“Connor, do you know who this vampire is?”
“Aye, it seems someone went out of their way ta find old Timmy McDonovan.” The bitterness at which he said the name was almost to the point of scathing. “One of our more foolish brothers years ago thought the old hermit was a Druid and turned him inta a vampire. Turns out he is just a fraud and a whelp.”
This struck me as good news. “So he is not that dangerous?”
“Oh he is extremely dangerous. Some of the concoctions he has engineered over the past three decades have done a number to our quaint and quiet countryside.” His attention went to Fergus. “Did ye happen ta spy any traps along the way?”
The Red rubbed his facial hair while thinking. “Nothin’ I’d say outta the ordinary, but I’d been more focused on fittin’ in and stayin’ silent.”
So the path down to the witches could be littered with traps. Had Fergus had the good fortune to miss them all? “Knowing what we do now, we can take the fight to them. Kristie, can you engage the witches?”
She pulled out a sleek silver sword from the scabbard on her back.. “It’d be my pleasure to rid the world of a few more of them.”
“Good. Bernard, Fergus, the three of us will handle the Dullahan while Connor takes care of his imposter Druid.” This was just going to be like the standoff in the desert with Warren Tucker. “Show no mercy to any one foolish enough to align with Jonathan.”
Fergus and Bernard transformed and the rest of us followed the two wolves down. Fergus took us along the same path he used to get to the bottom and sure enough there were no traps. At the last little bend, his hairy canine face turned around and showed his teeth. It was time to fight.
Running in front of the werewolves, we charged into the open space, catching the witches and Timmy McDonovan by surprise. The Dullahan was our target and it sprang to life the moment we entered the open. Fergus and Bernard were behind me and we broke off and headed straight for the daemon.
It targeted me with its opening volley of attacks. The awful mouth in the middle of the chest plate opened and Hellfire raged out. I had to push the limits of my own speed to avoid the fiery balls of pure evil.
With its attention to me, the two wolves threw themselves on to its back. The clattering of claws against metal was thunderous, but I do not believe the wolves could break through. While still shooting fire at me, it reached around and grabbed both Reds, tossing them aside like toddlers. Whatever the Dullahan’s mission was, it must have involved me because it did not follow up against the wolves.
A scream took my attention away just for a minute. Looking behind me, Kristie had already killed one of the witches, impaling her through the back and then swiftly beheading her. The scream came from the other young one, possibly a sister to the slain witch. The older witch was nowhere to be seen.
I could not continue to watch, I had my own problems. Rolling out of the way, the large broadsword cleaved the ground, creating a fissure between myself and the daemon. Steam poured from the wound in the ground, created by the sheer amount of Pit energy this thing held.
Another sound rocked the valley – this was an explosion. Falling rock knocked me off my feet and a cloud of dust obscured my vision. Could that have been the working of the Druid?
“Connor ye blight! I’m gonna kill ye and take me rightful place as King of Ireland!”
I did not recognize that voice, so I assumed it was Timmy McDonovan. I did recognize the response. “Ye are a fool McDonovan, one I allowed to live for far too long. Tonight is the night ye meet the maker!”
I saw two outlines collide in the dust cloud. Punches and kicks were being thrown liberally, with the thinner vampire getting the better end of the exchange. The larger shape could not keep up with the speed and was beginning to get a substantial beating. As the area began to clear up, I saw Connor grab Timmy by the neck and pull with all of his might. It is never a pleasant sight to see a vampire pull the head off their victim’s body.
The body of the imposter Druid fell to the ground in a clump. With victory in hand, Conner never had time to move as the Dullahan moved in quickly and scooped him up. He dropped his entire body into the fiery pit that was his mouth and closed it. Then, like the primal predator it was, the mouth opened again and spit out the bones of the former Ambassador to Ireland.
Chapter 25
Pan was getting away. The little vampire was running for his life towards the forest and away from the fight brewing. I made an attempt to go after him, but Caroline, the Silver wolf, cut me off. The Warg was itching for a fight with her, not caring about my personal vendetta against Pan.
