Chapter 32 ~ Vytoni
Vytoni sat next to Enryx, who was a the wheel, studying the Ancient Greek writing on the hilt of her short dagger with no particular interest. Adrian was sitting cross-legged on the floor between them, studying the map while anxiously drumming his fingers against the dust-coated floor.
It was three days since they last heard of Wolfe and Trudy, who were obviously still trying to convince Courtney and Logan of William's capture. They had left the motel a few days after they disappeared into the shadow portal. She had considered using a tracking spell, but Lysandra pointed out that they would have put sensors and alarms to notify them if they had any sign of magical activity. Vytoni felt impatient, and was spending more and more time either next to the driver, on the lookout for the eerie lack of monsters, or on the roof of the car, where there was a ladder hanging from the edge.
The truck reeked with tacos and tortillas, even though Nethrys warned them against eating in the truck - much to Adrian's dismay. There was also an overwhelming stench of grease and disinfectant, as if someone spent hours spraying the air with oil and detergent. The radio on the dashboard read 21:00, so most of the others were either already asleep, just waking up or just hanging around.
Katerina was laying down on her sleeping bag, staring a thin strip of paper for the longest time. The others were careful to keep their distance, skirting around her stretch of space and speaking in low voices around her. Adrian, on the other hand, busied himself by eating, eating all the food that he could stick in his mouth, leaving the others mildly cross.
Behind the driver's seat was a empty dull gray room, where the kitchen used to be. There were a few of sleeping bags and mats laid out onto the sauce-stained floor. The open window space was boarded up and the wallpaper was peeling off the walls. Lysandra was attempting to scrub off the disgusting blotches of mexican food, but with no success.
"I'll be right back," She told Enryx who nodded in acknowledgement, keeping his eyes on the road. They were on their way to Monroe, Florida, since Wolfe had told them the Revolution of Fear was starting from the very south-west of the states. They figured it was the right place to go. Vytoni stood up and walked over to her bag which was lying on the floor next to Katerina. Putting her hand in it, she felt blindly for her stylus, since her runes were fading slightly. Just as she reached it buried in the midst of her possessions, her hand came in contact with a smooth, cool object. Frowning, she closed her fist around it, pulling it out to inspect it. It was made of black onyx, with indigo and silver lines tracing it. It felt cold in her hands, like frost. The pendant was shaped like a crescent moon, and it glittered in the afternoon sun.
"Katerina," Vytoni snapped her half-sister out of her trance, and she blinked blearily at Vyt, "Did you see who put this here?"
Katerina shrugged and shook her head miserably, turning back to the strip of paper - which was, she realized, a set of photo booth pictures of her and Wolfe. Vytoni unclasped the silver chain she kept around her neck and threaded the pendant through it, and put it back around her neck. The stone rested against her heart, and it seemed to calm her heartbeat, somehow.
Feeling slightly unsettled, she walked out to the side door, despite the truck still running. Opening the door, she leaned out, feeling the wind against her face and hair. Swinging herself up and over the truck, she grabbed the steel ladder that was bolted on the side, climbing it until she came to the top, where she perched on the edge, on foot looped around the closest rung. The harsh wind stung her face, but she tipped her head back, closing her eyes and enjoying the rush.
"I thought I'd find you here," Vytoni's eyes shot open and saw Nethrys leaning in the rung below hers, staring intently into her eyes. Vytoni broke eye contact and her fingers found her new pendant instead, twirling it listlessly and letting the cold stone slide across her fingers before flipping her hand over and catching it with her palm.
"So you like it?" Nethrys asked her quietly, but the roaring wind did not hide his voice.
"It was from you," A statement, not a question.
"I think you realized." Yes. But I didn't want to admit it.
"Why?"
"Why what?" He was watching her diligently, his usually gray eyes like silver and... gold? She had been noticing the change more and more often, but she brushed it aside. Now she wished she hadn't.
"Why did you give this to me?"
