Eye of the Cobra
Chapter One
The little bell tinkled when he pushed the door open. The lady behind the counter looked at them with anticipation. They were probably her first customers since the coffee house was deserted as it was early in the morning.
"Hey, sweetheart," Dean said in his most charming Dean Winchester smile.
She blushed and smiled back. It always worked on the ladies.
"What can I get you," she asked, her eyes gleaming.
"Plain black coffee."
"Er…is Mr. Williams here?" Sam spoke for the first time.
"Yes, would you like me to call him?"
"Yeah, thanks."
She left and within a minute she came back with Dean's coffee and an old man of about fifty years old was behind her.
Sam cleared his throat. "Mr. Williams, we're Ian's friends and we were wondering if you could tell us exactly what happened while you were there in Blackwood forest. The newspaper said that you-"
Dean cast his eyes around the restaurant. He walked to a corner where there was a bird cage. A colorful parrot stared at him innocently as he approached the cage.
"Hey Fuzzy," he spoke to it.
"Whazzuuup!" the bird replied.
Surprised, Dean moved closer to the cage, his face showing amusement.
"Hey Sammy it speaks!"
"I can see that," Sam answered, rolling his eyes.
He went back to interviewing the old man.
"You're a cute fella, aren't you?" Dean said
He picked up one of the chilies that had been placed in a small compartment at the edge of the cage and waved it at the parrot. Beady eyes followed the red chili and the bird snapped its beak, taking a good bite on his fingers.
"Ouch! It bit me!"
Sam gave Dean a scornful look.
"You might want be more careful with the bird, it bites," Mr. Williams ventured.
"Thanks," Dean replied sarcastically.
He frowned at the bird. He was about to say something when his cell phone rang.
"Yeah, Bobby?"
The parrot made loud noises whilst he conversed with Bobby as if to purposely annoy him. Bobby asked him what the noise was.
"It's just some stupid bird that's pissing me off, never mind."
He talked for a few more minutes before slipping the phone back to his pocket.
"You're a Meany, you know that," He said to the parrot.
"Arsshhooouule!"
"What!"
The bird clucked mockingly at him. Dean turned only to find Sam standing right behind him; his lips tightly shut because he was suppressing a laugh. Dean snorted and walked out of the coffee house. Sam followed and as soon as the door was closed he burst out laughing heartily.
"Sammy! Not funny!"
Sam laughed out more.
"Dude, will you stop it!"
"Dean…the bird's got more class than you!" He said amid gales of laughter.
Dean smacked him on the head.
"What did you do that for?"
"I'll give you another one if you don't shut up!"
Sam sneered at him. The two brothers walked to the Impala. Dean sat on the hood while Sam stood, his face contorted in a funny gesture because he was trying hard to stifle a laugh.
"So what did the old guy say?" Dean asked as he sipped his coffee.
"Give me a minute."
Sam turned and walked a few steps before laughing out loud. Dean let out an exasperated sigh, then grinning smugly, he threw his empty plastic cup at him. Sam looked back and the cup hit him squarely on the cheek. Now it was Dean's turn to laugh.
"Not fair! I'm not the one to blame."
"You asked for it!"
"Okay fine. I'll tell you. Mr. Williams said that an animal attacked Ian. He didn't see it but he thinks it was a bear. But the marks we saw from the other victims on the photographs show that there's something fishy going on there. We should check out the place."
"So it's not a werewolf and it's not a wendigo."
"No."
Dean nodded and the two got into a car.
"Bobby called."
"Another case?"
"Yes. He talked about a cult involving black magic and he's suspecting demonic involvement. Secret rituals have been taking place and apparently people have been missing. That's no coincidence."
"You think there's some kind of human sacrifice?"
"I don't know. It could be."
"Where?"
"Near Blackwood forest, Seattle."
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Max mounted her bike and brought it to life. She glanced at the street shops, the people passing by and finally at Logan's concerned face.
"You're sure about this," he asked her, "maybe he just needed some time off."
"Alec won't take off like that. He would have called us. I'm sure, they took him."
"Where are you going to?"
