~ Sharla’yla – help me! ~ Came a soft cry.

Moaning, the filly tossed in her bed, as her paw swatted at some perceived annoyance.

~ Help me – please ~ Came the begging wail.

With a snort, Sharla’yla’s eyes fluttered open and she rolled over, to see the faint, flickering image of Sable’s ghost standing near her bed. Rubbing her eyes, she
blinked again, as the ghost wavered in and out – as if finding it difficult to maintain cohesion.

“You must help me – please!” Sable pleaded. “You must go to my grove – now – and take my sword…hide it! Hide it somewhere where Yuira won’t find it – please, you must do this now!”

As Sharla’yla looked about to run to her mother for help, Sable held his paws out imploringly.

“No – the others are asleep – and there is no time! You must do it my friend – but hurry! Yuira plans to use the sword to destroy me – and your friends, she is so close now – you must hurry! There is no time to explain – please hurry!”

As the tears slid down the filly’s cheeks, she nodded and swiftly pulled on a nightgown and wrapped her ankles and hooves in a soft buckskin pair of covers, and
snuck out into the hall of the quiet college.

~ Hurry – ” Sable’s thoughts rang in her mind.

As the filly moved down the hallway, Sable’s shade shimmered and reformed – into the image of Yuira, who grinned with malicious glee and nodded, watching the filly head off to her assigned task.

“Yes my daughter – go take that insolent Ferret’s sword – with it removed – I can move on him.” Yuira whispered, as her shadowy form shimmered and melted back into the shadows.

In her seawater pool, Coral’mi shrieked and broke the surface, coughing and retching as the stinging salt water burned her lungs, and the hot tears streaked down her cheeks.

“Yuira – ” Coral’mi coughed. “No – it cannot be here…she’s dead…her power gone…. It…it must have been a nightmare….”

Shuddering, Coral’mi crept from her pool and wrapped a thick robe around herself, as she clopped quietly down the hallway and into the kitchen, where she made herself a glass of warm milk, feeling it calming the chill of the nightmare. Rubbing her webbed paws over her eyes, she yawned and went back to her room, shedding her gown and submerging herself back beneath the quiet waters – and back to sleep.

In his grove, Sable sat on the edge of his grave, his legs dangling over the edge, as he stretched, then ran his black furred paws down his sleek muscled chest and waist.

“Being dead really sucks – ” Sable grumbled. “I am bored out of my skull here!”

Yawning, Sable looked around the quiet grove. A rustling of branches brought him to attention, every nerve and muscle tightening in nervous tension, but he let out a weak giggle as a young doe and her fawn crept timidly from the undergrowth and grazed quietly at the far edge of the grove.

“Awww isn’t that cute.” Sable smiled. “Hello there little ones.”

Without warning, the Doe’s ears went flat and she emitted a sharp bark of fear, before her and her fawn melted back into the forest.

“Hey – now come on – I’m not that scary am I?” Sable spoke up. “Hey!”

More rustles came from the undergrowth and Sable turned about and blinked, his eyes widening. A chilling breeze blew through the grove, and every warning sense Sable possessed instantly came alive.

“Who’s there?” Sable spoke up, and then blinked as his voice wavered with nervousness. “I know you’re there – come on out….”

From the undergrowth came the soft clicking of metal, and Sable’s nape fur stood on end, as he rose and retrieved his sword, his body beginning to quiver.

“Savrin – it’s not funny to scare the dead – ” Sable squeaked weakly, then coughed and tried to bolster his flagging courage. “Come out of there this instant!”

Something snapped a twig behind him and Sable spun around…then instantly went rigid in pain. A powerful paw grabbed him by the nape and yanked him forwards, and then before he could utter a scream, the four long blades of Yuira’s glove sheared into his stomach and with a savage lunge, were thrust up into his chest….

“Gah…” Sable retched, as the sickening pain ripped into him, and through the haze of agony that burned through him, he stared into the eyes…of Yuira.

“No…” Sable gurgled, feeling his very essence being drained from him. “No – you can’t….”

