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Rook: Knight of the Double Blade. A Makai Knight mini-series
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12-18-2016, 09:17 PM
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scikaiju
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 486
Rook: Knight of the Double Blade
OP – CFO$ - Catch Your Breath
A man grunted as he fell to the ground. The overhead light and the sweat on his body making him seem to glisten as he panted hard. Looking over at the man who knocked him down, the much younger man, he tried not to look as annoyed as he felt over the fact he wasn't even breathing that hard. Not nearly as hard as he was. He remembered being that young and making it look so easy. With another grunt he hauled himself back up to his feet and faced his opponent, the crowd around them egging him on, they weren't done with the violence just yet.
“Come on old man,” the younger one said. “just back down already. No shame in admitting defeat to the better man.”
At that moment he felt all of his fifty plus years and then some. There was part of his brain that was down right pleading with him to listen and throw in the towel. That part had been getting louder and louder over the years. As always he pushed it aside, he didn't get to where he was at now because he admitted defeat. “When the better man comes along I might think about it.” A good section of the crowd cheered. His opponent shot them a nasty look, no it was a disgusted look. Almost like he was offended that they were cheering for him and not the young buck. At least that was what he was telling himself.
“Sick fucks,” the younger man muttered. “Alright Grandpa, it's your funeral.” The older man charged at him trying to catch him off guard. The younger man wasn't fazed at all as he easily pushed him to the side. Damn it when did he get so slow and sloppy? Going at him again the younger man took advantage of the opening in his defenses, the one he'd been taking advantage of all night, and pounded him again. He felt his legs start to wobble but forced himself to stay upright. A right cross made his vision go blurry but he fought through it. He was practically dead on his feet, he knew it. His younger opponent knew it, the crowd knew it. His much younger girl knew it as well as she watched from the crowd. That pissed him off more than anything. Damn it he wasn't going to lose to this bastard. This much younger and in much better shape bastard. But the blow to finish him off didn't come like he expected. No the other guy just stood there looking at him with pity etched all over his face.
“Come on you fucking prick!”, he bellowed, almost losing what breath he had left in doing so.
“Dude this shit ain't even worth it anymore,” he said. Looking at the crowd he asked, “One of you get a doctor or something.”
There was a couple of laughs coming from the crowd. Breathing harder than he had ever had in his life he grabbed the younger man. With what was left of his strength he tossed him to the ground. Keeping a hold of an arm he wrapped his legs around it as he fell backwards to the concrete. With every fiber of his being that was still functional he reared back on the arm and pulled. He heard the younger man cry out as his arm was being bent in an unnatural direction. The crowd cheered him on. The scream became louder as he felt the younger man arm finally break under the pressure. Some of those cheers quieted as the crowd realized what just happened.
Letting go he laid there waiting for his body to stop screaming at him and for his heart to stop feeling like it was about to burst out of his chest as the younger man rolled away clutching at his arm. Slowly, painfully he got to his feet. He looked at the younger man then at the crowd. “You heard him,” he got out between heavy breaths, “get a doctor.” Stumbling more than walking away the crowd parted for him. Convincing himself it was out of respect for his skills and not the abhorrence he was seeing he went to his car. Behind him a couple of the younger man's friends rushed to his aid. God it never used to be this hard before.
“Yo Tony,” his girl came up to him. He expected her to be proud of him, to be impressed that he was still the man in this underground fight ring. When they first got together a couple of years ago she was. Lately she wasn't as impressed, in fact right now she looked down right bored. Staying back a bit she just looked at him as he grabbed his shirt off the hood. Finally saying, “You alright?”
He felt like he was about to drop dead if anybody breathed on him hard. “Never better,” he said while trying to get his breath under control. “Had the little shit exactly where I wanted him the entire time.”
“Uh huh,” she stated. “You never had to break an arm to win before either.”
“Got to remind the young bucks who the man still is every so often.” And he still was too, for thirty years now nobody had been able to stop him. In fact he was insulted when those challenges started happening more frequently the past decade or so. The little fucks think just because he was older that he still wasn't the ass kicking machine he had always been.
That part of his head that was telling him to quit earlier started up again. Telling him that he was older and his useless pride was the only thing keeping him going well past the time he should have quit. Again he ignored it. That punk got lucky this time, caught him on an off day. That was happening more frequently now that voice spoke up again. Shut up. He was one of the lucky ones, found what he was good at early on in life and stuck to it. Too violent to make it as a professional fighter they told him, to out of control, to willing to hurt the other man. Well fuck them all he was the god damned king around here and nobody was going to take it from him.
“Go get my money,” he ordered his girl. She looked pissed but still did as he said. Yeah he was about done with her any way. He'll get a a couple of more fucks out of her then drop her like trash for some one better, someone who appreciated who he was. Like she used to, or he thought she did.
From where he was he watched her go to the guy taking the bets. Instead of just getting his money they started talking. Fine, whatever, butter the bastard up to make sure he gave her his full cut. Last time wasn't the first time somebody tried to short him of his proper winnings when he sent somebody else to collect it. Then he saw her smiles and him smile back. Not in the friendly way, no she smiled liked she did when she first started talking to him. Do little things he recognized that she did to show she was interested. Things she stopped doing at him he soon came to realize.
“Fucking bitch,” he muttered as he got off the car. He took exactly one step forward when a strange pain in his chest stopped him in his tracks. Apparently none of the crowd that was still dispersing even seemed to noticed as he stumbled to the side, hidden from sight by a van. Fighter instincts kicked in as he refused to let his legs give out on him. He leaned a heavy hand on the van as his other one clutched at his chest. No, he was not that weak he wasn't going to go down like this here or ever. He was the toughest mother fucker in this garage and he wasn't going out like an old worn out bastard. Eventually the pain passed and still nobody came to check on him. He wouldn't be surprised if the bitch and the fucker with the money started making out right then and there. He'll show both of them that he was still the fucking king around here.
“Think you're pretty tough don't you?”
His head snapped around. “Who said that?”
“I've seen it a million times,” the mysterious voice continued. “Big man, rule the streets with the fist. A dime a dozen really.”
“Come out of hiding and say that to my face you bastard.” He looked all around, under cars, inside any open window he could find. So far this voice that was pissing him off didn't have a body. But once he found it.
“But the they get older,” the voice went on, it's choice of words making him pause for a moment.. “The body starts to give out before they're ready. Either from years of abuse the man put it through or was too weak to begin with and he didn't notice before it was too late. Seen it a million times.”
His curiosity won out over the voice he usually ignored that was telling him to run. “And what does that fairy tale have to do with me?”
The voice laughed, “It's only a fairy tale if it isn't true. And right now I'm looking at a man who's denying the truth right before me.” Bastard made a mistake, he let him know that he was close by. But where the fuck was he hiding? “But,” it went on, “what if I told you I can make it like you were young again?”
“That's not possible,” he said.
“I didn't say I'd make you younger, I just said it would be like you were young again. Think about it, the knowledge you have now with the skills you had back then. You wouldn't just be king of this puny event.”
“I'd could be the king of the city,” he said. Temptation overrode his common sense as that pain in his chest returned. What the hell, what did he have to lose. “So what to I got to do?”
“Just turn around.”
