Chapter Nine: Corbin's Judgement

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      When Corbin turned the car onto the narrow, severely overgrown dirt road he had no idea where he was at, only where he was going. To find Shade. The directions given to him by Lydia through the use of her gift had brought them to a remote, seemingly desolate corner of Bergstad's thick countryside. Their last sign of civilization had come in the form of an old, boarded-up gas station several miles back.

    He drove the car gingerly over the washed out terrain of the road as the reaching limbs of the trees and bushes flanking the car brushed against it's sleek body. The headlights were almost useless as the growth allowed little more than a few feet of sight ahead. The crawling pace of the car was a nuisance to the racing concern he had for Shade. Worried and determined, both he and Lydia had spoken only about the instructions she gave to lead them to their sister.

    "We're very close," Lydia informed as her attention remained focused on feeling Shade. 

    Corbin observed the darkness outside the car with a more careful eye at Lydia's announcement, hoping to spot something that would prove her right.

    "There," he said, slowing the car to a stop and pointing through the windshield to a barely noticeable opening in the overgrowth, to the left of the headlights' limits.

    Lydia zoned in on the opening with her mind as she closed her eyes for a moment of intense concentration. Seconds later she turned to a waiting Corbin and said with certainty,"That's it. She's there."

    Corbin eased the car up to the opening and they stared down it's dark path that seemed to end in infinite darkness. It was narrow, and lined with growth just like the road they traveled, but in the peripheral glare of the headlights he could tell from broken tree limbs and smashed bushes that something big had driven down it very recently.

    "She's not far. That must be the driveway to an old house or something," Lydia surmised.

    Corbin thought about it for a moment then he shut the car off and killed the lights. He didn't want to risk loosing the element of surprise by driving down the path, and considering he was clueless as to what waited at the other end he knew every advantage would count. His sister's life was at stake so he couldn't afford any mistakes.

    He took his cell phone from his pocket and illuminated it's screen by pressing a random button. The signal indicator was void of precious bars, it really was up to him and Lydia now. He turned to Lydia with instructions that were stern but laced with care for her own wellbeing. 

    "I'm going down there to check it out. You stay right here, in the car with the doors locked."

    She didn't protest, only nodded and pleaded,"Be careful."

    Corbin eased out of the car and gently closed the door. When he heard the sound of the electric door locks clicking in place he turned toward the path. Struggling to see under the overgrown canopy of darkness he stumbled along the uneven, loose ground of the path until Lydia and the car were out of shouting range and a very faint glow came into view up ahead.

    He snuck up on the dim light as cautiously as his urgency to find Shade would allow and discovered it came through the center windows of an abandoned, rotting house that was all but consumed by the forest around it. He noticed a large van parked near the falling front porch of the sagging structure and after observing the scene long enough to ensure no one was around to see him, he crept over to one of the softly illuminated windows.

    With his back to the wall as he half-crouched beside the window he heard the rough voice of someone inside, but couldn't quite make out what they were saying. Taking in a deep breath and holding it, he slowly twisted to take a peek through the bottom corner of the grimy window. Squinting to get a clearer view through a somewhat clean spot on the weathered glass, he was able to make out an unmistakable image in the center of the room.

    There, sitting in a chair was Shade with her head hanging forward and her long hair reaching for her knees, masking the sides of her face. Corbin saw that she was tied to the chair and drooping as much as the ropes around her would allow. Her chest heaved for breath against those same ropes as he looked on. Then, heavy footsteps made their way to Shade as a  rather brawny man came into to view near her. Corbin heard him mumble something at Shade then he raised a hand and struck her.

    With that, Corbin felt the already growing power within him surge as the Protector made demands against his body to be released. He held it back with gritted, angry teeth just long enough to quickly strip out of his clothing, then he gave in to the force given to him to wield against any threat to his family, and the hulking, beastly form of the Protector emerged from him.

    Inside, Shade raised her head a little at the sudden, near sound of a strange yet distinct rolling growl that signaled Corbin's presence nearby. It was a sound she had become well acquainted with during recent practices with Corbin as he mastered his gift. Derek heard it too and looked with curiosity toward the window where it originated.

    "Time's up Derek, my little brother's here," Shade revealed, directing a "you've had it now" glare at him. She tried to smirk but the bruises on her face turned it into a painful grimace.

