Page 54 of Sharpen Your Claws

“Absolutely not.” He laughed coldly. “You are heading home. Now.” Henry made no move to obey. Snarling, William ran a hand through his hair. “How did you follow us?”

Henry retrieved a crystal from his pocket, the one he told William to carry. “I said I could find you anywhere with this.”

“In the case of an emergency. Not to join us!” He turned his attention to Nicholas. “Did you know he was following?”

Nicholas nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought he was coming with us,” he answered earnestly.

“I never said he was, and he isn’t joining us. You are staying here.” He grabbed the pack, but Henry held firm.

“William.” Henry settled his hands on his brother’s shoulders. He winced. Henry had his hand on silver. Even with clothes separating them, he couldn’t stand anyone touching that.

“You went to war on your own. I’m not letting you go through this without me,” said Henry.

“And I am not letting you go with me. I won’t risk your life. You can’t…” He caught his tongue between his teeth, tasting copper.

Henry couldn’t see the side of him created by war, which he would no doubt have to show while in search of the disciples. Ever since his return, he struggled to maintain a careful performance, one as close to the son and brother they lost as possible. Not the monster he became. He didn’t want any of them to know what he truly went through, what he was not only willing but also more than capable of doing.

“I am going with you,” Henry said sternly. “You can either let me join you here or I’ll find you on my own. Your choice.”

Nicholas came from behind to speak against William’s ear. “Let him join us.”

He wanted to argue, but he caught Charmaine’s apologetic smile in his peripheral vision. She wanted Henry along, or at least understood that they were stronger as a group. He knew that, too. Another mage would be of great use, especially Henry, who had earned the attention of a magical society. But they asked William to put his brother in danger after he fought so long to keep his family safe.

Henry’s hands fell, one to tighten around the strap of his pack and the other to lie upon his satchel. “If it makes you feel better, I won’t leave your sight.”

That did not ease him in any form. He and Charmaine now shared an affliction; sickness to the gut. Bile rose in his throat. A childish urge said to chuck the crystal into the wilds. But Henry said he would follow them, one way or the other. William would rather his brother be at his side than wandering the wilds of Faerie alone.

“I will let you join on conditions,” he said. “If I say to run, you run, and if I tell you to return home without us, you will return home.”

Henry had an argumentative air about him, but he gave in with a sigh. “I accept your terms.”

“Alright.” He yanked the supplies from the carriage to pass off, then nodded at Nicholas. “Let’s go.”

Nicholas approached the shimmer. His presence caused the faded blue light to brighten, sensing a presence.

“Be warned, the first passing will feel strange, as if you’ve fallen into a river. Let it carry you. Don’t fight the flow. If you hear or see anything, ignore it. Keep your eyes ahead and move,” the shade explained.

Nicholas took William’s hand, interlocking their fingers. Henry had to take William’s hand, making his teeth grind. He didn’t want anyone touching his right hand, but there was nothing to be done. Henry also grabbed Charmaine, and she latched onto a grinning Evera.

Nicholas stepped forward, hand outstretched. The shimmer expanded at the brush of his finger. Like a snake feeding, the shimmer stretched, opening as it needed for the bodies passing through. Nicholas disappeared within the now blinding light. William was next to be consumed. He held his breath and tensed when he felt it; the submersion.

The strange sensation passed over him, warmth and water except he was bone dry. The light dimmed and, in front of him, was Nicholas’ silhouette, nothing more. There was no beginning or end, no up or down, left or right. The group walked forward, or tried to, within an ocean of glistening blue, like a mirror’s reflection. Emptiness below his feet made his steps sway. Nicholas’ grip tightened, as did Henry’s. His brother’s voice became warped, too high pitched,“Look…Will…panic.”

He couldn’t understand what they said. He focused on their connection, Henry and Nicholas’ hands. They didn’t feel right, too soft, too cold. He swore they were slipping away, fading through his fingers.

“William.” That voice was clear; Hugh. He stood among the blue, cheeks colored pink, eyes bright, his smile wide to show off his slightly crooked teeth that William always found charming. Hugh was unbelievably alive. He held out a calloused hand and smiled. “William.”

He’s not real,he told himself over and over. He focused on Nicholas’ hand, tried to think of how it truly felt, heated and smooth, like he didn’t know a day’s hard work. All the while, Hugh called over and over, a siren seeking prey.

Please end. Please end. Please end,he pleaded, finding the vastness of the space somehow constrictive, as if he were drowning.

Another figure formed, this one shorter, smaller, familiar long before William peered into his own eyes. The young boy, not ruined by war, stood there brighter than a star. He laughed. The sound tugged at William’s heartstrings because it sounded real, like him, like who he was meant to be. His younger self held out his hand, didn’t even say a word, but William felt it;come here and you will become who you were meant to be.

That’s all he wanted, and the want moved him. He released Henry and reached. His younger self took his wrist before William could think better. The form held tight, then his sweet smile morphed into a sneer, and they fell into darkness.

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