The Dawn of Courage by Anne Zedwick

Author:Anne Zedwick [Zedwick, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Craig Zedwick
Published: 2015-04-04T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“Okay, already!” Evelyn stood up, her clothes soaked with the swamp water and mud. “I’ll help you. Just please….heal David.”

“After you lead me to the witch,” Black Claw smirked.

Evelyn grimaced. “He won’t last that long!”

“Well then, you’d better lead me to her quickly.”

Evelyn stomped off into the swamp. This is perfect! How am I gonna find her? Then she saw movement behind one of the trees. “There!” She could only hope that it wasn’t just an animal. “She’s there.”

Claw left David groaning on the ground and went to the tree. A girl with slender form stepped out in front of him. Her wavy, golden-brown hair reached her waist. “Hello?” she whispered.

“What are you doing in this swamp? Who are you? What’s your name?” Claw growled.

“I got lost and my name is…Mary.”

“You hesitated. That really isn’t your name, is it?”

Mary stared at him. Evelyn shook her head and went back to David.

“Why aren’t you afraid of me?” Claw’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“Why am I not afraid?” She chuckled. The girl’s face warped into an old, wrinkly one and her hair grew gray streaks that soon overtook the brown. Her girlish form contorted into a hunched, menacing figure. She stared into Claw’s eyes. “Because I made you.”

Claw grabbed the witch’s shoulders and shook her. “Give me back my human form! Give it back!” He roared as his hideous beast form melted into a human for a moment.

Evelyn looked over at the two forms and gasped. Claw’s human form was actually quite handsome. The witch laughed.

“See this?” Claw pointed at his human face, which was already beginning to turn back into beast form. “Give it back to me!”

“You have strange fantasies, Jeffery,” Her milky, empty eyes seemed to bore holes in his head as she cackled. “You know there’s only one thing that can break my spell. And it’s something neither you, nor any of the other beasts, will ever find.”

“What is it?” Claw demanded as he dug his claws into her forearms. The witch didn’t seem to notice.

“True love,” She giggled.

Evelyn’s eyes darted to the witch.

“Only true love’s kiss can break my spell. And as I said, none of you will ever get it. You’re too hideous and scary for any girl to ever love you.” She snickered, “You least of all, Jeffery. You’re cruel and ugly.”

Claw snarled at the witch. She whispered a short spell and her skin began to melt into flames. Claw yowled in pain and let her go. Her skin then cooled. Before he could grab her again, she disappeared in a puff of gray smoke.

Black Claw stalked back to Evelyn.

“Now, please give David the antidote,” Evelyn told him.

Claw was angry—very angry. He grabbed Evelyn by the throat and lifted her off her feet. He brought her up to his face. “Let’s get one thing clear,” his voice was gruff. “No.”

Evelyn gasped for breath. “You…you promised…” she choked out. It was a mistake to speak. Claw tightened his grip.

He’s going to kill me, Evelyn realized.

She opened her mouth, hoping to get some small breath, but none came.

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