Creeper's Captive
Chapter 30
/
Dinarius had left the brutal scene limping, bleeding, and miserable. Ami allowed him to lean on her a bit as they walked, following the same path as the wolf. Eventually they got back to the camp and found Alonus already there with Josephine being tended to. She was in the tent and resting, but doing well. Barabas stayed a bit far off in the distance, observing and keeping a watchful eye but getting no closer. It was fairly obvious he didn't want to end up harming or even killing the child if she got too close to him. Adalwolf, Kitsune, and a few other of the wolves hovered around the perimeter, but Dinarius did not know where the other ones were.
Dinarius! You look terrible. Alonus got up from her kneeling position by the fire and shook her head while examining him, running her dark hands over his sliced up arms. He had bite marks everywhere as well.
He sighed with exhaustion and sat down near the fire, indian-style. Ami followed suit.
I'll get you some food, straight away. This young child sent here astounds me. She is very brave. Apparently my son saved her life. Which means Ramonus is close by...
Ami shivered and Dinarius nodded, rubbing his forehead as a measure of distracting himself from the pain. Ramonus ate her whole family. She's depending on us, now. At least until we can discreetly get her back to a human town or something...but we can't risk being seen of course.
How horrible he is. I thought my son could be vile...but that monster is far worse. She shook her head with a deep sigh. Then she took off into the forest, in search of food.
Ami went over to check on Josephine, but as she opened the tent flap the sight of the sleeping girl made her think of Solarus. She had no idea if Goliathus was still on the ground or had gone back to the cave.
Sollie! Sollie! She called to her son, who she felt was waking up at her urgent plea.
Mumma! What wrong?
Come dear! Come to me.
Ok, mumma!
In the cave, Solarus carefully crawled out from his sleeping nook and stretched his little wings and toes before toddling over to the cave entrance.
I fly, mumma!
You sure you can, baby? Be careful.
Yes mumma, I fly, you see! Solarus was no longer afraid of the heights and felt rather confident as he perched on the ledge precariously and spread out his wings. With a little leap he was in the air, a bit wavering in his balance at first, and then glided along smoothly. He frowned a little as he felt his body shifting downwards. He flapped his wings harder and gained altitude just above the trees. Giggling with glee he flew around and around for a while, just enjoying himself. As he got closer to the camp he instinctively scanned the ground...a tactic for finding prey of course, but instead, he saw his father curled up near a large rock.
Dadda? He blinked inquisitively, and angled down to land. It was a little clumsy as he somersaulted once, before he ended rightside up next to him.
Dadda? You ok? Solarus touched the side of his father's face, and he opened his eyes. He was lying there, breathing hard and surrounded in a pool of his own blood.
Solarus frowned, his lower lip quivering. He could feel his father's sadness, and also his pain.
Dadda, get up? Get food?
Goliathus looked at him but seemed unfocused. He snorted and turned to his other side.
You had best get to your mother. She calls for you.
Dadda, I go to mumma. But first Sollie get you food. Give shooriken?
For whatever reason Goliathus simply fished into his pocket and handed the weapon to his son. He examined the pointy object in his chubby hands and looked very determined as he got to his feet, took a deep breath, and leapt into the air once more.
/
Drake and Taal had landed in the forest, with Catrice just behind them. They stood over the pile of what little ash remained of Sampson, staring. This entire section of forest had been examined, but nothing yet found. Taal clicked his tongue and leapt up into a nearby rock precipice near some evergreens, one area he had just realized was a good lookout.
It was then he saw it, the deep talon marks in the stone.
"Hey...Drake..." Taal called and his brother quickly joined him. His black trenchoat flapping about in the breeze as he reached down to touch the deep grooves in the rock and rubbed the small amount of white powder between his fingers.
"What animal can do this? Those claws have to be at least...what? Six inches long?"
Drake sniffed the air, but he could detect no scent of recent animals here. Rather than be comforting however, that fact caused a smidgen of fear to well up in his chest. He whipped around when he heard a snap of a twig, but it was just Catrice.
"Hey, will you be quiet?" She looked up at him and scoffed, walking back and forth, looking bored.
