Primeval

by Eden Redd

  “If we push on, we might get there right at sunset,” Val said, her voice confident.

  Lightning flashed and barely a second later, thunder rumbled.

  Val stopped in her tracks, as did Will and Morgan. Rain poured from the heavens and the wind caused tree branches to flail.

  “Or, we could make camp,” Val said with a defeated edge.

  Will nodded before he looked to Morgan. The man with black eyes stared up at the raining sky, water washing over him and a pleasant smile on his lips.

  The shelter was created in record time, a fire burning and warming their cold bodies. The moment the sky darkened into night, the sounds of rain and moaning ghouls filled the forest. Will lay in his bed, staring at the stone ceiling and something else cried out with a monstrous roar. A chill ran up his spine before Val climbed into bed next to him, licking at his neck.

  The next day, the three of them broke down the shelter, Will rubbing his neck. Morgan saw puncture wounds before they sealed up after eating a breakfast of cooked mutton. Shelter broken down and bellies full, the trio continued their walk through the forest, the sun shining bright.

  The scent of wet forest washed over the three as they travelled. Will knew in about two hours they would be home. He found himself excited, their journey coming to an end. Images of Milly running out to hug him gave him a little extra energy. Val walked a little slower, Morgan at her side to make sure she didn’t fall over. The sun burned bright in the clear blue sky and the pale woman moaned her disgust for the ball of fire.

  Will’s eyes widened a little as he felt himself wake up from his inner thoughts. Something black stuck out from the leafy ground. The rain knocked leaves off trees, covering the ground in green except for a small patch of orange, yellow and a hint of black. Stepping closer, the patch stood out against the emerald canvas of the forest floor. The black item was triangular but the end was twisted into a bent point.

  Val and Morgan looked down at the patch as Will stepped closer. The player knelt down, hand out. He took hold of the strange item and lifted it up. To his surprise, he knew what it was, a black and twisted witch’s hat like from some forgotten holiday. Turning it in his hand, he couldn’t understand why it was here in the middle of the forest.

  Will’s gaze turned from the hat to the orange and yellow leaves covering the ground. Something lumpy was just under the blanket of leaves. Eyes scanning, the player nearly fell back as a gray, pale face lay, surrounded by leaves. An instant later, eyes opened and looked up to Will’s shocked expression.

  Val and Morgan were to Will’s sides, copper sword drawn in one hand and claws extending in another. The smooth, feminine face stared at the trio before a wicked smirk appeared. Rising, a woman sat up with long, flowing orange hair, a black leather top holding her oversized breasts. Pale gray skin glowed in the morning light as leaves fell away. Stretching her arms up, she closed her eyes and yawned before letting her arms fall to her side.

  Will was back to his feet and stepping around to face the woman, Val and Morgan at his sides. The woman gave a sultry smile with half closed eyes before holding a hand up toward Will.

  “You have my hat,” the woman said with glowing ease.

  Will looked down at the hat and instantly felt a little rude. He handed it to the strange woman and she took it happily. Securing it to her head, she tilted the rim just the right way before leaning back and holding herself up with her arms, eyeing the three people staring at her.

  “Thank you,” the woman smirked with a devilish edge.

  The trio remained silent, unsure what to say or do.

  The woman rolled her shoulders, closing her eyes and letting out a seductive hum. When she finished, she sat up with a perky edge and held out her hand to Will.

  “My name is Stella. Pleased to meet you. Now, would you be a darling and help me up? I think this is where our origin story begins,” Stella said with a white smile and a wink.

  Ten

  Will looked down at the outstretched hand to the strange woman. Val and Morgan stood at the ready, unsure what to expect.

  Stella’s smile grew wider. “It’s okay, I only bite with permission,” she said with a breathy whisper.

  Seeing the woman’s infectious smile, Will found his concern melting away as he reached down and took her hand. With a small pull, Stella was to her feet and doing a tiny jump, her breasts bouncing slightly. Val’s eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms.

  “Thank you. You’re a gentleman,” Stella blew a kiss before spinning around and taking a deep breath.