"Blackwood forest. He wrote that in his notebook which I found from his locker. I need to find him Logan. Something's not right."
Logan nodded. "I'll call you if you don't get back by nightfall. Take care."
"I will," Max replied, smiling reassuringly.
Sighing deeply, Logan watched as the bike disappeared into a corner…
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Sunlight filtered in through the entangled branches. A light breeze swished the leaves back and forth. A chilly mist cloaked the forest.
"Find anything?" Sam asked.
"No."
The dry leaves crunched under their feet as they walked. A shrill cry of a bird echoed in the dense forest. Dean gazed around and saw the bird. It gave another cry before soaring up into the sky.
"I think it's getting closer," Dean mumbled.
The wind was now blowing in gusts and the forest was getting darker. Sam heard a faint rustle in the bushes. He turned, straining his ears. A dark silhouette moved among the trees. He looked around but the figure was gone.
"It's watching us," Sam said.
Dean's gaze drifted among the trees, his gun raised. An eerie sound whistled through the trees.
"Do you see it?" Dean asked.
All of a sudden, a black furry creature leapt out of the bushes and pounced on Dean. It was about two meters high and it resembled a dog, only its mouth revealed a set of razor-sharp fangs and the black eyes were ablaze with rancor. By sheer reflex, Dean shielded the attack by pressing his riffle diagonally to himself. Sam fired nonstop at the dog-like creature. It yelped in pain and shoved Dean to a tree. Sam aimed for its head but the creature pushed the gun out of his hands with a surprising speed. Menacingly, it howled, the black eyes glaring at him threateningly. Sam stepped back, his eyes fixed on the lethal fangs. The creature snarled greedily and stood poised for attack.
"Sorry, dinner is cancelled Doggy!"
Sam looked up to see Dean standing. The creature turned and Dean did not hesitate to pull the trigger. Three bullets lodged on its chest. The impact was enough to bring it down but the beast reeled backwards and fell on Sam. It landed heavily on his legs. He tried to move but he could not. Dean rushed to his aid. Unexpectedly, deadly claws slashed his arm. Another dog-like beast had appeared and with one swift movement, it grabbed Dean and pulled him back into the bushes.
"DEAN!"
He could not see him. His brother was gone. Gone into the dark forest with a predator ruthless and unforgiving…
The beast dragged him along, its paw clutching Dean's leg. A groan slit its way out of his throat. His arm was bleeding but there was little he could do to break free. It suddenly stopped and shoved him away, growling and snarling furiously. Dean forced himself to his feet, his eyes searching for any weapon he could use. He had a knife, but it was too small to do enough damage. A jagged twig not far from his feet seemed like the only option. The beast advanced, the voracious eyes watching its prey, its enemy. Dean dived for the long twig and plunged it into the creature's belly as it leapt on him. A chilling yelp of agony escaped from its foul mouth. Dean fell on his knees, his energy diminishing. He had lost blood maybe too much, from the wound. The creature staggered but then it slowly moved towards Dean. It wailed in fury but it was not ready to lose its prey for it had never lost a battle between predator and prey…
Max moved through the trees, searching for any clues or a sign of life. She took out Alec's notebook and thumbed through the pages until she found the one she needed. There was a drawing of a snake, a cobra that had raised its head as if ready to strike. Alec had drawn it and below the drawing the words 'Blackwood Forest' stood out in black. What did the drawing mean? A symbol? What happened to him?
"Just where are you Alec?"
A sharp cry reverberated in the forest. Max listened before running to the direction where the noise emanated from. She did not stop until she came across a clearing girdled with tall trees. A dog-like creature was approaching a man sprawled face down on the ground. It was going to kill him. Without a second thought, she took out her crossbow. A black arrow pierced the thick skull right above the eyes of the beast. With a resounding thud it collapsed and gave a strained wail and then it was no more.
Max walked towards the man. A necklace with a strange pendant caught her eyes. She picked it up; it probably belonged to him. She knelt beside the man and turned him. The man gave a soft moan and lapsed into unconsciousness. She shook him gently but he lay still.
"Alec! Wake up! Alec!"
TBC