Gauntlet Rite of Ascension

by Marcus Abshire

  I was astonished to see my room appear out of the darkness and the light from my bedside lamp illuminated the familiar surroundings.

  I sat on my bed looking around, stunned. How can this be? I had a moment of insight and decided to try something.

  I thought about an old football I used to have. It was smaller than a normal one and was great for throwing back and forth with my dad. I remembered my sister would play with us, before she was too cool. I visualized it on my bed next to me and sure enough it appeared. I reached out and picked it up. It was as solid and real as anything.

  Amazing.

  Interesting.

  I looked up and saw the large eyes of the wolf. I waited for my location to be revealed, but nothing happened. Apparently this little corner of the universe was mine alone.

  Once again, I was drawn into the Beasts senses, sharing in the hunt with the Beast, seeing what it sees, hearing what it hears. My disgust building as my heart sped up, drawn to the power the Beast held and anticipation of hunting down my prey using my strength and cunning.

  The Beast stopped and took a deep breath.

  Thousands of scents came to me as the Beast’s supernatural senses easily identified them.

  Car exhaust, cigarette smoke, a rabbit nearby, a skunk far away. I smelled perfume from Sara and the aftershave of the cops. I could smell the natural odors of the woods, leaves and sap came to me in clear contrasts. Thousands of different odors to sift through, yet somehow one among the many was identified.

  An odor I remember from school matched with a scent in the air. The link clicked and my fear took another nose dive as I realized who the Beast had targeted.

  Ricky Roberts wasn’t a bad guy. He was just another teenager trying to find his place in the world. He never treated Sara bad, they just drifted apart.

  It happens. His sights set more towards his athletic career and hers towards her art.

  My fear didn’t stem solely from the fact that the Beast had targeted Ricky, but more from the chances of who Ricky was with. I remembered the odor I detected on my sister yesterday and how it matched Ricky’s.

  Susan wasn’t worried about being alone tonight because she wasn’t going to be. I had no doubt that she was seeing Ricky and that he was coming over tonight. If the Beast followed his path, it would take him right to my sister and my family.

  My fear passed anything previously known and I watched, unable to stop the Beast from hunting down Ricky, and by extension my sister.

  Chapter 8

  I rode with the Beast, amazed at the stealth such a large creature possessed.

  The Beast traveled through the woods with wraith-like fluidity. Every footfall silent, every movement confident.

  The Beast crossed from the woods and quickly made its way through the neighborhood. Easily scaling fences and obstacles that came in its way. The Beast absently swiped at a dog that foolishly tried to protect its home as the monster crossed through its backyard. The dog left behind in two pieces.

  The Beast leapt the twenty feet needed to gain access to a houses roof with ease, the Beast’s supernatural strength and speed allowing it to traverse the neighborhoods roofs as easily as a sidewalk.

  I recognized the neighborhood the Beast passed through. I could tell the heading it was taking and I knew where its path ended. I wasn’t surprised when I saw my house come into view. My fear was an almost physical thing, however.

  The Beast stopped in my back yard. A few feet away from the sliding glass door in the back of my house. Through the Beasts heightened senses I could smell my sister and Ricky. Their odors strong. The sounds of them making out came to me and explained their heavy breathing and the strong, heady scent of their enhanced sexual arousal. The Beasts acute hearing pinpointing where they were in the house as their hearts beat strong from their mutual excitement.

  Although I didn’t need to hear them to know where they were. I could easily see them through the back door, sitting on the living room couch, entangled.

  If only I could reach out and warn them. Tell them they were in grave danger. I knew any attempt at alerting them would make me visible and I was more afraid of being found than anything else. I felt like such a coward. How could I sit here and do nothing? Was there anything I could do?

  I felt the Beast tense, readying itself for the kill when everyone was startled by the front door opening.

  My mom walked in and caught my sister on the couch with Ricky. The two flew apart as a deep red flush filled my sister’s face, embarrassment evident on her features.

