A monster covered in shadow with four heads and sharp fangs, standing in the middle of the road was pelted with cross bow bolts. Then to finish him off the Jester beat it down with his cane, “My, my, my just how many of these are there.”
Angelica gritted her teeth, “We won’t know anything until we reach the clinic.”
Her Rogue appeared next to her as she ran down the street with Nalenco cowering close behind, “Fortunately we haven’t met any creature too ferocious, but I doubt our luck will be so good. You can only do so much against monster with a Rogue and a jester.”
Leren appeared on the other side of her, “You need to summon the other spirits, Angelica. We can’t afford not to have their aid now.”
“You don’t think I’ve been trying that! Can’t you do anything for all your whining!”
Leren shook his head, “I don’t know what these things are, but there not demonic.”
“If there not demons, then what are they!”
“I don’t have an answer for that, but you saw what they did to Rorio. We have to come up with a way to cure…”
Angelica waved away his words, “Well, we can figure that all out when we have time, but at the moment the only solution we have is to put them out of their misery!”
A black mass swept down from the sky, targeting Angelica. Just before it could reach her, the Rogue leapt onto the things back with his knife.
The jester gave a giddy laugh at the scene, “How bold.”
“We need to get to Tanthia quick.” Angelica said with her eyes fixed on the road ahead. As they ran, they passed the town guard with their feeble spears and armor fightngi the shadowy horde. Corpses of both the monsters and the guard litered the streets, and Angelica had already given up on not staining her shoes red as she ran through the pools of blood.
When the group arrived at the clinic, Angelica had to hold back a gasped. It was swarmed by a horde of horrid creatures. They scraped at its foundations, walls, and doors, but it was as if something was holding them back. A faint golden veil seemed to coat the building, repelling the monsters.
“I don’t have enough knives or bolts to get us in there.” The Rogue had rejoined them.
Angelica furrowed her brow at the scene, “We need to…”
A piercing light filled the road, blowing back the shadows with its intensity. After its blast the shadows laid on the road; their bodies shifting and cracking so as to once again carry out their assault.
Angelica wasted no time in running to the door.
“You can’t be serious charastro!” Nalenco called out as he held firmly onto her white robes.
Her spirits circled around her and Nalenco, putting down any weak shadow, threatening to get up. When Angelica got to the door, she practically threw herself through it.
Angelica and Nalenco breathed heavily in the doorway as the Rogue slammed the door behind them. Angelica looked up and was greeted with child-like blue eyes and a makeshift wooden sword.
“Where’s your mother Rondri!”
Rondri greeted her with a perplexed expression, “What’s going on outside Angelica.”
Angelica instinctively went for the staircase, “There’s monsters out there. That’s why I need to see your mother. She’s up here, right?”
Rondri slowly nodded his head, but then he suddenly puffed out his chest and looked to the door, “Don’t worry Angelica, I’ll protect you and mom from those monsters.”
Angelica ran up the stairs, tripping as she went, “Oh no you won’t! Jester, make sure those two don’t do anything stupid!” She pointed at both Rondri and Nalenco.
The jester tilted his head, “Funny of you to have faith in me to babysit a ten-year old and a man child.”
“Just do it!”
Angelica went into the stranger's room and found Tanthia tending to him.
“Tanthia! What are you doing in a time like this! There are monsters…”
“I am well aware.” she said calmly as she patted a hot cloth onto the stranger's forehead.
“Then what on earth are you doing sitting in here!”
Tanthia slowly stood up and turned to the charastro with a grim expression, “You saw the barrier when you came in here, yes?”
“I did but…”
“So, me and my patients are safe from those things.”
Angleica struggled for words until Leren laid a hand on her shoulder, “Aren’t you going to ask where the barrier came from?”
Angelica looked back at her old mentor and was filled with chagrin, “Where did that barrier come from Tanthia? Surely no one here could do something like that.”
“I’ll tell you who, but you shouldn’t get mad.”
Angelica gave a small nod.
“I’ve been housing a witch in the clinic for some time now.”
Leren howled at her statement, “A witch! No wonder we are being attacked by those things! God is punishing us! Punishing us for housing a witch! What could have possessed Tanthia to do such a…”
Angelica ignored her mentor and held off her own apprehension of the topic, “Go on!”
