The Wastrels
Valkyrie couldn't doubt that there wasn't any rivalry between Tanith Low and Jacintha Ghost. They were very similar but apparently there was only room for one feisty, leather wearing, weapon hurling woman in these parts. The two woman eyed each other as they both jabbed against each other as they entered the side of the van and both sat stiffly next to each other. Fletcher was next to Finbar, who generally enjoyed his presence. Valkyrie was amused. Omen was at the front next to Ghastly who was driving, and Valkyrie was right at the back by herself, looking out of the window.
The van was pretty cramp with all of them, including Ghastly who arrived shortly with a map to the location, and of course, the van. By the time they arrived at the opening to a tunnel leading to Dead Man's Coven, the gang were stretching and swinging their arms over their shoulders to circulate blood around their bodies.
"Everybody ready?" Valkyrie asked to the troop of them. She gazed down the tunnel that was shed in darkness. She had a bad feeling about this.
"Looks a piece of cake." Fletcher concluded. Valkyrie doubted his bravery.
Omen was armed with several torches for those who weren't Elementals.
"Right, Troll are usually Nocturnal, but hopefully we'll be able to wake one without it attacking us."
"And don't worry guys," Jacintha assured. "Enough weapons to go around."
She held up something that looked like a Water pistol.
"Er, thanks. But isn't this a water pistol?" Fletcher arched a eyebrow.
"Good observation,"
The rest laughed, but were equally confused.
"Trolls hate Water. It's too clean and pure for them. So, that's why we've got water guns."
"She's right." Omen confirmed.
Once everyone had their personal water pistol, they all began to descend into the darkness before them.
"How long is this tunnel exactly?"
Ghastly lit the map to see better, "This says a mile or so. Not too far."
The walls were painted with ancient drawings of magic and sorcery. Some were of sacrifice and eyes. Valkyrie was slightly unnerved.
"These Ancients who made the Dead Man's Coven. What side were they on?"
Omen answered, lifting his torch light over the strange and sinister carvings and paintings.
"Well, originally it was good Ancients who hid from mortals long ago. They created this Sanctuary. But as the Ancients were soon made accustomed with them and they abandoned these labyrinths and so more evil beings took refuge here. Worshippers of the Faceless Ones were thought to be using the Dead Man's Coven, along with scheming witches. Soon, they also abandoned these parts and now all that inhabit this place are magical creatures such as Trolls, Fairies, Shape Shifters, sometimes even Vampires."
"Vampires?" Valkyrie frowned.
"Don't worry, we've got some water." Jacintha winked.
"Is it sea water?" Tanith asked.
Jacintha didn't answer.
Tanith sneered to herself.
They were approaching the end of the walk and ahead of them was a small waterfall.
"Hang on." Fletcher piped up. "If Trolls and Vampires hate water, how can they enter through that?"
"It isn't real. It's a illusion to trick mortals if they ever wondered here."
Ghastly explained.
"Clever." Finbar said. They continued and cautiously walked through the dry waterfall.
"Well, that was weird." Valkyrie thought to them.
They all nodded in agreement but gasp as they saw what was beyond them.
A dead forest was laid before them and giant cobwebs was spun over their heads. As they ducked underneath the white, sticky thread, they came out to a opening and the Cavern wound up and up to a small circular hole where limited sun light and moonlight could go through. The place was dark and uninviting and eerily silent. No sight of Trolls just as yet. The group edge further in the forest of black, bare trees. The twigs casting long, creepy shadows over them.
"I think we should split up." Ghastly said.
They nodded in agreement and Valkyrie, Finbar, Tanith and Fletcher were together, whilst Omen, Jacintha and Ghastly were apart in another group.
Valkyrie's group followed a rather foreboding track to the right as the rest chose the path that led left.
"Hello?" Finbar sheepishly began out in the damp, stinking air.
Valkyrie wasn't sure if calling out was a good idea.
Tanith unsheathed her sword. The Water Gun strapped to her back along with everyone else. "I don't like this place one bit."
Valkyrie agreed. Now that they were walking deeper into the woods she started to feel eyes watching them.
"Stop!" Valkyrie stopped in her tracks suddenly. Fletcher walked into her.
"What?" Finbar began to say until he saw the reason.
Ahead of them was a gathering of cloaked beings, bent over some sort of animal feeding upon it. Valkyrie kept her breath as she saw their sharp teeth glistening slightly in the dim sunlight.
