Chapter Ten

The Unmarked, Book One.

Nov 07, 2025

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Wolfe & Dawn

It was amusing to watch Dawn trying to stay awake. First her eyes would flutter, then her head would wobble and finally she would jerk her head up in alarm. This repeated for a good ten minutes. Eventually the girl gave up the fight and fell asleep. His amusement quickly turned to envy.

After placing an extra blanket over Dawn, Wolfe stayed up, watching the embers float into the night sky. His mind craving sleep, but his body unable to find rest. It was easy to ignore when he was travelling, but on nights like this, when he had nothing to do but listen to the screams of his consciousness, he longed for the sweet release of death.

The night turned colder as the hours passed and eventually he could see his breath. He tried to relive his brief moments with Dawn. The feeling of his hand resting on her hip when they had danced. Her piercing blue gaze seizing him every time she laid eyes on him. The warmth of her body pressed against his, her arms wrapped tightly around his body as they rode. They were all moments that made him feel something… on the outside. He wished those feelings could seep through his flesh and fill the emptiness inside his soul.

A chilling wind suddenly blew. His fire went out as if someone had thrown a blanket of shadows over it. He steadily stood up. He gazed over to Dawn, she stirred, wrapped tightly in her blanket, but she continued sleeping, a frown on her face.

“Wolfe Bloodwood, you should not be here” said an eerie, female voice.

What he thought were shadows suddenly began to move, and a feminine silhouette walked towards him. Shadowy hair floating behind her.

“Mashalla” he responded.

“My sisters and I do not approve of your being here”.

“I thought you gave me immunity to come through here whenever I wanted, that was our deal, no?”

From where she stood, she reached out her arm and drove it into his chest, latching onto his being. Ice filled his core.

“When necessary” the Dark Keeper hissed. “The Shadow Realm is not for you to wander in, Hunter. Especially not with intruders!” Mashalla reached for Dawn and pulled out a shadowy shape of the girl from her flesh. There was a faint look on the visage: terror.

Panic filled Wolfe, but he kept his composure. “I promise you, Mashalla, our passing through is completely necessary!”

“You say our as if this girl is a part of your assignment!”.

“I believe she can help me find him”.

“Wolfe Bloodwood your time is running out. Darkness is spreading, the Prince is readying his armies. You have been granted immunity, for now. But if you fail, you will face the wrath of the Shadow Realm.”

The Keeper released her grip on his soul. But she held Dawn’s shade by the neck. “As for the girl, I promise no immunity. This is your task, not hers. If you want to keep your plaything alive, then leave my domain before my Demons catch her”.

Mashalla whipped Dawn’s shade back into her body. Dawn woke with a start, gasping for breath. But not before Mashalla had vanished. The girl was wide eyed. She looked at Wolfe.

“I had the strangest dream…Wolfe, what’s happening?”

He was already packing their supplies and untying the horse. “It’s time to go”.

She did not even pause to question him. The girl shot to her feet and snatched her satchel up.

They embarked the horse. Dawn wrapped her arms tightly around him. He felt her shaking. He signalled for the horse to move. They bolted. Wolfe wasn’t sure whether to laugh at what Mashalla had chosen to send after them, or to dread it.

In the distance, he could hear the echo of howling wolves.

Dawn glanced back to see what was after them. She still felt the lingering terror of her nightmare, but what she saw now reinforced her fear. Dozens of wolves were on their heels. But these weren’t ordinary animals, they were dark shadows shaped like wolves.

“They’re gaining on us!” she yelled as she held onto Wolfe, so tightly she was certain she would crush him.

Waves of the creatures were after them. Their howls were so loud and terrible she thought her ears might shatter.

“Hold on!” Wolfe yelled as he urged the horse to run faster.

But the beasts were too fast. This was unlike anything Dawn had ever seen. She remembered all the times she was told about the Rayless Woods and how anyone who entered never came out.

Now she understood.

Suddenly, one of the shadow wolves leaped from a tree and latched itself onto the horse’s rear. The animal shrieked in pain. Dawn felt the hot breath of the beast spewing against her back. “Wolfe! Your knife!” She reached for his side to grab his weapon and stabbed at the wolf. But her blade went right though it’s shadowy figure and embedded itself into the horse’s flesh instead. The wolf snarled and growled at her.