Another sharp thrust of the blades within him made Sable writhe and arch his back, pressing himself involuntarily against the Tai’far weasel, who grinned and pulled him even tighter, forcing the blades deep into Sable’s chest. With a last choking gurgle, Sable went limp and Yuira giggled in cruel delight – as he pulled the blades free and stepped back to enjoy the sight of Sable’s corpse lying before her….

Flicking her wrist down, and locking the blades, Sharla’yla blinked and stared at the bloodied glove and its cruel, curved blades – before she dropped to her knees and her scream of pure terror was so intense, her throat locked, preventing her from giving rise to it. Her gaze snapping up to the far side of the Grove, where a ghostly Yuira stood, waggling her finger at the filly and laughing, before she flickered and vanished….

Sharla’yla snapped awake on her narrow cot, her body shaking, her blankets soaked in sweat. Gasping and sobbing, she threw back the coverlets and stared in horror at the fresh blood that spattered her nightgown…. A low, menacing giggle wrenched her eyes to the end of her bed, where she saw Yuira standing, dressed in long, dark robes – idly flexing the gloved fingers, the blades clicking.

“You’ve taken the first steps my daughter – ” Yuira spoke to her. “It felt good – didn’t it?”

Sharla’yla tried to move, but Yuira’s gaze narrowed and she snapped out a paw – freezing the filly’s muscles.

“You may go – once I have finished with you.” Yuira growled. “Admit it my daughter – you loved the feeling of power you got. Delighted in the feel of driving
those blades into that most hated of ferrets….”

Sharla’yla’s eyes widened and she shook her head violently, feeling the hot salty tears stinging her eyes.

“Look inside your heart my daughter – you know you want the power I offer you, for I can teach you such magicks – you could not even dream about. What does Coral’mi and the others offer you? Pah – they’re weak, petty-minded fools – with no real vision or grasp of the possibilities for you! Help people and be good? Good? What does that get you? I’ll tell you my daughter – it gets you nothing! You’ll spend your life helping others and they’ll only want more and more and more from you.” Yuira snorted.

Pacing at the end of Sharla’yla’s bed, Yuira rested her paws on the foot of the bed.

“Now – what I offer you – your small, feeble mind can not possible imagine. With me as your teacher – I shall unlock your true potential my daughter…. Yes – you are indeed powerful – and with me teaching you, guiding you, shall you come into your true heritage…and the very world shall tremble at your footsteps! You will rule over the very earth – people will live and die at your whim, nothing shall be beyond your powers…nothing!”

With a supreme exertion of her will – Sharla’yla snapped up her paws and sent a sheet of incandescent lightning surging into Yuira, who fell back a pace, writhing and screaming as the lightning tore through her ebony fur and flesh. Rage filling her, Sharla’yla rose from her bed, pouring her hate of this vile creature into her magicks, watching as Yuira collapsed and writhed on the floor, paroxysms of agony ripping through her.

Suddenly, Sharla’yla gurgled and froze, the lightning vanishing as she felt an iron-like paw seize her by the throat and effortlessly – pressed the filly back against the
wall, the air being crushed from her lungs in an explosive exhalation, as Yuira leaned in close, then grinned. Effortlessly, Yuira lifted the filly off her hooves and held her pinned to the wall.

“Good – ” Yuira purred, her voice silky smooth and filled with glee. “Your hate gives you strength my dear foal; give in to your hate – let it fill you, consume you –
give in to your anger!”

Gasping, Sharla’yla clawed at the iron-like paw about her throat, feeling its grip tightening, cutting off precious oxygen to her lungs. Yuira smirked, then gently laid
the blades against Sharla’yla’s cheek and petted it, the razor-sharp blades pricking the flesh beneath the fur. Blinking, Yuira snapped her gaze towards Sharla’yla’s
bedroom and she growled, before releasing the filly that collapsed to the floor.

“This isn’t over my daughter – you’ve taken the first steps – and I intend to follow it up…” Yuira whispered softly.

As Sharla’yla struggled to breathe, Yuira’s body rippled, and then broke apart into a greasy black smoke that dissipated, just before Coral’mi and Savrin broke down the door.

“Oh great sea’s – ” Coral’mi gasped, slapping her webbed paws to her muzzle, as her eyes transfixed on the body of Diane, who lay sprawled at the end of Sharla’yla’s bed, massive burn marks streaking her body.

