Ivory

I didn't know if it was because I spent my whole life behind those wards or if it was just my imagination, but the forest outside looked so different from the piece my family carved out for themselves. The pine trees soared high into the night sky and the wind blew the loose snow off the ground, creating small whirlwinds of sparkling white.

I had made it outside the ward. For a moment, I feared my mother was right and that something bad would happen. But after several minutes of holding my breath, nothing did. What could my mother have been so afraid of? My magic was fine—I felt fine.

I sat up, shaking off the snow from my hair. My eyes wandered around the icy landscape. Everything was so clear and calm in the pale moonlight which peeked between evergreen tree nettles. It was a full moon out tonight and not a cloud in the sky. I wonder what my parents were doing. Were they out looking for me or were they still fighting like they had been before?

As I walked farther and farther from my home, I wondered what I would find out here. The thought of stumbling across humans crossed my mind and my heart skipped a beat—to talk to anyone other than my mother and father would be exhilarating!

My boots crunched the snow with every step and I pulled my coat tightly around, but it wasn't because of the cold. Shadows lurked behind every tree and wolves howled in the distance. Why am I doing this at night? Of all the times in the day to start a fight with my mother and finally work up the courage to jump through the ward.

Something inside me stirred, and for a moment, my mother's words came back to haunt me. It was strange—it didn't feel like my magic. It jolted and squirmed inside my chest like it was alive. What was happening? My heart thumped against my ribcage and I fell to my knees as nausea rolled through me.

My vision faded in and out of focus, and my breathing became ragged. A burning ignited my nerves, and I felt like my skin was bubbling. A strangled sound escaped my throat as I squeezed my eyes shut, and then it was suddenly gone.

All of it vanished in an instant—not even a trace of pain lingered. I looked down at my skin. It was completely fine.

"What the hell?" I mumbled.

Before I could even process what the fuck just happened, laughter erupted in the distance and my heart leapt into my throat. Who was there? The entire experience left me on edge like the pain could come back at any moment. I scanned the tree line for anything and everything. The laughter pierced the still air again, and I stood up slowly, following the sound.

A soft, warm glow came peeking over a small hill. I crouched low as I crested the hill and my eyes widened. A group of humans! I couldn't believe I had actually run into some. They looked so normal. There were four of them—the two men were laughing and bickering while setting up the tents. Two girls watched them with big smiles on their faces as they set chairs around the small campfire.

I must have stumbled into the camping grounds around the mountain. If I'm not mistaken, there were lodges close to here and the ski resort where my father worked. I shifted, trying to get a better look at them, and flinched when a loud snap stilled their merriment.

"Who's out there?" The man called out. My back pressed up against the tree as my heart raced. They knew I was there—should I run? Crunching footsteps neared my hiding spot and my breath hitched. This may be my only chance to meet other people. Who knows what would happen when I returned home? Mother would probably bind me to my room for a month. I paled at the thought and took a deep breath.

What was I even going to say? The footsteps stopped, and a beam of light waved through the trees in front of me.

Come on Ivy, grow a pair! You defied your mother and jumped through a magical ward. These are just people!

Sucking in a breath, I stepped out from behind the tree. The light instantly shined on me and I raised my arms to block the brightness from stinging my eyes..

"S-sorry. I was on my way back to my lodging and got lost." I stuttered out.

"How long have you been out here?" The man asked. The light was lowered to the ground as he tilted his head.

"Who is it Oliver?" One woman called from the fire.

"I..." I wasn't sure what to say. For the first time in my life, I was stunned into silence. My nails dug into my palms hidden behind my back and my eyes shifted between the man that stood before me and the three other humans sitting at the fire. The coppery taste of blood flooded my mouth as I nibbled on my lip. This was a bad idea. I don't know who these people are. What was I thinking?!

They could be serial killers or doctors! My mother's warnings about human hospitals harvesting my blood came back to haunt me and my head spun.

"Would you like something warm to drink? You must be cold. You could warm up, and I think Marcus has a map. We can point you in the right direction." The man, I think they called Oliver, said.

My racing heart calmed. "I wouldn't want to impose," I breathed.

Oliver smiled and shook his head, "no worries, we don't mind. This resort can be hard to navigate, especially at night. Come on." His hand waved me forward and I let out the breath I didn't realize I had been holding.

My limbs felt stiff as I ambled behind him. The others looked at me curiously, and Oliver pulled up one of the spare chairs from his truck. Dusting off the seat for me before sitting next to the blond-haired woman.

