The Weaver's Source

Chapter 96

I looked up when Remus came stomping downstairs. He looked better today, less exhausted, but the haunted glint in his eyes remained. The fight with the coven had worn his soul down.

"Lynda, you must sit down." Remus advised when he noticed Jen failing to get her mother to rest.

"I'll sit when I want to. I need to keep my body moving and regain my strength. I can't do that by doing nothing." She sniffed irritably. "Besides, Jen isn't quite experienced enough to make this soup yet."

"Mother, you've shown me time and time again how it's done. I can do this. Now rest."

Lynda scowled at her daughter and Remus before she huffed irritably and sat down opposite me.

"Are you happy now?"

"Yes." Jen replied thinly and gave her a knife and bowl. "You can chop up the vegetables if you want. I'll do anything that requires moving or standing."

Lynda grudgingly took it and began to hack at carrots and parsnips angrily. Remus smiled weakly before his eyes slipped to me. With a sad frown, Remus indicated for me to follow as he made his way outside. I thought of Grigore for a moment and his warnings of not being left alone with Remus but shook them away. Remus' rage had passed and his desire for vengeance had dwindled. He wouldn't hurt me anymore. I pulled on my unfinished boots and cloak and trotted after him.

Remus leaned against the fence, folding his thick arms and stared down the street. The voices of Lorry, Nanat and their father echoed about the air as they played in the snow, tossing balls at one another.

I came to his side and watched the youngsters play.

"He is hurting." Remus uttered. "Like all of us. Rhye, Mary and Olive are dead and their remaining sisters mourn them." He paused and swallowed thickly as his eyes darkened with pain. "No-Tongue." His eyes flickered down to my face. "I am sorry for what I did."

"I know." I murmured in response.

"I still feel it now, the hole in my chest and the pain. No-Tongue was meant to be with me for many years but I've lost him only after sixty. He was my brother and a good man." Remus rubbed his nose lightly and he continued in a low tone. "No-Tongue's death is hard for me and I acted desperately and stupidly. I forgot who and what you are and that you must be put first. I was blinded by rage and grief. All I wanted was for No-Tongue's death to be avenged."

"I know why you did it Remus. Grigore still suffers from losing his brother." I paused as I remembered how adamantly Grigore had refused me before, determined to stay loyal to his brother. "Lillith told me no Weaver can find a replacement for their brother. The first is unique."

"Your friend is right." Remus sighed heavily, exhaling a small thin cloud of breath. "And now I'm to face this vampire alone at some time in my life."

I frowned, unhappy at that thought and knowledge the wolf had escaped. For the last four days neither Remus nor Grigore had found it. There was nothing and no one had gone missing again. The wolf had left.

"I hope you defeat it." I said firmly. I didn't want Remus to fall to that vampire.

"I will try to." Remus promised with a thin smile as he made to stand. "But I'll leave you be now. I know how Grigore hates me being alone with you now." He grunted unhappily. "Not that I blame him."

"He's just unsettled." I said, trying to comfort Remus a little. Grigore had been very abrupt and aggressive towards Remus over the last four days, his magic often crackling at the sight of him. The rage and fear that had been triggered inside him the night of Remus' last fight had barely died down.