Chapter Seventeen: The Stalker of the Sands
Resting for their trip to Aurora in the Sanctuary Gabriel studied the map closely trying to locate the Vexator but to no avail.
Seeing Gabriel study the map so intensely Jasper approached, "Master Gabriel, I insist you get some rest, studying that map won't make anything magically appear."
"In most cases, I'd agree with you Jasper, however, I'm looking for something else entirely," Gabriel spoke looking closely at Millfields, "I may have rushed the recruitment of another with my presence here."
At Reaver Manor inside the large dining room, Reaver cut into a steak taking a bite as he reached for his wine noticing it had yet to be refilled.
Holding up his glass he cleared his voice, "I believe I recall one of my rules being I do not like to request refills and expect it to be filled at all times."
Waiting a moment Reaver growled setting the glass down and looked towards the kitchen noticing the doorway empty of his latest butler.
"I swear you better not be in my wine cellar drinking my collection you miserable roach!" Reaver growled picking up his pistol and entered the kitchen where he noticed his cook was missing as well.
Sensing something sinister afoot Reaver walked into the main hall where he noticed one of his nightly exploits Diana with her back to him at the end of the hall.
"My dear, have you seen my servants? It would appear they've all skipped their duties," Reaver spoke noticing that Diana's feet didn't touch the ground.
Pointing his gun Reaver watched as she slowly turned around like a rag doll her eyes having been torn out and blood streaking down her face. In her hand was a knife and with movements like a wood puppet she came flying at Reaver who fired a shot at her forehead seeing it did nothing and quickly dodged the swings of her blade then rolled into his study where all his servants floated off the ground eyes missing and all armed.
"What is this?" Reaver spoke ready to fire but then froze when he noticed he couldn't move his arm after aiming it, or even pull the trigger.
Grunting Reaver felt his body freeze up then noticed looking in just the right angle, around his arm were strings that dug into his flesh.
He then noticed these same strings around all his servants. Trying to move Reaver noticed in the corner of his eyes was a hooded figure sitting at his desk who with one hand up had many strings coming out of his clawed fingers.
Standing up the figure approached Reaver his heavy footsteps creaking on the wood floor as he held a bloody claw finger to Reaver's face moving his hair aside to expose his right eye.
"I found you at last, Hero of Skill, Reaver," The Vexator spoke drawing his claw against Reaver's cheek.
Reaver had to confess this was the first time the enemy ever got the jump on him, and it pissed him off, with the anger he had there was fear, he was vulnerable to this mysterious enemy who brutally turned his servants into puppets.
"And who do I owe the pleasure to? It's not every day anyone gets the jump on me, aren't you a tricky one," Reaever spoke watching the figure hold up a bloodied hand dropping two eyeballs on the ground where they bounced and landed near Reaver's boots.
"Formalities are irrelevant, I've got a job to do," the Vexator spoke his claws near Reaver's eye where Reaver's pupils dilated a bit in fear, "Oh? What's this I sense? You've made a pact with the Shadow Court, have you?"
Grabbing Reaver's chin the Vexator turned to examine Reaver's eyes very closely forcing Reaver to stare into his glowing red eyes hidden behind a mask, "Did you know eyes are the portals into the soul? I can see all your sins, your vanity has no end does it? How many innocent souls beauty and youth have you sacrificed to retain yours? I know the exact number; do you even remember?"
Reaver gulped as he felt strings wrap around his neck and began to slowly squeeze and dig into his flesh, narrowing his eyes Reaver spoke, "Toying with me isn't your end goal, I sense a partnership in the works."
Tilting his head the Vexator snap his fingers using a sharp nail to sever the strings in the manor dropping Reaver's dead servants to the ground but the strings remained binding Reaver in place, "don't get the wrong idea mortal, I could care less for a pawn of the Shadow Court, in fact, they residing here will end, once the Corruption spreads, however, that wouldn't work for you now, would it?"
Walking around Reaver the Vexator used a claw to cut Reaver's cheek drawing blood, "with no Shadow Court, your youth will vanish, though I suspect you already notice the changes, awfully pale, it seems their deal isn't working out anymore is it Reaver?"
Reaver hated that this figure was right, the Shadow Court had kept the end of their bargain, however, the once tan and beautiful skin he once admired was becoming paler with each passing decade, "so are you offering something sweeter?"
Thinking it over the Vexator held a claw under Reaver's chin, "I am offering you nothing, however, my master does have an offer you can't refuse."
