Spirit Blood: Genesis of War
Chapter 7

Days had passed since Veronica stormed out of the inn and was suspected of leaving the city. Makaylen hadn’t paid her much thought, believing she’d be much happier without him around to convict her anymore until, while in deep meditation, his mind was flooded with a vision of her being seduced by a vampire and given the transforming ‘kiss’. He’d had messages like this one before warning him of present or future events that were about to take place. Immediately he opened his eyes from his meditation and set off to replace the poor girl hoping beyond hope that he wasn’t too late. The streets were filled with masses of people going in and out of the many taverns and clubs surrounding the abandoned temple of Shiloh from which he was leaving. Continuously he scanned the faces passing by him looking for any familiar face he may have seen in his vision. The worst problem about his visions was that he never knew where they were, or were going to, take place. Over and over again he ran the events of his vision in his head. Searching around him, he tried to make some kind of connection while also blending into the crowds of people so as not to be too noticeable.

Some distance behind him, Makaylen’s new friends, Davien and Christopher, witnessed his hasty departure from the temple and began to follow him. They were having quite a bit more difficulty maneuvering through the crowd than Makaylen seemed to be having. Davien could see ahead of him that the swarm of pedestrians seemed to actually be opening up in front of Makaylen and then meshing back together immediately after passing by him.

Great, he’s got some kind of power over these folks, Davien thought to himself as he nudged and shoved his way through the sour faced mass so as not to lose the ever-quickening Makaylen.

Being quite a bit more considerate than Davien, Chris wasn’t making much headway as he continued to allow the rushing crowds to pass him while he pardoned himself for being in their way. He kept his eye upon both men, however, never losing sight of their whereabouts. He had the very useful gift of being able to watch people from very far distances. He could easily see Davien barreling his way through and Makaylen moving through the people like flowing water. Impressive! I can feel the immense power rising off of him, but yet he is hardly using any manna, Chris thought to himself watching the show of power Makaylen displayed.

Makaylen kept his eyes forward working earnestly to search faces and examine his vision while maintaining a cloak over his power. With his focus on so many points, Makaylen was not aware of the presence of his friends coming up from behind him. When a hand suddenly grabbed his arm he turned with lightening reflexes and stopped his fist just short of the tip of Davien’s nose. Davien sucked in his breath waiting for the impact and was quite relieved when Makaylen lowered his fist in shock.

“I’m sorry Davien”, Makaylen breathed as he straightened Davien’s clothes. “I was quite focused on my destination.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Davien announced with pride trying to hide his relief. “If I’d known how quick you were I wouldn’t have dared to grab you.”

Chris, witnessing this encounter, began to reluctantly push against the emerging crowds trying to meet up with his friends while they were now stopped.

“How did you do that?” Chris panted when he finally reached them.

Makaylen could see in Christopher’s eyes that he knew much more about his power than he was letting on, still there were things about himself he wasn’t quite ready to reveal just yet.

“I have trained for a long time. I haven’t always been so well mannered either, I’m afraid,” Makaylen added hoping this would be enough to subdue the curiosity of his friend.

“I’ll buy that…for now,” Chris politely stated. “Now for my second question, where are you headed in such a hurry that would take so much of your focus?”

Makaylen worried about telling his friends too much. He didn’t want to put them in a position where they would be in danger or feel forced to help him on his crusade, yet he was being told from inside himself to trust his friends with such information as their help would be needed to achieve his difficult mission.

“My friends, I am in quite a hurry. I will fill you both in, but we must move on while I do so. I fear I may be too late already,” he said in an audible whisper looking around again at the faces of people filing swiftly past them. As he began again on his mission, he softly spoke to his friends, “I have to leave Roog’s Port City and replace the thief, Veronica. Something very horrible either has, or is, going to befall her.”

The sound of Veronica’s name shook Davien out of his trance as he replayed Makaylen’s fist thrusting in his face again in his mind, “What? You mean that…”

Looking around at the faces that suddenly turned towards him, he continued his berating a bit quieter. He was also sure to watch his language after noticing the scornful looks both Makaylen and Chris were giving him.