"i wish she'd take this shit seriously." Drake muttered under his breath. Taal nodded in agreement but it seemed that he too sensed something dreadful.
"This is making me nervous. I don't like it." As the two brothers continued to examine the rock for any further clues, Catrice heard a rustle and her eyes quickly shot over to a spot in the distance. Still, no scent, nothing. Smirking she got up and hid amongst some bushes. It could be a human, one whose scent they hadn't detected yet.
Maybe she'd be getting a good drink soon. It would certainly make this trip more worthwhile.
/
Alonus couldn't believe her eyes. She had gone in search of a deer only to discover not one, not two, but three vampires. Excitement made her heart pound and her mouth salivate, but still, she was nervous. Not once in her life had she killed a vampire, but despite this her body instinctively knew the scent. Having no previous experience made her uncertain of how to attack, however, especially with this many of them. She attempted to call Goliathus for help, but he only grunted in her mind.
What is wrong with you? Stop sulking and help me! Three vampires are here in the forest!
We are too close to the old house, mother. We should have gone much farther out, sooner. But apparently DInarius and Ami felt the need to delay us for their little liasons.
SHUTUP. I don't want to hear nor do I care about your drama. GET OVER HERE.
I am not in the best of shape, at the moment! He got up to a sitting position, weak and woozy from the loss of blood.
And whose fault is that? She grimaced, bearing her teeth at her son's stubborn insolence as she remained crouched and hidden in the thick foliage. Had you decided not to attack Dinarius in yet another tantrum, you would be fine, and so would he! I wouldn't be out here searching for a deer to restore him! Now GET OVER HERE AND HELP ME!
Goliathus growled to himself and shakily got to his feet. At the moment he almost collapsed to the ground again, he saw his son's small form gliding haphazardly towards him, carrying a squirrel in his mouth and a rabbit in his claws. He almost crashed to the ground from the weight of his effort, but his father caught him in his arms.
I bring you food, dadda. He gave a triumphant smile, blinking up at him.
Goliathus patted his head and set him down, taking the animals quickly and not making any snide comments. He merely gulped them down in practically one bite, fur and all. Small fare, but it eased his pain and was enough to stop the dizziness.
Good job. You are exceeding your young age, son. Did you see any deer? I need more. Your grandmother needs my help.
Solarus clung to the shuriken in one hand and pointed with the other, towards the left of the camp and up a hill.
Shooriken too small, deer too big. Sollie no carry but know where is.
Goliathus offered him a knowing grin. You want to keep that?
Yes! Yes dadda! He squirmed happily as he toddled up to his father's left leg and hugged.
He felt a rumble of a purr in his chest, and nodded. All right, it is yours. But quickly, lead me to the deer. Goliathus really could do this on his own now despite his weakened condition, and yet, he decided it would make Solarus happy to have this moment.
Solarus could barely contain his excitement as he took to the air while his father trailed behind him.
/
Alonus stayed hidden and stalked carefully behind thick foliage and trees. It was daytime, so her inky blank form would stand out. Still ,she could hide in shadows in shaded areas as it was also overcast. She scented the air deeply. Two males, one female. The female seemed older and stronger, her scent was oddly familiar as well. How could I know any of them? I never met a vampire. And yet...
She chuffed quietly to herself and started to get just a little nervous when one of the males seemed to sense something and look over in her direction. The curly-haired one scanned around with narrowed eyes but did not seem to detect her. Still, he seemed clearly suspicious.
"Catrice, it might be best we leave now. Let's report our findings to Marcus...and call for reinforcements." Taal sighed with folded arms. "This is a big forest and even for three flying vampires it would take hours to search everything."
Drake punched his brother on the shoulder. "We can't just leave now! Marcus would yell at us and send us back!"
" I do NOT want to search this god damned forest all night! Not to mention I'm starving-"
"Will you two SHUT UP?!" Catrice yelled, annoyed. Any cover they had at ALL would be ruined with these two hypocritical, belligerent idiots. She went silent and pointed at them angrily. They glowered at her but got the point and fell silent, as well as hid out of sight quick as lightning. Meanwhile Catrice also disappeared.