"Then do speak your terms then," Reaver spoke being dropped to the floor as he narrowed his eyes and watched the Vexator take a seat behind his desk.
"Yes, let's talk, after all, you'll enjoy what we have to offer, please take a seat," the Vexator spoke gesturing to the empty seat before him.
That night Logan and the others all geared up as they approached the map table looking at Aurora.
"Any clue where in Aurora the Agent hiding at?" Echo asked watching the mask near a desert section of Aurora.
"It appears to be heading to the mines," Logan spoke watching the Agent's movements.
"The same mine Reaver wanted to force labor the Auroan people?" Saker asked getting a nod from Logan.
"The Auroran people opened the mine in recent years for material for the kingdom, the mine is a perfect place to hide from the light in Aurora and to protect the Corruption it spreads," Logan spoke reaching out and touching Aurora and teleported to the city.
In the City of Aurora, the heroes found themselves in a Corruption covered city where all its people had been turned into corrupted beings, the sky covered in dark red clouds and a mist spread across the kingdom.
"I can't wait to see what Aurora looks like when we get rid of this darkness, the kingdom must be so beautiful after all the work your brother went through to rebuild it," Tali spoke looking towards the mines.
"Can you hear me? The Agent is on the move and it's moving past you? Wait, I think it burrowing underground!" Gabriel warned as the heroes felt the ground shake and watched sharp spikes come out of the ground and leave away from the city.
"Where is it going?" Saker yelled rushing after the Agent with the others.
"It appears to be making its way to the Shifting Sands," Gabriel spoke watching the Agents movements closely.
Entering the large desert of the Shifting Sands Logan watched as Corruption spread all around them then bursting from the ground a massive lizard-like monster with a mask over his head emerged hissing and growling before the scales on its body shifted and it vanished before their eyes.
"It's gone!" Echo yelled as they heard the creature move and began to circle, "It's camouflaging!"
"Be careful! The Cloaker is up to something! Do not let your guard down!" Gabriel warned.
"Form up!" Logan yelled forming a circle with his allies each facing a direction waiting for the Cloaker to make it move.
Watching Saker's eyes widen when he saw some ruing get smashed and sent flying forwards them, "LOOK OUT!"
All quickly moving out of the way Tali felt the ground under her shift before a large hole began to open up creating a vortex that she got pulled into it.
"Shit! Logan!" Tali called out being sucked under the sand with her arm reaching out.
"TALI!" Logan yelled running over and then diving forward grabbing her hand as he tried to pull her out of the quicksand.
"Hold on I'm coming!" Saker yelled trying to run over only to be struck from behind by an invisible force and sent bouncing across the sands.
"Saker!" Echo yelled looking to where he crashed then turned her attention to the empty desert narrowing her eyes when she saw footprints forming.
Grunting Logan pulled with all his strength as Tali's head emerged and she gasped and coughed, spitting sand she grunted to et her other hand free and reached out grabbing Logan's arm, "Be careful! The bastard tunnels are sinkholes!"
Watching carefully Echo watched as the footprint began to charge at her then with her pole she vaulted above landing on the invisible force back and holding onto it as it tried to shake her off, "Saker! Throw me a bomb!"
Getting up Saker looked to Echo on the back of something big and invisible bouncing around, lighting a cigar Saker lit a bomb that he tied a rope around and then tossed it towards Echo, "You got it!"
Catching the bomb Echo quickly tied it onto what felt like a spike on the Cloaker's back before jumping off only to be smacked mid-air by the monster's tail and sent smashing into some ruins.
"Ngh!" Echo grunted hitting the ground and coughing as she watched the floating bomb rush towards her.
"Oh no you don't!" Saker growled picking up a boulder and chucking it towards the invisible force hitting it in the head and spreading the dust across its face.
Growling the Cloaker rushed toward Saker who began to run towards the open desert, "Come on explode already!"
After getting Tali out Logan drew his pistol and pointed, almost like time slowed around him Logan focused his shot firing and hitting the bomb on the invisible creature destroying its shield and exposing it for an attack.
Growling the Cloaker roared as the sand around them began to bubble and Corrupted Furies emerged one jumping towards Logan who just barely drew his sword to block the surprise attack.
"Whoa!" Echo yelled rolling out of the way from a stab and holding up her staff to block another attack, "what the hell are these?!"
"Fury! Be careful!" Tali yelled blocking several swings from one that swung at her with her katana.
