by A. R. Crebs
“What did you bring in here with you?” Dovian glared accusingly at the scampering shadow running across the ceiling of his gothic temple.
“You sure we brought it in? This place looks like it could have had things like this living in here already.” Troy slowly lifted his weapon.
“We haven’t killed one of those yet.” Aria followed her partner’s actions.
The creature screeched something awful at the group down below. Crawling into the light, it hissed angrily. The beast was hunched on all fours, its humanistic qualities were contorted with joints pointed and bent backward. The mouth opened wide, allowing thick, stringy saliva to drop from piranha-like teeth to the floor. In the distance, there was an array of sounds. Roars, screeches, tapping, and scratching slowly approached the team. Aria didn’t know what was more frightening—these creatures or what Dovian was going to do to them for luring the enemy into his home.
“Whose genius idea was it to come to this damned place?” Troy muttered through closed teeth.
"You Can’t Be…"
Chapter 8
The hissing and screeching rose louder and louder in volume, surrounding the three in the center of the cathedral. Dark shadows danced and paced along the walls, moving across pillars and the banisters lining the upper balconies. There was no escape. Light from the holes in the ceiling cast across one of the creatures’ backs, revealing taught, sinewy muscle beneath lavish, dark-olive scales. It was a stark contrast to the fiery-red mane running along the back of its scalp. Long pearly talons clicked against the marble and stone, creating a panicked soundtrack for the approaching swarm.
“Well, any ideas?” Aria asked.
“Are you asking me?” Dovian grumbled, calling for his staff to return to his hand.
“You’re the one with all the experience, right?” Troy circled to the side, watching a lingering beast as it leaped from one wall to another.
“Age doesn’t always signify experience, remember that,” the Sorcēarian spoke lowly. “But, yes, I am probably more knowledgeable about these demons than you are.”
“Are you sure they’re demons? I mean…can’t they just be some weird mutants of some kind? Or aliens?” The male soldier fumbled nervously around the rubble on the ground.
“If it were any of those other things, would it really make a difference?” Blue eyes glared at the young man.
“No….Suppose not.”
“We can discuss the origins of these creatures later,” Aria spat. She fired an EMP grenade at a soaring monster, its elongated hands reaching out for the woman, mouth open, baring razor teeth and dripping saliva.
The grenade hit the creature square in the chest. It flopped onto the ground, convulsing as the electromagnetic static shocked its system. This signaled the battle. An onslaught of beasts jumped from the ceiling and walls, all shrieking and snapping in ferocity. Troy and Aria continued firing, alternating between EMPs and live rounds, the blasts slapping against the enemies’ small, muscular chests. With their incredibly lengthened arms, the anatomy of the creatures was slightly different than those at the I.R.B., but it seemed the weaknesses were the same.
“I see you two have figured out much on your own already,” Dovian said in an interested tone. He lifted his staff to the side and smacked his hands together, sandwiching the item. A thunderous boom sounded, and a pale-blue wave of light gushed outward across the area of the church, causing violent tremors within the monsters’ bodies.
“We did a bit of homework before we came here,” Aria replied. She reached backward into her knapsack and loaded another massive clip onto the front of her rifle. Troy spun to her side and fired with her, both releasing impact grenades. The blasts annihilated at least five separate beings, sending sickening, fleshy debris to the corners of the room.
“Not the most glamorous of tactics.” Dovian frowned. He spun his rod, smacking one of the creatures atop the head. It disintegrated into ash. Following up with a couple more blows, he easily dismissed a dozen foes in the same manner.
“Whatever works, right?” Troy shouted, sending another two blasts to opposite sides of the room. Explosive booms drowned out the constant hisses and screams as the two soldiers destroyed the creatures with simple grenades.
“Indeed. Even barbaric traits come in handy, especially when outnumbered.” The sorcerer twisted in a circle, mentally calculating the rising number surrounding him. Aria watched from the corner of her eye. There were too many. Dovian was completely surrounded, and there were only more entering the center.