"I wanted to." Vytoni felt a rush of annoyance... and something else. Something she couldn't quite keep her finger on. Before she could put a tab on it, though, Nethrys swung himself onto the roof and sat next to her, not even holding on to anything. They were sitting so close she felt his warm heat radiating off him, but found herself unwilling to move, instead slumping farther down her seat, propping herself up by the crook of her elbows. Her second mistake.
"I..." She closed the pendant in her fist, rubbing her finger against the refined surface, "Thank you."
He didn't answer, so she turned her head to look at him, finding his face barely inches from hers. Her breathing shallowed, and she forced herself to look away, her unease growing bigger and bigger. She felt his hand gently cup her face and tilt her's towards him again. She quickly brushed his hand away, standing up despite the swaying of the truck.
"What are you doing?" Eyes wide, Vytoni backed away quickly, almost tripping as her heel caught the ladder.
"I -uh, nothing. It doesn't even matter," Nethrys was looking ready to beat himself up, "I mean, yeah, it does."
She looked at him frantically, half of her wanting to hear what he has to say, and the other half straining to get away.
She decided to give him a chance and hear him out. "What?"
"Look, there's a hundred percent chance you're gonna get upset, or offended, but just listen. I can't turn back. I know what I'm doing, and that's being with you. I'll always be with you. I can't bear it if I can't. I know you're a Hunter of Artemis, I know you've sworn off guys but you know what? I don't care. I just... don't care..." Nethrys trailed off, still steadily hold her gaze. Hysteria and panic were fighting to burst out of her, so she stomped it out along with the unidentified emotion swelling in her chest. Suddenly, the pendant around her neck was too cold, and she had trouble breathing.
"Oh," She managed a small whispered, but she was horrified, "I don't - I can't -"
Nethrys looked hurt, his eyes darkening and widening, "I'm sorry."
"Not - not your fault," She stumbled for words, but thankfully, the truck shuddered and stopped, giving her a reason to go back down without seeing if Nethrys followed or not.
"What happened?" Vytoni demanded, her staff already in hand as she rushed to the driver's seat, where Enryx put a finger to his mouth and silently pointed at a looming figure ahead of them. The creature snarled at the upcoming food truck, it had turned over a parked car near a gas station.
Scarlett yelped, jumping up from her seat on the floor. "Oh my god, what is that?"
"Gods," Lysandra automatically corrected.
"Really?" Enryx raised a black eyebrow, his crossbow at the ready, "Now?"
"Enryx, wrong weapon." Elektra held up her bow, an arrow already notched.
"Not now, sis." Enryx unlocked the truck door and sprang onto the road.
The other followed behind. Katerina had put down her memorial photos and unsheathed her midnight black dagger. Scarlett was trailing behind her holding a kitchen knife and frowning. "You finally quit whining about your boyfriend?"
"Do you want me to slap you?" Katerina threatened, making Scarlett pull a shocked face. Katerina smirked and hurried after Enryx. Rosamynd laughed, immediately covering her mouth as Scarlett shot her a death-glare.
"Shut up," Adrian ordered them, staring determinedly ahead of him, at the fast-approaching figure.
"Right."
"What is that?" Nethrys breathed beside her ear, making Vytoni pointedly move to the other side of the truck, which wasn't really much. Peering in front of her, she finally got a clear view of what they facing. The creature had a horse's hooves and a lion's tail. It was probably around the size of a German Shepard; it had long locks sprouting from its narrow, striped head of a badger.
"A Leucrocotae," Elektra replied, "I remember my dad talking about this once."
"A Lewcomer-what?" Adrian broke his concentration momentarily to turn and stare quizzically at Elektra, who looked surprised he was speaking to them again.
"A Leucrocotae," Elektra repeated, "Not so deadly, but very cunning."
"Any monster is deadly," Scarlett commented wisely, "And I'm speaking from experience."
"Not this one; he has this power to lure its prey but I have forgotten what it was."
