Child of the Damned
Chapter 3
Footfalls crunched the fallen snow echoed loudly in the silent forest only to be drowned out by the chilly wind that howls past the traveling group who seemed unconcerned. The five men did not give any attention to the dead forest that surrounded them, uncaring about the rotting leaves that were crushed under their weight or how the snow froze to their feet and blinded their path. All of their attention focused on their destination and the group of hungry beasts slowly surrounding them.
The savaged animals began to follow them once they strayed from the path leading to the castle, uninterested in the magnificent building that loomed after them. The beasts were content to follow them to their destination to that cave hidden at the bottom of the icy mountain, on the opposite side of the castle. As soon as they pasted the path to the castle did they notice that they were being stalked, soft growls and the crunching of snow followed behind them forcing the group to keep their guard up.
Unaware to the group, they were also being pursued by someone high up in the trees; the thick bare branches concealed the pale being. A single golden eye followed every single movement they made, as well being anxious of the four black wolves following them. Gloved fingers gripped the trunk of the tree when a strong gust blew past, white hair pale as his skin blew into his eyes and making his oversized red sweatshirt flail among his small skinny frame. Baggy blue jeans covered his booted feet as they found no trouble gaining foothold on the branch. As the cold gale died down, the figure leapt deftly onto the next branch, keeping behind the strange group and the ferocious wolves.
The groups silence was a relief on his sensitive ears, the orange one seemed to get into loud arguments with the frightening hairy one, both of them sounding strange to the pointed ears. He was glad that the one that was floating above the snow told them to be quiet, much to the other two in the small groups' satisfaction. What the pale figure found astonishing was what the wolves were doing; only one of the beasts were making noise, letting the others close in at the sides of the group.
As they walked further, the snow slowed with the vast amount of trees that were thickening. They stretched up, there branches blocking the grey sky and the ominous feeling amplified as the forest grew denser around them. With the high branches forced their little follower hope lower to view everything that was happening.
Looking at their surroundings, Magneto deduced that they were close to the cave as the snow grew thicker and the grey sky vanished in the tangle of dead limbs. Looking down the steep hill they were on, he saw a dark patch amid the rocks of the mountain, his view partially covered by a vast tree that was growing near the cliff side.
"Gah!"
Startled by the raucous screech that seemed to be amplified by the deafening silence that was in place before, Magneto whirled around to find the rest of the group starring at the disruption with bated breath. After a few tensed seconds Magneto let out an annoyed huff at the arsonist of the group as the ludicrous bright orange hair popped up from the snow, spitting out the cold flakes the managed to get in his mouth and muttering something about tree roots. Magneto also noticed that Pyros' abrupt fall seemed to startle their stalkers as well, if the lack of growls wasn't a dead giveaway. To his amusement, he also noticed that a perfect body imprint was left in the snow with arms spread wide.
"Tell me again, why is it that we can't just float down to this cave in those blasted containers?" The annoyance was clear in the Australians voice, as well as his expression but that is what one gets for putting Pyro in a cold environment. Dusting himself off, he looked towards Magneto for the answer he heard constantly.
"You know why, I don't know the exact location and the trees are too thick to break through. But you can stop your complaining because I believe that the cave is just down this hill." Pyro seemed to perk up at the tidbit of information, though that still didn't make him feel better about being in a place full of snow. Magneto braced himself as the pyromaniac opened his mouth but he was silenced as a strident crack sounded behind them.
Whirling around, everyone only had a second before Colossus was tackled to the ground, the black form brutally tried to rip the Russian to pieces, it's fangs failing to pierce the metal skin of his arm. Raising his fist Colossus thrust it forward, striking the vicious creature off of him. Rushing to his feet he got a proper look at his assailant before it would get the chance to attack again.
The wolf was half the size of him, the body was lean and muscular and the thick black fur was ruffled in the wind that still managed to slip through the trees, its tail swung back and forth as it plotted its next attack. Haunting yellow eyes appeared to glare at him, angry that it was not able to injure the Russian. It hunched forward, ready to attack again, the attack on Sabertooth made it pause for only a second before it launched into action.
Startled from the abrupt attack, the single golden eye continued to watch intently as the last two beasts attacked the stunned four, each slightly bigger than the first. Gloved hands gripped the thick branch he broke off tighter, ignoring the slight pain he felt as the branch began to strain, all of his attention focused on the group under the onslaught of fangs and claws.
His body curled further in itself as additional fear grew in the pits of his stomach, his eye never leaving the group as flames licked the falling flakes or how one man clawed just as savagely as the wolves that were attacking them. Tremors shook the trees as explosions dispersed through the area, and his ears burned at every sound brought forth. Hands released the death grip on the damaged branch and shot up to his sensitive ears, fending off the deafening explosions as best as he could, a headache being brought forth by the sounds of combat.
Gambit swiftly dodged the wolf as it pounced, trying to use its bodyweight to crush him. His red eyes caught site of a branch tumbling down the trees, a flash of white caught his attention before it was quickly diverted back to the beasts; it seems that they have another follower on their trail.
It was spectacular, the room was bathed in a mix of Persian blue and cyan light that glowed off of lapis lazuli stones in the ceiling, and the ground shimmered silver due to the moonstones and opals decorated the ground they walked on. Heaps of gold lined the walls made all of the men gape at the amount. Gold statues of various sizes and creatures protruded from piles of coins, closed chests and gold cutlery.
Sharp grey eyes ignored the surroundings, focused on the ebony casket lying in the center of the room. White teeth were bared as his lips pulled back into a crazed grin, and started forward towards the casket. The silver designs melded perfectly on the surface only added to the beauty, rubies and emeralds were littered along the sides and forged into the cross that decorated the lid. To his astonishment, as he loomed over the casket, it was not made from wood the color of ebony but of black opals, multitude of colors shimmered under the black exterior.
"Asa cum I-am promis domnilor, ti platesc. Ajuta tu insuti." The words flowed fluently, despite his English accent, and every man looked at the professor as if he was insane. Did he not want the riches surrounding them? Each man was cautious as they strode forward, their skin a ghastly pale as they looked around, but soon greed took over as they sped up their steps and began to stuff their bags full of the various pieces of gold.
Jonathan glanced around, enthralled by the beauty hidden in the caves underneath the castle, past the two enormous ebony doors with the symbol of the Dracul clan. The gold metal gleamed ominously in the flames of their lanterns, the wings spread to the sides as the tips twisted into oblivion. Rubies formed the fierce bats eyes as they glared down at the intruders, snout pulled back revealed razor-sharp fangs and giant ears pointed straight down. The look of the creature sent shivers creeping down everyone spines; they ignored the feeling and continued forward as the doors opened with a simple push from the professor.
Gems merged into stone glittered and entranced all. He was too absorbed into the splendour of the cave, he did not, nor anyone else notice, Professor Jonah lure one of the helpers towards a coffin. A burly man at the age of 50, his bag already full of gold coins for his family, showed no sign of anxiety as when he entered through the ebony carved doors. No one paid any attention as the man opened the lid carefully as the professor coaxed him onward and still no one even glanced as the professor snuck out the doors as they shut after him. Only did their attention focus on the man as a resounding shrill of a scream reach their ears, and what they saw forced everyone of them to still from shock.
Okay, I'm tired so I'm ending it here for now, and this chapter might not be that great, but I'll make it up to you in the next chapter I sware!
What Professor Jonah said to everyone is basically "As I promised gentlemen, your pay. Help yourself."
Again I give praise to Goddess of Gods for her review. If you want praise too then send a review.
Don't mean to sound rude, but as I said I'm tired so I'm sorry, but until next time!
-CxL