The Last Witch Hunter
Rise of the Dream Walker King
Chapter Six
Silence echoed between Chole and Kaulder as they drove thought the city. Neither one refused to say a word, for their minds were still reeling over what happened.
Kaulder's mind refused to forget the ice witch's words, for those words chilled him to the bone.
"Darkness is coming."
Taking a deep breath, Kaulder's hands tightened around the steering wheel as he pressed the gas petal down to the floor. The more he thought about the words, the more his body felt on edge. They needed to talk with Dolan. Perhaps he found something else in all of this.
Chole looked out the window. Her eyes fell upon children skipping along the street. Men and women walking down the street and eating at vendors. She even spotted someone stealing a woman's and running out of sight. A sigh escaped her lips to everyone all of this is a part of life. If Demetrius had his way all there would be is nothing but darkness, and these people might not even be here anymore.
Pulling her eyes away from the window Chole lets her eyes wandered down to her shoes for the image of such a darken wasteland brought tear to her eyes, But the thought of her being the one to aid in such a thing would shatter when sanity she had left. Wiping away her tears, she forced her eyes off the floor and over to Kaulder. She hoped he could stop Demetrius, for she couldn't think she could handle what would happen if he didn't.
Slowing down, Kaulder's narrowed at the red and blue flashing lights up ahead. As they crept closer, his fear became reality. The police were at his apartment complex. Slowing down, he rolled down the window.
"Yes, the explosion happened on the top floor," A person told the officers.
Rolling back up the window, Kaulder turned down the side street as he brought the car to a stop behind the complex.
"Kaulder…" Chole said with a hint of worry in her voice.
Taking his hand off the steering wheel, he looked into the uneasy eyes of Chole. He didn't want to think it and he couldn't say it so he pushed the thought down his throat before he said a word.
"Yeah… I know l wait here I'll be right back," He said.
Normally Chole would protest, but she merely nodded.
Stepping out of the car, Kaulder shut the door behind him. Keeping low, he hid behind the car as she watches a few officers walk by. The moment they turned the corner, Kaulder darted over to the apartment complex. Chole watched as Kaulder climbed up the ladder after ladder until he was no longer in sight.
"Please be safe Dolan."
Back in the world of dreams sailing among the clouds, a smile spread across Demetrius's lips as he landed in a vast field. He looked from left to right and found himself surrounded by tomatoes, onions, green beans, along with many other vegetables. In the distance, multiple trees held apples, oranges, lemons, bananas and peaches. Inhaling deeply, the mixture of fragrances would put a smile on anyone's face, for this was paradise.
Looking to his left, Demetrius smiled, as Isole appeared from the darkness with two Ice shadows on either side of her. Isole looked around her before bowing to her master.
"I see you caused quite a show," Demetrius said.
"I am sorry I got carried away," Isole said, bowing once more, but this time it deeper, almost to the ground.
"Hm, you even had a run in with an elder. You did a good well that should keep them out of my hair for a while," Demetrius said as he turned to Isole.
Rising to her feet, Isole got a better look at the surrounding vegetation. Walking over to a tree, she pulled an apple from its branches. It looked so red and felt firm. She rubbed it off with her cloak before taking a bite out of it. Her eyes widen as the sweet juice danced around her tongue, tickling all of her senses. Chewing with such bliss, she looked down at the apple, then back at her surroundings. This place, how could she be here for if she was right, she's only ever heard of it in stories.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Demetrius asked.
"Yes… but this isn't right," Isole said, deeply confused.
"That's the funny thing about dreams. If you dream about it hard enough, it becomes difficult to tell what's real and what's not,"
Isole thought about the vegetation and the fruit trees She turned her head to the wheat fields beyond this spot. It was long with the fresh air and the sun that seemed to shine so brightly. As she walked around, she even spotted cows grazing out in the open. That's when her mind remembered a story of such a place that her mother told her about when she was a little.
"It can't be... we are at Gaia Tree," Isole whispered.
Gaia Tree, home of the Earth coven, Isole never thought she wouldn't ever set foot here. Her mother would tell her stories of how this massive coven would supply food all over the world. The taste of their fruit was like nectar, their meats were so tender that it melted in your mouth. While their vegetables were so fresh that it rejuvenates the mind and body. Mother always said each element had a role in life it's a pity that she finally got to see such a wonderful place only to destroy it.
"I am taking a break from obtaining my bride, for its time for the infamous. Earth Elder to be mine," Demetrius said.
Glancing behind her, the ice shadows walked out from the darkness, along with many other dark beings. As saliva dripped from the corner of one creature's mouth on to apple, it shriveled up and became nothing more but a rotten corpse. Turning her head around, Isole's eyes fell upon a few Gaia tree farmers who eyes held so much terror they could barely move. Isole wanted to help them but the moment she looked to Demetrius, her once calm, icy blue eyes turned dark as a smile spread across her lips.
Snapping her fingers, two ice shadows jumped out from behind Isole as screams escape the workers and they took off running. The ice shadows hissed as they went after them.
Soon, the once beautiful site before Isole's eyes steadily became nothing but a desolate wasteland. The trees shriveled up as their leaves turned to dust. The vines that held such wonderful vegetables now held nothing but rot and blood. Even the apple tree, along with the other fruits, was now rotten. Life was being sucked out of this place. The light that once held it up seemed to fade away thanks to her master and the darkness that surrounded him.
Demetrius' laughter echoed through the sky as a single tear trickled down Isole's cheek. She could do nothing but walk beside her master. For now, it was best to give into the darkness once more because it's too painful to be in the present.