I snarled and bore my teeth, trying to intimidate her. Whatever power the Orc Chief had over her wasn’t going to let her back down. Instead, she took my challenge and issued one of her own. One last glance of Pan showed him about to disappear into the vast sea of trees.
A giant hand swept down and picked up the wolf blocking my path. Marko the troll looked down at me, “GO!” The Silver in his grasp bit into his finger and he flung her to the far side of camp.
“Listen to the troll!” Isa delivered a perfectly placed roundhouse kick to the large Alpha circling her. “The two of us will deal with the wolves and the Orc Chief!”
I tried to give a smile, but I’m sure I looked more feral than happy, and took off into the woods. The little vampire didn’t give off a scent to track, but his panicked movements gave off enough noise to keep me on the right track. He was moving fast, burning up the trail.
The other problem was I wasn’t used to giving chase in this form. It was still awkward and unnatural for me to be running on four legs. I tripped over roots and was missing step placements; it was really slowing me down. I needed help and had an idea of who to turn too.
Internally (while still trying to chase Pan, I deserve credit for this), “You gotta help me here.”
The daemon, whose presence I could feel, said nothing in return. There was a shift though to its mood; it was curious.
So I continued my plea. “I know this ain’t your dream situation, being part of a dark curse that got you stuck with me. Hell, you’re not the only one who’s a bit pissed.”
A voice spoke, in that unfamiliar language, yet there was no question in my understanding. When did I learn ancient daemon tongue? “The sword used in the attempt on your life held my soul. I do not understand the transference.”
“Listen, we can chat about this later. I really need to catch that vampire we’re chasing.”
It went silent. I figured it was done with me and leaving me alone to figure this out. That’s when my body sort of went into autopilot. My faculties were intact, but I was picking up speed; my footing was a hell of a lot more sure. The Warg was helping me out.
Pan, who just moments ago was about to jump off my radar, was getting closer. Each stride I took was longer and quicker than the last. The feeling of the wind buffeting off my face was amazing. Tonight we ran with a purpose.
Hot damn, he came into view! My movements must’ve fallen to his ears because he leaped from the ground into the trees, a jump I wasn’t equipped to make. So I stayed on the ground, following below as he jumped from branch to branch. It was only a matter of time before he slipped up and fell back to me.
The chase continued for quite some time, each of us not giving ground to the other. Pan used his expertise of the island to grab vines from time to time and swing to a new path. This slowed me up on multiple occasions but the Warg’s power boosted me when I needed it. I wasn’t sure how much he had to give me so I began to contemplate how to end this. What did Neverland offer to me?
Well there was something close by and I wasn’t going to like it. My old friend the wyrm found us. Not that I really wanted it nearby, the thing was a damn menace. It gave one good long welcome shout; Pan clearly wasn’t prepared for that and fell from a tree about fifteen feet in front of me. The Warg wanted me to get to his location and finish the job, but I’d seen the wyrm up close before. I came to a stop and looked in h
is direction.
“No, no, no! Not the crocodile!”
Pan was throwing a temper-tantrum from his position. This was a tough spot; I was stuck between one dangerous vampire and an even more dangerous dragon. The head of the wyrm ripped out a cluster of trees that separated it from us. The awful maw it called a mouth bellowed a scream at us, showing off the dagger like teeth it was preparing to use. The green leathery skin looked almost impenetrable.
Whatever history it had with Pan put him in the path of killing. Maybe the little shit really pissed this thing off a time or two and it was ready to get some revenge. I couldn’t blame it; Pan just had that natural effect on people. The wyrm spun in position and used its tail like a whip, crashing down towards Pan.
The boy vampire dodged and rolled, taking off back into the undergrowth. Both me and the wyrm weren’t about to let him off the hook, so both of us took chase. The wyrm went barreling straight forward on the trail while I took a more round about approach. I wanted to stay out of sight, just in case it lost interest in Pan and came for me.
