The Prodigies: The Return of Equinox

Chapter Fourteen - Scratches and Deep Wounds

"Barrier!" Shouted Noromac. There was no time for the specifics that magic liked. He had hoped he was able to concentrate enough for the spell to work. A dome of what looked like falling glitter surrounded the monster. Success! Noromac sighed in relief. The thing poked at the falling glitter to find it hid a wall behind it.

"So it seems you don't want me moving," said the blank entity. "What a shame if I were to break your sense of security." The points of its body touching the ground leaked black water. As the water soaked into the ground the monster fell through. Before Noromac could realize it water drops fell onto his head. He looked up to see the monster build itself from the ceiling, bottom up. He saw the hollow inside of the thing, the green and purple muscles that lied under glossy porcelain like skin, and it's grey bloodless heart that hung suspended in its center. "Surprise."

"How much of one?" Shouted Jasper. An arrow pierced through the air in the shade's direction. Jasper knew he wasn't exactly the most accurate, but he made sure to aim for center mass. He didn't know how effective it would be but it made it easier to hit the thing. The shade's neck twisted to face its head towards the incoming arrow. Then, to Jasper's surprise the arrow's path bent around the shade.

"You're not going to stop me with some arrows." Said the white demon. Before any action could be taken an arrow flew and made its mark on the very upper edge of the shade's mask. The arrow inflicted more cracks onto the mask. The shade gave off a sharp, high pitched hum.

"She might!" Yelled Noromac. Winter ran into the room and fired another arrow. The amazing pull of her bow allowed for whatever magic that the shade worked to have no affect on her arrows. The arrow hit square on the shoulder. This time though, the arrow only ricocheted off.

"Keep trying. It amuses me." More arrows flew in it's direction. Both Jasper and Winter fired at the thing, but nothing came of it as the thing dropped to the ground and again made its way back to Nano. Noromac grabbed one of the knives he carried and threw it at the monster. It hit the right arm of the thing and made a barely visible crack on its skin.

"Why are you testing my patience?" The shade grabbed the knife. It pointed the tip towards Noromac and the knife flew violently in his direction. Noromac tried to move out of the way, but the knife sliced at his left arm. "It would be best if you allowed me to go about my business." The shade turned it's head and looked at Winter then at Jasper. They were both out of arrows. But even so, they were ready to fight. Jasper held a knife with his right and stood ready to move; both hands centered and with one foot in front of him and the other behind. Winter stood with her knife in her left and right hand covering her chest, with her feet in a wide stance; she looked ready to stand toe to toe with the creature.

"You think you can fight me?" Asked the shade.

"Of course," said Jasper, "Grey over there was able to crack your pretty skin. No reason to think that I can't."

"Well, lets see about th-"

"Dwǝ". The Shade's skin cracked, the entirety of it. It's porcelain-like skin was strewn with web like cracks. It looked like glass that had been trampled on and barely holding on together. Sharp vibrations emanated from the thing. A black substance that was neither liquid or gas seeped through the cracks of its body. It turned to the source of the spell and found that Nano was responsible for this vague feeling of pain.

"Looks as though you aren't as weak as I thought"

"I am Nano," the shade hovered inch by inch towards him, "The Nightstalker. I am the prodigal war hound of the Witches. No summon of mine, has ever, or will ever, claim me." The shade now loomed over the boy. He had not even made the effort to stand up, only looking towards his creation. The cracked skin of the monster frilled up much like feathers and settled down to become whole again.

"I can change th-" A tip of a knife found its way into the shade's back. The shade's arms, legs, and head all twisted around to meet the one who did it. Jasper was wrapped around the creature's torso. Driving his knife as deep as he could. He couldn't get far. There was a force much stronger than him pushing back the knife from within the monster's body.

"It's truly a mystery how you've survived this long committing so many mistakes."

"I just push my luck when I got it," said Jasper through a sly grin. The shade grabbed onto Jasper's neck with a violent speed. The grin was far gone. Jasper, still holding onto the knife, tried to pry himself away from the creature's vice like grip.

"Struggle all you want child, no good will come of it." The shade's grip slowly tightened. From a grip that was already choking Jasper to a one that was nearing the breaking of everything in his neck.

"Zhyet'dwǝ" it came as a whisper from Nano's lips. There was a deep cut that appeared on the shade's forearm. Jasper was instantly let go. Before he could fall Winter was already in motion towards the shade. She had finally mustered the courage to try and cut the things arm off before it killed Jasper, but it seemed like the job would be easier than she thought. The creature turned towards Nano before it could notice what Winter was doing. Winter bounded up the stairs to the second floor and leaped towards the blank creature. As she flew through the air she could see the monster already heal. She only had one shot to hit the wound on its arm right in the middle to make any damage. She held her knife with both hands. As she came down the arc of her jump and near the monster, she swung down hard aiming with super human precision and strength. It came down onto the creature's bleeding wound and cut right through the green and purple flesh of the thing and past the hard white glass skin.

"You really do have a death wish don't you?" Said the shade as it quickly approached her. She scrambled backwards trying to get onto her feet. Before any success came of it the creature stabbed her shoulder with one of its pointed needle like legs. She yelped in pain. She panicked and tried to push herself away from the thing's leg but the tip of the creature's leg splintered, bent towards her and prevented anything of the sort. She looked towards Jasper as he struggled to breathe through blood and pain. She looked at Noromac tending to the large amounts of blood he was losing. She saw Nano try to stand, struggling to even move. She was doomed, she knew it.

"You are out of saviors, child. Say a prayer." The shade lifted her up and she screamed. She could feel the weight of her body strain her collar bone and her pierced shoulder blade. The pain was unbearable. Tears instantly blinded her and her muscles grew weak from the pain. "Unless you can't speak, of course." The creature pointed it's hand towards her heart. It pulled back, aiming to stab through her heart and end her life then and there. But before the shade could carry through its arm was held back by a strong force. It turned to see it was caught on webbing. It looked back at Winter to see she was being taken off of the shade's legs. No barbs stopped her path. It struggled to get itself unstuck from the webs that bound it.

Before it could release itself a humanoid figure formed in front of it. A figure with many eyes, wings, and mouths. With web for skin.