The Chimera (Legends of the Dark Creatures Book 2)
Chapter Twenty-Five: Heartless

Back On Lideth...

Richard was awoken by loud sounds coming from outside the inn. Most were cheers and claps but he could also make out some angry voices. A mild bluish-white light filled the room— signaling the rise of Lideth’s blue sun. Squinting his eyes about three times, Richard realized that Talya wasn’t in the room. With a yawn, he rose from the bed and walked to the window, eager to replace out the origin of the sounds that had interrupted his sleep.

Richard’s frustration, however, was turned into amusement when he watched two creatures having a brawl in the marketplace below him; surrounded by a cheerful crowd. The angry voices he had heard turned out to be those of the store owners whose shops looked at the aftermath of a devastating storm. Crashed fruits, vegetables, meats, potions, and various ornaments were scattered all over the ground and some people didn’t let the opportunity to pick some of the loot go to waste. Most of them, however, were focused on the fight between a vampire and a werewolf. The werewolf had partially transformed; brown fur covering parts of his face, his eyes glowing yellow while he showed off his sharp teeth and claws. Richard could tell the other was a vampire from the blood-red veins around and in his sharp eyes.

The werewolf grabbed the vampire, digging his claws into his opponent’s shoulder, and tossed him towards the wall of the building where Richard was watching from the second floor. In a quick and graceful spin, the vampire landed on the wall with his hands and feet. He bounced off the wall, launched himself at the werewolf, and slammed his elbow in his stomach. A painful growl came from the werewolf as he staggered backward, assessing his opponent. It was a fact that werewolves were stronger than vampires but when it came to speed and agility, vampires were far superior.

This fight has been about for a while, Richard thought, resting his hands on the windowsill. The two of them were wet with sweat and panted heavily as the crowd’s cheering grew wilder; some even beckoned them to get on with the fight.

Heavy cheers erupted when the werewolf assumed his full form. The four-legged brown beast dived at the vampire, slashing his claws. The vampire moved back and avoided the attack but some loud worried gasps emanated from the crowd... and for good reason. Richard recalled how— apart from decapitation— vampires feared one thing about werewolves; their deadly venom. One bite from a werewolf assured a slow and painful death for vampires. Because of this werewolves and vampires were natural enemies. The two species had been at war for as long as Richard could remember.

However, the battle before Richard wasn’t one between sworn enemies. On the contrary, both creatures seemed to be happily enjoying themselves, viciously smiling like two children in a playground as they exchanged blows. While both of them were trying to defeat each other none of their attacks were lethal. The werewolf was neither using his fangs nor targeting the vampire’s heart. The vampire too had many opportunities where he could have slashed the wolf’s neck open but he refrained from such attacks.

Still, in his full form, the werewolf jumped at the vampire, landing his forelegs on the man’s chest, dropping him back-first on the ground. The vampire slammed both his feet in the wolf’s stomach and a painful howl shot out of the wolf as he went flying and crashed into a wooden structure.

Something off about this fight, Richard sensed. He slowly diverted his eyes away scene. His eyes searched through the crowd until he found what he was looking for. A proud grin formed across his face when he saw a figure with a brown cloak cautiously stealing from the shops that were left unattended due to the brawl in the middle of the marketplace. Richard had thought it odd that the creatures fighting would choose this specific location just to have a battle of strength; for the woods and open grasslands near the town would have provided an even better arena. It also bothered him that their moves seemed almost perfectly choreographed; as if they had been practicing just for this moment. There was no hesitation— and no show of surprise— in either one whenever they attacked or defended. They both knew what attack their opponent would execute and how to avoid it— or safely accept it. And as they fought, distracting the crowd, their third partner in crime happily made off with all the valuable items they could get their hands on.

A sigh steaming with disappointment escaped Richard’s mouth. He was about to move away from the window the vampire suddenly stood quiet for a while and later rubbed off the dust from his clothes.

“Looks like our battle will have to resume some other time,” the vampire said— almost like a proclamation— and blurred away.

It wasn’t long after that when Richard heard the loud whirring sounds of the vehicles the enforcers of law and order in Lideth rode. Three vehicles, shaped like motorbikes but had no wheels and hovered a few inches in the air, arrived at the scene. Figures wearing black shining armor rode these vehicles. Each one carried a large sword and a strange-looking firearm sheathed across their back. Lideth was one of the many realms that incorporated both medieval and modern technology into its society.

