Page 59 of Magic and Medicine

Even though Stribog nodded in reply, it was Veles who spoke first. ‘So you can behave? Tell me, how did you return my son’s avatars to him?’ The questions were deceptively calm, but I could feel the tension in the room ramp up.

‘I can behave if no one is trying, or threatening, to kill me, my Lord.’ I said, looking at Svarog before I moved my attention back to Veles. ‘As for the rest, he didn’t ask me, and I don’t know what happened. We just had sex, and he grew antlers. A useful talent, I admit, but that was it, I promise.’

‘Then lay with me, woman. I promise to be gentle, even considerate, coating you with warmth and attention.’ Svarog puffed out his chest, flexing the muscles, and before I realised, the comment was leaving my lips.

‘No, thank you. You’re not my type.’

More sniggering followed, and the fire god approached me, menace burnt into the angles of his face. Is he going to rape me? I swallowed hard, turning to Stribog, but he was looking at Makosz, so with no other choice, I addressed her. ‘Is that why I’m here, my Lady? To have sex with this idi… man, I mean god?’

‘No, you are here to die,’ Jurata answered, smirking. ‘Your kind disturbs the balance, and I won’t let you enthral those who stayed behind.’

My lack of understanding must have been evident as Veles once again spoke up. ‘Enthral? If my son could be enthralled, I suspect Sara wouldn’t be the one to blame, but if you all are so concerned about her presence beside Leszek, she can stay here.’ The statement was harsh, words cutting through the tension, but he looked at me compassionately. ‘I can protect you here, child, but despite her personal feelings, Jurata has a point…’ his words were cut short by a commotion outside, and some of the gods stood, gathering magic in preparation.

I saw Stribog gesturing to me and scurried over. ‘Come here, little witch. He wouldn’t want you injured.’

Not that I trusted him, but he appeared helpful, and I moved behind Stribog’s strangely fluid body, gasping as a whirlwind surrounded me. The doors burst inward, revealing a terrifyingly magnificent beast, his resplendent body covered in blood. I blinked, trying to comprehend the sight, but the half-man, half-beast roared, his gaze locked on mine even through the dust and wind.

‘Release her, or I will tear this place apart till only the foundations remain.’ His roar was deafening, but instead of fear, I felt disbelief. This was Leszek, no, the Leshy, his naked, obscenely hairy torso covered in sweat and blood, decorated only with a golden torque and swirling tattoos. His antlers no longer hosted a swarm of fireflies. Now they were strewn with some unidentified scraps of tissue, and he had claws, massive, lethal claws.

‘Hey Wolfie, you came to rescue me?’ I said, a little breathless, gesturing for Stribog to stop the wind. Leszek’s eyes widened when I approached him, as if he couldn’t believe I was free. I used the moment of confusion to put my hands on his shoulders.

As soon as my hands touched his skin, Leszek crushed me to his body, and I felt him trembling when he held me tight in desperation.

‘Sara, are you alright? They didn’t hurt you, did they?’ his voice was tense and full of concern, but he wasn’t looking at me. His eyes slid over the gathered faces, challenging each with this stare.

‘I’m fine, despite the green hair bitch trying to kill me on the quiet.’

‘Seeing how you charged in here breaking all the rules, you wonder at our concerns? And for whom? A seer, a human. Killing her would be a mercy.’ Jurata said, looking at him with a longing that tightened my grip on his arms. He was mine, even if he wasn’t looking at me, his gaze fixed on those sea-green eyes.

‘You will pay for this,’ he said finally, and she paled before her eyes shifted to me. If I thought she hated me before, now it looked like she wanted to dance to the sound of my last breath as she strangled me. Leszek must have seen it, too, because he shifted me behind him, hiding me from her stare, and a growl rumbled in his throat.

I grabbed a handful of the fur on his back, coughing at a distracting thought before speaking. ‘No, leave her be. Just take me home, please.’

‘You need to remain, child. My son would understand this if he could think clearly.’ Veles said, and before I knew it, dark shadows started crawling in Leszek’s direction. He growled louder, stepping away, but the shadows lashed out, forcing him to kneel on the floor.

‘No, take it all, take my magic, but let Sara leave.’ He said, struggling against the shadowy chains.

‘Don’t fight it, lover. Stay here with me now that you have reclaimed your heritage.’ Jurata stood up and approached him.

‘You left. You abandoned your people, forcing them to fend for themselves and didn’t help, even when a madman tortured them. I can’t believe I thought I loved you, but no more. My eyes have finally been opened.’ He sneered, turning his face from her outstretched hand, and instinctively I stepped between them.

‘Learn to take a no for an answer.’ I said, swatting her hand away before her power filled my throat with salty water, and I gagged, fighting for breath.

Svarog’s laughter contended with Leszek’s roar and a command that felt so final, like death itself.

‘Enough!’

The air returned to my lungs. ‘I will stay. Please unchain him.’ I coughed, begging, my gaze on Veles.

‘You can’t, Sara. There’s good reason humans don’t live here. The Nether changes you, corrupts your emotions and memories, destroying your identity. I cannot allow that. I love you, my Firefly. I love your fierce spirit and gentle heart. I love your wit and humour and how everyone you meet is immediately ready to offer you their loyalty. I can’t let all those wonderful things fade away in the streams of time.’ His voice was so quiet it was almost a whisper full of regret and desperation, and I did the only thing I could. I kissed him while pouring my soul into the connection. Be free, be free, my love.

I gasped when his arms wrapped around me, no longer bound in shadowy chains. I broke the kiss, and my gaze drifted to Veles, whose shocked, dark face was several shades paler.

‘The Soul Shepherd will stay with the Lord of the Forest. That is their destiny. They will live or die together.’ A pocket-size grandma stepped out of the shadows. Everyone surrounding us collectively held their breaths and bowed their heads, and I dived on my knees in front of her. Whoever this wrinkled ancestor was, she was my chance.

‘My Lady, please intercede for us.’ I placed my hand over my heart, banging my head on the floor so hard I almost saw stars. These people were the old powers, and I hoped the ridiculous amount of historical movies I’d watched accurately covered appropriate behaviour.

‘You can’t, she endangers us all.’ Jurata, the vengeful bitch, screeched, desperate to keep me away from Leszek.

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