He whipped around but still didn't see anybody there. What kind of game was this fucker playing. Then he looked down. Up against the wall was an abandoned, dirty baby doll. It was so out of place he almost felt compelled to take a step toward it to pick it up. Then it's plastic eyes seem to glow and before he could react some sort of ring opened up and he thought he say some... thing inside it before these weird things came at him, going into his mouth, eyes and ears. He tried to scream but nothing came out. Although it seemed like an eternity it was over less than a minute after it started.
Oblivious to what just happened his girl and the bookie were still talking. “Just leave his ass already,” he told her. “You know he's going to kick it one of these days and your not going to get a damn thing.”
“Tony's got some life in him still,” she said, more or less automatically. Too bad she still had to admit to herself that the thing that made her attracted to him to begin faded away a long time ago, way faster than his body. Still she tried to defend him, “He just needs to lay of the fights for a couple of weeks and get his stamina back up.”
“Love to show you how much stamina you're actually missing,” he said. She smiled in a away she probably shouldn't have had. But Tony wasn't just losing it in the fight circle. He was starting to lack in other areas too.
“Maybe you can show me when I'm bored eventually.” he smiled at her in a way that said he understood completely, and was looking forward to it. Then a hand gripped his shoulder. Before she could react he was wrenched off his feet and sent flying backwards into the van Tony's car was parked by. It took her a second to realize that it was Tony who just did that. So dumbstruck all she could do was stare like the few that remained. Then he looked at her. A small spike of fear ran up her spin but there something about his eyes. There was a confidence, a hunger that originally attracted her to him that had been missing for a while. “T... Tony.”
“He was bothering you,” he said in a cocky tone she almost forgot he was capable of. In return that old spark she had for him seemingly came back to life.
“Nothing I couldn't handle baby but I'm glad you did,” she smiled seductively at him. He gave her one that was just as hungry as the look in his eyes as she rubbed her hands over his chest. “Can I do anything special for you since you won daddy?”
“I want you now,” he said. She started for the car but he stopped her. “No, Here.”
“In front of everybody?” She quickly removed her top exposing herself to those who remained, “I like this new side of you.”
Tony looked her over, licking his lips. A hand reached out and started fondling her, “You look,” that hand went for her throat and held tight, his eyes glowed in a way that froze her in place, “delicious.” Grabbing her leg with his other hand he picked her up over his head. Finding her voice she screamed for all she was worth. Those that were still stunned by the previous act of violence were struck even more so at the sight. A few found the will to run when Tony flexed and seemingly broke the woman in half. Those that stayed were transfixed by the horrible realization that instead of bleeding buckets she seemed to break down and fall into his open mouth. She didn't stop screaming until her mouth was gone.
Swallowing Tony looked around at who was left. The bookie, the punk he just beat and his friends and a few others. They all stood transfixed by the sight of him. “Buffet time.”
***
Hours later, outside that same garage a blond haired woman with leather bracers stood and waited. Jules paced back and forth a bit by one of the entrances just waiting. It wasn't that long ago that somebody came running out of there and nearly ran her over. Just based on how scared he looked and what she could get from his babbling told her all she needed to know, there was a Horror in there somewhere. And from what few bits she could get before he ran off like his life depended on it, and to be honest it probably did, this sounded like a powerful one. And she wasn't so proud in her abilities to fight Horrors directly to realize that this one might be a bit out of her league. So she contacted the person she figured was closest, Vincent. Fortunately her guess was right and he was nearby, So why was he taking so long to get here?
“Jules!” She looked around and saw the familiar turban he wore since she was a little girl. Still didn't stop her from being annoyed at him being so late to her call.
“What took you so long.?”, she asked.
“Since we don't exactly know what's we're dealing with. Outside of an extremely frightened man's ramblings that is,' he added when she was about to say something. “I figured it would be best if I called for some extra help.” She was about to ask who when she looked behind him. Hurrying up was a blond haired man in a dark trench coat. With a bit of a Twinkle in his eye Vincent asked, “I hope you don't mind the person I decided to ask?”
“Do I look like Reks?”, she told him. “Carter,” she greeted him in a friendly way. He nodded in response and looked up at the garage. “Xypher,” she said to the Madou pin on the left side of his coat.
“Hey Jules,” he replied in it's tinny voice.
Barely taking his eyes off the multi-level garage Carter went, “Vincent didn't give much in the way of details. Any idea on what's in there?”
She shock her head in the negative. “All I know that it's strong and hungry. I haven't seen any one else come out but it's a big place. Plenty of places to leave and I'm only one person.”
“Plenty of places to hide as well I would imagine,” Vincent commented. As he studied the building.
“I'm sure you did what you could,” Carter told her. “And I got here as fast as I could.” Nobody was saying it but they all had the same worry right then. It had already feasted and gotten out. “Xypher.”
“I'm not detecting anything,” the pin replied. “Not even a trace.”
“It's very possible that it's not strong enough to be detectable from this particular range,” Vincent offered. Jules looked at the older man she'd known for years. He didn't really seem to believe it either.
“We're still going inside to check,” Carter told them. As he started inside the two Makai Priests wielded their Madou brushes and followed him in. Looking around and not seeing any immediate signs of a struggle they headed further in. Jules pointed out the nearest staircase heading to an upper level. With the slightest nod of agreement Carter headed in that direction. Then he stopped after a few yards, head tilted to the side a bit. Both Priest took up a loose defensive position although neither saw anything in their immediate view. Without warning Carter lunged in between two vehicle. Coming back into view he had a man by the shirt and slammed him into the side of a truck
“Don't hurt me!”, he begged, everything about him said he was scared out of his wits. Unmoved by the display in front of him Carter held his Lighter between them and flick the blue flame to life. Whomever this man was his eyes didn't react, he wasn't the Horror they were looking for.
Carter let him go and took a step back but his gaze held the man in place and demanded, “What are you running from?”
Slightly oblivious that he was scaring the man even more Vincent came foreword and gently stepped between them. “If I may have a moment or two with the gentleman?” Realizing his current approach wasn't working Carter backed off. Turning to the scared man and gracing him with a warm smile Vincent said, “Forgive my young friend. He get's rather... testy shall we say when he's on the job.”
“In other words dial it back in these situations,” Jules muttered to the Makai Knight.
Xypher responded, “I'm pretty sure the dial's broken.” Around the time the scared man was looking for the new voice Carter reached up and flicked the pin. “Ow”
“Quiet,” Carter hissed through his teeth. Jules was pretty sure if the pin was capable of it he would be looking at her for some sympathy. While she was generally against him flicking the pin Xypher kind of deserved that one talking in front of the uninitiated like that.
Helping the frighten man sit on the concrete Vincent knelt down and waited for him to calm down a bit. Even though it wasn't necessary Jules reached out and grabbed Carter's sleeve to keep him place. He obviously wanted to hunt this Horror down, at least to her, but this was their best shot on getting any information.“Now my friend, what exactly happened to get you in such a state?”
“The old man Tony,” he said in a quick breath. “He just... I don't know what the fuck happened. He just barely won his fight. Then he... Oh God that couldn't have happened.”
Gripping him firmly by the shoulder Vincent waited until he looked at him. “I know it's hard to process but what you saw really did happened. We need to know what this Tony did.”
