The Weaver's Source

Chapter 57

"It is my choice! I have no other way on protecting these people, Jacob. They're all going to die if I don't do this!"

"We won't! Leopold will come. He will slay this beast. Everything will be fine." He snapped and stepped back when she hobbled forward. "You do not need to die, Lillith."

"You said it yourself. I caused this. I brought this beast to this town. I kept it here. But I will get rid of it. Lyra and I will deal with this but I have to die for it to work." Lillith said stiffly. "So give me back the torch. Daylight is nearly dead."

But Jacob wasn't answering. He had seen our approach and his eyes were fixed on my face. I kept close to Grigore, gripping my bow and letting my magic take comfort from Grigore's commanding presence.

Lillith turned sharply when she noticed Jacob's gaze and her eyes widened. Globs of thick oil dripped from her chin.

"Lyra. What are you doing here?" She gasped and stepped forward, flinging her arm southward. "You are meant to have gone by now! The dog will follow you too soon if it picks up your scent."

"I'm not going." I stammered. "I don't want you to die like this."

"These people are going to die, Lyra, if I don't." She said kindly but firmly.

"No one is going to die." Grigore said with his old stiff tone. "I'm dealing with this."

Lillith leaned on her stick and stared at him with her cold eyes. "How? You are weak." She then paused and her eyes narrowed as she inhaled deeply. "No. You are stronger now. You fed."

Grigore said nothing but I felt his defences rise. He was uncomfortable about the subject.

"But you are still not strong enough, Grigore. You'll barely get out of this fight alive."

"I'll cope."

"It is far too risky." Lillith said darkly. "The dog will feast on you. You will waste your life. You will waste Lyra's. My plan is the only option we have."

"I'm fighting it." Grigore growled.

"No, I'm burning. You and Lyra will leave and guide the dog to Leopold. He'll slay it. These people will live and you two will be safe."

"Burning?" I was horrified. She intended to burn herself alive?

"The dog will be distracted for a long time if I burn. It'll constantly try to eat my magic as it dies but can't get passed the light. It's the best way." She said calmly. "Besides, I think it's best I go the same way my husband and children did."

"No." Jacob shouted savagely. "Let the Weaver fight it. Let him try and slay it. I refuse to let you die like this." He paused as he thought madly. "I know I have been stupid, but you're the one you cared for me as a boy and watched the town's borders. You have done for so long. But to die for us is too far for something beyond your control."

She was quiet for a moment and I thought briefly that maybe he had won her over. "You have no choice Jacob. I am an old woman now, weak and feeble. This is my last contribution to my duty." She said calmly and with a faint smile on her mouth. "It's the way I choose to go. It's the way I choose to return to Jon. Now, please. Please leave and quickly. We have barely any time left."

Grigore growled out a no as I stood there, stock still. I was stunned. So stunned I couldn't cry. I didn't realise how she intended to kill herself. I stepped forward, intending to run to her and grab her. I wanted to get her away from here, away from the dog and fire and wash her of the oil she had drenched herself in.

But suddenly everyone one froze. The thin streaks of light had vanished.

Darkness had come.

Grigore only had a moment to step in front of me as a howl ripped out from the mill. Wind blew hard as the horrific cry rattled the air. The gust was brief but violent. It tugged at my hair and at Jacob's fire until it died. Before the howl had even thinned to a faint wail, the earth shook from a heavy step.

A black bulk grew from the mill, becoming a thick streak as it bounded forward. The earth shook and wild eyes glowed brightly. The dog leapt straight for Lillith but, before it managed to grab her, Jacob shoved her aside hard. Without a light, the dog ploughed into him solidly.

Jacob's body was overpowered by the dog as it bounded a small distance away with him. I heard his screams as the dog's teeth pierced his flesh and its claws tore at him. I could only pick up faint gurgled and tortured words from Jacob as the dog tore him apart.

"Kill the bastard! Save Lillith!"

And then there was abruptly no more screams, only the sound of the black dog's soft growls, the wet ripping of flesh and crunching of bone. The dog turned its head, letting entrails dangle from its jaws as its large glowing eyes became fixed hungrily on Lillith.

But Grigore stepped forward, unsheathing Ursus roughly and picking up the torch. Fire burst into life again and he handed it to me once I had helped Lillith to her feet. She was shaking but her eyes were ablaze with hate. She was livid. As I coaxed her to come step a little further away, I couldn't take my eyes off of the hulking shadow not far from me.

The dog snarled and snapped its jaws. Grigore's sword hummed with wards weaving along its black length.

A fight I wasn't certain my Weaver was going to win had now begun.