“Piece of advice, Clover,” Triska spoke up, with the elf turning to her as the teen shook her head slowly. “Alyssa is very passionate and protective when it comes to those she loves and cares about. If you come between her and her daughter, you will regret it.”
“You said you went into that place before and came out alright,” Kroanette mentioned from the doorway. “Help Alyssa do the same. Just find out where Ember is then get out of there, surely you can handle that.”
Clover muttered something out of frustration then looked up with an annoyed sigh.
“Fine. I’ll help you. Just answer me one thing.” She then turned to Alyssa with a sharp eye. “What happens if your daughter won’t listen to you? What happens when she refuses to calm down and tries to kill you?”
“You let me deal with that, just help me find her,” Alyssa answered.
Clover looked away and reluctantly nodded with a dull expression before Alyssa lowered her head as her eyes returned to normal, the witch praying she could find and talk down her enraged daughter before things became violent between them.
“Well then, should we have Pip warp us to Stonegate?” Triska asked with a shrug. “Or at least closer to it? Seems like that’s where we need to be now.”
“I still do not like the idea of going near that place,” Specca mentioned with concern before looking at the map with defeat. “But it does seem to be our only real lead for finding Ember. If we really must go there then I suppose we should just go and get it over with.”
“I think that would be best,” Daniel agreed. “The odds of us finding Ember out here in the middle of nowhere are very low. The sooner we find any other lead as to where she went the sooner we can head straight for her.”
“I’ll go help Kroanette get Lucky hitched to the caravan,” Triska offered as she made her way towards the entryway.
“Clover can get her arrows out of the rafters again while we wait,” Specca dryly mentioned while glancing up to the arrows that were still up in the ceiling.
“And we’ll be hiding under the covers until this is all over,” Falla added as she and sister trotted over to the bed and darted under the sheets.
Daniel smiled a bit at seeing the two butterfly sisters poking their eyes and antennae out from under the covers at the edge of the bed at them then watched Alyssa slowly taking a seat at the table with a quiet sigh. Squeak picked up the witch’s hat and brought it over, resting it on her head with a squeak, and earned a very faint smile from Alyssa as she tenderly held onto its rim for a moment.
“Thank you, Squeak,” she softly said.
“Alyssa?” Pip worriedly asked as she landed on the table before the witch. “Are you alright?”
“I will be just as soon as I find my daughter,” Alyssa said lowering her head with closed eyes. “I blocked her memory out for so long, tried to move on from the pain of losing her like I did. But hearing that she’s still alive out there, I can’t focus on anything but seeing my baby again.”
“We’ll find her,” Pip promised with a nod. “We will. So don’t be sad anymore.”
“Thank you, Pip. It’s nice to know that-” Alyssa started before Pip shot off the table in a blur and dived down into Squeak’s tunic. The ant girl squeaked loudly and dropped to the ground, wiggling her chest around as the tiny fairy giggled and squirmed about between her breasts. Alyssa glanced down to them then smiled slightly and shook her head.
“You care about me,” she finished.
“Boobies!” Pip cheerfully said while Squeak was squeaking loudly with a blush on her face.
Daniel shook his head amusedly at the sight as well before he noticed Clover hopping up and down on the couch as she tried to grab her arrows stuck in the rafter.
“The things I do just to get home,” Clover muttered as she grabbed one before jumping up to try and snatch another. “This is such bullshit.”
“And thank you, Clover,” Daniel kindly said to the elf. Everyone stopped and looked to him, with Pip popping her head out from Squeak’s tunic and watching him curiously as he walked over towards Clover.
“You didn’t have to mention Stonegate like you did, you could have kept quiet and we never would have chosen to go there in search of Ember. But you wanted to help. Thank you for that.”
“I just want to go home,” Clover snapped before she tried jumping up to grab her arrow again. “Finding that witch is the only way you’re going to take me, right? So then of course I had to say something. Don’t get the wrong idea, it’s not like I care about her myself.”
