Page 19 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

“It was nice meeting you.” I smile at Larc and follow Rhett toward the fire.

“Likewise, Princess.” Larc gives a wave and disappears into the crowd.

Chapter Ten

While sitting by the fire listening to the stories, I learn there are three Lycans being celebrated tonight that have all turned sixteen since the last festival. Two males and one female will be shifting for the first time later this evening. All three are from different packs, and their pack leaders each stand up one at a time and tell a few stories about their soon-to-be newest member.

Zog is the first to stand. He speaks about Luke, and I learn that Luke is a skilled hunter, and that’s why fate placed him with Zog’s pack to help keep the monsters at bay in the Shifting Forest. Luke also has a little brother named Chandler. He’s expected to make the shift next year, and he’ll also be joining Zog’s pack. It’s hard to imagine Luke as a skilled hunter. He seems so sweet and innocent, so young. I can’t imagine him facing off against anything that dwells in the Shifting Forest.

Next up is a woman pack leader named Nicoletta. She’s stunning. Tall and slender with straight black hair falling to her waist and pale skin that contrasts her blue eyes. She has a beautiful but wicked smile, and something about her rubs me the wrong way. Yuri is joining her pack tonight. She speaks about the boy, but I don’t know if he’s here or what he looks like. I do learn that he has great potential because he is a skilled healer.

Lastly, a stocky older man with gray hair and a thick gray beard named Phelan speaks. He talks about the girl Lycan who’s named Dawn. Dawn is a tracker, and Phelan is most pleased to have her in his pack. His pack territory borders the black forest, and her tracking skills will come in handy when people go missing. Often visitors who have to travel through the black forest go missing, and a tracker is usually hired and paid well to find them—dead or alive.

After all the pack leaders are finished speaking, there’s several toasts and cheers for the three newest Lycans making the shifts tonight. Marth announces from somewhere in the crowd that it’s almost midnight.

I realize I haven’t seen Aidan since Rhett pulled me away to dance earlier. I wonder where he is. It doesn’t seem like him to not keep tabs on me all night.

Everyone migrates away from the fire to the forest edge where there’s a wooden stage set up with four wooden chairs atop it. I wonder who the fourth chair is for. This must be where they bring out the Lycan and make them shift in front of everyone. It seems kind of cruel to me to have everyone watch something that’s rather intimate and scary. It’s their first time shifting, and they have to do it in front of all these prying eyes. I guess it’s just natural to them. I appear to be the only non-Lycan here tonight, so I’m probably the only one who’s never witnessed a shift like this anyways.

“I’ve been looking all over for you.” I jump at Aidan’s whispers. He’s come up behind me, putting an arm around my waist. I have to remind myself not to jerk away from him.

“I have a special seat for you,” he says.

My heart sinks as he pulls me toward the stage. I know what he’s going to do, and I hate it. The fourth chair. The one reserved for the special guest. The last thing I want is to be the center of attention. I can feel the eyes of the crowd on me, watching me as I make my way to the seat. I try to ignore them, but I can feel my face growing hot and my palms starting to sweat.

Aidan guides me to the chair, pulling it to the side of the stage so that I’m facing the three empty chairs in front of me. At least I don’t have to look out at the sea of faces. I feel exposed and vulnerable up here. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but my heart is still racing.

Aidan hands me a glass of potato piss before turning to address the crowd. I take a sip, trying to calm my nerves, but it only makes me feel more nauseous. I wish I could just disappear, be anywhere but here. But I know I have to be strong, and I want to show my support for Luke.

“Tonight, for the first time in many years, we have a special guest. A non-Lycan here to be a part of our festivities. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting her yet, this is Princess Lyra Lewis from Tempest Moon.”

I glance to my right and smile, giving a quick wave to the audience. I down my glass in one long drink then place it on the ground next to me.

“I think it’s time we bring out our other special guests for this evening. Let’s welcome Dawn, Luke, and Yuri to the stage,” Aidan says.