The vampires were onto Alonus's presence, but they had no idea what they were actually dealing with.
Goliathus. How are things going?
I am feasting. Will be there shortly. Are they still there, mother?
They are. And you need to eat them more than I do.
She heard her son's snort in her mind. I am loathed to the thought of helping humans by killing vampires.
They are your prey. We are the heradus. Our job, our very purpose is to kill them. Alonus exhaled sharply, it was a constant fight with her son's stubborn will but she had to keep pushing him, like a stone wall that moved inch by inch as one struggled mightily against it.
Please Goliathus. My son. Do this thing for me.
She felt a change in his mood. He seemed almost moved by her pleading, something she had only ever felt when he was much, much younger.
On the way.
/
While Josephine slept in the tent, Ami tended to Dinarius, wrapping his wounds tightly with torn pieces of cloth from old sheets.
Where did all the sheets come from anyway? Dinarius inquired while drinking down some nice hot tea she had made over the fire. He seemed to enjoy these herbal concoctions, or maybe the warm water just soothed his pain.
Ami looked up at him from her work, pausing a moment. She shook her head. You don't want to know, so never mind that. She went back to wrapping the bandages. He grinned at her.
You know I don't really need this, Ami. As soon as I get some good meat in my belly I'll be fine.
Coruching down on her feet to wrap his ankles, Ami giggled slightly. I guess I just like to be useful.
Nah, I think you just like fawning over me. He winked, brushing her face lightly with his claws but she shoved his hand away.
Here you are bleeding and wounded, but still wanting to repeat earlier. She gave him a knowing smirk before standing up, brushing her hands off of dirt. Dinarius chuckled, shrugging in concurrence. Sitting nearby she grabbed her own cup, pouring the hot water for her own tea.
Mumma!
Ami looked up to see her son finally arriving, his little wings flapping hard and his body covered in blood stains.
Sollie?! Are you ok? Why are you all bloody? She dropped the cup and and he landed right in her outstretched arms.
Yes okay! Ate some deer with dadda. Now he go to grandmumma.
DInarius blinked and they met eyes for a moment.
Why's that, Solarus?
'Cause Uncle Dinawi, she say vampwire there. Daddy go help. What a vampwire?
Dinarius hissed low. What they are is trouble.
/
Golaithus knew better then to just fly onto the scene. He was the epitome of predatorial instincts, after all, and by the time he had stealthily crept through the forest to where his mother was, he had sized up the situation. Two male vampires, one female, and she was trying to hide well amongst the rocks along with the others, but their scent was overpowering. He wondered if vampires even realized how strongly they scented...far more than any human that met its end by his claws.
They looked human and yet...they were not.
What odd creatures.
They suck the blood of humans and also love to torture them for sport. Alonus sighed, but then she froze at her son's response.
Sounds familiar.
Goliathus...please focus on what you need to do.
He grimaced at her in his usual fashion. I do not need to do this, you simply want me to.
There wasn't any point in pressing an argument over whether or not it was necessary. He would only see things his way, and she knew that well by now. Get a taste of vampire, and then tell me if you still don't want to hunt them.
Shrugging he reached into his pocket and pulled out a long dagger, but Alonus grabbed his wrist and shook her head at him as they remained crouched and hidden.
You need iron tips on them.
Iron?
Yes, they are weakened by it.
He snorted. I have nothing with iron... He stopped, his mind whirring, and realized something. In the truck back at my old factory home there is an iron weapon or two. But not here.
Alonus stared into his eyes for a few moments. You only need your incredible strength and talons. Catch them, tear out the heart, and watch what happens. I will do my best and back you up.
It seemed Goliathus might make some other currish comment but he didn't and instead gave a quick nod before standing up and slipping further into the forest.
Now or never. Alonus thought as she mentally prepared herself to attack.
/
Catrice stayed hidden and waited, but the forest had gone eerily silent. She looked back to see where the brothers were but they had hidden well. Good.
Something was bugging her. At first she thought she might find a good drink of blood from some hapless human tyring to evade them, but then...all she had found was nothing. The utter silence of the forest creeped her out...she couldn't even hear one bird chirping. It was a growing tension she didn't like. Something out here had killed Sampson. And that something was here now, she knew it.
