by Jeff Gunzel
Whirling blades flashed out, the silky threads attached growing longer or shorter at Xavier’s will. Three laberaths were shredded instantly, their bodies tumbling down into a blob of liquid white. Somehow, the fourth managed to evade. Leaping back, he glared at the young assassin.
Half-moon blades whistled around with impossible speed as Xavier displayed masterful control with barely a twitch of his fingers. Whirling in a precise pattern, they collectively formed a protective dome around him and Viola. Hearing the whistling, she dared to look up. Seeing the flashing steel whizzing around from the corner of her eye, it was hard to determine if she was protected or trapped.
Xavier grinned at the remaining laberath, the cold, heartless sneer of a predator. For the first time in its life, the creature felt...afraid. This human was more than formidable. With a twitch of the apprentice’s finger, a single blade snapped off and went zipping towards the creature. The laberath sidestepped the blade.
Unexplainably, white-hot pain ripped through his body. The laberath fell to his knees, now recognizing the decoy for what it was, far too late. Body liquefying into a shimmering ball of white glitter, he glanced up one last time. The assassin stood there, blank expression, emotionless...weaponless. The single blade was only to make the laberath move in any direction. The rest were unleashed in a perfect surrounding pattern, ensuring the victim would step into one or more no matter which way he dodged.
Trembling, Viola slowly got back to her feet. Xavier all but ignored her, scouting out ahead to retrieve his weapons.
*
“Should I go look for them?” asked Liam, tying a rope around the captured laberath, securing him to a tree.
“No,” Owen replied, gazing off in the direction where Xavier had gone. “My apprentice is more than capable. He’ll handle anything that comes their way.”
“Good,” said Liam. “Then let me take this opportunity to apologize in advance.”
“Apologize for what?” the hunter asked, confused. He glanced back over his shoulder.
“For this.” An explosion of pain shot through the back of Owen’s head. He dropped to his knees, his body unresponsive. Everything spun as dizzying nausea gripped his stomach. Unable to respond or react, he never even felt the second blow.
Chapter 6
Owen groaned, his eyelids twitching as he rolled his head. “I think he’s waking up,” said a soft female voice. Even in his confused, hazy state, he recognized the voice as Viola’s. He winced as a sharp, stabbing pain shot through his head. Instinctually reaching to touch his forehead, his arm wouldn’t raise. Grimacing, he opened his eyes all the way and glanced down, already knowing what he’d see. With hands bound at his front, more rope securing his body to a tree, he chuckled to himself.
“You’re in on this too, I suppose?” he questioned, glancing up at Xavier. His gaze swept slowly, meeting each of their eyes in turn. “So you’ve all turned on me.”
“You hid the truth from me,” Xavier growled, face shadowed beneath his hood. “Until now I’ve never questioned you. I followed you blindly, doing whatever you asked of me. For that...I was a fool.”
“You put us all at risk,” Liam added, towering over the hunter. “This demented game of yours is over. We are no longer playing by your rules. You’ll stay tied to that tree until all my questions are answered. And even that does not ensure that I will release you. I may just decide to leave you here with him.” There came a grunting sound from the other side of the tree. Owen realized for the first time that the rope securing him was also holding the captured laberath on the other side of the same tree.
Owen laughed again, the others looking at him as if he’d gone mad. “So your feelings are hurt because I didn’t share every single detail of the plan, boy?” he asked, looking up at Xavier. “Well, that’s not exactly the same as lying, is it? The less you knew, the better.”
His gaze found Liam. “And you! Your life was at risk the moment you begged to accompany me on this journey. Nothing’s changed. Welcome to the real world, mystic. You could have left any time you wanted.”
“Let me go,” begged the laberath behind him, struggling against the ropes. He spoke in a quick, nasally voice. “I can speak with Orm’rak on your behalf. I’m sure he’ll double—no, triple—the price for the girl! Surely we can work something out.”
“Would that be the same offer I’ve already refused multiple times now?” Owen asked. The laberath didn’t reply. “I warned you serpents not to contact me again. How did you find me?”
