red furred wolf behind her.

  “So that's Cinder?” Ayanna asked, turning around to approach the nodding red wolf, “Not what I pictured, but I get why you call her Cinder. Is she your pet or companion or something?”

  “No, she's the Beta of my pack. Why would anyone try to keep a Berserker Wolf as a pet? You do know what a Berserker Wolf is right?” Grim’s laughter died down to condescending arrogance.

  “No, Beast God, I don't know what a Berserker Wolf is.” Ayanna stood tall, her hands crossed in front of her, pushing her breasts up. Grim noticed.

  “They're bigger and more dangerous than Dire Wolves and also have high magical aptitudes. Cinder here has a knack for fire and electricity. Probably why she likes you so much. She said she wanted to spar with you but you wouldn't take her seriously, and then you ran off the moment she attacked.” Grim laughed again, “Scared of a little fire?”

  “A little?! It was all black and stuff, I didn't know what the hell was happening and I'd like to not be roasted.” Ayanna snapped back, slightly pouting.

  “According to her, you started with the fire. She probably thought you could handle the heat.” Grim crossed his arms and leaned against a tree. The darkness began to illuminate with various kinds of Sprites dancing through the trees.

  “Well as a Succubus I—” Grim cut her off. Cinder scoffed and whined.

  “You're not just a Succubus though, so why fight like one?” Grim asked, the look on his eyes showing Ayanna that he was genuinely curious.

  Ayanna hugged herself, looking at the ground.

  “I don't actually know what a Nephalem even is, other than the product of a Devil and an Angel, that's usually used to gain power. Most of the time our hearts are eaten.” Ayanna's voice was barely above a whisper, as the memories of her secluded and imprisoned upbringing flooded her mind. Tears welled in her eyes, and just as they were about to fall, she felt Grim’s soft tail brush them away.

  “Don't cry, it makes you look weaker than you already are, but if you don't know your own capabilities then that means you need to figure it out. Obviously the Devil portion of you is Succubi but what about the Angel? Dharma, right? Definitely Royalty, judging by the gold tips on your feathers, and that crescent shaped birthmark above your left breast.” Grim smiled knowingly, as he lifted her chin with his tail.

  “H-how do you—YOU WERE WATCHING ME BATHE?!” Ayanna erupted, swatting his tail away from her and balling her fists into fiery orbs. Her pink irises glowing vibrant and angrily.

  “That shoddy dress you were wearing when I first saw you, didn't really cover much. You're in good shape, but curvy too.” Grim shrugged, “Anyways, more importantly why’d you come so far out? And how’d you make it here in one piece?” Grim looks past Ayanna and at Cinder, “Or did you help with that last part?”

  Cinder nodded and let out a bark followed by a soft whine.

  “Fair enough, anyways, what about you?” Grim stared hard into Ayanna's eyes.

  It took a minute for her to answer him.

  “I'll do as I please, you aren't my keeper!” Ayanna's anger hadn't subsided but she finally realized that the only creatures she had come across were Cinder and those bird-things.

  “Never claimed to be, just was wondering how or if I could help, but you're right. I'll leave you to your own self discoveries.” Grim looked past Ayanna, to Cinder, “Do as you please, Blight and Corvus are with the pups for the next few days.”

  Cinder nodded, looked at Ayanna's back and then back to Grim, and tilted her head in confusion.

  Grim shook his head.

  “Fine, just leave then!” Ayanna shouted. The Sprites began to vanish as the bird-things began to screech and caw again.

  “Have fun with the Caw's.” Grim said, turning around to leave.

  Ayanna quickly grabbed his tail, making him jump in surprise without turning around.

  “Please don't leave me here with those things.” Ayanna's voice was soft and barely a whisper, though the expression on her face was an angry fear.

  “Fine, come along, just let go of my tail.” Grim said, shaking his head and smiling arrogantly.

  “Actually, holding it is kind of comforting. Just til we're away from them.” Ayanna slowly looked up, shaking her head and expecting to see rows of teeth once more.

  Grim laughed, wrapping the end of his tail around her wrist as he began walking.

  — The Curator’s Note —

  family, danger, or very large wolves with better social skills than most people she’s met.

  you start laughing?

  maybe he saw her bathe?

  you feel the shift?

  The next chapter approaches with teeth and curiosity. Don’t run. It’ll only chase harder.