FOREVER KNIGHTS: #13 Salvaging Souls
What Karina Has Done

So this night she’d crept along the fence of Meredith House, tiring of hearing the wretched whistle the old women blew, every time she tried to approach directly. With her new instincts she was able to hear the stinging sound which would send Acharius rushing into Merwood. Hunting her.

She eased the gate open. Inch by painful inch to assure it did not creak. Her serpents coasting in beneath the gate and lining the fence so when she closed it, they created a buffer. They hissed faintly as the gate squashed them only enough to hurt. They skid back to the ground to move with her.

As she reached a puddle, she didn’t like the look of near the back of the House, serpents piled atop each other to create a bridge for her.

When she attained the rear door near the kitchen, she touched the handle and found it locked. Closing her eyes was an instant command for the smaller of the serpents to creep under the thin crack below the door. Once inside, they slid up the door, crawling atop each other in a black string that reached the latch. Creeping over it to turn the lock with a distinct click.

The door swung open and Karina stepped into the kitchen.

The bellies of the snakes rasped over the wood floor.

She could see the outline of one of the women’s backs as they rocked next to the fireplace as usual. Drawing close enough she saw the hair free down her back rather than the stringent knot. Margaret.

The serpents already crossed the wooden floor. Not even bothering to hide in shadows since her back was trustingly to the kitchen doorway. They reached her. Sinking in teeth. Dropping venom. At the first bite, Margaret screamed and fell from the chair. Jumping up to push the creatures aside but one had already ventured up through her dress and emerged from the neckline.

When she tried to shriek again as others began sinking into her legs. The one rising from her dress struck inside her mouth, muffling the sound into a low groan. Diving its head in, to sink teeth into her throat. Worming its way in deeper as she gurgled and flailed. Black tail flicking wildly.

Finally, she dropped to the floor. Sliding on her back awhile in continued attempts to escape before thudding limply to the floor. Her body relaxing. The last of the snake’s tail vanished as it headed through into her stomach.

The snakes bit her time and again. Black venom seeping into her veins and burning through her.

Her gaze turned to the stairs. And she walked stiffly that direction. The slithering creatures moving as one with her. Clambering over the stairs, their body’s curving and sliding. Step after step, taking her closer to the level with the four bedchambers.

Karina eased open the first door and found the chamber dusty and covered in spider webs, empty.

She recognized a doll on the floor as one that had formerly been hers when she’d once lived here with the awful women.

They’d not been fond of her. Eying her warily. She’d overheard Agatha once whispering to her sister. She thought there was something corrupted in Karina.

But there hadn’t been then.

Karina attributed that woman’s harshness as the reason she’d abandoned the house and ran straight into Radix’s arms.

Her longing to be closer to Acharius driving her to live in the Merwood amongst him and the trees. He’d only become interested as she matured and that had only been for a brief window before he tired of her. As everyone seemed to.

Everyone but Radix. Despite her disgust at the demon, he had known abandoned her as all the others had. Though he might be cruel when she came to the Black Mountains he always allowed her presence. At least for awhile.

She moved to the next door and opened it. Excited to replace the woman who’d caused her childhood so much disappointment. Agatha.

But Karina was horrified to see the woman sitting upright in her bed, whistle to her lips. And upon sight of Karina with slitted orange eyes and black hair as straight and greased as the snake’s skin, Agatha gave the whistle a mighty blow.

“No!” Karina whispered in a furious hiss.

Sending the snakes streaming across the floor and stacking their way onto the bed with the old woman. They swarmed over. Biting even more furiously. Powered by Karina’s rage. He’s going to come now, she knew.

Karina, of all people, knew he could hear that sound from anywhere in the Merwood. How much time she had would be directly related to whether or not Acharius was already awake.

As Agatha blew a last pained breath and the serpents retracted from around her Karina turned and walked dully to the next room.