  My mom stood there for a second. Different emotions crossing her face. Surprise at what she saw, understanding at what they were doing, fear of how far it might have gone and lastly worry that she might have done something to cause it. Finally, resolve filled her face. Yes, kids will be kids, but this was still her house and she had rules.

  “Susan, I want you to ask this young man to leave. You know I have rules about boys in my house when I am not here.” My mom said with authority.

  My sister, too embarrassed to argue, looked at Ricky and said, “I’m sorry, you should go.”

  Ricky was already scrambling for the door, obviously the most uncomfortable of the three.

  Everyone was caught totally off-guard when the back door exploded and the Beast rushed in. It stopped a few feet from them and rose up to its full height. A mirror on the wall showed the Beast in its fullness and I was stunned by its awesome appearance.

  It was covered in dark brown fur. The Beast rose to slightly over seven feet and towered over the cowering prey. Long lupine legs full of muscle and power ended in sharp, vicious looking talons that seemed easily capable of ripping steel in two.

  The Beasts torso was oversized, its shoulders wide and deep in their strength. Its arms hung down past its knees and corded muscle writhed under its fur as its large hands were tipped with razor sharp claws. Its neck was thick and reminded me of a tree trunk as its head sat upon it. Cunning and primal awareness shone from its deep yellow eyes that were set in a wolf-human hybrid face.

  The Beast turned to my mom, sister and Ricky and leaned forward opening its maw and revealing teeth that were full of deadly intent. It roared at them and I watched as Ricky lost it.

  His pants gained a deeper color in the front as he lost control of his bladder. He panicked and tried to run past the Beast and out the back door. The Beast easily reached out and swiped at him. Ricky flew back toward my mom and sister as the Beasts blow sent him into the wall. Ricky slumped down, unconscious.

  The Beast slowly began to stalk toward my sister and mom.

  Time slowed down, my mind raced for a solution. How could I stop this? I needed help. I stood up and felt for the presence that had never left. There! I reached out more with my mind than anything and said, “You said you could help, do something!”

  A voice rang clearly in my head, “You have to confront it, you have to accept it and make your will known.”

  “That’s it? That’s all you got?” I asked.

  “That is enough.” He said. “Remember the football.” He said.

  Remember the football? What did that mean? I was sure he was talking about the small football I had made appear on my bed, but what about it? It was nothing, just a replica of a football I once owned. I had willed it here and it appeared…wait! I had willed here! The Beasts prior words came back to me. “I am a part of you; I have always been with you.”

  If the Beast was a part of me, maybe that meant I was a part of it. Maybe I had more influence on the Beast than I realized.

  I wasn’t sure. It was a dangerous gamble. I had never been trained to fight in a landscape made of my mind.

  I did have something the Beast didn’t.

  Love. I loved my mom, I loved my sister. Magic is love. If there was a chance I had to try.

  I stood up from my hiding spot. It seemed as though I grew in stature. I felt as if a blanket had been thrown off of me and I felt exposed. I took a deep breath and yelled, “
I am here you foul Beast, leave my mom and sister alone you dirty animal and face me, if you are not afraid!”

  I immediately felt the Beast turn inward. It was not worried about my mom and sister. They crouched together holding each other.

  The Beast’s presence filled my awareness as it closed the distance. I stood alone in the vast blackness of my mind, standing face to face with the Beast. It stood no more than four feet away. Easily towering over me. It looked down at me with disdain. We stood facing each other like two gunslingers out of the old west.

  Fear threatened to undo me as my knees began to go weak. The Beast saw this and laughed saying, “Look at you, unable to stand firm. I am surprised you have shown yourself. I admit, but this will be over quickly.”

  The Beast rushed at me and fire erupted in my shoulder as its jaws clamped down on me. It drove me to the ground and I almost succumbed right there.

  A face slowly came to me from deep in my memories. A comforting face, smiling a knowing, yet concerned smile. I heard my dad say, “You can do this son. I believe in you.”