“Maybe not. But still, thank you,” Daniel said before walking back over to the girls. Clover watched him with a dull stare for a moment then jumped up and grabbed the arrow from above.
“Whatever,” she muttered eyeing the bolts in her hand before putting them back in her quiver.
Squeak waved her chest around and squeaked a few times before Specca reached into her tunic and pulled out Pip, the fairy giggling and kicking about playfully while Alyssa watched her with a small smile on her face.
“Alright, Pip,” Daniel spoke up as he approached them, with Specca then handing the little monster off to him to hold in one hand. “Do you think you could take us all to Stonegate?”
“Not into Stonegate of course,” Specca quickly added with a nervous smile. “Just closer to it. Close enough for Alyssa and Clover to ride Lucky there.”
“We don’t have to be that close to it,” Falla chimed in from under the covers.
“If we can’t see it that would be fine,” Luna added.
“I can do it!” Pip cheered with a hop. “I can! I know I can!”
The tiny fairy zipped over and hovered above the map, eyeing the location of where Stonegate was and where they were with Alyssa pointing out their whereabouts with her finger. Daniel smiled at the fairy while thinking how lucky they were to have her helping them before they all heard Triska shouting from outside.
“Get the hell away from me!”
“Triska?” Specca worriedly said looking to the entryway.
“Triska!” Kroanette cried out before a blast detonated nearby, the caravan shaking from the impact with everyone stumbling about. The lanterns above swayed around and creaked while the pantry opened slightly with tins and containers dropping onto the floor. Clover stumbled about then fell off the couch with a thud as she hit the floor while Luna and Falla hid under the covers completely while trembling.
“What was that?” Alyssa called out.
“Triska? Triska!” Daniel shouted as he and Squeak ran towards the curtain. Alyssa and Specca quickly raced behind him while Clover staggered to her feet and grabbed her bow.
“What the fuck is going on out there?” Clover demanded as she followed after them.
Pip hovered in place and watched as everyone left the room then looked to the bed as the sisters peeked out again from under the sheets.
“What’s happening?” Pip asked before turning to the entryway again.
Outside Daniel and the other girls had jumped off the caravan and were staring with surprise at seeing a very large dust cloud billowing from the clearing in front of them. Lucky was whinnying and running off as fast as he could while from the haze Kroanette stumbled out coughing and holding her whip in hand.
“Kroanette? What happened?” Daniel called out.
“Where’s Triska?” Specca asked looking around quickly.
Kroanette coughed and shook her head before yelling and turning while snapping her whip towards the dusty haze.
“Let her go!” she screamed as the flail struck into the cloud with a crack before becoming taught. Kroanette tried to yank her whip back while scampering in place with all her feet, showing something was holding the other end with great strength. Slowly the dust began to settle and clear away, revealing just what was holding the other end and causing the group to gasp in terror.
“It’s her,” Specca fearfully breathed out.
Holding the whip was a familiar succubus, her hand havi
ng stopped the flail from reaching her face while she watched Kroanette with a wicked smile. Her wings were arched behind her while her other arm was holding Triska close to her, the teen struggling to move while her sword was is hand and pinned to her side by the demon’s powerful grip. The monster’s tail was wrapped around Triska’s chest up the middle and her shoulder before going around her neck, not strangling the girl yet keeping her held in place with a firm hold.
“Katie,” Alyssa said as everyone saw the Darker One having detained both Triska and Kroanette without any visible effort.
“Triska!” Daniel called out as the girl screamed and tried to move, her sword trembling in her hand before Katie applied pressure to her wrist and caused her to drop it.
“Let her go, demon!” Kroanette yelled as she kept trying to pull back her whip.
“I don’t think so,” Katie mused while looking to Triska with a playful smile. “I’ve been looking everywhere for her ever since I lost her in Eston. I’ve been worried sick about you, my little kitten.”
