Chapter 60

With a long, purposeful step, Ashley breached the circle again, then gripped Queen Vicky's arm. "Get your coat," she ordered. "Don't argue, you can't see it but this woman is quark! She isn't whi you think she is. Grab your coat, Queen!" She yelled at her top lung's pitch.



"It's too late. . . . The forces . . ." Tomica peered over her shoulder. Ashley followed her gaze. "Dear God!" She bellowed.



Eyes, glowing darkly red. Enormous heads. Massive, dangerous jaws, parted to reveal gleaming fangs.



One by one, they filed into the clearing. With a gasp, Tomica pushed Ashley back in the ring.



"What are you—" Ashley sputtered.



"Are you crazy? Run, Tomica. Now! Those wolves will tear us apart."



But she was deaf to her voice. Throwing back her head, she lifted her arms to the moon. The air whipped her flimsy robe and snowy tresses, swirling them around her in a frenzy.

Ashley's blood froze as he saw the pack of wolves part and circle in opposite directions around the ring. Seven of them, she noted through the haze of fear in her mind, and they blocked all hope of escape. They surrounded the circle, sat down, and stared at Tomica, obviously waiting.




But for what?



"Cawrafay . . . Quarafay . . . Yanayy . . . Yanahy," crooned Tomica.




Why hadn't the wolves attacked her? She wondered, then forgot the question as knees grew weak and began to throb.




"Cawrafay, quarafay, yanayy yanahy!"




Tomica paused. Each wolf raised its head and a great unified howl lifted up, echoing off the rocks, filling the sky. As the last echo faded into the black night, Tomica again began to chant.



"Lady moon in her great fullness squares dark pluto now. Yet fickle lady waits for none and soon moves on.

Oh, Phantoms of the Dark Beneath rise up and heed my cry."



Pain shimmied through Ashley's body, piercing, unbearable pain. Her legs buckled. Staggering backwards, she cried out and crumpled to her knees. Through all this, Queen Vicky stared on, and Tomica continued her litany.



"Bring fang and claw and strength beyond what mortals know.

Bestow these gifts upon your servant now, that she may roam the earth as wolf and woman, as woman and wolf Forevermore."



With each word, Ashley's agony grew more intense. Her legs and arms burned with the fires of hell and she clawed at them, wanting to pull them out as she would some grievous tooth. Her jaw shifted and needles pierced every inch of her skin. A thousand knives jabbed at her head.



"Rush, great Phantom, rush, yes! rush.

Race, Great Phantom, race, yeah, race.

The Lady rolls on, time grows short."



Tomica's voice rose with the wailing wind that beat at Ashley's agonized body like a razor-sharp whip.



"Heed us now. Heed us now.

Time grows short. Heed us now."



Barely aware of the cruel rocks slicing her burning skin, Lily writhed on the hard ground, battling the misery of her own flesh. Her mind filled with jumbled, crazy questions. How had Tomica's fingernails grown so long? Or her teeth so sharp and shiny?



"Tomica," he cried from the depths of his pain, but only a grunt emerged.



"Cawrafay Quarafay Fanayy Yanahy

Cawrafay Quarafay Fanayy Yanahy .

A woman-wolf is born this day!"



Ashley heard nothing more. Lost in a whirlwind of agony, she thrashed inside the ring. Anguished sounds exploded in her throat. Torment was her whole world now. She was lost in it.




Dying. There was no other explanation. She was dying. And because it hurt too much, she closed her eyes in futility and rolled into a ball, adrift in her own wretched whimpers.




Time passed. She sensed movement around him, but refused to open her eyes. Why were they tormenting her? Why didn't they kill her now? Eyes still closed, she lifted her head awkwardly. It felt heavy and stiff, but the thousand knives were gone. She brought a hand to her brow, felt fur. A peculiar yelp escaped her mouth.

Her eyes snapped open and she stared in unspeakable horror.




Where hands once were, she saw hair and claws—large, powerful claws that could rip a throat apart. A crazed laugh bubbled in her throat, but when she opened her mouth only a groan emerged.




"Your alchemization’s complete, Ashley," Queen Vicky said from above her. "You are one of us now."