The Devil's Daughter by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 41

Surprisingly, preparations proceeded in an orderly fashion, as everyone had been repeatedly assured that daylight would ensure their safety. But this, like all other days, would soon come to an end, as dusk approached, casting its long shadow over the village. Now, people quickly retreated to the safety of their homes, anxiously awaiting a new beginning that would arrive with the morning light. Sabina still knelt at her husband's grave, mourning in a frozen state of mental collapse, unable to rise, despite those who attempted to show her to safety.

As darkness slowly overtook the village, the pattering sound of a light, passing rain could be heard drifting down from the mountains. It was too early for a soaking rain but a short roll of thunder could, nonetheless, be heard and only added to people's fears of the creature they would soon be running from. But their anxieties peaked as the creature's screams, once again, rose from within the forest. One last night of terror, as its victory cries invaded their souls, causing many to feel trapped, wondering if they would be able to leave at all, without becoming victims of another unforgiving slaughter. Meanwhile, Nelu and Anca also felt a similar anticipation as they took turns checking on Alina. They had somehow managed to put the fears and suspicions of the village out of their minds in order to focus on the journey ahead. But this had been replaced by the anxiety of leaving their home behind and setting out for an uncertain life.

Nelu decided that he would stay up, letting Anca sleep. As the protector of his family, he would stand guard against the creature, as its continued screams seemed to draw closer. But Anca's mind would not rest, and quietly walking out from their bedroom, she sat at the table next to her husband.

“I can't sleep,” she said.

Nelu sat with his rifle close by, sipping a cup of coffee. “So what happens after tomorrow?” she continued. “We start over,” Nelu began. “We'll go to Targu Mures. There should be work there. From there, as long as everyone stays together, we can find some land and rebuild.”

A moment went by as Anca tried to absorb the difficulties that lay ahead.

“This won't be easy, will it?” she asked. “No,” Nelu replied.

After another pause, the silence was broken by the gentle creak of a floorboard and as their attention was suddenly drawn to it, Nelu held up a lamp. Near the door stood Alina, her eyes staring into nothing, while an odd smile stretched across her face. In the dim light of the oil lamp, her gaze took on a sinister look, startling her parents. “Alina,” Anca began. “You should be asleep. Please go back to bed.”

Her words seemed to go unheard, as Alina continued glaring at them. They thought she might still be fast asleep, and as Anca got up to show her back to bed, Alina let out a slight giggle. Now, Nelu was struck with cautious fear and rising slowly, put a hand on his rifle. “Nelu,” Anca began. “She's asleep. Put the rifle down.” Ignoring his instincts, he set his rifle aside and watched as Anca slowly moved towards their daughter. But as she neared, a shadow took shape behind Alina, in a corner close to the door. It was dull at first but became more defined, as it crept forward, twisting itself into the familiar form of a wolf.

“Anca!” Nelu began. “Don't move!” Nelu reached behind him and quickly retrieved his rifle, as the animal began growling.

In spite of Nelu's warning, Anca carefully moved forward and softly tried to coax Alina towards her but the wolf, now assumed to be the creature that had been stalking the village, took a step closer as if protecting the small girl. “Anca,” Nelu said. “Come back here.” By this time, he had raised his rifle, aiming it at the wolf's chest as Alina still stood with a broad grin on her face. But as Anca took a small step back, the creature leaped forward and lunged at her throat. Caught in a sudden moment of panic, Nelu fired a round into the wolf, only to discover it to be unaffected. And as it knocked Anca to the floor, he jumped over the table and began beating it with the butt of his rifle. Now, releasing Anca's throat, it turned and launched its claws at him, tearing open his face. However, despite the shock that slowly began to set in, Nelu continued his assault, repeatedly striking the animal at the back of the neck. Still, it was not moved by his attack and in the dim light of the oil lamp, the extent of the creature's ferocity became apparent. Anca was dead, having rapidly bled out onto the floor. But this did not stop the creature, as it began chewing at her exposed flesh.

In one last act of desperation, Nelu dropped his rifle and jumped on the creature's back, trying to wrestle it to the floor as he drew his hunting knife. Sinking the blade deeply into its shoulder, it turned to him again and delivering a deep bite, sunk its teeth into the side of his neck. As Nelu screamed in pain, he realized there was no way of stopping it and as his mind began to drift into unconsciousness, he looked at Alina for the last time. Still standing near the door, she now displayed a heavy bloodstain, covering her chest and stomach with a modest spattering of blood strewn across her face. Behind her, the round Nelu had fired at the creature had penetrated the door, leaving a hole that let in the cool night air.

As his body began to relax with the coming of death, Nelu heard Alina whisper.

“Grozavie.”

The animal whipped its head around and like a well-trained puppy, scampered over to her side. Reaching a hand up, she scratched the animal vigorously behind the ears. “Don't worry,” she continued. “We can come back.”