by David Belau
“I know, I know…”
“It’s up to the people…”
“I know Sederah!” I cut him off. “Unless they ask for my help…I don’t have the authority,” I said in a disdainful voice. “But what am I supposed to do?” My voice was louder than I intended when my eyes met his. “I’m not going to let them take my town.”
He looked down. “I don’t know what you should do.”
My gaze returned to the fire. “Sorry. I’m frustrated.”
“It’s fine. You love your town. I can see that. If the people start requesting your service more, we can send reinforcements. But it has to hit a certain level.”
“I understand.”
It was quiet again between us for a while. We both pondered the weight of the situation. There were no easy answers.
“Listen, I think I’m going to head back to the city tomorrow. You’re doing much better,” said Sederah.
The next day I helped Sederah load his things onto his Harley. When it was finally time for him to leave, we shook hands and he looked me in the eye. “Tsayad. I need you to listen to me. I’m concerned for you.” I started to say something but he stopped me. “No, listen to me. Something is going on here. Something we’ve never seen. If you confront them again, I don’t think you’ll make it. And I also can’t guarantee there will be any help for you.” His gaze was intense.
“That’s up to the people,” I said.
Sederah nodded. “Take care of yourself Tsayad. Be careful.” With that, he started the bike and pointed it back toward the direction of the city.
It was quiet when he left. I felt very alone at that moment. I wasn’t sure if there were lingering effects from the tapiyl, but I was feeling very uneasy; vulnerable even. If the tapiyl was still affecting me, I needed to take care of myself before I got back to hunting. I was getting numerous calls for my services that night, but decided to take the night off.
I pulled my blade from its sheath and grimaced when I saw small specks of rust. Taking some steel wool, I cleaned the rust off and oiled the steel. The edge was still sharp from when I last sharpened it— when I was attacked. That memory made me feel even more vulnerable— scared even. I was in sorry shape. I shook it off and retrieved my 12 gauge. I cleaned the action and gave it a fresh coat of oil. Cycling a few shells through it to check its function, it greeted me with a solid chunk-chunk. Somehow, it made me feel better. By this time, the night was nearly over, but I was receiving a large number of calls. I decided to head into town and see if I could handle some action tonight.
My first stop was the young boy I’d helped a while back. He was cowering in his bed again, a lazy spirit floating around the room bumping into things. He’d grown a little since I had last seen him, but he still looked so helpless in that big bed. I felt a fire light in my soul and adrenaline surged through my muscles. In that moment, seeing the fear in that little boy, all my zeal returned.
I snatched the demon out of the air in one quick swipe. Its eyes bulged from their sockets as I squeezed. I smiled. “Daddy’s home!” I tossed it into the air and in one swift motion, cut it in half with my blade. The pieces fell to the floor with a squishy yet satisfying thud.
I spent the night vanquishing vermin like old times. Something was different though. The Sokhen were ever present, watching me. I tried ignoring them as I took care of the lesser demons, but always felt their presence. The town was in rough shape, too. More buildings had been burned, more graffiti was present. That sign of the demon head seemed to be everywhere I looked. A dark cloud had covered the town in my absence and I could sense a weight on the entire populace. Men’s eyes were downcast and showed no trace of hope. I wondered if my small contributions were enough to turn the tide. Even the trees seemed to bend under an invisible burden, their leaves flecked with disease.
Something else was different this time. I was getting calls to take out Aluf. Even though I was feeling better, just the thought of confronting him again sent dread through my veins. I knew that I could not do it on my own, unless I was really lucky— and luck lately had not been on my side. I had to wonder though, were things beginning to turn my way?
Over the next week, I continued hunting at night and getting stronger. The Sokhen watched me, but never made a move. As the week wore on, I was getting more and more calls for Aluf’s head. By the end of the week, it was clear that I was going to have to do something. I still did not know if the calls were enough to bring in reinforcements or not. I had not heard from Sederah since he left.
