DESCENT

XI - The Curse

WILLIAM VEIL:

When William finally got his bearings back after being struck on the head (sneak attacks always sucks when he was the one on the receiving end) by some sort of club, the next thing he knew, he was lying face-down somewhere near the staircase, blood covering the side of his already bruised face, his crossbow lying uselessly not far from him with Winters already standing in front of him in a defensive stance, Thanatos drawn but still unsheathed.

(Thanatos was his sister's greatest weapon, Hades had told them this a long time ago. No one could survive a direct hit from death itself, after all...)

William couldn't see what kind of expression his sister was making right now but he can feel her aggravation, her rage practically pouring out in thick waves, making the air feel cold, almost suffocating while dark, shapeless shadows writhed about at her feet like a pack of hungry wolves scrabbling for a feast.

Despite how much she likes to play fights with him, she had never done so well at the idea of him being actually hurt.

Freaking mother hen.

In the doorway, a Cyclopes stood its eyes the color of mint glinting against what little light there is. It grinned.

"Can you stand?" Winters demanded without taking her eyes off of the monster that began to dash towards them at a terrifying speed, club raised in the air as it let out a deranged roar.

The sound of heavy footsteps was making William's ears pound as he scrambled upright in answer despite the way the world seemed to sway for a scary moment as he snatched the crossbow off of the floor and began to take aim.

Then, he fired when the monster was a meter away.

Using the large club, the Cyclopes deflected it with a hard blow, the silver arrow bouncing off uselessly before it struck a graduation picture of him in college hanging on the wall.

Then, the Cyclopes slowly turned to look at him with an ugly, taunting smile that actually made William shudder in disgust at the sight of rotting, yellow teeth. "Dude," William grumbled, "...don't you even know what a toothbrush is?"

The Cyclopes let out a psychotic giggle before raising its arm.

Winters suddenly surged forward, a blur of black, incorporeal then not in a span of a single heartbeat between them and raised a hand in turn; she caught its weapon before it could even land a hit while William lowered his weapon a bit to glare at her who was holding the club so effortlessly with one hand, it was almost surreal.

...And yet.

And yet–!

"You know, you should have told me to get my gun or maybe my rifle... but oh wait! Why the hell did I even listened to you?!"

She clenched her jaw, "Not now, William,"

"That's right, mortal," a new voice suddenly piped up, making the three of them turn to look as one to what seemed to be a young man... who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere as he was leaning next to where the arrow had been embedded, "...let the ones who matter talk."

"Excuse me–?!"

Unbidden, Winters clenched her hand into a fist and the club instantly shattered like glass –causing the Cyclopes to jump away in shock as the goddess of shadows hissed:

"Vampire..."

As if to make matters worse, a howl pierced the night air.

"...and a werewolf,"