“W-We have human spies all over the surface world,” the creature admitted after a long pause. “Orm’rak was certain you would go after the girl, despite refusing his generous offers. So we kept a watchful eye on you and your apprentice.” He began breathing hard, fear building up inside him. “Our orders were to take the girl whether or not you refused his offer again. But we still offered you the reward! Orm’rak said once you saw the jewels you would change your mind. I see now that he was wrong. There, I’ve told you everything. Now let me go! I swear you’ll never see me again.”
“Why does this...Orm’rak...want her so badly?” Liam asked, now glaring over at the laberath.
“I don’t know,” he blurted out, growing increasingly desperate. “I’m just a grunt. He doesn’t tell us anything! But I’ve never seen him so obsessed. He’s not going to stop searching for her.”
“If that’s all you know, then I would say you’re no longer useful to us,” Owen growled, tightening his body. The hunter’s muscles bulged with tension, the veins on his arms rising, chest expanding.
The laberath’s eyes bulged as the ropes tightened, mouth opening wide with not enough air to scream. The ropes creaked with tension, sinking into his body due to the shocking display of strength. The hunter roared, every muscle in his body swelling with blood. Like a knife through water, each rope snapped through the creature’s body, its spine and a thin layer of skin now the only thing between the ropes and the tree.
Owen blew out a deep breath, the ropes tying him relaxing with the mass of an additional body no longer a factor. Easily slipping the loose ropes, he rose to his feet and brushed himself off. Liam stepped back, stunned by the show of raw power he had just witnessed. No human should have been able to do such a thing. Owen went around the tree and gazed down on the bloodied carcass. With a heavy boot, he crushed the skull, sending brain matter spraying across the ground.
“Maybe now you dimwitted creatures will understand that no means no,” he said, then began laughing again, wiping his bloody boot on the grass. He looked at Liam, who started shifting uncomfortably. It never occurred to him that the hunter might shed his bonds with such ease. “No more secrets,” Owen said, untying his bound wrists with his teeth. “There is a small town called Trankend about half a day’s ride from here. We’ll stop there and fetch ourselves a cold ale and some warm women. A bit o’ liquor in me gut will get me talking just fine. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
Liam eyed the dead laberath, its eyes glazed over, its tongue hanging out the side of its mouth. “Why do I get the impression you could have escaped my capture anytime you pleased?” Liam asked.
“And what good would that have done?” Owen replied. “I can’t make you trust me through brute force. I wanted you to hear at least part of the story from the lips of that thing.” He glanced towards Xavier. “I’ll help you pack up the rest of camp. We leave in five minutes.” Feeling ashamed at how he had treated his master, the apprentice quickly began rolling the bedrolls.
“I don’t blame you for not trusting me,” Owen grunted to Liam, eyes watching Xavier work. “Nor do I blame my apprentice. But I’m not your enemy, mystic. Sooner or later you’ll have to make a choice as to where your loyalties lie, and the gods know I could sure use your help.”
*
Back on the road, Owen and his apprentice led the way while Liam manned the wagon at the rear of the line. Several uneventful hours passed by, Viola keeping to herself the whole time.
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“Before the day’s end, you and I shall be enjoying a hot meal and some cold drinks,” said Liam, his body swaying back and forth with the wagon’s movements as he snapped the reins. The small talk was just an attempt to break the unbearable silence. She was being even more quiet than usual. “I’m sure there will be music playing. Doesn’t that sound nice?” Viola gazed out the rear of the wagon, acting as if she didn’t even hear him. “Perhaps Xavier will unveil that puppet toy of his. You would like to see him again, no? Um, what was its name again?” He snapped his fingers a few times. Still, she ignored him, her body moving only when the wagon swayed. “Viola? Are you all right, dear?”
“Why do you keep acting as if nothing happened?” she asked after a long hesitation, still gazing out the back. “You pretend there is nothing wrong with me.”
“Nothing I say is pretend,” he replied, wary of her sudden inquiries. “Indeed you are unique, but that doesn’t mean I believe there is anything wrong with you.”