The air was thick as we all stared at each other, and my pulse quickened again. Now what...? The corner of my mouth pulled into a nervous smile and I glanced around the small camp, trying desperately not to meet any of their eyes. Marcus had finished putting up the tent and joined us. His eyes raked up and down my body, and he gave me a warm smile.

"So, what's your name?" He asked.

"I-ivory, Ivy for short," I replied.

"What a cool name!" The brunette next to Marcus said, then continued, "I'm Elise, and this is Cheyenne. Would you like something to drink while Marcus looks for the map?"

"Look for what now?" Marcus's brows stitched together as if he had just joined the whole conversation.

"The map of the resort? Didn't you grab one back at the reception desk?" Cheyenne rolled her eyes and shook her head with a small smile.

Recollection dawned on Marcus's face, "right! The map! Sure, sure. Be right back." He got up from his seat and disappeared into the truck.

More awkward silence hung in the air. I had almost forgotten that Cheyenne had asked me a question until I caught her staring at me with one brow raised and a small red can held out in front of her. I felt a blush creep into my face as I took it. Come on Ivy, say something! My inner voice chastised me.

I opened my mouth to attempt at a thank you when something deep within me snapped. Hot, searing pain rippled through me and my stomach rolled with nausea. I dropped the can and clutched my stomach, taking in deep gulps of air.

"Ivy, are you ok—!" Oliver's sentence was interrupted by a gasp which the others echoed. After a few more moments, the pain subsided and I glanced back up. They all stared at me with wide eyes and stiff bodies.

What? Did I do something? I glanced behind me as if they had seen something in the forest and when I realized they were in fact staring at me I asked, "what? Is there something on my face?"

Cheyenne shook her head and pointed. "Y-y-your hair!"

Huh? My hair? I reached behind me and pulled a few strands forward, looking down.

What the hell?!

My once pitch black hair had turned completely white, as white as the freshly fallen snow that surrounded us. My breath lodged in my throat and I nearly fell out of the chair. What was going on? How did this happen? Did the pain have something to do with it? Had I accidentally cast magic? I looked back up at the humans. They still stared at me as if waiting for me to explain. Their eyes were wide and frightened.

Something wasn't right. I didn't know what, but in the back of my mind, I knew something was very wrong. I needed to get back to my mother. She would know what this was and how to fix it. I quickly stood up, mumbling an apology before sprinting full force back the way I came.

I reached deep inside myself and felt my magic. It was fine, more than fine, in fact. The small buzzing that filled my core was vibrating at an increased rate. So much so that it was no longer in my core but throughout my entire body. I felt like I had just drunk a mountain of caffeine.

I stopped in a clearing, frantically looking around for the right path home. Everything seemed out of focus. White strands of hair danced around my vision, making me nauseous. I reached out a palm and called on my magic, envisioning the small two-story cabin I had grown up in. Every detail etched into my memory. From the sturdy green door to the long front porch with a swing that hung a bit too low.

Guide me! Show me the way home! I felt the magic weave through me. A golden strand of magical energy left my core and traveled to my palm. Heat surged through my soul and pooled in my hand. Focusing hard on the image in my mind's eye while a small light lifted from my open palm and darted away.

My body tensed and my feet kicked up snow as I bolted after it. I didn't use magic very often, as it drained me faster than most things. When I asked Mother about this, she couldn't give me a definitive answer, only that I was special.

Sigh.

I didn't feel special. What good was magic if it knocked me on my ass for the simplest spells? An ache wrapped around my head and sweat built up on my temple. 

After several minutes of weaving through tall pines and deep snow, I finally collapsed just outside the ward... but I could see the valley that led to my home, instead of the illusion built into the mountainside.

Confused, I followed the ward to one of the hidden seals. The blue blood that had been bound to the earth had turned black, and the symbol slashed through!

Someone had broken the ward!

Scrambling to my feet, I dragged myself as fast as I could to my home. Its once bright and cheery exterior, now eerily dark and foreboding. My hand shook as I reached for the door, my stomach doing somersaults.

Its hinges whined, and the wood groaned as I opened the door. Bracing myself for what lay on the other side. Bile rose in my throat as I examined the giant sweeping claw mark on the door. The impression reached deep into the wood. I was surprised it didn't tear through the whole thing.

My gaze turned to the inside and my heart dropped as I took in the horror before me. 

The couch laid on its side across the room and into the kitchen, the dining table laid upside-down in a pile of broken boards and glass. Its three chairs were broken into pieces around the living room. Giant sweeping claw marks marred the walls, floor, and furniture. An icy wind howled through the broken window behind me.