Suddenly, Adrian's head perked up. "Do you guys hear that?"
"Hear what?" Nethrys unsheathed his bronze sword, eyeing his teammate confusedly.
"Trudy."
"Wh- Adrian, Trudy is gone for a mission. She left with William," Katerina's voice choked up when she mentioned her boyfriend.
"I know that," He snapped, "But I'm certain it's her."
"Well, if that's so. What is 'she' saying?" Enryx questioned him.
He craned his head for a better look, and replied, "That she needs my help and that she misses me."
"I was jok-" Enryx started, but Lysandra threw him a meaningful glare, and he shut up. Adrian, clearly annoyed by them, started to walk towards the creature; but Nethrys and Enryx held him back.
"What are you doing?" Adrian cried, outraged.
"What are you-" Enryx started again, but shut up once again.
"Wait." Nethrys told Adrian. He turned to Vytoni, who met his gaze levelly, trying to shut the shaking earthquake of feelings out.
She replied carefully, assessing the situation, "It doesn't matter. All I know is that we need to stop it."
"How?" Scarlett crossed her arms, looking defiantly at her.
"We fight it, that's how," Vyt answered frostily, tapping the end of her staff impatiently on the concrete road, "Except you," She pointed at Adrian, who began struggling, "And you," Katerina didn't look too surprised, and nodded glumly, "And you." She gestured at Scarlett's direction, ignoring her huff of indignation.
"Wha-What? No, no, no, you can't force us to not fight!" Adrian cried out.
"So I'm stuck with Satan's Mistress over here?" Katerina whined.
"The monster tricks you by mimicking the voice of your loved ones," Lysandra breathed, "Of course - Adrian and Katerina would be distracted during the fight."
"Yeah, so?" Adrian countered.
"Do you want to live or not?" Enryx glared at him, "I agree with Lys." He added, earning fleeting glances from the Godling in question.
"Fine, then you're not allowed to read or do archery," Adrian stuck a tongue out as the two of them, who immediately began arguing.
"Quit complaining and stay inside," Nethrys said, "Just... shut up." He looked so tired, but he didn't let on.
"What about me?" Scarlett complained, "I don't love anybody." She shot Vytoni a mean look, which Vyt ignored.
"Of course you don't," Vytoni muttered to herself. Then, much louder, she said, "Look, are we gonna kill this thing or not?"
"Let's go," Elektra agreed, raising her bow and arrow; ready to shoot. Together, the six of them, they approached the Leucrocotae, which gave them a weird, twisted smile as they neared.
"Hello kiddos," Vytoni couldn't tell what he sounded like - his voice kept changing, and she couldn't focus on one, but then it changed to a sweet, sugary voice, "Are you here to play with Larry?"
'Larry' gave a monstrous grin, showing a powerful jaw of bone in place of teeth. Around her, she felt her quest mates lower their weapons, and she felt a surge of irritation.
"Creepy," Nethrys whispered. Vyt hadn't noticed him standing so close. His breath tickled the back of her neck and she stepped away again, raising her staff in level to the monster's chest.
"Very creepy indeed," His voice mimicked Nethrys', and Rosamynd actually looked from the monster to Nethrys, as if trying to remember which of them were real.
Vytoni had enough of this waiting around and raised her staff to strike the Leucrocotae, as everybody seemed to come back to their senses. She aimed for the monster's windpipe, but he reared his powerful hind legs and slashed at her with his claws, forcing her to duck and roll out of the way. She took her ink-black sword out and ran at him again, this time sinking the blade deep into his mane. He roar furiously, but didn't disintegrate. Elektra shot an arrow at the creature's spiky ears and he winced in pain, but it didn't faze him. He lunged at Lysandra's legs, clawing at them, and Lysandra tried to kick him but failed. She recited an incantation and dropped an amulet that she usually carried around as a charm bracelet. The amulet burst out white light, which made them look away. A fully grown lion had replaced the amulet, though it had the stripes of a tiger.