Tanthia gave a wry smile, “Well aren’t you tolerant today.”
“What deal did you make with a witch Tanthia.” Angelica said sternly.
Tanthia turned back to the stranger on the bed, “She would protect the clinic as long as I kept this man alive.”
“So, they are connected somehow!”
Tanthia shrugged, “Maybe, but I really don’t care.”
Leren was still going off to himself about the whole witch situation and the fact that Angelica failed to condemn Tantia’s actions. Angelica tried her very best to ignore his words, but some did break through.
“Tanthia…why would you put your faith in a witch? Surely running would be a better option than that.”
“You’re still young so you wouldn’t understand…” she noticed the tilt in Angelica’s head, “Young enough to not vividly remember what happened thirteen years ago. I lost everything that night. My husband was killed, and my boys ran off into the night never to be heard from again,” She looked down at the stranger's face with a nostalgic expression, “I will do anything in my power to make sure nothing like that happens again. To Rendri, to my clinic, to you. So yes, I made a deal with a witch and I will never regret it for a second.”
Leren went quiet at that, “Don’t be too hard on her Angelica.” He sounded like he had tasted sand.
Angelica took a deep breath, “You do realize if you go through with this God will not offer you his protection.”
Tanthia went to douse her cloth in water once more as she tended to the stranger, “He didn’t offer me his protection then, I doubt he’ll offer it to me now.”
A deep frown took over Angelica’s countenance. She opened her mouth to say her a plea…
FWEEEET
The screeching sound of a whistle assailed their ears. Even when one covered their ears it seemed to vibrate through them, demanding to be heard. Angelica felt as if her ears would start to bleed until it finally stopped, but the faint ringing persisted.
Angelica darted downstairs with Leren to see what had happened. When they arrived, they found the Rogue shoving Nalenco up against the wall. At her arrival the Rogue spun his head around, “He has summoned the damn Zoo!”
“Fool!” Angelica let out.
Nalenco struggled against the Rogues grip, “Charastro release me from your magic this instant! You will pay dearly for this.”
The clinic rumbled and screams of the sick and injured reverberated in the walls.
“Someone please deal with the visitors outside. I’m afraid that I will not be able to hold them off if they carry one.” An authoritative voice rang through the heads of those present in the clinic.
All the spectre’s looked to Angelica for orders, all except for the Rogue whose grasp tightened on Nalenco.
Angelica bit her lip then turned to Rendri, “Go and calm down the patients.”
“But I want to help you…”
Angelica held her finger up, “I will not hear another word, you will go and take care of the patients. Someone needs to do it. When you grow up you can fight, but not now.”
Rendri pouted as he turned away, mumbling about how Angelica and him were practically the same age.
Normally Angelica would have berated him for that mistake, but the clinic once again rumbled.
“Now would be preferable please!” The voice once again gave its demand.
Leren looked to Angelica, “I don’t know what is outside, but the Bard and I will not be able to fend it off.”
Angelica gave a reluctant nod and called out to the Rogue, “Rogue, I need you.”
The Rogue hesitated to follow orders. His hand seemed to tighten once more on Nalenco before he threw him across the room.
Nalenco slammed against the against the wall of the clinic with a thud!
The Jester couldn’t help but snicker at the rag doll comedy in front of him, “Do you think he’ll forget about that when he wakes up?”
Angelica gritted her teeth at the comment then turned to her Rogue with her hand on the doorknob, “Ready?”
The Rogue gave a nod, “A wise mistress would use me as I’m intended.”
“And how is that?”
“Out of sight.”
“Well, we’re short on options, so you’re just gonna have to try and do that.”
Before he could protest, Angelica swung open the door, and he went flying out with his daggers brandished.
In the darkness, the Rogue latched onto a hulking mass and slithered onto its back. He stabbed what appeared to be its throat and the button of its neck. Without a passing moment, the Rogue was grabbed and thrown away, but in midair he was able to shoot off desperate crossbow bolts.
The Rogue got to his feet and shrugged off the impact. He was face with a large man clad in black armor and a helmet that resembled horns. In his hand was a large warhammer. A shadowy mist covered his entire body. If it wasn’t for the lamp light he would be clothed by the night, but even now the shadow seemed to lick the light, threatening to put it out.
