Blood King

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

“What… what in the world is that?” William asked as he looked at it with both shock and horror. “Is it some kind of monster?”

“I believe it is a Shadow Bloodhound.” Xavier stated his voice calm and steady as he eyed the beast.

“A Shadow Bloodhound?” William repeated. “How do you know?”

“In my Father’s study, I have come across many books that entail many things, a number of them telling about creatures that are of mythical origin and some believed to be of Hell decent, it seems that the Shadow Bloodhound is one of those creatures. But I never expected to see one in my lifetime…”

William looked back to the creature with narrowed brown eyes. This is bad… he thought. If the Prince is correct in what this creature is then how are we to kill such a thing when it cuts through my men like butter?

“Though it is strange,” Xavier said softly as he placed one hand underneath his chin eyes narrowing slightly in thought. “A creature like this is said to roam the fiery mountains in the south near the deserts of Sader, we are in the northern lands so why would it be here?” he shook his head and called out to the other knights. “Men, you must not be afraid, this creature has taken the many lives of your people, the life of a child!  You are men of Valdoria, show this monster what you are made of, do not falter and remember the plan!”

The men bellowed in cheer while the creature continued to eye Xavier before bounding overhead, tearing through the trees and knocking over knights from their horses. A number of the knights who remained in the clearing were there with crossbows drawn sending out one volley after another striking its massive body before the creature had the chance to kill.

The creature fell to the ground now unmoving, Xavier and the other remainder knights’ road back to where the beast had fallen. Questions of wonder and cheers of taking it down were jumbled amongst the men.

The plan was that half of the men would search the forest, searching for the wolf, draw it out of hiding and lead it towards the clearing where Samson was waiting with the other half of the knights ready with arrows dipped in poison killing it instantly, but this was no wolf, the likelihood of the arrows working were slim. 

Xavier frowned as he watched the men cheering, no something was wrong; this was too easy, far too easy. As the men continued he kept his eyes on the beast, he could hear his heart pounding in his ears; everything around him seemed to slow down as he kept his vision fixated on the Shadow Bloodhound.

Its paw twitched.

“No you fools’ get away from it!” Xavier bellowed. “It still draws breath!”

In an instant the Shadow Bloodhound was up once more cutting through more of the men, Samson, who was keeping with the rear of the knights as a lookout, rolled out of the way pulling one of the men out of the way before being torn to bits.

Limbs, blood and torn flesh flew in the air like a sickening storm of death as the beast let out a howling roar that shook the ground itself before ripping out the arrows with its teeth, blood now coating his armor, Xavier drew out his sword and charged forwards, the beast turned to slash at him, but the Prince ducked, avoiding the hit which would have torn off his head. And in response he drove his sword into the monster’s side. Another howl let the beast as it hissed.

Xavier stared at the beast with a wide gaze saying nothing.

Then the sound of laughter echoed around them.

“Human… interesting, I never expected that there would be a human like you.”

Then a drove of silence followed with the realization as to where the voice had truly come from.