Chapter 44: Severing the Link

Marco lept forward, now a huge wolf. His silver pelt was almost glowing in the firelight, his eyes a brilliant orange. Lavinia fell back, unable to break her fall as Marco’s heavy paws landed on her shoulders.

Her head hit the ground with a resounding crack. Spots of color blossomed in front of her eyes, almost blinding her. The room seemed to go quiet. Lavinia felt like she was underwater; everything around her was a mess, a blur of action.

A low rumble brought her back to reality. She blinked, her vision clearing. Marco had his snout inches from her throat. With all the strength she could muster Lavinia struck him, her fist hitting him on the nose. He whined, shaking his head. His lips curled into a snarl and Lavinia braced herself for the feeling of teeth against her skin.

Lavinia could feel his breath, hot on her neck, shudder. He had brushed up against Isaac’s ring, still hung around her neck. He tried to swipe at the ribbon with his paw, attempting to sever it, but suddenly Marco’s weight disappeared. Lavinia opened her eyes to see a tangle of grey and russet fur. Sonia had transformed, tackling Marco back. She snapped at him and Lavinia could see a swell of dark blood seeping from Marco’s scruff. Though Sonia’s reddish fur disguised it, Lavinia knew she was injured too as a thin trickle of blood and saliva dripped from Marco’s open snout.

With a deep bark, Marco seized Sonia by the back of her neck, tossing her towards the far wall. She struck the wall and slumped to the floor.

“No!” yelled Arabella. She rushed towards Sonia, kneeling beside her body. Hands slick with Rosie’s blood, she crouched in front of her, baring her fangs at Marco.

He paced in front of her, tail raised and swishing. He padded closer, preparing to strike.

“If you touch her I will drain you dry,” Arabella hissed.

Marco let out a grumbling laugh, eyeing his unconscious sister. “Such a pity. We could have had a large family. Think of what our bloodlines could have created. Though I am rather relieved to avoid having that,” he looked over at Isaac, still grappling with the officiant. “Join our pack.”

Lavinia sat up. Her head was still spinning and she could feel a cold spot near the base of her neck. She pushed herself towards the fire, reaching behind her, trying to find anything to defend herself with. Her hand closed around the poker and she felt a wave of panic. Memories of the hot metal burning her skin flooded back. She could feel the phantom tingle along her ribs. With a rush of determination, she yanked the poker free, trying to quell her memories.

She saw Marco starting to close in on Arabella and Sonia. Arabella wound up as Marco lunged. He slashed at her, his claws raking across her face and tangling in her hair. He tightened his grip, using it to drag her sideways, knocking her aside. She cried out, trying to pull herself free.

Isaac whipped around at the sound, becoming momentarily distracted from his struggle with the officiant. “Arabella!”

Taking advantage of his preoccupation, the officiant swept Isaac’s legs. He toppled backward, his eyes narrowing. The look on his face was one of pure rage. He yanked the dagger out of his arm, slashing at the officiant’s heels, dropping him instantly.

“Oh, that got his attention,” Marco withdrew his paw from Arabella’s hair. The blood that flowed from her face mingled with Rosie’s, completely obscuring her expression. He cracked his neck, shifting back into his human form. “I wonder…” He reached forward and seized Lavinia, holding her chin in his hands, pressing hard on his face. His nails dug in, spots of blood appearing. “Your little toy isn’t doing too well.”

Isaac stood slowly, stalking towards Marco. “Let her go.”

“Oh, getting braver, are we?”

“Shut. Up.”

Sonia shifted slightly on the ground. She opened her eyes, seeing Arabella thrown to the side. Slowly, she got to her feet, inching towards her.

“Let her go, Marco,” Isaac adjusted his grip on the knife, flipping it backward in his hand.

Marco got to his feet, hauling Lavinia with him. Her feet scraped against the floor as she tried to keep her footing.

“Last chance,” said Isaac.

“Or what?”

“Or this.” Isaac dove forward, moving behind Marco. He reached around him, hacking his dagger through the wrist holding Lavinia’s face. Marco screamed in pain, letting go of her. Isaac did not relent, swiping his knife cleanly through Marco’s arm, severing it entirely. The limb fell to the ground, and Lavinia’s stomach turned. She scrambled backward, pulling herself towards Sonia, now back in her human form, and Arabella, still bleeding profusely.

She could not look at the fight going on behind her. The snarls were loud and vicious. She curled around Arabella as Sonia’s eyes flicked back and forth, tracking Isaac and Marco.

“We need to get out of here,” she whispered.

“I’m not leaving Isaac,” Lavinia said.

“There’s nothing we can do. I’m too hurt to fight. And Arabella is in terrible shape. If we don’t go while we can we won’t be able to at all.”

“Then take Arabella and go. I’ll stay here.”

“You are the most fragile one here. If things go south-”

“Sonia, I don’t care. I will not leave him.”