by Mazhar, S
“Kyran, they’ve left,” Aaron said. “I say we get the kids and get out of here.”
“Abarimons are territorial creatures,” Kyran replied, still scanning the empty grounds. “They wouldn’t leave, not because of two Hunters.”
“Maybe they got scared?” Aaron suggested.
“Fear?” a voice growled from behind him.
Both Kyran and Aaron whipped around, guns aimed. The chief Abarimon, looking no more than a deranged beast, walked out from behind the tree. Its darkened gaze stayed on Kyran, glaring at him with fierce hatred.
“Fear not my feel,” it said in strained English. “Fear you be.”
From behind the trees Abarimons appeared, holding their own weapons. Long wooden spears with sharp-pointed ends were clutched in almost every Abarimon’s clawed hands. Kyran and Aaron looked around to see they were completely surrounded. Aaron’s back pressed against Kyran’s as both boys held out their weapons, targeting one Abarimon, then another, but both of them knew it was useless. There were at least seventy Abarimons closing in on them. They didn’t have enough bullets and there was only so much close combat Kyran could do on his own.
“Kyran?” Aaron called.
“Stay by my side, Ace,” Kyran said. “Shoot till your last bullet. Leave the rest to me.”
Aaron swallowed heavily and gripped his pistol tightly, steadying it with his other hand. He took aim at the closest Abarimon. He sucked in a breath and held it, willing himself to fire the first shot and start his first, and probably last, battle.
Shots rang out, deafeningly loud, but they were from neither Aaron’s nor Kyran’s gun. Startled, Aaron turned to see a whole group of teenagers clad in long coats and boots come spilling out from the darkness of the forest. They fired at the Abarimons, dropping the demons to the ground. The Abarimons turned, momentarily forgetting about Kyran and Aaron and focusing on this new threat.
From the crowd of boys and girls in dark coats came a flash of ivory white with a glint of studded silver. Aaron’s breath rushed out of him in surprise. Skyler was here. The sight brought a reassuring comfort that confused Aaron. Never did he imagine he would be glad to see Skyler. With a closer look, Aaron realised it wasn’t just Skyler; the rest of the Hunters were here too. Ryan, Julian, Ella, Zhi-Jiya – the whole lot of Salvador’s Hunters were here but so were the Hunters of Balt. A glimpse of Bella slicing off the head of an Abarimon confirmed that. It was only when Aaron felt Kyran’s firm grip under his elbow that he snapped out of his shock. Kyran pulled him quickly to the side, practically throwing him behind a tree.
“Stay here,” he instructed. “Any demon comes near you, shoot it.”
With that, Kyran sprinted forward to join the battle. This time it was the Abarimons that were surrounded, having no place to run from the Hunters. They fought back with their sharp spears, trying to impale their attackers. Aaron’s blood ran cold when he saw one of the Abarimons plunge the spear into Zhi-Jiya. Without a moment’s thought, Aaron was running towards her. Ella shot the demon before Aaron could get near enough to aim. With a sharp tug, Ella pulled the spear out of Zhi-Jiya’s torso and threw it aside. Zhi-Jiya staggered forward, bending over, with both hands clutched around her stomach.
“Zhi-Jiya!” Aaron came to her side. “Oh God! You okay?”
Zhi-Jiya was breathing heavily, head lowered as she stayed doubled over.
“Give me a...a minute,” she managed to say.
Slowly, she straightened up, panting past the obvious pain. Her face was covered in a fine sheen of perspiration. Her hands were stained with blood, but she simply brushed them down her legs and pulled out another magazine from her pocket.
“Get my gun, will ya?” she asked breathlessly.
Aaron picked her black and red pistol up from the ground. “You okay?” he asked again, as he held her gun with one hand and steadied her with the other.
Zhi-Jiya grinned, even though her eyes with bright with pain. “Please,” she scoffed, but Aaron could hear it lacked her usual charisma. “It takes more than a flimsy stick to get the best of Zhi-Jiya Hau.”
She slid the magazine into her pistol, cocked her gun and aimed at the Abarimons, taking out four of them in a matter of seconds. Aaron stayed by her side but Zhi-Jiya continued the fight, paying little attention to her wounds.
