I did the only thing I could. I threw myself into training. I made myself deadly with a bow, more so than any man could say. I could track anyone through any conditions on any day or night. I started using the sword more because I wanted to see my opponents eyes. I kept at it until I even left a cut on Jacks himself, he started giving a killing intent when we had bouts. My training showed. You could see it in my hands and Jacks even said my eyes too. I would walk into the guild for a small job and people would go quiet. I always wore my cloak, I realized it was reversible from the deep red to a mottled green, black, and grey. I was told it was for camouflage, not that I needed it. With my hood up I didn't have to see anyone.
It was like any other day when I walked into the Witch's Broom and someone came up from behind me. I could hear the footsteps. "Yes?"
"I'm sorry?" It was then I heard it was the captain, I quickly turned around and lowered my hood.
"I meant yes sir."
"Good, that sounds right. I wanted to tell you that we have made some progress with Lilith. But she and the demon won't say anything more without talking to you."
"Even Andras?" The captain looked puzzled. "The demon."
"Oh! Yes, that is its name. Yes even the demon." I nodded and left the board where jobs were kept and walked upstairs to the room the two were staying in.
When I made it to the room I knocked and heard the small little voice tell me to come in. It was dark, all the windows were covered with cloth and there was but a single candle, giving the room an eerie look and feel. I started to cough from the smoke in the room.
"Sorry but I like the dark." Lilith said.
"It'd okay. I was told you wanted to talk to me."
"No I just wanted to see you, my friend wants to talk though, right Andy?"
"I told you not to call me that stupid child!" Finally Andras' voice came through and two eyes appeared from the dark and he stepped forward in his small body. "I wish to make a deal with you human."
"And why is that?"
Andras stepped closer and into the light, I could see the twisted grin he was putting on Lilith's face and I did not know how to react but I stayed silent. "Because as a demon I have certain knowledge of things to pass. You will see battles beyond your imagining, blood will make the roads red, and you sir will be unstoppable to and a legend. I just wish to help make that happen."
"Why?"
"Do you know what I do best, Jasper?" I shook my head slowly. "I destroy men, from the inside out, or anyway I like. I know that I won't be the cause of your destruction, but I would, however since I can't destroy you, then why not destroy men with. . .you."
"And in return?"
"Helping you become a name in history isn't enough? Well how about the names of demons in this world, what they are capable of and how to kill them?"
"You would give up your kinsmen."
"Please, they are all lesser beings then me and hardly worth the same sentence."
I knew there was something he was not telling me but what could I do really. If I did not take his offer, that alone would seem bad. "Let me ask my captain."
"Of course, you have one hour." I nodded and went downstairs to investigate.
When I was finished telling the captain I still had some time left until Andras wanted an answer.
"And do you think he is lying?"
"I think he's planning something, what it is I don't know but I don't see the harm in keeping them both close, watching him and getting rid of some much needed evil." He nodded his agreement.
"Take the deal, but they travel with you only, and only after the list is made, and if anymore come up then he is to report it back to us." I nodded and headed back upstairs to tell the two of them.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013
Chapter 4 cont
There was more celebration when we got back to the guild. My father would not stop smiling and tears could be seen on my mother's face, of happiness and I guessed a slight amount of fear that I would have lost. Everyone pulled me aside and congratulated me on my victory but none of the members mentioned the magic I had used. When I tried to talk to the captain he simply brushed it off. I did not know whether to be offended or worried. But I did not have time to think of much because when my thoughts were at there worst, my father pulled me aside.
"Let me see son." Still smiling he helped me roll up my sleeves. I smiled as well but I saw his face go from joy to serious.
"What's wrong?" I looked down at the arm my father held and noticed something, they looked exactly like my father's runes.
"You are starting at a very high level of magic. My first runes were only around my wrists. You remember what I've told you. . ."
"Yes, yes, a mage is only as powerful as the marks they have received from the world. Each type of mark refers to a type of magic. The runes become knowledge and once received you already know how to use them." I remembered as a boy, tracing the circles around my father's forearms for the fire magic, and poking the small dots for stone. I would trace the back of his hands where the ripples for water were and the palms with the vortex for air. "Maybe it has come this powerful because it is my only magic, and because it happened so late in life."
My father nodded as he examined me with his face of stone. "It is definitely possible and likely, and remember. . ."
"Magic is only as powerful as long as I have the stamina for it. Mage battles have been known to last for days, and the one who lost used it too soon and too much at a time." He nodded and gave me a small smile and patted my cheek.
"Maybe I should stick around for a few days, and help with some magic training, what do you think?" I was shocked he was asking and not telling. For my whole life until then he had always told me to try doing something peculiar to gain magic and never giving me a choice. I knew all the proper techniques for most uses of magic, and I had plenty of stamina from the training I had received with Jacks. But, I stilled nodded my head because I could not possibly pass up the opportunity.
The next day I brought him to the house where I lived with Jacks while my training had taken place. "Now remember son, you don't need to rush into this, take it slow until you get the hang of it." I could tell he was about to say more but I could already feel the power welling up inside of me, excited to be used again, and this time on purpose after having been slept so long. I squeezed my hand tight until I could almost feel the heat, which would not effect me anymore, and when I opened my hand, a red flame flickered to life, bright and furious. "That's-uh. . . Impressive. I guess you won't have to keep a fire stone with you, just go easy, okay?"
I smiled like the playful fire I held in my hand, I asked, not told, what the fire to do and it was eager to show its power. I put my hands together and pushed it out in front of me to launch it at my father. I saw him throw his hands up and he took a step back. "I'm so sorry, I thought you saw it coming." I went to see if he was okay inside of the smoke surrounding him when I saw my father's famous blue sparks flying towards me. I dodged it with wide eyes.
"Very nice, I almost could not keep my balance there, but you left yourself open. This is not my first fight." He too was smiling. I saw his hands begin to turn dark and I knew what was next. I braced myself, wondering where the attack would come from. I did as I was taught and watched him, not as my father but as a mage. When I saw his hands trembling, I could feel the rocks below me begin to shift, and when they began to rise I knew what would come next. As I predicted the earth I was standing on began to move and then it flew up into the sky, but I was ready for it and as he stopped the rock I pushed off and flipped backwards, I gathered my power inside of my lungs and asked for it to show my breath.
As I let out my air I saw the fire go with it and my father had to dodge this time. I was still falling and when I came to closer to the ground I clenched my hands and asked for it to aid me, it loose jets of fire from my hands to slow my descent and I easily found the ground. "Had enough old man?" I heard my father's chuckle but I could not see him. I looked around but he was not there. I inhaled slowly and listened to see if I could find him, I heard slight footsteps behind and so I wheeled around and red sparks followed my fist.
Out of nowhere my father's fist caught my elbow as I finally saw him come out of the air, he had asked it to hide him but stealth was not a skill for him. I smiled but when I looked at my father his eyes were wide with shock. He dropped my arm and began to walk away. "There is nothing for me to teach you."
"Father, did. . ."
"You do not speak to me again, or you mother."
"Father. . ."
"Do not speak." He turned to face me and I could see anger in his face, something I had never seen. I dropped my gaze and when I knew he could not see me I dropped to the ground and fought the tears that were trying to come out.
"Jasper." I looked and saw Felix at my knees. I crossed my leg, let him crawl into my lap, and told him what happened.
"You were able to summon lightning, something your father has never done. It is the purest bond between nature and the mage. It says that you are very powerful and things that are hard for other mages, are child's play to you."
"But why would he be angry with me? He doesn't even wish to have me speak."
"He is both jealous and scared. Jealous that his son who he had given up on is more powerful than he, and scared because even if it was an accident, you could beat him any time you wished."
"I would ne. . ."
"I know. . ."
"And he knows. But his pride as a man says you are now his enemy. I may not like mages but I do know men. And that is how it looked and sounded to me." It was at that moment that Jacks decided to come out of the house with a pint to his mouth. "I'm sorry for you to have to go through that, some men are big enough to say they are weak in certain areas, some men cannot."
"I wonder which one you are Jacks." Felix pawed at his leg as he asked.
"I admit I am full of myself, pig headed and not good when it comes to feelings but I try my best. Especially to someone I. . . Someone I care about." He came closer and knelt beside me.
"Awe the beast does have a. . ."
"I could catch up to him, surprise him and kill him if you like."
"I take that back, you don't have a heart do you Jacks?"
"I do." He tipped is glass to finish his mead. "It's just buried behind some very thick ice." He patted me on the shoulder before standing up, "And maybe you were meant to thaw it out for me, boy."
"Let me see son." Still smiling he helped me roll up my sleeves. I smiled as well but I saw his face go from joy to serious.
"What's wrong?" I looked down at the arm my father held and noticed something, they looked exactly like my father's runes.
"You are starting at a very high level of magic. My first runes were only around my wrists. You remember what I've told you. . ."
"Yes, yes, a mage is only as powerful as the marks they have received from the world. Each type of mark refers to a type of magic. The runes become knowledge and once received you already know how to use them." I remembered as a boy, tracing the circles around my father's forearms for the fire magic, and poking the small dots for stone. I would trace the back of his hands where the ripples for water were and the palms with the vortex for air. "Maybe it has come this powerful because it is my only magic, and because it happened so late in life."
My father nodded as he examined me with his face of stone. "It is definitely possible and likely, and remember. . ."
"Magic is only as powerful as long as I have the stamina for it. Mage battles have been known to last for days, and the one who lost used it too soon and too much at a time." He nodded and gave me a small smile and patted my cheek.
"Maybe I should stick around for a few days, and help with some magic training, what do you think?" I was shocked he was asking and not telling. For my whole life until then he had always told me to try doing something peculiar to gain magic and never giving me a choice. I knew all the proper techniques for most uses of magic, and I had plenty of stamina from the training I had received with Jacks. But, I stilled nodded my head because I could not possibly pass up the opportunity.
The next day I brought him to the house where I lived with Jacks while my training had taken place. "Now remember son, you don't need to rush into this, take it slow until you get the hang of it." I could tell he was about to say more but I could already feel the power welling up inside of me, excited to be used again, and this time on purpose after having been slept so long. I squeezed my hand tight until I could almost feel the heat, which would not effect me anymore, and when I opened my hand, a red flame flickered to life, bright and furious. "That's-uh. . . Impressive. I guess you won't have to keep a fire stone with you, just go easy, okay?"
I smiled like the playful fire I held in my hand, I asked, not told, what the fire to do and it was eager to show its power. I put my hands together and pushed it out in front of me to launch it at my father. I saw him throw his hands up and he took a step back. "I'm so sorry, I thought you saw it coming." I went to see if he was okay inside of the smoke surrounding him when I saw my father's famous blue sparks flying towards me. I dodged it with wide eyes.
"Very nice, I almost could not keep my balance there, but you left yourself open. This is not my first fight." He too was smiling. I saw his hands begin to turn dark and I knew what was next. I braced myself, wondering where the attack would come from. I did as I was taught and watched him, not as my father but as a mage. When I saw his hands trembling, I could feel the rocks below me begin to shift, and when they began to rise I knew what would come next. As I predicted the earth I was standing on began to move and then it flew up into the sky, but I was ready for it and as he stopped the rock I pushed off and flipped backwards, I gathered my power inside of my lungs and asked for it to show my breath.
As I let out my air I saw the fire go with it and my father had to dodge this time. I was still falling and when I came to closer to the ground I clenched my hands and asked for it to aid me, it loose jets of fire from my hands to slow my descent and I easily found the ground. "Had enough old man?" I heard my father's chuckle but I could not see him. I looked around but he was not there. I inhaled slowly and listened to see if I could find him, I heard slight footsteps behind and so I wheeled around and red sparks followed my fist.
Out of nowhere my father's fist caught my elbow as I finally saw him come out of the air, he had asked it to hide him but stealth was not a skill for him. I smiled but when I looked at my father his eyes were wide with shock. He dropped my arm and began to walk away. "There is nothing for me to teach you."
"Father, did. . ."
"You do not speak to me again, or you mother."
"Father. . ."
"Do not speak." He turned to face me and I could see anger in his face, something I had never seen. I dropped my gaze and when I knew he could not see me I dropped to the ground and fought the tears that were trying to come out.
"Jasper." I looked and saw Felix at my knees. I crossed my leg, let him crawl into my lap, and told him what happened.
"You were able to summon lightning, something your father has never done. It is the purest bond between nature and the mage. It says that you are very powerful and things that are hard for other mages, are child's play to you."
"But why would he be angry with me? He doesn't even wish to have me speak."
"He is both jealous and scared. Jealous that his son who he had given up on is more powerful than he, and scared because even if it was an accident, you could beat him any time you wished."
"I would ne. . ."
"I know. . ."
