by Megan Hepler
“I owe you one,” Balen said. He slapped the table. Then, Balen pushed the chair out and rose to his feet.
“That’s it?” Demona asked.
“It’s enough,” Balen said.
They rose from their seat and fought their way through the dancers. Demona noticed that Bergfalk had entered the club. She wore a sleek black dress with a slit up the side of her left leg. Her high pumps made her seem to tower over Demona when she approached. She looked even more radiant than when they had seen her earlier. Demona reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Kerrick. I suppose you were here to see Logan about a man?” Bergfalk asked. “Come, have a dance with me before you leave.” She placed both of her hands on Balen’s forearms as if attempting to keep him focused only on her.
“Another time, Salina. I have work to do. Darius has us hunting down Lobo,” Balen said.
“That dolt? When will he ever learn to stay out of trouble?” Bergfalk asked. She shook her head.
“Never would be my guess!” Balen said.
“Well, take care and do not forget you owe me a dance,” Bergfalk said. She went around Balen towards the dance floor.
Balen turned and watched Bergfalk for a moment. He tried to make it seem as if he was just slowly turning in Demona’s direction, but he was admiring Bergfalk’s retreating figure.
****
Balen pulled his car onto a gravel driveway and it led into a forest. He stopped the car half way down the drive. He opened his door and stepped out. The towering green pines groaned in the breeze. Balen went to the trunk of his car and opened it. It was an arsenal of sorts, stocked with a variety of weapons. First, he pulled out a silver stake.
“Silver only acts as a poison to werewolves. It will not kill them, but it slows down their reflexes. It can be used as protection against whatever you view as evil. For example, someone might use it against us as protection, if they view us as evil. It is all in the perception of those wielding the weapon.
“If Lobo comes at you, skedaddle. Do not let him corner you. If you find yourself in a bad situation thrust the stake at him. It will slow him down, but only if you pierce the skin,” Balen said.
Balen demonstrated how to use the stake. “This position is best for close contact and average sized foes.” Balen stood with both feet planted firmly on the ground. The stake was clasped in both of his hands positioned with the point facing away from his torso. He moved the dagger forward in quick thrusting motions.
“This is best for fast approaching, larger foes,” Balen said. He demonstrated again, in the same position, but with his arms raised above his head. He brought the stake down in a quick thrust, then handed the stake to Demona.
“This is for protection more than for fighting. Today you’re to observe.” Balen caressed a dagger. “This is my favorite weapon, above all other weapons. It is easy to conceal, easy to handle, and great for speed. This one is also made of silver.” Balen looked admiringly at the dagger and stuck it back into a sheath attached to his belt.
They began walking down the gravel drive as the sun loomed high above. When they walked through trees the sunlight began to grow dimmer, as it was blocked by the towering pines. In the near distance Balen spotted a dilapidated shack. They stopped. Balen crouched down and signaled for Demona to do the same.
Demona was about to speak, but he signaled her to be quiet. She glanced back and forth between Balen and the shack. He seemed to be waiting for something as he stared forward for what felt like minutes.
“Lobo is here,” Balen said. “There’s blood on the porch, he has probably fed. This will slow down his transformation; it gives us a slight advantage. Be cautious. If anything happens to me get to the car and get out of here.”
Balen withdrew his dagger. He held it in front of him as he began to sneak his way towards the shack, taking cover behind objects along way. He halted in front of the porch steps and signaled for Demona to stay where she was.
Demona shifted in her crouched position and the needles below her feet crunched louder than expected. Uh-oh!
Balen’s eyes popped open and he quickly stood. Through the screen door burst a grotesque half man, half beast. Lobo was clearly in-between transformation. He let out a deep growl and for a moment their eyes were locked together. His claws and teeth were starting to lengthen and sharpen to a point. Balen signaled to Demona to retreat. Lobo’s eyes glanced towards Demona and seemed to pass her over as a minor threat.
Balen’s body rippled slightly, as he and Lobo began to step closer to one another. Balen’s fangs had grown in length and his nails grew slightly longer. His skin took on a gray metallic sheen.
I never thought the kataphraktos would look like that!
Vampires that were chosen to become agents were known to transform into a battle ready body. They called it kataphraktos. Demona had heard stories about the transformation and that the skin took on an almost thin armor like texture.
It is beautiful in a creepy kind of way.
Demona glanced back at Lobo. By this time Lobo’s nails had grown to be about three inches in length and his bared canine teeth revealed several more dangerous weapons. Balen gripped the hilt of his dagger tighter. After a few moments, Lobo made the first sweeping attack with his claws. Balen dodged the attack and struck Lobo unexpectedly in the ribs. Lobo recovered quickly moving backwards, so the blade could not penetrate too deeply. They both regained their composure and began circling again.
Demona stood wide eyed as she watched the two go back and forth. Come on Balen!
Lobo swiped again aiming for Balen’s face. Balen dodged again and struck once more at Lobo, this time missing him by inches. Lobo struck again, following it up with a lunge. His teeth were bared and ready to sink into any body part that he could bite into. Balen’s quick reflexes prevented Lobo from piercing the skin, but his teeth shredded the sleeve of Balen’s jacket. Balen managed to pierce Lobo’s hide with his dagger a few more times.