Richard retreated from the window. Remnants of Talya’s work— herbs, empty vials— were scattered across the floor. On the table near the bed, Richard saw two small glass vials— about the height of his middle finger— filled with a dark liquid. It was probably the potion Talya was trying to make, he thought, and while still eying the vials he heard the door open and closed. Talya had entered. Water was dripping down her dark hair, over the smooth brown skin of her face, and was eventually sucked into the white bathrobe she was wearing. Her body was giving off an intoxicating fresh flowery scent and she threw a witty smile at him; as if she could sense how flustered Richard was.

Talya breathed out happily, her eyes closed, her chin up and her arms stretched wide. “Nothing like a hot mineral bath to soak away all your troubles.” She opened her eyes and held a gaze at Richard. “Oh, I forgot you were here. Well, it was fun while it lasted.”

“Very funny. How about you—”

Richard quickly darted his eyes away from Talya as she began to disrobe.

“Please Mr. fifty-thousand-year-old Fire Demon,” she said from behind. “As if this is the first time you’ve seen me naked.”

Richard didn’t reply. He heard the wardrobe open and could hear Talya slipping into her clothes. Keeping his eyes focused on the window, staring at the rooftops in the town, Richard remembered the figure that had been watching them during the night. Many scenarios played in his mind as he thought of why anyone in Lideth would want to spy on him. He had been in Lideth only three times— each time brief— and wasn’t very well acquainted with anyone. So the chances of him having an enemy here were pretty slim.

But he wasn’t here alone; Talya was with him. Maybe it was Talya the figure was spying on. She already seemed well versed in the ways of Lideth; it wouldn’t be a shock if she had managed to make some enemies.

Richard held his chin, still lost in thought.

Talya had been in Drenagen for the past nine hundred years so she must have been here before she became a dark creature.

Before I betrayed her Richard thought, correcting himself.

He shook his head and concluded that his top priority wasn’t whoever was spying on them. Paranoia wasn’t something he should be drowning himself in. For all he knew, the figure was just some person who loved standing on rooftops at night.

After Talya was done putting on her clothes she asked Richard if he was planning on having a bath as well. Richard argued that it would only cause an unnecessary waste of time. Talya grabbed the vial on the table but still didn’t say what it was for though Richard assumed it would help them during their infiltration of the grand castle.

They left the inn and began walking through the market. As they navigated through the cluster of people Richard noticed that Talya was unusually quiet. He would occasionally try to keep a conversation with her by asking questions about Lideth but at some point during her explanation, she would space out and lose herself in her thoughts. She didn’t seem angry with him so maybe she just wanted to focus on the task at hand Richard thought and decided to remain quiet.

Richard realized how far from reality Talya was when she bumped into someone, causing the person to drop an object that shattered upon impact with the ground.

“I am so sorry,” Talya apologized shaking her head and blinking her eyes as if she’d just woken up from a dream.

“It’s quite alright,” the person Talya had bumped into replied. From her voice and figure, Richard could tell that she was a girl. She bent down on one knee and her long black hair was covering most of her face as she ran her fingers over the broken shards. She also wore a long black, slim-fitting, hooded coat with long sleeves and had a Japanese sword with a deep red hilt sheathed across her black.

Still keeping her face on the ground, she sighed softly and said, “You know, I have a friend who has an annoying tendency of seeing beauty even in things that are clearly broken.” She picked up a piece of glass. “Mirai dear,” she called.

A woman— about her mid-twenties— standing near to the girl answered and came to her. Mirai extended her hands over the broken glass and the shards rose from the ground and floating in the air, they began to merge. Like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, all the shards joined together to reform the glass jug that gently landed in the hands of the girl.

“There, you see,” the girl said, rising to her feet and displaying the jug at Talya. “As good as new.”

A small smile crept its way across Talya’s face. “If only everything could easily be fixed,” she said and she walked away.

“Quite the girl you got yourself there,” said the girl as she gave the jug to Mirai.

“You have no idea,” Richard smiled. “Allow me to apologize on her behalf... um...”

“Kyla,” the girl said with a smile.

“Richard,” said Richard. Cautiously looking around to make sure no one was nearby to hear him, Richard walked closer to Kyla and whispered in her ear. “Do be careful with your human friend there. If the other creatures replace out—”

“I’ll be sure to take your advice,” Kyla replied, slightly bowing her head.

“Richard!” Talya suddenly called.

After a quick nod and smile at Kyla, Richard jogged to Talya.

“Correct me if I am wrong Richard but I do recall us being here to replace a way to save your girlfriend; not getting you a new one.”