"And he knows. But his pride as a man says you are now his enemy. I may not like mages but I do know men. And that is how it looked and sounded to me." It was at that moment that Jacks decided to come out of the house with a pint to his mouth. "I'm sorry for you to have to go through that, some men are big enough to say they are weak in certain areas, some men cannot."
"I wonder which one you are Jacks." Felix pawed at his leg as he asked.
"I admit I am full of myself, pig headed and not good when it comes to feelings but I try my best. Especially to someone I. . . Someone I care about." He came closer and knelt beside me.
"Awe the beast does have a. . ."
"I could catch up to him, surprise him and kill him if you like."
"I take that back, you don't have a heart do you Jacks?"
"I do." He tipped is glass to finish his mead. "It's just buried behind some very thick ice." He patted me on the shoulder before standing up, "And maybe you were meant to thaw it out for me, boy."
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Chapter 4
It took us three days on foot to travel back to Oar. Nothing had changed. The town was still filled with the sound of seagulls, mixed with the smell of fish freshly caught, and the voices of the sailors and fisherman rowdy with their first drinks after a long day. Lilith was asleep on my back as we made our way to the guild hall, it was still early for to many members to be back so it was still fairly quiet and I was not so worried to wake her. I felt the weight of the girl come off as I noticed Jacks pull her into his arms as he said, "I'll take her upstairs and into bed, go tell the captain of the day."
"But. . ."
"This was your mission lad, it is your responsibility." I nodded and made my way to the bar where I saw him nursing what I guessed was his second cup of mead.
I was nervous, I felt like I had done something wrong, I sat with and tried to find the words. "You don't have to tell me to much son, I already know of what happened. . . Well I know some different versions of it."
"Of what I did to the lord of Woodside?" He nodded and I sighed and dropped my head onto the bar. "What have you heard?"
"Oh let's see. I heard you came back with three bear pelts and a little girl who was attacked by them, you could the bears with one shot in total and threw the pelts at his feet. He graciously accepted them but said he had no money so you plundered his house and when he objected you threatened to kill him and his entire family and staff of house."
"That's. . ."
"False, I know. Because that was the letter from the lord himself. I know of him quite well and his mistreatment of the guilds and their members. He finds us low and greedy. I also. . ." He began rummaging through his paperwork in front of him until he found what he was looking for. "Have this letter of announcements for the kingdom. It states:
As of today the third of the frost month 742, that Lord Barcus has renounced his title of lordship over Woodside after a riot from peasants had taken place 3 days before after a guild member from The Witch's Broom had taken a request. He did not give reason but only to say it is what is best for the people.
Do you care to enlighten me son?" I began with when we entered the town and told him of what we had actually found, of what occurred when we returned and my reaction the horrible treatment we had received. "Well I'll be damned." He finished his mead, drank a good portion of that before setting it down and then he was quiet. "This is quite the dilemma." I nodded. "The girl is upstairs now? Good I shall want to speak with her and this demon that resides in her. It may be better to kill them both, although a demon as weak as how you described it may actually prove more useful if the girl can pry inside of it. But as for your punishment. . ."
"I thought you approved sir!"
"I do, I highly approve but you threatened a man's life, you did so in front of witnesses and he was a lord. So a ceremony will be held to make you an official member of the guild with your new title of course. I could see his smile as he drank more mead but he made sure it was gone by the time he stopped."
"I don't understand."
"Well you threatening a lord like that means certain death unless you're a guild member. As a guild member I write a formal apology for my member causing a stir, jot down what happened and it is considered something that could not be helped. We guild get away with almost anything as long as it was necessary. Was it?"
"If he was still there it was very likely no one would have accepted jobs there eventually and the town would have suffered. . ."
"Exactly. Necessary." I watched him take another drink and again I saw him smiling. It was that moment I really understood why guilds were so important to our kingdom.
Inside the great hall of Oar, where Lord Aidan met with the townsfolk is where my ceremony was. Even my parents had come. My official crest became three arrows in front of a sword that was wrapped in a vine. It was stitched onto new clothes, and a red cloak that were given to me for the celebration and was put onto a silver pendant to show that I was no longer in training. I was accepted into the ranks by the captain himself and Jacks. They both had made speeches and I was nervous the entire time, yet I know I liked it too. This is what I had always wanted, to be on adventures and to help people. But everything was cut short.
There was a bang at the doors and people jumped and you could hear little shouts throughout the hall. It came again, and again, and again. Finally the door was broken and that is when we all saw him. The man I had caused to resign from his lordship.
"You! I am forced to lose my title because of you! Not only that but they reward you for it? I did not realize you weren't even a fully fledged lackey until yesterday."
"Sir you are not welcome here. . ."
"Shut up Aidan, I've always hated you, and it is my right to challenge that man to single combat!"
There was shock among everyone there and I saw my father's hand begin to glow, like they always did when he summoned his power. He looked at me and I slightly shook his head. "I accept." I said calmly.
"Then meet me outside and I shall slit that pretty throat of yours." and he walked away.
"I thought challenges were to first blood?" I asked Jacks.
"In the guild they are, we don't want to kill each other. But the law of the kingdom is to the death."
When we made our way outside, a circle had already been made and rope was being put around the edges of posts. "Come kill me Jasper the Hunter." I looked the people that had come out with me, the captain, Jacks, and my parents.
"You'll do just fine if you remember your training."
"But this is close combat."
"That's why I said to remember your training. With a bow you are a natural but a sword had to be taught." I heard my mother give a small gasp, I turned and hugged her.
"I'll be fine mother." I told her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Son, you are a warrior at heart it seems, but your blood runs with magic, even if you cant use it. If you can track as good as I have heard in the small time you have been gone, then follow his movements, every man has a certain way of moving that they learn when they pick up any skill. Find it, and use it." His hands on my face was so familiar I almost forgot about the challenge. To hear him give advice like that made me think of how he talked to my sister before she finally left to join a guild of her own. I patted his hand and gave him a hug before unclasping my cloak. I took off my shirt and I heard my mother gasp again, but I kept walking because it was only from her seeing the scars of my training. Jacks was not an easy man, sometimes his training went to far, but I had taken it all in stride and was the only one to have ever survived.
Claw marks from a tiger ran from my left shoulder blade to the back of my right hip. My right shoulder and half of the bicep was burned from escaping a burning house. Whip marks from when I went undercover in a slave caravan for Jacks spotted my spine. I stretched my arms before picking up a war-axe instead of a sword. I could hear Jacks clap and encouraging me already. I was better with anything I could use to survive with then I was with a sword. That was because of the three months I had spent on my own in the woods before Jacks would even let me pick up a weapon for training. He have me some rope, a dagger, and an axe. He had kept close eye on me but at a distance so I would not ask for help. All of that time he had learned one thing about me. If it meant me, or someone else, I would survive, it was the second thing I did best besides tracking, it was when I became a hunter.
As I tested the axe in my hand by giving it a few swings I finally let all of my thoughts go and let my senses take over. I could smell the sweat of the man in front of me. I could hear the cheers of the crowd. I saw the shaking of his hands as he held his sword and dagger. I felt the warm leather in my hands and the soft earth beneath my boots. I licked my lips and tasted the air which was rich with water from the humid day. I took all of these things into account before Barcus charged me. I heard his scream, saw the murderous intent in his eyes but I also saw the fear which slowed him down. I dodged to the side, hooked his leg and used his own weight to flip him onto the ground. I could have killed him then but since I only intended to survive, this was self defense only.
He slowly got to his feet and I saw him clenching his hand which wasn't holding his sword, but I was to late to realize why. He turned and it was at that moment I saw the sand flying into my face. I tried my best to cover my eyes but since it was still dry it spread out. i tried not to claw at my eyes, I closed them as tightly as I could so tears would form and wash them naturally. Barcus did not waste his time though and rushed me to the ground. I felt his body tense up, so at the last second I dodged his blade, I heard it sink into the earth, I dodged again and again but the last one clipped me and it began to burn.
It should not have hurt so bad, Jacks has cut me before, so I would know the pain and it had never hurt like this. The only logical thought I could think of was that it was poisoned, which was against the rules. I tried to struggle up but he had me pinned, he placed his dagger across my throat and I felt his breath in my ear. "If you say a word, I shall slit your throat peasant. True I will kill you anyways, but if they stop this fight, they will not know the antidote needed to save your life now will they? Hunter?"
"You're nothing but a coward, could not face me on equal ground. . ."
"Of course I could but I like having the upper hand, Jasper you must have realized that by now." I could feel something burning, it was most intense on my forearms, like it came in waves and had a rippling effect. "W-w-what are you doing? Stop that."
"Stop what you mongrel?"
"What is wrong with your hands?? I still couldn't see but a thought started to form inside of my head, it was not exactly made of words but of the knowledge of what to do, I put my hands out as far as I could and willed. . . fire.
There was a bang as the matter in front of my hands changed to something combustible and blasted Barcus off of me. there was silence as I stood and rubbed my eyes. I looked down at my hands and saw the red glow I had always seen from my father but more intense. I saw the burned lines of a fire mage, the thick rings with three thin rings in between. Finally the pain subsided. I stood there awe struck at what had just happened.
A fighter had gained magic, yes I came from a family of mages but even I had thought it not possible. Then the clapping began, from my father, then my mother and the rest soon followed.
"But. . ."
"This was your mission lad, it is your responsibility." I nodded and made my way to the bar where I saw him nursing what I guessed was his second cup of mead.
I was nervous, I felt like I had done something wrong, I sat with and tried to find the words. "You don't have to tell me to much son, I already know of what happened. . . Well I know some different versions of it."
"Of what I did to the lord of Woodside?" He nodded and I sighed and dropped my head onto the bar. "What have you heard?"
"Oh let's see. I heard you came back with three bear pelts and a little girl who was attacked by them, you could the bears with one shot in total and threw the pelts at his feet. He graciously accepted them but said he had no money so you plundered his house and when he objected you threatened to kill him and his entire family and staff of house."
"That's. . ."
"False, I know. Because that was the letter from the lord himself. I know of him quite well and his mistreatment of the guilds and their members. He finds us low and greedy. I also. . ." He began rummaging through his paperwork in front of him until he found what he was looking for. "Have this letter of announcements for the kingdom. It states:
As of today the third of the frost month 742, that Lord Barcus has renounced his title of lordship over Woodside after a riot from peasants had taken place 3 days before after a guild member from The Witch's Broom had taken a request. He did not give reason but only to say it is what is best for the people.
Do you care to enlighten me son?" I began with when we entered the town and told him of what we had actually found, of what occurred when we returned and my reaction the horrible treatment we had received. "Well I'll be damned." He finished his mead, drank a good portion of that before setting it down and then he was quiet. "This is quite the dilemma." I nodded. "The girl is upstairs now? Good I shall want to speak with her and this demon that resides in her. It may be better to kill them both, although a demon as weak as how you described it may actually prove more useful if the girl can pry inside of it. But as for your punishment. . ."
"I thought you approved sir!"
"I do, I highly approve but you threatened a man's life, you did so in front of witnesses and he was a lord. So a ceremony will be held to make you an official member of the guild with your new title of course. I could see his smile as he drank more mead but he made sure it was gone by the time he stopped."
"I don't understand."
"Well you threatening a lord like that means certain death unless you're a guild member. As a guild member I write a formal apology for my member causing a stir, jot down what happened and it is considered something that could not be helped. We guild get away with almost anything as long as it was necessary. Was it?"
"If he was still there it was very likely no one would have accepted jobs there eventually and the town would have suffered. . ."
"Exactly. Necessary." I watched him take another drink and again I saw him smiling. It was that moment I really understood why guilds were so important to our kingdom.
Inside the great hall of Oar, where Lord Aidan met with the townsfolk is where my ceremony was. Even my parents had come. My official crest became three arrows in front of a sword that was wrapped in a vine. It was stitched onto new clothes, and a red cloak that were given to me for the celebration and was put onto a silver pendant to show that I was no longer in training. I was accepted into the ranks by the captain himself and Jacks. They both had made speeches and I was nervous the entire time, yet I know I liked it too. This is what I had always wanted, to be on adventures and to help people. But everything was cut short.
There was a bang at the doors and people jumped and you could hear little shouts throughout the hall. It came again, and again, and again. Finally the door was broken and that is when we all saw him. The man I had caused to resign from his lordship.
"You! I am forced to lose my title because of you! Not only that but they reward you for it? I did not realize you weren't even a fully fledged lackey until yesterday."
"Sir you are not welcome here. . ."
"Shut up Aidan, I've always hated you, and it is my right to challenge that man to single combat!"
There was shock among everyone there and I saw my father's hand begin to glow, like they always did when he summoned his power. He looked at me and I slightly shook his head. "I accept." I said calmly.
"Then meet me outside and I shall slit that pretty throat of yours." and he walked away.
"I thought challenges were to first blood?" I asked Jacks.
"In the guild they are, we don't want to kill each other. But the law of the kingdom is to the death."
