The Dawn of Courage Read online

  The Dawn of Courage

  Anne Zedwick

  © Copyright 2015 by Anne Zedwick. All Rights Reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of very brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  About the Author

  Prologue

  A low growl emanated through the room, shaking the floor. The girl stood fearlessly on the ground as the beast moved forward. She could feel his breath as he drew close to her. A cold, clawed hand gripped her arm, piercing her fair skin and drawing tiny droplets of blood. The beast tilted his head. His shiny horns gleamed in the light of the flickering candles.

  “Why don’t you quake with fear in my presence?” the beast asked her in a low, growling voice. His black eyes bore into her like knives.

  The girl lifted her chin, dark brown hair falling around her shoulders and down her back. The beast drew her closer to him. She clenched her jaw as his overwhelming stench reached her nose. “I do not fear you, or anyone. I have hunted monsters much more fierce than you,” the girl said quietly. Her voice was calm but threatening.

  The beast threw her to the ground. She fell on the hard marble with a thud and lay there, staring up at him.

  “We will see if you’re afraid of me when I am finished with you,” The beast growled angrily. His black lips turned into an angry glower, his white fangs shining in his mouth. He took a huge step toward her. “You have been hunting my kind for far too long,” He told her quietly. “I would kill you now… if I didn’t know how you feel,” He said it in dangerous whisper. “But all I want from you is for you to swear to stop hunting us.”

  “I will not. You terrorize my father’s farm! You and your kind are ruthless monsters, and I plan to kill you all so that you can never eat another one of our animals.”

  “We have to eat something,” The beast growled at her. “If you won’t listen, I will kill you.”

  “I will protect my family. I won’t stop, for I am not afraid of death.”

  The beast looked over his hairy shoulder and motioned for two smaller beasts to come forward. “Take her to the dungeons,” he sneered. “We will see if her mind changes after spending some time there.”

  The two beasts dragged the girl to her feet. With claws firmly clenched on each shoulder, they took her out of the room and down many, many stairs marked by intermittent torches. When they reached the bottom, one grabbed the last torch. Opening a barred door, they threw her into a dark room. Landing painfully, she couldn’t move for a moment. She could hear water dripping from the walls. She staggered to her feet as the beasts laughed. They turned, locked the door, and started climbing the stairs—taking the light with them.

  Plunged into darkness, the girl heard rats scuttling around the passages. After a few minutes of letting her eyes adjust, she took in her surroundings looking for any escape. There was none. Her only light shone through a small, barred window. Moonlight glinted off her dark brown eyes. Stone walls were all around her, and the floor was stone as well. She sat in a corner, getting mud on her clothes.

  There was no escape, but she wouldn’t give in. She wouldn’t let the beast subject her to terror. She would stay strong. She had to.

  Chapter One

  Evelyn awoke to a dim sunlight streaming through the small window. She moved on the cold stone floor of the dungeon. She looked down at her leathery black pants and long-sleeved, green shirt with her brown leather vest clasped over it. She stood, her brown boots making no noise on the stone. Leather straps were wrapped around the material of her boots, which reached a few inches below her knees. She had no weapons. Her knives had been taken away when she was captured.

  She grimaced at the beast guarding her, but said nothing, turning away to stare at the stone wall. Her brown eyes were hard, holding a loathing for everything she saw.

  Evelyn crossed her arms and spun around to face the guarding monster before her. “Let me go, right now! If you don’t…I’ll…do something very bad to you.”

  Knowing her threats were pathetic, the beast laughed a low, rumbling laugh that made the stone under Evelyn’s feet vibrate. He said nothing. His fur rippled as he turned away from her again.

  Evelyn huffed, sitting down on the floor. “I’m going to kill every last one of you,” she whispered, hatred filling her eyes.

  ***

  David shook his head. “Where is she? She should be back by now…” he muttered as he ran a hand through his messy brown hair.

  Evelyn’s father shrugged. “I don’t know. She’ll probably be back soon. You know her—late all the time.”

  “I suppose,” David said with a sigh.

  “Don’t worry about her, son. She’ll be back. Evelyn is more than capable of handling herself.”

  David nodded, looking out across the field and out to the woods.

  His father, Aaron, turned to head inside. He paused at the doorframe and looked back at David. “Waiting for her to return won’t make her get here any faster. Go help your brothers chop the wood, David.”

  David gave the woods in the distance one last look before nodding. He walked around their tiny hut and grabbed an axe that was sitting on a log.

  His two brothers looked up from their labors.

  Isaiah grinned. “Finally, you’re going to do some work, huh?”

  David rolled his dark eyes. “I was looking out for Evelyn.”

  “If she comes back, she comes back. There’s nothing you can do about it,” Isaiah told him. “Maybe she ran off. You know her and father don’t have the best relationship in the world.”

  “She’s been gone for three days. I’m a little worried about her!” David said.

  “Probably couldn’t stand being around you any longer,” Isaiah chuckled.