Troy grabbed a SABO from his pack and hurled it toward the mass surrounding Dovian. The blades ejected around the center of the grenade’s core, spinning wildly. It twirled like a boomerang around the crowd reaching out toward the ancient man, slicing and cutting off the creatures’ upper limbs. It slowed a few of them down, but others were fast approaching. Dovian gave an amused glance toward the other man.
“Interesting weapon of choice, dismembering the enemy.” He smiled. “I think I’ll give it a try.”
Dovian slammed his palms together once again, surrounding the center of the silver rod. Another pale wave gushed around him, rendering the enemy momentarily defenseless. The sound was deafening, much more violent than the last. Then, the Sorcēarian was on the move. Dancing with speed and grace, the giant man spun, a master with his weapon. He twirled the staff over his head; the golden forged wings atop it, with all its pointed edges, were used as blades, slicing horizontally across the first round of foes’ upper skulls. He twisted at his waist, curving his arms around again to cut on the opposite side to make a full circle. The sorcerer was powerful, seamless in motion as he twisted and pushed and pulled his body and staff from side to side, expertly annihilating the creatures surrounding him. Quickly, the waves of demons were being fought off; some even backed away, returning to their places high above on the domed ceiling. Aria watched in awe as Dovian continued tirelessly. He was like a machine, instantly making calculations in his head and predicting the monsters’ next movements.
A blast close by made the woman jump. Troy had pinned one of the beasts against the wall beside her, the blade of a SABO cutting its throat. He joined her side, gaping at the sight ahead of them. Most of the monsters had strayed away from the two humans, more concerned with the current threat—the millenniums-old Sorcēarian in the room. Dovian lunged forward, his rod cutting through the torso of one fiend, impaling it. He pulled out to the side, cutting through it and into another. Chopping, slicing, the man was brutal. As Dovian was concerned with the final five monsters before him, one lingered in the shadows unnoticed, crawling on all fours and waiting for an opening to attack. Another flash from the orb of Dovian’s staff sent a wave, heaving back the last few and burning their bodies to the ground. The lingering beast from the shadows took a chance, running forward and pouncing. Dovian spun, his hood finally falling. His arms lifted, rounding the staff overhead, and he brought it crashing down. The symbolic demon wings’ razor-sharp edges crushed against the reaching, leaping beast’s skull, pushing it down chin-first into the marble floor in a violent crunch, hot blood pooling out beneath. The sorcerer stood still, the sunlight flooding across his face, reflecting against his surreal silvery-gold hair. His sapphire eyes glowed brilliantly with excitement. Yes, Dovian was very barbaric, indeed. He was a dangerous asset that Troy and Aria desperately needed. And he fought off so many, so effortlessly, without a single twitch of one of his wings. One could only fathom the amount of damage Dovian was capable of when consumed by his powers.
“I assume that when one asks for help, they partake in the endeavor themselves.” Dovian quickly tugged the weapon from the monster’s skull and straightened his posture. His eyes were like a cerulean wildfire, his hair a glittering mess that seemed to emit its own light. “Not simply watch.”
“They seemed to think you were more of a threat.” Aria cleared her throat nervously.
“And you handled them so easily.” Troy gawked. If he had any doubt
s before about Dovian, they were all quickly dismissed.
“Yes, but there are still many more hanging about. In fact, we best leave.” The sorcerer narrowed his gaze toward the front door.
Aria and Troy quickly turned to make an exit from the front, but Dovian shouted, “No! Quickly! This way!” The two others slid to a halt just as the door burst open, dozens more of the creatures clambering in.
“Shit!” Troy shouted.
The two spun on their heels and darted after Dovian, following closely behind his draping robes. Shrieking and scratching sounded from all around. Aria’s neck hairs stood on end as she felt the evil presence approach nearer and nearer.
“We can’t run forever!” she hollered.
“Just follow closely! I know a way we can escape,” Dovian called over his shoulder.
