Chapter 5
They finally meet
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I awoke to the sound of wood being chopped, several footsteps moving around and the cold breeze that brushed across my neck shaking me awake from my slumber…
As I awoke I felt my head aching, man what Piper said wasn't a lie…
Alright brother, I'm going to knock you out with a sleep spell, however when you wake up your head will hurt a bit kind of like a bad hangover.
What's a hangover?
SLEEP!
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I guess her spell worked because my head's killing me…
I sat up unable to help but groan and hold my head, my eyes looked around….was…..am I in a tent?
"Oh, good your awake. I feared we may have lost another one." I heard a voice and looked over expecting to see a horrifying looking monster but….
It was slightly taller than me, short red hair and calm amber eyes it's skin was a slight tan and it was wearing a cloak around it's shoulders but the thing that made me freak out a little was the two red horns sticking out from it's head and how sharp it's teeth where.
He was….a monster.
It was holding a metal tray that was worn out and old but held some bread and a hot drink of some sort. It walked over and set down the tray at the side of the bed on the small dresser that was stuck together by tape.
"Wh-where am I?" I asked trying not to sound afraid of it….I've never been this close to a monster before. Just being around this one….this one in particular makes me feel…..uneasy like there's bloodlust raiding off of it and just the sight of it makes you afraid if your on the opposite side…
"Your in my tent at the camp." It looked at me weird raising an eyebrow. Then folded it's arms, "Isn't that what you were looking for? And why you were knocked out in the woods?" I blinked and I quickly responded,
"Oh-yeah sorry I don't remember much after being knocked out." I replied. It looked at me, studying me it was suspicious I knew it was by the way it looked at me.
"Hmm," It said raising it's eyebrow again, "How did you get knocked out by the way?" I felt panicked it was clearly testing me which meant it wasn't as dumb as it seemed. Despite feeling worried about blowing my cover I remained relaxed on the outside saying,
"I don't quite remember. All I remember is running into an elf and then I saw some powder and got sleepy and then I was out." It stroked it's chin turning away from me,
"It must be a sleep spell," He paused glancing at me again, "Which would explain the head pain." It said turning back around looking for something among it's vials. How did it know so much about magic? I thought monsters didn't know anything about magic, something was different about this one.
But did it really matter in the end?
Despite my head pain I know what I came here for and that's to find the weaknesses of these things, so I have to blend it but I should try and get some answers out of this monster.
"So, who are you?" I asked casually and the creature froze and looked at me calmly but I could feel a chill run up my back the way it's dark eyes looked at me and it's lips frowned.
"I'm the one in charge here, your boss." So it's the leader here? If we're gonna land an attack on them this monster would be the first thing we would want to take out of the equation. Without this one the others would surely be helpless and afraid.
"What are you by the way?" I asked casually again. It's body language suggested it was getting annoyed but I didn't bend to it's will it doesn't scare me….okay maybe it does but I won't let that stop me from my task. I only came here for one thing and that's to find a way to defeat these monsters...these things.
"A demon." It said annoyed like I thought. "I thought that would be obvious from the horns." I shrugged,
"I just wanted to make sure." I replied. It turned back to the vials it was looking for.
I shifted my weight on it's bed-Actually I couldn't even call this bed if anything it's just a log with cloth over it and a old pillow case filled with….is this news paper?
"So...what are you afraid of?" I asked with an innocent smile,
BAM
I jumped from the sound of the monster pounding it's fist into the dresser, I felt my body shake uncontrollably from the bloodlust that filled the tent it's amber eyes glowed a bright red and the tips of its horns where black….It slowly looked at me and I couldn't stop trembling.
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So this is what a monster really is….
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"Why do you ask so many questions." It's voice had gotten slightly deeper.
"I-I'm just c-carious.." I said putting my hands up in front of me-these things were dangerous. I watched it's every movement waiting for it to attack wondering if I'd die here….
Slowly it's shoulders relaxed and it's eyes returned to normal as it turned away from me. "Keep your questions to yourself. If your gonna stay here it's best to keep your trap shut and do what your told."
He-it didn't attack me? Is it because I look like one of them?
Another sigh escaped the monster in front of me as it tightened it's cloak and pushed the tray closer to me. "You should eat, regain your energy, afterwards I'll assign you a job." I've never had to actually work before. Even though this action made me want to puke I nonetheless nodded and said a simple,
"Thank you." It's body stiffened and he looked at me uneasy.
"What?" I questioned.
"Um...don't say that again." It paused muttering something under his breath that I could barely make out, "Geez that spell must of done something to you more than just put you to sleep." It left the tent after that and I found that weird.
Once it did leave I picked up the bread sniffing it…..doesn't smell like there's any poison in here, I glanced at the liquid and it looked like it was tea.
After I was done I stood up and decided to look around the monsters tent to see if I could find anything. Sadly all I seemed to find was messy papers vials with different color liquids in them and some old letters…..addressed to…
Wait this one looked like it's addressed to the monsters father..
I picked it up and read it..
Dear Father
The camp is barely holding up all the other camps have been taken out by
Enemy forces. How is the war going not good I would imagine,
I will try my best to sustain the last remaining monster camp
However if I am being honest I'm not sure it can be done.
Please write back as soon as you can from your
Only son
-Akabane
His names Akabane?
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." I jumped and the paper in my hands fell to the floor, I spun around and flailed my hands around spitting out the words,
"I wasn't-I was just-" the monster in front of me laughed and walked over to me I froze.
H-her hair...and h-her eyes….
...N-Nakamura?
"I wouldn't go through the bosses things, if you I might have to turn you to stone." It smiled and my eyes widened my heart felt like it was running a marathon. Nakamura...Nakamura is here….but-but she's an elf..how...
"Y-your...medusa?" It laughed,
"What-no that's my mom who.." They paused their smile fading. "Perished in the war….Eh she got her eyes gouged out...so what am I right?" She said forcing a smile….I felt….bad...kinda but I also felt pained….Nakamura...is she undercover here too or is she really a monster and how has she not recognize me by now?
"No I'm the daughter of Medusa my hair doesn't turn people to stone but my eyes do whenever I feel like it." I quickly shielded my eyes and another laugh one that pained my heart...
"Calm down, they only do that when they're grey. Besides I wouldn't turn one of our own into stone." I gradually uncovered my eyes fighting back the tears in my throat and glanced at the blonde-haired monster who I now noticed had a scar over it's right eye. Had she always had that I'm sure she didn't….
"W-what happened.." I said pointing at their eye and they touched the mark.
"Oh this? Just a little run in with an elf trying taking out my eye but they where to slow. Now, enough talking let's get you to work and...I wouldn't go through the boys stuff anymore he can...get pretty scary if you mess with him.
"W-what did you say your name was?" I asked pained. She gave me another smile,
"Oh right, names Rio and welcome to the monster camp."