Lobo had difficulty dodging Balen’s attacks and landing any hits of his own. Then, Balen pulled something from his pocket.
Is that a necklace?
Demona tried to get a better look, but before she could a howl came from behind her. Before she knew what was happening, something large and hairy raced past her, knocked her to the ground, and headed in Balen’s direction.
“Balen, look out! Another wolf!” Demona said.
Moments later the wolf leapt on Balen’s back. He bolted to the side allowing the wolf a hard impact with the ground. Lobo stood breathing deeply as the second wolf spun around. Both inched towards Balen ready to strike at the same time. With great speed the second wolf attacked and with Lobo’s aid they quickly overcame Balen. Balen was pinned below the savage creatures.
Demona had a hard time seeing what was happening, as dust drifted up around their forms. She saw Balen trying to hold both of the wolves off. His dagger had fallen away from him. Balen slashed at the wolves with his nails, but was unable to penetrate their skin.
Demona quickly raced to Balen’s aid. Before she knew what she had done she slammed the stake into Lobo’s back. Lobo’s transformation was almost complete, masses of hair sprouted from all over his body. When Lobo turned Demona saw the look of anger spread across his hairy face and a snarl emanated from his foaming jowl. Oh crap!
Lobo’s gruesome smile and razor sharp teeth mocked her. It would take merely one impact of his paw to snap her neck. Lobo and Demona’s eyes were locked. Both knew what was about to happen. Lobo began to leap towards her.
Demona began to back away, but she tripped and stumbled to the ground.
Suddenly, a strong wind blew through the trees. Lobo raised his paw to strike as he drew nearer. It seemed time had frozen as she tried to scramble backwards away from him. Demona continued to stare death in the eye and she became aware of a distant cracking sound.
The ground seemed to shift below her and a dust cloud surrounded her making it hard to see. A second later Lobo was gon
e. The dust began to settle and only feet from her lay a fallen pine tree. Lobo was struggling underneath the tree and attempting to break the branches that were holding him prisoner. He snarled, and dug his claws into the dirt in an attempt to pull himself free.
Balen approached her, after having subdued the second wolf with some type of charm. He threw two charms around Lobo’s neck and turned to shake reality back into Demona.
“You alright?” Balen asked. He searched her for injuries, while he favored his own left arm.
Demona noticed that he bled from multiple puncture wounds. “What?” Demona looked at Lobo where he now lay in human form below his earthly cage. The other wolf had also regained human form. She sat huddled near the shack.
“Are you alright?” Balen asked.
Demona nodded in reply. “What happened?”
“That’s a reskinning charm; it’s used to force a werewolf to take human form,” Balen said. “And this is a manipulation charm; it will subdue him and force him to do what I tell him. His mind can think differently, but his body will obey.”
“I meant with the tree,” Demona said.
“Help me get them back to TGHC and we’ll pay Darius a visit.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know. Maybe Darius will be able to give us some insight,” Balen said.
Chapter 4
Unwanted Prophecy
Demona sat in the chair waiting in the all too familiar place. She stared towards her old cubical and tapped her fingertips together.
Balen exited the office from giving his report to Darius and looked down at Demona. His brows were creased. “Darius would like to speak with you now. I’ll wait for you in the parking lot.”
Darius was in the same place she had seen him the day before. He sat with his elbows on his desk and hands collapsed just under his chin. His cold eyes watched her carefully.
“Sit down,” Darius said. He stared into Demona’s eyes capturing her with his gaze.
Demona managed to find her seat and squeezed the arm rests.
“Kerrick and I have discussed today’s events. The second wolf that you arrested is a recently turned female. It looks as though Lobo was beginning to create a pack. Well done on your first assignment. To say the least, I am impressed, even if you did disobey orders. It seems that you have also found your mageia today,” Darius said.
“Excuse me, what’s mageia?” Demona asked.
“Demona, what do you think happened today?” Darius asked.
“All I know is that Balen was in trouble. I know I shouldn’t have, but I did what I could to help. Lobo was getting ready to attack me. One minute I was trying to get away and bracing myself for death. And the next thing I knew I was staring at Lobo under the tree.”
“With the fear and realization of the end of your life your survival instincts took over. You are one of a kind; there is no doubt about that.”
“Stop with all the cryptics. I just want to know what’s happening!”
Darius stood and walked around the office. He stared out the window as the sun began to set.
“We have a prophecy. This prophecy was foretold six millennia ago, by a witch. Witches with the ability to predict the future were called oracles, then. We have no written record from that time, so the prophecy has been passed orally. According to what has been relayed through the millennia, the prophecy says that a being will come into play that will affect the balance of dark and light.
“She will come as half of one and half the other, born from both death and life. A power of great strength will rise within to conquer all who oppose her. Love and hate decides her course. No two outcomes are there, but one. She will change the world for one and the other she will smother.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that a being will come into existence, a female being to be exact. This being will contain an unimaginable mageia, of which no species has ever witnessed. She is often referred to as the Mythos. It is assumed that she will determine the destiny for the entire world.”