“Talya for the last time, Ashley is not my girlfriend. Besides we wouldn’t have had to stop if someone was keeping aware of her surroundings.”

Talya frowned and stopped talking to him. It took a few minutes to reach the outskirts of the town. The place was covered with short grass that stretched as far as the eye could see. A cool wind was blowing, gathering dust as it swept the ground. Talya told Richard that their destination was about a two-hour walk from where they were. Richard offered to fly them there but Talya said that any use of his power would be detected by the Trigols; creatures that guarded Castle Luriand and could sense magic great distances away. Richard also learned from Talya that the potion she’d given him would shield his magical signature from detection and prevent the Trigols from replaceing out he was a Fire Demon.

It was a long walk and by sunset, Richard and Talya made it into a thick forest that was just a few kilometers away from the castle. The grand castle was an architectural marvel. It was surrounded by three walls; the first was made of common stone, the second was a bluish transparent force field— birthed from the most advanced technologies of Lideth— and the third— as Talya explained— was an invisible magical barrier that could probably withstand an impact from ten nukes. The castle itself was taller than anything Richard had seen built on Earth, stretching all the way near the clouds.

Both magic and advanced technology were used to construct this castle and Richard was beginning to wonder what lay install for him and Talya after they infiltrated it.

“Even if we do get in,” Richard said. “How do you expect us to escape? Fighting our way out is not an option. There is a reason why Lideth is one of the few realms that have a Supreme Ruler.”

“Is the great Fire Demon— the decimator of kingdoms— afraid of the supreme emperor?” Talya teased.

“Talya, this isn’t a game?” Richard shot. “Lives are at stake.”

A faint smile formed across Talya’s face. “You really have changed haven’t you?”

This was probably the third time she’d told Richard this and he was starting to wonder if it served as a compliment or a show of disappointment.

Refusing to lose himself in his thoughts, Richard said, “What’s the plan?”

Talya stood up. “Simple,” she said with a proud look. “You will let yourself get captured.”

“What!” Richard exclaimed. “Then what was the whole point of drinking that potion?”

“If you were found out as a Fire Demon back in the village, you would have been taken to a prison far away from the castle. If the Trigons sense a Fire Demon this close to the grand castle there is only one place where you can be taken.”

“The dungeons of this castle,” Richard finished. “You know the ways of this realm better than I do... What makes you think that they won’t kill me immediately?”

“Despite being a monarchy, Lideth is governed by strict and fair laws. Fire Demons are not allowed in Lideth but that doesn’t mean they are hunted down or killed barbarically. If a Fire Demon does surrender, they’re thrown in jail, questioned, and either sent back to Earth or allowed the opportunity to choose which realm they want to go to... At least that's what I've heard.”

“How come you know all this?” Richard asked.

“I was once in love with a Fire Demon remember,” Talya replied. “Don’t you think it makes sense that I searched for a realm where you and I could have lived freely?”

Richard only stared at her and couldn’t even replace the words to say.

“In any case...” Talya stood up and run her hand through a side of her hair. “The potion’s effects we’ll be wearing off soon.” She fidgeted for a while, her eyes searching for a non-existing object on the ground. She looked at Richard. “It’ll be best if I am not here. The Trigons have probably sensed my magic but it isn’t unusual for witches to wander through this forest. Good luck, Richard.”

Richard grabbed Talya by the hand just before she left. He looked into her eyes and said, “Thank you, Talya... For doing this despite... You know... everything that happened between us.”

“You have made it clear that what’s past should be left behind. And I am not doing this for you.”

“Still, thank you,” Richard said.

Talya slowly withdrew her hand and vanished after black smoke covered her.

Richard had only waited a few minutes when suddenly he felt a movement behind him. Maybe this was one of the Trigons that Talya talked about. Whatever it was, this creature was large and the shadow that Richard saw on the ground showed that it had three heads and two large wings. He could hear the creature’s loud and deep breaths and while he knew killing it would have been easy, Richard followed Talya’s instructions and slowly raised his hands. The last thing he felt was a large arm holding his neck and everything went black.

Richard didn’t know how long it had been but when he opened his eyes he was on hard ground and his hands and legs were bound in chains. His entire body felt cold and weak; which was unusual because Fire Demons never felt cold. He must have been drugged with a substance that weakened his abilities.