The beginning of the next week, I sat at my campfire plotting what was next. I had to confront Aluf. The calls had reached a fever-pitch and I was compelled to go. The problem was that I knew it was suicide. Aluf had let me live twice now, but his presence and the number of Sokhen in town now showed that his power had grown. He might just take me out. I’d be the guy all the apprentices whispered about. The guy that the demons had overcome. The problem for me was that I loved my town; I had to do something. Aluf had bent the town under his weight. I finally resigned myself to what was my destiny. I would confront Aluf for the love of my town and its people. I was more than likely walking into my death, something that hadn’t happened to a hunter for years, but I could not sit by and let this happen. I decided then that this was the night.
The day was solemn as I prepared for the coming night. I made sure my blade was sharp and I had plenty of shells for the 12 gauge. My Dodge received special attention. I cleaned out the carburetor and adjusted the idle jets. She was running good. I felt like I was about to say goodbye to an old friend and I needed to leave on good terms.
Night fell, and the calls for Aluf started coming in. I took my seat behind the steering wheel. I looked at my camp. I looked at the skins drying on boards. I let out a heavy sigh and fired the small block. Its roar echoed off the foothills as I headed toward town.
Word was that Aluf was having some sort of gathering at Mayor Jones’s house. I headed there through town. I passed the burned-out buildings and graffiti covered walls; I passed the lake with the park, right next to downtown; I passed the house where I protected the little boy during the night; would I see him again? I headed up to the nicer side of town where the mayor lived. There were many cars out front, so I had to park down the street. The main gathering was in the backyard, so I made my way around back.
The mayor’s house was on a large one-acre lot, so I was able to hop the fence without being seen. From behind some bushes, I surveyed the scene. The party was happening inside the house, with only a few people outside on the deck, smoking cigarettes. For me, however, the party seemed to be happening in the yard. The crowd was dark, not just in color, but light seemed to fall on them and then vanish. It was a sea of leathery wings, claws and grotesque flesh. There were about a hundred demons all gathered here. Aluf stood on the deck addressing the gathering. His appearance was clearly visible to me now.
For just a moment, I panicked. My mind remembered the torment from my last encounter. My heart pounded and I broke out in a sweat.
“Be strong!” I said to myself. “This is it. Stay calm. Fight well.”
He stood at least eight feet tall and thick. His head was as big around as his chest, and seemed to sit directly on his shoulders. The hairless skin of his body glistened with sweat and his eyes were small, black, and deep-set. He had a set of horns that curved out of his skull like a crown. I took a breath to calm my nerves.
“Our numbers have grown strong,” I heard him say. “All obstacles have been removed from our path and no one can stop us.” The demons let out a whoop. “The hunter is gone. We have the youth on our side. We have the mayor.” He paused. “So, settle in. Our boy Damien will keep this town depressed for years to come. This is our town now.” A sickening song rose from their ranks, it could have been described as joyful, but knowing the source it was quite the opposite.
The odds were completely against me. I might be able to take out ten or so, but by that time, I’d be swarmed and
torn apart. It was hopeless, but I still needed a plan. I could try to flank them to the side and maybe get a clear shot of Aluf before I was overrun. There was less cover on the side, and I might be seen before I was in position. My only other option would be to come up straight in, from behind. Aluf would see me right away, before the hoard. This could be an advantage. I could address him before I met my fate. I decided on the second option and stood, walking out into the open directly in front of Aluf. The crowd between us faced his direction.
“I’ll be setting up ranks with commanders who will go out from here in the future, but tonight we…” his eyes locked on mine and he stopped. He seemed surprised at first, but then his eyes seemed to grin. I felt the screaming in my head start. I started to put my hand to my forehead but stopped, fighting the pain.
The hoard began to fidget and murmur, not sure why he had stopped. Some, noticing his gaze, turned and faced me. “Well, it looks like we have a special guest tonight.” The rest of the hoard turned to face me. Some sneered, some looked frightened but after realizing their numbers, looked smug. “I thought we’d taken care of this problem. You just don’t know when to stop, do you?”