“His girl man,” he started. “I swear to God he picked her up like it was nothing and snapped her in two. Then she just poured into his mouth. Oh God It's even sounds crazier saying it out loud.” The three members of the Makai Order just looked at each other.
“All right my friend, we're almost done here,” Vincent started. “Where in this building did this happen. It's important that we know.”
“The fourth level,” he said. “I ran down here as soon as that shit started happening.”
Without waiting Carter and Jules ran for the stairs leaving Vincent with the scared man. Racing up the stairs they burst through the doors at the fourth level, Carter having the black staff with the gold inlay in hand while the bristles on Jules' brush glowing ready to attack. The carefully walked foreword noticing that a few of the cars were parked in such a way that you could see something was going on here. Both hands on the staff, prepared to pull and reveal the blades inside he entered the loose “ring” stopping at the center and looked around. “Xypher?”
“A horror was here alright,” the pin replied. “But it's long gone now.” Uttering a silent curse Carter replaced the staff into his coat. Not seeing Jules immediately he looked around until he saw her squatting down and looking at a beat up doll against the wall. “I think that's the Gate it used to get into this world. I can feel the negative energy coming from it.” Jules lowered her head and sighed heavily.
This was outside her usual behavior in these situations. Soften his stance a bit Carter but a hand on her shoulder and went, “Jules?”
“I'm fine,”she answered. “It's just... I know how gates are made. But every time I see one attached to something like this... I start getting angry at whatever life threw at it's owner to get that much negative energy built up enough to form a gate.” She stood up and with a quick flash of magic set the doll on fire. “No one deserves that sort of life.” She glanced at Carter then back at the doll. “Yes I know that was pointless since the gate was already used. And no it didn't make me feel any better.”
“It just makes you human,” Carter told her. She looked at him. Anybody else she might have thought that was condescending. In her mood she might have even have accused him of it too. But she knew this particular Makai Knight a little too well.
She smiled at him, “Foibles and all.” Walking away from the doll she looked around the garage. “I think I've been around humanity's darkness a little too long. I think I'll stop by that restaurant Vincent loves later. Remind myself of humanity's goodness as he likes to say.”
Looking around a bit himself Carter asked, “Want some company?”
Admittedly that took her a bit by surprise, normally she would be the one to ask him along. Generally he would decline. But if he was reaching out, trying to advanced whatever they had right now who was she to argue. “I think I'd like...”
“Ahem,” Both of them looked behind them to see Vincent standing there looking a bit chagrined. “Now normally I wouldn't interrupt like this but weren't you going to the Temple of Rook tomorrow Carter? To purify your armor?”
Jules looked at Carter, not looking for a confirmation. She knew Vincent wouldn't make a lie about that. All Knights had to purify their armor every so often. If the negative energy absorbed from fighting and sealing Horrors became too much they would start attracting Horrors themselves or start affecting them and their devices. The knight remained stoic, Xypher on the other hand, “It's not like he has to go tomorrow or be there all day.”
“No,” Jules said. “Purifying his armor is more important. He should do it as soon as possible. Besides don't you have a friend up there? You can say hi.”
“Believe me,” Vincent added, “I wouldn't have called him to join us if I didn't think we might have needed his skills.”
“It's fine,” Jules told him. Actually it wasn't but she wasn't going to throw a tantrum like a child because she isn't getting what she wants. Being a responsible adult really blew sometimes. “Maybe we can do the restaurant some other time.”
“I'd like that,” he told her. Then his gaze hardened as he went all business as he looked at Vincent. “What about the guy we found?”
“Sleeping comfortably,” the older Makai Priest answered. “He shouldn't remember anything when he does awaken. I was able to get a little more about the Horror's initial victim before then though. Mainly a full name, Tony McKay. A life long underground fighter, the champ, for lack of a better proper word, for a long time apparently. I'm going to see if my usual sources can come up with anything on this McKay, where he lived and the like. Try to narrow down on where the Horror might strike next. I'll do some research into the Horror myself, see exactly who we're dealing with. I'll get you that information as soon as I can.”
“That would be much appreciated,” Carter told him. “I'll look around here for a bit longer. Try and see if I can get a clue on where he went. “ Before leaving he hesitated for a moment. “An extra set of eyes would be useful.”
She didn't have to look at Vincent to know he was grinning at them. Still she didn't hesitate in answering, “Lead on Mr. Makai Knight.”
***
It was near dawn when Terrance made his way back to the, well hide out was a tad cliche but it fit what they were using it for. Making his way down to the basement he found Reks already down there working on something at the makeshift table. He stopped suddenly when he thought he heard a scream. It ended rather quickly but it was a scream never the less. Looking annoyed he said point blank, “Feeding the pet again?”
“Just keeping it's strength up,” he said, never taking his eyes off of working he on whatever it was. The idea he never seemed unnerved by the fact he just basically sacrificed some other poor soul to the Horror they had trapped in there was upsetting Terrance more and more each time he'd done it. Almost like he was reading his thoughts Reks said, “I caught that one robbing an elderly couple, pretty sure he was racist too based on some of the derogatory things he was saying to them.” Holding up the thing to inspect it from a different angle he added, “So no one to lose any sleep over.”
“It still goes against everything we were trained for,' Terrance argued. “We protect the regular human. We're not supposed to feed them to the Horrors. Much less getting involved in their affairs and act like judge, jury and executioner.”
Seemingly satisfied with the work he had down he finally looked at the other man. “A necessary evil that had to go long with the plan. We don't know if a Horror can die of starvation and at this stage of the plan we don't need to find out.” he walked over to the wall and put a hand on the secret opening. The Horror locked on the other side seemed to sense him and they could hear it start to scream at him through the wall. “It took us months to track and capture one of them. We lost a man in doing so and can't trust any one else to replace her in fear they'll report what we're doing.” Talking his hand off the wall he walked away and looked at him. “We need to keep this one fed just long enough to enact the plan. After the Knights are gone I'll dispose of it myself.”
Terrance was with him about getting rid of the Makai Knights, there was no question in that. It was the one thing that drew them closer as friends once they realized that had that in common. But still he had his doubts. “I still don't understand how doing whatever the hell we're doing with that is supposed to get rid of the Knights.”
“Just trust the plan Terrance,” Reks told him. “I have faith in it and the man who thought it up. It will work. We just need to have a little faith.”
Terrance might have had a little more faith in things if they were doing the exact opposite of what they were trained to do by feeding the damn thing. Still he trusted Reks with his life so he let it go for now. But, “There still one more thing we haven't really discussed about the plan.”
Having started to equip the device he was working to his wrist he glanced back at him. “And what would that be?”
“What's going to happen after the Knights are gone.”
Reks was confused by the question. “We'll protect humanity,” he said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. In a way it was, once the Knights were gone they would have to be the ones to protect the regular humans. Still there were certain facts Terrance didn't think he was considering at the moment.
“As much as it leaves a sour taste in my mouth to admit but our predecessors created the Makai Knights because there were Horrors too powerful for them to defeat.” Reks looked dismissive of the idea as he went back to attaching the device to his wrist. “Even now there's are a relative handful of Makai Priests who can defeat and seal Horrors on their own. And no offense my friend, but you and I are not one of them. So how exactly are we going to accomplish what they couldn't?”