“Get away from me, you bitch!” Triska shouted as she struggled to get away, not being able to budge from the demon’s hold in the least.
“So glad to see you still have that fire in your eyes, my dear Triska,” Katie giggled while holding the teen close. She swung Kroanette’s whip to the side, throwing the centaur into a roll with a yell before letting go of the flail and taking hold of Triska’s chin. “I was so worried about you. I just don’t know what I would have done if anything had happened to my dear kitten.”
Kroanette crashed into the ground with a loud grunt while Daniel watched as the succubus held Triska close to her, forcing the girl to gaze up into her eyes while her tail slowly caressed her neck and between her breasts.
“Don’t look into her eyes, Triska!” Specca cried out. “Close them, now!”
Triska tried to look away and close her eyes, her mind starting to turn blank as Katie held her and leaned closer to her face. Her body began to relax while her breathing slowed down, the world around her slowly fading into a blur as Katie’s eyes gave off a brief crimson glow that seemed to call to the human.
“Let me… go…” Triska breathed out.
“Triska!” Daniel yelled out, feeling his anger at seeing his girl being held by the demon growing rapidly. Katie glanced to him with a careless murmur then watched with a curious eye as his hand began to glow softly before a bright flash came off it. The other girls looked to him with wonder before feeling a large spike of pleasure shoot through them. Clover watched as they all dropped to their knees before turning her eyes back to the Darker One before them with a frustrated glare. Inside the cabin Pip staggered in her flight before regaining herself, trying to fight off the feeling while having her eyes shut tight and shaking her head. Luna and Falla however jerked about in the bed before trembling in each other’s arms, feeling their bodies suddenly getting hotter as Daniel touched their spirits with this magic.
“Daniel?” Kroanette weakly said while lying on her side, seeing the boy’s sharp glare at the succubus while around his hand and wrist green and purple light began to swirl about and outline a translucent gauntlet.
“Let her go,” Daniel demanded while stepping closer towards the demon.
“Oh my, what do we have here?” Katie laughed with an amused smile. “Has your boy toy learned a new trick?”
Daniel focused with all his might to form his weapon, knowing this was the very reason why he needed to be able to use his magic. Seeing Triska held by the demon incited great rage in him, more so than when the succubus first came after Triska in Ashwood. He felt the power surging into him from the ones that loved and shared their spirits with him, his mind focusing with everything he had to use that power to protect Triska.
“I said let her go!”
Alyssa’s spirit pushed his magical energy further with a sudden boom of power, his sword manifesting with a bright flash before glowing with a radiant array of crimson and blue lights.
“What in the world?” Katie questioned while Triska watched Daniel out of the corner of her eye, feeling her heart beating faster at seeing him readying to attack the Darker One for her.
In a flash Daniel dashed towards the succubus, his movements having greatly increased as he felt Kroanette’s spirit aiding his speed.
“What the hell?” Katie said with a jump as Daniel closed the distance in very little time, with all the girls watching with surprise as his movements seemed like a blur to them.
“Hands off my mate!” Daniel yelled as he swung towards the woman with his sword. Katie arched her wing over and blocked the attack before screaming as it singed and burned into her limb’s hardened spine. She was then pushed back and off-balance as Daniel followed through with his swing, his strength having become more than expected from Squeak’s powerful spirit.
“Daniel?” Alyssa wearily asked as all the girls watched with disbelief.
“You wretched little boy!” Katie snarled before gearing back with her free hand while holding Triska close still. Bright green and crimson flames flared up around her hand before she flung a blazing fireball straight towards Daniel at close range. Everyone watched in amazement as he then whipped his blade up before striking down at the attack, his eyes focusing on the fast moving fiery projectile as he then slashed the attack down the middle. The two halves of the demon’s magic shot off to his sides and struck the ground away from the girls, exploding into flames and smoke while everyone, especially Triska and Katie, stared at Daniel with wide eyes.
