The Watcher in the Woods

“What’s going on?” Lilitha asked, her voice cutting through the stillness of the forest.

She found Damon standing rigidly among the trees, the moonlight casting an ethereal glow on his horns and his long, fiery hair. His arms were crossed, his muscles straining against his skin.

“I’m keeping watch,” he replied. His gaze never left the darkness beyond.

Lilitha joined him, her eyes scanning the dense foliage.

“Do you think we’re in danger?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“We’re always in danger,” he replied, his voice as cold as the night air.

A heavy silence fell between them, filled with unspoken grief. It was as if Silus was there with them, in every word they spoke, in every breath they took, in every cry their son made.

“Are they…hunting us?” Lilitha asked, her voice trembling.

“I can’t sense them, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t planning something,” Damon replied, finally turning to look at her. “We didn’t sense them before.”

A shiver ran down Lilitha’s spine. The thought of their enemies being so close, yet undetectable, was terrifying.

“But don’t worry,” Damon reassured her. “I’ve scouted the area for miles. I do it every day.”

Lilitha reached out and took his hand.

“Then come back,” she pleaded, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “Come and spend time with Silus.”

“In a bit,” he replied. “He distracts me. I can’t focus when I’m around him.”

A small smile tugged at Lilitha’s lips.

“I’m worried for him. I’m worried for us,” Damon confessed.

“We can move faster. I can move faster,” Lilitha suggested.

“No. Carmella says you’re not ready—and I agree,” Damon countered.

“But it’s been a week,” Lilitha protested.

“You just had a baby, Lilitha,” Damon reminded her.

They stood there, hand in hand. Lilitha moved closer, resting her cheek against his chest. She wrapped her arms around him, closing her eyes.

“I love you,” she whispered.

He placed his hands on her hips, pulling her closer.

“I love you too,” he replied.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “For everything.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and despite her best efforts, one escaped, trickling down her cheek. Then, they all came pouring out, her sobs echoing through the silent forest.

“I saw him,” she choked out. “I saw what they did.”

It was the first time she’d spoken about it. The first time she’d had the chance to. After days of numbness, followed by days of overwhelming emotions. She was exhausted. The baby wouldn’t stop crying. Her body ached. And sometimes, when she looked at Silus’s innocent face, she questioned if bringing him into this cruel world was the right thing to do.

“You were right,” she admitted. “You were right all along.”

Damon pulled her closer, pressing her head into his shoulder.

“You’re angry with me,” she said, her voice muffled against his chest.

“No,” he replied.

“You should be,” she insisted.

“It’s about time, Lila. It’s about time you grieved properly,” he said.

“They were ~so~ cruel. He was alive, Damon. He was alive! And they didn’t care. The ~screaming~…” She trailed off, her voice breaking.

Damon held her tighter, his hand rubbing soothing circles on her back. Lilitha thought back to all the terrible things the clan had done—and there were many. But they’d never done anything like that. Nothing like that.

“Are we going to be okay?” she asked, her voice filled with desperation. “Is little Silus going to be ~okay~?”

“You’re going to be okay. ~We’re~ going to be okay. I promise you,” he reassured her.

***

Mateus returned just as the sun was beginning to rise. There was a small settlement nearby, a fishing village. More and more, Lilitha could smell the scent of the sea in the air.

He’d brought back an older woman, her neck broken. Lilitha felt a surge of anger—her quick death was more than she deserved. It was much more than Silus had gotten.

Lilitha rushed over to Mateus. He caught her in his arms, and she pressed her lips to his nipple with a sigh.

He held her tightly as they fell asleep. For once, Silus was quiet, nestled in Carmella’s arms, her long braids shielding him from the light. Damon was curled protectively around Carmella. Mateus’s warm breath fanned Lilitha’s face, his heavy arm draped over her, lulling her to sleep.

Lilitha was screaming. She was back in the dungeon, reliving that horrific day. Mandalay was alive, the captain standing over him as he sawed through Silus’s horn. Blood was everywhere—on Mandalay’s hair, his face, their clothes.

Silus was already dead. Lilitha tried not to look, but her eyes were drawn to his lifeless body. Her heart lodged in her throat when she realized the horrifying truth—it wasn’t Silus. The figure was too big, the horns too large. It was Mateus, his cheek pressed against the floor, his eyes vacant, staring blankly at Lilitha.

“Nooooooo!” she screamed.

Lilitha woke up, her heart pounding. Everything happened so fast. Mateus was on his feet, growling. Damon was standing protectively in front of them, his hands balled into fists, his eyes scanning the trees. Carmella was also on her feet, clutching Silus to her chest and keeping close to Damon. The baby was crying, disturbed by the sudden commotion.

Damon was looking around, his eyes darting from tree to tree.

“I’m sorry,” Lilitha gasped. “I’m so sorry.”

She buried her face in her hands, her body shaking with sobs. It took them a few moments to realize what had happened. Mateus pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her. She was trembling. She tried to wipe her face, but she was shaking so hard she poked herself in the eye. Silus’s cries began to subside as Carmella soothed him.

Lilitha was shaking her head, her knees giving out. Mateus helped her sit down. She clung to his waist, looking into his eyes. His living, loving eyes.

“You were dead,” she said. “You were ~dead~. Like Silus. They were sawing your horns off. I can’t take it. I can’t take it!” Her voice echoed through the forest, causing Silus to start crying again.

“It was a dream. I’m alive,” he said gently.

“A possibility?” She grabbed his sturdy wrist. “What if they find you? What if it happens again? Oh, God.”

She closed her eyes tightly. “I can’t stand it.” She pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes.

“I can’t erase the images. His screams of agony! They follow me everywhere I go. No matter how far we run, I’ll never escape it.”

Her body trembled with her sobs. Carmella led Silus deeper into the woods for some peace.

Lilitha could sense Damon nearby, standing over her, observing in silence. She glanced up at him.

His face was ashen, but his jade eyes sparkled brightly.

“How did you cope with it?” she asked him. “How do you cope with it?”

“Just like you, Lilitha,” he replied softly. “Just like you.”

Lilitha turned back to Mateus and held him tightly, her nails digging into the firm muscles of his waist.

All Mateus could do was embrace her back helplessly. Damon knelt behind her, his large warm hand resting on her back.

“It will get easier,” he assured her.

“I miss him,” she confessed. “It hurts so much.”

It felt like she would never stop crying. It felt like the pain would never subside.

But it did, just enough for her to lie back down again, nestled in Mateus’s arms, her face pressed hard into his chest.

“Hold me tighter,” she instructed him. He pulled her closer into him.

“Tighter.”

His arms were like iron, making it difficult to breathe, but she preferred it.

It eased the pain in her chest, the screaming in her mind. She could feel his large, strong heart beating slowly and it was the most comforting thing in the world at that moment.

Damon left to bring back Carmella. They couldn’t be separated any longer, they couldn’t seek solitude, not after what had transpired.

It was too soon. Too fresh.

Risky.

Humans couldn’t be trusted.

Neither could life and hope.