When we made our way outside, a circle had already been made and rope was being put around the edges of posts. "Come kill me Jasper the Hunter." I looked the people that had come out with me, the captain, Jacks, and my parents.
"You'll do just fine if you remember your training."
"But this is close combat."
"That's why I said to remember your training. With a bow you are a natural but a sword had to be taught." I heard my mother give a small gasp, I turned and hugged her.
"I'll be fine mother." I told her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Son, you are a warrior at heart it seems, but your blood runs with magic, even if you cant use it. If you can track as good as I have heard in the small time you have been gone, then follow his movements, every man has a certain way of moving that they learn when they pick up any skill. Find it, and use it." His hands on my face was so familiar I almost forgot about the challenge. To hear him give advice like that made me think of how he talked to my sister before she finally left to join a guild of her own. I patted his hand and gave him a hug before unclasping my cloak. I took off my shirt and I heard my mother gasp again, but I kept walking because it was only from her seeing the scars of my training. Jacks was not an easy man, sometimes his training went to far, but I had taken it all in stride and was the only one to have ever survived.
Claw marks from a tiger ran from my left shoulder blade to the back of my right hip. My right shoulder and half of the bicep was burned from escaping a burning house. Whip marks from when I went undercover in a slave caravan for Jacks spotted my spine. I stretched my arms before picking up a war-axe instead of a sword. I could hear Jacks clap and encouraging me already. I was better with anything I could use to survive with then I was with a sword. That was because of the three months I had spent on my own in the woods before Jacks would even let me pick up a weapon for training. He have me some rope, a dagger, and an axe. He had kept close eye on me but at a distance so I would not ask for help. All of that time he had learned one thing about me. If it meant me, or someone else, I would survive, it was the second thing I did best besides tracking, it was when I became a hunter.
As I tested the axe in my hand by giving it a few swings I finally let all of my thoughts go and let my senses take over. I could smell the sweat of the man in front of me. I could hear the cheers of the crowd. I saw the shaking of his hands as he held his sword and dagger. I felt the warm leather in my hands and the soft earth beneath my boots. I licked my lips and tasted the air which was rich with water from the humid day. I took all of these things into account before Barcus charged me. I heard his scream, saw the murderous intent in his eyes but I also saw the fear which slowed him down. I dodged to the side, hooked his leg and used his own weight to flip him onto the ground. I could have killed him then but since I only intended to survive, this was self defense only.
He slowly got to his feet and I saw him clenching his hand which wasn't holding his sword, but I was to late to realize why. He turned and it was at that moment I saw the sand flying into my face. I tried my best to cover my eyes but since it was still dry it spread out. i tried not to claw at my eyes, I closed them as tightly as I could so tears would form and wash them naturally. Barcus did not waste his time though and rushed me to the ground. I felt his body tense up, so at the last second I dodged his blade, I heard it sink into the earth, I dodged again and again but the last one clipped me and it began to burn.
It should not have hurt so bad, Jacks has cut me before, so I would know the pain and it had never hurt like this. The only logical thought I could think of was that it was poisoned, which was against the rules. I tried to struggle up but he had me pinned, he placed his dagger across my throat and I felt his breath in my ear. "If you say a word, I shall slit your throat peasant. True I will kill you anyways, but if they stop this fight, they will not know the antidote needed to save your life now will they? Hunter?"
"You're nothing but a coward, could not face me on equal ground. . ."
"Of course I could but I like having the upper hand, Jasper you must have realized that by now." I could feel something burning, it was most intense on my forearms, like it came in waves and had a rippling effect. "W-w-what are you doing? Stop that."
"Stop what you mongrel?"
"What is wrong with your hands?? I still couldn't see but a thought started to form inside of my head, it was not exactly made of words but of the knowledge of what to do, I put my hands out as far as I could and willed. . . fire.
There was a bang as the matter in front of my hands changed to something combustible and blasted Barcus off of me. there was silence as I stood and rubbed my eyes. I looked down at my hands and saw the red glow I had always seen from my father but more intense. I saw the burned lines of a fire mage, the thick rings with three thin rings in between. Finally the pain subsided. I stood there awe struck at what had just happened.
A fighter had gained magic, yes I came from a family of mages but even I had thought it not possible. Then the clapping began, from my father, then my mother and the rest soon followed.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Chapter 3 Continued
"Are you sure this will work boy?" Jacks sighed, he looked tired from having carried the pelt of the bear this far even though I did not think it had been that heavy.
"It has too." I repositioned Lilith on my hip and whispered in her ear, "Just stay quiet and we will take you somewhere safe." I felt her nod against my chest as we arrived in the middle of Woodside, at the home of the ruling lord, though it seemed many others had gathered here having heard the news that we had taken the job. I knocked on the door as I started to hear people muttering in the crowd. "We have come to deliver the pelt of the menace of these woods, and collect our reward."
I could hear shuffling from the other side of the door, then it opened slowly and I took a step back as the lord, I assumed, stepped out.
"So you are the one who took the request. You're a lot younger then the men who I thought might take it."
"Youth means nothing when it comes to fighting spirit." I said it loud enough so everyone around us could also hear it. I motioned to Jacks as I spoke again. "This is the mother bear, I found three cubs with her and had cornered this girl that is with me. She's quite shaken up so I will take her with us where we can keep a close eye on her until she becomes well again."
"Very well, here is your reward. . ." A bag of silver was thrown at me and I caught it as best I cold while still holding onto Lilith. "Now leave this place."
"I. . . I don't understand. We- we did the job as was asked of us. Shouldn't you be more happy. . ."
"No one wants you here peasant." I will always remember these next couple of moments as long as I live. The man turned around and spat at me. So I called out to Jacks and gave Lilith a slight toss, he dropped the pelt, caught the girl and drew his sword in one fine motion. The moment she left my hands I began to turn and as I did I drew my bow with one arrow and faced the man.
"You dare mock me? You dare think you are better than me? Because you have money, you have a title? What gives you the right? What makes you think in your little petty mind? I don't see you taking care of your villagers, making sure they are kept safe from harm like we had to. I did not see a sign on any road even asking the army for assistance. If it were not for us then these bears could have come into this town and slaughtered you all in you sleep. . ."
"Jasper. . ."
"And this is the thanks we get for it? Give me one good reason why any guild member should take a job from the likes of you again, I dare you." I knew I was yelling and I knew I could let my fingers slip but I was better than that. This was just some man full of power that he could not see how he had asked for help. But his answer was something I wish I had never heard.
"For money. It will be denied by me if you take a another step out of line, but any other guild, or its members will do. Any one will take a job because they need the money." He smiled, almost seemed to sneer at me. I am not proud. . . What am I saying, hell yes I am proud.
I let my fingers slide and I watched as the arrow flew from my bow and drove the man's tunic into his door ad held him there. I drew my sword and advanced on him but I could hear Jacks right behind me trying to calm me down, as well as Felix quietly talking form my satchel.
"You listen to me now sir." I growled. "I will make sure no one ever helps out this town. I will make sure that the high council of Fighters knows to never take a request from you again. As long as you sit in power, if any citizen calls for aid. . . We will not answer, not us, nor any guild not even the army itself." I watched the man smile and try to laugh it off but I sunk my blade into the tree and I knew it was close to him, I would bet my life that if it moved just a little that it would draw blood. "You think I can't do it? I don't care how long it takes but I always keep my word. And let me to you this. . .sir. If you don't resign, I have a feeling that these people may need help, and when they cannot understand why they cannot get it. They will remember this day and eventually you will be thrown. Once that day comes." I leaned in closer so just he could hear me. "I will hunt you. I will not stop until I have found you and when I do? You will have wished you had never met me, you will beg for death. Or my name is not Jasper the Hunter." I grabbed the arrow and let him fall to the ground, sheathed my blade and walked away.
"That was quite the display Jasper. Or should we all start calling you the Hunter now? I heard Felix from my satchel and he laughed, but maybe it fit. Back in that time it fit me very well. I had high marks from Jacks on my tracking skills and knowing where my target was going, and with a bow, I rarely ever missed. But it has been a long time since I was called the Hunter, and not the Hunted. But I will get to that when it arrives. For now let me continue on the story of how I got there.
"It has too." I repositioned Lilith on my hip and whispered in her ear, "Just stay quiet and we will take you somewhere safe." I felt her nod against my chest as we arrived in the middle of Woodside, at the home of the ruling lord, though it seemed many others had gathered here having heard the news that we had taken the job. I knocked on the door as I started to hear people muttering in the crowd. "We have come to deliver the pelt of the menace of these woods, and collect our reward."
I could hear shuffling from the other side of the door, then it opened slowly and I took a step back as the lord, I assumed, stepped out.
"So you are the one who took the request. You're a lot younger then the men who I thought might take it."
"Youth means nothing when it comes to fighting spirit." I said it loud enough so everyone around us could also hear it. I motioned to Jacks as I spoke again. "This is the mother bear, I found three cubs with her and had cornered this girl that is with me. She's quite shaken up so I will take her with us where we can keep a close eye on her until she becomes well again."
"Very well, here is your reward. . ." A bag of silver was thrown at me and I caught it as best I cold while still holding onto Lilith. "Now leave this place."
"I. . . I don't understand. We- we did the job as was asked of us. Shouldn't you be more happy. . ."
"No one wants you here peasant." I will always remember these next couple of moments as long as I live. The man turned around and spat at me. So I called out to Jacks and gave Lilith a slight toss, he dropped the pelt, caught the girl and drew his sword in one fine motion. The moment she left my hands I began to turn and as I did I drew my bow with one arrow and faced the man.
"You dare mock me? You dare think you are better than me? Because you have money, you have a title? What gives you the right? What makes you think in your little petty mind? I don't see you taking care of your villagers, making sure they are kept safe from harm like we had to. I did not see a sign on any road even asking the army for assistance. If it were not for us then these bears could have come into this town and slaughtered you all in you sleep. . ."
"Jasper. . ."
"And this is the thanks we get for it? Give me one good reason why any guild member should take a job from the likes of you again, I dare you." I knew I was yelling and I knew I could let my fingers slip but I was better than that. This was just some man full of power that he could not see how he had asked for help. But his answer was something I wish I had never heard.
"For money. It will be denied by me if you take a another step out of line, but any other guild, or its members will do. Any one will take a job because they need the money." He smiled, almost seemed to sneer at me. I am not proud. . . What am I saying, hell yes I am proud.
I let my fingers slide and I watched as the arrow flew from my bow and drove the man's tunic into his door ad held him there. I drew my sword and advanced on him but I could hear Jacks right behind me trying to calm me down, as well as Felix quietly talking form my satchel.
"You listen to me now sir." I growled. "I will make sure no one ever helps out this town. I will make sure that the high council of Fighters knows to never take a request from you again. As long as you sit in power, if any citizen calls for aid. . . We will not answer, not us, nor any guild not even the army itself." I watched the man smile and try to laugh it off but I sunk my blade into the tree and I knew it was close to him, I would bet my life that if it moved just a little that it would draw blood. "You think I can't do it? I don't care how long it takes but I always keep my word. And let me to you this. . .sir. If you don't resign, I have a feeling that these people may need help, and when they cannot understand why they cannot get it. They will remember this day and eventually you will be thrown. Once that day comes." I leaned in closer so just he could hear me. "I will hunt you. I will not stop until I have found you and when I do? You will have wished you had never met me, you will beg for death. Or my name is not Jasper the Hunter." I grabbed the arrow and let him fall to the ground, sheathed my blade and walked away.
"That was quite the display Jasper. Or should we all start calling you the Hunter now? I heard Felix from my satchel and he laughed, but maybe it fit. Back in that time it fit me very well. I had high marks from Jacks on my tracking skills and knowing where my target was going, and with a bow, I rarely ever missed. But it has been a long time since I was called the Hunter, and not the Hunted. But I will get to that when it arrives. For now let me continue on the story of how I got there.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Chapter 3
"What the hell do you mean we take care of it?" I tried to stay quiet as I said this. "It's a little girl, it may be a demon but do you want a little girl's blood on your hands?"
"That wouldn't be the only blood that's on my hands Jasper. It wouldn't even be the worst." I could see he was serious but I did not want to be a part of this."
"Jacks please, our job was to kill the bears, that was the flyer. How can you justify this?"
"Because she's possessed, boy! She will keep killing until only she remains and then when it leaves her body and she is alone on this world it will take form and devour her. That's what demons do." He screamed. I could not meet his eye after that. He stood there breathing heavily, I watched his feet turn towards the girl who had been watching all of this in a sort of fascination.
I felt a familiar small paw on my leg. "Her soul has turned dark Jasper, even I would say that her death would bring a small bit of piece to this world." I held back my tears as best I could, but when I heard her scream I stopped and looked at her.
"Somebody help me!" She curled herself into a ball and started to cry as Jacks approached her.
