by Erik Weir
“Yes…,” Victor managed with a weak whisper.
The light dimmed further as the pain died. Victor stared at the light until shadows reached down and caressed his eyes closed. Heart slowing, he listened to every beat until they grew further apart. When the last beat ran along his body, Victor smiled.
It’s going to be okay.
***
Wet grass touched Victor’s body. Earthy smells rose up, blending with the grass as Victor curled fingers into the dirt. Eyes fluttered as he lay on his stomach. The night sky filled the heavens as a mist touched his surroundings. The relic of pain floated away as strength slowly returned to his body.
Victor stayed on the wet ground, senses taking inventory of his body. The bullet wounds tingled but it didn’t feel like he was bleeding. A small headache curled around his brain. Moving his head slightly, he could see and feel that he was completely naked on the grassy floor.
Victor took a deep cleansing breath before he pushed with an arm and rolled onto his back. Dew covered his body as he looked up into the night sky, tendrils of mist floating over him. A crescent moon hung in the sky, the light soothing his frayed nerves. A smile bloomed before lips parted and Victor let out a maddening laugh.
“Victor one, death zero,” the young man laughed into the night.
The laughing died down and Victor slowly sat up. The air felt crisp, like an autumn evening and just as clean. The trees held green leaves and clustered together behind him while a grassy field stretched out. The landscape was surreal as mist clouded around him. It took on an almost spooky edge as he looked into the distance.
A thick mountain stood, lights glowing closer to the top. The mist obscured any details, but the lights glowed brighter, almost calling out Victor. Looking to the left and right of the mountain, forest spread out before reaching high walls of mists.
If anyone is here, they will be where the light is.
Standing up, Victor brushed off what dirt clung to his skin. When he finished, a chill seeped into his bones. He had to start moving before hypothermia kicked in. The young man took one step when something loomed out of the mists. Looking to his left, Victor took a step back and then another. The large dark figure turned glowing red eyes in his direction, and a snarl vibrated through the air.
Victor lifted up his fists as he backed up.
You think martial arts will stop whatever that is?
The young man stared, drinking in every detail as the hunched over thing moved through the mists. Red eyes glowed brightly against its black form. Two sharp points along its head seemed to swivel. The body grew visible as it stepped out of the mists.
Victor stared in disbelief as a hulking werewolf like creature emerged from the fog. Pointed ears turned as if listening in every direction while a tooth filled maw opened with a low growl. Black fur covered its entire body as muscles bulged and twitched. It stalked forward, white locks of fur running along its head and neck. The wolf monster stopped its advance, and stared at Victor with a predatory gaze.
Victor guessed it was about forty feet from him, but judging from the thickness of its legs, it could leap across the distance in an instant. Eyes wandered down to huge hands, fingers tipped with long talons. The chill deepened into Victor’s muscles as he stood ready to defend himself.
This is crazy!
The wolf monster stared, shoulders heaving. “She finally brought you here,” the monster growled.
Victor remained quiet, mind working strategies. There was no way he could take on a monster like that. Running was his best option but the monster would overtake him easily. The thought of backing down caused a fire to light in his belly. Eyes narrowing, he kept his arms and legs loose.
“It’s been a weird day. How about we just pretend this didn’t happen,” Victor said with a commanding edge.
The wolf monster took a menacing step forward. “You think she can protect you forever?”
“Right now, the only thing I’m thinking is I’m wet, cold, and seriously need some clothes.”
The brute took another step forward, large hands curling into hammer like fists. “You escaped once and she may protect you here, but that will not deter me from teaching you a lesson from my lord.”
“Lesson learned, I won’t do it again,” Victor said not knowing what the hell was going on.
The wolf monster growled a snicker. “You may be her Champion now…but it will mean little when I lay your broken corpse on her altar.”
“I said lesson learned,” Victor shouted.
The wolf monster took another step forward. “I don’t think you’ve learned anything…yet.”