Then she heard it, a shuffling noise, some broken branches. She whipped around and was more than a little shocked to see that SOMETHING mere inches from her face. The most monstrous, hideous face she had ever seen. This thing began to raise up a strange clawed structure on its head while she watched, too paralyzed with fear in the moment to move. Once fully opened he unleashed a roar that vibrated through every bone in her body. When the noise died down, for just a few moments, silence reigned again. Then Catrice finally got herself to move and bolted from her hiding spot, screaming all the while. Her whole body trembled violently from the shock and distress as she pushed herself to move as fast as possible. But the being which persued her was on her in moments, it had just been too sudden for any escape.
"DRAKE! TAAL!" Catrice managed to scream out as Goliathus landed on her and with a savage snarl raked a line of three, deep bleeding rivulets into her chest as if he were trying to dig through her body like earth. The brothers had heard her scream, and just as the heradus turned at the sound of whooshing leaves he was struck by Drake who stabbed him with some kind of long dagger, and kept stabbing him repeatedly.
Howling, Goliathus managed to throw him off but then Taal was there, with two shorter daggers, and was stabbing him with blinding speed. While these injuries hurt they were hardly effective at doing any real damage. By the time Taal realized he was making little progress, Catrice took her moment to flee, clutching her bloodied chest and heaving as she ran. In no time however she was confronted by another one of those monsters, a female this time with black hide and fierce golden eyes who suddenly landed in front of her, screeching.
Catrice screamed bloody murder again and dashed to the right, but Alonus flew after her and muttered a newly learned spell from the scrolls under her breath.
Luas nan gaothan dorcha, thoir dhomh do chumhachd!
With a black mist forming around her she increased her speed tenfold. In just a few seconds she was ahead of Catrice, and landed in her path once more.
"What the hell are you? I am warning you, do not test me!" Catrice had elongated her fangs as well as her fingernails which had turned into sharp claws. She growled and took a few tentative steps backwards.
Cearcall Teine Dorcha, thig thugam a-nis!
Suddenly the silence of the forest was broken by what sounded like hundreds of crows, and the cawing grew ever louder as it got closer. A shiver of panic went down Catrice's spine when she saw the murder coming towards her, something about them felt utterly familiar and filled her with dread. Then, she heard growls and barks, and screamed again when she saw giant, loping wolves heading in her direction with yet another monster flying above them.
With her cursed heart pounding wildly in her chest she became desperate and barrelled right towards Alonus, who was knocked down from the unexpected impact. Catrice attempted to rip her throat out from that small victory but was stopped when the monster used both arms to push against her face to stop her. The two females struggled mightily and Catrice bit down on her hand, black blood filling her mouth. She shrieked and gagged, spitting it out and yelling out from the pain. The blood was like fire, burning her mouth and made her feel dizzy and nauseous.
What the fuck?!
Alonus lunged forward just as one of the smaller and faster wolves caught up to the scene and sank its maw deep into Catrice's waist. She screamed again and savagely tore at the wolf, but it kept on biting her and eventually ripped out a chunk, blood now pouring down her side.
"Drake! Taal! Help me! Where are you?!" She called in agony, but received no answer. Alonus, in her mind, hoped this meant the brothers were dead and that her son had eaten them. It was the "medicine" she hoped he needed.
"DRAKE!" She tried again. This time, she heard an anguished yell. Behind her was Taal, his trenchcoat in tatters as he fled with Goliathus in hot pursuit. Drake however was nowhere to be seen and that feeling of awful dread only got worse.
/
Taal thought he had seen just about everything in his long vampire life...until he had seen what tore apart his brother like he had been nothing but mere matchsticks. That monster that had to be a heradus of old...that stuff of nightmares that was now real before his own sight, had attacked Drake just as soon as the two had arrived to help Catrice, wondering what she was screaming about. He had never, ever, heard her yell out like that, and it had made him very nervous.
