The Chimera (Legends of the Dark Creatures Book 2)
Chapter Twenty-Seven: No More Running

“My name is Allison Wilder... and for most of my life, I have been running. I was born a human, here in Lideth. My parents fled the earth realm, fearing the vampire called Marcus Raze.”

“The fire-wielding vampire,” Richard finished.

“You’ve heard of him?” Allison asked. She clenched her fist and teeth, grunting in pain as black veins began spreading across her hands and feet. Richard moved closer to her and helped her lean against the wall.

“I... I’m alright,” she said.

Taking in a deep breath, Allison continued her story.

“When I was young, my father told me that Marcus had once helped him get out of a very desperate situation. In return, Marcus demanded that my father’s first daughter would be given to him as his bride. My father carelessly agreed, as he never really expected to ever fall in love; let alone have children.”

Allison smiled despite the pain Richard knew she was experiencing.

“My father always said my mother was the most unexpected thing to ever happen to him. I won’t go into the details of their story but what I can say is that in meeting her, my father did something he never thought possible; he forgot his promise to Marcus. It was only after I was born that my father realized what he had done.”

“And that’s why your parents sought to escape to Lideth,” Richard said. “How did they manage to do that?”

“With the help of a warlock,” Allison replied. “For a while, my parents thought they were safe. But living here in Lideth had its own challenges. As you know, humans aren’t supposed to be in this realm so we were always on the run; searching for the key to the realm of Exodil; which is one of the few realms humans actually live freely in.”

Richard watched as the black veins spread to Allison’s shoulder and began creeping to her chest.

“Don’t worry,” Allison said. “You can always plunge your hand through my chest once the veins reach my ‘heart’.”

“Sorry about earlier,” Richard said, scratching the back of his head and the two of them chuckled softly.

“Anyway, replaceing the key was a difficult and perilous journey. I was sixteen when I lost my mother at the hands of a wild Trigon. Dilla, the warlock who had brought us here to Lideth, did his best to protect us but ended up fatally wounded. We would have died if Marcus hadn’t shown up.”

“Marcus?” Richard said in a confused tone.

“Apparently, he’d found us years before then and was keeping an eye on me. After defeating the Trigon, Marcus admitted that he had just stood and watched as the Trigon brutally killed my mother. He told my father that it was his way of punishing him for breaking the deal they made. And Marcus’ punishment didn’t stop there...”

Allison breathed in deeply and her body was becoming wet with sweat and her eyes with tears. “Marcus ordered one of his servants to turn both Dilla and my father into vampires; not elemental vampires though... Only Marcus’ blood could create those and that ‘privilege’ as he called it was given to me after I had spent almost ten Earth years with him. I was meant to be a fire-wielding vampire just like Marcus but fate is the master at plot twists.”

Richard watched in shock as Allison raised her hand and small rocks, gusts of air, and water that leaked in the cave began spiraling around her and a white symbol was glowing in her irises.

“You possess the True Gift,” Richard said.

“True Alphas, True Bloods, True Seers, True Witches... The True Gift has always sorted those it deems worthy. But for me, it was more a curse than a blessing. Afraid of what I was and the power I possessed, Marcus’s family sought to destroy me. I could have fought that day and wielded my power to free my father and only friend, Dilla. However, my father overcame the Sire Bond that made him obey his masters and he created an opening for me to escape. ‘Run!’ was the last thing I ever heard him say and I ran without ever turning back.”

The white glowing symbol in Allison’s eyes faded and the elements spiraling around her fell to the ground.

“I spent the next century on Earth, always running. Marcus was never one to give up and he constantly sent his servants after me. I would barely survive the encounters with them. They never stopped hunting and I never stopped running. I spent almost every day looking behind my shoulder, not trusting anyone and betraying many... killing many.”

Richard saw a mirror image of his life in Allison. While he was the one who hunted down Ethan and tried to replace ways to destroy him, Richard understood the solitude that Allison must have felt. Even he at some point had no trust for anyone other than himself and was willing to do anything—regardless of how vile or dishonorable-- if it meant Ethan’s destruction.

“But one day, I came across someone who offered me a way out of my misery. I never saw his face but I remember exactly what he said. ‘What you seek is in the hands of the Chimera.’ I had heard terrifying rumors of the Chimera but always thought them to be a myth.”

“And what is it Ethan possessed that you were told to acquire?”

Even Richard recognized the dark change in his tone of voice.

“I see you are no friend of his,” Allison pointed out. “I was told to replace something I once thought could never exist; the blood of a god.”

“Ichor... The blood of the gods... The only time gods bleed is when they are injured by one of their own kind or a being who compares to their power... Ethan is powerful but there is no way that he possessed it.”

Allison smiled.

“What’s so funny?” Richard asked, in a slightly angered voice.