I fought the pressure in my head and kept my hand on the hilt of my blade. It was time to say my piece. “Aluf! Your grasp on this town is not as secure as you think.” The screaming in my head intensified and I paused to steel my nerves. “You’ve done a lot of damage, but I still have many clients here. They will not stand for this takeover of their town.” I felt anger raging from Aluf as if it were a physical manifestation.
Laughter. First from Aluf, then rising from the others. “Fool! You overestimate your importance! Your clients are nothing. We have the government. We have the youth. Even the police. What can you do by yourself?” Another round of laughter rose from their ranks and the smaller demons threw ridicule at me. Shablul, the fat demon in charge of the homeless camp, hovered on tiny wings just in front of me. “You can’t bother us anymore, you’re completely impotent now,” he laughed. “Not so tough now!” His gurgled laughing sounded like coughing.
For just a moment, my ear caught a familiar noise and I couldn’t hear the demons cackling. It sounded like the blat of an old Harley.
“Fellow soldiers,” Aluf got their attention again. “There is a legend from long ago about a hunter being killed by the hoard. It is not fiction. Our numbers are great enough here. How would you like to be legendary? Brethren will speak of us for years to come.” The mood in the hoard seemed to change at these words. As one, they took a step toward me—bloodlust in their eyes.
I felt strangely calm. The screaming in my mind seemed to ease and my muscles strengthened. “You are making a grave mistake, Aluf,” I said with greater authority. The demons stopped, unsure.
“You have no authority here!” I could sense rage boiling in Aluf at those words.
“Kill him!” he growled. The demons advanced, but I held my ground. The sound I heard earlier was growing louder and I felt my body and mind strengthen in resolve.
Suddenly, the back fence exploded into splinters as ten motorcycles roared into the yard. Sederah led a group of hunters from the city. Our eyes met and he nodded. They dismounted and stood in formation with me, weapons ready.
“I wasn’t sure you were coming,” I said to Sederah.
“The mayor’s slip up a few weeks back opened up some eyes, brother.”
We faced the demons as one, ready to fight.
Aluf looked less sure of himself. “What are you waiting for? Kill them!”
Shablul was still hovering near me, but was less cocky now. I decided to take him down a notch. Grabbing his feet, I spun, swinging his fat, gelatinous body around and into the face of another demon. His body wrapped around the demon’s head and burst open, splattering its contents onto the crowd. Before the other demon could get his bearings, I punched him in the mouth, knocking him into the others. Another swift movement and my blade was in my hand, the steel ringing and flashing. The other hunters had drawn, and went to work on the hoard, their blades spinning and chopping through the crowd. It was a melee of detached demon parts and screams. Somehow, their number was a disadvantage as they pushed into each other and didn’t have room to make an advance. We worked our way through the crowd, not leaving any alive. The stench of demon blood filled the air. I’d need a shower after this.
The crowd was still thick, but I noticed that we were getting close to Aluf. His eyes locked on mine, filled with hate. He seemed smaller now. I ran and leapt onto the top of the mass of demon bodies separating us, took two strides and leapt toward him, blade high, ready to come down on his form. Before my blade split his face in half, he produced his own steel and our blades came together with a crack and shower of sparks. He staggered backward as I gained my footing. The fight was raging all around us, but I could only see him now. Before he could gain footing, I came down with another blow that he deflected. He countered, and I had to quickly deflect his attack. His free hand swung at me but while ducking the swing, he spun and kicked me in the chest sending me reeling backward against the house. He marched toward me readying to strike again. Before I could stand, I deflected a blow from his blade and had to roll out of the way to avoid another.
I was starting to feel like this fight was not going how I wanted it to. He had the upper hand now that I couldn’t get back on my feet. If I couldn’t get a break soon, this might be the end.