"Jacks wait" I jumped in front of him and put my hand up. I looked at this little girl who moments before had been tearing apart a grown bear, now reduced to this. I looked back and saw he had lowered his sword. "Something isn't right." He nodded as he looked at me.
"Hey, it's alright, we're not here to hurt you. We're from the fighter's guild and we came to take care of some bears in the area. Do you know anything about that?"
"No, I don't think so. I don't know where I am."
"Ok, well. . . What's your name?"
"Lilith."
"Ok Lilith. What's the last thing you remember?"
"My friend says you tried to kill me, why should I trust you?" I stopped moving, my eyes got wide and I turned to Jacks for any ideas he might have.
"Jasper get away from her." Felix walked in front of me and I did as I was told."
"Kitty you can talk. . ."
"Be quiet girl, look into my eyes and do not speak." Felix crawled into the girl's lap putting his front paws on her chest and staring her down.
"Jasper Have you ever seen him do this before?" Jacks asked me as we both took further steps back. I could only shake my head as we watched, waiting for something to happen, anything. And then, it did.
Felix leaped of the girl straight back as a man's voice came from her throat and it laughed. "It's been a long time Felix, too long. How long has it been? Almost a century? More?"
"Two and a half." He answered. It laughed a little and tossed Lilith's hair over its shoulder, I noticed the eye that was on the side of her face covered in blood did not match the other. One was pure blue, and the other was pitch black.
"My my, time has flown by, and look at you now. I almost didn't recognize you. What did you? Did you finally raise the undead? I know that's why you summoned me the last tie we spoke, I'm sorry I didn't help but even my own powers are limited without a vessel and since you wouldn't share yours." It sighed and smiled. "But where are your manners old friend, don't you care to introduce me to your friends?"
"Jasper, Jacks, this is Andras. The sower of discord."
It stood up, still smiling and bowed before speaking. "The pleasure is all mine gentlemen. I know Felix probably doesn't mention his past, why would he want to think on it much but, back in the day. I was often summoned by him."
"Felix" I whispered.
"That was my cursed power Jasper. I could summon demons, and as long as I took the proper precautions I was safe. We wizards are to keep balance in this world you know that better than anyone. But, sometimes, a wizard's power is not within the balance. Some, like me, believed it because we were allowed to break that rule. We were wrong, and for that we became the first familiars, to follow wizarding families and keep them on track while recording history."
"Oh don't sound so high and mighty dear friend. We both know the truth. . . You liked breaking the Rule. . ."
"None of us knew the consequence, none of us came close as to what would happen. All we were told 'Don't do this', or 'don't do that or else'. But not of the price we would pay. But why are you here Andras. Why now."
"I was traveling in this world with a wizard who wasn't as cautious as you, a woman. She started crying when she summoned me and stepped out of the circle. . . I took my chance, her being so foolish. What I didn't know. . . was she pregnant." There was silence as we all took this in. I did not understand why this mattered but Felix began to laugh, so much so that even on four legs he looked like he could barely stand.
"You're. . . Oh my this is. . . You're stuck aren't you? She conceived the child and your power was stuck so drastically you can't even undo the bonds you made. We have nothing to fear. He's a harmless as the bears he killed."
"Felix that's not what I would call. . ."
"Jasper. He can't even take over her body for long periods of time without eating flesh to gain strength, I am surprised he lasted this conversation. He may be strong but if Jacks were to swing his sword at this girl, yes she would die and so would Andras. But, I think this much more fitting for a demon as vile as him. Watching this girl's life unfold while he can barely keep himself alive. That is true justice in my eyes."
"But we can't just leave her. . .him. . .it."
"And we won't Jasper," Jacks said. "I think it best we take them to the captain and see if he agrees with Felix. If he does then the guild can find a safe place for the both of them and if not we get to kill it." Jacks placed his sword back in its sheath and motioned for me to take the lead. "This is still your job not mine."
I sighed as I realized how he was playing this and came up with a plan. "Okay here is what we'll do. . ."
"That wouldn't be the only blood that's on my hands Jasper. It wouldn't even be the worst." I could see he was serious but I did not want to be a part of this."
"Jacks please, our job was to kill the bears, that was the flyer. How can you justify this?"
"Because she's possessed, boy! She will keep killing until only she remains and then when it leaves her body and she is alone on this world it will take form and devour her. That's what demons do." He screamed. I could not meet his eye after that. He stood there breathing heavily, I watched his feet turn towards the girl who had been watching all of this in a sort of fascination.
I felt a familiar small paw on my leg. "Her soul has turned dark Jasper, even I would say that her death would bring a small bit of piece to this world." I held back my tears as best I could, but when I heard her scream I stopped and looked at her.
"Somebody help me!" She curled herself into a ball and started to cry as Jacks approached her.
"Jacks wait" I jumped in front of him and put my hand up. I looked at this little girl who moments before had been tearing apart a grown bear, now reduced to this. I looked back and saw he had lowered his sword. "Something isn't right." He nodded as he looked at me.
"Hey, it's alright, we're not here to hurt you. We're from the fighter's guild and we came to take care of some bears in the area. Do you know anything about that?"
"No, I don't think so. I don't know where I am."
"Ok, well. . . What's your name?"
"Lilith."
"Ok Lilith. What's the last thing you remember?"
"My friend says you tried to kill me, why should I trust you?" I stopped moving, my eyes got wide and I turned to Jacks for any ideas he might have.
"Jasper get away from her." Felix walked in front of me and I did as I was told."
"Kitty you can talk. . ."
"Be quiet girl, look into my eyes and do not speak." Felix crawled into the girl's lap putting his front paws on her chest and staring her down.
"Jasper Have you ever seen him do this before?" Jacks asked me as we both took further steps back. I could only shake my head as we watched, waiting for something to happen, anything. And then, it did.
Felix leaped of the girl straight back as a man's voice came from her throat and it laughed. "It's been a long time Felix, too long. How long has it been? Almost a century? More?"
"Two and a half." He answered. It laughed a little and tossed Lilith's hair over its shoulder, I noticed the eye that was on the side of her face covered in blood did not match the other. One was pure blue, and the other was pitch black.
"My my, time has flown by, and look at you now. I almost didn't recognize you. What did you? Did you finally raise the undead? I know that's why you summoned me the last tie we spoke, I'm sorry I didn't help but even my own powers are limited without a vessel and since you wouldn't share yours." It sighed and smiled. "But where are your manners old friend, don't you care to introduce me to your friends?"
"Jasper, Jacks, this is Andras. The sower of discord."
It stood up, still smiling and bowed before speaking. "The pleasure is all mine gentlemen. I know Felix probably doesn't mention his past, why would he want to think on it much but, back in the day. I was often summoned by him."
"Felix" I whispered.
"That was my cursed power Jasper. I could summon demons, and as long as I took the proper precautions I was safe. We wizards are to keep balance in this world you know that better than anyone. But, sometimes, a wizard's power is not within the balance. Some, like me, believed it because we were allowed to break that rule. We were wrong, and for that we became the first familiars, to follow wizarding families and keep them on track while recording history."
"Oh don't sound so high and mighty dear friend. We both know the truth. . . You liked breaking the Rule. . ."
"None of us knew the consequence, none of us came close as to what would happen. All we were told 'Don't do this', or 'don't do that or else'. But not of the price we would pay. But why are you here Andras. Why now."
"I was traveling in this world with a wizard who wasn't as cautious as you, a woman. She started crying when she summoned me and stepped out of the circle. . . I took my chance, her being so foolish. What I didn't know. . . was she pregnant." There was silence as we all took this in. I did not understand why this mattered but Felix began to laugh, so much so that even on four legs he looked like he could barely stand.
"You're. . . Oh my this is. . . You're stuck aren't you? She conceived the child and your power was stuck so drastically you can't even undo the bonds you made. We have nothing to fear. He's a harmless as the bears he killed."
"Felix that's not what I would call. . ."
"Jasper. He can't even take over her body for long periods of time without eating flesh to gain strength, I am surprised he lasted this conversation. He may be strong but if Jacks were to swing his sword at this girl, yes she would die and so would Andras. But, I think this much more fitting for a demon as vile as him. Watching this girl's life unfold while he can barely keep himself alive. That is true justice in my eyes."
"But we can't just leave her. . .him. . .it."
"And we won't Jasper," Jacks said. "I think it best we take them to the captain and see if he agrees with Felix. If he does then the guild can find a safe place for the both of them and if not we get to kill it." Jacks placed his sword back in its sheath and motioned for me to take the lead. "This is still your job not mine."
I sighed as I realized how he was playing this and came up with a plan. "Okay here is what we'll do. . ."
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Chapter 2 cont...
The three of us made our way into the woods quietly, I kept a slight distance away from Jacks so if needed either of us could call each other. I heard the bird call that was our code and I looked over to see Jacks knelt down in the dirt. "Find something?" I asked. He nodded and pointed to the ground. As I took a closer look I could see the tracks of a bear, just like Jacks had said they would look like. when I looked closer something was not right. "It's a mother and her cubs, that's why so many animals have been taken probably." He nodded again.
"This just became a little harder."
We followed the tracks to see where the family was headed and found a cave. It was good size and would easily hold the three cubs and the mother bear. I motioned for Jacks to stay put as I took a closer look, I knew he would come and help if I was in danger.
Inside the cave there was still plenty of light to be able to see what was in front of me and I could almost make out the back of the cave. I stumbled slightly but recovered enough to not make a lot of noise, and I could tell at least one bear was in the cave because I could hear the sound of something crunching. When I looked down to see what I had stumbled on I did not know what to think. It was a bear skull. It was the mother's skull, the cubs were not big enough to do something like that which made me wonder what was eating in this cave.
I took my bow off of my shoulder and knocked an arrow, drawing it halfway and getting ready to fire. As I kept going forward I could see a small framed figured crouched down, gnawing on a bone, what looked to be the mother bear's leg. My heart started to race faster and then the figured stopped moving, almost as if it were listening but there was no way it could hear my heart. I fully drew my bow, aimed for a second and let it loose. A hand shot out and caught it in mid flight before it touched the back of its head. It turned around and I finally saw its face as it hissed and growled.
It was a little girl, no older then seven, half of her face was coated in blood as were her hands, it was even throughout her hair which was matted black and covered the other half of her face.
"Jacks!" I yelled as I saw her starting to run at me. Out of nowhere I saw his blade swoop down inches from my face and almost take off her fingers, she crawled backwards out of the way and stared at us growling. "That was quick."
"I was on my way in, I saw bear bones outside the cave, I take it this little tyke is the cause." I nodded, my eyes wide at what we had found. "Don't worry she's not crazy, just possessed it looks like. She's probably the one who ate the villagers animals too"
"Possessed?" I had heard stories but I never thought I would see someone who was, especially not a little girl who had taken out a family of a mother bear and her three cubs. "What do we do?"
"We're on the job, so we take care of the problem."
"This just became a little harder."
We followed the tracks to see where the family was headed and found a cave. It was good size and would easily hold the three cubs and the mother bear. I motioned for Jacks to stay put as I took a closer look, I knew he would come and help if I was in danger.
Inside the cave there was still plenty of light to be able to see what was in front of me and I could almost make out the back of the cave. I stumbled slightly but recovered enough to not make a lot of noise, and I could tell at least one bear was in the cave because I could hear the sound of something crunching. When I looked down to see what I had stumbled on I did not know what to think. It was a bear skull. It was the mother's skull, the cubs were not big enough to do something like that which made me wonder what was eating in this cave.
I took my bow off of my shoulder and knocked an arrow, drawing it halfway and getting ready to fire. As I kept going forward I could see a small framed figured crouched down, gnawing on a bone, what looked to be the mother bear's leg. My heart started to race faster and then the figured stopped moving, almost as if it were listening but there was no way it could hear my heart. I fully drew my bow, aimed for a second and let it loose. A hand shot out and caught it in mid flight before it touched the back of its head. It turned around and I finally saw its face as it hissed and growled.
It was a little girl, no older then seven, half of her face was coated in blood as were her hands, it was even throughout her hair which was matted black and covered the other half of her face.
"Jacks!" I yelled as I saw her starting to run at me. Out of nowhere I saw his blade swoop down inches from my face and almost take off her fingers, she crawled backwards out of the way and stared at us growling. "That was quick."
"I was on my way in, I saw bear bones outside the cave, I take it this little tyke is the cause." I nodded, my eyes wide at what we had found. "Don't worry she's not crazy, just possessed it looks like. She's probably the one who ate the villagers animals too"
"Possessed?" I had heard stories but I never thought I would see someone who was, especially not a little girl who had taken out a family of a mother bear and her three cubs. "What do we do?"
"We're on the job, so we take care of the problem."
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Chapter 2 Cont
When we finally reached the town of Woodside, I could see how it ha come by the name. It was in the middle of the forest and the houses, stores and other buildings had wrapped around the trees. The townsfolk like the woods and apparently wanted to keep it safe. "I've never seen anything like it." I said.