The horse was slowing down. Now other wolves were beginning to nip at its legs. The horse’s back legs began to jerk. The animal whinnied and tripped. Dawn and Wolfe were flung forward. Dawn used her forearms to shield herself from the impact. She crashed. Bandages and skin were torn off her arms as she slid across the ground. Dust filled her nose and mouth. Wolfe was up and running, he grabbed her by the shirt and pulled her up. She ran after him, spitting out dirt. She glanced behind to see if they were being pursued, but the wolves seemed to be occupied with tearing the horse apart. The creature cried in agony and Dawn had to look away as it drowned in a sea of bloodthirsty canines.

She realized that at some point Wolfe had grabbed her hand. He was pulling her behind him. Dawn was one of the fastest runners in her home district, but she had trouble keeping up with Wolfe. He was practically dragging her. The ground was blurry, and she was amazed that she hadn’t stumbled over anything. Branches whipped at her face and split her skin open. She winced and shut her eyes, following Wolfe blindly.

Wolfe slowed, and Dawn opened her eyes. They were approaching a lake. They ran onto a small wooden dock with a little boat tied to it. Dawn bent over to catch her breath. She gazed down into the water. It looked like tar. She feared what lurked in the depths of the blackness.

“Get in the boat!” Wolfe ordered as he fumbled to untie the knot that kept the boat secure. What was he doing? Why didn’t he just cut the rope! Then she realized she still had his knife.

“Here!” she gave it to him and jumped into the boat.

The wolves had finished their meal. They were coming for them.

Wolfe sliced at the rope furiously. Dawn gripped at her hair. It felt like an eternity for each tendril to snap free. Come on Wolfe…

Snap.

The beasts were in sight.

Snap.

She could feel the ground tremble as they approached.

Snap.

The forest thundered as they howled in unison.

Snap!

The boat swung free. Wolfe pushed the boat away from the dock with his foot. He took a few steps back and jumped in. The boat violently swayed and Dawn feared that they might tip over. She gripped the sides until the boat steadied itself. Then they watched, panting, as the shore swarmed with snarling wolves. Dawn’s heart slammed in her chest.

“They won’t follow us here” Wolfe reassured her. Kind of. Because she knew that there were other horrid creatures swimming beneath them. The howling died down and she noticed that the dogs were dispersing. She looked to the other side of the lake and saw a small house. It disturbed her to know that someone would live there.

Freakishly large moths flew around the boat. Dawn panicked at first, but they didn’t seem to be paying any attention to them. She focused on helping Wolfe oar the boat. She wanted to get across this wretched lake as fast as they could. Her forearms burned, the wounds were coated in dirt. Her lungs were on fire. Her head ached. Dawn wanted to ask Wolfe when they were going leave the forest, but she could not bring herself to speak. Her throat was sealed shut by fear. They rowed in silence. The only sound heard was the gentle swooshing of the oars.

Dawn tried not to think back to her terrible nightmare, but it was inevitable. Each image was so vivid and felt so real: The horrid shadow-lady tearing Dawn out of her own body, her struggle to breathe, a terrible cold clawing at her core… Even now she felt disconnected from herself. As if her flesh was foreign to her.

Wolfe focused on getting across the lake. They were out of Mashalla’s jurisdiction, though he hoped the moths weren’t spies to one of the other Dark Keepers. He considered killing the moths, but there were too many, and he did not want to worry Dawn. In all the Rayless Woods, this place was the most nightmarish. Stained memories lurked here. She was here. Any atrocity he could handle, escape sane. But not here… not this place… His instinct was to Fade. To leave Dawn behind. But he had to force himself to remain. Maybe they could get out of here without being noticed… maybe…

“Ow!” Dawn yelled. Wolfe jerked to look at Dawn, panic welling up inside of him. The girl had a pained expression on her face. She held her hand to her neck, black liquid flowing from between her fingers.

“One of the moths bit me” she said, but her words were already slurred. “I…I thin I kill’d ih…” He barely understood her. She pulled her hand away slowly and looked at it, confusion replacing pain. “Wha…”

She started standing up.

“Dawn, I think you should sit back down” he said gently. He reached for the girl, but her legs gave way and she toppled over, and fell into the water.

“Damn it!” he yelled. For a moment he considered it: letting her drown and saving himself. Why was he helping her? What did he owe this girl? She was nothing like what he thought she would be!

A memory surfaced.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, okay?”

Wolfe squeezed his eyes shut. Tears streamed down his face.

“Okay” he whispered.

He opened his eyes and looked at her. She smiled, her eyes filled with compassion “You have a good heart, Wolfe. Always remember that”.

He took a deep breath, shame creeping into his mind at what he had considered doing just a few seconds ago and jumped in after Dawn.