  The trio watched as the gray skinned woman in a witch’s hat twirled with her arms out and chin in. Eyes closed, she took another deep breath before slowing her spin and facing the three people staring at her.

  “It’s so nice here,” The witch woman said with a dizzy tone before eyeing each person present in turn. “I told you my name so you have to tell me yours.”

  “Will Asher.”

  “Morgan Strange.”

  Val hesitated as she studied the buxom woman, “Val Alucard.”

  “Lovely names. I wish I had a last name like you three, but alas, I’m simply Stella, the Witch Angel.”

  Will’s concern flipped into amusement. “Witch Angel?”

  Stella nodded. “Yes. My memories are a little foggy, but I think I come from a faraway land. It’s hard to remember which is so unlike me.”

  “There has been some memory loss from everyone here,” Will smiled.

  “It sounds like I’m in good company,” Stella said before holding out her hand with an open palm.

  The witch tapped her boot as the three glanced to each other. Stella hummed, waiting as if something was supposed to happen. Thirty seconds drifted by and her humming stopped and she looked to her hand.

  “This has never happened to me before,” She said as she flexed her fingers.

  “What’s supposed to be happening?” Will asked.

  Stella let her hand drop to her side and gave a slight pout. “My broom. It’s supposed to appear when I call it. Sometimes it just appears in my hand but if it’s close by, it will fly into my hand. It wouldn’t do to not have my broom.”

  “I feel a little lost,” Will said as he scratched his head.

  Val’s eyes narrowed before a sardonic smirk appeared. “I don’t remember much about my previous life, but I know what a Witch Angel is. They are supernatural beings that help ferry the dead to the next world. They hunt down ghosts, spirits, and the dead who refuse to move on.”

  Stella gave a slight bow,” Circle gets the square.”

  “What are you doing here?” Will’s amused expression turning sharp like a cobra’s gaze.

  “Hell, if I know,” Stella giggled. “Last thing I remember, I was taking a nap for a hundred years and here I am. I can’t remember anything else except for weird dreams where snakes and dead guys are trying to get in my G-string.”

  Stella looked down at her body and her lip wrinkled in dismay. “This isn’t my normal body. My skin was alabaster white.” She took hold of a lock of hair, “And my hair was black. I didn’t color it this way.” Stella then looked at her nails, “Orange nail polish?”

  Will lifted a hand to his mouth, covering his smile as Stella looked down at her black leggings.

  “I don’t wear pants! I wear a sexy G-string with a little candy corn pointed down. Is this Hell?”

  Stella turned and looked at her black leather footwear, “Boots are nice though.”

  Val spoke up, “I think I’ve ran into your kind before…back home.”

  Stella huffed before hands were on shapely hips. “Maybe. I have run into your kind before. Great lovers, but not dead enough for me to take to new worlds.”

  Will tried to regain control of the conversation. “Stella, this world is called Jova. We are new to it. It’s not safe to be out here in the forests, especially after dark. Would you like to join us on our way to my home?”

  Stella’s sickly-sweet smile melted hearts. “My
schedule seems clear. Plus, you seem like a man who knows what he likes, umm, I mean, take charge.”

  “We are just going to take her with us?” Val said sternly.

  Will gave Val a warm smirk. “You’re the expert on Witch Angels. Do you think she’s a threat?”

  Val’s mouth opened and then closed. Stella stepped over, slid an arm over Val’s shoulder and held her close, hand up and finger out.

  “You know I’m not a threat. We can be selfie-sisters!” Stella smiled as she looked to her hand as if it were holding a phone and made a clicking sound.

  Morgan couldn’t hold back a smile and Will shook his head. Val put a hand on Stella and pushed her away. The gray-skinned witch stumbled dramatically and fixed her hat.

  “Selfie stepsisters?” The witch said with a cheeky grin.

  Val let the embers of annoyance cool before she lifted her chin, “You’re not a threat to the living, but it is odd you just show up while we were heading home.”

