Creeper's Captive

Chapter 22

/

Trisha sat in the cave huddled against a corner, not caring that cold mountain water was dripping onto her from formations in the stone above. She quietly sobbed to herself for a while before fiercely wiping her eyes and trying to stop the tears. She hated feeling weak and she also hated the ache between her legs that still throbbed.

She hated even more that a hideous nightmare grew in her womb.

What am I going to do? I have to kill this thing inside me.

She curled up and sobbed into her knees for a while, until she jumped at the feel of someone touching her shoulder. It was Alonus, she could tell by the voice, and she lifted her head to meet her eyes but glared at the heradus who had come into the cave silent as a ghost. Alonus frowned at the sight of her puffy, red and tear-stained face.

Please don't hurt the child. You must hear me out...US out...

Trisha hated the pins and needles in her head, she loathed hearing these creatures talking in her mind now. But it seemed her brutal union with the Creeper had given her this unwelcome new ability. She noticed Dinarius coming in, and just stared at him. He was dripping blood from his wrist onto his little bat, and it was coming back to life before her very eyes. The amazement didn't last long though and she turned her head away to look at the wall.

That baby inside of you is our hope for the future. Just like little Solarus-

I am going to do everything in my power to kill this little shit inside me... Trisha gave a sharp laugh and then continued to glare daggers at Alonus, who actually looked taken aback and shocked at her mental words.

No! You can have the child and then let us raise it...her...and you would have to do nothing if that's what you want. Do not harm an innocent life. Alonus was pleading, but her expression was growing taught.

Dinarius knelt down near Trisha after Puvo crept behind him and burrowed under his mane. He attempted to help and dress a wound on her arm, but she snatched her arm away.

Stop touching me. I want nothing to do with either of you. And furthermore, like I told you, Michael and the others will come looking for me. Trust me on this.

That may be so Trisha, but how will they find you here? Alonus folded her arms.

Yeah and on that note...exactly how are your men...if any aren't still in the hospital recovering from earlier...gonna do anything against three of us? DInarius said, raising a brow at her.

The Taggarts, the Taggarts will be back for sure and-

Trisha no one will find you here. Jack Taggart is injured, and his son is having his doubts. Please just listen to me. She sighed heavily and tried to make her voice reassuring as possible.

"What my son did was horrific, and he knows it. But the child is important...and innocent. Are you so determined that even a child won't be spared your want for revenge?"

Trisha bristled. "That's no CHILD it's a monster that will grow into another-"

"NO! This is not the way of our kind normally! We don't grow into man eaters! We were created for vampire hunting, as my own mother told me, although I have only heard the stories and never seen one myself. My son...my son he..." Alonus trailed off, realizing she didn't want to have to tell Trisha the story and go through the pain again, but resolved herself to do it anyway. Anything she could do, to convince this woman. "I will tell you the whole story this time, as Barabas did with Ami, if you will listen."

Trisha went silent for a while. Then at last she folded her arms and stared at her. "Fine. Fine, Alonus...go ahead and tell me your story...but see if it changes anything."

"I intend to change everything my dear. Everything."

And then she began to tell the tale once again.

/

Goliathus was perched high on a large rock with wings half open and watching the wolves prowling around below him, circling with hackles raised. He growled low at them but they only growled back. Kitsune would stop and stare straight up, meeting his eyes and giving a snarl.

Curses.

These blasted wolves, he hated them. In fact every part of him just wanted to use his talons and shred them all to pieces. The wolves started to snarl louder and Goliathus grinned, wicked.

Heard that thought, did you?

Kitsune attempted to jump and get up the boulder, but it was too high for him.

Come closer and mock me, man eater.

The heradus snorted and jumped up high into the air until he was high above the trees. He hovered there with mighty flaps of his wings and seemed to be contemplating something. Then he dove down, straight at Kitsune, and grabbed the startled wolf, taking him high up again with him. Goliathus was pretty sure this has NEVER happened before to the beast and awaited his reaction.

The huge wolf went still, ears down and looking at the ground far below. He was still growling and his whole body was tense.

