Hunters and Hybrids

Chapter 11

The others watched in horror as Callen was picked up by an invisible force and flung across the garden to land in a heap by the wooded area.

Joelle screamed as she was, at the same time as Callen, grabbed in a grip and flung across the grass.

Anna and Sam sprinted across to where Callen lay as he came around and tried to crawl across to Joelle.

The dark mist that enveloped her caused her to cry out as she felt claws rip her leg and teeth bite her throat, she couldn't make a sound, but with a smile she couldn't hold back despite the pain she could hear the wolf scream.

Callen was away from the mist and was letting out the most inhuman sound of pain the others had ever heard, a strangled scream as he felt his throat tear and his hind leg rip, he collapsed on the grass and tried to move as he felt hands holding him down.

"Tim stop what you're doing!" Sam yelled, "It's hurting Callen."

"Cerb... Stand Down!" Tim yelled and the smoky mass sat on the grass.

Joelle lay under the mass, blood pouring from her throat, but still a smile on her face as she looked towards Callen.

"It's a binding spell!" Sykes said as he walked closer, "Look, the glow around his neck."

Sam saw the slight glow of the crystal, fading as Joelle's life blood went from her. Callen had passed out and Anna was trying to wake him up. Not thinking Sam grabbed for the crystal and pulled, jumping back as he was burned.

Even unconscious the movement got a small whimper from the wolf.

Anna looked at Tim, "Can you help him? He has a crystal attached to his neck, we can't get it off. It looks Elemental."

Joelle reached her hand towards Tim, who stopped and walked towards her. He stopped in front of her with a sad look on his face.

"You never had a clue did you?" He said sadly.

A dark figure appeared from the wood and walked over to the two people.

"Hello father." Tim said as he turned to the man. "I take it you are here for her." He pointed down at the wide eyed, gasping, woman.

Death nodded, "Again, your friend Callen is spared, but I need to help him first, he is not on my list and if I take her, it will kill him and upset the balance. However, he does have something of mine, I need to take back."

He walked over to the unconscious wolf.

"NO! G!" Sam stood between Death and his friend.

For the first time in a millennia, Death smiled.

"You surround yourself with strong people my son." Death said as he looked towards Tim, approval in his voice. "Samuel Hanna, it is not yet the boy's time, I am here to make sure he does not leave with the Witch, Joelle." He reached down and snatched the crystal from around her neck and walked towards where the rapidly dying body of Joelle lay and held the crystal out above her face leaning in slowly.

"You stole from me Witch; it may have been a hundred years ago, but to me that is a blink in time. From the second you touched the binding crystal you were doomed to die, it runs on life energy."

"Taking sides Father?" Tim asked surprised.

Death stood up and looked dispassionately at his son. "I never take sides, it is not my job Time, I keep the balance, that is all."

"Of course Father." Tim said respectfully with a slight smirk playing on the edge of his lips.

Death disappeared with Joelle's last gasp and Tim turned his attention to Callen lying in the grass, human and naked.