Savrin instantly dropped to the floor and pressed his hands to Diane’s neck.

“She’s alive – but only just….” Savrin growled, as he rose and glared at Sharla’yla.

“Diane!” Abbie screamed, as he pushed past Coral’mi, who stood staring in horror, sickened to her very core. “No….”

Sharla’yla stared in horror; her eyes wide as she cowered back against the wall of her bedroom, staring at her mother and friends.

Sable retched and slumped back against his grave; using what fickle magicks he had left to him, to heal the grievous wounds. A familiar chill swept into his grove and he struggled to his feet, then glared at the smirking Yuira, who raised an eyebrow.

“I didn’t know the dead feel pain – ” Yuira commented dryly. “Does it hurt?”

“No – ” Sable growled. “It tickles – come closer and I’ll give you a taste of it.”

Yuira snorted contemptuously, then stroked a rosebush, watching as the freshly opened flowers withered and turned black at her touch. Sable growled and stared at her.

“Leave my grove weasel – ” Sable snarled.

Yuira raised both eyebrows and looked at him, then snorted. “Or you’ll do what? I have your sword now my dear ferret…. Oh, by the way, I have something here I think you should see.”

Within a heartbeat, Yuira appeared before Sable, and pressed her black paws against his head. Sable shrieked and struggled, as Yuira tightened her grasp and poured out the vision directly into Sable’s mind – the vision of Sharla’yla striking down Diane.

“You…BITCH!” Sable screamed hoarsely.

Yuira grinned. “My-my, Sable…that’s not ME, dear ferret. Don’t you recognize her?”

“You…I know that Filly – she…she wouldn’t.” Sable wept. “No – I do not believe it…Sharla’yla would never turn to the darkness….”

Yuira smirked and stepped back, leaving the shaking Sable quaking in horror.

“I told you she was mine, ferret.” Yuira smiled, stroking Sable’s cheek and making him shudder in revulsion. “She is indeed her mothers daughter – and will follow in my footsteps…starting with that feline you cared about so much….”

Sable dragged himself back to his feet, his deep green eyes blazing with hate as he glared at Yuira. “I swear – I am going to kill you Yuira…. I’ll make you suffer such pain – you’ll beg me for mercy.”

Yuira squirmed in delight, stroking the ferret’s cheek with a paw. “Yes Sable – give yourself to your anger – only through giving yourself to the hate, can you hope to overcome me….”

Sable took a step closer, their muzzles almost touching, as he glared into her black, soulless eyes, his own jade green ones blazing hotter and hotter. Suddenly, he snarled and twisted away, pressing his paws against his grave and turning his back on Yuira.

“No – ” Sable snarled, driving the hate from his body. “I know what you’re trying to do to me Yuira….”

Yuira’s mocking laugh echoed behind him. “What I am trying to do? Oh – my dear, misguided Sable…you’re doing more to yourself than I could ever hope to do! Listen and heed me well Sable, that filly is my daughter, and she will follow in my footsteps.”

“If you lay a paw on her or my friends – ” Sable spoke quietly. “I swear – ”

“You’ll do what?” Yuira mocked him. “I have your sword, and without that, your powers are greatly diminished…there is nothing you can do Sable – do you hear me? Nothing! My daughter already has tasted the power I have offered her – and with the death of that pathetic little kitten you are so stricken with….”

“DON’T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT HER!” Sable exploded.

Sable spun about, then sank his paws around Yuira’s throat and squeezed tighter and tighter, as he pushed Yuira backwards across the grove. Giving himself to the hate that filled him, he sought to choke the life out of the Tai’far Queen. His eyes blazed with an incredible green light that was reflected off Yuira’s ebony fur then with a disgusted growl, he flung her onto her back and turned away, his body shaking with the rage that filled him. Clenching his paws, Sable gritted his teeth, fighting down the anger that seethed and boiled within him, threatening to draw him deeper into Yuira’s cruel plans.

“I won’t – ” Sable growled, as his fingers gouged into the grave’s turf. “Play your games anymore Yuira….”

