Part 12 (2/2)

The front door stood slightly ajar and swung open at my slightest touch. Pulling my pistol I proceeded to clear the overly large room which I could only a.s.sume was a den of some sort. Making my way through the cluttered kitchen to the far end of the house I opened the last door. Heaped in the center of the room was a broken bed along with several other pieces of bedroom furniture piled high. Satisfied the room and the bathroom beyond were clear I proceeded up the stairs.

Taking the first stair carefully to ensure it would hold my weight I caught the heavy scent of blood in the air. Reaching out with my senses I couldn't detect anyone laying in wait for me. At the furthest end of the house I sensed a p.r.o.ne form of what I hoped was Creepy George. Perhaps today was my lucky day after all and he would be unconscious and easily detained but something felt off about the entire situation. My heart started to race yet I couldn't determine what had me spooked. I didn't need a repeat of what happened during our last meeting. Keeping a sharp eye out for any sort of trap I proceeded through the hallway with trepidation clearing each room as I pa.s.sed to ensure I didn't miss anything.

Opening the door to the room where I had sensed the p.r.o.ne body, I was nauseated by the condition that Creepy George was in. His left arm had been ripped off at the shoulder and thrown across the room where it lay motionless. He lay there nude with a crudely ripped Y incision starting at his navel, up through his sternum and across to his right and left shoulders. Several of his organs were strewn about having been roughly ripped from his body. I hoped that George was a corpse when this had happened. If Gullveig had kept him alive while she ripped his chest open I could only pray that he had bleed out before she ripped out his organs. I had a sense though that the whole scene was somehow unfinished. The heart and lungs still lay in place.

No matter how much death you see I'd like to believe no one ever gets used to it. Desensitized yes, but comfortable? G.o.d I hope not. Still feeling slightly queasy I opened the window overlooking the back half of the property to allow some fresh air entrance.

I called Gregory from my cell, who hurriedly answered. ”Did you forget about the whole stealthy bit of this operation?”

”Creepy George is already dead.” I wasn't exactly disappointed by the idea but I missed an opportunity to gain some valuable information. Something still felt off about this whole thing, and that nagging feeling that I was being watched hadn't left me. ”Be careful out there. I have a bad feeling about this place.”

”Calling Jones now!” His voice was tense as he seemed to feel that something was amiss as well.

”Probably not a bad idea.” Suddenly the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I thought I felt something behind me but when I turned nothing was there. ”You might want to double time it to the house.”

Suddenly the screeching of some otherworldly creature filled the air causing me to drop the phone and bring my weapon to the ready. Something powerful lurked on the floor below and it was playing cat and mouse with me. At the moment I wasn't so sure I was the cat in this particular equation.

Chapter 17.

It'd been a couple of hundred years since I heard such a scream but once you hear such a thing it can't be forgotten. The unholy sound slicing through the air was the howling screech of a wraith. A vile creature, wraiths were created at the dawn of time by primordial forces which somehow had gone awry. Cloaked in living shadows, its true form was obscured from view. What they looked like beyond those swirling black shadows was a mystery no one in their right mind would try to solve. The shadows would mold and pull tight around its vaguely humanoid form like saran wrap whenever it attacked, casting it in sharp relief with fangs and long razor like talons at the end of its long wiry arms. They were able to slice through steel as if it were wet tissue paper and have the strength of an elephant. The wraith existed in both the spirit and physical world simultaneously making it nearly impervious to most forms of attack. These creatures can only be killed while corporeal, simply pausing long enough to allow physical attacks to pa.s.s through it unharmed.

My pistol could only act as a delaying agent instead of its intended use as a weapon of death. I really didn't have a lot of choices in the matter so I brought the weapon to bear at the open door as the wraith flew through it, its lower extremities never seeming to touch the floorboards. Pressing its hideous form against the darkness of it's shadows it howled again as it darted towards me. Pulling the trigger four times as I stepped back against the open window it paused for a fraction of a second to allow the hot lead to pa.s.s through it unimpeded. That was long enough. I threw myself through the window frame, taking more than a few pieces of gla.s.s with me as I fell onto the hard ground below.