“Our predecessors,” Reks began as he made a few final adjustments to the device now firmly clamped to his wrist, “may have seen a wall they couldn't over come with those more powerful Horrors. Some may have even called the cowards, other smart in their ability to realize their own short coming. I on the other hand have a different interpretation.” With a quick flick of his arm a bar extended out. Terrance watched as the end unfolded into a circular blade that started spinning very rapidly as soon as it connected to the other end. He silently marveled as after a few test swings the blade increased in size with one. Stopping when it reached a radius of about a foot and a half Reks finished his thought, “They lacked the proper imagination.”
Clearly impressed with what he was seeing Terrance said, “That is truly some of you best design work. But have you really thought all this threw because I'm seeing a flaw just looking at that blade spin.”
“What do you see?”, Reks said in a challenging way.
“It's what I potentially see,” he corrected him. “And that is horror blood infecting everything around it as soon as you start cutting.” Reks slowly turn his arm, and therefore the blade, like he was contemplating it. Without a word he held his brush near the base of the extended arm. A quick flash and Terrance stepped back as the spinning edges of the blade burst into a blaze of green fire. “Madou fire,” Terrance said as it dawned on him.
Grinning Reks said, “The knights aren't the only one with access to it. They can use it as an a offensive weapon, why not us? Not only should the flame burn the Horror it should also take care of the Horror blood before it can become a danger.” That grin turning into an arrogant smirk he looked at Terrance over the wheel of green fire, “Do you see any other potential flaws in my design?”
“I submit to your superior imagination,” Terrance told him. Satisfied the flame disappeared and the blade shrunk back down to it's original size before undoing itself and retracting back into the device. “I know that couldn't have been a recent idea. How long have you been holding on to that one?”
“Since Vincent first took on me and Jules,” he answered. “He told me it wasn't practical and that I should forget about it. In hindsight he might have been correct about my original idea. But I never let it go, I knew it was plausible I knew I could, and did, perfect it. Those relative handfuls as you put it soon won't be the only ones who can defeat Horrors.”
“The Makai Knights days are truly over then,” Terrance said, starting to believe in it again. Reks looked over the device again, checking various things. He may have been confident in his design but even he wasn't fool enough to believe there still wasn't any tweaks to be made. While his back was turned Terrance glanced over to the wall that had the hidden room, and the Horror inside it. How did that thing play into the over all plan?
***
In a deep forest area well outside the city was a structure that was mostly obscured by the foliage. But in the middle of sea a vines a white marble door stood defiant of the life around it. It slowly opened up as Carter walked out. He looked back as it closed and sealed itself. The Temple of Rook, which housed all of those who have held the Title of the Double Bladed Knight and his eventual resting place as well. He glanced down at the thin gold pin on his right label. He may have been accepted into the previous Rook's family but part of him still felt like he didn't belong in there. Even the spirits of the previous Rooks felt his inner turmoil, but they neither confirmed or denied his thoughts on the matter.
Walking forward he slowed his usual stride as he reached a particular spot. A spot where the previous title holder finally deemed him worthy of it after all his training. As always when he came here he stopped in this very spot and mulled over it. He was already a trained Makai Knight when he was ordered to report to the previous one, to be his successor. “Seems like forever ago doesn't it?”, Xypher spoke up, breaking him out of the memory.
“Sometimes,” Carter agreed. “And sometimes it feels like yesterday.”
The pin chuckled, “That too. But that's life as they say. You have to face it looking foreword and taking it one step at a time. I know you humans like to dwell on the past a little too much. I've been attached to a couple of Rooks that seemed to live in the past.”
“They also say those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it,” Carter countered.
“And in general that's true,” Xypher said. “But there's remembering the past and living in it like I said.”
“Where am I on that particular scale?”
“You're just remembering it at this point,” the pin told him. “But even just remembering the past can overwhelm you if you're not careful. Especially if you start wonder what might have been if particular decisions were made differently. Especially where those orders that sent you to us are concerned.”
Carter just smiled sadly, he had thought about that on occasion. “You seem to know me pretty well in the short time we've been together.”
“Eh, you always get like this after we visit the temple,” Xypher told him. “Or we run into his two oldest daughters.”
“Just the middle one,” Carter corrected him. Taking one last glance at that particular spot he headed off, back toward the Makai Path that would take him back to the city.
After a bit Xypher spoke back up, “Hey Carter, do you mind if I asked you a question? Do you feel any different after going through the purification process?”
“In what way?”
“I don't know, I guess coming out of it feeling a little purer or something.”
“You asked that of all the Rooks?”, Carter asked him with a slight smirk.
“I've tried,” Xypher said. “The closet I've ever gotten to an answer was the old man telling me not to waste his time with pointless questions.” His smirk grew a little bigger, that sounded like him alright.
“To answer you're question no, I don't feel any different after. The process cleanses the armor of negative energy and any I happened to absorb but I don't feel any different.” Xypher grunted in understanding as the continued walking. He got to part of the path that branched off into two directions. The one to the left would take him to the opening of the Makai Path. However his gaze went off to the one leading to the right.
“Why are we stopping?”, Xypher asked.
“Besides don't you have a friend up there? You can say hi.” Those words came to him as he continued to look down the path.
Eventually he told Xypher, “Something Jules suggested last night.”
“Right,” Xypher said as he began to understand, “Morgan and his family lives up here as well. You're actually going to stop in and say hi like she said? You should, you don't have that many friends as it is.” He looked down at the pin, debating if that was a flickable statement or not. “I mean you're rarely up here and the last time you two met up you seemed pretty close.”
“I guess it wouldn't hurt, to touch base,” Carter said after a bit. “He goes into the city as well, I can let him know about that Horror we missed last night.” Mind made up he took the right path.
“And you can just say hi,” Xypher added. “No need to add any unnecessary reasoning for it. Like I told Jules, you humans make things more complicated than they need to be. Oh, have I mentioned how much I like her? She's a good influence on you.”
***
“Hey man,” a rough looking character said to somebody inside the door he was by. “Some guy says he wants a meeting with the boss.”
“Anybody important?”, came the response.
“Don't think so,” he looked at the guy wanting the meeting. “Just some old dude, what was your name again?”
“Tony,” he said with a grin, “Tony McKay.”
“Boss don't know anybody by that name send him away.”
“You heard the man Gramps,” the door man said. “you ain't seeing anybody today or ever.” Tony just grinned and grabbed the man by the throat before slamming him into the wall behind him.
***
It didn't seem long before he started seeing landmarks that were familiar as he spotted them. Carter paused for a moment, an instinct honed from fighting Horrors told him he was being watched. It was still mid afternoon and he knew Horrors generally tracked down their prey at night. Still it didn't mean one couldn't be tracking a potential target, or that it could be something equally as dangerous. Keeping a closer eye on his surroundings After about ten minutes of this he stopped and and looked to his left. “Stop this game and come out now.”
A bush started to rustle and he focused in on that, but he didn't react right away. In the next instant his wtalker stormed out screaming and got right into his path. Before him was a child, a boy who couldn't be older than eight. Coming up to his waist, if that, he held a wooden stick shaped like a sword and tried to look threatening. The lack of reaction on Carter's part seemed to make him angrier and confused at the same time. “Go away Stranger!,” he ordered. “I, the Great Leonard, protect this forest!”
