CHAPTER 12 - SWIFT DEALINGS

That night, corpses were piled and burned to prevent them returning to feed on the living. The labor of burying the dead was unbearable for the watchmen; and the morbid task took its toll on the volunteers as able townsfolk were summoned to help with the daunting task. The town was teaming with residents wandering about trying to figure out what happened. Teo and his men were telling women, children, and the elderly to return back home and lock their doors until everything could be sorted out. Hours passed deep into the night as Father Shober, Mason, and Kara were busy healing the wounded, consecrating graves again for the disturbed deceased, and performing final rites for the dead. Luckily the casualties weren't as high as they could have been.

Julien was using his fire magic to help with the disposing of zombie corpses. Greg stayed close by and helped when needed. It was well after midnight when they finally finished and returned back to the Chapel. Father Shober stayed with Olaf, Vikin, and Teo to further discuss the matter of protecting the town from any further invasions. Greg, Julien, Mason, and Kara returned back to the Chapel completely worn out.

"Julien, is it ok if I crash with you guys tonight?" Greg asked exhausted.

Julien raised an eyebrow, "Of course you can dude, you just helped us slay um… um…".

"Vampires" Mason finished.

"Yea, that's it, I'm sure it will be fine" Kara regarded Greg suspiciously but remained silent.

"It's been awhile since I have been to a chapel" Greg commented.

"The Goddess opens her arms to anyone who wishes to turn from darkness and be embraced by the light" Mason said benevolently.

"I don't know much about the Church except my grandmother became a nun after my grandfather died deep in Sleepywood during an expedition. She served the High Priest in Amoria for years until it just became a place where the fanfare of the wedding became more of the focus rather than the Goddess herself" Greg sighed sharing his views indirectly.

Kara raised an eyebrow in interest as they began lighting more torches illuminating the sanctuary.

"So what happened to your grandmother?" Kara prompted as they all took a seat on the front pew.

"She ended up moving away to Edelstein with a small group of sisters after she was ordained as a priestess to bring people to the light and heal the sick." Greg replied.

"Heard from her anymore?" Kara asked curiously.

"My parents received one letter from her, then after that, your guess is as good as mine" Greg shrugged sadly.

"Not many people go to Edelstein these days" Mason commented.

"I know…" Julien added.

"What do you know about Edelstein" Kara was surprised Julien would even know.

"That's where my family is from, my parents returned there after getting a promise of a high salary for teaching" He said proudly.

"I hear Edelstein came under control of the Black Wings some years ago" Mason mentioned.

"Yea, it's true, anyone going there must register with customs and state why they are there and how long they will be there if they aren't citizens. My dad told me they are really cracking down since the rumored resistance group has been slowly but surely defying them, and as time goes on it's only getting worse" he finished.

"I've never been off Victoria Island" Kara shook her head.

"I went to Florina Beach off the coast with my brother one summer" Mason smiled.

"So have you actually been to Edelstien" Mason continued.

"I haven't been there since I was two, my family fled as the Black Wings began to gain political power then ultimately militarize and empower themselves then occupy the city. They slowly began setting outposts in the few small villages east and north in the mountains. That's about all I know, I haven't returned since then, I know this because my father told me all about it" Greg nodded as he let out a long yawn.

"I'm tired, where will I be sleeping tonight?" Greg asked as his eyelids began to get heavier with each passing moment.

"In the room with the boys, Julien can show to the room and there should be another bedroll somewhere in the closet" Kara nodded.

"Aren't you tired too?" Greg asked looking a Mason a bit strangely.

"We have to say our night prayers and meditate before we retire" Mason shook his head.

"Ok, see you later" Julien smiled leading Greg to the back.

Mason and Kara walked up to the altar and knelt down in prayer. Within moments they had both reached a meditative state as they began to have visions. Images of Jaster, Jeremy, Wing, and Amelia flashed in their minds. Quietly they continued meditating as more images begin to take shape. This time, an image of three figures standing on a rock pathway, then a blurred image of a beast like creature took shape. After another thirty minutes of meditating and praying, they saw three outlines of warriors fighting a large battle. Father Shober finally arrived entering the chapel locking the door behind him quietly. Kara and Mason turned to him after snapping out of their trance.

