Eyes of Cobalt & Foaming Maws
"Where we seek him, he is never there, only verification that he has been there. Your rabid dog kin has left an appalling amount of...disease...to be cleansed Marcus." Viktor addressed the man who had turned him; both of them were mounted on horses atop a hill. They were looking down at the first Death Dealers as an afflicted township was taken to torch. It would be morning soon. The son of Corvinus did not satisfy Viktor's insult bordering comment with a response; instead, he looked on in well-hidden misery. Instead Viktor continued the conversation himself, currently pleased with how his life was panning out, "I suppose that was our deal though, I help you find your brother and kill his spawn, you give me life. I think I definitely got the winning hand in our bargain." Viktor chuckled, his breath white in the air. Marcus knew he would be grinning, but would not turn his head to look at him. He had a great urge to king-hit him or even bury his sword deep into his heart, but he pushed those feelings aside. He needed Viktor. He needed his experience, his knowledge and his army.
Lady Amelia trotted up on her steed, a grim expression on her youthful beautiful face, her carriage as haughty as ever. Marcus looked upon her as a welcome interruption, often the mediator between the two headstrong men on the journey so far. It was as if she felt a disturbance in the atmosphere, as if everything was an argument away from going to hell. She took her helmet off and made her horse stand between the two other Elders, "We must seek shelter, Lords."
"Yes, indeed. There is an abandoned fortress close by, conveniently provided by Viktor in his past life." Marcus chuckled as his own jest.
"I know. I am so very thoughtful."
"Indeed, you are a man of great compassion and love for your fellow countrymen."
Amelia pushed Marcus in the shoulder playfully, but the look she gave him was a worried do not cross the line, please glance, "Now boys, quit playing, it's time for bed."
"Oh yes, my Lady." Marcus said cheekily, touched by her concern, reaching out with his free hand to touch hers. Her beautiful face always cheered him so. Amelia winked at him.
"I'm going to...round up my men...our men." Viktor informed the pair awkwardly.
As he began to trot away, Amelia called out to him, "Viktor!"
"Yes, Amelia?"
Marcus was the one to give her a warning glance this time and whispered, "He doesn't need to know." Amelia nodded in agreement.
"Oh, nothing, never mind." Amelia yelled to Viktor.
"Ah, what do I not need to know? As now you've just made me curious."
"Oh fuck, I forgot he could hear me now. Shit." Marcus rubbed his temples.
Amelia laughed girlishly, realised she did not really have to yell and spoke quietly, "Werewolves reported, near your settlement. We can head back tomorrow night if there is anything or anyone of importance there." The way Amelia pronounced anyone and pouted her lips made Viktor know she knew of Ilona. He was not sure what to make of her men's report, but still felt disturbed.
"Very well, we shall. Goodnight Amelia," Then Viktor glared at Marcus, "Marcus."
Ilona woke with her heart racing and the cold sweats – looking around at her surroundings she realised she must have fallen asleep in the forest. Unsure what had woken her, only knowing that it was loud, she rose to a crouch, pulled out her dagger and took in her surroundings. Then she could hear the distant screaming and the howls of wolves from the settlement. She bolted her way through the trees, unsure of what was happening, but surprisingly cool and collected. Instinct had taken over. Flight or fight response, and of course, Ilona would fight. As she came to the edge of the forest, she stopped still in shock, the second time that night that her brain could not comprehend what she saw for a moment. The second time she wondered if she was just having a nightmare.
Black, hideous creatures that looked like they were a cross of wolves, human and ape were ransacking the town, killing or eating every human they encountered. William, the father of all werewolves was at the forefront of the invasion with his whiter, more lupine, larger form and white rabid eyes. A few humans were fighting back, but most of the warriors had left with Viktor, those who survived the virus of course. Ilona ran towards her wrecked hut, already attacked. She made her way carefully inside the crumbling doorway, she needed to make sure her family was okay, and find her brothers sword. She found Janos lying on the floor, sweating so much he looked as if he was cooking alive. Next to him was the body of one of the beasts, with a gaping wound in its skull, its brains spilling out.
"Janos!" She ran to him and knelt by his side, inspecting where a large chunk of his arm was missing, still holding a sword loosely in its grip. The wound was bleeding profusely; already looking like it was festering. His skin was boiling hot and he seemed delirious. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, wailed Ilona's brain as clumsily wrapped his arm, the bandage already soaked in blood and sweat by the time she was finished.
She turned around in horror to watch the body of the wolf-beast turn into a young, naked, dead woman. Janos was laughing hysterically; neither were helping Ilona's problem solving process or her growing fear, "The wolves, they came! I told you, I told you," he slurred, as if he was drunk, high, or both, "Always knew a bitch would kill me, ha ha ha." Ilona knew then that Janos would not die, he was beginning to lose his mind, and he was beginning to change.
"Where are Elek and Zsuzi?" Ilona cried, "Please Janos."
Janos grew quiet and looked at her seriously, as if he was thinking about his response. Before he could say anything, his body began to convulse and he began to froth at the mouth like a rabid dog, twisting, twitching and shaking that badly Ilona thought his spine would break under the pressure. Ilona grabbed the sword he had dropped, trying to bring herself to put him down. She saw his face and skin were beginning to change, to morph and darken, hair beginning to sprout.
Before Ilona could put Janos out of his misery, a beast picked her up from behind, she managed to hack part of its head off before she was thrown into the side of the hut. The building finally collapsed and she became trapped beneath a wooden beam from the roof. This is the end, she thought, before passing out from her head injury, loss of blood and pain.