The man turned to face the Rogue with an apathetic glare.
“It seems I have been seen holy one.”
Angelica stared dumbfounded, “How?! That should be impossible! Leren?!”
“I don’t know, but it must mean they aren’t of this world.”
The Rogue flipped a knife in his hand and crouched down, “I’m going to have to make this work, aren’t I?”
He moved into motion, aiming for the man’s kneck once again.
“Not so fast.” A voice gurgled behind him.
The Rogue fell to the ground groaning in pain, “What the hell…”
Another man came out of the shadows behind him. He wasn’t clad in much armor, just a chest guard and helmet. He was small and lanky and his tongue seemed to hang loosely out of his mouth.
“What poison was that? I should be immune.” The Rogue asked the air.
“No not poison! Blood! The blood of a demon!”
“Heh, Demon…there’s no such thing.”
The small man suddenly began to sob, “Than why do I have this accursed heart!”
The Rogue slowly stumbled to his feet, “I’m more than glad to take it from you if you want.”
“No…no I need it…to serve my mistress.”
“Is that so?” The Rogue looked down at his blade then to the two warriors facing him, “Saint I need you to give me a body. Spectral blades won’t do anything to them.”
Angelica looked down for a moment in thought, but a yell from behind her broke her thoughts, “NO!”
Angelica spun to face Leren, “You cannot in your right mind do that young lady.”
“And what not?”
“Because he will kill you!”
Angelica crossed her arms in defiance, “Why would you say that?”
“Because he is an assassin!”
The two warriors suddenly charged the Rogue, and he was doing everything he could to dodge their attacks.
Angelica briefly watched the spectacle then turned back to Leren in desperation, “But what else can we do!?”
Leren swung his arms in the air at of frustration, “Summoned another one of your Spectre’s!”
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“I can’t!”
“Then we die!”
“I have a suggestion.” The Jester calmly raised his hand from where he sat at the door step, “I think we should give the Rogue his body. Then if that fails, give me one and I’ll make sure he goes back to being a spectre.”
Angelica considered this for a moment, but Leren seized her by the shoulders, “You can’t possibly be considering that!”
“And why not!”
“He is a Jester! A fool!”
Angelica bit her tongue and spun around towards The Rogue, “Well, It’s the only option we have! Oh God please grant my prayer…”
“No!”
A shockwave burst forth from where The Rogue once was sending the other warriors flying.
“Get out of the way Leren I can’t see.” Angelica complained.
Leren stood in front of her, blocking the view of the fight, “You are an idiot! He is no longer under your command. He is free to do as he wants. That also means that his abilities apply to you!” He turned to the Jester, “Get some bandages quick!”
The Jester tilted his head, “Why should I…”
“Just do it or she’ll die!”
Angelica tried to push him off, “Leren what…”
Leren moved so close to her that her nose was almost touching his mask, “If you see him, you will die, or did you forget?”
Angelica’s eyes widened in realization before she slammed them shut.
The Jester returned with bandages and started to wrap them around Angelica’s eyes, “Don’t worry, I’ve done this so many times, I’m practically an expert. They won’t fall off; I promise you that.”
“I don’t know if that makes me feel better. Leren summon holy light. I don’t want any townspeople to lay their eyes on him.”
White light appeared, blocking the group in. It wasn’t as bright as the sun, but it carried a warmth deeper than that of the sun.
The Rogue took a deep breath as he stood between his two opponents, “It's nice to breathe again,” He then cracked his joints, “Oh I how I missed that feeling.”
“That voice…I remember it…” The large warrior with a hammer let out a few faint words.
The Rogue tossed his dagger into the air, “I don’t recall meeting you.”
“You…You killed me…”
“I’ve killed a lot of people.”
“You betrayed me!” He groaned, but it was odd. It was filled soley with sadness, not a hint of anger or rage could be heard.
The Rogue stopped tossing his dagger, “Impossible! It can’t be.” He said in a hushed and deadly tone.
“You did! You did Snake!”
The Rogue rushed the man, lounging onto his chest. He cut and cut and cut, until he was swiped off by the man.
The warrior cried in pain, “Do you want to kill me again? Betray me again? Kill me when you don’t even know who I am?”