When the huge, hulking heradus pounced upon Drake, he had stood no chance. The savage brutality he witnessed was incredible even for him, who had seen Marcus tear into the flesh of young children or Donovan skin his victims alive just for the sadisitic pleasure of it. But the heradus was able to hold down his incredibly strong brother like he was nothing, and with those frighteningly huge talons opened up his chest, blood spurting everywhere, and with its very teeth had snapped the chordae and devoured his still beating heart. He stood there in utter shock and horror, watching the lump go down the throat and his brother erupt into flames as it jumped away, a bit surprised. Clearly...this was a new experience for the heradus, or perhaps long forgotten.
But then...something had changed. Taal knew virtually nothing about heradus other than the stories he had heard and scoffed at. Even he could see, however, that the gruesome feeding had done something which had surprised the being...its eyes widened and it sniffed the air hungrily, wanting more of what it had just tasted.
Goliathus then snapped his gaze towards the other brother and immediately went for him with a snarl. Taal yelled out and ran, cursing under his breath and not caring where he went, he did NOT want to end up like Drake. He didn't have time to mourn, he only had time to run for his life and get the hell out of there.
/
Back at the campsite, Barabas had made his way to the tent and woke the child. He dare not touch her, and warned her of such as she gazed at him wide-eyed.
"Who...who are you?" She practically whispered, trying hard to control her nervousness.
"Do not worry, I will not harm you. Just follow me, and quickly. It is not safe here." Josephine nodded and followed, and noticed in that moment that a very young heradus was with them trailing along. He didn't seem frightening at all though, just cute. She offered a smile as they walked and the child flew beside her. "What's your name?"
Solarus blinked, he wasn't sure he could talk out loud, he'd never tried.
Sollie! You hear me?
Josephine smiled. Oh, you mind speak too? I guess all your kind do this.
Yeah, we do! He landed on the ground and began to toddle slowly forward. I walk with you. You no fly!
Josephine giggled and reached down to pick him up, which Sollie didn't seem to mind at all.
Howabout I just carry you.
He gave her a toothy smile and it was then she noticed him still clutching his favorite weapon. Josephine marvelled at the fact such a young child was holding such a dangerous looking thing.
Where did you get that, Sollie?
Daddy! He give me.
Josephine wondered what it was for, but she didn't dare ask and made sure to not lose sight of the strange bald man leading her away. She was still nervous, could she really trust him? The way he walked with shadow following him was more than frightening. Was it a...ghost? She really couldn't be sure.
Perhaps for right now... it was best not to know.
/
The heart of the vampire had been more than delicious, it had awakened something strong and fierce in Goliathus's psyche. He could not remember if he had eaten any vampires at all in his life beforehand while growing up, no...he was sure had had not. Mother had not either, but she pursued the vampiress with a relentless tenacity. But she was right. He wanted it...he wanted it more than anything he could have ever desired to hungrily stuff down his gullet. No human even came close to this delectable flavor. And that realization truly bewildered him.
With the same tenacity as his mother he surged through the forest on foot after Taal as they dodged around trees and thick foliage which made their passage difficult. The ancillae vampire was tiring, his breath heaving, and the need for blood becoming too strong. Soon, he would simply collapse as even his vampiric strength would wane before the heradus did. Surprisingly he was managing to keep a good distance between them with incredible speed. Goliathus was surely strong and had endless endurance, but his large size was not particuarly good for gaining ground while running. He needed to frighten and flush out the vampire into more open territory where he could open his huge wings and then this chase would be over.
He sucked in a huge breath and roared as loud as possible, hoping the sound would do as it always did...invoke sheer terror. Taal whipped around to glance at his pursuer only momentarily before making a sharp right and attempting to get lost in a tangle of thorny thickets. Goliathus snorted angrily, Taal wasn't going to be blinded by fear that easily, and was attempting to strategize his escape.
This will get difficult...but then again... he grinned eerily. Maybe he will just get stuck in those thorns, and then I will devour every last ounce of his flesh before going for the heart.
As if Taal could hear the chilling mental words from his enemy he began to put his remanining strength into running faster towards the most dense part of the woods he could find through the thickets.