“You mean that woman? Forget about her man. She wasn’t anything but trouble before, what makes you think she’s any different now, especially after you made her give up Chris’ ring?”

“She doesn’t have to change to still be deserving of help Davien,” he answered with a grin, slightly amused that Davien had tried so hard not to curse in front of he and Chris. “She indeed needs our help and obviously pretty bad at that if I’m being sent to help her.”

“You said being sent. Who’s sending you?” Chris asked inquisitively staring in Makaylen’s direction as he walked beside him.

“I’d tell you, my friend, but you should know the answer to that question already. Any man of the cloth, former or present, should know you only obey the voice of a higher power,” Makaylen answered.

Nodding in serene understanding, Chris patted Davien on the shoulder and stated with great joy, “Looks like we have a road trip ahead of us again.”

Davien’s face was again covered with pride and excitement at the thought of getting into some more trouble, finally. It filled Makaylen with dread knowing he was about to lead his excited friends into a place normally forbidden to humans of any kind. He desperately wanted to help Veronica and keep his friends healthy at the same time.

“That’s great. I really would like the company and may need your help as well,” Makaylen said with a deep concern filling his voice. “I must warn you though. We are headed into no-man’s-land, the dark wild of the forest.”

He stopped walking suddenly and looked at both men. Their surprised stares back at him told him they were a bit shocked he had originally planned on going on such a venture all by himself.

“Before either of you say a word, I want you both to know you do not have to come with me. You are under no obligation to me in any way and if you decide not to go, you will be as much my friend then as you are now,” Makaylen pointed out again to looks of disbelief. “Veronica is somewhere in that place and I must replace her quickly regardless of the obstacles I know will be placed in my path.”

Chris walked up to Makaylen so they were face to face. Placing his hands upon Makaylen’s shoulders, Chris bowed his head in submission to his leader.

“If you are going, then so are we. We have no other choice either,” Christopher said stepping back away from his friend and placing his hand over his heart. “I have higher orders as well which I cannot ignore.” Then with a smirk on his face he added, “I do believe Davien is in need of our company, as well, but for entirely different reasons…if you know what I mean.”

“Hey, thanks a lot…PAL,” came the sarcastic reply from Davien.

The trio set off on their mission once again. Now that everyone was in understanding of the dangers ahead, Makaylen could breath a bit easier knowing his friends chose to help him despite what it may cost them later. As Chris patted the back of his pretending wounded friend, Davien, all three men felt a lifting of their spirits, but their hearts were heavy laden with thoughts of themselves and of Veronica whose fate was not yet entirely known.

The sweat beaded off Amon’s face as he ran through the forest. Blood trickle from open scratches on his face and arms as branches whipped his skin. His salty sweat burned in the open wounds, but Amon’s mind was only on running; running from the Saber Jaws that were closing in on him. They were so close he could hear them breathing and roaring their odd language which sounded like a mixture of animal grunts all put into one.

I don’t want to do this any more! I can’t run any further; they’re too fast, raced through his mind until the foul stench of their breath would catch his nose making him run harder and faster. Amon tried to weave in and out of trees to slow them down, but nothing seemed to be working.

Finally, he saw it! He was coming upon a clearing at the end of the forest. Just a few more yards…they won’t pass the forest trees…just a few more yards.

He knew all he had to do was make it the few yards left to the clearing and then he’d be safe, for now, from these creatures. However, the Saber Jaws also spotted the clearing and one of them leapt into the air, spun and landed back down facing Amon. Amon quickly slid on his backside to a stop, rolled over and began to crawl his way back to his feet facing the opposite direction he had been running before. This time he was suddenly stopped short by the second Saber Jaw facing him from only a few feet away. Amon fell back when he spotted now both Saber Jaws inching their way towards him with saliva dripping from their jaws. His eyes widened at the sight of their long broad mouths filled with a multitude of razor sharp teeth, large glossy black eyes and huge muscular bodies meandering ever closer to him. Scrambling to his feet, Amon backed up away from the creatures until his back hit a large redwood tree behind him.