  David swung the axe up and brought it down on the log forcefully. It split the log in half with that one strike. “Yeah, sure.”

  Joshua stood by quietly, chopping away at the logs.

  David tossed the hatchet down on the grass. “I’m going out to look for her. Evelyn said she’d be back in a day. Not three days. Something’s wrong.”

  Joshua looked up. “You can’t go out there looking for her. There’s work to be done here on the farm.”

  He shrugged. “You guys can handle it. There aren’t too many animals left anyway after the last raid.”

  Isaiah set down his axe and crossed his arms, his blonde hair blown back in the wind. “You’re an idiot if you think you’re gonna find her in that huge forest.”

  “I can always try.”

  “You can try, but that doesn’t exactly make you smart,” Joshua pointed out.

  “Josh, I don’t care if you guys think I’m an idiot or not. I’m finding our sister. You obviously don’t care enough to help.”

  “Maybe we don’t care because it’s a waste of time,” Isaiah muttered, picking his axe up. “Fine, go.
Die out there in the forest all alone because you went off searching for Evelyn… when she probably will come back any time now, anyway.”

  David ignored them. He walked to their stable and saddled his black stallion. I’ll find her. It won’t take long at all... I’ll be back in no time.

  His father was in another stall, pitching hay into a trough. He looked up at David as his son walked out of the stable and mounted the huge stallion.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  David shrugged. “I’m doing what I should have done yesterday. Looking for Evelyn.”

  “That’s a foolish thing to do,” Aaron frowned.

  “Why?”

  “Because, whatever got her might still be out there and it might catch you too.”

  David stared at his father. “Some faith you have, if you already believe she’s dead.”

  “There’s nothing else to believe, David. You’re going on a wild goose chase. We just have to move on.”

  “You’re such a good father,” David muttered, “Just giving up on your kids like that.” He didn’t wait for Aaron’s reply as he rode off into the field, moving his horse into a trot, then a canter, and eventually into a gallop. The horse’s pounding hooves echoed David’s heartbeat. At the crest of the hill, he glanced back, only to see his father back at work in the stable. No longing eyes, no parting farewell. Well, he would show them. Evelyn was still alive, and he knew it.

  ***

  Dyret walked slowly up to the smaller beast before him. “How is she doing? Is she causing trouble for you?”

  The beast shook his head. “No, sir. She just sits there in the dungeon doing nothing. Sometimes she yells at the guard to let her out, but she isn’t turning violent…yet.”

  Dyret nodded, his glossy brown fur rippling. His dark brown eyes sparkled. They looked almost human as he glanced at the beast standing in front of him. “Don’t let her out. If she’s yelling to be let out, then she still has the will to be free. When that finally diminishes to hopelessness, then maybe she can roam around the castle.”

  The beast nodded and turned away from Dyret, walking toward the stairs that led down to the dungeons.

  Dyret watched him go. I wish she would just understand… he thought to himself. But I don’t know if I should tell her the truth. Maybe…maybe it would help her understand everything…maybe…

  He shook his hairy head. “No. That wouldn’t help. She must be killed or broken. Whichever one works. But she can’t be free. She can never be free until she is tamed.”

  Chapter Two

  Evelyn clenched the bars in front of her. Her hair was soaked with sweat as the heat of the day reached the dungeons. They were all about extremes—scorching in the day and frigid in the night. She rattled the bars, screaming, “Let. Me. Out!!”

  The beast guarding her ignored her as usual.

  Evelyn turned around, throwing her arms up in the air, annoyed.

  The guard suddenly straightened as Dyret entered the dungeons. Evelyn looked up. Furrowing her eyebrows, she glared at him. “Let me out right now, or I swear I’ll kill you all.” She tried to make her voice deep and menacing.

  Dyret just laughed, “I don’t think so. You are in no position to threaten us.”

  Evelyn’s eyes became dangerously cold as she stared at the huge beast. “Why do you want me?”

  “Why do I want you?” Dyret paused to snort, “You’ve been killing my clan for two years! There are only five of us left. And you want to know why I want you?” Profound pain was in his voice. “I thought the answer to that was obvious.” His eyes gleamed. “You know, I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Evelyn took in a deep breath and rested her head on the hot stones of her cell wall. “Uh-huh. Right.” She turned her back to him.

  After a few minutes of watching her, Dyret pulled a key out and unlocked the door. He walked into the cell, staring at Evelyn.

  Evelyn turned on him, tears in her eyes. “Go away! If you won’t let me go, then fine! Leave me here to rot, but just leave me alone so I can die in peace!” She turned away from him and muttered, “Monster.”

  Dyret’s big eyes held sympathy as he nodded and left the cell again without a word. He locked the door and nodded to the guard before climbing the stairs to leave the dungeon.

  Evelyn sunk to the floor, angry tears seeping from her eyes. How did I get myself into this mess? She wondered.

  Dyret reached the top of the stairs and plodded to the chair that looked out the window above the gardens. He eased himself down, the chair creaking under his weight.