  Stella’s face became a blank mask as she stepped closer to Will. The witch lifted a finger and ran it along his jawline, biting her lower lip before releasing with a seductive hiss.

  “Sometimes, fate likes to put us where we are needed most,” Stella said just above a whisper, her eyes glowing for a moment before turning dark again.

  Will gulped before he regained his composure and stepped back. “This is all new to us and I wouldn't feel right if we left someone out here when night comes. We can sort it out back home. We just have another hour, I think.”

  The player eyed Stella, “If you’re still interested?”

  Stella flung her arms around Will and pulled his face directly into her cleavage. “I would be delighted,” she squealed.

  Will floundered for a moment. He instantly felt how strong she was and for a brief moment, he couldn’t break away. Muscles relaxed and he pulled back to Stella giving him a warm grin. Morgan looked away and whistled while Val’s eyes shot daggers at the buxom witch angel.

  “Lead the way, stud,” Stella said as she slapped Will on the ass.

  Will raised an eyebrow before he began leading the group. Morgan followed. Val shot Stella a hard gaze but the witch simply winked and licked her lips. Val started marching and Stella followed all of them, hands out to the sides and skipping over the leafy forest floor.

  The gentle sounds of the forest sang on like a distant melody. Will looked ahead as time marched on. Morgan and Val were mostly silent but it was Stella humming unknown tunes and skipping. The player had to admit, she was funny and had a body like a porn star, but there was something else there. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but on some deep level, he felt she was trustworthy. A distant feeling washed over him of playing games and simulations. He might have been a little more put off if he just met the witch angel, but meeting Val and Morgan only cemented the fact that there were all kinds of odd people here in Jova. It didn’t bother him in the slightest that she was a little over the top, but with survival their main concern, he wouldn’t have felt right if she stayed out in the forests.

  A shaft of light touched Will’s eyes and when the brilliance faded away, he saw a gray wall and smoke rising from a chimney. Heart beating like a machine gun, he broke into a run. He was only gone for about a week but he didn't think he'd missed home so much.

  Val and Morgan quickly followed, darting after Will. Stella’s eyes widened before she skipped a little faster. The forest blurred past Will until he slowed down in front of the double doors. The sounds of cows and sheep rose up as a column of smoke snaked into the sky. Stepping closer to the doors, he gave them a hard knock before cupping his hands and shouting “Milly!”

  Nothing happened as Morgan and Val reached Will’s sides. Stella soon arrived, holding her hat as she looked up to the modest home just over the wall. Will was ready to shout again when the lock slid and the doors swung open. Milly beamed as she launched herself forward, arms wrapping around Will’s neck. There was a happy squeal before she smashed her lips to his.

  Morgan and Val smiled politely.

  “She’s cute!” Stella said as she eyed the ram-woman’s hair and wanting to touch it.

  Milly pulled back, staring into Will’s eyes before she shifted her gaze to the newcomers.

  Will smiled as he kept his hands on her hips. “Milly, this is Morgan, Val and Stella. They are going to stay with us for a while.”

  Will turned to the group, “Everyone, this is Milly.”

  “Pleased to meet you,” Morgan smiled.

  “Charmed,” Val smiled.

  Stella skipped over and took Milly’ hands into hers. “You’re so cute! I want to touch your hair!”

  Milly grinned. “You can! I crafted a comb and have been combing it every day.”

  Will couldn’t hold back the happy grin as Stella ran her hands through Milly’s long curly hair. Val looked past Milly and Stella, her expression remaining blank.

  “Let’s get inside. I’m sure there is a lot to talk about,” Will said and ushered the witch and Milly into the compound.

  Will’s eyes widened as he stepped in and looked around. The house and mine entrance were just as he left them, but the gardens had wooden fences around them. Several cows and sheep roamed the walled-in piece of land and not too far from the house was a pond with reeds and bamboo rising up along some of the edges.

  The young man made his way to the pond and looked down. Stone made up the bottom, creating a concave shape, but it was wide enough for several people to sit in it comfortably. A hint of movement caught his attention and small fish swam about.