“You’re absolutely right – ” Came the sibilant purr, as her breath rippled across Sable’s nape. “You’re absolutely right, because, my dear Sable you’ve already lost! I own that filly now – and soon your precious little kitty’s soul will be the first my daughter will claim as her own…”

Sable spun around, fully intending to punch Yuira across the grove – but his clenched fist connected with thin air – Yuira had vanished. As Yuira’s mocking laugh echoed eerily across the grove, Sable slumped down beside his grave and clutched his knees to his chest, as he then buried his head in his paws and sobbed.

Abbie bristled, then stomped across the bedroom, wrenching the filly to her hooves as he slammed her back against the wall.

“Why?” Abbie snarled, his dewlaps curled back and exposing his canines in a vicious snarl. “Why did you do it? You…I’m going to kill you here and now!”

Sharla’yla choked and writhed, then her eyes blazed and Abbie flew across the room, smashing against the wall and crumpling unconscious to the floor, as Sharla’yla panted and slowly lowered her paws.

“Oh Great Seas – ” Coral’mi gasped, as she stared at her daughter. “No – oh please…no….”

Bursting into tears, the filly ran across the room, her hooves striking sparks from the stone floor. Savrin made a move to stop her, but Coral’mi grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back.

“Savrin – no, leave her.” Coral’mi wept. “Please….”

“Mother – she…she’s dangerous! She nearly killed Abbie – and what she done to Diane….” Savrin sobbed. “We can not allow her to just – ”

Looking at the stricken Diane and the unconscious Abbie, Coral’mi wiped her eyes and turned to Savrin.

“She is my daughter – and as such – I will get to the bottom of this, one way or another. Please – do what you can for them Savrin – I must go find Sharla’yla, before she does something even worse.” Coral’mi sniffled, as she turned towards the door.

Savrin blinked, then laid a paw on her arm, and Coral’mi froze, as Savrin felt a shudder run through her.

“You know something – ” Savrin spoke quietly, eyes widening as his senses detected Coral’mi’s deception.

“Savrin – please…” Coral’mi replied and looked away. “I…I can not tell you what I know, please – you must believe me. I…I got to face her…alone.”

Savrin sighed and let his hand drop from Coral’mi’s arm, and he nodded sadly.

“Mother?” He ventured nervously. “Please – be careful.”

Coral’mi paused and rested against the doorframe for a second, looking tired and drained. “I will Savrin – I promise.”

On the edge of the waterfall, Coral’mi paused and looked down, then knelt at the waters edge and pressed her paw to the flattened grass and moss. Something brushed the mane on the back of her head and Coral’mi instantly went on the defensive, spinning around….

As quick as she was, she wasn’t quick enough, and she gurgled as Yuira’s paw grasped her about the throat and squeezed.

“Hello my pretty – ” Yuira growled, her eyes blazing as she squeezed tigher, forcing Coral’mi to her knees. “We have some unfinished business you and I – wouldn’t you say?”

Coral’mi gasped and retched, wilting under Yuira’s unstoppable pressure, as she felt her lungs being starved of oxygen.

“Oh look!” Yuira smirked. “Fresh water is it?”

Coral’mi’s eyes widened in horror and she began struggling wildly, as Yuira grinned and irrevocably pressed the water horse’s head down…down…down…then into the sparkling pool of water, ensuring her gills were submerged beneath the surface. For what seemed like an eternity, Yuira held Coral’mi’s head beneath the water, the pulled it back out. Retching and gasping, Coral’mi clawed at Yuira, trying to get her to loosen her grasp.

“Yes – it hurts to drown…doesn’t it?” Yuira smirked, and then using both paws, thrust Coral’mi’s head back under the water.

Coral’mi fought and struggled wildly, the fresh water choking her as yet again, Yuira pulled her head back out and laughed, her cold, cruel giggle chilling Coral’mi to her very soul.

“What…what do you want from me?” Coral’mi gurgled, her strength faltering.

“Oh – do not flatter yourself water horse…” Yuira snorted. “I want only one thing from you…. We have unfinished business my dear…an unpaid debt – a debt I do intend collecting….”

Before Coral’mi could gather up her strength, Yuira grinned in evil delight, then pressed Coral’mi’s head back beneath the water – and held it there….

To Be Continued.