Free Coven of Wolves by Peter Saenz Page B

he be in more danger if he stays with us? At least here he has people he knows and who care for him. Wouldn't that be the safer place for him to be?"
    Fenrus looks deep into my eyes and I hear, "You should give him that choice to make for himself."
    A bit crestfallen I say, "You're right. He deserves that. So, we wait until he's healed and then ask him what he wants to do. I don't feel comfortable putting someone else's life at risk because of me but fair is fair. How do you think he's doing?"
    Fenrus closes his eyes and stands very still. After a few moments he opens them and I hear, "He's still pretty weak but Anna was able to negate most of the poison from his system. He'll sleep soundly through the night."
    "Well, that's a relief."
    I yawn and stretch out my arms. I then slide my forearms across the slightly cold bed and lay across the well cushioned bed comforter. It's so sumptuous I can feel my body tingle with delight as my eye lids draw heavy again.
    "Do you think it will be alright if I close my eyes for a bit?"
    In my head I hear Fenrus say, "I'll be here to watch over you. You're safe with me, but Devin, remember what I said about letting your spirit self linger. Don't stay in one place too long. You'll only put yourself in danger if you do."
    My eyes close as I faintly hear myself respond, "I promise puppy, I promise..."
    I'm soon cast into the sheer wonder of darkness and I allow myself to float in its vast emptiness. Is this what Luke feels when he disappears into shadow, I wonder? Intense freedom surrounds me as I feel the sensation of drifting forward at high speeds but with no real visual proof that I'm doing so. I could be anywhere. Blind as I am I allow myself to zig and zag to and fro with no real direction. I will myself to stop in place and slowly I begin my decent. I feel myself drifting downward and downward and soon wonder if I will ever really reach bottom. Casting my apprehension aside I stay the course until I finally feel the soles of my feet touch ground.
    Looking around I find myself standing in the middle of a forest area. It's dusk and the remaining sunlight casts a very beautiful glow on everything around me. I hear the sound of running water nearby. Around the bend I see a faint light so I drift forward a bit until it becomes clear. A few paces in I discover the light is coming from a large free standing three story home. It's isolated and I can somehow sense the nearest neighbor is at least a mile away. The road leading away from the house is made of dirt, but is well worn.
    Suddenly my ears perk up and every part of my body is at attention. The feeling that something is close by and prowling is overwhelming. I wait for a moment, unsure of what I'm anticipating. Just when I can wait no more I see two pairs of people patrolling in my general vicinity. Both sets are wearing the same black clothing I saw on the would-be assassin earlier, and like him they all carry two sets of swords strapped firmly to their backs. I can see their breath as it hits the cold air, becoming white mist. I instinctively turn to hide behind a nearby shrub but remember I'm for the most part invisible to everyone around me. I drift closer to see if any of them carry the attacker's face but find no such luck. One set has matching brown hair which contrasts with the attacker's black, and the other set has one red-headed male and one dark haired female. I remember Fenrus' warning and decide not to press my luck, leaving them behind. I move closer to the house and peek in through one of the windows.
    Inside I see a fireplace is roaring nicely. Three more assassins in black pace past the hallway doorframes. I move past them and see a metal door with a small security code access panel beside it. I walk through the door and see a set of stairs leading downward. As I descend them I can hear arguing further below. At the bottom of the stairs is an open room with more armed guards in black walking back and forth. Several doors