Chapter Eighteen
Three hours later found Link and Xanath resting beside a huge rock. Link had explained he was expecting some company, so he thought it would be fairer if he took a break to allow Dante to catch up. It began to rain when Dante finally showed up, but behind him was a girl on her horse.
"You dragged Malon out here?" Link asked, visibly angry. The black-haired boy stared at him, almost resentfully.
"I didn't drag her with me, she simply refused to stay behind," he growled slightly. "And besides, she's safer at my side than at the ranch." But Link wasn't in any mood to hear excuses. As far as he was concerned, Malon was in more danger than at home.
"You shouldn't have let her come," he snapped, growing angrier with him. "She's more exposed to danger out here. What were you thinking?" Dante gave him a threatening look.
"I can protect her better than you did last night," he spat, looking somewhat smug. Link threw a startled look at Malon; she dropped her gaze guiltily. Then he turned back to Dante. "Yes, she told me everything that happened last night. And I am sick to my gut that you allowed that bastard to bite her like that. I'm starting to have my doubts with you and this approaching fight."
"Fight?" Malon suddenly spoke up. "You didn't tell me anything about a fight." Xanath cleared his throat, catching the attention of the two.
"We should get back on track now," the man told everyone. Link tore himself away from Dante's threatening stare and resumed his tracking. A few sniffs and he was following the invisible scent trail. Xanath and Malon hung back from the two as they continued their journey.
"I want to know what happened," Malon whispered, making sure that Link wasn't in ear shot. "Tell me everything that took place." Xanath nodded slowly. As long as she was with them, she had every right to know what took place. As Xanath began, Malon listened with wide-open ears.
"It happened quite a while ago. There was a female werewolf called Nisih, who apparently was in love with Link. But she could never express this love for him because Zelda was always getting in the way," Xanath shook his head slowly. "So she felt that the only way that Link would be hers was for him to become a werewolf. And she got away with it too." Malon nodded slowly.
"But things didn't go as she planned. Link resented this curse she had given him. And I believe it were his negative feelings towards his wolfen side that caused him to sometimes...lose control. He began attacking the villagers out of rage and hunger, and all the while Nisih was trying to win his heart over," he paused for a moment as he thought of the saddening events. "The people grew terrified and angry with Link when they learnt of his nature. They despised him, called him names and cursed him whenever he approached. To them, he was nothing more than a mindless beast." Malon's hands tightened.
"That's so terrible," she breathed, fighting back her agony for him. She couldn't imagine the wolf Link became attacking like that, suffering. It barely seemed like the same creature that had defended and curled up to sleep with her.
"Nisih became an increasing threat, especially towards Zelda. Her jealousy had blinded her eyes and had turned into something ugly. So Link was forced to put her out of her misery. Ironically it turns out she was the daughter of Vonndrake. He wants revenge on the land, and with Link I believe," Xanath said. "That is why Link must correct this issue because he feels that this was all his fault." Malon felt even more hurt for Link. No wonder why he was afraid to tell her the truth, because he feared she would turn hateful like everybody else. Malon hadn't even began imagining what he must have gone through.
"When I first saw the wolf, I wasn't afraid. I was just, startled. I had suspected Link was hiding something from me, but I didn't know what exactly. Well, him being a werewolf all makes sense now," she muttered. Xanath glanced up at her.
"You're really something. The first thing I did was stab him with a spear. I wonder if he still remembers that little incident," Xanath said almost regretfully. Malon hated him at that moment. "But you're really different, unlike Zelda."
"What do you mean?" Malon queried.
"You would think Zelda would be the most understanding of people," the man said. "Zelda, she's afraid of Link. She doesn't want to admit it, but she is truly terrified of him." From the corner of their eyes, Xanath and Malon quickly realize that the two have ceased walking.
"What's going on?" Xanath asked, giving them both a worrying look. He grew even more worried when he saw Link slowly unsheathe his fangs.
"Can't you hear them? Their mournful cries?"he spat. "The werewolves... they want me."
- - -
Warm tears laced down Zelda's cheeks. It was starting to get darker and darker, and still no one had appeared. She had never felt so helpless in her life, not like this. Even within Ganondorf's grasp she had piece of mind that Link would come to her rescue. Not this time...she had hoped and prayed that something should happen. And still no one had come.
"Goddesses please, let someone come to my aid," she breathed, letting her head hang limp. "I don't care who it is."
"You don't care?" someone questioned. Zelda's head immediately shot up, her heart suddenly thumping. She knew that voice. The owner who had tried to kill her before...
"No," Zelda croaked. "It can't be..." As she turned her head in the general direction, her blood seemed to freeze within her veins. Standing behind her was an all too familiar person. Nisih.
"You don't need to be afraid," Nisih said, smiling softly. "I have no desire to hurt you." Zelda tried to crawl away from the girl before her, yet her bounded wrists and ankles severely impeded her movements. She nearly fell over on to her side doing so.
"You're supposed to be dead," Zelda said in an unusually high-pitched voice. Nisih simply stared at her.
"I am dead..." she replied, almost sadly. She was right. Nisih looked far too pale to be alive. Her chest ceased to breathe and her classic red eyes seemed hollow and unnaturally sick. And she wore the same clothes she was last seen alive in too. Nisih's gaze went to the window. "I've seen everything that has been going on Zelda, and to tell you the truth I don't like it. I don't like what my dad has done."
"But why would you care? You're dead, what happens in the living world shouldn't be a concern for you," Zelda muttered. Nisih looked as if she hadn't heard her.
"I am even more upset, because my dad didn't give me a proper funeral," she said, looking heart-broken. "My dad...all he did was toss my body to the monsters to be eaten..." Her gaze fell on Zelda once again, but this time a new light burned in her eyes. It almost made it seem she was alive again.
"You want your freedom?" she questioned Zelda. The princess gave her a slight nod. "Then let me help you."
"Wait, why should I trust you? I haven't forgotten that you wanted me dead on two occasions..." Zelda said, feeling the phantom pain of Nisih's claws in her side. "I don't know if staying here would be better for me."
"For the sake of your people and your life, you know you don't have a choice," Nisih said, looking at her gently. "Please, let me help you, for that is why I am here." It was almost too much for Zelda when Nisih outstretched a pale hand to her. Nisih was right, she didn't have a choice at the moment. It was either accept the help or die.
"You're right," Zelda said, sighing. "I need your help." A smile crept over Nisih's lips as her hand made contact with Zelda's shoulder. And the world around them disappeared in a blaze of white.
Note: WTF, the dead walk among us! How ironic that Nisih is helping Zelda out. Hmm, what do you call this? Oh, a surprise...What will turn out from this? Only the next chapter will tell...which should be up shortly. (Twiddles thumbs and ponders how it should continue) Again please check for, yup, errors.