Richard only realized just how weak he truly was when he noticed someone, seated on the ground away from him. It was a horrific sight. The person, who was a woman— about her late twenties—, had black veins creeping all over her dark skin. Tears kept streaming down her face which was almost completely covered by her long unkempt brown hair. She continuously clenched her teeth and shook her head.

“Kill me... kill me... kill me... kill me...”

Those were the words that she uttered.

Richard raised his upper body. He looked around and saw that they were in a large underground room that looked like a cave. The lighting was dim but he could see a large metal door at the end of the room.

Turning his attention towards the woman, Richard moved closer.

Suddenly she grabbed Richard by his shirt.

“Please kill me!” she wept, shutting her eyes in pain.

“These black veins,” Richard said. “Is this a Tormentor’s Touch?”

The woman’s eyes widened. “So you know about it?” She let out a cry of pain. “I can’t take it anymore... The pain... His pain... Please, it is more than anyone should bear. Destroy me please.”

The black veins were all over this woman’s body.

“I have never seen the Tormentor’s Touch spread this far,” Richard said. “You should have been dead immediately after the Tormentor’s Touch reached your heart.”

“But he took my heart!” She cried.

Confused, Richard held the woman by her shoulders and observed the area near her chest.

Impossible, he thought. The Tormentor’s Touch had spread to her chest. Even in his weakened state, Richard closed his eyes and listened for her heartbeat. There wasn’t one. It wasn’t strange for some dark creatures not to possess a heartbeat so what he did next, he did without warning.

He plunged his hands into the woman’s chest, piercing through her ribs and Richard’s hand shot out of her back. The woman fell on him and he held her.

It wasn’t there. This creature— whatever she was— had no heart.

Richard almost flinched when the woman gasped for air and woke up. She was still in tears but seemed to be in much less pain now. The black veins near her chest faded but the ones on the rest of her body remained,

“So, even you can’t kill me,” she said, shaking her head.

“What are you?” Richard asked.

“A vampire,” she replied. “One whose lust for immortality spelled her downfall.”

“How is possible that you have no heart?” Richard asked.

The woman smirked and with her face focused away from Richard she said, “I already told you; he took it from me.” Her eyes began to turn red with tears. “It was all my fault. I should have never crossed his path. As a punishment, he gave me a taste of his pain.”

Richard saw the veins growing towards her chest again.

“You are the one they call the unkillable vampire aren’t you?” he asked.

“The pain will come again,” she sobbed. “Please, I can’t take it... I can’t...”

Richard finally understood why meeting this vampire was Talya’s plan. The only surefire way to destroy most dark creatures was by obliterating their heart. It was a dark creature’s greatest weakness; at least most of them. But without a vampire without a heart would be impossible to kill. This vampire had her heart and yet she still lived. Richard had to replace out how.

“Listen to me,” he said to the woman. “You said ′His pain’, who was the Tormentor that did this to you.”

The vampire shook her head.

“Please, you have to tell me,” Richard said. “I know a lot of powerful creatures. Some might even be powerful enough to remove the Tormentor’s Touch.”

“Nothing can stand against his power—” The woman held her arms against her chest.

“Not even Prometheus’ Orb?” Richard said.

The woman’s eyes widened. “You know of the Orb?”

“I have seen it with my own eyes.”

“How can I trust you?”

“What more do you have to lose?” Richard replied. He hated himself for this. While it was true that he had seen Prometheus’ Orb, the last time he saw it was when he gave it to Shira; who betrayed everyone and used its power to awaken Ethan.

The vampire moved closer to Richard and nodded. “I will tell you. I have sworn never to utter his name but being a dark creature, I am sure you’ve heard the song.”

“What song?”

Moving her mouth near Richard’s ears, the vampire whispered this part of the song to Richard:

Beware, beware, the crimson flame.

Speak not of the Chimera’s name.

...

Geez, just how many people does Ethan have in his naughty list?

Thank you so much for reading this far.

Don’t forget to heart and comment.

Just some side info:

A Tormentor is a creature that inflicts its pain on others. Tormentors can also take away pain like we saw Ethan do in the second chapter of this book (Remember Ethan is part Tormentor). The Tormentor's Touch manifests itself as black vein-like marks that spread across the victim’s body. The victim then feels whatever pain the Tormentor wishes to inflict upon them. The Tormentor can take away that pain if they will it, but if they don’t, the black veins eventually reach the victim’s heart and they die. Since our vampire has no heart, she can never die but it also means she has to suffer the pain that was inflicted upon her indefinitely.

You will soon replace out how she ended up becoming... heartless.