Chronicles of Eden - Act VIII

by Alexander Gordon

  “Not just them,” Daniel answered as he reached out and picked off some grass she had in her hair. “I gave Mika that hit for you as well, Clover.”

  “For me?” Clover softly repeated.

  “She made you feel hurt and sad,” Daniel reasoned before heading inside the carriage. “I didn’t like that at all.”

  Clover watched him go and guide the three confused hunters across the hall while a faint blush came across her cheeks. She shook her head with a grunt and looked around with a quiet scoff before seeing Lucky watching her. He had calmed down now and appeared to be just staring at the elf in silence.

  “Like I care what he thinks,” Clover snapped with a flustered tone. She marched into the carriage while Lucky grunted softly and shook his head.

  Further away in the woods where a few of Clover’s arrows had struck into the trees a rustling sound was heard in the shrubbery. Peeking out from the shadows a figure watched as everyone went inside the small carriage. A soft meow came from the bushes while two eyes were faintly seen from the hidden creature.

  The left eye being blue, the right green, and a wide smile on her face.

  Chapter 3

  Friend or Foe

  In the world of Eden the line between adversary and ally could blur from time to time. Those in question may have been able to be friends, but had conflicts of interest which made it difficult to forge that bond. Perhaps they shared similar joys in life, wished for the same promising future, or were able to smile and enjoy laughs with one another. Though either out of disagreement of important beliefs or being compelled to follow their inner nature, they ended up straying onto the side of being an enemy rather than a friend. This wasn’t to say there was no chance of them coming together in the end, only that the sides they had taken weren’t naturally welcoming of one another. Maybe they could work out their differences with each other and become united.

  Or maybe they would be forced into being enemies with each other.

  *****

  Seated at the dining table Daniel was distantly gazing at his plate while an uncomfortable silence filled the room. At his sides Alyssa and Triska were keeping an eye on three guests that were sitting across from them, the witch having an irritated scowl on her face while the cambion had her arms crossed in her lap with one hand lightly tapping her sword’s handle at her hip. Seated around the long table the other girls were remaining quiet as they too were watching the newcomers, all of them feeling tension in the air along with smelling a lovely aroma in it as well. Everyone had freshly made meals of bread and butter, chopped mutton, salad with diced tomatoes, a chocolate cookie, and glasses of juice, yet nobody was eating as all eyes except Daniel’s were on the three hunters who had joined them for lunch.

  Mika was staring at Daniel and showing no interest in the food she had before her, while at her sides Mae and Milly were looking down at their plates with their hands in their laps. Mae had her satchel resting at her feet while leaning against the wall next to the archway Mika’s claymore and Milly’s battle-axe were set aside.

  “Is something wrong with the food?” Doku worriedly asked from beside Triska. “Nobody wants to touch theirs? Did I do something wrong?”

  “No, it looks great,” Triska assured her while keeping Mika in her sights. “We’re just a little more focused on our new friends here.”

  “We’re friends with them now?” Luna asked curiously.

  “I really doubt it,” Falla dryly commented.

  “Far from it,” Clover growled while watching Mae beside her with a glare.

  “Why are we feeding them?” Kroanette scoffed in discontent, the centaur sitting down on her legs at the table and glaring at the three hunters. “They shot me in the ass and tried to kill us all.”

  “That’s not true,” Milly argued. “We weren’t trying to kill Daniel, Triska, and Clover. Just all of you monsters.”

  “Of course we weren’t aware we were saving a monster in the process,” Mae mentioned with a glance to Clover at her side. The elf scowled at her with gritted teeth while her hand clenched tightly on the table.

  “You three are being very rude,” Daniel said while keeping his eyes down at his meal. “We allowed you to sit with us for lunch that Doku went through a great deal of trouble to prepare, we’ve offered you this reprieve in our own home after you attacked us, and yet you still haven’t apologized for your behavior earlier.”

