Dark Humanity

by Gwynn White

  With surprising quickness, the mystic’s hand fired back and snatched her by the collar. With equally surprising strength, the old man heaved her body over his shoulder, all the while ignoring her shrieking protests. With a jarring thud, her rear landed in the seat next to him.

  “Not another word!” he boomed, his deep voice like rolling thunder. “Enough of your foolish game! You think to play on my fears? Your pathetic game is but a feeble attempt to push me from your life. I’ve taken more lives than you’ll ever know. To this day I still see their faces, still hear their screams. I assure you I am no stranger to death. Both friend and enemy alike have died in my arms! If your intent is to drive me from your life by trying to scare or intimidate me, then I’m afraid you shall be sorely disappointed.”

  She sat next to him silently, bottom lip quivering as if she might start crying at any moment.

  “Viola,” he said, in a much softer voice. “I understand what you’re trying to do. You believe that if you scare me away, then there is no chance you could ever hurt me. I see the fear in your eyes, but it won’t work. You’re stuck with me whether you like it or not.” This time she did start crying, resting her head against his shoulder.

  “Those things that tried to take me away,” she said in a muffled voice, face pressed into his sleeve. “What were they? What do they want with me?” Before Liam could answer, she pulled away from his shirt, the look on her face cutting off his words. “And why do they look like me?” she asked. His mask of calm shattered, his eyes went wide. The question he had feared for so long still managed to catch him off guard.

  “They move like me. In fact, they’re much faster,” she continued. “They have some of the same abilities that I do.” Liam held his breath. “Are...are we the same? Is that what I am?”

  And there it was. She had come face to face with full-blooded laberaths, and witnessed for herself how violent and evil they were. She had seen their physical traits, and knew on some level that their similarities to her couldn’t possibly be coincidence.

  Over and over this very moment had repeated itself in Liam’s mind, and each time it seemed to end differently. Sometimes carefully worded explanations ended with fits of rage, other times denial, or even violence. With these thoughts so fresh in his memory, he could hardly believe the simple words coming out of his mouth.

  “Yes,” he admitted plainly. “They are known as laberaths, and it is true that their blood courses through you as well.” Her expression was blank, nonjudgmental. It was if she didn’t even hear the words.

  “This is the reason I’ve started craving blood?” she asked, again seemingly void of emotion.

  “Yes, but you are only part laberath,” he said, placing a reassuring hand on her knee. “You are also half human. I know this for certain because I tested your blood. But to be honest, I would have known anyway. You’re kind, compassionate, and empathetic when dealing with others. Whatever laberath traits you possess, your human ones are twice as apparent. After getting to know the real you, I no longer see a laberath mixed with human, or a human with laberath blood. I see you, Viola, and I’m grateful to have you in my life.”

  “The town is just up ahead,” Owen called back, his lumbering lavics still managing a fair pace. The exotic mount struck Liam more as a war beast suitable for combat than a creature fit to travel long distances. But it seemed to be holding up just fine. “I can already taste those barroom whores!” His eyes settled on Viola, only now realizing she riding up front with Liam. “I mean ale,” he corrected. “I can already taste the cold ale.” His gaze drifted back to Liam, tongue flickering between two split fingers.

  “She’s not deaf, nor is she blind,” Liam called back with a groan, shaking his head with embarrassment. Viola only laughed, leaning her head back against his shoulder. He addressed Viola, “That barbaric brute is an uncivilized, ill-mannered—”

  “He’s just a man,” she corrected, closing her eyes. “I accept him for who he is. Who am I to judge anyone?”

  A short time later she woke to the sound of whinnying horses. She hadn’t slept long, but the short nap was still refreshing. Owen and Xavier were tying up their mounts in front of a shabby-looking tavern. “The Hangman” read the wooden sign swinging from two rusted chains. Liam brought the wagon up behind them, squeaky wheels grinding to a halt.

  “I don’t see too many people around here,” Viola pointed out, her gaze sweeping the empty dirt street.