    "You ain't got a brother Shade, and that's just some wild animal roamin' around outside, lookin' for food or somethin'," Derek said convincingly as he walked over to the window to investigate the sound.

    Derek stood inches away from the window, trying to see through it's dirty glass into the impenetrable darkness on the other side. He wiped away a hand-size spot of grime to have a better look, and for a second he thought the darkness outside was moving, in and out like it was breathing. Then, up nearly past the top of the window, a pair of purple eyes opened and narrowed angrily at his presence.

    "What the..." was all Derek got out before a massive black fist burst through the glass and sent him flying across the room into the other wall. Shade turned her head to avoid the shrapnel of glass that followed him.

    Corbin took hold of the window frame at the bottom and ripped it away along with a sizable section of the wall underneath it, creating an opening that he was able to twist his broad form through to enter the house. He went straight to Shade and knelt down in front of her. She looked up at the wolf-like features of her brother and saw his pointy ears drop and eyes soften as he examined her battered face. She tried to smile for him but again the damage to her face hindered her attempt with pain. He reached out beside her, cut the ropes holding her in place with his clawed index finger, then caught her as she fell forward against his massive shoulder.

    Her arms and legs were numb from being tightly bound and she was exhausted from resisting the punishment inflicted on her by Derek. Corbin eased her back into the chair and she gave him a nod to tell him she was okay as the blood began to once again circulate freely through her limbs. Corbin stood, then with a wrathful snort his eyes hardened and he turned his attention toward the wreckage of Derek who was squirming on the floor, trying to breath through several broken ribs. Corbin marched intently over to him, the rotting floor straining to support his bulk. 

    Standing over the writhing body of his sister's tormentor, Corbin's fists clenched with a strength that was hazardous when provoked, and he was furious. He reached down and scooped Derek up, holding him by his shoulders high enough that Derek's hurting eyes had no problems gaping at the enraged rows of fangs Corbin revealed with a quivering snarl. With a formidable growl and the ease of tearing wet paper Corbin ripped Derek into two separate hunks of dead flesh, letting the carnage fall to the floor. One more vengeful roar as he lifted his head filled the house and escaped through the shattered window into the night, warning anything around that might threaten his loved ones that he would be their end. 

    A few moments later Shade left the chair and went to her brother's side as he stared down calmly at the result of his wrath. She spat on the closest piece of Derek, approving of his grisly demise, then looked up at Corbin whose blazing purple eyes blinked with the guilt of a man's death.

    "Believe me Corbin, he had it comin'," she assured, exonerating him of blame.

    Corbin lowered his head to acknowledge her statement with another soft look at the deep bruises that claimed every part of her face.

    "Let's go home," she implored.

    Corbin agreed with a single nod, then turned to march out of the house. He patiently waited beside his discarded clothes for the Protector's form to shrink back within him, then he got dressed and went back inside the house to find Shade.

    He found her holding the lantern, which really put her injuries on display with it's bright light. He frowned, but before he could say anything she set the lantern down and fell on him with a strong, grateful hug. He hugged her back, but gently in case she was hurting.

    "Only my face hurts," she whispered, sensing his restraint. He squeezed her tight, pressing her against him with all of a brother's love.

    They enjoyed each others embrace for a long passing moment, then started for the car with the lantern in hand to guide the way. When Shade asked how he found her, Corbin gave all credit to Lydia with a brief account of how her gift had alerted them to Shade's situation and led them straight to her.

    When they neared the end of the path Lydia saw the lantern dancing with their steps and was wary at first of who was approaching; but when two welcome outlines appeared in the lantern's radiant glow she burst forth from the car and flew into her sister's arms.

    "Whoa! It's okay. I'm okay," Shade urged as Lydia dug into her with a tear-filled hug. "Thanks to you," she added as she returned her little sister's hug.

    Lydia looked up, her cheeks wet with tears, and frowned at Shade's face.

    "I know, I'm a mess. Don't worry, Gale will make it all better," Shade remarked to comfort Lydia. 

    Corbin was about to walk to the car with the lantern when Lydia reached out and grabbed him by the hand. Still holding onto Shade she tugged him over and after he placed the lantern on the ground they formed a group hug that had no weak links.

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