The carcass of a demon, spinning off the blade of another hunter, flew between us and it gave me just enough time to roll and get back to my feet. I brought another blow to him and he spun to avoid it, while bringing his blade back, slapping the steel out of my hand. I stood there with my hands empty and my back against the wall. Nope, this was not going well.
Aluf rose higher and gurgled a sickening laugh. “You said I have no authority here? Even if your friends kill me, your head is mine!” He wound up to swing the blade one last time just as my hand found the grip of my 12 gauge. In one motion, I brought it up, pulled the trigger and blew a hole clean through him. For a moment, he looked at me in shock then down at his new perforation.
“You forgot, Aluf. This is my town.” The life left his eyes, and his body fell at my feet with a dull thud. It was over. Relief swept over me like a breath of fresh air.
I looked up from his body to see my brothers finishing the last of the hoard. Bodies littered the back yard. Finally, there was silence.
“Tsayad!” It was Sederah, he was walking toward me.
“I didn’t think anyone was coming,” I said when he reached me.
He laughed. “Like I said before, the mayor’s outburst a few weeks back opened up some eyes. Calls started coming in— enough for us to come.”
“What outburst?”
Sederah looked toward the sky, recalling. “It was a town hall meeting of some sort. He was giving a speech and started throwing a fit. He was calling out people left and right.”
I remembered that speech. “That was me,” I looked down at the lifeless body, “Aluf was pulling the strings on him. I tried to clear the place on my own, but there were too many.”
Sederah put his arm on my shoulder. “That’s when they put the tapiyl in your ear.” I looked him in the eye and nodded.
I shook my head. “It was bad. I could barely function.”
“You were out of your mind for a while.”
There was silence between us and we looked out over the carnage from the evening. The other hunters were making sure all the demons were deceased, and began cleaning up their weapons.
Sederah turned toward me again. “What were you doing here alone tonight?”
“My clients were calling to get rid of Aluf.”
“But there’s no way you could have taken him alone.”
I nodded. Sederah’s expression slowly changed when he realized the weight I was carrying. “You were walking into your death. You didn’t know we were coming. Why?”
I turned and looked at the houses down
the street. “I love this town. I was charged to look over it.”
Our conversation was cut short when we started hearing a commotion from inside the mayor’s house. We both went to the window to see what was happening. Mayor Jones was visibly drunk, ranting and jabbing his finger in the air. His wife stood at his side, her hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down. From what we could tell, he was upset at someone at the party for betraying him. As we watched, he picked up a beer bottle and threw it at a man in a suit. The man dodged it and then charged the Mayor, knocking him to the ground.
I looked at Sederah. “It looks like this mess might be taking care of itself. There are enough people at this party to tell the whole town in short order.”
“How did he get elected if he’s like this?”
“He was different when Aluf was controlling him. Very persuasive and well spoken.”
We turned from the window and walked back out into the yard toward the motorcycles. Sederah sat on his, as the other hunters also got ready to leave. “Tsayad, it’s not good for you to be alone. You’re brave and you’re strong, but you need help. We’ll be sending you an apprentice soon.” With that, he kicked over the engine and it barked to life. “Take care of yourself, brother.” We shook hands and then they were off. I walked back to my old faithful Dodge and slid behind the wheel. With a turn of the key, the small block bellowed to life and I headed back to camp.
The next month was interesting around town. News of Mayor Jones’ tantrums and drunkenness had reached the media. It was the talk of the town. Soon, he was subject to a recall and ended up stepping down from his position. A group of local businessmen, who hadn’t been aligned with him, made sure he took up residency in another town far from here. The Sohken left as quietly as they had come, and things started to get back to normal.
The scars from Mayor Jones’ leadership, or should I say Aluf’s leadership, remained for a while. The graffiti and burned buildings took several months to get cleaned up. A group of local youth formed a group to help beautify the town. I made sure they were not hindered. The economic scars took longer to heal, but with good leadership in place, I was confident that things would turn around.