  “This is not a bad thing,” Liam reminded, tugging down on the hood of her riding cloak. “Less eyes on you means less chance of discovery. Until we can find you a proper disguise, this will have to do.” Lowering the hood further to shadow her features, Viola stepped down from the wagon. Joining with the others, they pushed through the swinging doors of a less-than-lively tavern.

  Spirals of disturbed dust swirled across the floor when they entered, as if this place hadn’t been cleaned in weeks. Even the clouded mirror behind the empty bar looked to be covered in a thin film. Flickering lanterns hung from the walls were the only evidence that someone had recently been here.

  “This be a bit less spirited than I’d hoped,” Owen grumbled, moving to take a booth under the mounted head of a jackal. With a chuckle, he flicked its nose before sliding up to the wall. The others were a bit less eager to sit on something so filthy, carefully wiping dust away before taking their seats. “Maybe things will pick up later in the evening,” he said, hopeful.

  “None of that’s important,” Liam cut in, hands folded on the table. “Now that I’ve heard the desperate words of a doomed creature, it’s time to hear your account of the same story. We need clarification as to why you were dealing with the laberaths.” Liam lifted a finger, and pointed straight at Owen’s chest. “No more secrets,” he warned.

  The hunter sighed, then fell back against his seat. “Aye. I received a message from Lord Alaric Bournfred on Redwater’s behalf. He, like so many others, wanted to hire me to investigate the random attacks taking place all over the realm. This much you already know. What I didn’t tell you,” he turned to Xavier, “or you...is that I was confronted by a laberath messenger before we reached Redwater.”

  “How was I not aware?” Xavier replied suspiciously. “I was with you the entire journey.”

  “Because you be sleeping like a bear in hibernation,” Owen said, giving his apprentice a shove to the face. “All he had to do was approach while I was on watch. There was hardly any danger of you waking.” Xavier looked away, face turning crimson. “The inquiry was about you,” he went on, pointing to Viola. “Said he knew I was heading to Redwater, and that all I had to do was bring back the girl. If I complied...well...you saw the bag.”

  “So that’s how you knew Viola was held captive,” said Liam, twisting the points of his eyebrows in thought.

  “Aye,” Owen replied. “In fact, they approached me a second time when we were only a day’s ride from the city. The attempt was to sweeten the deal.”

  “But you went through with it anyway,” Liam accused, his eyes narrowing. “You were going to deliver her to the laberaths. Had Xavier and I not been there—”

  Owen shook his head. “You’re wrong,” he said plainly. “Yes, I bartered for the girl. Yes, I left the city with her in my possession. But no, I had no intention of handing her over.”

  “And why should I believe that?” Liam asked. “Your reputation precedes you. It is rather well known that the mighty Demon Hunter will willingly capture or kill anyone or anything, so long as his price has been met.”

  “Aye,” Owen nodded. “I do not deny a word of what you say. But I also understand you have a gift when it comes to whether or not folk are telling ya the truth. If that be true, than listen to me carefully. If you don’t like what you hear, then take the girl and go. I won’t try and stop you.”

  “I’m listening,” Liam replied, leaning in closer.

  “All I know is that I turned down the biggest contract of my life, and one that would have been a
n easy payday at that. All I had to do was hand her over and walk away with me jewels. Why didn’t I?” He paused, tapping his finger on his chin as if even he wasn’t completely sure why. “Laberaths are the most vile creatures I’ve ever encountered. Most folk don’t even think they exist, but I’ve known about them for many years. They take whatever they want, whenever they want. Demons kill if an unsuspecting soul so much as gets in their way, but few creatures kill for pleasure. This alone separates their species from all others.”

  Owen laughed to himself, shaking his head. “Even now, I still have no idea what they want with Viola. But the way I see it, if such a vile species wants her that badly, then nothing good could ever come from them getting their way. I’ll do anything it takes to keep her out of their hands. Call it a survival instinct. Hell, call it stupidity! But when I saw how desperate they were to get their hands on her, I knew right then that I couldn’t allow it.”

  “So why take her at all?” Liam questioned. “She was safe in captivity, watched day and night by Redwater’s finest.”