"You should see the towns inside the mountains, everything carved, it took years to make just a couple of rooms." Jacks replied as he looked at the map.
"Jasper if I remember correctly you have never really set foot out of your parents home in Underton." I nodded as I took in a blacksmith who was making a sword on an anvil, the anvil itself was a stump with metal bent over the top. "Each town and village was picked for a reason. It used to be, in the first era the king of our land was cutting down trees and the like. It wasn't until his son became king that it was decided that nature should be inspiration, and to not try and change it. It was because of the first king's adviser who had been a wizard and helped raise the second king, King Constantine, that this happened. Each place where a town or village is helps with something. Woodside and forest villages supply nuts, berries and small farms; while the mountains contain the metals we need for weapons and even our currency."
"How do you know all of this?" I asked, Jacks had finally figured out the map and we were heading to the house of the an who had asked for help.
"That wizard was an ancestor of yours, and I was his familiar." I could see he wasn't focused but actually in his own memories and I decided to leave him alone since he wouldn't talk while in front of other people.
"Jasper, come here boy. Ok since the captain assigned us this mission for you to get the idea of how we work, you will take lead as of now."
My eyes widened and I knew he was not kidding with me like he did in training. I nodded, knowing I would not be able to change his mind. I sighed and walked to the door and knocked.
I could hear footsteps inside as someone came to the door and it surprised me when I saw the man.
He was six feet tall and half of his head was covered in very short white hair, the other half was covered in scars,four long scars, his eye had been caught in the middle. I tried to not look shocked as I talked. "Good morning sir, we are from the local guild and. . ."
"Yer wizards? I didn't ask fer no wizards. . ."
"No sir, the local fighter's guild. I just wanted to inform you that we were here and going to take care of the problem and hoped you might be able to tell me where the bear was last seen? Or maybe where he has been spotted the most."
"Somewhere in these woods is where he be. But no one has found him, those have come back at least."
I gulped and pressed on. "Do you know where most of the men have tried to look for it?"
"The only thing I can tell ye is it likes the west side of town, only the town's on the west have lost crop and the like."
"Thank you sir."
"Young master?" I turned back around from walking away. "You plan on offing the beast yerself is it?" I nodded. "Watch yer back son, stronger men have tried and failed. When it's done. . .If it's done, go to the Lord's estate in the center of town, the large oak is his." And with that he closed the door.
"Cheerful." Felix sighed and climbed back into my satchel. "Shall we?"
I took my bow out of my pack and easily strung it. I looked over the dark wooden re-curved bow, checking the etchings and making sure there were no cracks. I drew it a couple of times and listened in case I had missed anything, and then looped it around my shoulder and we headed into the woods on the west side of the town.
"You should see the towns inside the mountains, everything carved, it took years to make just a couple of rooms." Jacks replied as he looked at the map.
"Jasper if I remember correctly you have never really set foot out of your parents home in Underton." I nodded as I took in a blacksmith who was making a sword on an anvil, the anvil itself was a stump with metal bent over the top. "Each town and village was picked for a reason. It used to be, in the first era the king of our land was cutting down trees and the like. It wasn't until his son became king that it was decided that nature should be inspiration, and to not try and change it. It was because of the first king's adviser who had been a wizard and helped raise the second king, King Constantine, that this happened. Each place where a town or village is helps with something. Woodside and forest villages supply nuts, berries and small farms; while the mountains contain the metals we need for weapons and even our currency."
"How do you know all of this?" I asked, Jacks had finally figured out the map and we were heading to the house of the an who had asked for help.
"That wizard was an ancestor of yours, and I was his familiar." I could see he wasn't focused but actually in his own memories and I decided to leave him alone since he wouldn't talk while in front of other people.
"Jasper, come here boy. Ok since the captain assigned us this mission for you to get the idea of how we work, you will take lead as of now."
My eyes widened and I knew he was not kidding with me like he did in training. I nodded, knowing I would not be able to change his mind. I sighed and walked to the door and knocked.
I could hear footsteps inside as someone came to the door and it surprised me when I saw the man.
He was six feet tall and half of his head was covered in very short white hair, the other half was covered in scars,four long scars, his eye had been caught in the middle. I tried to not look shocked as I talked. "Good morning sir, we are from the local guild and. . ."
"Yer wizards? I didn't ask fer no wizards. . ."
"No sir, the local fighter's guild. I just wanted to inform you that we were here and going to take care of the problem and hoped you might be able to tell me where the bear was last seen? Or maybe where he has been spotted the most."
"Somewhere in these woods is where he be. But no one has found him, those have come back at least."
I gulped and pressed on. "Do you know where most of the men have tried to look for it?"
"The only thing I can tell ye is it likes the west side of town, only the town's on the west have lost crop and the like."
"Thank you sir."
"Young master?" I turned back around from walking away. "You plan on offing the beast yerself is it?" I nodded. "Watch yer back son, stronger men have tried and failed. When it's done. . .If it's done, go to the Lord's estate in the center of town, the large oak is his." And with that he closed the door.
"Cheerful." Felix sighed and climbed back into my satchel. "Shall we?"
I took my bow out of my pack and easily strung it. I looked over the dark wooden re-curved bow, checking the etchings and making sure there were no cracks. I drew it a couple of times and listened in case I had missed anything, and then looped it around my shoulder and we headed into the woods on the west side of the town.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Chapter 2
It had been a year since I had walked into the Witch's Broom to join the guild. Jacks had become my trainer, an order from Master Ironside. The man himself was a legend. Wielding a hammer he used to use in his forge he protected his family when bandits had come to rob them blind. He wasn't trained to fight but he began the first guild in the kingdom for fighters, to help the soldiers protect this land.
Of course the man training me was quite the legend himself. Jacks "The Ripper", known for his sword play, the only man known to wield a two-handed sword in just one hand. No one knows how he can summon such strength, all anyone knows is that to fight him, bare-handed and with a blade, is risking your life. While he was training me he hadn't touched a drink, an order from the captain, and the captain's commands were law.
One day, we were training with swords, the captain came for a visit.
"Gentlemen." I looked away for two seconds and while I looked at the captain I saw the world turn upside down as Jacks hooked my leg and sent me spinning until I was flat on my back.
"Rule number 2. . ." Jacks said sipping his morning cup of coffee.
"Never take your eyes off your opponent." I sighed and I got up and dusted off.
"I see the training is going well."
"If you call a swift kicking of my. . ." Jacks cleared his throat." "Hind-quarters." I sighed.
"A little better." Jacks said, shaking the captains hand after having stuck his massive blade into the ground. "To what do we owe the pleasure sir?"
"I like seeing you formal but if you don't loosen up I think I might kick your. . ." Captain Ironside looked at me. "Ass." I couldn't help but smile. Despite every member of the guild being a bunch of fighters and brawlers, they all had a good heart. "I came here because it has officially been a year since young Jasper has joined us at the guild so I thought I would drop off this." He handed over a piece of parchment and when Jacks had unfolded it he scoffed.
"This is beneath me sir I. . ."
The captain's hand went up for him to stop. "But a good test to see how our new member is doing. It is about time he be introduced to our world. You know I began the fighting guild for things that range from helping rid a town of bandits to. . . Things of this nature. It is a good start and I hear he is quite the shot. Besides the army won't take care of things like this, they can barely protect us other countries wanting to fight us, and even then they call upon us themselves. No this is a fine start." And with that he began to walk back the way he had come to the Witch's Broom. "Good luck to the both of you."
I walked over to Jacks while he glared at the paper, almost as if he could set it on fire. "So. . . Where are we going?" I could not help but smile and slightly bounce up and down."
"If you are so agile now, why can't you do that in the ring?"
"I don't know I never thought about it." I finally gathered my courage and peaked over onto the paper, where in big bold letters it read:
Bear on a Rampage in Woodside
Has killed all of my livestock along with half of the town's
Reward for the hide
1,000 silver crowns
"A thousand silver crowns? Half the town must have pitched in to offer that."
"Must be quite the bear. So, grab your things, we leave tomorrow at first light."
The next morning we set off, I couldn't help be worried but this is what I had wanted, and it was now or never to prove myself. "Don't worry Jasper, you'll be fine. I've seen you practice." Felix poked his head out of my satchel and gave me his cat smile.
"Is that Cat?" Jacks turned to walk backwards so he could see, but when he saw Felix he ran over and grabbed him. "I knew it, I knew you would tag along."
"Help me" Felix whispered. I shook my head while grinning like the fool I was.
"Don't worry Cat, I'll keep him out of trouble," as he began to walk again.
"I told you my name is Felix for the hundredth time you barbarian, and of course I came with you, I promised to look after the young master."
"Awe such a sweet Cat for such a little man." He said.
"Don't talk to me like that I'm a grown man not some ball of fur fresh from the womb you imbecile.
Of course the man training me was quite the legend himself. Jacks "The Ripper", known for his sword play, the only man known to wield a two-handed sword in just one hand. No one knows how he can summon such strength, all anyone knows is that to fight him, bare-handed and with a blade, is risking your life. While he was training me he hadn't touched a drink, an order from the captain, and the captain's commands were law.
One day, we were training with swords, the captain came for a visit.
"Gentlemen." I looked away for two seconds and while I looked at the captain I saw the world turn upside down as Jacks hooked my leg and sent me spinning until I was flat on my back.
"Rule number 2. . ." Jacks said sipping his morning cup of coffee.
"Never take your eyes off your opponent." I sighed and I got up and dusted off.
"I see the training is going well."
"If you call a swift kicking of my. . ." Jacks cleared his throat." "Hind-quarters." I sighed.
"A little better." Jacks said, shaking the captains hand after having stuck his massive blade into the ground. "To what do we owe the pleasure sir?"
"I like seeing you formal but if you don't loosen up I think I might kick your. . ." Captain Ironside looked at me. "Ass." I couldn't help but smile. Despite every member of the guild being a bunch of fighters and brawlers, they all had a good heart. "I came here because it has officially been a year since young Jasper has joined us at the guild so I thought I would drop off this." He handed over a piece of parchment and when Jacks had unfolded it he scoffed.
"This is beneath me sir I. . ."
The captain's hand went up for him to stop. "But a good test to see how our new member is doing. It is about time he be introduced to our world. You know I began the fighting guild for things that range from helping rid a town of bandits to. . . Things of this nature. It is a good start and I hear he is quite the shot. Besides the army won't take care of things like this, they can barely protect us other countries wanting to fight us, and even then they call upon us themselves. No this is a fine start." And with that he began to walk back the way he had come to the Witch's Broom. "Good luck to the both of you."
I walked over to Jacks while he glared at the paper, almost as if he could set it on fire. "So. . . Where are we going?" I could not help but smile and slightly bounce up and down."
"If you are so agile now, why can't you do that in the ring?"
"I don't know I never thought about it." I finally gathered my courage and peaked over onto the paper, where in big bold letters it read:
Bear on a Rampage in Woodside
Has killed all of my livestock along with half of the town's
Reward for the hide
1,000 silver crowns
"A thousand silver crowns? Half the town must have pitched in to offer that."
"Must be quite the bear. So, grab your things, we leave tomorrow at first light."
The next morning we set off, I couldn't help be worried but this is what I had wanted, and it was now or never to prove myself. "Don't worry Jasper, you'll be fine. I've seen you practice." Felix poked his head out of my satchel and gave me his cat smile.
"Is that Cat?" Jacks turned to walk backwards so he could see, but when he saw Felix he ran over and grabbed him. "I knew it, I knew you would tag along."
"Help me" Felix whispered. I shook my head while grinning like the fool I was.
"Don't worry Cat, I'll keep him out of trouble," as he began to walk again.
"I told you my name is Felix for the hundredth time you barbarian, and of course I came with you, I promised to look after the young master."
"Awe such a sweet Cat for such a little man." He said.
"Don't talk to me like that I'm a grown man not some ball of fur fresh from the womb you imbecile.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Chapter One Continued
Walking into an actual town was different for me. I had pretty much lived at the house with my family. I had not really had interactions with anyone else even. So I watched everyone as I passed. The smells of fresh cooked food overwhelmed me. People were shouting trying to get [people to buy what they had, it could have been as simple as food or slaves or anything in between.
"Maybe you should stay quiet for now, I don't think people hear would it very much if they found out that you could talk." I whispered to my friend. He simply looked up at me and meowed so I pet his head.
I kept going and finally I came to the place I had been searching for. It looked like it would be out of business soon but with all the yelling from inside I didn't really think that would happen. I went to go inside but the door was pushed open by a man falling outside and into the mud.
"You son of a bitch! Why don't try that again while I'm lookin' at yah?" He stumbled back inside and I followed to see the outcome.
