It growls and starts toward Scott, only to cower back on its haunches and stare into the woods behind him.
Afraid to turn around Scott trembles and soon feels the heat of something leaning close over his shoulder.
It inhales smelling Scott’s neck and hisses at him. “I see you have met my brother, human. Why have you called us?” he asks passing by Scott to greet the demonic creature on the ground. He pats its head and the creature flinches as though expecting a blow, then lifting its head like a cat, savoring the touch.
Scott stares at the more human looking version of the same demon. This one stands on human legs, but he too has the same skin, hair, and eyes. They look nothing like the things that killed his wife. “I have brought you a prize. I know the location of the Keeper.”
Beady black eyes snap to Scott’s, “You would give us this information freely?” He asks rubbing his brother’s head. They look at each other as though communicating silently and wait.
“Yes. I want her to pay! She is staying in a cabin not far from here. If you hurry, you may even be able to catch her lover.” Scott tells the aberrations with a sick smile.
“What makes you think, I will not kill you and take her anyway?” he asks advancing on Scott.
“Because if you fail to capture her, I will be able to provide inside information for you. I am no use to you dead,” he replies no longer afraid of death. His need for revenge has taken over his common sense. Unable to bear the burden of guilt over his wife’s death, his mind has snapped. Elina was the obvious person to blame.
“We shall see human, what use you are…” the creature on the ground whines, and rises up on its hind limbs, sniffing the air. It hisses from its rancid rotting mouth and his skin begins to change. He steps back to the nearest tree his skin rippling, like a chameleon he blends into the bark becoming invisible.
“Scott,” Elina says, stepping quietly into the clearing, “you should know better than to try to bargain with death.” Dressed in black leather she is flanked on both sides by Jake and Seth’s brothers. Makaio is making his way up the other side of the mountain with the Lua Warriors to block any escape.
“Ahhh, very good, you have saved me the trouble of coming after you, Keeper. Come back with us and your friends will live. Fight and they will all die,” the wretched thing standing in front of her demands.
“Save your lies, monster. They didn’t save your brothers when I destroyed them and they will not save you,” Elina smiles purposely taunting the demon.
He smiles and the trees around them explode with loud cracking detonations. The impacts of their great trunks hitting the ground as they fall sends shock waves through the earth with thunderous booms.
Elina’s group looks around in surprise through the flying dirt and debris as shadows climb over the downed trees around them and attack. Scott ducks down the path back finding a hole in the chaos and runs away up the mountain, hoping to escape. He does not notice the chameleon demon stalking him.
Elina and Jake circle to fight the new threat leaping at them.
Jake strikes at them with an energy whip that sizzles and snaps when he connects with the swarm. With each crack he burns his targets to ash.
Elina is at his back, eyes aflame with holy fire, she swings her twin blazing swords lopping the heads off any demon that gets too close.
Seth’s brothers have separated from them and flank the demons when they attack Jake and Elina. They swing and beat at the wall of teeth and claws until their war clubs, hang heavy with the flesh and bone of the defeated. With all of the fighting the area is fierce with the sounds of battle and death. The demons seem to have an unending supply to fuel the chaos.
While they are distracted the larger demon attacks from the edge of the melee. Thinking it will take her heart and all of the power it holds for itself!
Elina sees the large demon lunge from the edge of the clearing towards her and Jake. Its mouth opens impossibly wide to expose rows of glistening serrated teeth surrounding a pit of pure blackness. The eyes radiate with malevolence, intent on her destruction.
She watches as it crosses the clearing in a bound, pulverizing any hapless lesser creatures in its way with a swing of a bony armored fist.
She looks away for a moment to see where her people are before sending a warning to them, “Everybody, group up and head for the trees to meet with Makaio. Push the lesser demons towards him and the Lau. I will handle the ugly one and see you there!” Raising her swords, she sends up a silent prayer and readies for the fight.
With Elina’s silent orders heard, Jakes group forms a wedge and begins forcing the demons into the trees and up the mountain. They fight with a righteous zeal slowly pushing the creatures towards the Lua warriors.
Jake watches Elina while he fights, wondering if he should stay back and help her. His doubts are unfounded as he sees Elina block the creature’s first attack with her swords and then land a hard kick to its chest with a resounding crack that drives it back with a yell of pain.
A roar escapes the demons decay filled mouth and he charges back at her swinging his now bone armored arms and fists, intent upon smashing her into the ground.
Elina ducks the clumsy attack and slices at its chest, opening up deep bleeding wounds. With a quick step, she is behind the wounded demon and drives both of her