  I thought of my mom and sister and what would happen to them if the Beast won. I thought of my dad and his love for me. As I remembered that love it gave me strength. Not enough to get up, but enough to give me hope. I thought of the love I felt for my mom and her devotion to raising us. I thought of my sister and all the time we spent together as kids, playing and teasing. The love I felt fueled my thoughts as I began to exert my will. If this place was my mind it was mine to control. If this Beast was apart of me then it was subject to my will.

  If I was strong enough.

  I could feel the Beast as it was startled at my defiance. That only made me stronger. I used my willpower coupled with my love for my family to drive myself up.

  I found myself on my feet with my hands around the Beast’s neck. Panic showed in the Beast’s eyes as my rebound frightened it.

  There was a doubling of strength from the Beast as it clamped down harder on my shoulder. The pain erupted anew and I almost lost my grip and my fight. I rode out the pain, unsure of how I did it.

  I had been fighting the urge to go out and party with my friends for years, I stayed in when everyone else went out. I studied when everyone else didn’t. I constantly used my willpower to make sure I had a bright future. This hairy bastard wasn’t going to take that from me.

  We struggled for what seemed like hours, its sheer power staggering. I only managed to keep it from devouring me by the barest of breaths. My shoulder throbbed with pain and my strength slowly ebbed. I had made no real advances since my initial attack. I was up against a force of ageless power. It was useless to fight it. I was losing.

  I heard my dad’s voice say “Now all you need to know is that the Beast is a part of you. You are a part of it. Until you accept this, it will continue to hunt you and have the power to unmake you.”

  I was struck by sudden understanding as the last of my strength left. The Beast felt this and its attack redoubled.

  I loosened my grip on the Beasts neck and instead wrapped them around its body in a hug. I quit trying to fight the Beast and instead tried to draw the Beast in.

  I used my willpower not to fight, but to accept.

  I accepted the animal power of the Beast, I accepted the ferocity of its spirit, I accepted the sheer bestial nature of the Beast and forced it in. I forced it to merge with me and felt power surge through me as the Beast’s energy was undone and began to bind to mine. I heard a howl of release as the Beast quit fighting. I heard it say in a humble and subordinate voice, “Well done young pup. I give of you my strength and power, use it wisely.”

  The Beast’s presence disappeared as mine took dominance.

  I stood staring at my cowering family, aware that the form of the Beast was mine to control. I felt the awesome power of my limbs and the strong steady beat of my heart. I heard my sister and mom’s rapid heartbeat clearly and smelled the fear radiating off of both of them. I was the Beast now and I was in control.

  I turned and fled through the back door, hurrying out into the night. I ran across the neighborhood and headed to the same wooded area where this whole thing started.

  I could smell the blood from the night on me and its coppery thickness was overwhelming. A strong desire to find more prey and kill hit me and I was driven to my knees.

  I willed it away. I was the master now.

  I slowly stood up and smelled the clear freshness of a stream nearby. I went toward it, aware of every creature and animal in the surrounding area. My beast senses greater than I imagined. The sheer volume of information coming from them almost overwhelming.

  I went to the water and jumped in, intent on washing away the blood and gore from the Beast’s rampage.

  The water was cool and refreshing, it soaked my fur and I felt heavier as I took on water. I scrubbed my face and hands, trying to wash away the horror.

  Pain from the night’s events hit me as Sara’s face came to my mind, the cops and Ricky’s bodies flashed before me. I leaned my head back and bellowed a wolf’s howl at the sky.

  “Crying for them will not bring them back.” I heard a voice say. It was deep and full of hidden strength.

  I looked up and wondered how this man had snuck up on me. I recognized him. This was the man from my dad’s picture. He stood there with a black hat and coat I remembered, his gloved hands held a sword in them, its silver sheen bright in the night’s darkness.

