The Eating Woods, #2
Eldritch
by Keri Lake
Contents
Chapter 56
Overview
Zevander watches Maevyth sleep and debates leaving alone to seek vivicantem but cannot. When an intruder approaches with a blade, Zevander kills him and massacres the complicit villagers, sealing them in the tomb. He ignores Theron’s pleas from the vault and returns to Maevyth, choosing to stay.
Summary
Zevander keeps vigil over sleeping Maevyth, overwhelmed by possessive love and the memory of their bond. He wrestles with the idea of leaving alone for the mountains to find vivicantem, judging the temple safer and trusting Raivox and Maevyth’s own strength, yet he cannot bear to part.
An intruder slips into their room with a blade. Zevander dissolves into smoke, disarms him silently, and drags him away to avoid waking Maevyth. He executes the man by conjuring a scorpion to devour him from within, then carries the body to the undercroft where villagers await news.
Zevander confronts the gathered villagers, unleashes a massive scorpion and a swarm of smaller ones, and seals the tomb doors with flame as the creatures slaughter those trapped inside. On his way back, he hears Theron begging from the vault but abandons the pleas, shaken by intrusive memories yet focused on Maevyth’s safety.
He returns to the room, acknowledged by Raivox, and climbs into bed with Maevyth, clinging to her calm. Accepting his own selfishness, Zevander decides not to leave for the mountains alone and chooses to remain with her through the darkness ahead.
Who Appears
- ZevanderNarrator; fiercely protective of Maevyth; kills an intruder and complicit villagers; ignores Theron’s pleas; chooses to stay.
- MaevythSleeping mate; source of Zevander’s restraint and resolve; unaware of the night’s violence.
- RaivoxCorvugon assassin keeping watch; silently acknowledges Zevander’s actions through the window.
- Unnamed intruderVillager sent to approach Maevyth with a blade; captured and killed by Zevander’s scorpion.
- VillagersComplicit group in the undercroft; trapped and slaughtered by Zevander’s summoned scorpions.
- TheronImprisoned; begs Zevander to release him from the vault; ignored.