“NOW!” Amon yelled swinging his arm down in a large aerial chop.

Instantly a storm of arrows shot out of the forest hitting the creatures in various spots until they were both dead. Slowly Amon walked over to the lifeless bodies looking over the strange creature until he heard the sounds of footsteps running towards him from the forest. He faced the oncoming Elvin prince bearing a smile of great pride for the young man.

“You did a good job Amon,” Terrell congratulated the young lad with a pat on the back and a grin.

“We can’t thank you enough Terrell for coming to help rid us of these stalkers,” Jason said with a reached out hand in friendship after reaching the two.

Terrell returned the gesture remarking, “It’s the least I could do for someone who has watched over my kin for these past years and has helped her to reach such an honorable rank amongst humans.”

“I didn’t have anything to do with her success. She’s just that good,” Jason replied shaking his head and beaming at Lockefren.

A pretty shade of pink enveloped Lockefren’s face as she blushed at hearing such compliments coming from someone she respected so much. After a few minutes of idle conversation, Jason looked out to where Amon was standing. He was in deep conversation with a young Elvin man as the setting sun made the forest glow as if on fire. Jason noticed the dead Saber Jaws lying close by the two and couldn’t help but wonder who would have been in charge of setting the creatures against them. It wasn’t like them to hunt down such a hard prey to capture. Usually their hunger would lead them to an easier target. Surely these two had been under someone or something’s control. As if sharing this thought, Amon looked away from his cohort and up towards Jason. He could tell Jason was in a deep contemplation about something. Excusing himself from the Elvin man, Amon walked over to Jason.

“I wonder what sent these creatures after us,” Amon announced out loud when he got in earshot of Jason.

Jason, finally taking his eyes from off the creatures, looked at Amon in subdued amazement. How alike they were in so many ways he thought. The young man was getting so tall and manly. He had been amazed at his courage when Amon volunteered to steer the Saber Jaws into a designated place so the Elves could kill them. Throughout this entire ordeal Amon had shown himself mature and well beyond his years in bravery and intelligence. Still Jason wondered just what Amon might be thinking just now. Why would he just assume the creatures had been under anyone’s control? Wasn’t it somewhat possible that maybe the creatures were just too hungry to let their entourage go free?

“What do you mean Amon?” Jason asked hoping the boy would elaborate on his thoughts.

Looking over at the dead creatures, Amon began to walk towards them until he was only inches away from the mouth of one of them.

“I was this close to one of them when I was running in the forest, yet it stopped and fell back a few paces as if reigns were holding him back. It could have easily tore into me a number of times, yet it fell back each time,” Amon announced assuredly.

Believing his own theory of someone controlling the creatures to be true, and with the short distance Amon stood from it, Jason answered sadly, “Then I would have to say….”

He stalled knowing he wouldn’t be able to lie or trick the child into believing some made up story in order to spare him any more fear.

“I don’t know who sent them, but I can assure you if they are able to control Saber Jaws, then they are much more powerful than anyone I have ever encountered,” Jason admitted knowing only the truth would set the boy’s mind at ease.

After a few minutes of dealing with rank issues Terrell looked away from the Elvin man he had been speaking to and saw the young boy and Jason engulfed in a conversation obviously about the Saber Jaws. Not wanting to pry, Terrell instead focused his attention on the delightful looking conversation his kinsmen Benthalas Wenguard and Lockefren were having.

“You know, I’ve never seen an Elf woman blush before,” Terrell announced walking towards the pair. Grinning he added, “I forget sometimes with your Elvin beauty that you are part human and not so old that simple flattery does not cause you embarrassment.”

Lockefren bowed her head in respect and in slight shame that it was so obvious to her Elvin kin that she bore the emotional flaws of which humans were riddled with. Terrell could see that he had wounded her heart. He gently touched her chin with his finger lifting her eyes to meet his own.