Inside the pub, known as the Witch's Broom, every known fighter, brawler, hired knight, or man who wanted to fight was here. It was the unofficial home of the guild I had come to find. Most of the men were yelling at each other while sharing stories, or drinking, or both at the same time. The others who weren't talking were fighting, whether in a circle around each other taking bets, or cheering the men on.
The man who I had seen get thrown, I assumed, outside was finally in front of his opponent and they were yelling quite fiercely.
"You're all washed up Jacks. You haven't been able to get a request for years, do you really think you can still fight let alone stand?" Finally the man who had been thrown, Jacks, put all his weight into one throw and went to punch. The man who had spoken went to dodge but at the last second Jacks turned his fist a little extra and made contact. He stumbled back and laughed nervously. "You don't even have any weight b. . ." And then his eyes glazed over and the man fell over.
Jacks grabbed a mug from a nearby table to drank it before saying "I don't have any weight behind what? You may have barely dodged one hand, but next time watch closer for the second." He stumbled off to a corner to finish his mead.
My eyes were stunned at what I had just seen. That had been Jacks, the man said to have only lost once, the man who used his fists before his sword and never lost with his fists. This was the man that I had idolized, who I thought I would never meet but who I looked up to and who was apparently a drunk.
"Boy you look to be lost." I shook my head to clear my thoughts and noticed many people staring at me, in particular the bar tender and the man in front of him at the bar, the guild's captain.
"No sir, I'm exactly where I wanted to be."
"From the look of yah, I would think you would want to heading up the college now wouldn't yah?" The men laughed and the captain went back to his drink. I looked down at myself and noticed that where most of the men had clothes that showed wear and tear, mine looked to be new and freshly washed. My arms were thin and weak where theirs were think and like tree trunks from wielding blades for most of their lives. But I clenched my hands and looked him right in the eye.
"No sir. I'd rather be here. I may look weak but that's because I need to learn and I'm willing to do anything to make my dream come true." No one laughed, everyone went quiet, even the men who were fighting in the rings were all looking at me or the captain.
"Tell me something boy." The captain finished his drink and turned to me. "Are you sure you want this? Are you ready to put your life on the line? You will be bullied for being new, you will be harassed and put to work and because you will be a member of this guild you would be looked down on for not trying your hardest to protect any of these men."
"My family thinks I am a disappointment, I hope to make a new one and show them what I can be."
He chuckled and order another drink, "You're in."
"Maybe you should stay quiet for now, I don't think people hear would it very much if they found out that you could talk." I whispered to my friend. He simply looked up at me and meowed so I pet his head.
I kept going and finally I came to the place I had been searching for. It looked like it would be out of business soon but with all the yelling from inside I didn't really think that would happen. I went to go inside but the door was pushed open by a man falling outside and into the mud.
"You son of a bitch! Why don't try that again while I'm lookin' at yah?" He stumbled back inside and I followed to see the outcome.
Inside the pub, known as the Witch's Broom, every known fighter, brawler, hired knight, or man who wanted to fight was here. It was the unofficial home of the guild I had come to find. Most of the men were yelling at each other while sharing stories, or drinking, or both at the same time. The others who weren't talking were fighting, whether in a circle around each other taking bets, or cheering the men on.
The man who I had seen get thrown, I assumed, outside was finally in front of his opponent and they were yelling quite fiercely.
"You're all washed up Jacks. You haven't been able to get a request for years, do you really think you can still fight let alone stand?" Finally the man who had been thrown, Jacks, put all his weight into one throw and went to punch. The man who had spoken went to dodge but at the last second Jacks turned his fist a little extra and made contact. He stumbled back and laughed nervously. "You don't even have any weight b. . ." And then his eyes glazed over and the man fell over.
Jacks grabbed a mug from a nearby table to drank it before saying "I don't have any weight behind what? You may have barely dodged one hand, but next time watch closer for the second." He stumbled off to a corner to finish his mead.
My eyes were stunned at what I had just seen. That had been Jacks, the man said to have only lost once, the man who used his fists before his sword and never lost with his fists. This was the man that I had idolized, who I thought I would never meet but who I looked up to and who was apparently a drunk.
"Boy you look to be lost." I shook my head to clear my thoughts and noticed many people staring at me, in particular the bar tender and the man in front of him at the bar, the guild's captain.
"No sir, I'm exactly where I wanted to be."
"From the look of yah, I would think you would want to heading up the college now wouldn't yah?" The men laughed and the captain went back to his drink. I looked down at myself and noticed that where most of the men had clothes that showed wear and tear, mine looked to be new and freshly washed. My arms were thin and weak where theirs were think and like tree trunks from wielding blades for most of their lives. But I clenched my hands and looked him right in the eye.
"No sir. I'd rather be here. I may look weak but that's because I need to learn and I'm willing to do anything to make my dream come true." No one laughed, everyone went quiet, even the men who were fighting in the rings were all looking at me or the captain.
"Tell me something boy." The captain finished his drink and turned to me. "Are you sure you want this? Are you ready to put your life on the line? You will be bullied for being new, you will be harassed and put to work and because you will be a member of this guild you would be looked down on for not trying your hardest to protect any of these men."
"My family thinks I am a disappointment, I hope to make a new one and show them what I can be."
He chuckled and order another drink, "You're in."
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Ties that Bind Chapter One
My father realized he could control
the elements at the age of six. He danced outside in the rain for three hours
that he had begged to happen until he got a cold. My mother knew she could talk
to animals at the age of seven, when the neighbor’s cat was stuck in a tree and
was crying for help. She climbed up to save it but ended up falling and
breaking her arm. My sister has become an extremely renowned magic user for her
ability of telekinesis and me, I was eighteen and my family had given up on me
it seemed. My head was more into the books of adventures then in the practice
of magic. “Try a little harder and maybe something will happen.” My father kept
telling me.
So the month after my birthday I
told my parents I was going to the Guild. They both looked so confused until I
told them it wasn’t the Mage’s College I was going to but the Guild of
warriors. My father sighed and my mother, she smiled but I could see in her
eyes that she didn’t believe I could make it. I set out to do or die. . . But
my journey there and my adventures afterwards would long be told of all over
the world.
“Jasper! Slow down!” I looked behind
me to see my faithful companion yelling at me again.
“I offered for you to ride in my
pack but you decided against it you silly beast.” I laughed at him again. He
caught up to me and I knelt down to scoop my family’s pet and ex familiar to my
satchel.
“As a cat that is one thing but as a
familiar. . ."
“Ex
familiar thanks to me, remember?”I stated.
He sighed, looked at me and said,
“That’s not your fault boy and we both know that. No one could expect you to. .
. No one thought it was possible considering your family.” And then he climbed
in and I stood up to start walking.
“I know.” I said. I sighed and began
my pace again in silence. “You didn’t have to come with me you know.”
“And who will tell this glorious
tale. . . If there is one.” We both laughed, knowing that it was most likely
for nothing to happen instead of what I wanted.
“We’ll see now won’t we?” As I came
to the top of the hill I could see the village below. That contained this
country’s branch of the Guild. “We made it, the town of Oar."
"Are you nervous?" I shook my head at the question, "Liar."
"Very much so." I looked down and smiled at him as I started walking, "But no one needs to know that. As far as anyone is concerned I'm confident and. . .and. . .courageous." My voice cracked and I prayed to the gods that it didn't happen again while I was here.
A New World Indeed
Well well well. . . don't yell at me for not writing a new story! I have been so busy and messed up that I'm lucky I'm still alive on a half empty head and drunk mind from lack of sleep still! I'll get to it!
*sigh*
I do have something in the works. . . 2 actually but I want to try them out before I let them be viewed so be nice and wait!
But for those that follow me not just for my awesome story-telling but for my life as well I have some news.
*news theme*
I met someone. . . More like Passed over before realizing I was being looked at and then went. . . "Wait. . .you like me too?!?!?" I will not say names you all know this but know this. . .
OH MY GOD! This girl has me wrapped around her fingers and won't let go and it has only been two months! D:. . . But I love it! She's sweet, kind, caring, has a good head on her shoulders and is so much fun. I don't care who knows and baby if you read this I love you so much and I plan on sticking around for a while! :-*
Now I ended up moving in with my mother because of how bad things had gotten in my life but hopefully that will changing within the next month or two but hoping less. I am currently losing my job so now that I have some crazy amount of free time and maybe a little spunk I might get some much needed work done. You won't see my major story I am working on but I might fiddle around with a fun little piece on here from time to time.
*Thinking. . .Thinking. . .* I think that is it for now folks besides lack of sleep. . . .
mmmmm......sleeeep......why you no come see me Dx.....
goodnight...or good morning, which ever you prefer.
*sigh*
I do have something in the works. . . 2 actually but I want to try them out before I let them be viewed so be nice and wait!
But for those that follow me not just for my awesome story-telling but for my life as well I have some news.
*news theme*
I met someone. . . More like Passed over before realizing I was being looked at and then went. . . "Wait. . .you like me too?!?!?" I will not say names you all know this but know this. . .
OH MY GOD! This girl has me wrapped around her fingers and won't let go and it has only been two months! D:. . . But I love it! She's sweet, kind, caring, has a good head on her shoulders and is so much fun. I don't care who knows and baby if you read this I love you so much and I plan on sticking around for a while! :-*
Now I ended up moving in with my mother because of how bad things had gotten in my life but hopefully that will changing within the next month or two but hoping less. I am currently losing my job so now that I have some crazy amount of free time and maybe a little spunk I might get some much needed work done. You won't see my major story I am working on but I might fiddle around with a fun little piece on here from time to time.
*Thinking. . .Thinking. . .* I think that is it for now folks besides lack of sleep. . . .
mmmmm......sleeeep......why you no come see me Dx.....
goodnight...or good morning, which ever you prefer.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Uh oh. . .
Ok everyone I have some news. . . I have NO idea where my story is going...
*hides*
I'm sorry but I don't. So. . .new story, new everything. . .
Oh boy. . .Here we go
*hides*
I'm sorry but I don't. So. . .new story, new everything. . .
Oh boy. . .Here we go
Saturday, June 22, 2013
I'm Going InSaNe.
I know most of you probably think I already am insane. . .who am I kidding I could probably name all of the people who read this stuff, but seriously. My life feels turned upside down. I tried dating again and it was to soon, I'm still raw and sore and broken. Worst part is, she was one of my best friends. Now because of how much she knows, and how it happened. . .Every word makes me feel worse, every letter drives a knife in deeper. And. . .she knows me well enough to know what to say to cut and leave marks. . .things I have buried are brought to the surface.
I have never felt so tortured in my life. . .maybe. . .
Maybe I deserve this. . .
After all I have done. . .maybe I needed someone to strip me to bone and exposed everything fault that makes me who I am to wipe it clean. . .But. . .
How does it take?
How long can I keep going until I breakdown?
I can't write, I can't seam to eat well, I don't sleep. . .
I have no outlet. . .It's all just a build up and I do not like where it is going. . .
I have never felt so tortured in my life. . .maybe. . .
Maybe I deserve this. . .
After all I have done. . .maybe I needed someone to strip me to bone and exposed everything fault that makes me who I am to wipe it clean. . .But. . .
How does it take?
How long can I keep going until I breakdown?
I can't write, I can't seam to eat well, I don't sleep. . .
I have no outlet. . .It's all just a build up and I do not like where it is going. . .
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Chapter Five (continued)
The agents came in and looked around the living room before heading into the study to see the aftermath. Agent Tom pulled out what looked like a pair of old glasses, they appeared to be covered by algae and green rocks. "What the hell are those?" Jack asked.
"Shut up" Frank stated. "What do you see?"
"Not anything good."
"Possible threat?"
"No, it looks like. . ."
"What the hell are you two talking about?" Jack interrupted.The two agents looked at each other before looking back at the man. "What?"
"It's nothing good. Well you won't think so." Frank said.
"Okay?"
"For some reason the Tartutic think that you are a part of the Blue World. What that means is they beieve you to be here for some reason from their home world and if they believe that then. . . "
"They want to bring you back and judge you for your crime of being here." Tom finished the sentence.
Jack didn't know what to do or say. It was all happening so fast that he really couldn't make sense of it. Why would they think he was from this 'Blue World'? Then there was the whole animal that had attacked him in the first place. "So. . . What uh. . . What am I supposed to do?"
The agents looked at each other again before Tom spoke. "The only option is to take you to the Blue World and find out what is going on. We know the judgement for the Tartutic is coming up and one or more might be getting replaced, so before they are off the ruling they want to clean up all little mistakes so they can stay. No matter what they think. it does appear you are a lost member of the Blue World. The question then becomes. . ."
"What you really are."
"But. . ." Jack sighed. "How is that possible?"
"Jack do you remember anything funny as a kid? Memories that only make sense if you were underwater? Sounds of dolphins, whales, weird light?" Jack went white because he had never told anyone that except his cousin. "Then for some reason, you were removed from the Blue World and give to a family so you would fit in. The question is why and whose child you are."