The Rogue shook his head, “I remembered the face of every single person I killed.”
“But not me!”
“No, I remember you. You're just twisted and distorted. I just needed a closer look to see a glimpse of your old self. The horns on the helmet also helped. Yes, I remember killing you Ram, but I was also betrayed by them.”
“You remember me Snake and you were also betrayed by the one’s we called comrades, so why do we fight.”
The Rogue pointed a dagger at the Ram, “Because unlike you I accepted death and didn’t cling onto life in that cruel form. So just like in life I am fated to be your emissary to hell.”
Suddenly the Rogue quickly turned to his side as a splatter of blood flew by him. He instincively summoned a crossbow to his hand and targeted the smaller man.
“Such a terrible reunion!” He cried, “How awful that you will not be able to fullfill that promise,” he looked to the Ram, “The mistress will get angry with us if you get distracted.”
The Ram immediately turned back around and slammed his hammer into the clinic walls. A yellow light resisted his attempts, but he was not deterred.
The Rogue rushed at the Ram, firing of cross bow belts as he went.
As Angelica watched the seen her eyes widened at a dark figure on the rooftop of the building opposite of her, “Rogue watch out!”
The Rogue spun in the air, nearly avoiding a creature that had lunged from above. His momentum carried him closer to the lanky man. He was now situated in between a wolf-like beast but four times the and the lanky man. It had five predatory five eyes, the tale of a snake, and the wings of a bat.
“A crenden…” The Rogue said in frustration.
The lankier man opened his arms, “There is no reason to fight. It is all hopeless in the end.”
The crenden lunged at the Rogue. The Rogue jumped to the side slicing a knife through the things hidden with its own momentum, but it just made the thing more feral.
“You put your faith in that saint. But she will not reciprocate it.”
The Rogue grabbed onto one of the creature's wings and swung himself onto its back,
“She will throw you to the side once she has no use for you…or your too strong to control. I know from experience.”
The Rogue shot off a crossbow bolt into the head of the beast, then furiously slashed at its hide with his dagger.
“If you give in to the futility of it all my, my mistress will…”
The Rogue dove off the Crenden’s back towards the man with a demon heart, slicing his knife sideways. He landed with his dagger boiling from the blood, “Stop talking.”
“Ehaueauah” The man's tongue flew to the ground further away.
The Rogue stood up confidently, but the man spit blood at him, hitting the Rogue in the shoulder, “Hmmmm!” he clutched it in pain.
The man simply looked at him with a smile on his face as blood leaked out of his mouth.
The Rogue brandished two daggers and rushed at his two opponents in front of him.
As this was happening, Angelica could only watch as the Ram continued to assail the clinic.
“Someone do something soon!” The voice once again came to everyones mind.
The golden light holding off the shadow had noticeably dimmed since the start.
Angelica could not move. She thought of ways she could get out of the situation, but her mind was blank with panic.
Leren seized her arm, “You have to summon another one girl! We are no use against that thing!”
“But…I can’t!”
“You have to try!”
“They never listen to me!”
“It’s better than doing nothing.”
Once again, the Rams hammer slammed against the Clinics wall, sending a wave through the building.
“I can’t do this for much longer!” voice said once again, with noticeable strain in the voice.
Angelica clenched her fist then got down on her knees, bowing her head. Her body trembled in nervousness as she would have to confront them again.
A prayer came to her lips and suddenly the world was consumed with white.
The battle before her had vanished like a distant memory and Leren had also disappeared.
Out of the white light appeared three figures. Only a faint outline could be seen of their faces.
“So you have come again girl?” The figure with a crackly voice with loose hanging robe called out.
Angelica ignored his words and firmed her heart, “I call on your aid once more, and by contract you are…”
“I do not hunt for contract!” The figure with tight fitting cloths with a hood and bow called out.
“But…”
“There is no buts. I hunt for no one but myself and the craft, not for any contract or favor.”
Angelica bit her lip, “But I was given dominion over you by…”
“Dominion?” The man in the robes scoffed, “A naive literally girl does not hold dominion over me. It’s ridiculous to even considered that my knowledge and experience answer to someone like you.”
Angelica looked to the figure that had not yet spoken. It wore a coat with a high collar and had a whip hanging to its side.