“Liar!” she hissed, turning to face him, voice seeming to echo from all directions at once. She began crawling towards him, the slow stalking of a predator. “That wolf was afraid of me, you know. And even though I could feel its terror, I still wouldn’t let it get away.” Now she was near Liam’s back, black lips moving up near his ear. “Do you know why?” she whispered. He could feel her icy breath pulsing, each blast an arctic chill. “Because the scent of its blood nearly drove me mad. I wanted it more than anything. No... I needed it. I didn’t want it to die, but none of that mattered to me. My burning thirst would not be denied. Even as it whimpered in my arms, I drank until I had my fill. So, my dear Liam, if you are not afraid of me as you say you are not, then you are a fool!”
With surprising quickness, the mystic’s hand fired back and snatched her by the collar. With equally surprising strength, the old man heaved her body over his shoulder, all the while ignoring her shrieking protests. With a jarring thud, her rear landed in the seat next to him.
“Not another word!” he boomed, his deep voice like rolling thunder. “Enough of your foolish game! You think to play on my fears? Your pathetic game is but a feeble attempt to push me from your life. I’ve taken more lives than you’ll ever know. To this day I still see their faces, still hear their screams. I assure you I am no stranger to death. Both friend and enemy alike have died in my arms! If your intent is to drive me from your life by trying to scare or intimidate me, then I’m afraid you shall be sorely disappointed.”
She sat next to him silently, bottom lip quivering as if she might start crying at any moment.
“Viola,” he said, in a much softer voice. “I understand what you’re trying to do. You believe that if you scare me away, then there is no chance you could ever hurt me. I see the fear in your eyes, but it won’t work. You’re stuck with me whether you like it or not.” This time she did start crying, resting her head against his shoulder.
“Those things that tried to take me away,” she said in a muffled voice, face pressed into his sleeve. “What were they? What do they want with me?” Before Liam could answer, she pulled away from his shirt, the look on her face cutting off his words. “And why do they look like me?” she asked. His mask of calm shattered, his eyes went wide. The question he had feared for so long still managed to catch him off guard.
“They move like me. In fact, they’re much faster,” she continued. “They have some of the same abilities that I do.” Liam held his breath. “Are...are we the same? Is that what I am?”
And there it was. She had come face to face with full-blooded laberaths, and witnessed for herself how violent and evil they were. She had seen their physical traits, and knew on some level that their similarities to her couldn’t possibly be coincidence.
Over and over this very moment had repeated itself in Liam’s mind, and each time it seemed to end differently. Sometimes carefully worded explanations ended with fits of rage, other times denial, or even violence. With these thoughts so fresh in his memory, he could hardly believe the simple words coming out of his mouth.
“Yes,” he admitted plainly. “They are known as laberaths, and it is true that their blood courses through you as well.” Her expression was blank, nonjudgmental. It was if she didn’t even hear the words.
“This is the reason I’ve started craving blood?” she asked, again seemingly void of emotion.
“Yes, but you are only part laberath,” he said, placing a reassuring hand on her knee. “You are also half human. I know this for certain because I tested your blood. But to be honest, I would have known anyway. You’re kind, compassionate, and empathetic when dealing with others. Whatever laberath traits you possess, your human ones are twice as apparent. After getting to know the real you, I no longer see a laberath mixed with human, or a human with laberath blood. I see you, Viola, and I’m grateful to have you in my life.”
“The town is just up ahead,” Owen called back, his lumbering lavics still managing a fair pace. The exotic mount struck Liam more as a war beast suitable for combat than a creature fit to travel long distances. But it seemed to be holding up just fine. “I can already taste those barroom whores!” His eyes settled on Viola, only now realizing she riding up front with Liam. “I mean ale,” he corrected. “I can already taste the cold ale.” His gaze drifted back to Liam, tongue flickering between two split fingers.
“She’s not deaf, nor is she blind,” Liam called back with a groan, shaking his head with embarrassment. Viola only laughed, leaning her head back against his shoulder. He addressed Viola, “That barbaric brute is an uncivilized, ill-mannered—”
“He’s just a man,” she corrected, closing her eyes. “I accept him for who he is. Who am I to judge anyone?”