  Owen leaned forward, a dangerous glint twinkling in his eyes—the look of a man whose confidence bordered on madness. “Safe? If your gut told you that protecting this girl might be more important than anything you’ve ever done in your life, would you leave the task in the hands of dimwitted soldiers whose only loyalty was to their next paycheck?” Liam leaned back with a sigh, understanding that feeling all too well. “If I’m wrong about the importance of keeping her out of their hands, then I’ll live with it. But as a rule, I always trust my gut and I never leave anything to chance.”

  Owen paused a long while, watching Liam’s unblinking eyes as he judged, evaluated, assessed the mercenary’s motives. “Now I’ve told you the truth,” Owen said, hand on Xavier’s shoulder, hinting for him to slide out from the booth. “We’ll leave you and Viola alone to discuss what you want to do. I won’t try and stop you either way.” Sliding out, he leaned down into Liam’s ear. “Should you decide to push forward without us, please keep a close eye on the girl. Seek others who may help in this cause as well. An entire species of killers is searching for her. I don’t imagine she’ll ever be safe.”

  A pale hand reached across the table and gripped his wrist. “Please stay,” Viola said, her gentle voice as soft as ever. Both Owen and Xavier slid back into their seats, eyeing her uncertainly. “This is not how we make decisions. We make them together. As a group, I mean.” She cleared her throat, obviously uncomfortable with being the center of attention. “I know that none of you can understand, but you’re the closest thing I’ve ever had to a family. I know you don’t see me that way, and that’s all right. I understand.” She managed a weak smile.

  Heat rose in her face as she spilled her heart out. But she needed to speak her mind. If they laughed at her, fine. If they rejected her devotion to the only people she had ever dared to call friends, then so be it. But her opinion would be heard, if only this once.

  “Besides,” she continued. “Even if you don’t see me as family, I’m still part of this group. And nobody asked me what I want.” There came uncomfortable shifting around the table. “If I am the one who’s in danger, then shouldn’t I have a say in my own future?”

  “Of course you should,” Liam added quietly.

  “I know the laberaths are bloodthirsty killers, and for some reason they are hunting me,” she said. Her red-eyed gaze drifted to Owen. “Their blood courses through my veins. I know what I am.” He sat upright, surprised by her sudden admission. Either Liam had told her, or she figured it out on her own. Either way...she knew!

  “But I also know what I am not,” she said, glancing at Liam, smiling. “I have...urges... But I’ll never be like them. Human blood flows through me as well, and when I’m with the three of you, that’s how I feel. Human.” She let out a deep breath. “I don’t want the group to split up. We won’t always agree on everything, and that’s all right. To me...that’s a family.”

  Grateful she had the chance to speak her mind, Viola drew in on herself, shoulders slumped. The words hadn’t come easily for her.

  “It seems as though our young friend here has shown wisdom beyond her years,” Liam said.

  “Perhaps a couple of old fools like us could learn a thing or two,” Owen replied. Viola lit up, feet suddenly tapping the floor excitedly. Owen held out a calloused hand, rugged and strong from years of battle. “We make a pact,” he said. “This evil that stirs underground is bigger than both of us. I don’t know what they want with Viola, but I don’t intent to find out. Agreed, brother?”

  Liam grasped the offered hand. “I believe we have a deal,” he said. “The girl has good instincts. If she is willing to place her faith in you, then so am I.”

  With her attention drawn to Liam and Owen, Viola was surprised when her hand was lifted off the table. “It seems that you and I shall not be separated,” said Xavier, her icy cold hand wrapped in both of his. “It will be an honor to serve and protect you.” Her first instinct was to pull away. Her skin was forever cold, and the touch of any warm human made her self-conscious. Displaying no insecurities of his own, Xavier kissed the back of her hand. It went on for an uncomfortably long duration; he was clearly in no hurry to end the kiss.

  “I’m grateful,” she replied, the soft words coming out as a whisper. Why did her face feel so hot? And why wouldn’t her knees stop shaking?