The direction we were going led us out of the forest and to a rocky pathway. I’d never seen this part of the island, but off in the distance I saw a formation that had a rather skull-like appearance to it. Pan had been running in circles, so I didn’t know if we were on the coast or in the heart of the island.
My body stopped moving of its own accord. The weird daemon language filled my head. “Powerful magic is here. I recognize the faint signature that still lingers.”
The wyrm was pursuing Pan up the pathway to the top. My eyes were directed to the base though where an opening in the rock sat almost as an afterthought. As soon as my eyes found it, a pull came over me. Something inside was calling to me.
“Ignore that feeling and go after the boy. You are not ready for what is inside.” Was there a trace of caring in that daemonic voice? How thoughtful.
I knew what – who was in there. “Oberon, the Father of Dogs.”
Here was the last obstacle I needed to face, the one who did this to me. I completely lost my care for Pan and his fate; no I wanted to confront the one who cursed my family. I was as ready as I was ever going to be. My paws dug in and I pushed forward, taking control of my movements. Thanks for worrying Warg, but this was my battle.
I didn’t even make it two steps before I was tackled. “You reckless imbecile! Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Isa, where did she come from? Still in Warg form, I couldn’t really answer, so I just growled.
“Don’t you growl at me you overgrown bag of fleas. I didn’t kill the Orc Chief and spare the wolves for myself.” I’ll be a son of a gun; she didn’t kill ‘em. “I did it for you, so don’t go in there for me.”
She didn’t know what was at stake here. I could get answers and kill the one person who above all else deserved to die. Just who the hell was he to curse my family all because my very great grandma turned his sorry ass down. Sorry Isa, but this one is personal.
I took a step and saw genuine affection in her eyes. Shit, she looked just like Liz did when I let her down with bad choices. Man why did that have to happen. My anger drained and I shifted back into a man, despite the Warg’s disappointment washing over me. Thank goodness for black magic; my dignity was intact with my clothes on.
Isa looked relieved that I didn’t go barnstorming Oberon’s sanctuary. “You had one job to do and that was to kill Pan. What happened?”
The sounds of the wyrm answered that question for me. “Something else had a beef with him. He’s bigger than me so I let him have a go.”
More yelling, this time from Pan echoed down from the top. I couldn’t really pick up what he was saying, as it was pretty much jibber-jabber. What I did pick up was the sounds of breaking rock. Where ever they were, I didn’t think it could support the weight of the wyrm.
And I was right. From above, rock fractured and broke away. The large green body of the wyrm reappeared, dropping into the canyon behind the outcrop of rock. I didn’t know if the beast could survive the fall, but luck hopefully was on our side and it took Pan with it.
That optimism was short lived. Standing there looking down at the fate of the wyrm was Peter Pan. Damnit, if you want something done right, you just need to do it yourself. Pulling out a knife, “Stay here Isa. It’s time for some good old fashioned payback, as me this time.” Damn, that came off really tough and awesome.
And then without any bravado at all, I double over in pain, clutching my stomach. How very manly of me.
Chapter 26
“Don’t squirm. After the pinch, you’ll feel a lot better.”
My eyes were still focused on where Pan was just moments ago. Damn the Warg and its incessant need for blood. “Where the hell did you get a syringe?” I couldn’t imagine this was sanitary.
I felt the jab and the pinch of the needle going into my back. “On more than one occasion I’ve been a doctor. I know how to sanitize my instruments for field use.” Yeah, that made me feel much better. “And the moment you told me the side effects of your transformation, I kept this as an emergency.”
She was right about one thing, that was what I needed. I wondered who the donor was. Maybe it was her? Well, with the Warg satisfied, I could stand up again. “Let’s try this again. You wait here and I’ll go take care of Pan.”
Shaking her head, “Go already. This is your battle.”
I couldn’t help but glance over at Oberon’s front door, one last pull for me to enter hit me. No, not yet, it was time to finish Pan once and for all. He wasn’t Jonathan, but he was damn close.