  He gazed through the open window at the gardens below. Red roses dotted the green bushes, hundreds of them. Dyret loved roses. His garden was practically made of them. He could smell the sweet fragrance of their pedals drifting up in the breeze. The sky was bright blue, clear and spotless.

  Dyret stood up. After pacing for hours, he went to his chambers and lay down on his bed to get some sleep before he had to go out hunting.

  Back down in the dungeons, Evelyn huddled in a corner, staying as far away from the guard as she could, hoping that he might not hear her weeping. Remorseful thoughts flooded her mind. I wish I had stayed home when I saw that beast in our fields…She wiped her eyes. I shouldn’t have gone after it. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here right now. I’m probably going to die…without even being able to say goodbye to David. Dear, sweet David.

  She remembered David’s smiling face. He had always been there for her when her other brothers had not. He would always help her through hard things—like their mother’s death. As those thoughts ran through her mind, she almost wished that she hadn’t killed all of those beasts. Even if they were monsters, didn’t they have a right to live as much as she? Even if they stole animals off her farm, didn’t they have a right to have a chance at living a free life? Evelyn had always struggled with this idea, but she pushed the thoughts away. No. No, they’re monsters. They care for no one. They have no rights. They deserve to be dead. It’s a good thing I killed them. I should finish the job. I must find a way to finish them all…

  The quandary weighed on her. How could she kill them? Dyret’s words echoed in the caverns of her mind. “You’ve been killing my clan for two years! There are only five of us left! And you want to know why I want you?”

  There had been pain in his voice, but she didn’t know why. I don’t care why. I shouldn’t care why.

  Evelyn pushed the thoughts of pity that she felt for him down into the bottom of her heart. “I won’t care…” she mumbled. “I won’t.”

  The guard turned to look at her. “Did you say something?”

  Evelyn glared at him and shook her head. “Nothing.”

  The beast turned back around with a shrug. Evelyn leaned her head on the stones of the wall, hating herself for being stupid enough to get into such a hopeless position.

  ***

  David urged his horse forward into the forest. His eyes darted around, looking for any sign of danger. I bet it was those beasts that took her, He thought angrily. They don’t know who they’re messing with. I’ll show them a thing or two.

  His horse snorted as if he could hear his thoughts and was agreeing with him. David patted his shiny black neck. “Come on, Midnight, we’ve got to hurry if we’re gonna find her.”

  Midnight whinnied and tossed his head. His galloping hooves quickened as they thudded mutely through the wet leaves of the forest floor. David expertly wove his horse through the trees, keeping an eye out for holes or overhanging shrubbery. The wind howled through the trees. They cast ominous shadows on the ground as their leaves brushed against each other, rustling in the wind. David’s brown hair rippled over his ears.

  His dark eyes took in every detail, scanning the forest for danger and listening intently for any noise. Midnight was alert, seeming to sense his master’s unease.

  David slowed his horse down to a trot. Midnight shook his mane in protest, but obeyed.

  David scanned the trees. Sn
ap!

  David reigned in Midnight. Midnight pranced to a halt, suddenly uneasy. Another twig cracked behind him. He whirled around, but nothing was there. For a while, the only noise he heard was the sound of the leaves brushing together in the wind.

  Then he saw it. Looming out of the shadows of a nearby oak, a beast emerged. Its long, razor-like teeth glinted in the moonlight, black fur rippling under strong muscles. The beast roared, murder written in its yellow eyes. Midnight reared, letting out a frightened whinny. David almost fell off his horse with horror. Clinging to the horse with his legs, David groped for his belt, reaching for the knife he always kept there. He unsheathed it and held it up in the air threateningly. The beast laughed as it stepped forward and bared its teeth menacingly.

  David’s hand trembled as he held his knife. “Stay away!” he said with bravery. The beast growled. Its pupils were huge, leaving only a small yellow ring around the dark blackness.

  David held Midnight’s reins tightly. The horse snorted restlessly and pranced around a tree.

  The huge animal lunged at him, and David knew he couldn’t fight it. Did this beast get Evelyn? He kicked his horse into motion, loosening the reins and leaning forward in the saddle. Midnight bolted away through the trees, dodging through them with an urgency that David knew was driven by pure fear. He tried not to let the horse sense his own fear, but he was sure that he failed. David turned in his saddle. The black beast was not chasing him. It stood there on its haunches watching him. David almost thought he saw it smile.

  ***

  Dyret walked down the stone steps to the dungeon, running his hands along the walls. His claws scraped the stones of the wall and sent a screeching sound down the hall. He walked to Evelyn’s cell, staring at the girl that had murdered most of his friends. She lay still in the corner, sleeping peacefully. Her dark brown hair flowed over her shoulders and onto the stone floor in waves. Her pale skin was smooth and her long dark lashes stood out against it. She was beautiful. A killer, but beautiful all the same. She just didn’t understand. He had to tell her the biggest secret that he kept: the most dangerous secret.