But what scared me the most was the blood... splatters of dark red blood were everywhere.

No... no! What happened?! Where's mom and dad? My head pounded as I stumbled through the wreckage. What could have done all this? Humans? That didn't seem right.

"I-Ivy..." a weak voice called from under the flipped table. It groaned and snapped as I lifted it up and pushed it aside. My knees gave out and my eyes filled with tears.

No...

"Thank goddess, you're safe." My father's shaking, bloodied hand reached up and touched my cheek. His body wracked with coughs as he clutched his side. Blood seeped through every inch of his shirt. I desperately reached inside me for my magic, pulling at the thin wisps that were left. My hands started to glow, but my father stopped me, his dull green eyes shifting in and out of focus as he shook his head.

"No, there is no time... you have to get out of here, Ivory. You need to run! Run as far away as you can!" More coughs cut him off.

"No. I-I can't leave you! What-what happened? Who... I'm so sorry..." I stammered between hiccups. Hot tears carved rivers down my face and my body shook as I gripped my father's weakening hand. "Where's mom?!"

Our last words burned holes in my heart. Did I do this? Was this what Mother was so afraid of? Why didn't she tell me? I would have never...

"Ivory, listen to me, it is too late for us... you have to—" his eyes rolled back and his hand went limp in mine.

My chest burned, and my breath seemed to leave with his last. "Dad..." my voice came out in a shaky whisper. "Daddy!" A strangled cry left my throat and my grip tightened around his stiff hand. Through teary eyes, I looked around the living space for any sign of her. Mama, she should still be here, right? Or did she flee?

An intense tremble weakened my stance as I stood. My father's blood soaked into my pants, making my stomach roll and my eyes burn. I can't break down now, I have to find mom.

A soul shattering scream pierced through the still air. My head whipped in the direction—it had come from upstairs. A fire ignited inside me and I bolted, nearly slipping from the slick floor.

Mom!

My boots pounded up the stairs as I jumped multiple steps and drifted around the corner. Bloodied paw prints the size of a bear's traveled down the hall and into mother's room. No! I can't lose her too!

Without hesitation, I barged into the room and froze. The room looked a lot like downstairs. The bed was torn to shreds and flipped onto its side. Claw marks embedded in the wood, walls, and floor. Blue, glittering magical energy filled the room, and scorch marks marred almost every surface. A blue fire burned in the corner and was spreading fast.

That was the least of my worries.

Standing in the middle of the room was a giant wolf. Its black fur shimmered from the moonlight that peeked through the torn curtain. It saw me and growled low and deep. In its mouth was a woman, but it didn't look like mom. She looked at me with wide, vacant brown eyes and her pale blue skin glistened with sweat. Her long white hair pooled on the floor, stained with—blue blood.

How? I glanced at my white hair. What magic was this?! The wolf dropped her, and she hit the floor with a thud. Its body low to the ground, it stalked towards me, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the woman. It wasn't possible. She couldn't be my mother, right? Right?!

With rigid muscles, I backed away from the approaching monster. Its eyes pinning me to the wall. I had to get away! But where would I go?! I didn't want to leave my home! I never should have left it in the first place.

Another growl pulled my attention away from the black wolf. Down the hall was another, but this one was a brilliant white—save for the red blood that stained its legs. Its crystal blue eyes studied me as it approached from my bedroom. My heart rammed into my chest. Like before, I reached within myself for the little magic I had left. The golden strands of it danced around my fingertips.

This is it. This is how I'm going to die. My mind raced with thoughts of my mother and father. My last words to them. Why did I have to be so stubborn? I just wanted to go out and learn more about the world I grew up in. Was that so much to ask? Fire erupted from my clenched hands. I wasn't going down without a fight.

The white wolf bared its teeth and growled. The other seemed to stop in the doorway as if to stand back and watch. Planting my feet in a wide stance, I braced myself as the wolf lunged.

But no attack came. The wolf froze, its eyes widened, and before I had the chance to take advantage of its hesitation, a searing pain ripped through my heart and body. Like a blazing fire, my magic seemed to swell and pull towards the wolf. The pain left me gasping for air as tears burned down my face. White fiery light engulfed my vision and images of a man with black hair and bright blue eyes flashed before me. The strangest sensation of joy bounced around inside my heart. Then, as quick as it came, it vanished, taking the last of my energy with it.

I collapsed on the ground and my eyes drifted close. The last thing I heard was the cracking of bones and the ghostly howl of a wolf.

©2022 Jessica Powell. All Rights Reserved

Poor Ivory.

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