“We would be so blessed to feel such emotions my lady. Never be ashamed of who or what you are,” Terrell lovingly said.

A wave of pride came over her face and a spark in her eyes when he finished his compliment. She felt immensely privileged that such a highly respected man as Prince Terrell would replace himself not as blessed as her for lacking in something she merely possessed by her birth. Noticing the pink hue beginning to fill

Lockefren’s face again, Terrell glanced at Ben who’s smile gave away his obvious agreement on the matter.

“My brother in arms, Benthalas,” Terrell said laying his hands upon the shoulders of his friend. “I am very grateful to you for supporting me in this endeavor.”

Placing his hand upon his chest and bowing slightly, Benthalas replied, “Anything for your court and our kingdom my Lord.”

Terrell patted Benthalas’ shoulder once again before walking away leaving his friend and Lockefren to resume their conversation. Directing his attention back to Jason and Amon, Terrell walked over quite curious as to what could have kept these two men in deep conversation for so long.

“What seems to be the matter my friends?” Terrell announced with slight worry as he came to stand behind Jason.

“The Prince and I have been talking and we have reason to believe these creatures were under the control of someone. However, I would not know of any such person capable of doing such a thing,” Jason answered, wanting Terrell’s input.

Nodding his head, Terrell peered into the forest depths using his Elvin awareness attempting to reach out past the small band.

“I sense nothing, but that doesn’t mean your theory couldn’t be correct.” Thinking to himself and nodding again Terrell added, “I do know of something, maybe even someone, quite capable of controlling these beasts, but if I’m correct then we must get moving. Sherlin-Dea is still hours from here and, if I’m right, its eyes can see us now as we stand here talking. I will need to fill you in as we make our way. We cannot linger any longer.”

Jason grabbed Amon almost dragging him to his waiting horse. Both Jason and Terrell signaled to the others to depart with such a state of urgency no one questioned or argued about the rush. Quickly everyone mounted and made their way to the Elvin city, Sherlin-Dea.

The forest curved this way and that as if the trees grew only to form a tunnel and disallow all light from entering within. The trio had experienced strange and unfortunate events ever since entering the Archaic Forest. For some unknown reason, no technology of any kind would work once passing over the forest edge. Between their ATV dying as soon as they entered the forest, their horse running away after the trailer doors had been opened and all of Davien’s techmagi weapons ceasing to work, the forest was quite annoyingly living up to its name.

“Great!” Davien spouted off angrily after having walked for quite a while. “All we’ve got to work with now is our feet for walking and basically ancient weapons for protection. Do you realize we’re going to have to make our own camp without any devises? Man, this is going to be more work than I expected,” he added quite sourly.

“I did try and warn you that we were going into the wild,” Makaylen said, trying to reassure him. Looking up and around them he added, “I suspect we’ve been walking for a good number of hours. Surely, it is daylight by now.”

“How can you tell?” Davien once again spouted off in a gruff voice. “These trees are so thick it just looks like the dead of night to me!”

“My friend, I know you are discouraged right now. I myself am also in need of rest,” Makaylen said trying to calm his friend’s anxieties. “Surely you do agree, however, that the best action right now is to get through the forest as quickly as possible and stopping to make camp would only delay our departure?”

“Yes…I suppose so,” Davien quietly said, sounding quite defeated.

“Where exactly are we going anyway, Makaylen?” Chris asked nervously. “Where would we have to venture that it would insist on us coming here?”

Continuing to walk on the dark path with his eyes ever watchful, his torch held high in the air and his sword hand resting upon the hilt of his sword, Makaylen felt dread having brought his friends here. Who knew what was still ahead for all of them. Strange forests hold strange creatures. He questioned to himself whether his friends would have still chosen to accompany him if they knew then what they know now about the dense forest.