"Don't stop" he smiled.

"Father" Kara was startled.

Mason looked at Kara with a concerned look. "What is it?" Father Shober asked sitting on the front pew.

"I was given a vision" Kara said eagerly.

"Me too" Mason jumped in.

"Ok, Kara you tell me what you saw" he said calmly sitting down on the front pew.

"I saw our traveling companions from Ellinia, then three unknown figures, and then some abomination" she said trying the shake the image out of her head.

"That was the same vision I had!" Mason blurted out.

"What do you think it meant?" Father Shober nodded thoughtfully.

Mason and Kara looked at each other nodding in full agreement.

"I think our companions are in danger" Mason sighed.

"I think so as well" Kara confirmed.

"Interesting both of you should say that…" he trailed off. Mason and Kara looked confused.

"I spoke to Silver at the harbor with Teo, and he had mentioned that a couple of travelers from Perion said that they heard rumors of demon being on the loose" Father Shober shared.

Kara and Mason began to grow more concerned.

"I think we need to go to Perion and make sure our companions are ok" Mason shook his head.

"I feel the same" Kara nodded.

"Well, leaving tonight may not be such a good idea" Father Shober advised.

"Why? Didn't we kill all of those things?" Kara looked bewildered.

"Didn't you pay attention last night? There are more out there" Father Shober said darkly.

"What?" Mason looked disappointed.

"These undead are different from your usual run of the mill zombies or wraiths. Do you doubt your companion's abilities?" Father Shober reasoned.

"No, not at all" Mason chided.

"Who are your companions?" Father Shober finally asked.

"Sister Amelia is the oldest among the group of clerics residing in Ellinia, I've seen her miracles become more powerful as time progresses, she seems to be the most gifted of us clerics" Mason pointed out. Kara nodded silently.

"Jaster is one of the eldest of the ice and lightning wizards, I have heard he has helped train some of the younger magicians, and helped out other beginning ice and lightning wizards…" Kara paused. Mason too nodded silently.

"…there is this fairy from Ellinia that strangely accompanied us. Most of the fairies there find us annoying. His name is Wing, a little bit on the bratty side" Kara continued.

Father Shober listened intently.

"Then there is this young kid named Jeremy, a personal student of Grendel himself" Mason added.

"Doesn't Grendel teach all magicians and wizards?" Father Shober asked rhetorically.

"Well yea, but this kid Grendel has personally worked with him one on one" Mason clarified.

"Well he has gifted magicians that excel in the arcane arts much faster than others, there was a young girl when I was that age who was also tutored one on one" Father Shober pointed out.

"Really? What study did she continue in?" Kara asked with interest.

"Yes, she went on to become a powerful ice and lightning mage and a couple years after married a young valiant fighter. They stayed in Perion from what I heard then traveled on to El Nath and haven't heard much about them since" he finished. "I digress, the point is that maybe you should have faith in your friends" Father Shober stated.

Mason and Kara thought for a moment, "Well we are supposed to meet them back Friday at noon at Six Crossings" Mason replied.

Father Shober thought again for a moment, "Well I have a task for the two of you then…" Mason and Kara looked perplexed.

"I am writing a report of all of this unholy activity, I want you tomorrow to take a trip to Amoria and give the High Priest my report" he nodded.

"What about the others?" Kara asked.

"I need them here, you two should be fine, Amoria is less than ten miles south of here near Henesys. There is a cab service that does run from here to Henesys and Kerning City, you should be able to make it there in twenty minutes, now I'm going to retire to my chambers for the evening, bless you children" he said yawning disappearing into his study.

Mason and Kara only shrugged their shoulders and returned to their rooms.