“What’s mageia?”
“It is the Greek word for supernatural powers, or magic. It is a term that has been used to describe our supernatural abilities throughout time. It is suspected that the Mythos will determine the fate of all beings on Earth. Many beings, both dark and light, have speculated over when this event will occur. Some argue that it will take place when a great war between light and dark begins. Others wonder if she will cause some cataclysmic event. No one knows for certain what will happen. There are many theories and speculations about the prophecy. Even about its legitimacy.
“It is also suggested that either the light or dark beings will be destroyed. One thing is certain; she will be influenced by both sides. Depending on her course of action either the dark or the light beings will feel her wrath.” He turned back towards Demona.
“What does this have to do with me and what happened today?”
“You have shown a great power today, Demona.”
“So, what? Other beings have powers. I’m not the first.”
Darius took his seat once more. “Have you ever experienced anything like what happened, before today?”
“No, I have no idea. I’m just so confused! All these riddles are just making it worse,” Demona said.
“I believe you are the Mythos mentioned in the prophecy.”
“That’s insane.” Demona crossed her arms and looked away.
“Do you want to know why I believe this?”
“I’m not some powerful being! I don’t care what you say!”
“You were only turned two years ago. All beings gradually come into their mageia after a few decades, if they have one. A person’s mageia can increase over the years with training. We learn to use them, strengthen them, and control them. Never has a new vampire shown such strength upon discovering their mageia. Never so early and never so powerful.”
“I think you are crazy! I don’t think I have any mageia. It was just the wind, not me.”
“No, you are mistaken,” Darius said. “When Kerrick and I spoke earlier I asked him about the incident. He informed me that he saw what had happened. He had already subdued the female wolf and was getting ready to assist you with Lobo. He said you were surrounded by a roaring wind, and he was unable to get closer to you. The wind kept blowing him back.
“He said after you put Lobo and his alpha in the car he went back to clean up the area and he examine the fallen tree. The tree trunk was still alive; there was no sign of rot. The roots were still firmly in the ground, no amount of erosion or softened soil had affected it. The tree had broken in half. There are only two ways I know of a healthy tree falling like that, and that is by being chopped down or snapped by wind shear. There is no other rational explanation. It had to be your mageia.
“The amount of strength you showed, with the wind shear, gives me reason to believe that you are the Mythos. The tree breaking in half only goes to support my theory. You may have been experiencing small forms of your mageia for some time without realizing it, especially if you are controlling wind. You may have become angry or afraid and then a slight breeze brushed by you. If outdoors you would have shrugged it off as simply the breeze,” Darius said.
“This is ridiculous, I’m just me! Clumsy, forgetful, and lazy! I’m not special and, I refuse to believe that I’ll be some destroyer of beings!” How can he think this about me? I don’t want a responsibility like this! I just want to be left alone! I never asked to be a vampire!
“Get yourself home. Take tomorrow off. I want you back to work on Monday with a clear head. Prophecy or not, you are Kerrick’s partner now. Do you understand?”
Demona did not respond, she turned and stormed out of the office. She marched out of the building. Someone grabbed her by the arm and she went to swing a fist in the direction of her captor.
“Take it easy,” Balen said. He released her from his grip and held up his hands in surrender.
“What do you want?” Demona asked.
“Darius told me about his suspicions. I can tell you are huffy about it, but I want you to know that I think his theory may hold some truth.”
“Great another psycho that thinks I’m something mythical!” Demona started to turn away from him.
“Calm yourself! Regardless of what we believe I wanted to tell you that you did well today. And congratulate you on your first day as an agent. I appreciate you stepping in despite my orders.”
“Who cares?” Demona said. She continued down the sidewalk towards the parking lot.
“I will see you tomorrow,” Balen said.
“No, you won’t. Darius gave me the day off,” Demona said. Demona walked away down the sidewalk.
“Oh, looks like someone had a bad day.” It was none other than Persephone leaning up against the side of the building.
Demona approached Persephone who, oddly enough, was without her sidekick. Demona slammed the palm of her hand into Persephone’s chest forcing her against the wall.
“Back off!” Demona stared Persephone straight in the eyes. Then, Demona turned and walked away.
****
Demona slammed her apartment door closed and began to pace around her kitchen. They can all just go to hell! First, they turn me into a monster, and then they stick me with a crappy job. Then, they put me on an even crappier job and now I’m supposed to believe I’m some all powerful being?
A knock came from the door. Now what! Demona peered through her peep hole. There stood her neighbor, Hannah. Demona unlocked her door and opened it.
“Hey, I was just wondering if you were alright,” Hannah said. Hannah had long, wavy, blonde hair that had been pulled back in a ponytail.
“Yeah, why?” Demona asked.
“Well, you sort of stomped past me in the hallway and ignored me when I said hello. It looked like you were pretty angry about something, but I thought I would check to see if you are okay.” Hannah looked at her feet as she rubbed her arm.
“Oh, sorry. I’ve just had a bad day. I didn’t mean to ignore you.”