“These forest protectors are getting smaller all the time,”Xypher quipped.
“How did you talk without moving your mouth?” The Great Leonard said softly. Then he threw up his sword and ran down the path yelling, “HORROR!” Carter, picked up the wooden sword and followed him looking further down the path to see a small cabin in the middle of a field. A woman came out quickly followed by another boy, older than the “Great One”. The youth looked ready to fight as the woman looked concerned but ready to defend herself. Than a man who was obviously the boy's father came out, sheathed sword in hand. As the small one ran to the woman and tried to hid behind her skirt. All of them wore plain and simple clothes, not rags as one migh expect from the house but nothing those on the streets would wear either.
The man came out and walked a few steps in front of the others. Carter continued to walk toward him, tossing him the toy sword once he was close enough. “Sorry for the unannounced visit Morgan. If I knew this area was protected I would have sent word.”
“That's ain't his real voice!,” Leonard called out.
“It's daytime stupid,” the older one chided him.
“Nathaniel,” his mother quickly said. “My apologies for our two sons Carter,” she said to him. “They have forgotten their manners from the look of things.”
“Which would make them my sons,” Morgan said with some amusement. Holding out his hand the clasp each other around the forearms in greeting. “What are you doing out around these part Carter.”
“Purifying myself at the temple,” he said as the headed for the house. Morgan nodded in understanding. “Lyndsy,” Carter said as they got close. He held out a hand for her but she hugged him much to the shock of their two sons.
She pulled back and looked him over, “Well no Horror gotten to you from the look of things.”
“But that's not his real voice,” Leonard insisted. “I heard it! His mouth didn't even move.”
“You heard me oh Leonard the Great.” His eyes went wide as he looked at Carter, too scared to move. Carter held the left lapel if his coat so Leonard could see the pin on it clearly. He nearly jumped out of his skin when the eyes blink. “I'm not that scary now, jeez.”
“And it's The Great Leonard,” he said in a small protest.
“Pfft, same thing.” Carter flicked him. “I hate it when you do that, seriously.” The older boy, Nathaniel got up real close to the pin in stared at him. “Do you mind,” Xypher protested, “I can smell what you had for breakfast.”
He backed up a bit, realization dawning on him, “You're a Makai Knight.”
Leonard look back and forth between his brother and Carter, “Like Daddy?”
“Yes like your father,” Morgan told them. “Boys, this is Carter Greystone, or Knight of the Double Blade Rook.”
“You're a titled knight,” Nathaniel said with a bit of awe that wasn't there before. “I bet you live in a huge house with servants and everything.”
Xypher snorted, “Boy do you got the wrong Makai Knight.” Carter gave the pin a slight grimice.
“But you have a title...”, he protested. “My father doesn't even have a title and look at where we live.”
Carter looked at him, “Just because I have a title doesn't mean your father's a lesser Makai Knight than I am. We both have the same job.”
“But you always had the good life,” Nathaniel continued.
“That's enough,” Lyndsy told him sternly. “I'm sorry for my oldest. He's at the point where he wants a better station in life. There's nothing wrong with our life here.” Nathaniel said nothing, but it was obvious to everybody he still didn't think it was fair. Carter looked around their home. This could have been him if things turned out differently.
“No I haven't always had it good,” Carter said out loud but not really meaning too. The boys looked at him with some confusion. He looked Nathaniel right in the eyes, “My father was like yours, fate had a different calling for me than directly following his footsteps.”
“You're the fake,” Nathaniel blurted out after studying him for a bit. Both of his parents started to scold him but he kept going. “Other Knights have visited and I've heard then talk. The fake titled knight who was just given it out of nowhere. The one who didn't deserve it...”
“That's enough Nathaniel!”, Morgan ordered. He opened his mouth again but was cut off, “I said enough!”
Realizing he should let this go and not fan these particular flames anymore Carter still wanted this boy to understand. “I wasn't just given this,” he began. “The previous Rook didn't just hand me what he had. He made me earn the right to take Rook from him every step of the way.”
“I knew the previous Rook,” Morgan added. “Trust me son he didn't just hand anything to anybody. Carter more than earned the right to bear the title of The Double Bladed Knight.”
“I'm still surprised he hung around to do it,” Xypher said.
“He's still a fake,' Nathaniel insisted. His mother started to pull him back while his father pinched his nose and mumbled something. Unconcerned of his parent obvious disapproval of his current attitude he kept on. “No fake can beat a truly trained Makai Knight. I beat I can even beat you.
“Now you listen...' Morgan began but Carter put a hand on his arm. He looked at him and one look from Carter was all it took for him to nod and back away. Looking at the defiant young man, and remembering when he had that particular mindset once he first hit the teens.
“Let's test that theory,” he said, much to the shock of of the two boys. His mother not so much but she still seen to be taken a back a bit. Taking the staff out of it'd holder he took off his coat and handed it to Morgan.
“Can I not be upside down please,” Xypher called out. Looking around the area near the house he found a couple of rocks that were the same height that where close enough to set the staff on top of them. Walking forward a bit he waited. Nathaniel was still dumbstruck, only moving when his mother gave him a slight push. He walked until he was a few yards in front of Carter.
“We'll keep this simple,” Carter began. “You try to grab the Rook Sword. I'll try and stop you from doing so. Do you understand?”
“Of course I do. What do you think I am, stupid?” Morgan sighed loudly.
Carter said nothing, which made the young man even angrier and charged at him. With little effort he stepped to the side enough to grab the kid and throw him back. Getting back to his feet Nathaniel went at him again and again the same results. Again he got back up but didn't charge this time, Morgan looking a bit proud that his son could figure out that his strategy wasn't working. This time he tried to attacking him like a regular fight throwing punches and kicks. All of which were easily blocked or deflected given his age and current skill level, which made the young man even angrier, just where he wanted him. Changing his defensive a bit he slowly backed up, not much just enough for the younger man to charge in harder. Then he hurled himself past Carter as he took a step to the right, hand outstretched for the staff. His eyes only left his prize when Carter jumped over him, twisting in the air as he grabbed the staff right before Nathaniel could even touch it and yank it out of reach before his feet touched the ground.
Nathaniel landed hard, looked up and made one last grab at the staff as Carter lifted it out of reach. Turning to make one more go at it it was stopped abruptly as Carter put a foot on his chest, pushing him down and pinning him there. “I like your determination,' he said evenly, “but I win.” Removing his foot he walked back toward Morgan as Lyndsy stopped Leonard from making fun of his older brother before he had a chance to.
“I almost had it,' Nathaniel called out. “I got by you!”
“He let you,” Morgan informed him. After the expected protest from the young man he went on. “I was watching both of you. He gave you that opening to win and you fell for his trap. He was just a superior opponent son, there's no shame in losing to one in a sparring math.”
Retrieving his coat Carter put it on letting the father handle the son in this situation. Then the kid, who was still sitting on the ground, called out, “He cheated!”
“Nathaniel!”, Morgan barked. Carter turned to face the young man and held up a hand, letting Morgan know to let him take this one. He walked toward him and looked at him. He stared back all with all the defiance of youth.
“How?”, Carter simply asked. When no answer was immediately forthcoming he went, “You said I cheated. How did I cheat? I do deserve a chance to defend myself form that sort of accusation.”