A short time later she woke to the sound of whinnying horses. She hadn’t slept long, but the short nap was still refreshing. Owen and Xavier were tying up their mounts in front of a shabby-looking tavern. “The Hangman” read the wooden sign swinging from two rusted chains. Liam brought the wagon up behind them, squeaky wheels grinding to a halt.
“I don’t see too many people around here,” Viola pointed out, her gaze sweeping the empty dirt street.
“This is not a bad thing,” Liam reminded, tugging down on the hood of her riding cloak. “Less eyes on you means less chance of discovery. Until we can find you a proper disguise, this will have to do.” Lowering the hood further to shadow her features, Viola stepped down from the wagon. Joining with the others, they pushed through the swinging doors of a less-than-lively tavern.
Spirals of disturbed dust swirled across the floor when they entered, as if this place hadn’t been cleaned in weeks. Even the clouded mirror behind the empty bar looked to be covered in a thin film. Flickering lanterns hung from the walls were the only evidence that someone had recently been here.
“This be a bit less spirited than I’d hoped,” Owen grumbled, moving to take a booth under the mounted head of a jackal. With a chuckle, he flicked its nose before sliding up to the wall. The others were a bit less eager to sit on something so filthy, carefully wiping dust away before taking their seats. “Maybe things will pick up later in the evening,” he said, hopeful.
“None of that’s important,” Liam cut in, hands folded on the table. “Now that I’ve heard the desperate words of a doomed creature, it’s time to hear your account of the same story. We need clarification as to why you were dealing with the laberaths.” Liam lifted a finger, and pointed straight at Owen’s chest. “No more secrets,” he warned.
The hunter sighed, then fell back against his seat. “Aye. I received a message from Lord Alaric Bournfred on Redwater’s behalf. He, like so many others, wanted to hire me to investigate the random attacks taking place all over the realm. This much you already know. What I didn’t tell you,” he turned to Xavier, “or you...is that I was confronted by a laberath messenger before we reached Redwater.”
“How was I not aware?” Xavier replied suspiciously. “I was with you the entire journey.”
“Because you be sleeping like a bear in hibernation,” Owen said, giving his apprentice a shove to the face. “All he had to do was approach while I was on watch. There was hardly any danger of you waking.” Xavier looked away, face turning crimson. “The inquiry was about you,” he went on, pointing to Viola. “Said he knew I was heading to Redwater, and that all I had to do was bring back the girl. If I complied...well...you saw the bag.”
“So that’s how you knew Viola was held captive,” said Liam, twisting the points of his eyebrows in thought.
“Aye,” Owen replied. “In fact, they approached me a second time when we were only a day’s ride from the city. The attempt was to sweeten the deal.”
“But you went through with it anyway,” Liam accused, his eyes narrowing. “You were going to deliver her to the laberaths. Had Xavier and I not been there—”
Owen shook his head. “You’re wrong,” he said plainly. “Yes, I bartered for the girl. Yes, I left the city with her in my possession. But no, I had no intention of handing her over.”
“And why should I believe that?” Liam asked. “Your reputation precedes you. It is rather well known that the mighty Demon Hunter will willingly capture or kill anyone or anything, so long as his price has been met.”
“Aye,” Owen nodded. “I do not deny a word of what you say. But I also understand you have a gift when it comes to whether or not folk are telling ya the truth. If that be true, than listen to me carefully. If you don’t like what you hear, then take the girl and go. I won’t try and stop you.”
“I’m listening,” Liam replied, leaning in closer.
“All I know is that I turned down the biggest contract of my life, and one that would have been an easy payday at that. All I had to do was hand her over and walk away with me jewels. Why didn’t I?” He paused, tapping his finger on his chin as if even he wasn’t completely sure why. “Laberaths are the most vile creatures I’ve ever encountered. Most folk don’t even think they exist, but I’ve known about them for many years. They take whatever they want, whenever they want. Demons kill if an unsuspecting soul so much as gets in their way, but few creatures kill for pleasure. This alone separates their species from all others.”