Mystery Noir

Gates and Trials Part 6

If the Nareyan only moved in a physical manner, it would have been an easy fight. It had a deliberate and forceful physical presence that was simple enough to anticipate and defend against. But once it realized that fear was not slowing me down, possibly through several well-placed slashes with my knife and hatchet, it adjusted its attack. Every blow I landed resulted in a flash of power that shocked through my arms and nearly blinded me with brightness.

Sick of me fighting back, the Nareyan began to move beyond the physical realm. It would flash into different locations or attacks, as if it were teleporting. One moment it would be in front of me, the next it was at my side hitting me hard enough to send me flying. The blows felt physical, though I didn't feel any injuries from them as I fought. Just more flashes of light and a force rocking me through the air, though I felt my energy dragging at me more and more.

I was soaked in sweat, my breathing coming out as haphazardly as it would if I had been playing a sport, with my limbs getting heavier and my mind responding slower and slower. When it realized it had regained the upper hand, the Nareyan laughed in that creepy manner again, though it didn't let up on its attack.

I felt like a rag doll being tossed around, though I kept a hold of my weapons and still managed a defence or attack every so often. I couldn't tell if my blows were effecting the creature, there were no discernible injuries, and I was struggling to find any sign of it slowing down from our fight.

At least I was holding my own a little bit better than I had against the vampire in Vegas, though I did not think it would end much better. Nor did I think that Penny could do anything to have my back this time.

The more exhausted I got, the more my anger faded, allowing me to appreciate that I should have listened to her suggestion of us leaving. Though I was surprised to note that the SUV was still sitting where it was, unmoving. I didn't have time to try to see inside of it to discern if they were still within the vehicle, or to even wonder why they would leave it behind. I could not let my mind get distracted, as the Nareyan was not letting up.

It flashed from a few feet away to right in front of me, two hands snapping out to hit me at chest level. Light crackled, clouding my vision with stars, and I found myself laying on my back, looking up at the real night sky as I gasped for breath.

"I am Khor. And I have hunted for you, for an eternity, Zendeva-kal." Its voice echoed with a tone that sounded like an individual, though otherworldly.

I coughed and sat up, watching it still standing where it had appeared in front of me. "Why?"

Khor paused, as if it was hesitating in confusion. "Earth's death will feed me."

"Right." I forced myself to stumble to my feet. "And what does that have to do with me?"

"You will fail." The Nareyan said simply, as if that explained everything.

I barked a laugh, even as I heard the roar of the engine from the SUV. "Earth isn't an easy target, asshole."

The SUV slammed into the Nareyan and I reflexively reached out a hand, only thinking of putting every ounce of whatever I had in me into protecting the vehicle and those inside of it as it barrelled along, carrying the glowing being of light into the trunk of a large oak tree. Power crackled, metal screamed, and something crunched as there was a flash of bright light through the clearing.

An invisible wave of power hit me and carried me backwards till I slammed into the ground with a force that dazed me. My vision swam, telling me that I was really pushing my luck with the whole concussion thing. Still, I forced myself to stumble to my feet even as I blinked away the dark spots swimming in front of my eyes. When I could see again, I focused on the totalled SUV that had plowed into a now fire-bombed oak tree.