"Well. . . Now that we have been to crazy town and back." Jocelyn said, Jack had almost forgotten she was there. "You better be bringing me with you, I mean. I'm like a witness right?"
"Shut up" Frank stated. "What do you see?"
"Not anything good."
"Possible threat?"
"No, it looks like. . ."
"What the hell are you two talking about?" Jack interrupted.The two agents looked at each other before looking back at the man. "What?"
"It's nothing good. Well you won't think so." Frank said.
"Okay?"
"For some reason the Tartutic think that you are a part of the Blue World. What that means is they beieve you to be here for some reason from their home world and if they believe that then. . . "
"They want to bring you back and judge you for your crime of being here." Tom finished the sentence.
Jack didn't know what to do or say. It was all happening so fast that he really couldn't make sense of it. Why would they think he was from this 'Blue World'? Then there was the whole animal that had attacked him in the first place. "So. . . What uh. . . What am I supposed to do?"
The agents looked at each other again before Tom spoke. "The only option is to take you to the Blue World and find out what is going on. We know the judgement for the Tartutic is coming up and one or more might be getting replaced, so before they are off the ruling they want to clean up all little mistakes so they can stay. No matter what they think. it does appear you are a lost member of the Blue World. The question then becomes. . ."
"What you really are."
"But. . ." Jack sighed. "How is that possible?"
"Jack do you remember anything funny as a kid? Memories that only make sense if you were underwater? Sounds of dolphins, whales, weird light?" Jack went white because he had never told anyone that except his cousin. "Then for some reason, you were removed from the Blue World and give to a family so you would fit in. The question is why and whose child you are."
"Well. . . Now that we have been to crazy town and back." Jocelyn said, Jack had almost forgotten she was there. "You better be bringing me with you, I mean. I'm like a witness right?"
Monday, May 13, 2013
Taking a break from it all
I know I haven't been on in a while to post more of my story but at this moment I just need some venting and maybe THEN I'll keep writing. First off that girl I told you all about? Well. . . That's not going on anymore, needless to say the trickster is single. . .YAY *party balloons and confetti* I sound so happy. Truth about it is I hate being single. That's just me though. I know everyone says some people have relationships to define them. Me, I don't see it as such. I know who I am and that is how I am.
ANYWAYS
I have a job working somewhere that I will not mention (told you you'd never figure out who I am xP) but again this is just updates. The biggest thing that I want to talk about is the fact that while I was dating this girl, I had a couple of other girls who kept saying "Oh I'd love to date you, I'd love to" now?. . . *Looks around* Oh by god I'm alone. WOW! What does that say? But whatever, if someone really wanted to be with me I'm pretty sure they'd be here.
I gots a best friend in my life who sticks by me through thick and thin and everywhere in between and I know I have his back like he has mine. We shall rule the world *commence evil laugh. . .coughing fit*. . .where was I?
Oh yes, Life update umpteenth. . .
Actually. . .
I don't know what else to get into. . .
That's odd isn't it? Usually I''m on here for so long that It looks like a small novel. . . Well I'll be back on here again now. Writing juices are coming left and write and maybe something will stick this time.
Until next time folks, stay hungry for words and I'll keep serving my writing. ;)
ANYWAYS
I have a job working somewhere that I will not mention (told you you'd never figure out who I am xP) but again this is just updates. The biggest thing that I want to talk about is the fact that while I was dating this girl, I had a couple of other girls who kept saying "Oh I'd love to date you, I'd love to" now?. . . *Looks around* Oh by god I'm alone. WOW! What does that say? But whatever, if someone really wanted to be with me I'm pretty sure they'd be here.
I gots a best friend in my life who sticks by me through thick and thin and everywhere in between and I know I have his back like he has mine. We shall rule the world *commence evil laugh. . .coughing fit*. . .where was I?
Oh yes, Life update umpteenth. . .
Actually. . .
I don't know what else to get into. . .
That's odd isn't it? Usually I''m on here for so long that It looks like a small novel. . . Well I'll be back on here again now. Writing juices are coming left and write and maybe something will stick this time.
Until next time folks, stay hungry for words and I'll keep serving my writing. ;)
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Chapter Five
He paced the room anxiously while on the phone, trying for his life to look calm but failing. Jocelyn kept trying to ask him questions but there was not much he could say. "Hello?" Was what came through the line of the phone.
"It's me again."
"I know Mr. Carter, why are you calling this number again? We have taken care of your problem. . ."
"Well something else has shown up and from the looks of them, I'm guessing the incidents are related." He knew his voice broke slightly and his voice was shaky, he waited to hear something in return. The agent had his hand over the receiver and was telling his partner something he could not make out."
"What kind of. . ."
"Green monkeys, two of them." Jack said quickly, but it still sounded insane to him anyways.
"Tartutic. . . Wait, two? Are you sure?" He started to sound angry.
"Yes I'm fucking sure! They almost killed my. . ." He paced by the window and saw the two monkeys conversing with a third one. "Ok there is three and they are still outside my house." He whispered. "Hello?" All he heard in response was a dial tone. "Damn it."
"Hey why aren't you talking to me?" His little cousin yelled. Jack rushed over to her and put his hand over her mouth, with the other he put his finger to his lips. He got down on his hands and knees and made his way to the window, Jocelyn and Cujo right behind him. When he got there he peaked out and they were gone. "I don't see anything."
Before Jack could explain what he had seen, there was a knock on the door. He jumped up and almost ran to the door to see the agents. "Agent Thomas. . . Frank." He said and motioned them to come in.
"Who the hell are those guys Jackie?"
"Ok for one Joce. . . You know I hate Jackie and for two. . . I actually I don't really have an answer for who they are but they know this stuff apparently."
"Jack, just call me Tom because it looks like you're going to be seeing us for longer than we thought."
"It's me again."
"I know Mr. Carter, why are you calling this number again? We have taken care of your problem. . ."
"Well something else has shown up and from the looks of them, I'm guessing the incidents are related." He knew his voice broke slightly and his voice was shaky, he waited to hear something in return. The agent had his hand over the receiver and was telling his partner something he could not make out."
"What kind of. . ."
"Green monkeys, two of them." Jack said quickly, but it still sounded insane to him anyways.
"Tartutic. . . Wait, two? Are you sure?" He started to sound angry.
"Yes I'm fucking sure! They almost killed my. . ." He paced by the window and saw the two monkeys conversing with a third one. "Ok there is three and they are still outside my house." He whispered. "Hello?" All he heard in response was a dial tone. "Damn it."
"Hey why aren't you talking to me?" His little cousin yelled. Jack rushed over to her and put his hand over her mouth, with the other he put his finger to his lips. He got down on his hands and knees and made his way to the window, Jocelyn and Cujo right behind him. When he got there he peaked out and they were gone. "I don't see anything."
Before Jack could explain what he had seen, there was a knock on the door. He jumped up and almost ran to the door to see the agents. "Agent Thomas. . . Frank." He said and motioned them to come in.
"Who the hell are those guys Jackie?"
"Ok for one Joce. . . You know I hate Jackie and for two. . . I actually I don't really have an answer for who they are but they know this stuff apparently."
"Jack, just call me Tom because it looks like you're going to be seeing us for longer than we thought."
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Chapter Four
Jackson was not a stupid 25 year old boy. He did not want his little cousin around if someone was in the house but he did not want to have her alone in some room and have her taken if they were still around. He turned to her as he grabbed a flashlight, afraid turning on the lights might scare someone into doing something stupid, and said, "Stay close behind me and try not to scream unless you see someone." She nodded her understanding as he looked at her pale face. He did not know if she was as scared as he was but she was at least close. He flicked the flashlight one and started towards the living room. Cujo, having been trained since he was just a pup saw the signs Jack was making and made sure to follow them since he was on edge as well. He motioned for Cujo to go to the livingroom and he did, sniffing around, he sneezed once, then twice. His owner reccognized this as him keeping the scent of whoever had been here in his memory, in case it was needed. He listened to the clicking of the dog's nail as he circled the living room. When he came back into the hallway Jack knew it was clear.
He let out a breath and motioned with the light down the small hallway to the kitchen on the right, straight across from the livingroom. As Cujo went in he listened as he heard the dog check the cupboards, he listened as he heard a shuffling sound, whcih he took was Cujo looking under the table. When he came back out they moved on down to Jack's bedroom, then the bathroom and lastly the spare room which had been turned into Jack's writing room or "office". It was in the last room where it seemed to go a little wrong.
The 2 year old pup went into the room, he began his circling. But it was when he was suppoed to be roughly around the window that he heard growling. "Stay here," He whispered as he got up and got into the doorway. He was about to turn on the light when he saw what looked like a monkey on the broken window sill. It was almost like the creature, the scrunt, almost as if it was made of branches instead of grass. Green, moss covered twigs, wet from recent rain, the smell wafted over to him. It actually was somewhat familiar to him for some reason. The feet, or what he could see, looked like they had gone through freshly mowed grass, like hair sprouting randomly on its body. It was then he heard a bark and a cry like a monkey and as he looked he saw a second of these monkeys standing off with Cujo. The monkey swung but Cujo dodged and came in for a neck bite but the creature was faster and knocked him to the floor. "Cujo!" Jack ran for his friend as the monkey moved to the window with its counterpart. They looked at one another and then back at Jack before they left the same way, he guessed, they came in. Through the window. "I guess my office is now traffic for the weird." He mumbled as he took a look at his dog. "You're ok buddy you're ok. Let me look Cujo, Hey! Don't snap at me let me look." When Cujo finally let him look him over nothing felt broken, there was no bleeding just some sore spots. "Good boy." he said to him, petting him gently. "It's ok Joce. Everything ok now."
He looked into the doorway and saw her already standing there. "I'll say! What were those things?"
"I don't know," he said, staring around at the ruins, but he smiled as a thought came to him. "But I know where to find out."
He let out a breath and motioned with the light down the small hallway to the kitchen on the right, straight across from the livingroom. As Cujo went in he listened as he heard the dog check the cupboards, he listened as he heard a shuffling sound, whcih he took was Cujo looking under the table. When he came back out they moved on down to Jack's bedroom, then the bathroom and lastly the spare room which had been turned into Jack's writing room or "office". It was in the last room where it seemed to go a little wrong.
The 2 year old pup went into the room, he began his circling. But it was when he was suppoed to be roughly around the window that he heard growling. "Stay here," He whispered as he got up and got into the doorway. He was about to turn on the light when he saw what looked like a monkey on the broken window sill. It was almost like the creature, the scrunt, almost as if it was made of branches instead of grass. Green, moss covered twigs, wet from recent rain, the smell wafted over to him. It actually was somewhat familiar to him for some reason. The feet, or what he could see, looked like they had gone through freshly mowed grass, like hair sprouting randomly on its body. It was then he heard a bark and a cry like a monkey and as he looked he saw a second of these monkeys standing off with Cujo. The monkey swung but Cujo dodged and came in for a neck bite but the creature was faster and knocked him to the floor. "Cujo!" Jack ran for his friend as the monkey moved to the window with its counterpart. They looked at one another and then back at Jack before they left the same way, he guessed, they came in. Through the window. "I guess my office is now traffic for the weird." He mumbled as he took a look at his dog. "You're ok buddy you're ok. Let me look Cujo, Hey! Don't snap at me let me look." When Cujo finally let him look him over nothing felt broken, there was no bleeding just some sore spots. "Good boy." he said to him, petting him gently. "It's ok Joce. Everything ok now."
He looked into the doorway and saw her already standing there. "I'll say! What were those things?"
"I don't know," he said, staring around at the ruins, but he smiled as a thought came to him. "But I know where to find out."
Monday, January 14, 2013
Chapter Three
As Jackson headed inside he heard barking. Cujo was at the door as he came in whining and licking him all over. "Oh stop being such a worry wart you big baby." As he walked to the kitchen he noticed that the two strange men he had been with, were no longer with him at all. In fact, when he went outside to find them, thinking they may be by the dead body of the creature he had killed, he didn't even find the body. "Okay. I'm officially a little creeped." He headed back inside for his Coke and rum mix, he didn't even care that it was two in the afternoon. When Cujo gave him a look that said, isn't it early, he just said, "Hey, it's five o'clock somewhere" before downing the rest of glass two.
He slid out another Smooth cigarrette as he found his way to the couch. Sliding into the comfortable cushions, not even getting the chance to turn the T.V. on before he passed out.
He was dreaming. He had to be dreaming. There was no way that a giant eagle was giving him a ride on its back. No that's not right. It is Eatlon. He did not stop to even think of how he knew that. He watched as the montain city came into view. He was finally home. After all of these years. He smiled and did not care to wipe the one solitary tear that fell from his eye. As he looked down on the long forgotten city beneath the sea he could hear crowds of people cheering his return. But as quick as came.