“What the fuck?” Clover said with disbelief. “How could he react that fast, it was right in his face!”
Daniel glared at Katie while holding his blade down, his mind keeping track of not only where the demon was with Triska but also where the other girls were right behind him. In his mind he replayed the event, realizing that he had chosen to deflect the attack since if he had dodged it as he easily could have the blast would have traveled behind him and struck Specca head on. He then gave credit to the nixie in his mind, knowing her spirit had aided him in keeping a level head and acting correctly while taking into account everyone’s safety.
“Daniel?” Triska quietly said, wondering if she was dreaming this while in a daze still.
“What is going on here, since when can you do that?” Katie yelled out.
Daniel quickly dashed towards her again while gearing his sword back, sheer determination in his eyes as he raced at the succubus in haste. Katie snarled with anger then flew up into the air with her wings, holding her hand out before her and creating a glowing casting ring of purple and green light. The symbols and intertwined rings within the casting base glowed brightly before a flurry of swirling purple bolts of light shot out towards Daniel.
“Daniel!” Alyssa cried out as the barrage flew down towards him.
Daniel tensed up as he saw the magical blasts of energy flying down at him, his mind keeping steady however as his eyes looked past the incoming attacks and at the succubus that was keeping Triska away from him. He then quickly darted to the side, then back, then forth, then the side again, his movements being just nimble and agile enough to evade the projectile that struck the ground near him with fiery explosions.
“Okay, am I dreaming this?” Clover called out with shock as she and the girls watched Daniel sidestepping and dodging all the attacks with quickly moving feet.
“I don’t believe what I’m seeing,” Specca softly said with wonder.
Daniel dodged the last bolt of energy which blew up behind him then spun around with his sword before slashing it outward towards the airborne succubus. A powerful gust of wind exploded with a howl above him, spiraling sharply into the air with a heavy torrent before striking against Katie. The succubus screamed as she was thrown further into the air while Triska dropped from her arms and tail. Daniel watched as the Darker One was pushed away by the mighty gust of wind with a focused glare, knowing that burst of power came from the combined spirits of Luna and Falla without a do
ubt.
“Triska!” Kroanette called out as the girls struggled to get up onto their feet.
Clover watched with disbelief as Daniel then over underneath the girl’s fall, dissolving his blade and holding his arms out as she fell towards him. Triska landed down in his arms, taking them both to the ground with him grunting from the heavy catch, before she tried to regain her senses. Slowly her world came back into view, her mind realizing that Daniel was holding her on the ground in his lap with a relieved smile on his face.
“Are you alright?” he asked while holding her close.
“Daniel?” she quietly asked. “Did you… just fight off… a succubus for me… with a sword of light?”
“Heh, yeah,” Daniel answered with a weak chuckle. “I guess I did, didn’t I?”
“Fuck me now,” Triska softly begged. “Please.”
Daniel smiled at her with relief she was alright then groaned and dropped onto his back with her then lying on top of him.
“Daniel?” Triska said as she saw him shutting his eyes while his hands around her loosened.
“I think I overdid it,” he breathed out as a massive wave of fatigue rolled over him. “I can’t… even move.”
The other girls slowly started to regain themselves, feeling as though nothing was lighting up within them anymore, while Clover kept staring at Daniel with disbelief at what she just saw happen. Triska watched Daniel struggling to stay conscious then looked up and saw Katie flying down towards them again.
“Daniel!” she cried out holding onto him. He wearily looked up and saw the demon land down and grab Triska by the back of her neck, yanking her into the air with a scream before her tail whipped around and pinned the girl’s arms to her sides. Holding Triska around her chest with one hand and keeping her close Katie showed a bitter smile down towards Daniel while resting her other hand at her hip.
“What’s wrong, boy?” she mocked. “You appeared to have the same fighting spirit as my dear Triska does, where did all that fire go? Come now, get up and show me another amusing trick, I dare you.”
Chronicles of Eden - Act VI Page 12