“What about you? You cannot ignore my calls any longer.”
The voice was soft yet dreamy, “I am sorry, but I can ignore them for as long as I want. I mean no disrespect, but you are not able to give me what I want.”
“What do you want! I can give you anything if you come to my aid at right now!”
“I want to see someone…”
“Then you will see them! I am Charastro, my positon allows for it…”
The figure shook its head, “I’m afraid that I don’t believe I will be able to face them.”
“What!?”
“I don’t expect you to understand. Even I don’t fully. I’m sorry, but I just can’t help you.”
Tears started to come to Angelica’s face, “Please, I need your help.”
The figure in the robe sneered at her, “See a child. You should have known we weren’t going to help someone like you, even if you did act high and mighty.”
Angelica clenched her fist. She no longer cared about having authority or maintaining an image in front of the spectres. All she felt was pure desperation.
The tears started to flow like a river, “Please! They’re all going to die!”
The robed figure shrugged, “It's not all that bad, unless your brought back like this.”
The hooded figure nodded, “It is natural.”
The figure with the high collar remained silent.
“How can you be so heartless!” She was practically screaming now, “They will die! No, they will be turned into those things!” she clutched he heart, “The townspeople, the patients, Rendri, Tanthia…”
The white world disappeared and Angelica was pulled back to reality, tears still streaming down her face. She held her face in her hands. Even though she was blindfolded she didn’t even want to face what was about to happen. She had failed, and now…
Leren’s voice came from behind her, “You…you did it. I knew you could!”
“Huh?”
She then heard animals crying and snarling as something began to slide in the dirt, “I don’t like it when people cry especially when it was my fault.” The man with the collar and whip spoke up.
Angelica was blind to the spectacle before her. The man appeared before her, summoning all types of beast and animals in an onslaught against the Ram, pushing him back from the building.
The spectre took in the scene, but was suddenly taken aback in disgust, “what is that insult to nature!” He was looking at the Creneden, “That poor creature.”
“Are you going to help Tamer?” The Rogue called out from his fight against the beast and the man with a demon heart.
The Tamer pulled out his whip and considered it, “What a horrible thing,” he ther struck the ground and from it appeared a spectral Crenden. However, this one was twice the size of the shadow and had a horn sprouting from its head.
“Lead your child home.” The Tamer said.
The spectral crenden howled and charged at the shadow crenden.
The Ram readied his hammer, “The mistress will hate me if I don’t get in there.”
“Your mistress will hate you regardless,” The jester called out with a laugh, “I mean who could not hate something like you?” the jingle of bells could be heard.
The Ram eyes went wide in fear, “My mistress loves me!”
The Jester shook his finger, “Nope.”
The Ram looked as if he was about to charge, “Yes she does, you spit lies…”
The crack of a whip was heard, and suddenly, the Ram was impaled by the horn of a rhino as the animal sent him to the building across the street.
The Jester gave a sigh of relief, and the sound of bells stopped, “They must really love her to resist that.”
The man with a demon heart was distracted and the Rogue kicked off of him, placing himself in between the shadows and the clinic.
The spectral Crenden had vanished with the appearance of the rhino, and the creature now snarled at the Tamer.
The Ram shook off his injury and joined his companions. They appeared as if they were going to charge, but they then looked to the air, then back at the Saint and her Spectres. The man with a demon heart gave a wave as he sank back into the shadows. The Ram simply stared at The Rogue as he also went down into the shadows. The Crenden simply ran through the holy light, disappearing from sight.
A noticeable quiet set in. The only sound in the air was the soft breaths of Angelica.
“So, is the clinic safe? Are they gone?” She went to remove her blindfold, but Leren seized her hand, “not yet.”
The Rogue stood in front of them, examining his body. He looked at the world around him, stretched his regained limbs and flipped his knife in his hand, “Its so good to feel air in my lungs, to feel the earth under my feet, and to have the scent of blood lick at my nostrils.”
“Rogue it's time to go back…”
Angelica was cut off by him, “Why should I do that?”
“The gaul! How dare you say such a thing to our lady!” The Jester screiched
“I take no care for a fool’s words.” The Rogue turned and started to walk away.
