Chapter 10

Sighing as I landed in front of the mansion, hiding my wings once again as I placed my trench coat on. Snow had began to fall once again as I stepped up the front porch steps to the front door. Stopping mere inches as I saw the door open, just a crack. Something wasn't right. I slowly opened the door and stepped inside, after kicking the snow from my work boots. I slowly looked around the inside, after closing the door. It was completely trashed. I growled as I smelt the odor that you never want to smell in this house, Dying Darkness Dweller. First thing that came to mind was the Lord's safety. I scrambled past fallen, tossed furniture and a hole in the stairs as I got up to his quarter's. The door was kicked in, broken off it's hinges. I stepped past the broken door as I looked around the room. Slowly I stepped up and slowly fell to my knees, there laid his robe upon the floor, tattered and torn. I smelt blood on it, it was his. Lowering my head as I gripped the material in my hands, until my knuckles turned white. I had let him down, I wasn't here when he was hurt and needed help.

I heard foot steps as I grabbed the knife out of my boot, arming myself as I turned quickly. I stopped as I got to my feet quickly, catching Sir Layfield in my arms. Slowly we both sank to our knees, he looked to me through streams of blood from gashes upon his face, "Master..Eli.. You returned." He spoke softly as I rummaged through my pocket, taking out a bandana placing it upon his facial wounds. Getting him to sit down, leaning his back against the wall, "Sir Layfield.. What happen? Where is the Lord?" I asked as I gripped his robe. "We.. We were ambushed by the Dying Darkness Dwellers... It happen so fast... I tried to get here as quick as I could.. But I was taken by a winged dweller and dropped off somewhere.. I failed.." Sighing as I shook my head, "No.. I did. I should of been here.." Taking a flask out of the inside of my trench coat pocket, giving some to Sir Layfield as he drank. Recapping it and putting it away as he sighed. "Who's left?" "I don't know.. I heard someone in here, that's why I came here. Then I saw it was you..."

Nodding my head some, "It's too quiet, they are either all dead or taken. Where is the Lord, Sir Layfield?" He shook his head, "I.. I don't know.. Last thing I remember is hearing him yell in pain, before I passed out." Lowering my hand as he placed his upon the bandana that sat upon his head. Slowly getting to my feet as I picked up the Lord's robe in my hands. "He's hurt bad Sir Layfield... I found his robe, it has his blood upon it. But he isn't here, I don't feel his presence." Sir Layfield slowly got to his now more sturdier feet. "What are we gonna do now?"

Placing the Lord's robe upon my shoulders, keeping it in my possession, slowly turning to face him. "We must make a search of the house. See who is alive, dead, and taken. See how many we have left. If there isn't many, then I might have to call in a favor to some that owe me. Then we will track down the Triple D's, find Lord Calloway fast as we can. He doesn't have much strength left to survive but two days. Unless they do more to him, which is possible." Sir Layfield lowered the bandana from his face, the wounds had healed as he cracked his neck, tossing it to the side. "You can count me in."

Nodding my head some as we both walk out into the hallway. Sighing some as I shook my head, "There is nobody up here now. There was before, during battle. You all tried to help, but they were many." Sir Layfield nodded his head as he started down the stairs, picking things up as he went to clear a path.

I followed as I stopped at the bottom of the stairs, slowly turning as I heard something. Sir Layfield stopped and looked, "What..." Lifting a hand up to stop him as I slowly moved towards the noise, slowly pushing opened a door as I was tackled to the ground, my knife flying out of my hand to the floor, kneeling over me was Sir Batista. Sir Layfield ran over and grabbed his right wrist with a knife in it, "Hold on.. It's Master Eli.." He proclaimed as Sir Batista sighed and got to his feet, "I'm sorry Master Eli. I thought you were one of them." Leaning a hand out to help up Master Eli, I slowly rose to my feet as I adjusted the robe upon my shoulders. "Quite alright Sir Batista. Anybody else with you?" He nods his head as some of the members slowly came walking out. "We were barricaded in that room until now. Don't know how but we tried to get out to get to the Lord.." I shook my head as I stepped into the foyer and sighed, "It's alright. These things are tricky. They got me too.."

