Chapter Nine
Norville gathers one of Daphne's shirts, a puddle of dark red that pooled in his large hands and inhales the scent. Fred and Vel just stared, hearts intwined for once, but only in fear.
"So?" Velma starts quietly, "Is it enough?"
Norville drops the shirt on to the sofa, and nods, Fred and Velma noticed his eyes. Dark, almost black with recent hues that seemed to swirl and twist, the colors range from violet to deep silver to red and finally settling on a sharp gold. Velma's mouth drops only for a moment before she turns to see if Fred resgistered what she also manifested. If he did, his face didn't show it. Rather, his face mirrored a blank slate - void of anything.
"We should leave the dog behind," Norville says opening up the door giving the cold airs permission to rush inside.
"I'm not leaving Scooby here!" Fred argues already leashing his Dane.
Norville shakes his head, but goes out, his face towards the sky. Velma goes out after,
"Norville - what are you doing?"
He sniffs the chilly air, picking up Daphne's scent miles and miles away from where they stood. Freddy locks the barn and tightens his hand on Scooby's restrain.
"I've got the scent. I know where she is." Norville, without thinking, lunges into a nearby tree with gracefull ease.
"Norville?!" Velma shouts after him.
Scooby becomes excited and tries to rip away from Fred.
"Come on," the two hear as they tremble on unsteady feet.
Daphne Blake cries as the monster whips his tail steadily back and forth behind him. It had already penetrated her leg, forced it's way through and leaving a nice gaped hole. She knew that she couldn't afford another injury.
She pleads with the beast, "Please, please," knowing it was futile - this beast would kill her.
It's tongue slithers out, long and thick, with heavy looking knobs on both ends and they pulsed, beating as if a heart.
"Please - please, don't!" Daphne shrieked, as it's tongue made contact with her dirtied face, lapping - lingering.
Her hands ball into fists as she decidely tries to defend herself, but as soon as she lunges her hands, the monster detects her movement and thrusts it's tail straight through her hand, creating another hole. Daphne screams, the sound shattering Norville's eardrums as he neared the abandoned warehouse lot. His hands travel invoulntary towards his ears, Velma is quick - right by his side.
"Norville?" Her hand hovers over his arm, "Is it her?"
All he does is nod, his eyes still a dark gold.
"I need you two to stay out here," Norville says gazing at the both of them.
Fred shakes his head, definace straightening his brow, forming his lips into a tight line.
"No. - I won't let you go in there by yourself."
He points at himself then Velma and continues his argument.
"Vel and I will go in with you."
Norville shakes his head, "I need you two to stay out here. Don't make me tell you again," he growls, his words almost inaudible but the grit and gravel detailing an edge in his tone.
Fred and Velma watch as Norville runs towards the warehouse on all fours faster than any dog.
Norville creeps through the broken doors, still downward but remaining cautious - it's dark and the fouled oder hinder his senses. A flash of blurred greys and blacks zip in front of him, a girl whimpers in agony and misunderstanding.
"Daphne," Norville whispers her name, standing now.
She calls out in her desperation - "Please, please! I don't want to die."
Her voice crackles and breaks down, caught up in knots and tangles in her throat. Norville knew he had to act quickly, attack the neck - it would be easier if he could by pass it's tail somehow.
A growl rips from his throat as he lunged forward, teeth bared. The hell bender turns, it's tongue hanging out, it's eyes orange - mad, but it finds time to grin as it's tail slashes at Norville who barely misses the knife like blade. Landing on the floor roughly, Norville gets to his feet and strikes again.
The hell bender is too massive, his build making it cumbersome to be swift like his oppenet. Norville glides underneath the monster, his claws digging into it's hind and drawing blood. The monster bellows angerily, it's tail smashing into the wall, seeking in angle. Thrashing wildly, it tries to disengage Norville's grasp, but he only sinks in further in search for the tender flesh.
Daphne screams knowing where this would lead her, she tries to move but already lost to much energy and blood. Norville bites the hell bender's neck, it's blood oozed over his tongue, and he shamelessly drinked it down regretting his choice but savoring the taste of a fresh kill. The beast hollared as it realized it's fate. Norville grinded his teeth, shredding the flesh, devouring the meat. The hell bender collapses, Norville speedily shifts from underneath the beast before he's crushed underneth it's weight and lands on top, still filling his belly.
Fred, Velma and Scooby heard the howls, the noise of a battle - but they were too afraid to do anything other than listen. So they stood there outside, together - holding hands.