"What are they?" Valkyrie asked.
Tanith had come across these before, she gathered the three of them behind her. She had also fought these before. "They are Wastrels, otherwise known as Blackguards."
At their name, they looked up at a Troll they were feasting upon. It still seemed alive. It's harsh, gargling cries made Valkyrie uncomfortable.
The Wastrels looked as pale as the moonlight and their black eyes covered half of their faces. They had flat noses like a pig and a small, rounded mouth with small, snapping, sharp, pointed teeth around the whole mouth, even the edge.
They wore hooded, glossy, black cloaks over their skeletal figures. The Wastrels made a terrifying screech at them and one of them sniffed and bared its hideous teeth and ran straight at them.
"Uh oh!" Cried Tanith.
The Wastrels followed the first one that was charging to them and before they knew it they were being ambushed by the creatures. The Troll's blood dripped from their mouths and reminded Valkyrie of the Vampires. Valkyrie cast a fire flame at them which made them more angrier, Tanith swiped at them with her sword. Fletcher kept transporting, avoiding the leaping Wastrels and getting them confused. Finbar how ever had his eyes closed, standing still.
A Wastrel, that was approaching towards Valkyrie was drooling and sniffing her. Valkyrie felt disgusted. She used a gust of wind to try to blow him away but that didn't work. She cast more flames at it. To Valkyrie's relief one of her flames lit it's cloaks and before it knew what was happening the wastrel was screaming a high pitched shriek and was enveloped in fire.
Tanith was in combat against a fast paced Wastrel that used it's long sleeves to whip Tanith's skin and her blade away from it. She was getting difficulty to wound him. Valkyrie was just about to give her a hand with a flame until Fletcher suddenly appeared and grabbed Tanith then disappeared with her again as a deathly blow swiped the air where Tanith was only standing nanoseconds before. Valkyrie had to admit Fletcher was improving. Valkyrie saw two Wastrels sneak behind Finbar who still, remained still with his eyes closed.
"Look out!" Valkyrie shouted a warning at him.
She ran towards him as the two Wastrels touched them. But as they did Finbar's body shook and a pulse of blue energy burst out of him and swept the two Wastrels fifty yards in the air. Finbar opened his eyes slowly as if awakening. Valkyrie looked at him questioningly, her head tilting.
He shrugged. "Being a seer has it's upsides, man."
Valkyrie smiled but turned her attention back at the danger.
There were three Wastrels remaining.
Valkyrie saw Tanith and Fletcher running back on the scene. Tanith blushing slightly, but not in a good way. Fletcher look very proud of himself.
"Come on guys!" Demanded Tanith. "If we beat these three we could save that Troll and take him back to his kind. They might be soft on us if we help him."
They all agreed but they still had three of them left. The Wastrels were creating a triangle shape around them. One towards Tanith and one next to Valkyrie and the other next to Fletcher. Tanith swiped at her Wastrel and it dodged. Tanith spun around with the sword at her head height and she was lucky. The blade slit it's throat a green blood ran out. The Wastrel collapsed.
Valkyrie's Wastrel was sneaking quickly from side to side and leapt suddenly at her. Before she could summon a flame the wastrel landed on top of her and they both went rolling in the mud. The wastrel started scratching at her with it's nails. Valkyrie willed a flame and it came, and when her hand was free she punched the flame into it's face. It scream and rolled off her, turning and twisting on the ground. The fire spread to it's cloak and soon it was consumed in fire.
The only thing Fletcher had for a weapon was the water gun and he wasn't sure whether it would work., but he handled it anyway and started squirting it to the wastrel. To his surprised the moment the water hit it's skin, steam was rising from it and hissing of the skin. It was as though the skin was burning. Revolting to look, Fletcher covered his eyes as the wastrel literally melted before him.
"Ha! Who would have known?"
Valkyrie laughed as Tanith and Finbar started to join in relief. Finbar had went to the aid of the wounded Troll.
"Hey! I dunno much about first aid, but I think this Troll needs some treatment!"
The three rushed to the side of the Troll who was unconscious. The Wastrels scratched at it's belly and were just about to tear the flesh by the looks of it. Fletcher became faint.
Tanith caught him in time and laid him on the ground.
"Poor thing. Even if it is a Troll." Tanith said.
"Lets take him to the Trolls." Valkyrie decided.