Preys & Predators IV; Monster and Witches Chapter 15

 15.

 

 “I am weakened.” Annabelle floated back to the mansion. She had been defending the mansion with her shields, but the onslaught of the demons was relentless.

“Stay with me, sister.” Carmilla pulled her sister to the side. “I will hold them back. I have some other enchantments that I could use.”

“Hephaestus, I bid your flame to disperse the demons.” Carmilla held out her arms to the shield that was cracking under the intense barrage of the demons.

“Go povikuvam ognot na Hefest. Zapali go suštestvoto pred mene.” (I call on the fire of Hephaestus. Burn the creature before me.” Carmilla spoke of the spell of yellow fire, and the flame appeared in a narrow circle, and then the flames flared out as streaks of flame that lashed out like a fiery whip on the shields.  The shields, strengthened by the flame, repel the demons.

“It worked, Carmilla.” Annabelle smiled at the other and saw Carmilla had fallen to her knees.

“I am ……. depleted.” Carmilla whispered out. “The spell was strong, and it weakened me.”

“Stay strong, Carmilla. I could work on the shield once more. The flames gave me time.” Annabelle looked at the shields that were then held together by the flames.

“Hold your strength, Annabelle. If we push it too fast, we will be defeated by the demons. We must have Lissa back. Our only hope is her daughter, Lauren.” Carmilla sat there on her haunches. “If only……”

“We cannot make known our predicament towards her. She is not ready.” Annabelle rose to the shields and poured her strength onto them. She knew that the shields would hold for some time, but soon they would collapse to the demon’s attack. They need Lauren then.

Outside of the shields, the demons retreated and then gathered at a distance. They numbered at the count of ten, but one stood out as their leader.

“They are weakened.” The demon leader looked at the others. “That flaming spell will drain their strength.”

“Drained, Tareek? I doubt …….” The demon who challenged found itself slammed to a distance away.

“Challenge me again, Bifor. And it will be your soul damned to Hades.” Tareek the Leader snarled at the demons there. “I represent the leadership of Beelzebub. Fear not me but our master.”

“Bifor is right. We have laid siege here for a decade……” Another demon voiced out. “Before……”

“Bifor is a fool. What is time for us? We hold no regard to the length of time. We are the ……. immortals,” Tareek cut in. “We will bide our time to shatter the shields. How is the other witch?”

“She is fine.” Tareek smiled while his right hand reached for the mark on his forehead. It was a nasty cut by a nastier weapon; the cursed iron arrow with the witches’ spell had burned into the flesh of the demon. When it fell onto the tracks of the horses, being trampled was nothing compared to the pain of the iron arrow.

“Her soul is captured by us. She will not escape.” Tareek looked at the others. “I have imitated her call to reach the daughter. The younger lady is outside the shield, and I can reach out.”

“I also know how to find her.” Tareek looked at Bifor. “Are you with me on this?”

At that moment, Lauren screamed. Her father, who was in the adjacent chamber looking for the stones, rushed to the daughter. He saw her standing there staring at the window.

“What happened?” Rudolf asked her.

“It was Mother. She called for me,” Lauren whispered. “I have to……”

“Soon, my dear. We must find the runes.” Rudolf hugged her. “Your …… sisters said that you are still not done. If you go now, you will be… taken too.”

“We must ……. No, I need to rest. I can do better if I am rested.” Lauren pulled away and looked at the chamber. It was a mess, and much work may be needed to do there.

“We can stay at the tavern in the town.” Rudolf turned to leave. “I will make arrangements. I will let Sven know where to find us.”

“No, we will stay here….” Lauren hesitated. “I can clean the chamber.”

“No, we will stay…….” Rudolf was insistent.

“No, Father. We need to stay here. I need to draw on the power of the runes. I can feel it but needed time.” Lauren looked at the other. “Perhaps, we can stay at the ……. Sven’s place. For a night or two. Please ask him.”

At that moment, Inspector Watson was called away on an urgent matter. He was summoned not by his constables but by the members of his coven. He met the constable across the street from the tavern.

“They just arrived.” Constable O’Toole leaned over to whisper at the Inspector’s ears while standing by the Merry Men’s tavern. The newly arrived came in two broughams, and numbered six of them. There were four men and two ladies, one rather elderly. The coachmen unloaded their belongings. Howard the tavernkeeper stepped out to greet the newly arrived and offered them to step into the tavern. That was the most unusual flow of guests to the tavern in a long time. The last time the tavern was fully occupied was during the euphoria of the creature.

“You ask us to tell you, Warlock.” Constable O’Toole continued to look at the newly arrived. “The……”

“Silence. Proceed on your patrol. I will watch them.” Inspector Watson studied the guests; the elderly lady caught his eyes. He had seen her before but could not place it in his mind. As a warlock, he could sense the aura of the person, but that time he failed.

“I ……” Inspector Watson sighed.

“My guests arrived.” Elizabeth Muriel stood by the Inspector’s left. “I see you are looking at them.”

“Liz…… I was …… Your guests? Who are they?” Inspector Watson continued his glare at the elderly lady who had stepped into the tavern.

“My guests are from the city. They are here to attend the annual gathering of the Society. It will be a huge gathering… the 10th Anniversary, to be exact.”

“Who are they?” Inspector Watson asked.

“My guests. They will be that, and please be respectful. No ……. Witch hunting, please.” Liz smiled and took to approaching the tavern when Inspector Watson stopped her.

“Victor Frankenstein stays there.” Inspector Watson told her.

“Oh…… Most untimely. I will then meet my guests later at the house.” Elizabeth took to her way towards the house.

At the tavern, Howard attended to the guests. Their stay was on the Society’s, and with them staying there, the tavern was fully occupied.

“Where is Mr. Frankenstein’s chamber?” Howard was pushed that question by the elderly lady. “I want the chamber adjacent to it.”

“Well, there is no chamber there. I can give you one after it.” Howard saw the glare from the lady. “Yes, it is. Please have a comfortable stay here.”

“The place holds a smell.” The elderly lady continued her stares at the surrounding. “I cannot place it……”

“The cat died yesterday, and the rats must be back. Do come this way, please.” Howard led the way. The elderly lady took to the stairs and bumped into the other guest there.

“Good day, my lady.” Doctor Helsing stepped to the side to accommodate the lady going up. He stood there letting the other five take it to the next level. He then approached the tavern owner.

“More guests?”

“Yes, they are the guests of the Society.” Howard replied.

“What society?” Doctor Abraham asked.

“The Theology Society, helmed by Ms. Elizabeth Muriel.” Howard smiled. “Are you here for that too?”

“Me? No, I am ……” Doctor Abraham saw the arrival of his sons. “I am waiting on my sons. They are here now.”

“Father, I am to tell you……” Abel stormed in and saw his father. The younger of the twins approached the father, holding the bag that contained his tools.

“Abel was to tell you he missed you.” Kane smiled and stepped towards their father. He looked at the surroundings. “Do we get to rest on the soft mattress here?”

“Absolutely. I find the town……. thriving for an adventure.” Doctor Abraham smiled. “Boys, we are going to need some rest for now. Pies, anyone?”