/
Catrice and Alonus circled each other, out in a vast clearing deep into the woods. Catrice was tiring, but Alonus seemed to have barely broken a sweat. The vampiress stared at her predator, wondering where in all the cursed world she had even come from. Growing up she had largely ignored what she thought were stories and myths of the heradus and really didn't believe in them. Even if they had been real it was eons ago and they were all extinct, or so she had thought.
I have to get out of here. I have to get back and tell Marcus!
Go where, my dear? You won't be going anywhere. Alonus screeched and leapt again but in a fraction of a second Catrice dodged and whipped around her, using all her magic to move at blinding speed. Alonus roared and followed, taking to the sky and chasing her with nearly matched celerity. Deep inside she was worried. Now by herself again she wondered where Dinarius had gone off to, as she didn't feel quite able to handle this more powerful vampire herself.
Dinarius?! Where are you?
She called loudly in her mind, and soon after he responded and she could sense he was closer than she thought.
I sent a bunch of wolves to help Goliathus in the ground pursuit. As for Catrice worry not Auntie...we have the birds. We're coming!
Alonus grinned to herself in relief. Soon, very soon, they'd catch up with Catrice and she would eat that heart and savor every last bloody morsel.
/
At the Taggart farm, Trisha sat with Jack Jr at their old wooden kitchen table and sipped on coffee. It was marvelous. Jackie certainly knew how to brew a good pot. He had been, for the past hour, describing to her the numerous ghostly visits from his kid brother Billy and had a wistful smile on his face.
"It's so great to know he's OK. That he's happy and with a buncha relatives over there. But I'm still worried about dad." He sighed, working his jaw as he stared into his cup.
Trisha nodded, completely understanding. "Is he still talking of going after him? He seems happy just keeping busy on the farm."
Jackie scratched his shaven chin thoughtfully. "He's not happy, Miss Jenner. He's just...living. Existing. Without the farm work to do he'd sit in his old recliner over there and just rot away."
She nodded, both hands wrapped around the cup as she enjoyed the warmth as it flowed into her hands. Taking another sip she fixed her gaze on him, about to say something, when he did first.
"You see Darry at all?"
"Yeah. Yeah I do. He comes in dreams, sometimes. Just pleasant, happy times." She stopped herself from even hinting at her pregnancy. No one could know about it, not even the Taggarts.
He gave a faint smile again. "Good. Then you know he's moved on, Patricia. You should too. I'm glad to hear you've given up the whole thing...but...what about that other one we encountered at the Facility? The female one?"
Trish could see the disturbed look in his eyes and she blew out a breath. "She's not like him. They are a whole race of ancient creatures , these heradus. I think it's best we all just forget about them." She stood up, and Jackie looked up at her.
"I'd agree but what about-"
"Remember how you felt like it was all wrong, Jackie, and your dad wouldn't understand? Well you were kinda right...but as for him, he's not going after people anymore so, while it's not the way I ever expected for it to end...there it is." She shrugged and downed the last of her coffee but she could tell Jack Jr wasn't completely convinced. He seemed suspicious and for a moment took a glance at her belly, but said nothing.
Dammit. I really should not have come here. Trisha pushed her chair in and took her mug to the sink. "Thanks for the coffee Jackie and for our little talk. Look if you ever need me for anything you can call-"
She was cut off by a hand on her shoulder and when she turned to look Jackie's eyes had gotten warmer. Trisha felt a little bit of a blush creeping over her cheeks but kept an even expression. "Same here. You need anything, our farm is your second home. Remember that." His lips stretched into a smile. "Dad is pretty much retired as much as he hates to admit it...I'm taking over all of his affairs but he just helps out and pretends like everything's the same. Like I said, it keeps him going. But he already signed the farm over to me some time ago."
Trisha blinked, but returned a faint smile. "Jackie what are you getting at?"
"Well..." he stepped back, rubbing the back of his neck briefly and gazing at the floor a moment before looking back. "What I'm getting at is that this can be your first home, if that's what you want. If that's what'd make you happy...Patricia."
Suddenly, she noticed the intense longing and lonliness in this man's eyes. Something she had felt for far too long herself. Reaching foward, she hugged him around the neck.
/
Please review, as always :) This chapter took a bit longer but I am pretty happy with where it went. More to come soon!