Shadow Bands

X. Mare

 Lyra's heart dropped to her stomach as the skies were filled with flying demons and the streets on fire. Bells rung to signal an attack is in progress as war cries paired with screams filled the air. Metal clashed against metal, and stone rumbled when the buildings were destroyed. Lyra couldn't help but find strength in her mother's crossbow.

The door behind them burst open, and General Knhaul stood breathless but relieved as he saw Kaelen.

"Father!" Said Kaelen, pointing down at the city. "Who would do this?"

Knhaul hurried to the edge to view the battlefield. "The Underworld has come to finish what we started."

He lowered his stance and quickly transformed into a werewolf. Lyra watched—for the first time, a werewolf transformation. Hair grew suddenly, enveloping his entire body. She could see some of the bone reshape itself within. His hands reached for his belt, where two clawed gauntlets rested, equipping them to both his hands. A red flying demon soared towards them at terrifying speeds, its body growing larger as it approached. General Knhaul readied himself, angling his shoulders to lessen his profile from the front. Lyra blinked her eyes in disbelief as lightning began to disperse from his gauntlets.

The demon pulled its wings back as it dove for the opening. Knhaul jumped, the demon narrowly missing him. He twisted his body in midair, gaining momentum, and as he came down, his fist made contact with the demon's body, arcs of lightning connecting to the strike. It screeched in pain, but it wasn't finished yet. It flapped its wings, causing General Knhaul to step back but failing to see its tail whipping from the side, sending Knhaul tumbling into a wall. Kaelen grabbed his twinblade from his back and hurried to distract the demon. He jumped and tried stabbing the demon on the way down, but it moved out of the way. It brought out a weapon of its own with a smile so sinister it struck fear for a moment.

Lyra took aim at the demon, shutting one eye to focus her shot with the other. As she exhaled, she felt time slow as she pulled the trigger. She watched intensely as the bolt flew through the air only to be blocked by its wing.

Its wings were as hard as metal.

Shooting it brought aggro to her. The demon made clicking sounds as it approached her. Lyra began to circle around the demon as she loaded her next bolt. She took aim, and once she saw an opening, she stopped and pulled the trigger, but the demon had faster reflexes with its wing.

Kaelen charged again, starting his assault with one of his blades coming from the floor, but the demon simply leaned back. This time the demon decided to strike back, forcing Kaelen to cross blades with it.

"What are you doing, boy!?" General Knhaul said, stumbling to his feet and coughing. "Change! You know all of your physical capabilities will be enhanced."

Lyra questioned why he didn't turn into a werewolf like his father, but her focus changed to placing another bolt on the rail. Since Kaelen had the demon occupied, Lyra tried to shoot it from the side again. The bolt flew, and it successfully pierced the shoulder of the demon. It let out a deafening screech. She hurried to load another bolt, but the demon shoved Kaelen back, then flapped its wings, becoming airborne. Though the ceilings were high, it still gained a few feet on them. Its deathly stare now on Lyra.

Kaelen tried to tag it with the tip of his sword, but it effortlessly dodged his attempts. Knhaul pulled his elbows deep behind his back as he squared his feet, his hands balled into a fist. The lightning began to crackle to life once again, but this time the gauntlets began to glow as the lightning became more erratic. With a grunt, he jabbed a fist out, aiming a concentrated lightning bolt at the demon. The demon dipped low into the room without touching the floor, but it didn't anticipate the second charged attack as it was hurled towards him. Thunder cracked with Knhaul's strikes, a bright light flashing with each one.