Dark Realm 58

The team split up as they climbed the trees. Far out of reach of the werewolves, Hugo and his brother climbed the trees to take a viewpoint. Their bombs lit up the ground, the fires kept the werewolves at bay.

“Attack,” Brax yelled, jumping on the shoulders of a werewolf. The rest of the group followed suit.

Brinley lost sight of Joy and the others. “Shit,” Brinley yelled out as someone grabbed her.

“It’s me. Calm down.” Emerson glanced around.

“Stop fuckin scaring me,” Brinley snapped.

“I’m sorry.”

“Did you see the others?” Brinley asked.

“No, I fuckin lost them in the smoke. I can barely see. But…”

“Shush.” Brinley covered Emerson’s mouth. “Listen.” She removed her hand. “Do you hear you hear that?”

Emerson glanced around. “It sounds like chanting. Do you hear chanting?”

Brinley nodded.

“This is just getting worse, isn’t it?” Emerson giggled nervously.

Brinley smiled. “Not tonight. Help is coming.”

As the chanting grew louder, people dotted the trees. “We’re gonna be okay.” Brinley smiled as figures formed in the mist.

“Who are they?” Emerson gasped.

“It’s Pyramus and The Traveler’s.” Brinley couldn’t help but run over to Pyramus and hug him. “Why are you here?”

“I have my reasons,” Pyramus rubbed Brinley’s back. “Go do what needs to be done.”

Brinley glanced up into the old man’s kind eyes and turned to face Emerson. “Emerson…”

“I’m ready.” Emerson shook her head. “I want to see Asher die.” Hatred glowed in her eyes.

“Then let’s get it done.” Brinley raced inside the restaurant. “Go hide.” She stared at Emerson. “Asher!” Brinley called out. “Stop hiding behind these monsters. You wanted to see me so come out.” Brinley stomped her foot. The ground shook, making the pictures on the walls crash to the floor. Asher used his broad shoulders to push through the double doors.

“Holy shit.” Brinley gasped as Asher’s deformed face came into view. On his head were long antlers, and he donned the skin of his human flesh. His ragged mouth exposed his large yellow teeth. Considering this was the first wendigo she had ever seen; she knew one thing for sure. Asher was scary as fuck.

“I can smell your fear.” Asher tilted his head back to sniff the air. “It took some doing to get you to expose yourself.”

“I wasn’t hiding.” Brinley spat.

“Feisty.” Asher hissed. “Fear makes the meat taste so sweet.” Asher grabbed a chair and threw it at Brinley.

Brinley ducked as the chair whizzed by her head. “I know how you become this way, Asher.” Brinley hid behind a table. “You once were human. You had a family, didn’t you?”

“You know nothing.” Asher threw another chair at Brinley. It crashed behind her.

Brinley scooted across the floor. “Did you love your wife and your child? Do you regret what you did to them, Asher?” Brinley rubbed her thumb over her fingertips, creating an orb of lightning.

“Do not speak to me about my family. You know nothing.” Asher reached out with his extra-long arms and snatched Brinley by her shoulders. “You know, you little worm. I cannot see what the big deal is with you.” Asher shook Brinley like a rag doll. “You are nothing. You have nothing.” He slammed Brinley on the ground. Asher leaned close to lick the blood on her forehead. Asher closed his eyes, savoring Brinley’s blood on his tongue. “I will kill you tonight.” Asher stuck out his forked tongue, but this time Emerson grabbed the tips of his tongue, then swiftly hacked it off with a small silver dagger. The ends withered on the floor like a headless snake.

“Get outta there,” Emerson called out.

Brinley rolled away.

“You dirty little imp,” Asher growled. “I knew it was you. That’s why we ate your friend. She was full of fear and her flesh was so sweet. I wonder if you will taste as sweet.” Asher ran at Emerson like a bulldozer.

Before Asher reached Emerson an orb of lightning hit him on the shoulder sending him reeling forward. “Too bad you will never get the chance to try it.” Brinley threw another orb of lightning at Asher. Emerson screamed as a werewolf shattered the glass. Hugo jumped on the dead wolf’s back. “Fear not, help is here.”

“This is no time for your silly jokes.” Flint landed next to his brother.

