Immortal Stonekeeper

Chapter 20: Ancient Feud (Part Two)

Jonathan pushed hard against the black, translucent barrier. It did not budge. The golden vapour exhaled from Duncan's mouth was getting more sparse, and the symbols on the talisman were almost completely covered in gold by now.

Wait, the silver cross!

Jonathan pulled out Quentin's cross and thrust it in front of him without thinking. A bubble of black flashed a few times before disappearing as his hand went through the barrier. He removed the red gem tied to Duncan's forehead.

The witch doctor sucked in a loud gasp as his eyes flew open. Jonathan laughed in relief. There were probably more than a million ways that could have gone wrong, and he was glad he did not need to think about it now. Duncan swiped two glowing fingers across the string of gold dust, and the talisman stopped pulsing.

"My thanks, boy." He got off the altar, but almost fell to the ground. Jonathan rushed to support him.

"It seems I only have enough elixir left in me for one last life." Duncan placed a hand on his chest weakly. "I never thought I'd see the day I become mortal again."

"It's alright. Just make more golden pills when we get out of here," Jonathan said, looking at the battle still raging on. The roof was somehow torn open now without him noticing, and moonlight flooded the house.

Lucy slashed at Michael with her claws, but he avoided them easily. He was too nimble, too comfortable fighting in this form. And that was a huge disadvantage for his opponent who spent most of her life as a dainty woman. She screeched as yellowish claws burst through her back, and gurgled as her brother immediately sank his fangs into her collarbone.

The female vampire fell to the ground, enduring blow after blow from her brother. It did not take much longer before she was reduced back to a lady sprawled on the floor. The bat monster shrunk back down to his human form as well and lifted his sister up with one hand. He hurled her against the wall vindictively.

"This is going to hurt you much more than it hurts me." Leofric Carpenter ripped a chunk of wood from the broken pieces of the roof.

"Wes hāl, sweoster." His eyes glinted with anticipation as he plunged it towards her heart-

"No!" Jonathan stretched a hand out futilely, but it was too late.

Blood dripped onto Lucy's shocked face. Duncan groaned, blood pouring from his open mouth as he clutched the bloodied wood protruding from his chest. Jonathan stood rooted to the ground, shocked by the witch doctor's foolish heroism.

"What? Nay!" Michael bellowed in anger. "Fool of a witch!"

Duncan snapped his glowing fingers and called to Jonathan. "Now, boy! While it's still in place!"

The clouds above the open roof parted, and moonlight shone onto the vampire. A cross shaped glow reflected it from within his torso. Jonathan's eyes darted to the empty spot where the silver cross should have been and widened in realisation.

Waypoint magic revealed by moonlight.

He pulled out his knife and ran towards Michael, who was already a statue to the speedster. The knife went through his waist from one end to another. Jonathan sliced again. The blade went through his head this time. And again. And again. Until every inch of the vampire's flesh was separated from each other.

Diced up pieces of blackened meat fell to the ground in Michael's place and began to move as though each of them possessed a life of their own. They tried to wriggle towards each other, but were seemingly repelled by the silver cross lying in the middle. Jonathan quickly grabbed the red gem and shoved it forward.