Jackson awoke with a start. Cujo was barking at him, ringing his bell by the door. "Oh come on man really?" He groaned as he got out of his seat to get the leash. "Alright let's go." As he clicked the leash into place and opened the door for the excited puppy.
The dog did its business as Jackson bundled himself up a little more to protect himself from the chill night as he watched Cujo walked to the car. "Where are you going?" He watched him walk to the car and bark at the door. "Cuj' we're not going anywhere for the next. . . Oh shit." He thankfully had his keys in his jacket when he had check the time and noticed it was 9:00 p.m. and he was late.
He opened the door and let Cujo take his backseat place and sped out of the parking lot a little to fast. Thankfully it only took him five minutes to get to the bus station, along the way noticing he had not only missed a phone call from his aunt but also from Jocelyn and Grace. "Bud we are in so much trouble." Cujo whined and laid his head down. "Yeah I know."
He pulled into the vacant lot and kept the car running. He sat on the hood and looked around, not seeing any signs of life. He sighed and prayed the girl had not taken a cab since she probably had no money and expected Jack to pay for it for being late. He pulled out a smoke and decided to wait a little longer but he was lucky because she came walking out. She had a backpack over her pink winter coat, a messenger bag across her shoulder with flowers on it and a look that could kill.
"I thought you quit smoking." He flinched, remembering he had just lit one.
"I uh. . ."
"Don't bother lying to me Jackie, you know I won't take it. You said, you said. . ."
"I know I know I know, but it was a hard day and. . . I'll get it in the car."
It was a quiet ride back to the apartment, even the dog was quiet. Although, he was quiet because Jocelyn was rubbing him behind his ear. Traitor, was all Jackson could think. When they finally pulled up, she did not even wait for Jack to turn and try to apologize, she grabbed her bags by her feet went for the door. Jack followed behind quickly hoping to make this better but as he got to the door he could tell something as wrong.
"Joce."
"Yeah?"
"Get behind me." She did without saying another word. The apartment was a mess, it was obvious someone, not some thing had been in here, and he did not want his little cousin finding out what.
He slid out another Smooth cigarrette as he found his way to the couch. Sliding into the comfortable cushions, not even getting the chance to turn the T.V. on before he passed out.
He was dreaming. He had to be dreaming. There was no way that a giant eagle was giving him a ride on its back. No that's not right. It is Eatlon. He did not stop to even think of how he knew that. He watched as the montain city came into view. He was finally home. After all of these years. He smiled and did not care to wipe the one solitary tear that fell from his eye. As he looked down on the long forgotten city beneath the sea he could hear crowds of people cheering his return. But as quick as came.
Jackson awoke with a start. Cujo was barking at him, ringing his bell by the door. "Oh come on man really?" He groaned as he got out of his seat to get the leash. "Alright let's go." As he clicked the leash into place and opened the door for the excited puppy.
The dog did its business as Jackson bundled himself up a little more to protect himself from the chill night as he watched Cujo walked to the car. "Where are you going?" He watched him walk to the car and bark at the door. "Cuj' we're not going anywhere for the next. . . Oh shit." He thankfully had his keys in his jacket when he had check the time and noticed it was 9:00 p.m. and he was late.
He opened the door and let Cujo take his backseat place and sped out of the parking lot a little to fast. Thankfully it only took him five minutes to get to the bus station, along the way noticing he had not only missed a phone call from his aunt but also from Jocelyn and Grace. "Bud we are in so much trouble." Cujo whined and laid his head down. "Yeah I know."
He pulled into the vacant lot and kept the car running. He sat on the hood and looked around, not seeing any signs of life. He sighed and prayed the girl had not taken a cab since she probably had no money and expected Jack to pay for it for being late. He pulled out a smoke and decided to wait a little longer but he was lucky because she came walking out. She had a backpack over her pink winter coat, a messenger bag across her shoulder with flowers on it and a look that could kill.
"I thought you quit smoking." He flinched, remembering he had just lit one.
"I uh. . ."
"Don't bother lying to me Jackie, you know I won't take it. You said, you said. . ."
"I know I know I know, but it was a hard day and. . . I'll get it in the car."
It was a quiet ride back to the apartment, even the dog was quiet. Although, he was quiet because Jocelyn was rubbing him behind his ear. Traitor, was all Jackson could think. When they finally pulled up, she did not even wait for Jack to turn and try to apologize, she grabbed her bags by her feet went for the door. Jack followed behind quickly hoping to make this better but as he got to the door he could tell something as wrong.
"Joce."
"Yeah?"
"Get behind me." She did without saying another word. The apartment was a mess, it was obvious someone, not some thing had been in here, and he did not want his little cousin finding out what.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Chapter Two
He leaped over the windowsill and dropped to one knee. He clenched the bat a little tighter when he heard the rustling of leaves again. He tried ot turn towards the sound, when it sounded like it came from the right, but when he did another came from the left. "hello?" he yelled. The answer he received was a growl. "Oh fuck." He tried to calm down but he was having some trouble. He reached into his pocket with one hand, grabbbing his phone and the card the two mysterious men had given them and started dialing the number.
"Agent Thomas." As he was about to answer the creature jumped and was on top of him. It was a blur of claws, a muzzle filled with teeth and the sound of those teeth knawing on wood. When Jack finally got a good look at this creature it wasn't really covered with fur. It looked like it was nothing but laid flat grass, matted and clumped mudd was what held it together. Its jaw snapped and wriggled trying to get through the hard maple wood. Jack pushed a little harder but his arms could not do anymore, even with his adrenaline rush, and that is what was worrying him. He lowered it closer to his face and could smell his breath, rotten leaves, moss and petrified wood. "Dude. . . Two words. Breath mint." He shoved up and over on the bat, sending the thing flying to the ground and sliding on the new wet leaves from the rain last night. He stared at its eyes and it faced off with him. He finally put his feet underneath him to stand. He put the bat between the two of them and held it more like a staff instead of a bat. He watched as it backed up as he advanced. "What in gods name. . . You have the advantage boy. Take it." He muttered uder his breath. He took another step but heard a twig snap, he looked down and as he did, the creature jumped. "Jesu. . ." He cried, pushing the bat forward and planting his feet to keep from falling over again. It stumbled and Jack took his chance to swing, like the pro-athlete his wasn't, striking the side of it's green muzzle and hearing the sound of broken branches instead of bone. It crumpled at his feet and almost seemed to dissolve into the grass.
Jack stepped back and fell over himself trying to breathe and not freak out. The bat fell from his hands and found their way into his brown hair which was sweaty, wet from the leaves sticking here and there on his head andmore sweat.
He heard something like words coming from on the ground, it was then he realized his phone was still on. He picked it up with shaking hands.
"Mr. Carter? Are you there sir? Are you. . . No I haven't heard anything from. . ."
"I'm here agent Thomas. And uh. . . I think I found the creature you were looking for. Is it ok if it's dead?"
"It's what?"
"Dead."
"How did you. . ."
"Baseball bat." He answered. There was silence on the other end as agent Thomas tried to think of an answer.
"You killed it. With a baseball bat?"
"That is what I said."
"We'll be over in ten." Jackson could hear the car tires squealing as it turned sharply. "Where are you?"
"Outside my apartment, around the back." The line went dead and when he looked at the phone's screen it said 'call disconnected'.
"Well bye to you too." He slid it back into his pocket and made it back to his window and sat on the open sill. "Fuck it." He leaned back and got into the drawer and pulled out his Malboro Smooth pack of ciggarettes and a scorpio lighter. He slipped one out with ease of repitive practice as well as lighting it and sliding both pieces into his chest pocket.
By the time he had finished his first smoke in over 2 years the two agents had come around the back of the complex. "s'about time boys." He let out the last bit of smoke and dropped the butt to the ground, dropped down from the sill and crushed his smoldering butt. He walked towards where the body was, which he had been staring at since he had killed it.
Where is it Mr. . . Oh." He pointed at the corpse as he slid another smoke between his lips. "And you. . ." He motioned a swing with a clicking sound with his tongue."
"Right to his muzzle. Surprised I hit him really since I never was good at baseball but I guess when you're life depends on it."
"Well uh. . . Thank you very much. . ."
"You want to tell me why my life depended on this? And why the fuck this thing was around here in general. This is not a common mutt since this. . .this. . . Shit that is covering him is not fur." Jackson got louder as he went about his rant. "You wanna tell me what the fuck is going on?"
"Sir. . ." The other agent started to say.
"Shut up Frank."
"But he's. . ."
"It's kind of late for that because of our own mess." He motion to his lips towards Jack and he passed a smoke over to him and lit it. "What you killed was a scrunt. Straight from the blue world, which you should not have been able to kill it."
"Why not? because before most people can even see it. It strikes from the grass. No human response is fast enough to do anything."
"But I did."
"And the only way you could have would be if for some reason you had some inkling of where it was. They attack from behind, not the front."
There was silence among the three of them.
"I need a stiff drink." Jackson sighed.
"Agent Thomas." As he was about to answer the creature jumped and was on top of him. It was a blur of claws, a muzzle filled with teeth and the sound of those teeth knawing on wood. When Jack finally got a good look at this creature it wasn't really covered with fur. It looked like it was nothing but laid flat grass, matted and clumped mudd was what held it together. Its jaw snapped and wriggled trying to get through the hard maple wood. Jack pushed a little harder but his arms could not do anymore, even with his adrenaline rush, and that is what was worrying him. He lowered it closer to his face and could smell his breath, rotten leaves, moss and petrified wood. "Dude. . . Two words. Breath mint." He shoved up and over on the bat, sending the thing flying to the ground and sliding on the new wet leaves from the rain last night. He stared at its eyes and it faced off with him. He finally put his feet underneath him to stand. He put the bat between the two of them and held it more like a staff instead of a bat. He watched as it backed up as he advanced. "What in gods name. . . You have the advantage boy. Take it." He muttered uder his breath. He took another step but heard a twig snap, he looked down and as he did, the creature jumped. "Jesu. . ." He cried, pushing the bat forward and planting his feet to keep from falling over again. It stumbled and Jack took his chance to swing, like the pro-athlete his wasn't, striking the side of it's green muzzle and hearing the sound of broken branches instead of bone. It crumpled at his feet and almost seemed to dissolve into the grass.
Jack stepped back and fell over himself trying to breathe and not freak out. The bat fell from his hands and found their way into his brown hair which was sweaty, wet from the leaves sticking here and there on his head andmore sweat.
He heard something like words coming from on the ground, it was then he realized his phone was still on. He picked it up with shaking hands.
"Mr. Carter? Are you there sir? Are you. . . No I haven't heard anything from. . ."
"I'm here agent Thomas. And uh. . . I think I found the creature you were looking for. Is it ok if it's dead?"
"It's what?"
"Dead."
"How did you. . ."
"Baseball bat." He answered. There was silence on the other end as agent Thomas tried to think of an answer.
"You killed it. With a baseball bat?"
"That is what I said."
"We'll be over in ten." Jackson could hear the car tires squealing as it turned sharply. "Where are you?"
"Outside my apartment, around the back." The line went dead and when he looked at the phone's screen it said 'call disconnected'.
"Well bye to you too." He slid it back into his pocket and made it back to his window and sat on the open sill. "Fuck it." He leaned back and got into the drawer and pulled out his Malboro Smooth pack of ciggarettes and a scorpio lighter. He slipped one out with ease of repitive practice as well as lighting it and sliding both pieces into his chest pocket.
By the time he had finished his first smoke in over 2 years the two agents had come around the back of the complex. "s'about time boys." He let out the last bit of smoke and dropped the butt to the ground, dropped down from the sill and crushed his smoldering butt. He walked towards where the body was, which he had been staring at since he had killed it.
Where is it Mr. . . Oh." He pointed at the corpse as he slid another smoke between his lips. "And you. . ." He motioned a swing with a clicking sound with his tongue."
"Right to his muzzle. Surprised I hit him really since I never was good at baseball but I guess when you're life depends on it."
"Well uh. . . Thank you very much. . ."
"You want to tell me why my life depended on this? And why the fuck this thing was around here in general. This is not a common mutt since this. . .this. . . Shit that is covering him is not fur." Jackson got louder as he went about his rant. "You wanna tell me what the fuck is going on?"
"Sir. . ." The other agent started to say.
"Shut up Frank."
"But he's. . ."
"It's kind of late for that because of our own mess." He motion to his lips towards Jack and he passed a smoke over to him and lit it. "What you killed was a scrunt. Straight from the blue world, which you should not have been able to kill it."
"Why not? because before most people can even see it. It strikes from the grass. No human response is fast enough to do anything."
"But I did."
"And the only way you could have would be if for some reason you had some inkling of where it was. They attack from behind, not the front."
There was silence among the three of them.
"I need a stiff drink." Jackson sighed.
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