Snow whirled around like a white frenzied ghost, wreaking its icy fury on the inhabitants of the frozen forest. The sun hadn’t shone for weeks – it was just darkness and frost. Every sane beast had retreated deep underground to escape the bitter winds of tendrils.
But Xiolia was never sane.
The woman-turned-monster raced through the forest, the hot scent of murderer in her nose. She could still see Desponia’s smile, hear her laugh, just a minute before the explosion that had ripped her twin away from her forever. She could see Aneria’s smile as she killed the one person precious to Xiolia. They had been hunted like lowly animals because of their bloodline, and the fox had finally caught her prey.
Well, tonight the hunter had become the hunted. Xiolia would be the victor in tonight’s dance of death.
Hot, black fury burned through Xiolia’s body as Aneira’s scent became stronger. How long had she waited for this day? Over six thousand years. Thousands of years spent in ever-growing rage and mercilessness, until she was nothing but the demon that consumed her.
Tonight, Xiolia thought, a frenzied smile on her face, tonight I will avenge you, Desponia. Tonight… you can be at peace. She didn’t stop to ask if Desponia wanted this. The wendigo spirit that possessed her soul told her that, yes, this is what her twin would want.
Xiolia’s vision went scarlet as she rounded a copse of trees and Aneria came into view. The Nephilim stood on the edge of a frozen lake, staring up at the sky.
At the sound of Xiolia’s furied cry, Aneira whirled around and stared at her, confusion then surprise then sweet terror crossing her features in the few seconds it took Xiolia to close the distance. Her mutated body slammed into Aneria, claws ripping and tearing at the girl’s clothes, trying to rend the flesh underneath.
White-hot pain seared into Xiolia’s chest and she leaped away with a roar, nimbly landing on her paws as she began to circle Aneira. The accursed brat had summoned holy fire, using Xiolia’s only weakness to drive her away.
They stared at each other in silence, the only sounds coming from the crackling silvery holy fire and the whistling wind. Xiolia could see the disgust in Aneira’s eyes, mingled with pity. It only served to enrage her more. How dare Aneira look at her with anything other than fear?!
Rearing on her hind legs, Xiolia roared before charging towards Aneira again. This time the Nephilim was ready. She cast the flames towards Xiolia, but she was ready. Jumping over the brunt of the blaze, she endured the pain from the residual fire and focused all of her rage on Aneira. Her claws tore at everything they could, her sharp fangs attacking whatever her claws couldn’t.
Aneira didn’t take just it, however. Flames crackled around Xiolia’s head, burning her ears and face, and a dagger embued with holy magic flashed out and stabbed into Xiolia’s chest. Xiolia found herself on the defensive half of the time, her desire to live long enough to slaughter Aneria outweighing her innate bloodlust.
The two tumbled onto the frozen lake, though even their combined body weight wasn’t enough to crack the thick ice. Xiolia growled but slipped in a puddle of blood (was it hers? Or Aneira’s? It didn’t matter), allowing Aneira to squirm away from her as she fell and hit her jaw on the sheet of frost.
Xiolia resumed circling, feeling a dark giddiness rising up in her. The sweet taste of blood filled her mouth and made her itching to attack again. How would the Nephilim taste after being beaten into submission, begging for her life? Being Xiolia’s dinner was the least she could do, after all. The pain from the fire and stab wounds were nothing, outshined by the wicked adrenaline running through Xiolia’s veins.
Aneira, on the other hand, looked worse for the wear. Deep gashes covered most of her body and blood was soaking her ragged clothes. Despite this, defiance burned in her eyes. How lovely it will be to shatter that defiance… I want her to suffer like Desponia did. Feel her life wither way slowly.
A savage smile rose to Xiolia’s lips and she started forward. However, her foe wasn’t dead yet.
With a cry, Aneira raised her hand and cast one final wave of fire. At this range, Xiolia could only curl in to protect her face and stomach, letting the fire burn across her back. The pain brought tears to her eyes, but the sound of cracking ice made her head shoot up.
The heat from Aneria’s holy fire had melted the ice and caused it to crack!
A dark plan formed in Xiolia’s mind. What better way to destroy her? I’ll take her away from the heaven she loves so much! With a final battle cry, Xiolia charged over the cracking ice, using her claws not to slip, and slammed into Aneira.
The Nephilim was too focused on not cracking the frozen lake any more to notice Xiolia until it was too late. Aneira found herself smashed into the ice, her skull cracking as it hit one of the still-solid pieces. Xiolia stared down at her, her lips curling into a demented smile. Finally.
“M-monster.” Aneira spat out, blood dribbling from her lips. “You’re a monster! Look at you!”
“ You made me into this, ” Xiolia growled out through her mutated wolfish snout, “ the only monster here is you. ” With that, she raised Aneira up and slammed her down again. This time, the ice completely gave way and plunged both of them into the inky depths of the lake.
The water was frigid, but Xiolia’s desire for revenge kept her warm. Sinking her claws into Aneira, she dragged the Nephilim down. Holy fire won’t save you now… It didn’t matter if Xiolia drowned alongside Aneira. She would finally be reunited with Desponia, in whatever afterlife awaited them.
But that didn’t seem to be the case. Aneira’s mouth opened and shut rapidly as she lost air, and Xiolia found it didn’t hurt to not breath. Was it shock, or the wendigo spirit? Either way, it didn’t matter. Xiolia watched in sheer, twisted joy as Aneira fought desperately for life.
Then slowly the light faded from Aneria’s eyes, her body becoming lax and lifeless. Xiolia felt a surge of joy, then panic, as the pain from her wounds and lack of oxygen crashed over her. She swam towards the surface, feeling the wendigo’s spirit accelerating her speed until she shot above the surface of the water.
Xiolia paddled to the edge of the lake, dragging herself out. Bloodied water dripped behind her, stark against the cold snow. She barely noticed.
Now that the initial joy of revenge had drained away, Xiolia felt… as empty as she ever had. It’s time to hunt. The wendigo whispered.
But… I’m done. My revenge is over.
You will never be done, my dear. My hunger is eternal. Together, we will feast.
Xiolia nodded slowly and started walking. A human settlement… it wasn’t too far away. Aneira was dead. There was nothing left to do.
Nothing to do but feed the demon.