Goliathus dug his claws into the wolf's shoulders, and Kitsune yelped and tried to snap his jaws at him, but since he was facing away, there was not much he could do.

Now listen here, wolf. Kitsune. I will not tolerate your constant threats and attacks. Come at me again if you dare to...you and your pack. Or perhaps I can drop you right now, and be done with it.

To this, the wolf did not respond.

I also have the crows. If I can indeed use them. I will. Let us see what they will do.

Goliathus called out towards them, and there was a symphony of cawing sounds. Several flew from the trees towards him, and began to circle. Then, one surged forward and aimed for Kitsune's eyes. He snarled and one big huge paw came forward and struck the bird, but after a falling a few feet, it swooped back up and came at him again. Then another bird, and another, began attacking the hapless wolf. Blood started to form around his ears where they managed to stab him with their beaks.

Ha ha... Goliathus found this amusing, and slowly his laughter became louder as the giant wolf started thrashing about and struggling in his arms.

/

Master!

Dinarius was crouched low, mindlessly scraping some twigs in the dirt of the cave while Alonus told the story to Trisha. He wasn't paying much attention since he did know most of the story, but the loud cry of distress and the increasing sound of wolf howling from the pack had immediately gained his attention. He decided Alonus had the situation with Trisha controlled for now, so he silently headed out of the cave to see what was going on.

When he did, he snarled at the sight before him. The pack were all acting strange and trying to jump up as if they wished they could fly and get at something high above.

And high above...Goliathus had Kitsune who was being swarmed by a mass of black birds pecking at his ears and face.

Wbat the hell?! He leapt into the air, once again ignoring those blasted crows and met Goliathus just a few feet away but keeping his distance, for fear he might actually drop Kitsune.

Goliathus what the fuck are you doing? Put him DOWN! NOW.

Dinarius screeched and came closer but was still hesitant to get too close.

That's not a good idea! Don't you dare drop that wolf!

Goliathus was snickering while the huge beast continued to squirm and yelp in his strong grasp. You need to teach this DOG some manners, Dinarius. I am quite tired already of being attacked by your little trained pets. He will learn to respect me, and so will YOU.

The crows suddenly stopped circling the wolf and turned their feathery tails towards the other heradus, the cawing raising in volume. They started to spin around Dinarius, causing him to actually feel a bit dizzy. He sighed and ran both claws through his mane with eyes tightly shut, as if trying to gain composure, or perhaps something else...

Listen. Stop this. Try and understand what's going on here, would you? We are on the same side. These animals belong to us, to serve us and help us in our mission. Kitsune is not your enemy, nor are the other wolves down there. He sighed again. I'm not your enemy either, Goliathus. I am heradus, we are the same. But I have to protect Ami from you, and your mother it seems as well.

Goliathus stared icily for a long while, then finally he seemed to relent and soared down to the ground. As soon as his taloned feet hit the earth, Kitsune practically jumped out of his grasp then spun around, hackles raised and spittle flying as he snarled.

Easy Kitsune, easy. Dinarius landed next to the wolf but kept his eyes rivited to the much larger and stronger heradus. Puvo came around to his shoulder at this moment, his nose quivering and his voice coming in a symphony of high-pitched squeaks. He sent mental images of his greenish energy blasting Goliathus again.

Yeah I know, Puvo. I know. But if you do that, pissing him off further won't help. Auntie is right...we've got to try different approaches here. I mean technically we are cousins, right?

That particular line of thought made Dinarius shiver a little.

"Goliathus..." the other spoke out loud, but was only met with the same icy stare as before.

"As I said, we aren't enemies. Or at least, we don't have to be." He was tense and ready to pounce at any moment, claws flexing and just waiting to see what would happen.

Much to his relief, he could sense the other's malice calming down, and then, a wash of surprise came over him as Goliathus actually gave a slow nod.

You are right. But keep your beasts away from me. Is that clear?

Dinarius chuffed, indignant. "Fine, but then you keep those dirty feather-brains away."

A tenuous grin and another slight nod.

Finally. A sort of truce had been made.

It was a start.

