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This sword had a jagged blade with runes engraved on it — the guard cross-shaped, its grip made of light alloy with symbols painted on it in purple; the pommel shaped like a globe. Twenty inch blade felt incredibly comfortable in his hand, as if he was born to wield it, the steel was definitely singing to him. Erik looked at the vampire out of the corner of his eye. This was bordering on insane — here was the armed hunter and the vampire, alone, in the library of the latter's house, and they were not trying to kill each other.
Gentle lamp light innocently illuminated the impressive collection of unique cold weapon on the nearest wall and really warmed the place — decided Erik, approaching the desk in the corner with the said lamp and the vampire, who, without lifting his nose from the thick book, cheerfully inquired:
"So, how do you find the blade, Erik? I assume this is the original sacred sword, described in the book of Elevation, consecrated in the name of the First Hunter…"
Erik gulped.
"How did you get your hands on the sacred sword? My mother was in the Inner Circle, yet she's never seen it. My god, it was lost after the demon breakthrough half the century ago… You!"
Erik pointed accusing hand still gripping the sword and the vampire carefully lifted his gaze from the paper, noticing the steel within a couple of inches from his head.
"I bet, the wounds from this one won't be healing," pensively said the vampire and reached for the blade barehanded.
What the heck? Erik snatched the blade away when at the same time something heavy abruptly collided with his back.
"How dare you!" hissed Alex from the entrance, "How dare you draw weapon on Charles after everything he's done for you."
"Alex, calm down," Charles moved to stay in front of Erik with hands raised in placating manner.
The second book-projectile was hovering in the air next to Alex's outstretched arm. He had better control of his abilities these days, courtesy of the vampire. And, reluctantly agreed Erik, they needed the witcher on the team, even one as unstable and hardheaded as Alex.
Alex scowled, but didn't lower his arm.
"Raven must be right in the end," huffed he and frowned, "I'll be watching you, Lehnsherr, and god forbid if you hurt someone in this house or if someone will be hurt because of you."
Erik gave him a flat look. Time's come to show the brat his place. Again, he only succeeded in opening his mouth, sharp remark ready on his tongue, when the vampire rather unexpectedly shortened the distance between himself and Alex and grasped his outstretched hand.
"There will be no fighting in my house."
Seriously, now the vampire finally sounded like the creature of the dark. Erik felt the goose bumps on his exposed forearms from the sudden chill in the air.
"Guys! Alex, where are you!?" Angel cried from the corridor and the grave atmosphere magically evaporated, leaving Alex muttering apologies and the vampire attempting that deceptively genuine smile again.
"Come on," the girl burst through the half open door in excitement, the younger and with affinity to dark stripes version of the succubus, if you ask Erik. He briefly wondered if she wore the same outfit to school.
"Did you forget that we're hanging out tonight? The prophesy, the Great Serpent, midnight? Does it ring any bells?" she was too excited for someone who may as well never come back tonight.
"Fancy blade, Erik!" winked Angel and promptly pulled his sleeve, "Come on, you have to see how we stuffed Hank in the backseat of Raven's Land Rover."
"Angel, I suppose you're joking," interrupted the vampire, taking down the straight plain sword from the wall without looking.
"Ha-ha," forcefully smiled Angel, added, "I'll be waiting in the garage!" and was off.
Erik didn't refrain from an eye roll. Poor sod.
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At half past eleven they were right on the spot where due to Hank's meticulous calculations the gate will open at midnight to let the Great Serpent God in. The ancient town hall was built of stone and managed to withstand three hundred years before the seal has thinned enough to provoke the group's suspicions. Strangely enough, it was Sean who pointed out that the chain of dreadful accidents in the building must be connected to the supernatural world. Charles hauled himself in the library for two days to look through all available literature on demonology. That's why they're standing here: Alex and Raven, grim and determined, Sean, looking at his feet, Hank, shifting from one foot to another, and Angel, casually typing text messages on her I-Phone.
Charles, Erik started calling him that in his mind only to avoid mixing him with other blood-thirsty monsters, was explaining the strategy.
What am I doing here — marveled Erik not for the last time. All right, he genuinely likes the certain part of the supernatural world, the part which doesn't include nasty demons, vampires and other visitors from below, like the one they're going to slaughter tonight. Either way, he has found the lair of one of Shaw's associates and planned to effectively search the place in his absence. Why not help the bunch of kids to banish a demon or two in his spare time?
"Any questions?" asked Charles with his most annoying mentoring intonation.
"Jesus, Charles! Of course, there're no questions," Raven quietly muttered to Alex, "as if anything ever has gone according to the plan…"
"Let's hope that it will this time," briskly reacted the vampire, obviously having heard everything, "otherwise, our chances to survive through the next half an hour are slim. Do I have to remind you all, that this is the first time we're going to face not a usual half-breed, but the true creature of the abyss… Judging by the ancient hierograms, it has almost destroyed the world…"
"Joy!" summarized Erik, "Now, everyone, move to your respective positions and wait for the signal?"
"What signal?" Sean went bug-eyed, "Have I missed something?"