Sir Batista and Layfield followed and looked to me, "They did?" Layfield questioned. Nodding my head as I explained what happen as I opened my trench coat, showed them my torn shirt and the scars upon my chest. "Got away barely. I knew something was up, but I didn't know it was here until I showed up." "Wasn't your fault Master Eli.." Batista said as the remaining members, slowly started cleaning the house up. "It was Sir Batista. I gave my oath to him to protect him. I have all these years. This happens and I failed to be here to protect him. Now look, half the group might be dead or missing. The Lord is badly hurt and who knows where he is.." Batista and Layfield looked to one another then back to Master Eli. "We'll find him.. Trust me." Batista said as he headed for the basement. "Why do you say that?" Batista motioned for me to follow as I looked to Layfield, "You stay up here, help clean up and report to me, survivors, kidnaped or deceased." He nodded his head as I followed Sir Batista down into the basement.

Things in the basement were not as bad as upstairs. Following him as he moved a few things out of his way as members of the group slowly came out of hiding or was getting out from under something. Sir Batista led me to one of the cells in the back of the basement as he motioned to the closed door. "We have a lead..." Stepping up as I narrow my eyes, "Murihan.. What are you doing here?"

A pair of yellow orbs looked up to me through strands of jet black short locks of hair. His eyes stood out from his dark reddish skin. Tail twitching beside him as his wings were restrained to keep him from flight. Shackles encircled his wrists and ankles. Only thing he wore was a pair of tattered, black jean shorts. "So the fledgling returns.." His dark, deep hoarsed voice sounded as he spoke. "I live here. What are you doing here?" Chuckling deeply as he closed his eyes as he hung from the ceiling of the cell. "Wouldn't you love to know Elias.."

Sir Batista looked to me, "You know this Demon Dweller?" Nodding my head, "Yes I do. I can not tell you more than that. Leave us and go help the others and Sir Layfield make tallies. Report to me as soon as your finished." Sir Batista looked to the demon once more then walked off as instructed.

Turning my attention back to Murihan, "Tell me Demon why are you here? Or I will force you to tell me.." Murihan smirked, "I do not have to answer to you, but Lord Calloway, that's it." Lifting a brow to him, "Well when he isn't present, I'm in command. So spill it Demon." Sighing as he slowly opened his eyes looking to me, "I came here to take over what is rightfully mine. It shouldn't be Lord Calloway in charge, it should be me. I was destined for greatness all these centuries, not him!" I started laughing, "Are you nuts Murihan? Nobody isn't stupid enough to give you that kind of power. You wouldn't know how to handle it like Calloway does." "Tells you how much you know fledgling." Narrowing my eyes, "I'm not a fledgling. You've been in the darkness too long to see I'm beyond that. Who got caught during a raid of someone's home and who stands on the outside looking in on your misery.. I do." Murihan narrows his eyes, "You won't be for long. Once my group sacrifices Lord Calloway and takes his soul. He will no longer exist. His throne will be vacant and then I will be able to take it over as I should of been placed long ago." Growling as I grip the metal bars, "Tell me where they took him Murihan or suffer a painful death. Don't forget I am part of what you are. I know your weaknesses." Murihan looked to me, "You wouldn't dare.." Snorting a bit, "Try me Demon Dweller. Now spill the information or I will spill your blood a little at a time." Shaking his head, "I rather die than give up my group's location." Nodding my head as I lowered my hands, "So be it. When you want to talk I'll be around." Slowly I walked off, heading back upstairs.

Sir Layfield and Batista gave me the update as most of the group was still around. We lost a few commanders to death and the Lord in a kidnaping, but it could of been worse. Most wounds could be healed and tended too. Nodding my head as I gave instructions on the prisoner downstairs, "Do not feed him. No matter how much he bellows and such. He can't live long without being fed. He'll give me what I want by the time we need it." Both men nodded their heads, "What do we do till then?" Layfield asked. Sighing a bit, "Go on about our duties. Everybody stay on alert for clues, talk, etc. Anybody is bound to have a clue or know something. I'm going to rest a bit then set out on my own hunt." Both of them nodding once again as I headed upstairs for some rest before going out on my own hunt. I was hoping I would find Lord Calloway in time.