  “Are you going to say you’re sorry for acting so rashly, or not?” Specca inquired while keeping a close eye on the hunters.

  Squeak drummed her fingers on the table while glancing to Milly at her side, the hunter seeing the ant girl showing obvious displeasure while she sat with her chair turned sideways for her abdomen. Even Pip was quiet and still as she sat on Squeak’s head and watched the hunter with a worried eye.

  Mika slowly looked around at the room filled with monsters, going over each one as they were all watching the sisters with annoyance from earlier. After a long while of silence Mika tiredly rubbed her eyes and shook her head.

  “Why?” she softly asked Daniel with concern. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Doing what?” he replied with a questioning glance at her.

  “Living with these horrendous monsters. What is wrong with you?”

  “That’s a very bad way of apologizing to those you wronged.”

  “Those we wronged?” Mika demanded slamming her hands down on the table. “They’re monsters! How can you speak in their defense like this? You’re sitting next to one right now and acting like it’s nothing at all!”

  “Actually,” Triska said raising a hand.

  Mika eyed her over then showed surprise and pointed to the teen.

  “You too? You’re a monster like them?”

  “Well, half monster, if that makes a difference,” Triska reasoned with a shrug.

  “How can you be half a monster?” Milly questioned with confusion.

  “What is wrong with you?” Mika shouted at Daniel. “You said outside that these… things are your mates. Do you honestly mean to say that you… you…”

  “Love them?” Daniel finished with a raised eyebrow, catching Mika by surprise. “They’re my family, my friends, and my world. They’re not evil or uncontrollable monsters as you want to believe, they’re wonderful people once you actually take time to get to know them.”

  “How can you love monsters?” Mae questioned shaking her head.

  “Because there are some that are kindhearted girls, with more heart than even humans can sometimes show. It doesn’t matter what’s on the outside, all that matters is what’s on the inside. I can see past how they appear at first glance, I only hope someday the rest of mankind can do the same.”

  The three hunters looked to each other questionably for a moment then back to Daniel as he waited for them to speak.

  “I see,” Mika said with an accusing glare. “I don’t know if it’s magic or poison that’s gotten you so confused, they did something to you to warp your senses. I feel sorry for you, giving yourself to these wretched demons and not even caring or even realizing what it is you’re actually doing.”

  “Still waiting for your apology,” he dryly remarked.

  “You want us to say we’re sorry?” Mika quipped with a forced laugh. “Okay, we’ll say we’re sorry if it makes you happy, but it’s going to be hollow and meaningless. We are so sorry we attacked these monsters. There, feel better now from me forcing those words out for you? Do you honestly think we’ll show any compassion or feelings for monsters in the slightest? Just how crazy do you think we are?”

  “This is so good,” Milly moaned as she ate her mutton. “How did you get it to taste this good?”

  “I’m glad you like it,” Doku praised. “I used a special herbal seasoning we have.”

  “Milly!” Mika yelled out.

  “What?” Milly asked her curiously while chewing her food. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought we were allowed to eat.”

  “It’s quite
alright, please eat if you’re hungry,” Doku insisted.

  “Can do!” Milly cheered before she began munching down her meal.

  “What is wrong with you?” Mika shouted at her. “A monster made that!”

  Milly stopped then slowly chewed what was in her mouth, the group watching as she thought hard about something before looking at Doku curiously.

  “I think I can taste it, it’s like a zingy spice on the meat.”

  “Yes, it does give it a bit of flair, doesn’t it?” Doku giggled.

  Mika knocked the fork out of Milly’s hand, the cutlery bouncing away on the table while the elder sister growled in anger. Milly slowly lowered her head with remorse and turned her eyes away, then carefully reached out and took a drink from her glass.

  “Milly!” Mika yelled out.

  “What? I’m thirsty,” Milly whined.

  “They could have poisoned that!”

  “Poisoned?” Doku questioned. “Why would I do something as dreadful as that?”