On the other side of the clearing, Kyran turned to the Abarimons with his sword, having used up all his bullets. He swung the blade, slicing through the demons. He blocked another spear attack and knocked the stick out of the demon’s hand before plunging his sword into the Abarimon’s stomach. Just as Kyran pulled the sword out and turned, another demon leapt at him, successfully throwing him to the ground. Kyran was pinned under the filthy Abarimon, who had dug his claws into Kyran’s sword-wielding arm, piercing through his flesh. With its other hand, the Abarimon viciously back-handed Kyran, whipping his head to the side. With teeth bared and claws ready, the Abarimon went for Kyran’s throat, wanting to rip it out. Kyran caught his hand, struggling to keep the demon back. A shot rang out and the Abarimon stilled, eyes wide open but lifeless. It turned to dust, coating Kyran’s front. Grimacing in disgust, Kyran looked up to find a smirking Skyler standing over him.
“Don’t look so surprised,” Skyler said. “You know I’m the only one who gets to kick your ass.” He extended a hand, which Kyran took to get pulled back to his feet.
Kyran’s arm was bleeding badly – four punctures where the demon’s claws had cut into him were weeping blood down his arm. Kyran hugged his injured arm to his chest and picked up his sword with the other hand. A growl brought his and Skyler’s attention to the chief Abarimon who was staring at them with wide, mad eyes. Its demons had fallen. There were perhaps five or six left. Kyran and Skyler shared a look before smiling. They rushed towards the chief with their swords and guns raised.
***
After the last demon had fallen, the Hunters made their way back to the huts. Aaron and Ella lifted the table away from the chief’s hut to get the scared children out. For the first few minutes, they simply sat in front of the hut, calming the children. Other Hunters gathered around, each talking to the distraught kids, assuring them they were going to take them back home to their families.
Aaron watched as Zhi-Jiya stood to the side, her eyes on the huts. He got up and walked over to her.
“I can’t believe they had a valley here,” she said quietly. “How could we not know what was going on?”
“You know what I can’t believe?” Aaron asked. “That all of you came to help us.”
Zhi-Jiya turned to him with a frown. “Why wouldn’t we?” she asked. “We’re Hunters, Aaron. We don’t leave one of our own behind.”
“Unless it’s a Q-Zone,” Aaron said.
Zhi-Jiya smiled. “Even that’s been challenged now, what with Kyran jumping in after you and all.”
Aaron turned to see Kyran, who was talking with Ryan and Julian, his injured arm held to his chest. A moment later, Ryan and Julian walked away, heading to where Skyler was deep in conversation with Bella. The four talked for a minute before pulling out their guns, loading them with more magazines and spreading out. Other Hunters followed their example by loading their weapons and walking after them.
“What are they doing?” Aaron asked, watching the crowd head to different corners.
“We have to take out every last Abarimon,” Zhi-Jiya said. “It’s the only way we can leave and take those kids home.”
Aaron turned back to her with wide eyes. “You mean...?”
Zhi-Jiya nodded. “Every last Abarimon,” she repeated. “Old...” She paused for a brief moment, “...and young.”
27
Changing Tactics
Aaron couldn’t sleep. Sam and Rose were snoring softly in their beds, but Aaron was wide awake. Eventually he got up. There was no hope for any sleep tonight. He headed downstairs, pausing briefly at Kyran’s door. He wasn’t back yet. As soon as Aaron and the Hunters had returned to Salvador, Zhi-Jiya an
d Kyran were rushed to the Empaths to be healed.
Aaron went to the living room and sat down in the semi-darkness. The soft glow from the lanterns outside shone into the room, giving just enough light for Aaron to see the outline of his hands before him. A few minutes later, the front door clicked open and Aaron saw Kyran’s silhouette in the hallway.
“Hey,” Aaron called, and Kyran turned towards him at once.
A wave of Kyran’s hand and the lamps in the hallway and living room glowed. “Ace?” Kyran looked surprised, as well as exhausted and a bit pale. “What you doing still up?” he asked, walking into the room.
“Couldn’t sleep,” Aaron replied. His gaze rested on the torn sleeve of Kyran’s coat. “How’s the arm?”