“I wonder what it is that the Chimera did you to give you such hatred,” Allison said. “Alas, it’s none of my business.”

“So did you replace it?” Richard asked. “The ichor.”

“The one I met gave me a map that led to the Chimera’s pocket dimension on Earth. I was skeptical at first but I soon found the place. I was also given the incantation to enter that dimension.”

“Whoever you met seemed to know a lot about Ethan,” stated Richard. “Did you ever get a name?”

“He was always cloaked and never once revealed who he was,” Allison said, shaking her head and coughing a little. “I entered the pocket dimension and found there a manor. Following the instructions I was given, I reached the basement, and there... I discovered a small red treasure chest— just like the cloaked person said I would. I used a spell he had given me and opened the chest. Four vials, each filled with a yellow glowing liquid— lay inside the chest. After stealing it, I returned to where I was supposed to meet the cloaked person but no one was there.”

Allison’s lips curled into a small smile.

“But he found me...”

“Ethan?” Richard asked.

Allison nodded.

“I remember seeing a boy who couldn’t have been older than a teenage human. All he did was ask for what I had taken from him. There was no way, I thought; the Chimera all the realms feared was nothing but a child. But when he asked for the chest a second time, I felt the crushing weight of his dark aura. My body froze and I was unable to speak. I had tasted death once on the day I became a vampire but as the Chimera walked towards me; I saw a fate worse than death.”

Allison’s body was shaking; and not from the pain that was coursing through her body.

“That day, I discovered what true fear really was,” she said. “And eventually, I experienced true pain. ‘You forfeited your existence the moment you decided to take what belongs to me’ he said and fell to my knees. I couldn’t even beg for mercy for his aura was so overwhelming I was unable to speak. A flame engulfed his hands and he was about to grab my neck. But he stopped immediately after I uttered my full name; Allison Elenora Wilder. The aura he was projecting faded. ′Why tell me your name?′ he asked. I answered and said, ′If I am to die by the Chimera’s hands today, then I will have him remember my name.′ He asked me why I sought the blood of the gods. I only said one word, ′Power and True Immortality’. I told him my story and for hours he just listened. When I was done the Chimera did something I never so coming. He picked up one of the vials spilled its contents over his right hand and began chanting a spell. I wasn’t fast enough to escape. When he was done he pierced his hand through my chest but I surprisingly didn’t feel any pain; not even when he pulled my heart out. There wasn’t even a wound on my chest. ‘The pain will come soon’ he said and he carried my heart in his hands. And after he left, my punishment began.”

“The Tormentor’s Touch,” Richard finished. “Even for a punishment, this was unusual of Ethan.”

“I have heard the rumors,” said Allison. “Most of his victims never even leave a trace of their existence once he deals with them. But... uh...”

Allison began grunting and crying in pain. The black marks had reached her chest. She was struggling to breathe. Richard held her close to him.

“Kill me,” she said, with a strained voice. “It’s the only way to numb the pain for a while.”

“You have fulfilled your end of our deal,” Richard said. “Now it’s my turn.”

“It’s about time”

Richard watched the metal door of the prison open and in came Talya. The smile on her face was ever so cheerful and her demeanor, deadly. She leaned against the frame of the door and her dark eyes gazed at Richard; particularly at the woman in his arms.

“I see your lust is as insatiable as ever,” Talya teased. A frown suddenly dawned on her face. “My magic has been detected. Richard, what are you doing?”

Richard helped Allison stand. “We are not leaving without her.”

“She’s given us all the information we need. Just leave her or she will become a hindrance to our escape.”

Suddenly, Talya clasped her chest and staggered a little.

“What’s wrong?” Richard asked, holding her by the shoulder.

“A magic suppression spell,” Talya said. “Looks like only brute force will aid our escape— look out!”

Richard looked in the air and saw a huge beastly creature with three round furry heads, each with two black eyes and a small snout protruding, flying above them. Its jagged yellow teeth looked dull but were as long as an adult human’s arm. It flew using its two large wings and had long sharp looking claws.

Three loud growls came out of its mouths.

Looking in Allison’s direction, Richard saw that she had collapsed, painfully gasping for air and holding her chest. The Trigon attacked. Richard quickly grabbed Allison and leaped into the air as Trigon’s fist landed on the ground. It came at him again but before he could react, Talya connected a devastating kick onto one of its heads and sent the beast flying across the dungeon. Despite not being able to wield her magic Talya was still a nine-hundred-year-old immortal mermaid; a dark creature born of Ethan’s very own blood and she possessed the physical strength that came with it.

Two fiery wings shot out of Richard’s back and Allison stared in astonishment as he held her and hovered in the air. The Trigon got up and launched at him. Richard took a deep breath and fired a hot blast fire from his mouth, hitting the Trigon. The flames lit up the dungeon and incinerated the beast. Its loud cries echoed throughout the dungeon.