  “Because you’re a goddamned monster!”

  “Enough!” Daniel shouted as he stood up. Everyone turned to him as he glared at Mika who returned the harsh look. “I didn’t invite you in here to have you accuse us of being as low as marauding bandits, and I certainly didn’t invite you in here to speak such nonsense about Doku. She made you that food out of the kindness of her heart, you’re the only one here acting like a real monster.”

  “I get that you don’t like monsters,” Triska spoke up. “Nobody really does in the world, we know how you feel towards them.”

  “No you don’t,” Mae said shaking her head.

  “Yeah, we do. It’s no secret that humans don’t like monsters, everyone believes them to be lustful creatures who only rape and kill others. But not all monsters are like that, there are some that are good souls in this world. Like the ones sitting around you right now.”

  “There are no good souls when it comes to you things,” Mika sternly retorted. “There is nothing good that can come of monsters, not a single damned thing.”

  “This cookie is so yummy!” Milly cheered as she ate her chocolate treat.

  “I’m glad you like it, I baked them myself,” Doku praised gently.

  “Milly!” Mika again yelled at her sister.

  “What?” Milly asked her with her mouth full. “Didn’t you like yours?”

  “I didn’t even try it!”

  “Well go ahead and eat it then. It’s really good.”

  Mika slapped the cookie out of Milly’s hand then grabbed her sister by the shoulders and started shaking her.

  “What is wrong with you? A monster made that food, we’re surrounded by those things and a crazy person, and all you can think about is eating? How can you be so calm like this?”

  “I’m just trying to be polite,” Milly softly answered.

  “We do not act polite with monsters! We kill them, remember? That’s our job!”

  “I’m sorry, it all just looked so tasty. And it was too.”

  “That’s it, we’re leaving,” Mika grunted as she pulled Milly away from the table. She looked back to Daniel with a scowl while he continued to watch her in discontent. “You got as much an apology as you’ll get from us. I don’t know what the hell made you so crazy, but if this is what you want for your life then fine. We weren’t being paid to come save you, we wanted to because we were actually worried about you. If you want to live with monsters then go ahead, it’s only your life you’re throwing away. We’ll voice a silent prayer for your soul once then never again.”

  She pushed Milly off towards the archway then stopped and looked back to see Mae still seated at the table.

  “Mae, let’s go.”

  Everyone watched as Mae slowly stood up with her head lowered, the girl reaching down and picking up her satchel before walking over towards her sisters and hoisting the strap over her shoulder. After a few steps she stopped and turned to Kroanette, the centaur keeping on guard from the hunter with a look of unease.

  “I’m sorry,” Mae said, with Kroanette tilting her head curiously. “For shooting you.”

  “Mae?” Mika asked in disbelief.

  “Do you know why we became monster hunters?” Mae inquired with a hurt expression at Kroanette. “Our father was raped to death by one, our mother was killed right in front of us by it, and then the monster tried to take away our little brother.”

  Daniel and the girls showed surprise as Mae lowered her head and closed her eyes.

  “We managed to get that thing off him before it was too late, we bashed its skull in before holding our poor brother next to our slain parents. That’s why we became monster hunters, to make sure nobody else ever felt that pain, that nobody else ever had to go through what we did, that no monster would ever lay its disgusting hands on our brother again. Yes, we do charge for our services, we have to make a living somehow, but we always try to accommodate our customers who are short on money. We do what’s right in this world the best we can.”

  “Mae, I’m sorry that happened to your family,” Daniel softly said as Mae turned her teary eyes back onto Kroanette.

  “I’ll offer you this apology merely because Daniel seems to care about you for reasons I can’t begin to understand. You offered us your food, you let us into your home, and aside from him being out of his mind thinking you have a soul he does seem like a good person. So for that I’ll be polite and give this one and only apology.”

  She then glared at Kroanette with her hands clenching tightly on her bag.