Victor took a step back when the wolf monster burst toward him. Like a comet of muscle and hair, it appeared before Victor, a meaty fist surging forward. The young man let gravity take hold as he fell and pushed his legs to the side. The giant fist missed his face by inches as he stumbled, spun and started running.
Victor burst with every bit of speed his legs could produce. A loud growl echoed through the air as the young man made a beeline for the mountain. Mist fell away as green grass and trees loomed up to meet him. Victor dared not look back as he pumped his legs. Something big appeared next to him and lashed out. The arm struck Victor and his body was lifted up and thrown. Crashing into the grass, he quickly rolled back onto his feet, and turned around but the wolf monster was over him.
“For my lord,” the monster howled as it reared back a fist.
Victor’s body was moving as the fist came in. There was no way he could block or stop something that big. He had to keep moving, and make sure it didn’t touch him again or he might not get back up. The punch powered forward and Victor curved his body, dodging the wolf monster’s fist. Stepping closer into the beast, he brought his heel up, his eyes on the side of the monster’s knee. With all his power, he brought the heel down and struck bone.
The wolf monster’s entire body shifted and turned as pain surged up its leg. Victor continued to move knowing he had to work the joints, and escape if he had a chance. Palm up, he slammed it under the wolf monster’s pointed jaw. To Victor’s surprise, the creature’s head snapped up, and it grunted in pain. He never would have thought he had enough strength to do something like that, and hoped it was only enough to knock it off balance.
A thick arm swung out and Victor crouched down. Pushing his legs up, a strength he never felt before seemed to fill all his limbs. Fingers curled into fists as he punched the monster in the mid-section, followed by another. The wolf monster stumbled back as Victor leapt up, and drove his heel into its stomach. Victor tried to push off, hoping it was enough for him to start running away when a large hand wrapped around his leg like a vice.
Victor lost all control as his body swung like a rag doll in the air before crashing down into the grass covered ground. Dirt and green grass blades went up as he was lifted and slammed down again and again. Dazed, he barely felt the thick hand let him go. Victor was on all fours when a fist came down smashing his face deep into the dirt.
His body not responding, Victor could do nothing as he was lifted up by the shoulder in one of the wolf monster’s hands and the other slammed a fist into his chest. All the air left his lungs as he hit the ground and rolled to a stop. Blood trickled out the side of his mouth as he tried to get back up again. Fear and rage spiraled together as he turned just enough to see the wolf monster’s fist hit him directly in the face. Victor was airborne, light as a leaf on the wind before he crashed into the wet grass.
Stay down!
Swirls of pain radiated along his body. Sharp points signaled broken ribs and a state of confusion took root. Fighting with every bit of strength, he slowly tried to stand up.
“Your spirit will not stop the lesson,” the monster roared before throwing several punches.
Victor felt his body take the hits before the last one sent him sailing through the air. Strength giving out, he landed like broken thing on the grass, sliding a few feet until he reached a stop. Coughing up blood, Victor grow
led and raged as his body refused to work.
The wolf monster bent over the damaged young man, saliva dripping from his teeth, a wolfish sneer curling.
“Her realm prevents me from killing you. Take solace in that. When we meet again, I will not be so kind. Our next lesson will be your last.”
The brutish monster stood up. With a final kick, Victor felt a few more ribs break.
“...running…off…,” Victor managed but wasn’t sure the words came out right.
The wolf monster growled his contempt before turning and bounding off. It reached the mist and leapt into it, vanishing from view.
Victor lay; his mind and body reeling from the pain. A maddening laugh croaked from his lips before he grew quieter, the sound of his laboring breath the only thing he could hear.
Darkness touched the edge of his vision. The pain and weakness rose and fell like the tides. At the edge of blacking out, he mentally called out for Vala. Staring up at the starless sky, he cried out but only a strangled gurgle rose from his lips.
She isn’t coming…
Victor felt a cold touch sink into his damaged body. Maybe death was coming after all. Fighting the looming darkness, something touched Victor’s senses. He couldn’t describe it but it was strange enough to keep him conscious. A shadowy figure stepped along, staff in their hand.