“You need me, Rogue!” Angelica called out
He looked over his shoulder, “Why? I have a body now. I can do what I want. I can easily get my revenge and then die peacefully. I don’t see how I need you in my pursuit. I have killed hundreds of people; I do not need a pure saint to help me kill more.”
Angelica clenched her fist, “You’ll regret this!”
The Rogue stopped in his steps, “oh really?” He made his way back to Angelica, brandishing his crossbow, “And what are you going to do? Kill me? And what would you do if I killed you first? It would be over before you or the other spectres knew what had happened.”
Angelica’s blood ran cold. Leren tightened his grip on her, and the Jester hopped up from his seat, “I will not let you do that! You will not ruin my fun just for some dumb reason.”
The Rogue gave a chilling life, “Oh how scary! A fool threatens me!” His voice deepened and a deep raged leaked from his voice, “I have killed kings, knights, mages, and gods! What are you compared to them!”
The Tamer stepped forward he fidgeted with his hands, but no fear could be seen in his steps, “I’m sorry, but I agree with the Jester. You won’t be able to do that. I won’t let you.”
The Rogue craned his neck, “Oh? You think I am afraid of your beast? I…”
The Tamer shook his hands in the air, “No, no, your scared of something else, and for that you need the saint.”
“Tell me what is it that I fear then? I am death itself, all fear me and I fear…”
“This,” The tamer flicked a stone at the Rogue and it flew at blinding speed and smashed into his mask, “You fear losing this opportunity.”
The pitch-black mask chiped, revealing chared flesh. The Rogue slapped a hand to his face, covering the damage, “You idiot! What have you done!”
The Tamer went on, “We are vulnerable without the girl, so much so that a simple stone threatens your new life.”
“Who else but you would know that!”
Leren spoke up, “Go back into your spectral form and the mask will mend, if not that crack will spread until there is nothing left.”
The Rogue took a moment then let his hand fall, “You win this time, but watch your back in the future.”
Leren started to unwrap the bandages, but after a few seconds he began to tug on them, “What devilry is this?”
Angelica’s head was jerked back and forth by his efforts, “Jester please get these things off of me, I’m getting a headache!”
“Of course, my lady,” the bandages fell with one gentle pull.
The first this Angelica saw was the Tamer, he wore a green cloak with a high color with a whip by his side. He had short red hair and a weak posture. On his mask, was the image of a dragon.
“I guess I’m working for you now.” he remarked.
***
Screams rang through the streets as the monster's rampage in the streets, killing everyone in sight. However, in a corner of town, there was an odd exception.
A dark hair man in a dark blue jacket, covered in medals, stumbled into the street from a bar with a tune on his lips, “I once saw a great big oaf…”
A staught barkeep with a thin mustache called from the bar he came from, “Sir don’t go out there, it’s dangerous!”
The man kept singing, “In alley taking a piss on a great big lass named sally.”
“It's your death then!”
The man pulled down his pants and started to pee on the establishment's walls, humming as he went.
The windows suddenly slammed shut as a deep growl crept up from behind.
The man paid no attention as the dark silhouette of a Crenden appeared behind him.
He kept humming as the creature opened his jaw and ripped him in half, sending a scarlet shower across the walls of the bar.
But the humming never ceased.
“Well that can really sober a man up.”
The Crenden span around to gaze at the same man whose upper half it had just ate.
The man patted a stone spear on his shoulder as he gaved at his lower half, “ahh, I really need to stop drinking that much. It's really embarrassing to die like that.”
The Crenden roared and charged at the man, but in an instant the man struck the beast with his spear down its throat.
The beast did not stop though. It pushed itself down the spear, drawing nearer to the man.
The man tilted his head, “You’re an odd crenden aren’t you?”
The crenden continued with what seemed like a vicious smile on its face. However, it shortly stopped.
The crenden’s eyes shot open. It looked down at its legs and saw that its legs had turned to stone. The stone spread up his legs to the rest of his body.
The crenden tried to struggle away from the spear, but at that point the spear was imbedded deep in the thing's body.
The man gave a cheeky smile, “You’ve lost doggy.”
In the next second the dog was stone. An immaculate statue now stood in the twisted creature's place.
The man jerked his spear out of the statue, breaking the things jaw off.
The man examined his spear then looked around him at the bodies and blood around him, “What is going on in this town.”