As the night finally arrived the young man woke with a start dazed from a feverish nightmare. Somehow everything seemed different to him. He had no idea of how much time had elapsed nor did the darkness seem so dark as his senses seemed more acute. His hearing was intensified and he felt a sense of hunger different from what he was used to feeling. The feint moonlight seemed to be brighter to him than usual. He deftly began climbing his way out of the cave until he could see the crescent moon and the red moon further behind it. Slowly the events began to creep back in his mind.

He remembered they were going to rob a few mages traveling together but they were attacked by a ferocious beast. He watched two of his associates and their pet get ripped to shreds. Shamefully, he ran for his life only to get a deep claw in his back and stumbled upon this cave hoping to hide; but, from that point on everything seemed unsure. He thought about heading to Perion but decided traveling alone during the night might rouse suspicion, so he decided to return back to Kerning City. His pale eyes reflected the light the only thing you could see what his black bandana and bandit regalia would allow. As he moved through the mountain path, he swiftly by passed evil stumps except for the ones that were in his way which he easily dispatched.

He pulled out his dagger creeping up quickly behind one stabbing it multiple times until it fell lifeless to the ground with dark sap spilling everywhere. The other two dove in after him only for another to get stabbed in its only eye. The other shot a vine at him wrapping around the arm that held the dagger yanking him to the ground. The bandit stood up and yanked back with incredible strength snapping the vine as the stump began growling in pain. It was going to charge at him but was blindsided as the bandit drove his dagger deep into its side twisting the blade in its soft bark like flesh. He shook the dark sap off his dagger and continued with his hasty journey back home without incident.

He was even able to sneak past the scouts that kept secret watch over who came in and out of town. The late night was full of spies all over the town as they secretly concealed themselves. Just a couple of the most elite spies even took notice of him once he was in town. Again, he felt an unusual hunger assail him. He quickly made his way back to his group's hideout below an old abandoned construction site. He made his presence known as two younger rogues saw him coming and tried to block his way.

He regarded the two with a series of gestures as they nodded and let him through. He quickly made his way through the underground base they operated out and went to his room not wanting to be bothered. He shut and locked his door, and a few minutes later a series of rhythmic taps was knocked on his door.

"I'm busy, go away!" he growled.

He walked to a mirror to see just how bad his wounds were as they stung for a little. When he looked his wounds had completely healed and his reflection seemed like that of a faded specter as he could see right through himself.

"What the…" he was frightened by his faded reflection. He grabbed one of his capes and covered the mirror on the wall. He sat down in front of his desk reading any coded messages that anyone may have left him, nothing even worth blinking about he thought. He still could not get his condition off his mind and even worse, he was starving. He finally emerged from his room making his way down a narrow corridor to the food storage area. A couple of young recruits were carrying some loaves of bread and a jar of peanut butter laughing.

"I should have taught that pipsqueak a lesson" the tall blond haired boy pouted.

"I don't know, that little pipsqueak is pretty fast, I heard he took out a couple warriors at once" the young hooded black man said doubtfully.

"You would have backed me up right?" his friend continued.

"Maybe, this brother has to look out for himself too, I can't be going around acting all fool, I gotta little sister to worry about" he sighed.

"Yo!" The bandit spoke up startling the two rogues.

"Sorry sir" they jumped quickly moving out of his way.

"Wait, what have you got there?" he said eyeing the food.

"Just some grub" the tall blond haired young man said carrying the loaves.

"Peanut butter her bro" the young black man said as they both stopped to gaze him. He regarded both of them strangely.

"I think I need….a nice…bloody…" he said walking closer to them making them both feel a bit awkward.

"Steak" he concluded turning around walking back towards the food storage area. The two young men look at each other with confused stares, and continued on.

When he reached the area he opened the barred oak door looking at all the contents trying to see if anything jumped out at him. He saw a couple sacks of walnuts which was something he had always enjoyed as a youngster. He cracked one open with his hand and began to devour it ravenously. The walnut had no taste and may as well been cardboard to him. He swallowed a bit and spit the rest out. He walked over to the refrigeration unit and opened it as a half of uncooked bloody steak was wrapped in a piece of plastic as well ground chuck tightly packed and other random meats.