Nathaniel got up and got in Carter's face as best as he could. “You grabbed the staff!”
“And?”, he asked looking for some further detail.
“You said...”, then he faltered.
“”I said,” Carter finished for him, “that you were to grab the staff and I'd would try and stop you. At no point did I say I wouldn't grab it myself to accomplish my goal.”
“But you never said....”
“Do you think a Horror is going to tell you exactly what he's going to do?”, Carter demanded. “Do you think it's going to give you a chance to point that out?” He looked away but he still looked angry. “Titled or not, a Makai Knight knows he has to pay attention, fight on what he see and on his instinct. Your father is not a titled Knight but he knew my what plan ended up being just by watching me, like I knew you were going to fall for by the way you were acting during that test.” Nathaniel ran back into the house, again his mother kept his younger brother from going after him ot make fun of him. To her and Morgan he said, “I'm sorry I've angered him.”
“Don't be,” Lyndsy told him, “he needed the reality check.”
“And since I've been trying to give it to him for the past couple of months, he obviously wasn't listening to his old man,” Morgan added.
“Still I think me being here is going to aggravate him for a while,” Carter said.”
“You don't have to leave,” Morgan told him.
“I know,” Carter looked back at the house trying to see if Nathaniel was any where near the doorway. “He'll probably cool down faster if I'm not around.”
“Not that boy,” Lyndsy said.
“Unfortunately,” Morgan agreed. Trying to change the mood a bit he told Carter, “But you are always welcomed her despite what my son currently thinks.”
“I appreciate that,” and he meant it. “Before I go there's a new Horror out there, likes to break people in two before devouring them.” Leonard stepped a bit closer to his mother upon hearing that.
“Sound like a nasty one,” Morgan said. “I'll keep an eye out when I'm on patrol. Anything else I should know about?”
Carter glanced back at Lyndsy, who was a Makai Priestess in her own right. “I have an assignment from the Watchdogs. They think somebody might be taking up where Sigma left off.” Morgan grimaced and held his wife close as she walked up to them. Most of that particular action might have primarily taken place in Japan but it's effects were felt worldwide. “Let me know if you see anything strange.”
“In our line of work,” Morgan said, just to try and lighten the mood. “If I see anything I'll let you know.”
“That would be appreciated as well,” saying their goodbyes Carter headed back toward the path. Once they were out of sight Xypher snorted a bit in an amused way. “What?”
“What you did with the kid,” he answered. “I seem to recall the old man doing the same thing to teach you a similar lesson.” Carter said nothing in response, but his lip curled up a bit as he thought about it again. It was an effective way to get the point across after all.
***
“Now,” Tony said as he sat down and put his feet up on the desk ion the room. It's previous occupant was kneeling in the floor battered and bloody, his guards sporting various broken limbs around the room. All ripe for the picking but it wasn't feeding time yet. “I like this area, particularly that park across the way. It seems to draw me in for some reason. Therefore I think it's high times these particular streets had a new king, wouldn't you agree?”
The man spat some blood onto the floor, “Go to hell you fuck.”
Tony started to grin as his eyes started to glow causing the other man to lose control of his bodily functions, “I was hoping you would make this a little harder.”
***
Jules crossed the street, giving a friendly wave to a car that let her do so. She had grown up in this particular city and knew it inside and out. Which made he job as a Makai Priestess a lot easier. She knew a couple of Priests that would wander from city to city from her own experience or from what Vincent had told her over the years. While she knew they had some specialized skill that required them to do so but with the near constant moving they had to do she often wondered if they found any time to make even the tiniest connection with anybody. Granted the couple she knew of seemed friendly enough but they also seemed a bit lonely, at least to her. She guessed she was too much of a stay in one place type of person to see it as anything else.
Thoughts for another time as she quickly came up to her destination, an old odd and ends store. Makai Knights may have their needs taken care of by the Watchdogs and the Senate, and the Priests as well, but a few of them had “day jobs”. Little places like this, partially so they could work on, or get, the various items their Order needed to hunt Horrors. It was also the ideal place to hear some idle gossip form the patrons about anything weird going on that might require their attention. Entering the nearly empty store she looked over at the counter and waved. The woman behind it smiled and waved back with one hand as she pressed a hidden button under that counter with the other. Walking toward the back Jules looked around and put a hand on a bare piece of wall and pushed revealing a hidden staircase leading down. The secret door closing behind her she took the flight down and found herself in Vincent's workshop. A familiar sight of her teacher hunched over his work station greeted her as she turned the corner. A quick raising of his hand was the only indication that he knew she was here. “How are you doing Vincent?”, the need of formality had long since disappeared between them as they were so close.
“As well as can be expected my dear child,” he said raising up a bit to stretch his back in his chair. “Never get old Jules, it's not worth it.” Whatever he was working he covered with a small cloth. “It's a surprise I don't want you to spoil it,” he said seeing her reaction.
“It's nowhere near my birthday,” she told him.
“I never said it was for you either,” he said with a slight twinkle in his eye.
“Then this should be interesting then,” she said as she took the offered seat next to him, “Have you found out anything about this McKay guy yet?”
“My sources are still looking,” he said as he massaged his hand. One glance as the tiny tools he was currently using explained the need to do so. “There are a couple in the city so far, it's trying to pin down the right one that's the tricky part. However,” picking through the various tools and objects on his work station he found a old worn book that he was looking for. Opening it to a marked page he handed it to her, “I may have discovered the name of that Horror we missed last night.”
“Hurklor,” Jules said out loud as she read the passage. “Well based on what you were able to get out that guy last night this might be it.”
“It seems to be a particularly nasty one as well,” Vincent commented as he took back the book. “You may want to get word to Carter. If you just happen to run into him that is, it is a rather large city after all.” She just nodded in response as she really didn't have anything to say about it. But her mentor just studied her for a moment. “Jules, I know it;' been a long time since you've been my pupil, but hopefully you won't mind a little unsolicited advice.”
“I would always take advice from you Vincent, you know that.” He smiled in a way that seemed a bit sad to her for some reason. Then again she was pretty sure she'd notice if something was really off with him so she let it go for the moment.
“First of all I feel I should be honest and say I have had a small discussion with Carter about the two of you.” Or maybe he was afraid she was going to become an old maid at her young age or some other thing. “He's very fond of you you know.”
“I'm pretty fond of him too,” she said.
“Oh I know,” he said with a slight chuckle, “I'm very aware of that. While I wont say exactly what we talked about because that will be up to him on if he decides to follow it or not. I just want to say there is nothing wrong with you making the first move either.”
“Okay,” she got out because she wasn't sure what else to say to that. There was no way she was going to mention that she had been staying over at his house on occasion. Granted she was upstairs and he was downstairs, but she wasn't sure how Vincent would react to that particular bit of news. And she was pretty sure Carter wouldn't mention that to Vincent either. Or for his sake he better not have mentioned it.
“I'm just saying that sometimes, if you know what you want in life, you should just go for it,” he continued.
“I understand what you;re saying Vincent, I really do,” she told him. “But I'm in a really weird place with Reks right now because of my feelings for Carter. I need to get that....”