Monsters jumped from all sides, already above the three as they sprinted down the corridors. The echoing of the marble chambers made it hard to detect where all the creatures were located. Old marble stones and statues littered the floors, creating obstacles along the way. The cathedral was massive, beautiful, and dark. Aria couldn’t help but think how amazing it would be to have the time to sit and analyze every small detail, see the faces of each sculpture, try to read the stunning language written along the walls. Ives was surely once a magnificent place, a paradise of white stone and brilliantly colored robes. Now it was a haunting tomb, full to the brim with hellish monsters.
Aria stumbled over a fallen pillar, slightly losing balance. She felt a clawed hand grip at her boot heel momentarily. She gasped out loud. Dovian glanced over his shoulder at the woman and fired a single burst of energy down the hall, slowing the creatures down.
“Quickly, in here.” The Sorcēarian turned into a side room. Troy and Aria hastily filed in before Dovian swiftly shoved the door closed and bolted it. He mumbled something in Legacy; the words on the door sparkled momentarily then faded back to dull scratches. “Damn….”
The room they were in was small, like a private chamber. There was an old fireplace on one side of the room, very ornate with engraved designs. Beside it was a small desk with what appeared to be strange tall, thin lamps for reading. On the opposite wall was a bookshelf, a miniature library full of foreign texts. Next to it was a long chaise, blankets draped over the sides. The objects all belonged in a museum. It was astounding everything was still in good condition. Sorcēarians sure knew how to make their things last.
“Well, what do we do? Jump?” Troy asked sarcastically. He was standing near a ledge by a broken balcony on the far side of the room opposite the entrance. The chamber opened up to the outdoors with a magnificent view of Ives. He looked over the edge. Gushing grey waves waited hundreds of meters far below. If they had jumped, there’s no way he and Aria would survive the impact, even if they hit the water instead of the massive boulders set against the edge of the immense architecture.
“It’s been a while since I’ve dealt with humans…” Dovian muttered.
“What? You forgot that we can’t fly?” Troy asked incredulously.
A high-pitched hiss sounded from beneath the chaise.
“What is that?” Aria aimed her 36C.
A rather large and plump lizard scuttled out from beneath the piece of furniture. It watched Aria and Troy from its peripheral and neared Dovian. Its neck flaps expanded as its tongue poked the air.
“Wait, don’t shoot.” Dovian held up a hand. “It is only Hector.”
“What is a Hector?” Troy grumbled.
“Hector is a frilled monitor,” Dovian said with pride. He gently patted the large lizard, Hector, on the head. “They are quite common on this island. My people engineered them long ago. They make for interesting pets.”
“Dandy,” Troy grumbled.
A loud pound on the door startled the bunch. Hector quickly skittered to the corner of the room near a hole in the wall.
“Go, Hector. It is not safe here anymore. Find the others. You must tell them what has happened today.” Dovian spoke curtly to the lizard. Hector merely blinked his beady eyes.
“He is talking to a lizard…” Troy whispered to his partner.
Aria shrugged, watching the Sorcēarian as he spoke to the reptile.
“We are at war. Yes…war,” Dovian spoke slowly as he said the word ‘war.’ Hector merely stared at the man. “No! You can feed yourself. You have plenty of fat to live off of.” Apparently Dovian was a little crazy, but he was at least valuable. “Go! Now!” The lizard hissed loudly in return and finally scuttled into the hole.
The pounding continued on the door, splintering against the hard wood. Even though it was made to keep enemies out, the door was thousands of years old. It wasn’t going to last long. Dovian rushed to the opening of the room. He placed his long hands around the banister and looked out, deep in thought.
“Aria?!” Gavin’s voice called abruptly inside her mind.
“Oh, thank God!” Aria sighed with relief. “Gavin! We’re at the cathedral! Can you see us?!” she mentally called out to the pilot.
“Yes! At least, I think I do. I’ve got a lot of life readings on my scanner. I assume you are one of those dots?”
“Yes! We are! But, all those other dots, those are bad dots! We’ve got enemies on our tail!”
“Holy! Aria, you and Troy need to get out of there! I’m rounding the corner of some old church.”
“That’s us! We’re up high by the balcony! And Gavin, prepare for three to board.”
Troy rushed to Dovian’s side and started waving his arms crazily and shouting, “Over here!”
“Three? You found someone?” Gavin questioned.