"Huge demon breaking through the floor is the signal, you moron," Angel snickered and offered, "Let's take pictures. You know, like — 'before the sleazy worm appeared in our dimension' and '30 minutes after'? What do you think?"
Raven grinned.
"Sounds cool! You're brilliant, Angel! Hank, don't stand there like a statue, come up. Alex, Sean, you're on the left. Sorry, Charles, but you know, you're not really photogenic. Erik!"
This is madness, helplessly thought Erik. The vampire, suddenly stepping close to him, sympathetically shrugged and offered apologetic smile.
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Erik ducked and slashed the thick appendage with all his might. Damn, they were expecting the Serpent, not the fucking gigantic octopus. The breach in the floor was emitting bright blue flames, the energy — deduced Erik and grabbed Alex before he could fall in the gap. The kid coughed a few times before screaming at Erik through deafening rumbling and roaring.
"I need a couple of minutes to concentrate. After I close the gate, deal with the rest of the body!"
Erik nodded and motioned for Alex to get behind him.
Okay, grimly thought Erik chopping the pulsating demonic flesh, now he knows what real hell looks like.
He couldn't really see what was going on around. Electricity was off, air smelled of acid blood and dirt, dust clogged his eyes and nose. Unlike everyone around, except Alex and perhaps Sean, he didn't have the advantage of night vision. Erik hadn't heard Sean and Angel for a while and prayed they were just unconscious, not dead or dragged in the abyss. Hank was viciously cutting approaching tentacles by his side with the axe. Good job, noted Erik.
"Charles! Charles, what are you doing!" the voice belonged to extremely alarmed Raven.
"It's done!" exclaimed Alex from behind and the wave of magic made the whole building shudder.
Erik swore when the ground under his feet crumbled. Alex overdid it again. Shit! He blindly grabbed someone's furred palm — Hank — and let the werewolf drag him up. Together they reached the breach in the nearest wall and Erik looked back. Blue light disappeared completely. They won, thank god… Erik reached to the inner pocket for the phone, which continued to remain unscratched by sheer magic, no less. The light was not enough to illuminate the scene; he was able to discern Hank and the heap on the floor that looked like Sean.
"Okay, this should help with the light," Hank fumbled with something until he opened his hand and Erik, who already knew that Hank was full of surprises, whistled in wonder.
Tiny bundles of flames took off from Hank's palm and the shimmering greenish creatures clothed the hall with light. Fairies! How fascinating!
Without wasting any more time, Erik limped to Sean — he was alive and relatively unscratched, probably hit his head on the debris.
The remnants of the demon were still twitching, some parts already melting away with hissing sound.
Hank came up closer and carefully lifted Sean.
"Take him outside, I'll check on the rest of the group," nodded Erik.
When he approached the others, they've already bundled together in the corner: Angel had her arm fixed by Alex, Raven was tightly hugging Charles and for some reason they were still sitting on the ground.
"Raven, are you alright?" asked Erik and frowned at the scene. If the vampire has done something to her…
"No, I'm not!" she replied, and looked up, scoffing, "Charles has nearly got himself killed! How can I be alright?"
"Charles!" she shook the vampire's shoulders and Erik noticed that he seemed a little dazed, wide eyes expressionless and empty and since when does Erik know how his eyes must look. Presuming he's always like that.
"Raven, what happened?" Charles stirred, but Raven only grabbed him more tightly. He didn't try to extricate himself from the embrace again, instead curiously tilted his head to the side, "You're not hurt, are you? Oh dear, is it someone else?"
"Everyone's fine," she answered, shaken, "This is you I'm worried about, dumbass. One moment I'm dodging that snake and the next I watch you throwing away your sword and leaping right into the gate; thank mother nature for my amazing reflexes or you'd be dead and gone for sure. I doubt, they would be serving tea for you down there," she grew more hysterical with every word, "and then, then you, you just didn't snap out of it!"
"I can't remember… Lord, I…"
The smudges of dirt and blood on his face suddenly became more pronounced and Erik lazily mused if vampires could still go pale, because, apparently this one was a rule breaker in that department.
"Raven, I'm so sorry, darling," Charles pressed a kiss to her forehead and absently patted her head.
"We'll deal with this at home, alright," promised the vampire and helped Raven to her feet.
"Deal, but consider me you Siamese twin from now on. You stay close and never leave my side."
Meanwhile, Erik was busy thinking. Alex and Angel were anxiously going on, fussing around Raven and Charles, and creating constant white noise in the background. Erik was sure that he was the only person diligently observing the vampire all the time, harboring no illusions about his true identity. He thought back to that time the vampire stood on the porch, regardless of rising sun and the recent sword incident in the library. This was the third. Interesting.
"Either you're suicidal," concluded Erik, which would simplify his life a great deal, "or you're cursed."
Kids gaped at him in astonishment, in Raven's case mixed with fear and in Alex's with irritation.
What, he smugly glared at the vampire — is there no prize for guessing.
Charles stared back with intense expression until the look in his eyes grew from contemplative to knowing. Erik scowled — it appears, his message went unnoticed.
"I reckon, I should have known better. Thank you, my friend."
Erik was effectively rendered speechless.
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