Jamie stiffened as the bandage fell away, revealing her pale skin beneath. But it wasn’t what he expected. There was no injury, at least not that he could see. Instead he saw a tattoo, or at least something that appeared to be a tattoo winding around her wrist.
It was two silver tigers, delicate, intricate and alive. They were carved into her skin, encircling her wrist like a thin bracelet, so intertwined it was hard to tell where one started and the other ended. The tail of one tiger traced up the back of her hand until it wound around her forefinger like a ring.
“You don’t recognize it?” Mike’s voice jolted him back into the present.
Jamie shook his head. “What is it?” He asked quietly.
Mike shook his head, perplexed. “There are legends. Living Weapons.” He said softly. “Lost in time, nothing but stories.”
He rewrapped the bandage and turned to Jamie as he finished. “I don’t know what it is, but I think it might be wise to keep it a secret. I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing, but I’m trusting her. I’m trusting you and your knowledge of her – do you understand?”
Jamie nodded dumbly, every moment taking him further and further from his comfort zone. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. If I find out it’s something dangerous, I’m not going to hesitate to turn her in.”
Jamie nodded again, his eyes trained on Allyra.
“It’s only three nights until the full moon. I’m not sure she will be strong enough to face the start of the Trials.”
Jamie turned to Mike. “At least you’ve given her a chance. You said it yourself – she’s a fighter. She’ll be fine.” His voice rang with more conviction than he actually felt.
Chapter 17 – Allyra
It was a different nightmare this time. Allyra saw the Ancient’s red eyes above her, the putrid smell of rotten flesh, thick and fetid, forcing its way down her throat. Tentacles were touching the edges of her mind, systematically forcing its way past her defenses, tearing down walls, searching for her deepest fears.
Emma and Rob dead, their bodies broken, white bone breaking through flesh and skin. She raced through a maze of identical corridors, searching blindly for Jamie, his voice ringing in her ears, screaming for her, his voice getting weaker and weaker as he begged for her to help him.
The tentacles continued their search, brushing away the images in her mind, probing for the fear that had the greatest power to hurt her.
Alex’s eyes locked with hers, his fingers gently locked in her hair, his blue eyes so dark they were only a shade away from indigo. There was longing and need in those eyes, and it was surely matched in her own eyes as she felt liquid heat unravel deep within her. He dipped his head down toward her, closing the distance between them, his eyes never leaving hers. A heartbeat before their lips met, his eyes suddenly widened with pain and his hand fell away from hers. He looked down. Confused, she followed his gaze – horror dawning slowly as she saw a pitch-black sword pierced through his chest. He fell away from her, his eyes now sightless and opaque as she heard her own screams fill the air.
She jolted awake, gulping for air, her screams still ringing in her ears. Pain rushed through her and every breath of air felt as hot as lava in her lungs. She coughed and tried to sit up, assisted by strong hands gently supporting her back.
“Slowly.” Alex said softly beside her, very much alive.
“What – “ She stopped, her voice was hoarse and weak, and it cost her something just to get that single word out.
“Can you sit up?” He asked.
Allyra nodded, unsure of her voice and tried to sit up again. Alex’s hands were in the small of her back, lending her strength. A new flash of pain hit her, running up her side and she started to remember – the Ancient’s jagged black blade, pushed through her own ribs, not Alex’s chest. She gingerly lifted up her shirt – the wound was red, puckered and angry. It tore through her side, jagged as the teeth of the blade that delivered it.
Then something else caught her eye – a silver tattoo on her own wrist – tigers, just like the one Alex had, but more delicate on her. She looked at him, a question in her eyes.
“The Ancient’s sword cut deep into you, their swords are worse than a Revenant’s, the wounds they deliver fester and refuse to heal. You wouldn’t have survived without help.”
Alex traced his fingers lightly along her new tattoo, and she trembled under his touch. “There are five Living Weapons, once carried by the Five themselves. Legend says that they were forged out of metal taken from the Walking Forest. They took on the form of animals, tattooed into the skin of those they chose to serve. Three have been lost to time, only two remain – the Dragons and Tigers. The Tigers chose you, they chose to save you.”
Allyra could feel them inside of her – writhing and alive, calling for blood. She watched as the tattoo started moving and twisting on her wrist. A moment later a bright, silver sword was in her hand. It was light and perfectly balanced and in her hand it felt right and complete.
Alex held her wrist gently, directing the sword away from him. He smiled. “Careful. They’re a part of you, but they are semi-sentient. Just like the trees of the Walking Forest from which they were forged, they hunger for blood. They’ll help you, but be careful not to put all your trust in them.”
“Why – “ She coughed, trying to clear her throat and cringing as pain