“Wait ‘til you see him,” Aria added.
Over the violent pounding on the door, hundreds of blows a second, the rumble of propellers was heard. Zooming around the corner of the cathedral, the Hawk 90 neared. Gavin took it in close to the building, the side panels opening up into the cabin.
“Okay! Better take a running jump!” Gavin called over the loud speaker.
Dovian, Aria, and Troy all three backed up against the far wall. The door crunched loudly; a hole cracked along one side; an arm snatched at Aria. The three took off, sprinting for the ledge with Troy in the lead and Dovian close behind. Aria, waving away the grasping hands, moved forward. Another loud bang took place, and the door was off its hinges, flying behind the woman’s heels. One after another, they jumped. Troy staggered into the cabin, quickly spinning to make sure Dovian didn’t need assistance. His eyes then fell to Aria. She had only a few more steps to make, but the door had crashed down, and there were dozens of the monsters filing into the room. One was on all fours, running wild like an animal. Aria jumped. The creature did the same. Something, however, caught Dovian’s eye. Someone was standing in the doorway, a dark silhouette with piercing eyes. Fear stilled the Sorcēarian.
“Catch her!” Troy shouted.
Aria reached, her right foot barely hitting the inside of the cabin as the left dangled in the air, snatched up by the beast’s massive talons that tore at her flesh. She cried out in pain as she was pulled by the creature’s weight, causing her to drop onto the floor. Dovian reached for her, gripping at her fingertips, but the talons only tightened around her ankle. The monster swung violently about Aria’s legs, shrieking, and chomping. The being was outrageously heavy; it wrenched with all of its weight, and in an instant, Aria was torn from Dovian’s hands, falling toward the raging waters below. Her shocked scream echoed down the valley.
“Aria!” Troy moved forward, but Dovian held him back.
“Hold this.” He handed over his rod and swiftly dove out of the helicopter.
“The man’s nuts!” Gavin shouted, looking over the side of the Hawk.
“No kidding,” Troy murmured.
Aria was free-falling. The creature was no longer holding her leg, but she could hear it shrieking behind her. She unconsciously reached upwards toward the copter. She saw Troy’s worried look and then the scarlet blur of
Dovian falling headfirst after her. Two massive wings burst from the man’s back, white in color. Feathers trailed behind him as he picked up speed after her. Dovian’s lengthy fingers gripped Aria’s wrists and tugged her upward into his chest. He carried her, zooming down toward the water. The woman hollered nervously as they neared the surface, and the Sorcēarian pulled up, flying in a swoop back into the air away from the raging riptides and the drowning monster. Slowly, she let out a deep breath and relaxed, finally realizing the death grip she had around the man’s neck. He was staring away from her looking at the Hawk, his untamed hair blowing in the wind as he flew gracefully back inside the cabin. Dovian gave her a sideways glance with a slightly nervous look in his eye and gently set her back on her feet.
“Ah!” Aria cried out. She fell to the side. Dovian caught her and quickly set her into one of the seats.
“She’s severely wounded,” he murmured, looking at the nasty gash on her leg and ankle.
“Damn! Aria,” Troy whispered.
It was bad, very bad. The cut was far too deep; blood was seeping all over the metal floor, dripping over the open side of the aircraft. Deep muscle tissue was torn ragged, and there was even a hint of something white. Bone maybe? Troy covered his mouth, looking away. There’s no way it would heal. It was possible she’d lose her leg if she lived through the wound at all.
“Stay with me,” Dovian spoke softly to the woman, cupping her face momentarily. Aria’s glazed eyes struggled to focus on his. They were pale blue, light emanating from the pupils, vibrant against the crimson-red tattoos lining his eyelids. Aria swallowed thickly, feeling faint. She momentarily wondered if tattoos like that hurt. “This might feel a bit strange, but it shouldn’t hurt once I begin,” Dovian said reassuringly. He turned his head to look at her ankle, revealing another vibrant tattoo lining his left cheek bone; it dipped toward his chin, the top pointing up toward a small dot on his temple.
His large hands wrapped around her ankle and Aria screamed.