"Liger, attack!" Lysandra commanded. The liger understood and pounced at the Leucrocotae. Vytoni had heard of those mix bred mammals before, which were incredibly rare. Elektra and Enryx repeatedly shot at Larry, sometimes pausing trying to figure out which one of the creatures was their enemy. The animals were rolling on top of each other, clawing and scratching their opponent. But the monster snuck out of it and bounded after the food truck. Everyone, including the liger, sprinted after the Leucrocotae.
"Here, kitty, kitty," The Leucrocotae crooned, Lysandra's voice this time. The liger stopped for a moment, looking confused and suspicious. But that was all the monster needed. He pounced at the misfortunate animal, digging his claws into the golden mane of Lysandra's pet. The liger roared, and stood there on his hind legs, confusement overlapping his face. It collapsed and bursted in a great flash of white light, leaving no trace of his existence behind. Even though the liger was magical, Lysandra looked like she just lost her best friend.
The Leucrocotae smiled at his victory over the feline pet, he trotted over to the food truck where Adrian, Katerina and Scarlett were still waiting, their faces pressed against the stained glass window. Biting back a curse, Vytoni ran for the truck, taking her staff back out and muttering an incantation under her breath. She felt a burst of exhilarating speed and strength, as if she just had a bunch Nectar and Ambrosia. She used the unpleasant Leucrocotae as a launching pad, vaulting over him and landed lightly on her feet, wrenching open the door and saying, "Get out. Now." The occupants inside nodded and ran, weapons at the ready.
Turning back to the livid Leucrocotae, she smirked and gestured for him to charge. Stupidly, he did as she provoked him to do, growling and snarling as he bolted for her. She flexed her fingers, and when he came closer, she used the side to propel herself off the truck, over the monster's head. The Leucrocotae crashed into the truck, creating a crater-sized hole. Oops. Sorry, Limos.
As the monster shook his head, his roar full of rage, Vytoni took her chance and drew a short dagger, no longer than her forearm. Sneaking up behind the Leucrocotae, she tried to get the base of his neck, but he turned in the last second, so she twisted and tackled him instead, wrestling him away from biting her face off. She stabbed the dagger deep into the roof of the monster's mouth while he was roaring, ignoring the saliva that dribbled down her arm. Vytoni quickly released her hold as the Leucrocotae started to writhe and scream in a thousand different voices, before he finally stopped and went still, his body slowly melting to ashes.
After the lengthy battle, the Godlings and Scarlett stared at the wreckage their food truck had become. One side of the truck was crumple like a tin can, where a Leucrocotae-sized crater was imprinted on the wall. It was burning slightly, and Vytoni knew the engine was busted, too.
"Great." Scarlett scoffed, "No ride, no nothing. Thanks."
"Hey," Everybody turned to look at Nethrys in surprise, since he got along best with Scarlett, "She saved us. Give her a break."
Vytoni glared at him. I don't need you to fight my battles.
I know, His eyes seemed to say, This is mine.
"There's a gas station in the trailer park we were heading to, and there's a car rental near there for broken trailers," Adrian volunteered, and everyone turned to him, startled to hear him speak after so long, "I've been staring at the same spot on the map for the past two hours, next to the driver. I tend to pick things up."
Tend to mope, more like it.
"I know," Katerina said understandingly, her hand clutching the photos of her and Wolfe. They trudged to the trailer park and pitched some tents, buying their dinner and provisions from the gas station, which also served as a general store. It was still only 6:30, so they had an early dinner and started to check out the area, looking for any signs of magical activity.
Vytoni sat on the cluster boulder bunched up to make a small hill, on the lookout for monsters while her mind drifted off, going back to that stupid conversation with Nethrys on the roof of the truck. She had planned to take moon pendant off, perhaps throw it away, but somehow, she hasn't quite managed to do that yet.
~ END OF CHAPTER 32 ~