Preys & Predators IV; Monster and Witches Chapter 26

 

26.

 
Kane regained his consciousness and then hobbled to the doorway. He made his way to the café downstairs and saw Howard there alongside several patrons. They were all drinking there at the tables.

“You…” Kane felt for his weapons, but there were none.

“Your crossbow is here with the arrows. I may suggest you rest some more. The witches’ act does have a profound effect on your strength.” Howard smiled. “Have a drink on me. It will give you some help.”

“Meat pie? No animals died but the sheep in the rear.” Howard added. “From Alistair’s farm here.”

Alistair was seated there holding his goblet. He was a huge man dressed like any farmer, overall, and weather-beaten boots. He has a scar on his left cheek.

“Sheep was mine. She strayed too near the woods. Wolf had her there, but I stopped the kill.”

“No thanks.” Kane grabbed his weapons and walked to the door.

‘Hold on, Kane Helsing. I will suggest more rest. The event is tomorrow at noon, and now is dusk. You cannot travel…….”

“I must find my father and… brother.” Kane took leave of the tavern. His horse was there, and he mounted it. He took to the road towards the mansion. Howard stood there by the entrance and then returned to the counter. He leaned over and spoke to one of the patrons.

“Jesse, alert the pack. We have our hunt soon.”

“Long wait, Alpha.” Jesse said, and then took leave to hunt the others. Victor was then hunting for the missing parts. Sven showed him the hidden parts, and with Doctor Abraham he was sorting out the needed components.

“Most of it looked good.” Doctor Abraham studied the disassembled components. “We need more of some ……. Perhaps from the university. They have a couple of generators there.”

Victor nodded and looked towards Lauren. She was tending to Abel’s wound there, watched by the concerned father standing by the window. Sven was outside the cottage scrummaging the ground for buried components.

“A few more fuses, cables, and some diodes, and I think it will work.” Doctor Abraham smiled. “I have to see the whole generator.”

“I need to step out for a while.” Victor moved towards the door. He saw Rudolf looking towards him. “Come with me. We can talk.”

Both men stepped out with the rifles cradled in their arms.

“I see you have Father’s ceremonial sword.” Victor began the conversation.

“Yes. Sven handed it to me.” Rudolf was unaware of the sword at his waist belt. For many years, he had worn one, and it was a part of him. “Do you want it back?’

“No, it belongs to you now. It is a military sword and should be worn by an officer. Father would not have minded.” Victor smiled. “William used to put it on when Father was not around or sleeping.”

“Yes, your father loved it.” Rudolf felt with the sword handed to him; the weight of the responsibility was greater. Alf had used the sword to slay his foes, like the witches and vampires.

“Why did you not …… stop me then?” Rudolf asked.

“Sven did. I was behind you.” Victor replied.

“It was your creation? Was it not?” Rudolf asked.

“I am not certain……,” Victor was to say.

“It is yours. You created it. Which was why you returned here.”

“I am not sure. I have not…”

“Do not deny it, Victor. We saw it then, ten years ago. It killed the demon then.” Rudolf had his voice raised. “Now, it is back because you are back. Was it the reason?”

“No…” Victor struggled to state his reason. “I came back to restore the mansion. I also brought my daughter here to see the place. I was not aware of the creation for years.”

“And it is here. So are the demons, and what else……. Perhaps the witches.” Rudolf sighed.

“What witches, Rudolf? I knew of none.” Victor looked towards Rudolf. “Tell me if I missed anything.”

“No, nothing missed out. I was just muttering.” Rudolf looked towards the trees. It was the same for Lauren, who was then peeking from the window. Abel hobbled over to stand next to her.

“It was not his fault that I got shot.” Abel assured the lady. “Anyway, I am shot.”

“No, I am not faulting my father.” Lauren looked at Abel. “You are a brave man to face the demon.”

“I was? I was more afraid then.” Abel laughed. “I am not as brave most times. Kane is the braver one. I cannot stand bats.”