  Milly stepped to Will’s side, looking down with a knowing grin. “It took some work, but I dug out the area and placed stones along the bottom. I made some wooden barrels and gathered some plant life and fish. The bamboo can be used to craft paper and we can gather some fish once they are a little bigger.”

  “You did this by yourself?”

  Milly nodded. “It was some work, but I wanted to surprise you,” the horned woman said before turning and pointing to the animals. “I lured them in with seeds and grass. I haven’t made a pen for them yet. I did see some wild pigs, but I wanted to wait until we had more carrots. We have a breeding stock of sheep and cows and I have sheared some of the sheep, adding their wool to the supply chest.”

  Milly eyed Will with stars in her eyes. “I’m so happy you returned. I missed you so much.”

  “I missed you too,” Will smiled before holding her close and kissing her.

  Val looked around at the small home and animals running around. “How quaint,” she said with an unenthusiastic whisper.

  Morgan eyed the walls surrounding the property, drinking it all in. Stella knelt down as a small sheep trotted closer to her. The witch bent her head forward and the sheep touched its head to hers with a slight snuggle.

  Will broke away from Milly and looked to everyone with a warm smile. “It’s not much, but it’s home for now.”

  “I need to make more chairs!” Milly said as she bounced with glee.

  ***

  The sun reached its zenith as bodies moved. Will and Milly gave a tour before they showed the group how the Crafting Benches worked. Morgan was interested, asking questions. Val listened silently, the sunlight causing her shoulders to sag. Stella was distracted most of the time, having to pet any sheep that wandered too close.

  Milly began crafting chairs and a larger table. Once created, the group moved them into the home. Will took an axe to the smaller table, shattering it into chunks and each chunk slipping into his inventory. Chairs slid into place and there was enough room and seating for everyone. Milly was quick to tell everyone there was plenty of water as she showed three full barrels along the outside of the modest home with tubes leading from the roof. The recent rain filled them to overflowing so she stored canteens of water in the supply chest.

  Will made his way over to the supply chest and looked in, seeing that there was more copper and stone. Behind him, he could hear Milly giving
them some last bits of information about the land. He was about to turn and join them when a sudden thought invaded his mind. Eyes turning to the Soul Casket under the loft, he remembered he had soul stones he acquired.

  The invading thoughts marched on, whispering designs he daydreamed about in his quiet moments. The lizard creature and the slime echoed along his mind. Jova was a new world and why couldn’t he make it a better place? Much like when Milly was woken from her old form, why couldn’t he do the same with others? They could help defend, farm, and keep Milly company.

  A dark thought clouded his mind’s eyes. Will knew he had to recover the other Idol. Finding one increased his strength and having another would only help to make sure he could defend everyone from monsters running wild through the forests. The thoughts crawled along his mind, digging in like worms. He tasted what it meant to be free, but a deeper feeling urged him to be there for others in a way he never was before.

  Not wanting to waste any time, Will moved to the Crafting Bench. Taking out stone, he placed them in a pattern. The stone melted together to form a second Soul Casket. Picking it up, he stepped over to the one already under the loft. Placing it down, it grew to full size, parallel to the previous one. Calling up his inventory, he took hold of two soul stones. He placed one in each before standing up and looking to his inventory again. He knew he needed to add a gemstone. It was easy when he only had a piece of quartz for Milly but now, he had five of each one as far as he knew.

  A memory of the lizard creature touching angel wings floated through his thoughts. Hand over his inventory, he let it glide until one of them felt right. Hand hovering over an opal, he picked it up and placed it down in the slot below the lizard creature’s soul stone.

  Moving over to the second Soul Casket, he let his hand hover over his inventory until it stopped over a sapphire. Plucking it from the slot, he placed it in the slot under the slime’s soul stone.

  One hand on each soul casket lid, Will pressed down until they closed. There was a small flash and timers appeared, indicating a twelve-hour countdown. Will smiled before he remembered the soul stone from the Stalker. The way it stared at him when it was dying, sent a chill up and down his spine. He wanted to know more and waking one of them up was the best way to get answers.