Octurna peered down at the pit, her face alive with triumph.
“Lover of beasts, did you believe you could defeat a Guardian in her domain? Don’t you think I recognized your foul signature the moment I laid eyes on your twisted creations? I was always in control of the situation. And now you will tell me everything I want to know.”
Octurna’s words sent a chill up my spine. If she had suspected Xorron from the start, then that meant she had placed me into his path knowing I might get infected with the monster bug.
The world seemed to tilt as I realized how far the sorceress would go to achieve her goals of vengeance against the Shadow Cabal. I cut a glance at her, but Octurna’s gaze was fixed on the pit below.
“Your miserable life and the lives of your children belong to me now, Xorron.”
To prove her point, the sorceress drew a circle in the air, and a full row of cells filled with fire. Monstrous screams erupted and then abruptly died down as Octurna annihilated a hundred beasts at once. An immense rush of power surged through my body, washing away the feeling of betrayal.
I gasped from the intense flow of energy and clutched the catwalk’s railing as I reeled under the power boost. New spells and magical combat techniques filled my mind in a flash, almost as if I was uploading multiple grimoires into my brain at the same time.
Xorron’s roars reverberated through the dungeon, and the walls of the fortress trembled. Raw rage soon turned into a mournful dirge for his fallen brood. The monster maker, for all his many faults, loved his abominations.
Keira eyed me with a mixture of horror and wonder, her expression full of questions. I hoped to answer some of them soon.
As the waves of energy cascading through my body eased in intensity, I realized we’d gained an incredible advantage in the upcoming war. The imprisoned monsters represented an almost unlimited power supply. It would have taken years to hunt down all these beasts. Now we could just pop the top on a monster any time Octurna or I needed a pick-me-up.
There was just one little problem with the all-you-can-eat monster buffet. All these living horrors had been people once. Instead of trying to seek a cure for these poor souls, the sorceress had feasted on them.
Almost as if Octurna had read my thoughts, she turned towards me. “There is no way we can help them once the transformation enters its final phase. At that point, the human host is already dead.”
“And what about me? Am I dead already? Will you snack on me once I change into a dragon for good?”
The question hung in the air. I felt Keira’s gaze daggering into me. No matter what horrors she faced, Keira was still a reporter at heart. She couldn’t resist probing for information.
“What are you talking about, Jason? What happened to you? Also, where are we, who is that woman, and what is that thing at the bottom of the pit?”
“Not now,” I said without turning to look at the journalist. “I’ll answer your questions, but first I need a few answers of my own.”
I glared at the sorceress, my anger getting the better of me. “You knew about Xorron from the beginning, but you let me walk into that club. Let this thing have its way with me so you could set your trap and fill up your little zoo with these lost souls. You used me as bait.”
“I did what I had to, Jason. I’m sorry…”
“You’re sorry? You turned me into a fucking monster.”
“It will take a monster to defeat the seven Dark Masters. Don’t you want to avenge your fallen brothers and sisters? Don’t you want to keep your loved ones safe?"
She walked right up to me, her neck exposed to my gauntlet's blades. Part of me wanted to strike. It was one thing to take orders from higher up the chain of command. As a soldier and a cop, I was used to it. It was quite another to be used as a mindless pawn.
"Would you rather strike me down or save the world? What’s one life when billions are at stake?”
With a heavy sigh, I lowered the blades. “How do I fight the war if I’m doomed to turn into a creature you need to lock up?”
“The sigils on your chest slow down the affliction and allow you to tame the beast and make it do your bidding. Once this conflict is over, I will destroy Xorron and free you of the monster maker’s curse.”
I processed this. If Octurna was telling the truth, which was becoming less and less likely the better I got to know her, there was still a chance I could defeat this disease. I’d be able to live a mostly normal life and continue my fight against the forces of darkness. In the meantime, I would still be infected.
“I guess that means I’m still a carrier,” I said. “No shore leave for me.”
“No, the sigils control the infection,” Octurna said. “You won’t have to worry about passing it on as long as they remain active.”
Inwardly I let out a sigh of relief. At least I wouldn’t have to live like a monk while this war raged on. It wasn’t much comfort, to be honest. Getting laid was the furthest thing from my mind right now, after everything I’d been through. What I really wanted was a hot shower and some time alone to think.
Xorron unleashed a final psychic cry, his words slashing through my consciousness. “You’ll never defeat the seven Dark Masters. Free me, Night Slayer, and you will be rewarded as my favored son.”
A bolt of lightning burst from Octurna’s hand and speared the blubbery creature in the pit below. The monster maker's wail of agony rattled the prison.
A murderous glint flashed in the sorceress’s gaze. “The real war begins now. Are you ready, Slayer? Will you be bold enough to face our true enemy?”
The question ricocheted through my soul. Was I ready? Did I have what it took? The power pulsing inside of me suggested I was, but doubt remained. Could I still trust the sorceress after this latest proof that she was playing a dangerous game? I had always seen myself as Octurna’s knight, but perhaps I was nothing but another pawn.
“Are you with me, Jason?” Octurna pressed.
I pondered the question. In the end, the answer was simple. I couldn’t turn back now. If I left now, there was nowhere for me to go. Everyone who had known me in my old life believed I was dead. Keira was my only link to the world beyond the fortress, and I had a feeling she’d be joining the fight sooner rather than later.
And Octurna was right about one thing. Sacrificing one life to save the lives of billions was worth it. I had signed up for this war against the darkness. It was time to put up or shut up.
“I’m with you, Octurna,” I said.
A satisfied smile played over those enigmatic features. “Good. Then it’s time we teach our enemy the true meaning of fear.”
I eyed Keira. She had followed our cryptic exchange with interest. She looked a little lost, but she gave us a brave smile and said, “I’m in. It’s not like I could go back to my normal life after this.”
Even as I returned her smile, dark thoughts clouded my mind. War turned most men into monsters, but this was no ordinary clash between earthbound forces. This war had already cost me my mortal life and my humanity. I wondered if victory in our shadow war would come at the cost of my very soul.
Only time would tell.
The End
Jason Night and Octurna will return in Dark Masters.
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Also by WILLIAM MASSA
THE NIGHT SLAYER SERIES
Midnight War
Monster Quest
Shadow Plague
THE SHADOW DETECTIVE SERIES
Cursed City
Soul Catcher
Blood Rain
Demon Dawn
Skull Master
Ghoul Night
Witch Wars
Crimson Circle
Hell Breaker
THE OCCULT ASSASSIN SERIES
Damnation Code
Apocalypse Soldier
Spirit Breaker
Soul Jacker
THE GARGOYLE KNIGHT SERIES
Gargoyle Knight
Gargoyle Quest
STAND ALONES
Fear the Light
About the Author
William Massa is a produced screenwriter and bestselling Amazon author. His film credits include Return to House on Haunted Hill and he has sold pitches and scripts to Warner, USA TV, Silver Pictures, Dark Castle, Maverick and Sony.
William has lived in New York, Florida, Europe and now resides in Venice Beach surrounded by skaters and surfers. He writes science fiction and dark fantasy/urban fantasy horror with an action-adventure flavor.
Writing can be a solitary pursuit but rewriting can be a group effort. I strive to make each book better than the last and feedback is incredibly helpful. If you have notes, thoughts or comments about this book or want to contact me, feel free to contact me at:
[email protected]
Hope to hear from you soon!
Shadow Plague Page 13