“Catrin, I would not feed on you if you were the last warm-blooded body on this earth,” I hissed and twisted her head in my hands. Her body fell lifeless to theground.
As I stood over the boy, some of Catrin’s words rang out in myhead.
He cannot be killed. There is something special about him. If you kill him, you will becursed.
I grabbed a wooden crate that was next to the stove and put the boy in it. He was quiet as I stepped over Catrin’s body. I left the shack with him to end this terrible mistake once and for all. I briskly walked to the forest and as soon as the trees were behind me, I let the fog take me to the warlock that could handle the boy forme.
Derwin Helian lived deep in the thick of the forest, and had been associated with some of the darkest acts known in Dreyle. He had next to no conscience, which is why the Carpe Noctem turned to him on so many occasions. I assumed that this would not be an issue for himeither.
My feet settled on the ground as I neared Derwin’s place, and a gust of wind dissipated the fog. Leaves rustled under my feet as I made my way to his door. I knocked on his door, and it only took a moment for him to open it. He stared at me and at thecrate.
“What have you done, Lochlaan?” Derwinasked.
He stepped aside, making room for me to enter hisplace.
“I made a mistake several months ago. I trusted that it would be handled, and it was not,” Ibarked.
“Sounds like you made a few mistakesthen.”
“Do not make this worse,Derwin.”
Derwin took the crate from me as we sat down by his fire. He looked at the child and then got up to go to a set of cupboards. He came back with a jar of clear fluid, opened it, and spread some on the child’s forehead, hands, andfeet.
“What are you doing,Derwin?”
“Checking,” he saidflatly.
I ran my hand through my hair. I was frustrated and annoyed that this was already taking solong.
“Checking? What are you checking for? This is a simpletask—”
“It is not a simple task, Lochlaan. This is achild.”
“Since when did youcare?”
“I do not care about you nor him. But I do not want anything coming afterme.”
“Who would come after you, Derwin? Who would come after you that I could not protect youfrom?”
“I did not say that I did not wantanyonecoming after me. I said that I did not wantanythingcoming afterme.”
“Fine. Check him then. What are you even checking for?” I asked, hoping that he picked up on myfrustration.
“Curses. Spells. Things likethat.”
I took a deep breath and watched as he continued to move the fluid around on the child’s limbs. A low growl escaped his chest that concernedme.
“What? What is it?” Iinquired.
“Who wasshe?”
“What?” Iasked.
“Its mother. Who wasshe?”
“She was a traveler. She claimed to be awitch—”
Derwin barked out alaugh.