Landing hard I felt my spine pop, but quickly realized I cracked by back and was unharmed. This was probably the only bit of good news I was going to get for the rest of the day. Rolling to one side I avoided the creature as it dived through the gaping opening above, its talons chewed through the earth missing me by mere inches. The creature howled with rage. I guess it wasn't used to prey trying to fight back or run away as the case may happen to be. Scrambling to my feet it struck my s.h.i.+eld near my shoulder with a wicked backhand, spinning me through the air only to be stopped suddenly, if not a bit painfully, against the rotting wall of the house. No matter how much I wanted to believe that I looked graceful in flight I had to believe I looked more akin to one of those flailing, less than graceful idiots in a John Woo spoof. What can I say? Everyone wants to look cool, especially me since I just gotten thrown around the day before. The wraith dove at me again as I rolled to the side barely avoiding the creatures talons. As it pulled itself free of the wall large chunks of the rotting siding splintered as it fell to the ground.

Hearing several shots ring out, the beast halted its advance as it turned its attention to its new adversary. Looking in the same direction as the wraith I watched as Gregory advanced slowly as he emptied the clip before ejecting the spent cartridge to be quickly replaced by another. Gregory didn't have a chance of surviving the beasts initial onslaught so in a desperate move I tackled it. That's right, when in doubt try something utterly stupid. It just might work. It swatted me away as if I were no more of a concern than an insect. Rolling to my feet and forcing my will into my s.h.i.+elds I stood my ground as the vile creature advanced upon me once more. As it swung its razor sharp talons at my face I felt a surge of power course through me as I lifted my arm to block the attack.

My forearm erupted in flames as it connected with the wraith's talons, turning them to white ash and fall harmlessly to the ground. Coming up with a left hook I caught the creature in what should have been it's chin, it screamed in agony sending s.h.i.+vers up my spine. The wraith tried to retreat as confusion seemed to set. I don't think that it had ever known fear until this moment. Something deep within the creature knew it couldn't escape and chose to stand its ground. Bravery was not something I thought the creature was capable of. Perhaps it was just desperation.

Quickly closing the gap between us, I felt sluggish as the new abilities were rapidly draining me. Suddenly the wraith stopped and turned back towards me, striking at me again, catching me in the chest. I took a step back from the force of the blow while the creature pulled back a nub as more ash fell to the ground. Throwing a quick jab to the creatures midsection, to my surprise I punched a hole through the it as more white ash fell. The creature's howls were a combination of rage and agony as it slashed out again catching me in my stomach. I felt my s.h.i.+elds quiver slightly but they held which thankfully kept me from being eviscerated.

As I drew in more power the fire wrapped itself around my entire body. Advancing quickly upon the wounded wraith, it retreated in slow motion as black liquid oozed from the creatures wounds and fell to the ground like acrid tar. With a running leap I brought my knee up catching the creature in the chest, causing it to stagger back as more of its form fell away. As it doubled over in pain as I slammed my fists down into the creatures back, then I brought my right knee up catching the wraith in the face. The flames took hold of the creature in a blue haze, producing acrid fumes that caused me to fall back, coughing as I covered my face to s.h.i.+eld myself from the heat of the wraiths burning remains. In a matter of seconds the poor creature was nothing more than a pile of white ash a few feet away. The fire rapidly faded from my s.h.i.+elds as a weariness deep into my soul as I staggered backwards.

Turning at the sound of footsteps quickly approaching I could see Gregory running towards me with fear etched deep across his face. Falling to my knees I swayed weakly in the wind as Gregory reached out and steadied me, keeping me from falling over face first. ”Thanks...” I rasped.

Gregory pushed me into a sitting position while he pulled his pistol and scanned the broken house for any other enemies. ”What the h.e.l.l was that?” Fear, confusion and excitement mixed in his voice in equal amounts as his eyes continued to search the land.

”Wraith...” I panted.

”Are you going to be alright?” He looked me over carefully a.s.sessing my injuries carefully. ”You have definitely looked better.”

”I think so.” To be clear I wasn't really sure that was the case. I had never had powers like that before. All I could a.s.sume was that the upgrades were taking hold, allowing me to kill something so ancient that even I thought to be immortal. ”At least I hope so.”

”Glad to see you're so confident about such things.” Gregory smiled as he eyed me curiously. ”Care to tell me about all the pyrotechnics?”

”You've got me.” Hanging my head as I tried to draw what little strength I had left to stand. ”That was new.”