“More are coming,” Talya pointed out.

Richard joined her on the ground and laid Allison there.

“Wait here for a while,” he said to Allison.

Richard couldn’t help but smile when over a hundred Trigons flew into the underground dungeon. He conjured a Flame Sword in his right hand and prepared to attack.

“Stop!”

The Trigons all held their positions when that voice spoke. The voice itself was soft and light—almost as if it was a child that had spoken— but the weight of its authority filled the dungeon.

Richard threw a gaze above the dungeon rocks.

“You certainly do live up to your reputation, Sehim,”

Richard’s heart pounded hard against his chest when the voice called him by that name.

“Show yourself,” Richard said in a low voice.

On the rocks protruding above the dungeon suddenly appeared the one who owned the voice. Physically, he looked like a child but this creature was far from such. He had a humanoid figure; two arms and legs. His skin was deep red and he wore black leather clothing. A dark red cloth was wrapped across his eyes and two small daggers were sheathed across his thighs. He held a black bow staff in his right hand.

“Richard, stand down,” Talya said quietly.

Richard was about to argue with her when he saw her hand trembling. She still wore a smile across her face and though she tried to hide her aura; the fear that tainted it was so powerful that Richard had no trouble sensing it. When he tried to move, Richard felt Talya grip his hand tightly.

“If you ever want vengeance against your brother then I suggest you listen to me and stand down!” she whispered through her teeth.

“Who is he?”

“That’s Elzon, the High Protector of Lideth. He is also the First Commander of all the Lidethian Armies and is rumored to answer only to the Supreme Ruler herself. As to what kind of creature he is, no one knows.”

Looking in Elzon’s direction, Richard said, “I doubt he will be to let us go.”

“Your assumption is correct, Sehim,” Elzon said. He suddenly vanished and appeared a few meters in front of Richard. There was no aura around him to sense but something told Richard this child was more ancient than he appeared. Elzon had addressed him as Sehim— a Rathzorian word which translated to Destroyer— and apart from Ethan, Richard was sure no creature alive could have known him by that name.

“So what happens now?” Richard asked, gripping tightly his Flame Sword.

Elzon’s face remained expressionless even as he said, “My duty is but a simple one; punish those who break my master’s rules. My master’s will is my own... nothing more nothing less. Fire Demons are prohibited from being in this realm...”

“And here I thought this was a safe haven for all creatures,” Richard interrupted.

“And despite what you may think, it is actually for your kind’s own protection. Indeed, your kind is a dangerous and unpredictable species, but suffice it to say that Lideth has creatures more destructive. There are powers in this realm that gladly seek the extermination of all Fire Demons... all in hopes to obtain...”

Elzon stopped talking and sighed.

“I almost said too much,” he finally said. ”Sehim, normal protocol requires that all Fire Demons be returned to the realm of their choosing but not only did you purposely let yourself get captured, you also attempted to free a prisoner. The prisoner will be properly dealt with but as for you two...”

Pointing his bow staff in Richard and Talya’s direction. Elzon looked just about ready to attack when suddenly loud electric crackling sounds filled the dungeon. There was a black burst of lighting and a woman dressed in a fine long black dress appeared. Her deep blue skin and glowing red eyes showed that she was a Dark Arzyrian. Dark Arzyrians were immortal and more powerful than normal ones. Their abilities were a hundred times more powerful than normal Arzyrians and like all dark creatures, they had an insatiable thirst for the blood of the living.

The Dark Arzyrian walked closer to Elzon.

“I see you are still no stranger to trouble brother,” she said looking at Elzon, patting the top of his head.

“And I see you still are a master at theatrics, your majesty” Elzon replied.

“I am sorry for my brother’s rude behavior,” the Arzyrian said. “Where rules are concerned, he is what you might you might call a ‘stickler’ back on your realm. And where are my manners? My name is Luriand Isgrasir.”

“She is the Supreme Ruler of this realm,” Talya said to Richard.

“I see you are well knowledgeable in the ways of this realm, Talya Shellstone,” Luriand said.

Talya’s eyes opened wide and her gaze was fixed on Luriand.

“How did you...”

“Know your family name,” Luriand interjected with a smile. “Well, Ethan has told me many tales about your realm; including those of his enemies. You’d be surprised how much he knows about you.”

The flame sword in Richard’s hand glowed brighter and became so hot that both Allison and Talya stepped away.

“Figures that monster would have friends in high places,” Richard said, feeling his teeth lengthening. “We are leaving and if you try and stop us...”

Luriand’s head tilted and she looked confused. “Who said anything about stopping you?”

Even Richard was caught off guard by that statement.

“Despite your differences with your brother, we would never hold you as a prisoner; lest we wish to incur his wrath.”