“Don't worry about Reks,” Vincent told her. “If you and Reks were a couple then that would be a different story. But any problem you have with him will sort itself out. Another bit of advice my dear, don't worry about what other people are going to think. You'll lose more than one chance at something special that way.” Turning back to his workstation he said, “Now I would hazard a guess that Carter might be back from the Temple by now, and that cafe is still open, if you happen to run across him that is.”
“I'll keep that in mind,” Jules said as she got off the chair. Given in to an urge she hugged Vincent while he say in the chair, “Thanks for the advice, I'll think it over.” He patted her arm before she let go and made her way out. Maybe she would swing by that cafe after all. And if she saw Carter on the way there, well she did have some information for him after all.
***
“Are you sure about this?”, Xypher said as Carter walked town the street. Night had fallen not so long ago, which meant any Horrors in the area would be on the hunt as well.
“Fairly sure,” he told the pin as he looked around for anything out of the ordinary. “Based on what Jules told me this Horror doesn't just look for victims it looks for those with a particular mindset. A big fish looking for a bigger pond. This McKay person was the top guy in his fight ring. The next logical step would be to go after something go after someone with a little more power in the city.”
“You do realize that could be just about anything,” Xypher commented. “He could be looking for another fight ring to dominate.”
“That's not in this Horror's nature,” he said. “And you were there when she told us.”
“I know that. But why are we out here in this particular area? He could be just about anywhere.”
“Because this area is one of the closest areas to that garage,” Carter quieted down just long enough to pass by a couple going in the opposite direction. “Some small time hoods and gangbangers, a logical step up from a fight ring.”
The pin was quiet for a moment, “All right, I'll give you that one. And I can see why you suggested the two of you to split up to over more ground. But aren't you worried about Jules?”
“She's more than capable of taking care of herself,” Carter said. “Those hoods shouldn't be a problem if they decide to give her any trouble.”
“And if she runs into the Horror?”
Now it was Carter turn to be quiet for a bit. “As I said, she can take care of herself so so there's no need to worry.”
“Try telling that to someone not directly placed over your heart. Ow.” he uttered after a quick flick. Walking around a bit he noticed something was off, at least to him. Even if this person in charge on this street was small time criminal by most standards there should be some guards walking the street by his estimations. So far he hadn't seen any one that looked like they were paying closer attention to the others on the street than the usual passerby. Did he get the wrong street?
“Carter!”, somebody called out. He looked around to see Morgan wave at him before jogging over. “What are you doing out here in this part of town? Did you get orders too?”
“What orders?”. He asked.
“I'm pretty sure they were about that Horror you were telling me about earlier,” Morgan said. “They even suggested I seek some aid in taking it down. Since you're here and you knew about it first, would you care to join me? It's supposed to be in this area.”
“Don't you even say anything,” Xypher told Carter. “Not about joining you Morgan, but about him being right.”
“Do we have anything more specific than 'in the area'?”, Carter asked him as they started down the street. Everything said this Horror was dangerous, more so than usual. Anything they could get to track it down faster the better.
“I did a little recon earlier,” Morgan answered him. “There's supposed to be a hideout the local crime guys uses close by. Apparently it's been pratically abandoned most of the day. A few people on the street have been avoiding it saying they saw a bunch of guys run out after an older man forced his way in.” An older man, McKay was supposed to be an older man.
Once they were closes enough Morgan pointed out the suspected building. “Carter,” Xypher called out. “I'm detecting a Horror alright. But it's not coming from that building.”
“Where is it coming from?”, he demanded.
“That park over there.”
Holding the quote unquote made man up against a tree Tony looked around. “I don't know what it is about this park that's just drawing me to it,” he said as the other man clawed at his hand and wrist in an attempt to get away. Tony didn't even register his attempt to escape. “I mean I've been in this city all my life and not once even looked at a place like this longer than I had too. Must be the new me.” Finally looking at the former “king” of this particular street Tony let go long enough to grab him by both arms an pull. Tearing him apart the man quickly dissolved and was devoured in seconds. Using a thumb to wipe the corner of his mouth Tony walked away. “Maybe I'll rule the whole city from here.” He didn't go far, just to a lamp post, as he saw two individuals in his way. One in something a step above rags the other outfit covered by a long coat. Both of them stuck some kind of lighter in his face, each of which emitted a blue flame. His eyes acted on their own immediately as they gave him away as a Horror. Angry he tried to grab both of them, the one in the coat spun out of the way as the other backed up.
Tony looked at each of them as they took on a fighting stance he wasn't familiar with. But yet he knew exactly who they were. “Makai Knights. I was hoping to run into at least one of you.” In one motion he ripped his jacket and shirt in half as he tore them off his body. “Time to be king of a whole new area.”
“Not while I'm around,” Carter went at him, with Morgan quickly following suit as they attacked him. He got a pretty quick bead as Carter realized that McKay was basically a brawler and the Horror that took him over didn't seem to be more than that either. But what he liked in skill compared to Carter and Morgan, the strength from the Horror more than made up for it. McKay was more than holding his own as they tried to strike him from any angle they could manage. Morgan upped his attack in order to get his attention in order to give Carter a better chance. McKay quickly batted Morgan away and swung back at Carter. Ducking under the blow as he ran forward Carter jumped up and off the lamp post, twisting his body around with a kick to McKay's head. The blow staggered him back, but not much.
Rubbing his jaw a bit he stared down the Makai Knight, “I was hoping you Knights would but up this type of a fight. It makes you taste so much better after the juices flow through you.” Morgan ran in clipping McKay at the leg. Carter jumped up and over McKay grabbing him by the arm and used the Horror's unbalanced state and and his own body weight to throw him to the ground. Both Knights came in and kicked him in head as he tried to get up. His head snapped back but Morgan didn't see his hand shoot out and grab him by the ankle until he was feeling the pressure around it. The Knight went flying before Carter could stop him. Moving with a speed that could have only come from the Horror he got his feet and grabbed Carter and threw him into nearby tree. Running at him full force Carter barely had time to realize a bone like jagged spike grew out of McKay's forearm. Moving his head just enough that the spiked missed him Carter got a leg between them and pushed him back with all he had. He looked down at his chest then wiped off any imaginary dirt as he looked straight at Carter, “You are starting to piss me off.”
“No you don't!”, Morgan cried as he tried to catch off guard with a rush, Grabbing him around the neck as he jumped at him he tried to flip the Horror to the ground. McKay bent slightly but he held his position on sheer power alone. Getting a good grip on the Knight hanging off of him he threw him to the ground. Raising the arm with the extended spike up he swung it down like a club. A black staff intercepted it as he looked Carter in the eyes. Grabbing Morgan by the shirt he quickly puled him back as he blocked another blow from that spike. Using his extended reach Carter started striking McKay anywhere he could around his leg and knees trying to topple him at the same time blocking or dodging that spike. Mckay was growing angrier by the second, and more dangerous as he apparently knew how to channel that anger. While jumping over a low swing with that spike he realized too late he left himself open as his other arm battered him to the side. One more time he blocked that spike, but he was off balanced and the blow sent him to a knew. Another spike emerged from his left forearm and McKay had a sick look in his eyes as he could taste victory.