Nicolette, Zog, and Phelan emerge from the forest to my left. Each of them drags what I assume is the newest member of their pack with them. Only I can’t see Dawn, Luke, or Yuri because they have brown sacs over their heads. The three kids are stumbling as they reach the stage. They must be drunk, and I wonder why they are hooded. Is this normal practice? They are each placed by their pack leader in the three wooden chairs in front of me, which face out toward the crowd. Their arms and legs are tied to their chairs. A hush falls over the crowd, and I feel thick tension in the air.

“As you can see, tonight we’re going to be doing things a little bit differently,” Aidan says, his voice cutting through the silence with a harsh tone. My eyes quickly go to his as a sense of panic fills me. Not just panic though…I feel unwell. My limbs are suddenly too heavy for me to hold up, and my vision narrows.

Aidan comes close to me and leans down so his face is right up against my left cheek.

“Sorry, Cheeks, this is the deal I made with your parents. It’ll all be over soon.” He pats the top of my head. I want to protest, but I can’t speak. A sense of dread courses through my body, settling heavy on my chest. Goosebumps spread over me, coating my skin. What is Aidan going to do to me and to these poor kids? How could my mother make a deal with this animal, this rapist? I’m not surprised Silas would make deals with such a man—he did raise Samael after all, but my mother… For a moment I think I might vomit. It’s then I see an older woman on the stage. She looks oddly familiar, but I don’t think I’ve met her before. She’s talking to Aidan and the other three pack leaders, but when she makes eye contact with me, I see she’s not a Lycan because her eyes are black. She’s a Sorceress. She has four huge scars across one side of her face, and I wonder if a Lycan clawed her in the past. My mind is racing, but I can’t make my thoughts clear. Aidan must’ve drugged my drink or this Sorceress put a spell on me. Then I realize, Luke. Oh my gods, Luke is not drunk. He must be drugged or put under a spell like me.

I hear people talking in the crowd, but I can’t make out what anyone is saying, although it sounds hostile.

“Attention everyone, I have consulted thoroughly with your pack leaders, and I assure you the actions I am about to take tonight are for the betterment of our Lycan community and our future. I expect full compliance from each and every one of you. You will heed my words and follow the instructions of your pack masters. Let it be known that any interference during the ceremony will not be tolerated.” Aidan’s voice echoes across the crowd and an uncomfortable silence falls over everyone.

I no longer see Nicolette, Zog, or Phelan. The Sorceress is gone too. Cold hands clamp down on my shoulders. I try to look up at whoever is touching me, but my head is wobbly.

“You’re going to make history tonight, my sweet Lyra.” The old hoarse voice of a woman fills my head with a familiar sound. I know it’s the Sorceress standing behind me, touching me.

I see the body of a female. Dawn must be nearest to me. Aidan approaches her first and removes the bag from her head. Curly black hair falls down her back. She has a gag in her mouth, and her head sways like she’s intoxicated. Her eyes don’t look drugged, and they don’t look afraid. She looks pissed. If looks could kill, she’d be throwing daggers at Aidan right now. He just smiles and pats her on the head then removes the hood next to her to reveal Yuri.

Yuri is a large male. Bigger than both Dawn and Luke, he practically towers above them. For this reason, I can only assume they put extra care into his drugged cocktail because he’s very out of it. He has spiky dark-brown hair atop his head. He’s gagged and doesn’t even make eye contact with Aidan or anyone in the crowd. His eyes keep rolling back in his head, and there are sweat beads dripping down his face.

Aidan removes the last hood, and my heart sinks as I see Luke, who looks terrified. His eyes are wide and bloodshot, darting around the crowd and then landing on me. We make eye contact, and I hold his gaze. I try to apologize with my eyes. This is all my fault for coming here. He just stares back at me, and I feel so utterly helpless to do anything. Tears begin running down my face, and I hold back a sob. What’s happening? What is Aidan going to do to these poor kids? To me?

Aidan turns toward the crowd.