“Like what happened the last time,” Elzon commented, and Richard thought he saw a smile on his face.

“Ahem,” Luriand coughed. “In any case, you all are free to leave if that’s what you desire; even you Allison. Though, I am sure Richard here forgot to tell you about his relationship with the Chimera and that he no longer possesses Prometheus’ Orb.”

Allison looked at Richard with eyes already filled with tears.

“You—” She was breathing hard and sat on the ground. “You lied to me.”

“If you knew him you wouldn’t be so surprised,” Elzon commented.

Luriand suddenly appeared lost in thought. She was staring above the dungeon, her eyes closed and her gestures made it seem like she was having a conversation in her mind.

“I see,” she finally said, looking at Talya. “Check the left hidden pocket of your jacket please.”

Talya reluctantly reached for her left pocket and was surprised when she pulled out an envelope.

“If you would be so kind as to bring it, dear,” Luriand said as if speaking to someone no one else could see.

Blue electric sparks appeared near Talya and the one who appeared next to her was Shira.

“I thought a reunion with your old ally would do you some good,” Luriand said.

“Thank you, your highness,” Shira said, bowing on one knee. She couldn’t even bring herself to look at Richard when she greeted him.

“It’s good to see you are safe, Prince Richard,” she said.

Because of her betrayal, Shira was stripped of her title as High Protector of Arzyria and she was banished from the kingdom. Shira was the one who awakened Ethan and though Richard knew Shira had no choice but to do what she did, he still couldn’t the strong anger he felt towards her.

Shira took the envelope from Talya and walked to Luriand. She handed the letter to her.

After opening the envelope, Luriand smiled as she read the letter inside.

“I think this is for you,” she said, extending the letter to Allison. “It’s from the Chimera himself.”

Allison was hesitant at first but when she heard that Ethan himself had written the letter to her, she quickly rose to her feet and almost fell as she run to Luriand. She grabbed the letter and when she read it, Allison began to weep softly and her face was overrun with tears. A smile then formed on her face.

“It says here that I should tell the Supreme Ruler of Lideth that he hopes she didn’t destroy any realms when he was trapped in an eternal slumber,” Allison said.

Luriand laughed. “That Ethan—”

Something strange then happened. It was for a short period of time but Richard and almost everyone in the dungeon heard a soft childish giggle coming from above the dark rocky walls. But even with his vision heightened, Richard couldn’t see anyone.

“Shira,” Luriand said. “Please escort our guests back to their realm. And as for Allison...”

“I know where I have to go,” Allison said, trying to force a happy smile even though her expression still showed that she was in pain.

“And you’re certain that’s what you want?” Luriand asked.

Allison looked at Richard with a smile and then at Luriand,

“No more running,” she said.

The ground suddenly shook and Richard heard a loud blast coming from outside the dungeon. A few seconds later, two cloaked figures appeared and knelt before Luriand.

“Your Highness, someone just took down the magical barrier,” one of them said.

“Who would dare attack this castle?!” Elzon shouted and even the Trigons around him backed away.

“Well, she says has business with the Supreme Ruler,” the other cloaked figure said.

“And what is the name of our guest?” Luriand asked.

“She said you’d recognize her by the mark she carries on her back.”

Elzon sighed frustratingly and Luriand chuckled.

“That wench always loves causing trouble,” Elzon commented.

“She punched the barrier Master Elzon put up as if it were nothing, and she even defeated an entire squad of our best soldiers with just her bare hands,” said the cloaked figure. “What’s strange is that she didn’t kill any of them.”

Luriand smiled.

“See to it that our lovely guest is well received and properly escorted here,” she said and nodded at Shira.

The cloaked figures vanished— disappearing in the form of a cloud of black smoke. Shira walked over to Richard and Talya. She held them both by their shoulders. When Richard felt an electric sensation course through his body he looked up and was sure he saw a silhouette of someone move within the shadows of those dark rocks.

Richard and Talya were finally teleported back to the Earth Realm— in the woods near Ravenhill. She disappeared and left without saying a word.

The sun was already high up in the sky.

“Now all that’s left is to replace a way of getting our hands on the blood of the gods,” Talya said, stretching herself. “You heard what Allison said in her story right.”

“Ethan took one of the vials... That means there are others. But what if he already used them?” Richard said, removing some dust that had clung to his hair.

“We’re going to have to replace that out ourselves... Hey, where going?!” Talya shouted when Richard started walking away.

“I have to get to school remember,” replied Richard, waving casually at her.

“You can’t wait to deliver the good news to your girlfriend can’t you?”

As he continued walking, Richard said, “For the last time, Ashley isn’t my girlfriend. And more importantly... I doubt replaceing out your heart will be used in a reanimation spell comes as good news in any realm.”