Meanwhile, at his apartment, Kaulder hopped through the window. He looked around and noticed nothing was out of place. From the couch, Tv, book cases, down to his rug, everything looked exactly the way he left it. Yet as he walked through the living room, a chill engulfed his body as a burning smell tickled his nose. Scratching his chin, Kaulder knew something wasn't right. Grabbing his sword, along with some more supplies from his room, Kaulder headed back into the living room.
The feeling Kaulder felt before refused to leave him, so he took a deep breath and walked to the window and breathe on it. He back away as a crackling sound reached his ears and the once solid window shattered along with a good chunk of the wall leaving an enormous hole. His eyes wandered around the room to see a mixture of fire and ice from a frozen couch and scorch marks along his floor and book cases. When he turned back to the hole in his wall he looked down in the alley and there, scorched out on the ground, was that of a phoenix.
A smile spread across Kaulder's lips as he hoped out of the hole. With a whisper from his lips, he stopped only inches from the ground as a light blue aura halted his descent and set him on the ground with ease.
Checking the supplies on his back, Kaulder ran back to his car, tossing the supplies in the back as Chole looked over at him as he set back down in the driver's seat.
"What about Dolan? Chole asked.
"He's safe in fact, I know exactly where he is," Kaulder said.
"And that is…" Chole said, urging him to continue.
"He's with Evelyn, who we are going to see."
"Do you think she's knows what's going on?"
"I bet my immortality on it."
Kaulder put the key in the ignition and the engine roared as it sprang to life. Soon the two of them were back onto the main street, zooming off to their next location.
Wandering thought the fields of Gaia tree with a barge of Ice shadows, along with many other dark creatures with Isole by his side, Demetrius smiled. As they grew closer toward the principal building, a mixture of men and woman wearing green and brown armor blocked their path. Some were holding swords and shields, while others held bows with their arrows pointed right at Demetrius. But in front of them stood a woman with long brown hair and emerald green eyes. She pulled out her sword from her sheave and held it up high.
"Attack!" The woman shouted.
"Yes, Commander," The coven warriors replied.
Screams echoed thought the desolated fields as the men and women of Gaia Tree ran toward the intruders. Demetrius smirked as he lifted his hand and snapped his fingers. Hisses and growls scorched the sky as the ice shadows ran to meet the warriors. With hands pulling some of them into the dark while the ice shadow swiped away at the warriors with their large ivory claws.
The commander's aura shined brightly as she slashed at the ice shadows. While some were falling to the ground, others were being held down by vines that sprang to life because of the woman's magic. Seeing this, Demetrius looked over at Isole, who merely smiled. Her eyes soon held a dark blue tint as she ran toward the commander.
The commander's, and Isole's swords clashed. Both women met from blow to blow as their Ice and Earth auras surrounded them. This caused many of the warriors and dark creatures on both sides to stop and watch. With each blow their power grew more and more powerful until both women jumped in the air and clashing swords as the power of Ice and Earth circled around them causing an enormous explosion covering the fields in dust.
Once the dust settled, the earth commander was on the ground. Her sword was a few inches away from her hand as her armor cracked. Breathing heavily, she struggled but lifted her head up to see Isole standing tall with her sword in hand and her icy blue dark aura shining brightly. A smile spread across the Isole's face as she continued walking toward Earth commander.
Trying to reach out to her sword with no luck, all the woman could do is watch as Isole held her sword up high. As it came down for the final blow, she closed her eyes. But the attack never came. Opening her eyes, she felt herself being helped off the ground and her sword put back in her sheath. She turned to her side to see a calm pair of Emerald green eyes looking back at her. The short dark brown hair and small smile from the medium muscle build man brought a sense a calm to her. Turning around, she spotted Isole standing a foot away from them, for they were in a greenish brown barrier where the fresh grass surrounded them. She could breathe easier as the wounds on her arms and legs disappeared.
"Brother…" The woman said.
"I had to intervene Victoria," The young man replied.
"Hello Victor, your sister has improved, but at last she is no match for you," Demetrius said.
Victor's eyes narrowed as he looked at the man that stood beside Isole. The surrounding darkness steadily shrunk his barrier until it shattered.
"So, you are the one who decimated the Pale Cranes and now have their Elder under your wing," Victor said, looking to Isole.
"Yes, my name is Demetrius, and I have come for you. You know if you keep fighting, we will consume you all, eventually. So, stop this foolish crusade, for you cannot fight fate," Demetrius said.
Victor glanced around while many of his warriors were still standing, but he noticed the dark veins on the arms and legs while others were now standing beside the ice shadows, completely lost in the darkness. Sighing, Victor took a step forward, but felt himself being pulled back. He stopped but refused to look because he knew who it was.
"I have to do this Victoria; he's right, we can't keep fighting. Leave and I hope we will meet again," Victor said, blinking away tears.
Victoria backed away as she stood by a group of Earth warriors that were not infected.
"Good bye, brother."
A green light surrounded Victoria and the group of Earth warriors as vines engulfed them, and they disappeared. Victor then walked over to Demetrius until he was only a few inches away from him. He then dropped to one knee and looked up at Demetrius, who loomed over him with a smile.
"I, Victor Blake Elder of Gaia Tree, submits to you," Victor said.
Demetrius's smile grew as the pool of darkness steadily formed under Victor. It grew bigger and bigger soon as hands rose from the dark pull and wrapped around him, pulling him down into the black goop like quick sand. Demetrius laughed at his success.
Isole looked up to see the form of a large bird soar across the sky, which also caught the eye of Demetrius as well.
"Ah, looks like a scout from Eagle Eye is heading home. Come, let's follow and gain another ally."
Isole merely nodded as darkness grew around them as they seeped back into the darkness.