Page 33 of Lycan and Lark
She glared and Graham smirked. “Drink your beer and stop being so fussy. I’m sure we’ll be out of my neck of the woods in no time.” He gave her another dangerously charming smile. Aria was not looking forward to bringing Graham home. The girls were going to go feral for him.
She drained her beer and Graham cocked an appreciative eyebrow her way. “I’ll get us another pint then.” He lumbered toward the bar as the night’s musician began to sing.
“What in the hell are they even saying?” Being on this island felt like being stuck in another time period.
“Let’s see.” Romani leaned closer to her. He seemed to better understand the thick accent, repeating the song line by line as the musician continued to sing.
“Newlyweds ran through the soft summer hills
Delighting in seeking their new lover’s thrills
A flowing white dress streamed behind in the wind
Their smiles shone brightly, so soon they would end
The sun, it set low over the green grassy peak
And the blasted wind whipped as the weather drew bleak
The groom’s lovely bride ran away for a game
‘I’ll hide and you’ll find me, then love you’ll proclaim’
But little he knew that the day they were upon
Would mark in our history a magic gone wrong
A rip through our world sent a monster nearby
And for so many lost souls the end would be nigh
The bride would be first in a bad bout of luck
And the groom when he found her, himself would be struck
A man made of shadows, sent stealing our souls
Would end every life of each light that he stole
So many then perished in those grey, lonely days
Until Fenrir’s own black wolf took the creature away
Straight back into hell went the monster and beast
Even his life was forfeit, we cried to our priest
Now his memory and story replay on our breath
Along with each condemned soul from the dark month of death.”
Aria sighed, rolling her eyes, and shouted toward the bard. “Why are the songs always so dramatic and sad? Move into this century and play something happy!”
The music abruptly stopped as all eyes fixed on Aria. She felt their anger heating the room. Graham slammed their mugs down on the table, towering over Aria. “Look here, lass, we never speak lightly of the dark month.”
Some part of Aria told her to stop talking. The other part had been drinking and was looking for a fight. “So what? Some crazy guy came and killed off a pair of newlyweds. Bad shit happens all over the world. Y’all can’t stay stuck in the past.”
Graham leaned forward, gripping the edge of the table. The wood creaked and bowed beneath his weight. “It wasn’t just a pair of newlyweds. Hundreds perished during the dark month, all at the hands of a shadow creature from hell. You can’t imagine the horror the survivors endured.” He took his seat, shooting a quick glare in Romani’s direction. His voice dropped to a whisper. “Someone caused a tear in the Veil and the monster slipped through. That’s why you’ll not be finding any Veil Walkers on this here island. It’s forbidden. The only reason you’re still sitting here, lad, is because the others don’t know what you are. But I do.” Graham’s eyes had begun to glow as he told his story.