  “Ahem,” Owen grunted, clearing his throat. Viola quickly pulled her hand back, swallowing nervously. “Perhaps the young lady would like to order us some drinks?” he asked, flashing a half-toothless grin. He slid two silver pieces across the table. Sure enough, the bartender had showed up along with a few other patrons. The place was far from busy, but at least it was showing some life now.

  “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” Liam warned. “Perhaps I should go.” His hands moved towards the silver.

  “Oh, she’s fine,” Owen said, smacking the offending hand away. “Her face is covered. They can’t see what she looks like. I’m sure she would like to talk to someone other than us. Let her go to the bar and get served like a normal person.”

  “It’s all right, Liam,” she said, taking the coins and squeezing past him. “I want to try.”

  “That a girl!” Owen bellowed, winding back his hand as if to smack her backside when she passed. Liam quickly raised a warning finger. Oblivious to Owen’s action, she wandered her way up to the bar. “What?” he said innocently. “I-I wasn’t really going to— Oh, stop looking at me that way.”

  A stout man stood behind the bar. Rag in hand, his arm worked back and forth across the bartop, seemingly cleaning the same path over and over again. Greasy black hair clung to his forehead, deep-set eyes gazing across the room at nothing. Hood pulled low, Viola clinked the coins down on the bar. “Excuse me,” she said softly, already feeling the anxiety building up. “I would like four—” Something felt wrong. His mouth hung open, drool running from his chin as his hand worked back and forth. His eyes were completely blank, face like a dead puppet, an imitation of life.

  His eyes slipped back into his head, leaving nothing but empty black sockets staring back at her. The skin around those shadowed spheres turned gray, seeming to harden like dry mud. Cracks crept across his face, expanding outward like spider webs. His graying lips curled back like drying leaves, exposing a mouth full of bloodstained teeth. They clicked together with a sharp crack, a hard snap that should have certainly broken at least a few. His jaw opened back again, impossibly wide like a snake unhinging its jaw. It snapped closed with a shattering boom, teeth exploding into black spiders that sprayed across Viola’s face.

  Viola screamed, a shrill note echoing from all directions at once. In a flash, Liam was at her side. “What? What is it? Are you all right?” he asked in a rush of words.

  “I want to go. We need to leave. We need to leave. We have to go,” she babbled, clutching the old man so tight he feared she might break a rib.

  “I beli
eve you’re all right,” he said, attempting to comfort the girl. He glanced at the emotionless barkeep as he wiped the same spot over and over, evincing a curious lack of reaction, considering a girl just screamed in terror right in front of him.

  “What in the blazes is going on over there?” Owen asked, watching Viola tremble against Liam’s chest.

  “I think it’s time we left this establishment,” Liam warned, suddenly quite aware of the other suspicious patrons in the room. He’d been so caught up in their earlier conversation, he hadn’t really noticed anything unusual until now. The barkeep’s simple expression never seemed to change, his stiff, awkward movements seeming to have no purpose. Liam was a master at reading people, but there was nothing in the man’s eyes to read. The barkeep was hollow, empty—an animated shell of a man with no soul to speak of.

  Liam glanced to a group of three men standing in the corner. Seeming no different than Xavier’s puppet, they turned as one, artificial grins appearing at the same time. Their looks were chilling, as if invisible fingers pushed up their cheekbones, stretching their lips so they formed into wickedly exaggerated grins. Normal face muscles should not have been able to form those synthetic expressions.

  “We have to go now!” Liam repeated, far more urgently this time. Also seeing the twisted perversions of nature masquerading as people, the hunter and Xavier leapt from their seats. The four of them ran for the exit. Eerie grinning faces followed, swaying with each clumsy, drunken step. Blasting through the swinging doors, they turned but stopped short of their destination. Their mounts and wagon alike were surrounded.

  “We will have to find another way out of here,” Liam said, pulling a dagger from inside his shirt. “Here,” he said, giving it to Viola. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but whatever happens I won’t have you defenseless.” She reluctantly accepted the dagger, tentatively holding it away from her body as if he’d just handed her a snake. “This way,” he said, grabbing Viola by the sleeve.