“If you are discouraged then please, both of you, go back and meet me when I return after my mission has been accomplished. I wish neither of you harm or bad tidings. However, if you are in this till the end, I must insist you keep your eyes and weapons ever ready and your momentum steady. I know this may not have been what you expected, but there could still be surprises up ahead of us waiting to pounce when we are not looking.” Slowly he continued with great warning in his voice, “If you are going to turn back I urge you to do it now. Turning back will not be an option if some foul creature should attack us. Fighting will be the only option that may end in success. To flee would surely make you a feast for whatever may be lurking in this enchanted forest.”

“Blast! You know the word of Shiloh too well!” Christopher said jokingly. “I thought I was the priest with the words of wisdom.”

The three men shared a laugh but kept diligent in their watch. Neither man dreamed of turning around and leaving Makaylen. However, their shared thought was one of frightful unknowing. What exactly could be laying in ready up ahead? Where were they going and would it be more hospitable than this forest? Questions continued to permeate their minds as they walked until suddenly the sound of rustling bushes and breaking branches caught their attention. They each took a defensive position standing back to back with one another while searching with their eyes in every direction to try and pin point the location of the noise. It sounded as if something was coming towards them, yet in the limited visibility of the forest, everything seemed to be moving and the noise only echoed around them making it impossible to determine the source or direction of their possible assailant. Then a terrified scream bellowed in the air. Again came the heart-wrenching scream of some unknown and unseen victim.

“Enough of this! I will conquer this place like I have others!” Davien yelled as he broke away from his friends towards the screams.

Without a thought, Davien left the trail and stormed through the thick brush sword and torch raised and ready. Makaylen and Chris shot a look at one another before plunging in behind him both hoping that the only thrashing that would be experienced today would be the one they would give to Davien later.

The twisted and dying branches whipped and scratched as each man careened through the forest in desperate search for the owner of the screams. The deeper and denser the trees became, the better they could hear the sounds of a struggle.

“We must be getting closer!” Chris struggled to say through his heavy panting.

Davien ran as if a mad man while the other two were trying to keep a semblance of their bearings. The thought of Veronica’s ploy when she initially stole Chris’ ring filled doubt in Makaylen and Chris’ mind as they followed close behind Davien. A faint light could be barely seen peering through the brush just a few yards in front of them. Without hesitation the three broke through the foliage into a large clearing of rocks where beams of light struggled to shine though the impenetrable trees above them. About thirty feet in front of them was the shocking display of a half-man half-scorpion creature menacingly batting around and antagonizing two small and defenseless children.

The little girl looked to be no older than twelve and the little boy about five. Enraged and yelling,

Davien leapt at the creature ready to strike, but the creature turned with unnatural speed swatting Davien to the ground. When he hit the ground he lost hold of his torch, which rolled on top of dried leaves on the ground starting a small fire. As the fire spread, before eventually dying out, it illuminated their surroundings revealing the clearing to span about thirty acres and littered with bones of humans and creatures alike.

“This is a graveyard!” Makaylen commented as he looked around in disgust.

Davien rolled over on his back looking up at the grotesque creature. It had the black exoskeleton of a scorpion complete with claws for hands, but from its top lip to its forehead the creature appeared completely human. From the bottom lip down hung a thin and elongated jaw filled with jagged teeth and two pincers on both sides of its mouth.

“What’s this?! More meat for my family?” The creature said in a deep tone laced with the sound of sucking saliva when he noticed Davien lying on the ground.

“I’ve stomped bigger things than you, boy!” Davien shouted, gripping his sword tightly.

“Really, then why do you lie on the ground meat sack?” The creature spit out laughing down at Davien.

Sneering, Davien rolled up to his feet and made another attempt at plunging his sword into the creature. He flung himself at the scorpion-man, but when his sword hit its extra hard exoskeleton it vibrated in his hand causing a shooting pain to travel down his arm. His weapon hadn’t caused any damage, however the creature wailed in pain flailing his body back and forth.

“I will kill all you Norms!” Screeched the creature.

He grabbed hold of Davien with his right claw and raised him into the air. The now cackling creature brought Davien close to his saliva dripping mouth while squeezing the air out of him with his huge claw.

Gathering his plan of action, Makaylen threw his torch at the creature while yelling orders to Chris.