He swam down and caught hold of her shirt. He tried to pull her heavy body up, but it was a struggle. He burst out of the water, grabbed hold of the boat, and threw Dawn over his shoulder. He felt things swimming at his feet. He Disappeared and Reappeared into the boat, fast enough to grab hold of Dawn before she sank back down. He dragged her back into the boat. The vessel swayed violently. Dawn coughed and gagged. Wolfe hovered over her. The water had washed away the black liquid, but now he saw a gaping hole at her neck, the veins around it turning black. His heart tightened. It was no use, he needed to help her, otherwise she would die.

“Violet!” He yelled, letting all his fear and dread leave his body as well. “Violet! I need you!”.

There was nothing. He sat there, in silence. He glanced at Dawn, she groaned.

“Violet!”. No response. He wouldn’t wait. He began to furiously row to shore. He didn’t know what he’d do if Violet wasn’t there. Maybe he could break into her cottage and find something to help Dawn. That was highly unlikely since he knew nothing in the Arts of Epathi, but for the sake of his sanity, he held onto that possibility.

The boat drifted to shore. Wolfe jumped out and pulled the vessel onto the sand. He scooped Dawn into his arms and lay her onto a patch of dried grass near the house. The curtains were drawn. Hope and terror filled his heart. He didn’t think Violet was home. Wolfe let out a shaky breath and leaned over Dawn. Her skin was ashen, and the black veins crisscrossed along her neck and onto the right side of her chin. He brushed away the wet hair that was plastered to her face. At his touch, Dawn’s eyes fluttered open, revealing her dilated pupils.

“Well isn’t this a pleasant surprise” said a haunting voice. Wolfe stiffened. All his hope at making an untainted visit to the Woods shattered. Wolfe gathered his courage and faced her.

Violet stood before him. She wore a long emerald gown that revealed much cleavage and hugged her curves. Her skin was pale, long dark hair reaching her tailbone, her unnaturally violet eyes looking him over, her plump lips set in an evil smile. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” she said tauntingly.

He swallowed hard. His mind and body suddenly overwhelmed with the memories of her. The fire of her skin burning against his, the thunder of her passion, the electricity of her body intertwined with his… The thoughts of her made him dizzy.

She made him feel alive… But some rational part of himself whispered the reality of her.

The shame she brought. The manipulation she fostered. The cruelty she imposed… He hated her. But he wanted her. The last few days had been empty, lonely, numb, and torturous. If he could only have a moment with her… to feel something good again…

“I need you… to help her”. He couldn’t break his gaze from Violet, he couldn’t even move, but he managed to motion to Dawn. Violet walked over to her. Both her arms were covered with intricate tattoos of snakes and vines and other eerie things.

“You’re bold bringing this girl into the Forests” she said, “Might I ask why?”

“She’ll help me find him”

Violet giggled. “More like she’ll help you stay satisfied while you find him”.

“I thought that was your job” he said weakly.

Violet gave him a knowing look. “She’s pretty. Without all the…” she motioned toward her own neck “bleh”.

“Can you help her?” he demanded.

“You know I can”. She looked him over. “For a price…”

She whipped around and headed into her home. “Bring her in” she said without looking back.

Wolfe scooped Dawn into his arms, his entire being numb. Her skin was paler than before. For a moment he resented her for the price he would have to pay. Then he resented himself because he didn’t know how to stop.

He entered the house. It smelled of herbs. The space was dark and messy. Wolfe lay Dawn on a cot by the fireplace. She let out a groan.

“I notice you took down the bones” he said, anger and disgust tightening his throat. He could still hear the ghostly rattles of the skeletal wind-chimes and garlands Violet so horribly used to adorn her house.

Violet grinned. “They weren’t very welcoming to newcomers” she replied. “But don’t worry” she continued with a sly smile, “I keep all my babies buried in the backyard”.

Wolfe felt sick.

With that, Violet went into the back room to begin her work, so Wolfe made his way to the stack of wood by the hearth. He had been here often enough that building a fire had become a routine. He watched the dancing flames. He knew he should leave. This was a bad idea. He could find another way to help Dawn. He didn’t have to do this… he shouldn’t do this… but he wanted to… he couldn’t get himself to move. He didn’t want to find another way… He didn’t know how long he was battling himself, but he was pulled out his thoughts when Dawn let out another groan. He moved away from the fire, his bones still cold, and sat at the foot of the cot.