/

"There." Alonus sighed. Each time the story was told, it seemed to destroy another little piece of her heart, so painful were these memories. But it seemed something had gotten through to Trisha, because there were tears falling from her face.

"That Patricia, is the story. What more can be said? At this point...you have to make choices. Very difficult choices, but please...we need that baby."

Trisha kept staring at her, tears freely flowing. "I-I can't do this Alonus, I can't have this kid..or raise it..."

"Then don't. Just give her to us. To Ami. As I've said before, it all came about in the wrong way, but it's still a reality. We can't undo it for you. But-" she sighed, almost shaking. "The one Aelia died with was female too, and I can't bear to think another would be lost...one that would have had a chance had not Barabas allowed the fear to reign within him." Alonus stepped closer to Trisha, eyes full of pleading. "Barabas he-he was not a bad man. I told you of our relationship, and how wonderful it was for some time. But he is an example of what fear can do. It destroys a lot of things, Patricia. I'm sure I don't have to go into all the things it can take from us. What it took from me...from Barabas...from Goliathus...and from you." She said the last word, hushed, almost whispered.

Trisha shook her head, more tears falling. "I know, I know. I want Darry back, but I know that can't happen. You want me to have this child but-"

Suddenly, she felt a soft touch on her left and looked up to see Ami, who was now kneeling by her too. She had Solarus in her arms who was looking straight at her.

I be a big brudder? Yes. Sollie want to see sister!

Trisha surprised herself by reaching her arms out to Solarus. He sniffed at her suspiciously, but actually decided to reach forward and allow her to hold him. The two seemed a bit undecided, each for their own reason, but Trisha felt the bumpy ridges on his skin and examined the little wings, like she was trying to convince herself he was indeed real.

It shouldn't be, that creatures like this even exist.

Why? Because only humans should? Alonus asked a bit tersely.

No. I don't mean it like that. It just seems, I dunno, like you don't belong here. Like you came from another world. She sighed and handed the child back to Ami.

There was a long silence. Well we do not. We are from this world, and humans must learn that they have to share this world with other creatures, like it or not. Especially ones as intelligent as they are.

Ami nodded in agreement. They belong here. Barabas told me...that at times he felt underserving to "know these creatures". Like HE was the one out of place in their world. Trisha you cannot judge all of them based on Goliathus. He's like any other mentally ill person. Doing stuff that goes against his own very nature. We're trying to help change all of that. To get rid of the Creeper for good, and this is the way to do it! By helping him, not putting him in a cage and torturing him. What good does revenge do anyhow? It's a fleeting feeling of victory, a crutch to heal some surface wounds...sure. But then what? Hatred fights hatred? It's an endless cycle that will never end if that's the case. It's been going on for a thousand years anyway.

Ami sat right next to Trisha, after catching a quick but knowing smile from Alonus, that spoke volumes of gratitude.

I could have went that route Trisha. I could have fought this tooth and nail, tried to kill my own baby, or just told Goliathus to hell with him and to let him know I didn't care if he killed me. I don't know why but...I couldn't do any of that. Maybe we had a strange connection from the very beginning, I don't know. Maybe it's because he didn't sense that hatred from me, I don't know.

But ultimately, I'm glad of all of this. Even though I've been through some hellish moments.

And I have the best gift ever with little Solarus.

Trisha rubbed her head. "Can we stop with all the mind speak? It's giving me a migraine. Let me ask you something Ami, you really love him? Goliathus, I mean. " Her tears had stopped and she seemed to have regained herself.

"...yeah. I do."

Trisha nodded, tight lipped. "Then you will have to take this kid from me, because I don't love him. And I never will. But...for your sake...and for Alonus...I guess I have to do what's right. But then... I want nothing more to do with any of you."

/

Author's notes- I suddenly have a whole plethora of ideas and a very interesting twist that came out of nowhere...but as usual, if I can't get my chaotic thoughts together it will be difficult to write. But I'm trying for the sake of my readers ;) I will tell you though where this is going is for certain going to be a huge challenge for me. It will test my abilities, but I guess in the end that's a good thing! Please review and stay tuned!