Victor tried to focus but he only saw long black hair and the faint outline of a feminine form. Her head was strange as two points stabbed out from her forehead. Trying to turn his head for a better look, pain fired along his nerves and a groan filled the air.
The woman sucked in her teeth as she looked down with a disapproving shake of her head. Reaching down with her free hand, she took hold of Victor’s ankle. The young man groaned as pain roared once again. Body being dragged over the wet grass; Victor couldn’t hold on any longer. Passing out, the last image he saw was the strange woman glancing back with annoyed eyes.
Three
Darkness parted and Victor blinked a few times. A glowing lantern stood on a small bedside table. Moving his head, pain roared along his body and he quickly settled down. Eyes turning down, he saw bandages covering his body. Hands at his sides, fingers felt along the cot he was laying on.
Letting out a tired sigh, he took inventory of the room. Designs filled the stone walls from crescent moons to vague figures locked in sensual touches and embraces. Victor likened them to cave drawings by ancient man but these were highly stylized. The room itself was small, barely big enough for the cot, the side table, and a chair right across from him.
Victor tried to move again, the flare of pain along his ribs keeping him lying down. A frustrated exhale filled the small room as he tried again. The tortuous firing of nerves kept him on the cot, wondering if this was his life now.
The door to the room opened and a head peeked in. Victor’s eyes slid to the right, taking in the image of a wrinkled old woman with a toothless smile. Long white hair tied back into a ponytail as she hobbled in with a silver tray in her hands and several vials on it.
“You’re awake,” the old woman said with a wide, gummy smile.
“Hi,” Victor managed before he let out a grunt.
The old woman put the tray down on the table by the lantern and looked down at the damaged young man.
“Don’t strain yourself. You will need time and some elixirs to help mend those bones. I set what I could but my hands don’t work like they used to.”
“Thank you…for saving me…,” Victor said through gritted teeth.
The old woman gazed down kindly, her slightly hunched form looming over him. “Saving you? No, Lily saved you. I’m merely trying to help.”
Victor gave her a questioning gaze but the old woman ignored him, frail hands reaching out and picking up a blue vial.
“This will help,” the old woman said as her shaky hands uncorked the vial.
Victor watched as she moved her hand closer, it shaking like a leaf in hard wind. He swore she was going to dump it all over his face but when she reached his lips, her hand steadied and she poured.
A flowery taste cascaded over Victor’s tongue before it turned earthy. It wasn’t unpleasant but the young man didn’t feel a need have more. As he gulped it down, the old woman pulled it away, put it on the tray and picked up another one.
“Three more to go,” the old woman cackled.
Victor parted his lips as she poured more into his mouth. The young man’s eyes widened as a foul taste stung his tongue. He coughed, but it only caused the old woman to pinch his nose and pour more into his mouth. A sickening tendril ran down his throat and into his stomach. There, it curled into a foul ichor but the pain in his sides and limbs seemed to lessen.
The door opened, and a woman stepped in. Victor looked to the woman; his breath taken away. It wasn’t so much her beauty but the fact she had smooth black horns rising from her forehead. Her smooth skin was a pale purple, almost lilac. Oval eyes peered down at Victor as a frown formed. Red irises glowed from her almond shaped eyes.
Victor couldn’t help his knee-jerk reaction, his gaze sliding down to her near perfect breasts as they defied gravity. Her outfit was leather and cloth, blended together to cover most of her body except for her cleavage, neck, forearms and shins. The white cloth mixed with dark leather complimented her body, hugged her waist while showing the slight sensual curves of her hips and strong thighs. Long black hair was tied tightly into a ponytail as she stepped in and stood by the old woman.
“Is he going to live,” the demon woman said with a serious tone.
“He will, but he will do better if you healed him,” the old woman said as she picked up a third vial.
“Cassandra, we have no idea if he belongs here. He could be just a lost soul.”