Dawn’s face was crumpled into a frown. He placed his hand on hers, and he was shocked to feel the burn of her skin. Then he caught sight of her filthy bandages.

Wolfe went to Violet’s kitchen and found bandages. He boiled a pot of water over the fire to use to clean her wounds and make her some tea to drink.

Then, for the second time, Wolfe redressed the wounds on Dawn’s forearms and the one on her left palm, all the while avoiding to gaze at the mass of blackness on her neck.

Once he was finished and had gotten her to drink a bit of tea, Wolfe ran his thumb over her knuckles, regretting every decision he had made since he’d broken her out of jail. He was a fool. He shouldn’t have taken her through the Woods. Had it really been to find a shortcut? Or had it, in some twisted, subconscious way, been to find Violet?

His heart slammed in his chest. He was short of breath. He had compromised Dawn’s life because of his selfishness. But what was he to do now? He was here, he was with Violet, he had no other choice, he would have to give Violet what she needed… His mind was foggy, his stomach churned. He watched Dawn.

“You have a good heart Wolfe. Always remember that…” The memory whispered.

No. He didn’t have to give in. He would find another way. Since the moment he had chosen to save her, he had promised that he’d be a better man. He would not use his weakness as an excuse to help Dawn. He wouldn’t…

“It’s done”. Wolfe lost grip on his moment of self-control when he watched Violet striding towards him. Each step she took trampled his resolve.

He had already failed.

He had already committed despicable crimes.

He had already put Dawn’s life in danger.

All in the strive towards becoming a better man.

What was one more mistake?

Violet grabbed Dawn’s hand and slid an emerald ring on her left forefinger. Right away, the blackness in the veins receded, and the gaping hole faded. Wolfe couldn’t resist brushing his fingers over her neck. The skin was perfect.

“Remove the ring, and the poison will return”. Violet demonstrated, and it was so. “The ring will only stop the infection from spreading, but there is no remedy to cure it”.

Dawn’s face returned to her natural shade. Her eyes fluttered open. “Wolfe…?” she breathed.

He brushed back the damp hair from her forehead. “Shhh… You’re okay. You need to rest…” he whispered. Dawn didn’t argue. She mumbled something and fell back asleep. He watched her. Innocent. Peaceful. Good.

“Time to pay up, sweetheart” Violet purred.

Wolfe stood up. He felt disconnected from himself. His flesh a slave to his desire for Violet, his reason slipping away. He followed Violet mindlessly into her room. He would hate himself more than he already did once it was over, but for now, all he craved was the temporary release of passion and pleasure. Violet shut the door behind them and gave him a sly smile.

“Would it be better if I looked like her?”

Wolfe’s shame almost made him gag.

“It would”.

It was Dawn’s lips, Dawn’s eyes, Dawn’s body, Dawn’s voice. But it was not Dawn.

After it was over, Violet Morphed back into her own form, and Wolfe pulled himself out of bed and clothed himself. He used to linger, but not anymore. Each time, the pleasure became shorter, while the shame arrived sooner. He was facing his back to her, unable to meet the wretched gaze that delighted in his suffering. Wolfe fumbled with his shirt when she commented:

“My stroke of artistic genius”. Violet was referring to the tattoos on his back. Two symmetric wolves facing each other. The tattoos that cursed him. “They’re real beauties, aren’t they?”

Wolfe had nothing to say. He pulled his shirt over his head and covered the Markings. He opened the door halfway. “Promise us safe passage”.

Violet laughed. “Whatever Bloodwood. I’m not some ruthless Mashalla. I’ll let you keep your plaything. I’m sure you’ll enjoy her company more than before” her laugh became cruel. Wolfe walked out of the room and shut the door. Emptier than he had ever felt before.

Violet was right. She wasn’t some ruthless Mashalla. She was something worse.

Wolfe went to wake Dawn, who was still sleeping soundlessly. Itching to be gone from this horrid place. He didn’t want to touch her, for fear of staining her innocent appearance. “Dawn?” he whispered hoarsely.

The name left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Her eyes fluttered open. The girl pressed her hand to her neck as she sat up. A grimace on her face.

“What happened to me?”

He forced a casual smile. “You got sick, and I rescued you”.

She looked around, as if noticing her surroundings for the first time.

“Where are we?”

“I knew someone who could help. She made you a special ring. Whatever you do, don’t take it off, otherwise the infection will return”.

Dawn looked at her hand and noticed the ring. She examined it, then frowned, anger clouding her face. “Get me out of this place, Wolfe”.

“I will”.

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