The demon huntress (unedited)

The wicked seven

"But what does it all mean tho" I asked for the hundredth time the next morning as Tam shuffled through a book on her desk, on its cover letters of gold were itched through the worn leather, it said (what lays behind the veil).  Stacks of thick books were obscuring her from view. "I don't know, I really don't, but I trust the high counselor, if she says Keenan is good, then he is good. I'm not saying he isn't the biggest asshole, he is. I hate the man, but he is her godson and the high counselor won't raise a bad person" she said with finality as she shuffled through the book in concentration. I knew I was blabbing on and on for days, but it was maddening, I wish I could tell her about those dreams and what the high counselor told me and everything that I was thinking. It was getting very lonely not being able to share anything with anyone and I felt my demons closing on me.

"Tam, you didn't hear him talking to that girl, he wasn't his usual self. And why was he in the forest that day when I found the girl, it just doesn't add up, you know. He is fishy, the whole thing is fishy. I tried to find that maid, but she just disappeared, don't tell me I'm overthinking because I'm not!" I snapped at her. She looked at me with a frown on her face and rotated the book in her hands, so I can see what she was reading. "Listen, I know you are worried, but we really have a much bigger problem Layla, see that" she pointed at the ugly monster illustrated on the yellow page of the book, it was written in higher Azadurian language, so I couldn't read it, but I didn't need to because I've seen this monster before!. "It's the same beast from the forest!" I exclaimed, squinting at its claws and yellow eyes bearing at me"

"Exactly it's called a Wendigo, this book is 1000 years old. I just found it in Arik's library, and it's the only one I found talking about the dark ages before the power came to earth. This is one of the creatures that were banished from earth before the awakening, they are called the wicked seven" seeing my puzzled face, she scoffed "that's the result of you dosing off during Mahir's history lessons" I shrugged apologetically, rolling her eyes she continued in eagerness that only appeared on her face when talking about her two favorite branches of knowledge, history and potion making.

"the earth's history is divided into three ages. The green age, The dark age and the new age.  The green age was when the veil was intact no circle power, no demon possession and no monsters, then the dark age came when the dark master used dark magic to weaken the veil and took control over the land, then the dark age ended when the circle power came to earth, historically the transitional period between the dark age and the new age is called the awakening, some say it's saint Lillian sacrifice that brought it, some say it just came through the veil and choose those whom are worthy, that's the elites' version anyway, the important thing is, during the dark age, the dark master had followers among these followers the wicked seven was the greatest. Listen to this"

taking a deep breath, then she started reciting from the book like the enthusiastic scholar she is. "The wendigo was one of the wicked seven who kept earth and humans under the dark master's control, with the wendigo cane The Manananggal, The hydra, The damsel, The dream eaters, The Arachnid and his most devoted, the Cerberus" she shuffled through the pages until she stopped at a page with dark inked illustrations. She rotated the book, so I can see, and it was the most horrible thing I've ever laid eyes on.

It was a circle of seven monsters, the first one to catch my sight was the monster I fought, it was bony with yellow eyes and a skeletal face with sharp spikes sprouting from its body. Under it was written (The Windego, highly lethal and consumes human flesh, can smell blood from miles away). Next to him was a horrible half spider half human and from its mouth sprouted two long tentacles, under it the book said (Arachnid, a bite from it will transform the victim into an Arachnid themselves with no humanity or soul left). At that point, my stomach was warning me that I was on the verge of vomiting. I ignored my body and kept going.

Next to the Arachnid came An illustration of a fly as big as a dog with large fangs, nine big black eyes and a long sting dripping with black venom (the damsel, its venom affects the victim's brain and soul, making them utterly mad). Next was a wrinkly old woman with bat - like wings, that wasn't that horrible, I thought until my eyes went down to see that half of her body was gone, replaced with a long dangling spine and in her hands she was carrying a severed head of a human (the Manananggal, active at night, the Manananggal has a human voice that lures its victims in the dark and only feed on their brains).

I really wanted to stop reading but it was so intriguing, and a question kept nagging in the back of my head...are they now roaming earth again? A shiver went down my whole body, it was a mixture of fear and... excitement! I realized that the dark, wicked part of me was thrilled to go after them as I go after demons. I shocked my head returning to the paper in front of me again.

A three-headed snake was there peering at me with its horrible fangs (the hydra, it's a self - generating hell creature that dwells in cages, if one of its heads is severed its body will generate another two). Next to it came a hooded figure with its face hidden through the folds of its cloak, its long hands were slimy, skeletal and glistening (dream eaters, they feed on fear and nightmares, if they are around, the victim will start developing insomnia, hallucinations and daily nightmares. Upon constant proximity, their victims lose the ability to differentiate between reality and dreams until they lose their minds and commit suicide)

I heaved a sigh when I saw the last one, at least I've killed two of those before. The book said (The master hellhounds or as it were called in the dark age (the Cerberus) a three-headed dog with lethal strength and huge body mass, they usually follow demons and obey their orders. They feed on flesh and human souls that their demon master possesses)

"Can't we just repair the veil with tape or something, these shits are going to fuck us all if they came to earth" I tried to joke, but bile was coming up my throat, I've already faced two of the seven and was nearly killed, what will happen if I face the other five, and why was my nasty-twisted mind so thrilled in the same time.

"That's what I'm saying Layla, stop trying to make enemies and trail people and try to train hard and restore your circle power because I don't think Keenan is the thing you should be worried about right now, two of the wicked seven are already here and god only knows what else is sneaking to earth right now. I don't know what the high counsel told you, but I'm sure it got something to do with all of this, so please try to trust her and do what she is saying because all I'm sure of right is that you are the only one who faced two of the wicked seven and that's not a coincidence"

I tried to roll my eyes at her words and said sarcastically "damn Tam, that's so sinister for someone who is going to make a huge ass birthday party next week, my biggest horror right now is your mother to be honest." that drew a loud laugh out of her as I mimicked lady Aria Nevan, trying to fake her slow condescending voice and her bored disgusted expression as if she had just stepped in cow shit "you don't have a hand in your human upbringing dear I'm not racist to hold your lowly upbringing against you"

Tam snorted "well you are right, as long as my mom is here the wicked seven wouldn't dare come near the house, she would give them real trauma"

We kept giggling and mimicking Tam's family, but deep down we both knew it was just a way to avoid the fear growing inside the both of us. Tam's words kept ringing through my head. It really wasn't a coincidence, I felt like I was walking into a trap that destiny had laid in front of me And at that moment I really couldn't decide which one was more horrifying, the coming birthday ball or the wicked seven. As if all this wasn't bad already, a rough voice came from the door of the study

"Lady Layla could I have a word" it was Keenan graham.