“Fine,” Kyran said and sat down, his narrowed eyes fixed on Aaron. “Why can’t you sleep?”
Aaron shrugged, but didn’t say anything.
“Ace?”
Aaron looked up at him before sighing. “I keep thinking...about today.”
“What about it?” Kyran asked.
“Those demons, the Abarimons,” Aaron said. “I can’t get them out of my head.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Kyran said, leaning back in his seat. “They’re gone; their valley's wiped out.”
“Exactly,” Aaron replied.
Kyran’s brow creased, vivid green eyes narrowed in confusion. “Ace,” he said, “they were demons.”
“I know,” Aaron said. “I know they were demons and they were savage, flesh-eating monsters. I know that killing them was the only way of protecting ourselves as well as those kids they had captured, but...but we still wiped out an entire population today.”
“Of demons,” Kyran repeated. “That’s what we do. We’re Hunters.”
“And that’s the thing,” Aaron said. “I don’t know if I have what it takes to be a Hunter.”
Kyran stilled, staring at Aaron.
Aaron dropped his gaze to the floor before continuing. “I know that Skyler and the others hunted down the Abarimon young and killed them. That’s the only way we could leave the valley. I know that, but I also know that I could never do that.” He looked back up at Kyran. “I couldn’t even shoot an adult Abarimon when they were attacking us! My hand shook every time I had to take aim.” He paused to take in a breath and he slowly shook his head. “You asked for my help and I did nothing. I couldn’t take down a single demon.”
“So?” Kyran’s question threw Aaron. He looked up at him with surprise. “So what if you didn’t make a hit?” Kyran asked. “What matters is that you were there. You stood by my side, like a true Hunter. A true mage.” He leant forward. “As for taking down demons, killing isn’t easy, Ace. No one likes doing it.”
“You were breaking necks and making jokes,” Aaron said.
“That’s because I’ve been hunting since I was thirteen,” Kyran said. “I’ve accepted that even if I don’t want to kill, I have to, ’cause mages were only brought into existence to kill demons.”
“What about mages like Alan and Mary and all the others that don’t go hunting?” Aaron asked. “They’re still mages, but they don’t kill.”
Kyran laughed. “Don’t be so sure. Mother Mary can behead a demon faster than she can cut a turnip. Alan, son of Thomas Kings, could kick demonic ass with about the same ease as he lays the table. If it comes down to it, every mage in this realm could take down a demon.” He paused for a moment. When he next spoke, he was quieter but there was a fierceness in his words. “You have to have the hunger to kill, Ace. A hunger that only comes after you’ve lost something that meant anything to you.” He held Aaron’s gaze with darkened green eyes. “Because that’s when you understand that being a Hunter isn’t about what you’re killing, but what you’re protecting.”
***
Rose passed basket upon basket of overflowing fruit, each settled next to the tall trees.
“Aaron? Sam?” she called again.
She wandered down the orchard path for almost forty minutes before giving up. With a sigh, she sat under the shade of a huge tree. She leant against the wide trunk, her legs stretched out before her. The warm breeze flitted over her, freeing a few strands from her bun to fall across her face. Pushing them behind her ear, Rose closed her eyes and let out another tired sigh. Her eyes slipped closed and she stayed like that for a few moments, silently relishing the feel of the warm breeze across her face and the sweet smell of mangos in the air.
“Don’t fall asleep.”
Rose opened her eyes with a start, only to stare up at Kyran. She relaxed and smiled. “I was just resting my eyes.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Kyran came closer. “You seen Ace?”
Rose frowned. “Ace?”
“Just a demeaning nickname to annoy Aaron into working harder,” Kyran explained with a grin.
Rose clicked her tongue while shaking her head. “Positive motivation is still a thing, you know,” she said. “You should try it sometime.”
“Humiliation seems to be the only thing that works,” Kyran replied. “You seen him?”
Rose shook her head. “I was looking for Aaron and Sam myself.”
Kyran let out a sigh before sitting down on the ground opposite Rose. “He’s hiding from me, I know it. He can’t handle the tough training.”
Rose chuckled. Her gaze moved from Kyran’s face down his shoulder to his arm. Last night, when the Hunters had returned, she had learnt from Aaron that Kyran had been injured.