“Me too.” Lauren laughed. They carried on their conversation watched by Doctor Abraham. The older man was seated there when Victor left the living area. Doctor Abraham smiled to himself. He was amused that Abel was talking to a lady besides the ones he knew at home. His son was not much of a man compared to Kane. Abel tends to be silent when he is with the elder brother. He recalled Abel was still under training, but Abraham decided to bring him along.

“Demons!” Doctor Abraham heard the warning from outside. He rushed out with the rifle ready and saw both men looking at the trees.

“I saw some movements.” Rudolf told the others. “Sven, where are you? He walked to the trees earlier.”

There was no reply then.

“Wait here. I will check.” Rudolf set off on his own. Doctor Abraham stepped up next to Victor.

“Did you see anything?” Doctor Abraham asked.

“No. It was Rudolf who called out. Where is Lauren?”

“Inside with Abel,” Doctor Abraham replied. He then heard the scream, and then Abel was seen flung out by the window. Both men rushed in, but they were stunned by the flash of light from inside. More sounds of clashes were heard, and then total darkness. Rudolf was then rushing past them into the cottage. Doctor Abraham and Victor attended to Abel, who was on the ground outside.

“Lauren!” Rudolf called out when he stepped in the cottage. The place was a mess with strewn furniture and marks of burns. “Where are you?”

“I am here.” Lauren called out from the corner. “The demons were here. Two of them grabbed Abel. He was thrown out. I had to…….”

“What did …… Oh, no. You used your spell again.” Rudolf sighed. “Are you hurt?”

“No, I am fine. I …… killed them.” Lauren pointed to the wall in front. Rudolf looked at it and saw the burnt marking that resembled two figures. “I did not mean to.”

“It is fine, Lauren. You did well.” Rudolf hugged his daughter.

“The spell was …… powerful. More than I had done before.” Lauren sobbed into her father’s chest. “It was horrible.”

Suddenly, Lauren pushed away and asked about Abel. They walked out to the outside and saw Abel being helped up by the father.

“He is shaken but fine. Maybe some aches to follow.” Doctor Abraham told Rudolf. “What happened inside?”

“We do not know. For instance, there was an explosion, and when I went in, Lauren was at the corner with her head held down,” Rudolf said. “It could be an explosion.”

“I may suggest we move to the lab. There we could secure the place.” Victor said. “I will leave a note for Sven.”

Sven, who was nearby, saw the explosion and was at the other side of the cottage. He had seen such explosions, not of the explosives deployed by man, but of the magical spells of witches. He sat the trio of demons, and two went in while the third one stood guard outside. The explosion came soon after, and the demon outside took off. Sven followed the demon trail and saw it went towards the creek. There it was met by two others.

“Tareek, the witch terminated Turo and Nyet.” The demon who escaped said. “I was outside.”

“It cannot be. She is not a witch yet.” The demon called Tareek hissed. “She is still ……. Who is there?”

Sven turned to run but was faced by another demon.

“A mortal who has decided to be immortalized.” The demon standing before Sven hissed out. Sven thrust his rifle at the demon but was deflected from his move. He turned to run in the other direction and found himself surrounded by four demons.

“You are to die, mortal.” Tareek snarled at Sven. “I…”

The first demon who escaped the cottage found its head smashed open. The blow cracked the skull of the demon into two halves, and then its spine was pulled out. The other three demons stepped back, but the second demon was grabbed by its left upper limb and tossed against the oak tree.

“Flee!” Tareek called out and turned to leave. It felt the strong grip on the back of its neck; the grip pressed deep onto the back, and then the flesh gave way. It was then the spine gave way and was removed from the frame. Tareek screamed out, but its soul was leaving the demon.

The remaining demon fled into the woods while Sven was stunned by the attack. He stood there staring at the bloodied ground and saw the roots of the tree claimed the dead demons.

“Mary ……” Sven uttered. Mary stood there looking at the roots that devoured the demons’ remains. The dark blood dripped from its hands.

“Mary, for God’s sake.” Sven fell to his knees. “What are you?”

Mary had then taken off back to the woods. It was then Sven heard the voice.

“A creation, Sven.” The voice was familiar, yet Sven was unable to make out the two figures standing before him, or rather floating there.

“Hello, Sven. It is me, Annabelle.”