AGNES
DUSK.The cold bites my skin like invisible teeth as I run feet slamming into the ground that cracks and snaps under each, one of my steps. My brother clinging to my back, arms locked around my shoulder, his breath shaking against my neck , faint but present,"Don't look back, don't look back, don't look back." I squeak trying to convince myself but regardless I do look. Four rabid dogs gray blood lusting shadows tearing through the snow driven by relentless determination and hunger.There paws muffled by the snow making it impossible to gauge the distance between us by mere sound but I knew they were gaining ground on us it'd just be a matter of time before they'd be at our throats,"Hold on tighter" I nag unsure of his consciousness but I did feel his grip tighten. Infusing my legs with Mana I zipped through the hindering forest leafless branches and bark lashing against my skin causing blood to gash from wounds across my body as I occasionally bumped into trees. Reaching the edge of the forest I hit an abrupt stop as there was nothing but open space. Staring down the cliffside I saw a dark glassy lake frozen over but not fully more of in patches. Blood pouring down my forehead from a gash on my scalp blurring my vision, normally minor scratches like that would have healed but the frigded temperature was slowing my mana circulation re adjusting my brother and turning around slowly I knew the situation was futile we were already surrounded ,Gray coated and almost there size of a bear with paws bigger than a humans skull it was evendent that they belonged to the resident Witcher . Nicknamed "Hounds of the nether realm" with good reason they were known to supernatural threats like gaint wyrm, wyverns and apparently we fell under the category? Circling us violently snapping and gnawling while pushing us to the cliff edge cutting off any escape routes. With their intense regeneration a fight would be pointless and ended up with the witcher showing up himself complicating things so one option left. Turning around and darting towards the edge I felt my brother's breath quicken against my neck as he knew exactly how this was going to end "Never took you for one who would be afraid,Vance" I tease leaping off the edge jaws frustratedly snapping at my heels.
"MODO" I rasp
Gritting my teeth for impact we hit the shed floor
THUMP
"Off" groaned pushing him off me and catching my breath
That was the furthest I had ever teleported and as a result my body had gone limp.
I'd have to spend an entire hour or so on the floor regaining whatever strength I could
With more difficultly than I'd like to admit I turn my neck to face Vance. Relatively small and frail for his age and accompanied by his childish nature which really didn't help me see him as anything More than a little even if we were around the same age.He had messy gray hair and emerald green eyes that always seemed to wonder as if taking in the world for the very first time.The torn grey robe hugged his body loosely concealing his pale white and almost translucent skin. Though that was slowly beginning to change as a human hint of red could faintly be seen taking over his body from the legs upward. A side effect from the cold Imps specifically didn't do well in Fridged environments.
YES.
Those kinds of Imps , Spawns of hell and Tricksters of the nether realms.
How got here is a rather interesting tale but that's a story for another time.
Muscling what little strength I had left I dragged myself to my Vance using my now partial functioning arms before dozing off beside him.
Midnight, the temperature had dropped significantly.
With a jolt I woke from the sounds of distant howls immediately turning to my brother I nudge him to wake up
"Vance"I whisper
But my voice fell upon deaf ears.
Rolling him over I now realized the state he was in.
His skin was red toned and crimson red veins glowed from underneath his skin with Massively protruding horns sprouting from his forehead lacing through his white and his tail ending in a arrowhead shape wrapping around his legs.
Scrambling I immediately check his pulse digging my fingers into his neck
NOTHING
"VANCE" I screamed
"VANCE" I screamed shaking his motionless little frame but my endeavor seemed fruitless.
Without thinking I rip open his robe exposing his core.
Hesitant but careful I place my hands on his chest.
My instincts Flare
"Wow" I huff my mind flooding with not so sisterly thoughts.
Shaking my head and concentrating I pushed past the lewd though and I'm induced his system with mana to jump start his heart.
PLUMP.
INEFFECTIVE!!
"C'MON" I moanmy breath quickening and my eyes tearing up due to the strain
PLUMP.
Finally his chest heaves heavily and his humanly appearance took over
"Fuck"I sighed quickly recoiling my hands.
Vance's Dad was part an Incubus
Making him a hybrid
One of the cons of this was that
Whoever touched him became instantly infatuated with him.
Sigh.
Flustered and more red than one could ever be I collapse next to him.
Looking at my arm I realized I was actually red and indicator that I would end up like my brother soon if we didn't get moving soon.
'Princeps' the founding city of Vastria was the closest town for here only a couple of miles west.
"Right, upsidaisy"I sigh picking up my brother from the shed floor and hoisting him on to my back but I realized to late that,that had been a overestimation of my strength causing me to stumble backwards into the wall toppling us over.
CREAK
Dislodging a bucket full of water causing to crushing down
CLANK!
CLANK!!
"SHIT"I curse drenched in water
My shirt clang to my body damp a wet hugging my burst area with its cold embrace.
I considered taking it off but I didn't have anything else to put on let alone did I want to be naked in the cold and my mana was too low to dry it using my flames.
Once more I hoised my brother on to my back partially wet and dripping, making sure to grab the edges of his clothes and not his skin.
"CHO" I rasp
Causing my skin to turn from rose red to pastel pink and my horns to sink back in to my skull.
My previous white hair turned to brown with curls as my pupils bent from From there more vertical shape to a round ball of black. Fangs and tail retract into my body leaving no him they were there in the first place and just like that I looked like a typical vastrian girl
Starting at the tool shed door frozen shut
I didn't feel that 'cold' anymore
Infact I felt almost warm like a fire was beginning to be lite inside of me
Taking one last look around the very small and narrow shed with dirty shovels and engraving tools on the shelves from a recent burial.
The Townsfolk had grown accustomed to us living in the shed tho remained weerie calling us"The living ones"
Looking back at the door
I rasp,"HAVOC"
KABOOM!!!
Splinter and chunks of wood flew everywhere as the door blew open causing me to wince and wobble back
"Bit overkill, don't u think?"
Whispers a semiconcious Vance
"Shut up"I retort concealing a smirk
Secretly I was glad he was Awake
Looking around the graveyard it was littered with head stones as far as the eye cat see.
Instead of a pinch the icey air greeted me with a light graze. The wind should be cutting through me, biting me , gnawing at whatever whatever heat I have left but instead it brushes against my skin like something distant almost imagined. I felt my body burning from the inside out somehow it felt hotter than hell fire.
The footpaths now covered in snow made navigation difficult but I know the general direction of the exit.
Beginning my trek I could my lungs but making every breath feel like I was inhaling fire dry scrapping yet when I exhale I see the ghost of the air in it.
I shouldn't be sweating in this place.
But I am.
My shirt clings to me damp and heavy as frost had began form on it.
Staggering between crooked headstones leaning at odd angles covered by snow as I tried to make out the archway entrance to graveyard.
The ground beanth my bare feet crunched softly with every step a quiet and subtle reminder that the world was frozen.
There is a ringing in my ear now or maybe it was a whisper.
I can't tell
I laugh.
Or at least I think I do.
I can't tell.
I was slipping,for all I knew I could be going in circles.
The name on the grave blurred when I tried to read them.
My body was shutting down
"There!" I coughed finally seeing the stone archway lined in the side with a black metal fence.
The closer and closer I got to entrance the more and more I felt my muscles contract and clench painfully like a machine needing to be oiled.
Vances' weight didn't help either making my feet sink deeper into the snow as it thickness toward the entrance proving to be my demise as I collapse at the archway slumping against the walls of it
Taking Vance of my back and embracing him
Knowing this was our final moment together.
Gradually darkening my vision began to fade as tears rolled down my cheeks.
"I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO HELL"