Gregory's voice shook slightly causing me to look up as his face fell flat. ”Do you think you can handle another one or perhaps five of those things?”

Following his gaze I was filled with horror as five of the unholy beasts floated out of the woods. In all my years I had never known the wraith to hunt in packs and today was a really bad day to find out differently. ”Oh d.a.m.n.” Struggling to my feet with more than a little help from Gregory I pulled the Staff of Gungnir from its sheath on my leg, which instantly sprang to life. ”Gregory, it might be time for you to run and never look back.”

”Like h.e.l.l.” Gregory pulled his weapon and took aim.

”You understand that doesn't do any good right?” Leaning heavily on Gungnir I felt the spear hum to life as it yearned to be unleashed in battle. ”If you stay both of us will probably die.”

”That's a h.e.l.l of an att.i.tude.” Gregory tried to put on a brave face but like anyone facing their imminent death he and I were both scared as h.e.l.l.

The wraiths howled back to one another coordinating their attack. Stepping forward I slashed Gungnir through the air, watching as a wide flaming arc sped toward our attackers causing them to flee. The two in the center of the arc were caught in the fire's wake and howled in agony as white ash fell while the others fled in either direction. The wraiths were far from finished but they were slowed and weary of what might come next.

A bright light appeared, followed by a song so ancient and holy that words in any form would utterly fail to describe its wonders emanated some twenty feet off the ground midway between the wraith and where we stood. As we basked in the glow I felt a surge of power pulse through my body, rejuvenating my entire being. s.h.i.+elding my eyes as the light reached its pinnacle then faded from view revealing Hustahli, the *Great One'. With his arrival the fight was taken completely out of the wraith as they took flight back from whence they came.

The powerful avatar of Hustahli stepped into the mortal world. Like Mir, Hustahli was a mountain of a man, towering several feet above us as he stood proud. The red s.h.i.+rt he wore fit a little too tight across the chest and through the arms as his muscular form shown through, though for all I knew the s.h.i.+rt had been dyed in the blood of his enemies.The black leather pants and combat boots set off the look. His angular jaw and straight nose were both pleasing to the eye and exuded strength and power. His long black hair was pulled back allowing for a perfectly un.o.bstructed view of a vibrant yellow and green tattoo of a mythological bird covering the left side of his face.

Hustahli looked at me with kindness in his deep blue eyes as he smiled. I quickly took a knee, pulling Gregory down as I bowed my head. Hustahli was a being to be revered and as such deserved a show of respect that was due him.

”You have grown my child!” Hustahli sounded pleased and I couldn't help but swell with pride at such a compliment.

His voice boomed across the land causing the dormant flowers in the nearby fields to suddenly bloom. ”It pleases me that you have done so well in my absence.” He looked to my left as he strolled toward us. ”And who is your friend here? He looks to be an exceptional example of the mortal form.”

Slowly raising my head so I could see Hustahli, I couldn't help but smile as a sense of joy flowed through the air. ”It has been a long time, I'm glad to see you again.” Looking back at Gregory I was filled with pride once more that Hustahli found his presence pleasing. ”My friend's name is Gregory and he is exceptional by any standard of measurement.”

Hustahli smiled at us. ”Please stand. We are old friends, are we not?”

Grabbing Gregory under the arm, I hefted him to his feet as I stood, hoping he'd soon snap out of his daze. ”I would like to think so.”

Hustahli smiled as he turned and walked to an old table and lawn chairs. He somehow squeezed his bulk into one of the chairs before gesturing for us to take a seat opposite him. ”It would seem that you needed rescuing once again and as you have fulfilled our previous bargain twofold I felt it was my duty to intervene.”

”Thank you for that. I wasn't sure we would make it through the day.” That was an outright lie because I was fairly sure that we were about to die. I hadn't really held out any hope we would have survived without his intervention.

”You handled yourself well against the shadow beasts. I'm truly impressed that you were able to stand your ground for so long.” Hustahli waved one of his ma.s.sive hands in my direction sending yet another jolt of power through me. ”It won't be long before you will be whole again.”

Forgetting myself for a moment and the fact that Gregory was right next to me I couldn't stop myself from blurting out. ”You know of my condition? My memory loss?”

”I know many things Starborn.”

”Do you know who I am?”

”All will be revealed to you in time but for now you must focus upon the task at hand.”

<script>