SpinTales

Hell Is At The Door

Chapter 4

In a darken, rustic tent that stood alone on the cliff top stood a lone figure grinning and cackling to himself. 'So, they wish to find the Mercantile, do they.' He scanned the precious treasures that splayed across the area that seemingly stretch for miles, recalling his jousting with the three youths. 'That certainly can be arranged, however, there will be a price!' He laughed harder with traces of drool dripping from his lips. With a deranged grin of jagged, razor teeth plastered to his head, he walked over to what looked like a plain crystal ball. He gave it a tap with a long, boney finger and it began to glow. The colors of the rainbow began to swirl and then some images came into view.

The small company of nine companions where once again on the move hiking at a slow, steady pace through the valley. Dawn had just broke past the horizon and it was agreed that since no one was able to sleep, that they'd best make use of their situation. The three who gave chase to the faceless being had already told their take of the events that lead to the question of the little curio that was kept in Lucian's palm. "Strange. Its beginning to glow again. It had stopped glowing after it came back to me." The others glanced back at Lucian as he said this and gave little glances at the tiny marble. "Humph. I wonder what it does exactly. Are you sure neither of you felt anything from it while you held it?" Ask Brodie, who was very wary of the said object. Alley responded, "Not at all. It just changed colors when it passed to my hands and then to yours."
Vaya then spoke up, "I can feel a pull from it slowly getting stronger." At that, everyone stopped and stared at her. "What do you mean, V? Like, do you feel like you're going to pass out, too?" questioned Dane. "Nah, nothing like that. It's more like it's calling me to hold it." Lucien sighed and said, "And that's exactly why I'm keeping a hold of it. We don't know what all its capable of doing, or who it'll go after." Thadd decided to jump in the conversation, "You're talking as if it's a living thing that can do anything to anyone it wants to."
"Yes, well, can't be too careful. It did push Brod's soul out of his body." stated Lucian. He looked over at Vaya and saw that she had a look of sheer concentration while looking straightaway at the direction they were going. "What are your thoughts about it, V?" The question along with the shift of attention made her snap out of her stupor and she said, "I'm not entirely sure. I've crossed paths with a few mystical objects before, but none of them ever "called" to me, like what that thing is doing now. I don't like it. We should destroy it." Everybody, but Dane was quite surprised by her last comment. She was usually the one who tried to solve the mysteries behind the magical trinkets they have come in possession with and would keep them locked up in her trophy room. To hear her say that only made her company alittle more on edge.

His greedy gaze began to take in the details of what he saw and heard. 'So they are not newcomers to the arts of magic. How wonderful to have such entertainment after so long.'

As the sun rose more into view the traveling group saw further out on the mountain slope a village. "Is that where we are headed?" Asked Dane. Alley nodded and said, "We need to aquire more supplies and maybe some new information." Lucian squinted a bit feeling a tiny bit uneasy. Vaya felt his nervousness and opened her senses to the town ahead. "Careful, everyone. There is a foreboding aura around the town. I can't pinpoint the exact cause, though." The tall youth with dark brown shoulder length hair known as Thadd was even more alert than before. He was still mentally beating himself up for not noticing the dangers from the previous night. He, too opened all his senses to see if he could feel anything then stopped abruptly. "Brodie, we have to go a different direction. We can't go there." Everyone stopped immediately to face him. Before Dane had a chance to ask, Brodie said, "Your right. There's something dangerous lurking about. The feeling just hit me now." That was when they heard it. The sounds of numerous voices wailing in agonizing misery. A loud boom with a large blacken cloud began to rise in the center of town. For a split moment, there was confusion and fear, then Alley spoke out, "We can't just leave them. We have to help!!" They all agreed and began to run towards the town with blades in hand.

'Hee hee hee, now let's see what they can do.' The dark merchant danced and howled in merriment.

When they arrived in the village, the carnage they witnessed was beyond their expectations. The buildings were crumbling down with large cracks and holes in them. There were bloodied bodies strewn across the grounds and people running and fighting creatures that couldn't quite be seen. Vaya charged towards a man who was being held down by some invisible force and swung her blade above where the man was laid out. An ear shattering skreech was heard and the man was lifted into the air then thrown on the ground with a sickening thud. She heard the sound of sizzling and saw some goo that had dripped down from nowhere burning the ground under the area where she struck the beast. 'Oh crap!'She prepared herself for the challenge of battle against a foe that couldn't be seen.

Meanwhile, the others had spread out to fight as well and was dealing with similar scenerios. Alley, Davina, Lucian, Thadd and Stauss were all battling with the unseen forces to the best of their abilities. It seemed like they had the upper hand when Lucian noticed a bright green light coming out of his shirt pocket. The glow began as a bright yellow light then became an intense tint of green, 'Very similar to right before Bro...' Suddenly, the bodies of the creatures began to flicker and become visible for a time. Before Lucian could complete his thought, the monsters that were still standing had turn all their attention towards him. They were tall and sinew-red, looking like they didn't have flesh, just exposed muscles and blood. Their shrieking filled the air and all the monsters rushed foward swinging and trying to grab a hold of him. He dodged and tried to attack, but there were too many of them. The others saw the creatures flicker into view and chased after their comrade whose chest was now glowing a vibrant green.

Brodie and Dane were not far from where Lucian was and started towards him. Searing pain erupted thoughout Brodie's body as he tripped down and landed on his hands and knees. He found he couldn't even scream, it was beyond excruciating. Dane rushed to his side, but quickly jumped back. "Brodie??" was all the young man heard, then saw the boy get knocked back with blood flying out of his mouth!! 'What's going on?!' His fists started moving on its own accord and gripped the hilt of his sword tightly with his other hand. He heard the creatures chanting to him and realized that they were calling him "Master". They began moving towards him just as he began to lash out at the young boy near his feet. "Brodie!!! Stop!! It's me, Dane!!!" The boy shouted as he tried to flee. But Brodie was on top of the youth, readying to strike down on him! But before the blade came down, he saw in the corner of his eye a bright green glow, then was hit hard and off from the young lad. Lucian came just in time to tackle Brodie before he could deliver his blow to the boy's head, but his long time friend didn't seem to recognize him. "Brod!! What the hell are you doing?!?!" Yelled Lucian, but the only response he got was a fast, left hook that almost made contact with his face. As he stumbled back, his friend began to chuckle. He steadily grew louder and into a full blown maniacal laugh that chilled him to his core. He saw that Brodie now held the tiny sphere that was glowing a ghastly green and he felt completely circled by the creatures as they watched his confusion flash upon his face. The others were trying to make their way to his side, but those said beings prevented their every advancement.
Dane struggled to get up with so much blood running down from his mouth onto his chest. "What's wrong with him?? Why did he punch me like that?!?!" He yelled to Lucian. But it became clear as he turned to the older youth's face and saw the anguish and pain in his eyes. "He's possessed and there's no way to get out of this except by fighting him." Stated Lucian darkly.

            (To be continued..)