He grabbed the plate and quickly unwrapped it and bit into the steak. The blood oozed into his mouth and he savored its raw meaty taste as the blood flowed into him but it still wasn't quite what he was looking for, but it would do for the moment. It was the only thing that seemed to quell his hunger. He replaced the walnuts and put the steak back in after he cut the piece off that he had been chewing on.

Out of the corner of his eye he spotted a lone rat running the opposite direction. Instinctually, he ran faster than he normally could and with great precision and dexterity grabbed the rat as it squealed in his hands. He quickly ran down a flight of stairs back to his room and shut the door with the squealing rat as it wobbled and tried to bite and scratch his fingers. Instantly he opened his mouth wide as two fangs protruded and he bit into the squealing rat drinking its warm blood until it stopped struggling and went limp. After he finished, he looked at the dead bloodied rat and what he just did. He threw the rat down in disgust.

"What's happening to me?" he growled he wiped his mouth with a rag and wrapped the dead rat in it. He began walking up stairs throw the narrow corridors of the hideout as he passed a spray painted red hand on the wall.

"Yo, Pike…" A voice came from the behind him. He quickly climbed the ladder opening the hatch above throwing the wrapped dead rat several yards away. With his hunger sated, he decided to get back to his normal tasks.

"Time to talk to our guild master and let him know what happened to the other two" he thought.

The next day Both Mason and Kara were awakened early by Father Shober.

"Come on children, I need you to complete this task quickly" he said with an urgence in his voice.

Kara and Mason were still tired from the night before but obediently but slowly began packing their things. When they entered Father Shober's study, he had a sack of fruit with some potions ready for them.

"I need the two of you to inform the High Priest of what is going on by giving him this official scroll which I have sealed" he said handing Kara the fairly large scroll.

"I have a cab outside waiting for you, just do what you have to do and be back by the morning at the latest" Father Shober instructed.

"I've never been to Amoria before" Mason shrugged.

"I haven't been there since you took me and the other kids father" Kara smiled remembering the huge cathedral and all the beautifully stained glass.

"We need to stay focused on our mission, we are dealing with a really powerful adversary, so be careful" he said hugging both of them as he walked them out and watched them disappear down the road in the small yellow taxi.

They both sat in the back of the small vehicle and driver was very quiet and only spoke when mesos were involved. As the taxi rode down the small roads, Mason prayed for their safe journey as he made a holy gesture with one hand concluding his prayer. Kara watched after five minutes as Lith Harbor began to disappear behind them. Mason began contemplating the previous day's events as Kara stared out the window watching the view with a preoccupied look on her face.

"What do you think the High Priest will do?" Kara finally spoke after ten minutes.

"I don't know, hopefully give us an answer for the reason of all of the local inhabitance becoming more aggressive and uglier" Mason shrugged.

"Maybe he knows what these 'vampires' are" Kara half smiled.

"Hopefully so" Mason agreed.

"What do you think Father Shober, Julien, and Greg plan on doing?" Mason asked with a hint of concern.

"Whatever it is, I trust they can handle it, Julien and his friend Greg tipped the scales in our favor back in that dreadful tomb" Kara shivered.

"I really wonder if Sister Amelia and the others are ok?" Kara's asked in a bit more serious tone.

"I would like to know the same thing" Mason echoed.

"Sir, does this cab go to Perion?" Mason asked calmly.

The cab driver shook his head firmly. "No, we will take to the base of the mountain, but after that you have to go by foot" he waved his hand.

"Perion roads are just too dangerous to traverse at the moment" the driver explained.

Kara shrugged and continued to stare out the window. The small taxi drove over the rolling hills as they began to enter the outer edges surrounding the mushroom country passing by a couple of farms. The road continued south east as they traveled anticipating their destination until they could see Henesys off in the distance.