  “You all claim monsters can be good. I’m sorry, but I can’t see that. You’re the devil. All of your kind are. And if we should ever meet again you can be sure I won’t just wound you with my arrows. I’ll kill you.”

  Mae walked over to her sisters as they picked up their weapons from against the wall, the three glancing back to the group with Mika and Mae showing dull glares while Milly had a blank expression on her face.

  “Don’t ever come to Trixton Pass again,” Mika ordered before they turned to leave.

  “Wait,” Triska called out as she stood up from the table. She headed over to the hunters who watched her from over their shoulders. “I used to be like you, thinking every monster out there was a horrible demon. Believe me when we first came out here into the world I was the first to draw my blade towards anything that got close to Daniel.”

  “You still do,” Alyssa commented.

  “Thank you, Alyssa,” Triska dryly retorted before showing a worried smile at the hunters. “But I was wrong, they’re not all evil. That’s what Daniel is out here to prove, that there are some monsters that can be allies to mankind.”

  “You’re a monster too, aren’t you?” Mika questioned. “Why should I take anything you say seriously?”

  “Yes, I was changed into one by a real evil creature, a true Darker One. And the monsters you see behind me, them along with Daniel who still sees me as the same person I was before, came to my rescue. I agree there are monsters out there that are never going to be friends with us, ones that we will need hunters like you to protect us from. But please, try to see that not all are like that.”

  Triska saw the hunters showing no further reaction to her words then pointed back to Alyssa.

  “You see that witch, the one who couldn’t keep her mouth shut just now? You know what she did when she first found Daniel?”

  “Oh c’mon,” Alyssa quietly whined. “Don’t tell that story again.”

  “She tried to rape Daniel,” Triska admitted with a shrug. “She tried to do what witches do when they find a man and take him by force.”

  “And did she?” Mika asked.

  “No, she didn’t. Because she stopped herself.” The hunters turned to her curiously as Triska nodded with a kind smile. “She stopped herself and controlled her inner nature, because she was moved by Daniel being so nice to her. She proved his belief that monsters could be good, and has been helping us with our journey ever since.”

 
“Why couldn’t you use Specca as an example instead?” Alyssa pouted while poking her food with her fork. “I hate being reminded how I used to be before meeting Daniel.”

  “I am sorry about what you’ve gone through,” Triska empathized. “We know very well that not all monsters can be allies with us. But please try to see that some can be. Just think twice before you kill another one, you could very well be killing an innocent creature who doesn’t know what to do other than follow her inner nature.”

  Mae and Milly glanced to Mika and waited for her to speak, the eldest sister just staring at Triska with a small scowl. After a moment Mika looked over towards the monsters at the table, observing each one carefully, then to Daniel as all eyes were on her.

  “You really trust them?” Mika skeptically asked.

  “With my life,” Daniel assured her. “They’ve earned that trust, Mika. Even Alyssa, with all the things she’s done in her past, has shown herself to be an angel in life. They just needed to see the error of their ways and be given a chance to correct it.”

  “Then you have my sympathy,” Mika said shaking her head. “I’m sorry, Daniel. After that monster killed my parents and tried to take away my little brother I just can’t see myself ever being friends with one of those things. We’re allowing you and your… companions to leave the area in peace. That’s as much kindness as we’re going to offer you. Leave, do whatever you want with your life, just don’t ever come back here.”

  “I see,” Daniel said nodding in disappointment. “Well, I can’t force you to believe me. I’m sorry we couldn’t see eye to eye, Mika. You and your family are good people, I know you’re not trying to be malicious. You’re just doing what you believe you need to do. Take care, and do what you feel is needed to keep your brother safe.”

  “I’ll walk you out,” Triska offered with a wave out into the hall.

  The four girls left the dining room while Daniel sat back down with a sigh, the other girls watching him with concern while Clover was looking down at her meal with an annoyed grumble. With a small smile Daniel glanced to Doku and picked up his fork.