“How’s the arm?” she asked.
Kyran lifted up his hand and pulled back his sleeve, examining the flawless smooth skin. “Good as new,” he said.
Rose noted the way the four silver lines, tattooed across the back of Kyran’s hand, gleamed in the sunlight. “It’s just as well mages don’t scar,” she said. “Can you imagine what you’d look like if you got to keep reminders of all your battles?”
“Not all scars are bad,” Kyran said. “Sometimes it’s good to keep a reminder of your battles. That way, you’ll never forget what you lost.”
“Isn’t the loss itself a reminder?” Rose asked. “You don’t really need a physical mark, do you?”
Kyran smiled up at her and the green of his eyes stole Rose’s breath. The intensity of his gaze was such, Rose found herself completely lost. She only realised she was staring when Kyran shifted, as if uncomfortable under her gaze. Rose quickly looked away. She glanced up at the branches of the tree she was sitting under and spotted the small green mangos clumped together in bunches. It would be a few more hours before the mangos would be ripe enough to eat. Of course, in her world it would take days, not hours, for fruit to grow and ripen, but Rose found herself wishing the mangos were ready. Their sweet smell was making her mouth water. When she looked down, she found this time it was Kyran staring at her.
“What?” she asked.
Kyran didn’t say anything. With a smile, he leant forward. For a moment, Rose thought he was about to touch her shoulder, but Kyran’s hand went past her and rested on the trunk. No more than a heartbeat later, the fruit started to grow; the mangos got bigger and heavier, weighing down the branches. The green of the mangos changed to a sun-kissed yellow and the sweet aroma only got stronger. Kyran kept his hand on the trunk until the branches lowered to offer the ripe and ready to eat fruit. Kyran lifted his hand from the trunk and plucked off a single mango. The branches slowly lifted upwards and settled, the mangos dangling from them. Without a word, Kyran held out the fruit to Rose. Astonished, Rose took the offering.
“How...how did you do that?” she asked.
Kyran grinned. “I know a trick or two to speed things up,” he said.
Rose didn’t say anything. She held the mango in her hands and smiled. Her heart gave a little skip at the thought that Kyran knew exactly what she wanted, without her having to say a single word.
***
Sam and Aaron were at the far side of the lake, watching the strange way mages went fishing, from a safe, dry distance. This time,
both boys rather enjoyed the sight of the towering wall of water and the way the silvery fish were scooped out by the floating net.
Ahead of them, walking along the bank of the lake, were two people Aaron never thought he would see together – Skyler and Armana.
“Where are they going?” Sam frowned, looking at the unlikely pair.
“No idea,” Aaron replied.
Skyler and Armana seemed to be deep in conversation. Armana must have said something to annoy Skyler, as he suddenly stopped and pulled Armana by the arm to face him.
“Oh, hell no!” Sam started angrily. “What does he think he’s doing?” He stepped forward, ready to march up to Armana’s rescue.
Before Sam or Aaron could climb up the bank, they saw Armana gently pulled her arm out of Skyler’s grip, smiling the entire time. She rested both hands on Skyler’s chest and tilted her face up, her lips moving as she said something. Surprisingly, Skyler smiled and leant forward. He rested one hand on her cheek, and wrapped the other around her waist as he pulled her closer and kissed her.
Sam and Aaron stopped in their tracks, mouths dropped open, eyes wide and unblinking.
“What the–?” Sam uttered.
“Skyler and Armana?” Aaron choked.
Sam turned to gape at Aaron. “That’s why she was all, ‘Skyler’s not bad, he’s got a good heart’,” he said. “It’s ’cause she was with him!”
“Skyler and Armana?” Aaron repeated. “How? He’s so...so... and she’s so...you know?”
“Yeah, exactly!” Sam agreed.
The mages that were fishing must not have seen Skyler and Armana, as they raised their hands, building the water once again. The huge wave climbed high into the air, heading straight at the kissing couple.
“Oh – hey! Watch out!” Aaron shouted in panic, not wanting Armana hit by the water.
Without breaking their kiss, Skyler raised a hand towards the approaching wave. The water spun around him and Armana, making it look like they were encased in a waterproof bubble. The water crashed to the ground all around them, before dragging its way back into the lake.