“So, you think my jokes are funny?” Hugo plunged his ax into the next wave of wolves climbing into the restaurant.

Flint picked up a dead wolf and swung it like a bat, knocking Asher back. He landed hard on the ground. Thick shards of wood and glass pierced Asher’s skin. “I see it.” Flint pointed to the spot where Asher’s evil heart should be.

“No,” Asher screamed. “You will die, dwarf,” Asher promised.

“Everyone dies at some point. Tonight is your end.” Flint spat.

Brinley glanced around, seeing Joy walking over to her alive made her feel a sigh of relief.

“See, this is what you are missing, Asher. You’re a monster surrounded by monsters, and we all know monsters can be defeated. I surround myself with family. What do you know of the coming storm?” Brinley yelled.

Asher laughed loudly. “No matter what happens tonight, there is no stopping what’s coming. If you knew what I know, you would all choose to perish by my hands tonight.”

“Maybe if you answer our questions your death could be quick.” Joy spat.

“Ah, the daughter of Van Helsing. What a pleasure it is to meet you. I have always wanted to taste a Van Helsing. Maybe tonight I will get the chance.”

“You lay one claw on her, and I assure you your death will not be swift.” Brax came up behind Asher.

“Awe what a wonderful couple I can see the stain of love on you both. It must feel good to meet someone you can share your heart with.” Asher took a step toward Brinley. “But you are the lost daughter of Aella. Your family is dead. You will never see your homeland. You are alone.”

Brinley dropped her head. “You are right about a few things. My homeland might be gone, and my old family might be gone, but you are wrong. I am not alone. I am not intimidated by you. Do you want to kill me? Here is your shot, but make it count.”

Asher snarled. “If you kill me, you will never find what you’ve been searching for. I have someone who knows you better than you realize.”

Brinley laughed. “You mean William’s spirit? Yeah, I dealt with him already.”

“William is back?” Joy looked around the room. “Asher gave William certain runes to keep his spirit attached to the body of Jackson Kelly.

“No shit,” Joy whispered.

“He’s gone.”

“Fuckin can’t trust a ghost to do a wendigo’s job.” Asher picked up a long table and threw it at the small group of survivors. The table sent them scattering for cover.

Brinley threw another orb at Asher’s shoulder. The place smelled like burnt hair. The dwarves chopped at Asher’s legs, bringing him down on the shattered debris covering the floor. Without the use of his legs, the dwarves held his arms down. “It doesn’t matter what you do to me. She is coming. It will rain blood.” Asher snickered.

“Wait.” Emerson came out from her hiding place. “Just wait.” Emerson over to glare at Asher.

“Are you angry, you dirty imp. Do you know why the fae’s hate imps? I can tell you. Your kind is the scourge of the realms, the lowest being, but I found someone. Someone close to you. You caused your friend's death. You could have saved your friend if you stayed out of my business.” Asher smacked his thin, cracked lips.

“Don’t listen.” Brinley stared at Emerson. “He’s goading you. We need him to answer our questions.” Brinley pleaded.

Emerson walked toward Asher. “I’m always taking orders for others. I told you I need to see him die.”

Joy stepped closer to Emerson. “Wait, not like this. We need him to tell us about the coming storm.”

“Even surrounded by these people you are still the lowest. They will never listen to a word you say. You know I speak the truth.”

“Emerson. Wait. Please.” Brinley begged.

“Do what you came here to do. Or are you going to allow them to dictate your life?” Asher sneered.

Emerson leaned close to Asher. “Tonight, I listen to no one.” Emerson’s forked tail snapped up and plunged into Asher’s chest. Blood spurting from his beating heart.

“No!” Brinley screamed, throwing Emerson to the side.

“He’s dead the mission is over.” Emerson shrugged. “He had to die.”

Brinley threw her hands up in frustration. “Fuck me.” Brinley kicked at the debris on the floor. Thunder roared in the distance.

“Whatever is coming, it’s still coming, so we need to find out about it if we want a chance to survive.” Joy tried to soothe Brinley.

“It’s not an ‘it’. Asher said ‘she’. it. Her.” Brinley wiped her forehead.

“What do we do with this place?” Brax glanced around.

“Burn it to the ground,” Brinley said walking out of the demolished building. “Come on, we have a lot of work to do.”