His confusion quickly turned into rage as he realized the killing blow was stopped by a sword wielded by Morgan. Seeing the Horror's eyes was off of him Carter gripped the other end of the staff with his free hand and pulled it in half, using the motion to use one of the hidden blades to cut into McKay's leg. Roaring more in anger than pain he took his eyes off of Morgan long enough for him to knock on of his arm spikes down to the ground. Getting his feet under him Carter jumped off McKay's leg and jammed his knee into the Horror's chin knocking his head back. Staggered he could barely put up any defense as both Makai Knights came at him with their blades, almost striking him at will with their combined attack. Finally getting a hold on the shabby one he knocked him into the other one. Stepping back more spikes grew from his knees as he hunched over a bit before rearing back and screaming at the knight sky. His skin burst apart as his mass seemed to increase very quickly, a spiked fin growing down his back as two fang like teeth reached up from his upper lip. It slapped his arms a bit before squaring off against the Knights.
Carter didn't even react to the change as he went after the Horror again. His blades flashing s he swung them around trying to keep the Horror form impaling him with the spikes Morgan ran in from the side and sliced him behind the leg. It reacted giving Carter a window to knock a spike away and stab it in the gut with the same blade. Quickly getting out of it's reach Morgan came up again aiming the point of his sword at his head. Hurklor blocked as Carter jumped on it's back and jammed the points of both blades into a shoulder. The Horror thrashed around trying to reach for him but Carter held on tight, only jumping off as Morgan jammed the point of his sword into a leg. Pulling the sword out and backing away before it could try to reach for him he joined up with Carter as they faced down the Horror. Joining the other end of his sword together to form the double bladed staff Carter held it over his head and spun it before bringing it down to his right side. Morgan raised his sword into the air and with a quick flick of his wrist cut a smaller circle in the sky. Bringing the sword down he held his other hand behind the blade in front of him. Both portals opened as plain, bronze wolf style armor covered Morgan and Carter soon donned the red armor of Rook.
Both sides ran at the other, Rook jabbing and swinging his weapon where he could as the other Makai Knight used more pin strike attacks to wear the Horror down even further. Still the Horror wasn't going down easy as he was able to hit the knight with one of his spikes as he bashed Rook away with the other. “Wait for my signal,” Carter grunted, not even seeing the other Knight nod in response as he ran at the Horror one more time. Swing his sword back and forth to deflect the spikes he waited for any opening he could see. Then he saw it. Hurklor brought down a spike with all the force it had. This time Rook let him using the armor to brace him this time around.. With a quick moment he held onto the the arm with one hand has he brought the double balded sword inbetween them. Bracing one end of the sword on the Horror's shoulder he was able to use what confusion and surprise he had at the moment to bend the Horror's arm around it. Locking him into that position he put a foot right behind the spike from the horror's knew and jumped up shouting, “Now!” The leverage from the staff as he jumped up and over the Horror caused it's arm to lift up exposing it's side. Morgan ran in yelling as the Horror freed it's arm, but not soon enough the Knight cut him deep. Landing behind him Rook brought the other end of his sword around and slashed him in the back. The Horror stood there for a moment before exploding in a fireball that quickly dissipated.
Armors returning from where they came from Carter separated his sword before sheathing both end and Morgan did the same.”Another one sealed away,” he told Carter.
“For now,” he said. The one sad truth about fighting Horrors, you could never truly defeat them. You just sent them back to their home dimension for a bit until they were strong enough to try it again. Still he looked at Morgan and told him, “I'm grateful for the help.”
“I'm pretty sure you saved me more than once,” Morgan said. “Something I'm sure Lyndsy will be more than grateful for too.”
“Carter,” Xypher called out, “I'm still sensing a Horror.” Carter and Morgan went back to back fully prepared to face what was coming. “It's behind you!” Both spun around, both of their blades partially drawn. Both Knights looked at the other in confusion.
Then Morgan glanced down. Carter did the same seeing whatever it was grabbed his attention. Slowly Morgan said, “Is that...”
***
In the chamber of the Watchdogs both Knights lowered a slab of park sidewalk to the floor. Standing Carter looked at them and said, “Horror Blood.” With their usual bored expression the looked upon the slab with a dark stain on it. A stain that pulsated every so often.
“It would appear to be,” the female named Illumina said. “Obviously from the Horror the two of you defeated tonight.”
“I respectfully disagree,” Carter told them.
“And what is your opinion of how it came to be there,?” The male called Nisoka asked.
Carter looked over at Morgan who nodded. Looking up at the Watchdogs he said, “Someone planted it there to attract Horrors to that location.” Both Watchdogs looked at each other at that statement, apparently communicating silently with each other. Witnessing this it was almost more unnerving then their usual uninterested expression.
Finally looking back at the two of them Illumina asked, “What proof do you have to back up your claim?”
“The fact that it's too concentrated a sample for one spot,” he said. “And there was no other splatter in the area the Horror was defeated in.”
“I can back that up,” Morgan spoke up. “We searched the area and didn't find any other source of contamination.”
“This is troubling news indeed,” Nisoka stated. Looking at Morgan he continued, “Knight, we task you with finding out who did this.”
“With all due respect,” Carter spoke up, “I feel this is part of the assignment you originally gave me.”
“Explain why you feel this way?”, the male Watchdog asked.
“Because those of us in the order are the only ones who know how their blood will affect the Horrors,” he said. “Only those who can get close enough and survive can collect it. It has to be some one in the order itself doing this.”
“And yet,” the female one said, “while you're statement is true, we do not see how this situation applies to your original assignment.”
Carter had already talked this over with Morgan as they traveled here. During that conversation he remembered something Vincent had told him earlier. “A feint,” he said, “to distract us. To keep our focus on an increase of Horror activity in certain areas while they are free to do what ever they're planning in others.”
The watchdogs communicated with each other silently one more time. Morgan spoke up, “I agree with Carter assessment of the situation. If someone is trying to exploit any rifts between the Knights and Priests again it would be best to attract our attention elsewhere.”
After a few more moments of silence the Watchdogs turned their attention back toward them. Nisoka was the one who spoke, “We also agree with this assessment. Rook, we add this to your previous assignment. Do so after you have cleansed your blades.”
“I will fulfill this added duty,” Carter said with a bow.
:”I will aid him in any way that I can,” Morgan added, bowing as well. Both Watchdogs retreated back to their space behind the balconies.
Alone Carter turn toward Morgan, “Tell anybody you can trust with this.” Carter didn't want to specify a Makai Priest or Knights in that statement. What Sigma did in Japan exposed cracks between the two sects. But both sides had to remember that they were part of the same Order. And a united front had to be the best way to confront those that would try to divide them again.
“I'll have Lyndsy spread the word as well,” Morgan told him. “The more eyes we have on this the better. We'll try to keep a handle on any increased Horror activity to free you up to look for the ones behind this.”
“I would appreciate that,” Carter told him. As Morgan went to cleans his blade Carter looked down at Xtpher, “We need to find Jules, I need her to look into something for me.”
“You're thinking about that false reading me and her got the other night. You think somebody planted Horror blood there too?”
“I have to be sure,” he said. “The more we find the more we can see where it's not being spread.”
“It's a pretty big city Carter,” Xypher reminded him. “Whomever behind this may get their plan up and running before we can eliminate anything.”
“Then we better hurry,” Carter said.
ED – Shaman's Harvest – Broken Dreams
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