The partially covered path led up the side of the skull rock. I could smell the sweat and hear the heavy breathing of my target just ahead. Excitement ran through me like a chill on a cold winter’s day. After his dealings with the wyrm, he was probably pretty vulnerable.
I saw a ledge above the path, one that provided me with the perfect ambush point. Pan was moving fast, but I had just enough time to get up there. Right as my feet slid in, the vampire walked into view. He was panting hard and looked a mess. I could tell his only thoughts were to flee the island.
Like a falcon to its prey, I dropped down, my feet hitting his back. I drove my full weight on to him and rolled off as we hit the ground. I turned to face him, knife in hand. “It’s a damn shame your boss didn’t finish the job the first time around.”
“That’s my knife! How dare you use it!”
What a punk! “After everything you took from me, you can piss off little man.”
Shock was replaced with hatred. “You didn’t suffer nearly enough. Maybe this is the world’s way of rewarding me for being a faithful servant.”
My grip on the knife handle tightened. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a switchblade, flicking the blade out. The markings on it were very similar to the one in my hand. “If you believe that, I got some beach front property in New Mexico I’d like to sell you.”
“See Vic, that’s your problem. Everything is a quick one liner or a joke. That’s my shtick and I do it so much better.”
Quick like a fox, he lunged and slashed out at me with his switchblade. The glean from the limited light told me this metal was silver, so he wasn’t a fool. One, two slashes, both misses, but both were incredibly skilled movements. I returned a slash towards his legs, hoping to cut him and slow him down. Using an unorthodox hop, he too avoided the blow and caught me in the face with a knee.
I took a step back to regroup. “You’re a little shit, you know that?”
The same impish face I’d come to hate returned. “Jonathan and his master don’t keep me around because I’m likable.”
Annoyed, I foolishly reached out and tried to punch him in the face. He caught my fist and twisted it around, kicking me in the back. I had to pull my arm away, removing my shoulder from the socket.
My right arm hung there like a dead fish. Knowing the pain would be pretty high, I grabbed it with my other arm and pushed hard, returni
ng it to the socket. I bit my lip, drawing blood, to keep from screaming. Pan just laughed and laughed. “It’s a shame I gotta kill you. You’re an entertaining victim.”
While he tossed his knife in the air, I saw something metal sticking out of another pocket inside his jacket. I recognized the handle to that gun anywhere. Pan had Roscoe.
Using his vamp speed, he rushed me with his knife pointed at my heart. I used him momentum against him and pushed him into the rock wall. His head bounced off the unforgiving material, but I grabbed it again and reintroduced his forehead to the same spot. With my knife in my other hand, I brought it down hard into his shoulder blade.
The silver dug in deep, causing Pan to scream this time. Mocking him, I laughed just as he did. “Maybe it’s a shame you gotta die. I’m enjoying kicking the tar outta you.”
An elbow was my reward for my arrogance, right to the stomach. Using the space he created, he took off back up the path to the top. Damnit, he was trying to get away again.
About twenty feet up the path, I was greeted to a boot to the face. He swung off a hand grip from the side and got me good. It wasn’t enough to take me off my feet, but I was seeing stars. I had just enough sense to grab out and intercept his hand holding the knife, or old Vic Inglewood would’ve been a shish kabob.
I couldn’t hold his strength off for long, so I diverted it away from me and let go. “You just don’t have the smarts to just die do you wolf?”
“My momma always said I was too stupid and stubborn for my own good.” Well maybe not stupid, but it was probably inferred.
He took his time, stepping towards me. His switchblade was a few inches shorter than my knife, so I tried to take advantage with a couple of parries like Roderick had taught me. It worked, keeping his at arm’s reach while I configured a plan.
He was fast, but his footwork was atrocious. Roderick had taught me the proper way to fight with a sword, but apparently Pan had skipped that class. Maybe I could trip him up. I faked like I was going to slash low at his knees and brought my arm up quickly. He got all twisted, blocking the blow but losing his balance in the process.
The Curse of Oberon (The Inglewood Chronicles Book 3) Page 13