The old woman shoved the open vial to Victor’s mouth, “I’ve seen the dreams. He belongs here. I know you’ve seen the dreams too.”
The purple skinned demon folded her arms under her breasts. “It could still be a mistake.”
Victor felt the vial pull away, and he looked up into the old woman’s gray eyes, “Cassandra, what a beautiful name.”
The old woman smiled wider, a pale pink touching her wrinkled face. “That charm is proof he belongs here.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “I think you’re just happy for the company.”
Cassandra nodded as she poured the final vial to Victor’s waiting mouth. “He seems nicer than your sour attitude.”
The old woman leaned closer, running her frail hand through Victor’s short, black hair. “The potions should help you to stand, and move about. Lily is going to bring you to the springs to help finish your healing. Once you’re healthy, come back to me.”
Victor smiled and nodded.
Cassandra stood up as much as her body would allow. “Don’t let Lily’s sourpuss get to you. She’s a sweetheart once you get to know her.”
Lily stayed where she was, arms still folded and her brow tight. Cassandra picked up the tray, and hobbled to the door. The old woman gave Victor a glance and wink before stepping out, leaving the door open.
The horned demoness kept her judging gaze on Victor. The young man struggled to sit up. The pain had lessened, but it was still there. Legs moved over the side of the cot as Victor sat up. Ribs and arms ached, but he was feeling a little better. Lily made no attempt to help, standing her ground and waiting.
“I’m Victor Hobbs,” the young man said to cut through the odd silence in the room.
The demon’s mouth tightened for a moment before relaxing. “Lily Brightblood.”
Victor nodded as his eyes drifted again. Lily stood with a hard gaze but a purple tail swayed behind her with a triangular tip. Staring, he couldn’t break away from the hypnotic swaying of the purple flesh colored tail.
A vein throbbed along Lily’s forehead, “Get up.”
Lily’s words broke the trance, and Victor attempted to stand up. The first try caused pain to flare, and he sat back down. Taking a deep breath, t
he young man gritted his teeth and managed to stand on his own power, the small room beginning to spin.
Lily watched him and let out a sigh. Right hand out, a staff appeared in her palm. Handing it to Victor, the young man took hold and used it to help stand. The moment he touched the wooden staff, something flared deep with Victor. It lashed at his reason, unsure why it felt right to hold it.
The demon woman eyed Victor. “It seems you do belong here. No one can wield our weapons unless they are connected to Vala.”
Victor leaned hard on the staff. “And I thought you were handing it to me out of the kindness of your heart. I didn’t realize I was being tested.”
Lily nodded as she closed her eyes. “Everything is a test.”
“Well, you passed my test…with flying colors,” Victor smiled.
Lily opened her eyes, thin eyebrow cocked. “What kind of test?”
“Maybe I’ll tell you…once we get to know each other a little better,” Victor managed through the pain.
The demon woman growled her annoyance before turning and stepping to the door. “Come on.”
Victor gave a weak nod before hobbling along, the staff clicking against the smooth stone floor. Lily stepped along slowly, allowing for the slower Victor to follow. The young man looked around as he stepped into a large hallway. As he moved through the hallway, it opened up into a full-sized house. Stone shifted to hard, dark wood. The main room was comfortable with fur covered couches, a roaring stone fireplace and lanterns strewn about. Victor immediately thought it looked like a ski lodge he had seen in so many movies. The only thing it was missing was mounted animal horns and heads.
Lily stepped to the main double doors and opened one side. Victor tried his best to keep up, wincing and gritting his teeth, his body feeling like nothing more than broken bone and tired meat. When he reached the door, Lily didn’t look at him as she cast her gaze downward.
Victor hobbled past, onto a large porch with tables and chairs before stepping down on a stone street. The young man took a moment, his eyes drinking in the view before him. Short stone walls lined the area as Victor quickly realized he was on the mountain he saw from the mists. Stepping to the stone wall, he looked down while clutching Lily’s staff.
