Jar of Souls Read Free

that nothing was going to happen tonight. I stopped before exiting the building to strap on my sword belt and dagger. I doubted I would run into anything inside of the fence, but it always paid to be prepared.
    When I walked outside, the valet bowed. “Would you like me to fetch your carriage, my lord?”
    “Just heading out for a breath of fresh air. I shall return shortly.”
    The torches kept the area around the chateau well lit, but the grounds were bathed in complete darkness until you reached the gate. Not wanting to be seen, I stepped out of the light and into the growing shadows. I walked to the perimeter of the property and looked out into the night. Nothing was moving down the road, and the entrance to the property looked to have plenty of guards stationed there. I made a slow circle around the chateau to the back of the property.
    I looked down the rolling hills and out into the night. The moon was full and bathed the open fields in a gentle light. At first I wasn’t sure if I was actually seeing something or if my mind was simply playing tricks on me. Small black shapes were running through the field; it couldn’t be what I thought it was. I watched until they grew close enough to be sure, and then I let out a sigh. “Just once I’d love to actually make it back to the girl.”
    The Lycans were picking up speed as they moved closer to the chateau, and there was no way that I could stop them all alone. All I could do was slow as many of them down as I could, and maybe if I was extremely lucky, it would save enough lives to matter.
    They continued to run toward the chateau. Three of the Lycans peeled off to the right, and I watched them circle around to the front of the building. I jumped over the low stone fence that signaled the edge of the property and walked slowly down toward the rushing werewolves. By my count, there were still six Lycans sprinting toward me. This was going to be fun, if one considered suicidal battles to be a joyous occasion.
    I started to pull my power inward as I focused on their approach. They never veered or spread apart as they continued their mad sprint straight at me. Something was wrong; there was no way that a true pack wouldn’t make it harder for me to attack more than one of them at a time. I bathed my hands in bright blue flames, making my presence known. The beasts continued to run directly for me without making a sound. Something was most certainly wrong. They should have been howling and splitting apart. Instead they continued on as if I didn’t even exist.
    Where were the howls that normally signaled a Lycan attack? Where were the growling, slobbering yips that signaled the hunt? When the thrill of a kill was upon them, it should have been instinctual for them to make some noise in response to my challenge. If they weren’t going to take me seriously, I was just going to have to show them why they needed to reconsider.
    I pooled the flames into a large ball and cast it out toward the eerily silent pack. It struck in the center of their V formation, engulfing all of them. What in the hell had just happened? There was no way werewolves would just run through a fireball. If it didn’t kill them outright, the pain caused from the burns wouldn’t be worth taking when it could have easily been avoided. Again the beasts made no sound even as their bodies burned.
    I watched in growing horror and fascination as they continued their mindless silent charge up the hill. The flaming Lycans continued to run directly at me even as the fire consumed them. What could possibly be driving these creatures so hard? What could possibly push them into this suicidal run? I had come out here thinking I might die, and it looked as if I might actually have the upper hand.
    The night grew brighter as their flaming bodies drew closer to the chateau. The flames had started to burn themselves out as the skin and fur they clung to charred away. I created a lance of pure power and sent it toward