Catching a blade and breaking it Saker punched a Fury away then looked to the main target the Cloaker that began to dig to try and hid underground so its shield can reform.
"Oh no you don't!" he yelled running over and grabbing it by the tail and began pulling trying to keep it from escaping.
"Get out of my way!" Logan yelled kicking away a Fury then watched as a shadow flew overhead and looked up to see a dragon from Percy who flew down close to the ground for Kalin to jump off and swing a battle staff that she used to disarm and smash the skulls of two Furies.
"Hurry! You must stop the source of this evil!" Kalin yelled as Percy flew in and Logan hopped onto his back with Tali.
"Ready?" Logan asked Tali forming a light spell in his hand.
"Right behind you!" Tali nodded forming her firework spell as they concentrated and combined the spell for a powerful Will attack.
"Percy! Let's get that digging bastard in the air!" Logan spoke.
"With pleasure!" Percy spoke flying down and then with his clawed feet slammed down on the Cloaker then lifted it into the air with Saker who screamed and held onto the tail.
Flailing around the Cloaker tried to break free from Percy's grip who flew higher into the red cloud and then let go, Logan and Tali then jumped after the falling lizard.
"Firework Light!" the two yelled in unison casting the spell into the Cloaker's belly making it roar and burned away its Corruption.
Looking up Saker let go of the lizard's tail and curled into a ball rolling in the air towards Logan and Tali grabbing both their hands and with a powerful yell, he launched the two fast towards the monster.
Drawing swords Logan and Tali stabbed their blades into the monster's belly as it crashed into the sand below creating a dust explosion.
Shielding her eyes Echo watched Logan and Tali run quickly away from the squirming Cloaker who looked up to see Saker fly down with his fists slamming down on the lizard's head with a loud crack and creating another gust of sand to blow in all directions.
Flapping his wings Percy landed watching the Cloaker's body twitch before it began to dissolve as sunlight broke through the red sky and began to burn away to Corruption.
Brushing the sand off his body Saker hopped off the Cloaker's body watching as the Fury's Corruption began to burn off and the female-like beasts quickly retreat into the sands below.
"At last," Kalin smiled watching the Corruption burn away then turned to Logan who looked to the ground when he approached her.
"Kalin...I'm sorry. When I first came to this land you healed me back to full health when I was attacked by the Crawler, I made you a promise that I broke, I can't imagine the pain I've caused your people, caused you, I'm sorry," Logan spoke bowing to Kalin who looked sternly at Logan before smiling.
"My people will always remember the pain you caused firsthand when you turned your back to us, however, we will also remember your efforts when you came to our aid," Kalin spoke as Logan looked up to see people from the city entering to see for themselves what happened in the Shifting Sands.
"People of Aurora, I can never ask for your forgiveness but I do ask for your aid when we march onto Samarkand to rescue you my brother, your King, will you fight with me Aurora?" Logan spoke looking to Kalin who turned to her people before turning to Logan and holding out her hand, shaking hands with Logan.
"We shall go to war! For our King! For Albion!" Kalin spoke as her people cheered behind her.
Later that day Logan and the others help Kalin and her people to round up any injured to the local hospital where Logan got some practice with his Heal spell.
Watching Kalin approach Tali who helped a woman to her bed, "I must admit, I was cautious about entrusting my people's lives once again to an outsider however, the results showed our Queen's judgment was sound, Logan will make a fine hero."
"He truly is working so hard to make up for his mistakes, it's noble," Tali smiled turning to Kalin, "will your people be ok now if we leave?"
"We will, it is as the Seer said, Hope is growing once more, the light will protect us from the darkness, and we will be ready when the time comes to march onwards to reclaim your kingdom," Kalin spoke looking to Saker who was getting scolded by Echo for trying to steal some medicine and laughed, "you've chosen some unique friends, though I have no room to judge from the company I keep as well."
"Yeah I do have some great friends," Tali smiled turning to look to Logan who smiled back at her.
Meanwhile, back in Millfield Reave smiled watching the Vexator who stood from his seat, "You will get everything you desire Reaver but remember this one and only warning, when my master comes to this world, you better be ready to serve."
"Rest assured my dear compadre, your master will have me at his beck and call, so long as I get what I desire in the end," Reaver spoke watching the figure exit the study.
"See to it Reaver, because I am the one who will come to collect your life if you failed," Vexator spoke leaving as Reaver smirked.
"I'm not much for playing a pawn role, you'll get your just dos," Reaver spoke picking up a whisky bottle and exiting his study.