“Chris, get those children and leave this place!”

Christopher hesitated believing his help would surely be needed to defeat the scorpion, but something about the power he could feel coming from off Makaylen just now told him to follow his orders. Swallowing his pride, he ran to the children’s aid while taking notice of Makaylen slowly and determinedly walking out to face the beast. Both children were seriously injured and covered in several cuts and abrasions. The young boy appeared to be unconscious while the girl was suffering from broken ribs. Laying his hands upon both children, Chris closed his eyes and began to pray to Shiloh for their immediate healing. As he prayed he could feel warmth fill his hands and begin to heal the children instantly. The girl breathed deep as her ribs were restored and the boy abruptly awoke with the healing of his concussion.

“You children must not fear me. I am here to help you,” Chris reassured them.

The brother and sister looked at him unsure of what to do. When they noticed the other two men fighting the same creature that had been torturing them, they decided to trust in Chris’ leadership. Quickly he directed the children from out of the graveyard and tried to replace a path in which to lead them down, but the children suddenly stopped and beckoned for their rescuer to follow them instead. Nodding in acknowledgment, he decided to follow them away from the battle and the hideous creature.

Facing the scorpion creature standing ready to fight, Makaylen shouted, “Put him down creature! Face me if you are not too frightened!”

“I will suck the marrow from his bones, Norm!” The creature roared in anger as he threw Davien to the ground.

With Davien injured from the blow to the ground he simply lay there moaning quietly. The creature stared down at Makaylen rapidly clacking together his pincers dripping in saliva. Both Makaylen and the scorpion began to slowly circle one another while intensely staring into one another’s eyes. With great power the creature attempted to puncture Makaylen with its huge tail, but with unusual speed, he simply parried the attack countering it with ease by severing the stinger from the tail. The creature howled in pain flailing his tail in all directions.

“You’ll pay for that!” He said between grunts and the sucking of saliva.

Coming at Makaylen, slashing and jabbing with its huge claws, the creature growled with each attempt at impaling him. Davien rolled over trying to gain his strength back only to witness the awesomeness of Makaylen’s lightening reflexes and skill. All the while, Makaylen was drawing the creature away from Davien and from the direction in which Chris and the children had escaped.

Over and over again Makaylen easily parried the creature’s attacks. Davien struggled to his feet to try and help his friend, but his speed was no match for the agility of the creature. With one strike to his arm by the creature, Davien was thrown several feet into the air and smashed down against a granite gravestone. With the creature’s attention now on Davien, Makaylen reversed his blade and, cutting low and hard, effortlessly severed its legs from its body. The scorpion creature plummeted to the ground wailing and writing in pain. Casually walking to the creature, Makaylen drove his sword into the human face of his foe ending his life and ceasing the creature’s howls.

“Are you alright my friend?” Makaylen asked, inspecting Davien’s injured arm.

“Yeah,” he moaned, “I’m alright, man. It’s just a little flesh wound, nothing serious.” Now being helped to his feet by Makaylen, he added quite gruffly motioning to his sword, “I don’t know why you gave me this thing! All it did was make him mad.”

“True,” Makaylen started as he slid Davien’s sword back into its scabbard for him, “but it takes more than a sword to beat an opponent and you already possess that.”

“Thanks man,” Davien said grinning uncontrollably. “So, what was that Scorp-Man thing anyway?”

“Scorp-Man? Is that what you’re calling it?” Makaylen asked with raised eyebrows as the two started walking in the direction Christopher had taken the children.

“Yeah, you don’t think it works?” Davien asked.

“Umm, sure. It’s just…a bit corny don’t you think?”

“Hmm, maybe. Oh well, if you can think of something better you just let me know,” Davien stated, gingerly rubbing his hurt arm.

“Certainly. Now let’s just get out of this unholy graveyard and replace Chris.”

“Now you’re speaking my language,” Davien said before running off in the direction Chris had taken the children hoping to catch up with him before anymore foul creatures could attack in the darkness.