  Anger welled up in me, more from being caught by surprise than anything. This man knew something, he knew my dad and here he was. I lost control of my emotions and rushed him intent on forcing him to give me answers.

  The man moved in a fluid manner that surprised me. I was pure animal instinct, moving with the surety of the hunter.

  He was faster.

  I tried to grab him and pin him to the ground. He spun away from me and brought his sword out in a backhanded motion, cutting deep into my back.

  The pain was excruciating. I was stunned and let out a howl of pain. I fell to one knee and looked back toward my target.

  “That is the kiss of silver, handed down by my fathers. It is deadly to our kind.” He said like a teacher reciting a lesson.

  I recovered from the pain and noticed the wound had not healed like the ones from the bullets. My newfound power screamed at me to get revenge and with the impatience of youth I went for him again.

  Again I rushed in, hoping to use my speed and size to overpower him. He stood squarely and met my charge.

  He stopped me cold.

  He had sheathed his sword and stood holding my wrists, keeping me from advancing. I struggled with him, trying to overpower him. A deep yellow shone from his eyes as he twisted and threw me into a tree. The impact knocked all the fight out of me and I sat there, panting.

  “Breath, let the power of the beast fade. Will it away and into a small corner. Let your humanity ascend.” He said.

  I don’t know why, but I knew he was telling me the truth. I decided if he wanted to kill me he probably already could have.

  I took a deep breath, then another one. Trying to focus, forcing the power away. I concentrated on my human form and visualized it. I willed myself to change back.

  My body exploded in pain as my bones and muscles reformed themselves. I watched as my claws returned to fingernails and my hands were recognizable. I felt the power fade, but it never left. Like my father’s legacy I felt the power near, ready to be used.

  I stood up on wobbly legs, intensely aware of my nakedness. I was filthy and cold. Hunger hit me as I went back to the stream, washing myself in the cold water. I looked back up at the stranger.

  “My name is Abaddon; I thought you might need these.” He said, tossing a bundle of clothes near the shore.

  I looked down and saw pants, underwear, a shirt and shoes. I looked back up at him and one thought kept coming to me.

  What the hell is going on?

  Chapter 9

  I got dressed and b
egan to warm up. I could see my breath in the night’s crisp air. I kept my distance from Abaddon. I didn’t trust him. Too much had happened tonight. I was still so confused about so much.

  “Who are you?” I asked.

  Shivering I hugged myself and rubbed my upper arms, trying to generate warmth.

  “I already told you, my name is Abaddon. I was a friend of your father’s.” He said, facing me squarely.

  A strong smell of leather came to me on a slight breeze. I could smell other things with it, sweat, blood; chemicals used in the tanning process, the depth of the scents were amazing.

  Abaddon watched me closely, correctly judging what was happening.

  “Your powers are vast. The Beast has bestowed upon you a great gift. You will have much to learn and I will teach you. Your father asked this of me.” He said.

  “How do I know I can trust you? I have spent the night in my own mind watching as this Beast killed people I cared for, how do I know this isn’t a trick?” I asked.

  Abaddon nodded in understanding,

  “Concentrate; attune your senses to me, your hearing, smell and sight. Take a deep breath and let your instincts tell you if I am lying.”

  I wasn’t sure if he was messing with me, but he had helped in my return to human form. I decided it wouldn’t hurt to try.

  I did as he suggested, I focused on him and tried to ignore everything else. The sounds of animals in the brush faded, the smells of the stream and the newly churned up mud disappeared.

  His heartbeat came to me clearly. Thump-bump, thump-bump, his distinct scent filled my nose, his every feature grew clear and crisp as I watched him closely.

  “Your father sent me to help you. I can help you manage the change, if you let me.” He said.

  I detected no change in the rhythm of his heartbeat, his scent belied nothing of deceit and his features kept their calm demeanor. The overall impression the culmination of my senses gave me was truth. What he said rang with truth.

  “Ok, what the hell is going on?” I asked.