OoO( 18 )OoO

The happy cheerful mood that came after the killing of the balverine had quickly vanished and was replaced by a depressing and eerie silence. The entire town had been ordered to their homes so that nobody else would fall victim to the murderers judgment. Although they were all safely locked inside their houses, the people of the town couldn't help but be nervous and paranoid.

Van and Whisper had looked for the tracks of the killer many times over, but without success. Both of their tracking skills put together couldn't find any trace of the culprit; leaving them to stand over the dead body even longer.

After Lyle's encounter with Lady Grey, he had left the store and gone up into the village to find the others. When he found them, he rushed over and looked at them worriedly. "What happened here?" he asked, turning his gaze to the dead body.

"Someone killed him while we were at the tavern." said Whisper.

"Who?"

"We don't know. Nobody saw it happen and we can't find any trace of the killer." said Van frustratedly. He looked around at the landscape; looking for one, just one clue to where the killer had gone. But there was nothing to be found; not a footprint, not a scrap of cloth, not a single indication of where to go.

"You're not looking hard enough." said Lyle as he got onto his hands and knees to inspect the scene. After ten minutes of searching, he stood up to see the smiling faces of Van and Whisper. He glared at them. "Alright, so whoever did this did a good job of covering their tracks." he said. Then he looked around. "Wait...where is Talon?"

"I don't know, she saw the body and took off running somewhere." said Whisper.

"She said she needed some air." Van repeated to Lyle. Then Lyle glared at them both. "What?" he asked.

Lyle sighed. "Number one, if she saw the body then she was already out in the open where there is plenty of fresh air. Two, didn't you think it odd for her to see someone die, then just run off? She has killed people herself, so it wasn't a first time thing! She must know something!" he yelled. Then, a look of realization struck the two. "Which way did she go?" he asked.

"Follow me." Van grunted, then ran off towards the tavern. When they arrived, Talon was nowhere to be found. Van looked around and cursed. "Damn...where did she get to?"

"Quiet." said Lyle. They both made no motion and slowed their breathing. Then, he heard it. Movement was coming from upstairs. They both ran up the stairs and looked around, seeing nothing suspicious.

Then, Van looked in the corner and saw an open closet door. Walking over to the door, he opened it and saw nothing except a pile of bedsheets and blankets thrown onto the floor. Van glared and grabbed the pile, then jerked it off the floor; exposing Talon.

She cringed and yelled, "No!"

"Talon! Whats the matter with you?" shouted Lyle.

She looked up at her two friends staring at her and yelled, "You have to keep him away from me! You have to!"

"Who?"

"H-He's come back! He won't stop until...until..."

Lyle, frustrated, grabbed Talon by her arms and lifted her into the air. "Maria!" he shouted as loud as he could. She snapped out of her panic and stared at him. "Who are you hiding from?" Talon's eyes widened in horror.

"That would be me." said a voice right behind Lyle. Lyle felt the soft prick of a needle at his throat. "Drop the girl."

Lyle's eyes also widened and Van stepped back in surprise. Slowly, Lyle lowered Talon to the ground. "Who are you?"

"So she hasn't told you? Odd, I surely would have thought that she would have told her lover." said the snake like voice. "Turn around lover boy, I want to see your face." he said. Lyle slowly turned around and saw the man. He stood hunched over as if ready to spring forward and attack like a lion. His lower face was hidden by a black torn cloth that covered his mouth and nose; leaving only his short black spiky hair and jet black eyes showing on his pale face.

"I'll ask you again, who are you?" said Lyle visciously.

The man who couldn't have been over Lyle's age; smiled under his hood, then started laughing out loud. Lyle noticed this and decided to attack when his guard was down. But, unknown to Lyle, this one never let his guard down. Lyle sprang forward and attempted to grab the culprits arm holding the needle; but he grabbed air and felt a strong grab on his other arm. He shouted in pain as his arm was twisted, then he flew sideways and crashed through a window; landing harshly on the balcony outside. Lyle lie face down on the balcony, stunned as he tasted blood in his mouth.

Van charged forward and used a spell that created a spirit sword. Grabbing the sword with both hands, he swung full force at the mysterious man, only to hit wood. The man dodged it by bending sideways then smiled at the mage. "Tsk tsk tsk. Very rash." he said, then like a flash of lightning, he flipped backwards; kicking Van in his chin and landing expertly on one foot. Van flew back from the attack and smashed into the wall, making a large crater-like indent where he had struck. After falling to the ground, all consciousness flew from Van's form.

Talon was now in tears now as the man turned to her. "N-No...Van...Lyle..."

"Don't worry, I won't kill them...yet. I won't kill them until I am finished with you my dear sister." he said.

Talon began backing up slowly, trying to get away from her brother. "No...please Hawk, leave them alone. Do whatever you want with me." she said.

Hawk begun to laugh maniacly again. "You have no say in the matter. Once I finish with you, I will tie your pathetic form up and make you watch as I cut them piece," at this, he pulled a dagger from his back and ran the blade across her cheek. "by agonizing piece. I will make you pay for what you did to me sister, and you will pay with the life of your lover."

"He is not my lover!" she shouted through choked tears.

"Do you really think that I would take your word for it? If he is not, then why do you protect him so much?" he asked. Suddenly, his eyes widened. He turned around just in time to avoid having his head severed clean from his body. The sword swipe cut across the bridge of his nose, splattering blood on the rain and tear wet floor. Hawk quickly flipped backwards and stared at the assailant. It was Lyle...but he was different. His eyes were tinted a bright red as the lightning briefly lit his form up. His sword was in his right hand, stained with Hawk's blood and pointing at the assassin.

Lyle said nothing as he stared into the eyes of his opponent.

Hawk stared back at Lyle as if trying to figure something out. Then his eyes widened in realization. "It...It can't be..." he said. "S-Skorm?"

Lyle smiled to himself, then walked forward; his sword still aimed at Hawk's heart. "You attack the girl, you attack the mage, yet you still do not seem to be satisfied. Kill whoever you wish and send them to hell, but attack my vessel; and I will kill you as if you were the child of Avo." he said as he slowly stepped forward.

Hawk was backed against a wall as the evil spirit walked towards him. He frantically grabbed three needles from the belt and hurled them at Lyle. They flew and were caught as if they were flying in slow motion. Lyle smiled and threw them back. They thudded into the wall as Hawk vanished from the scene instantly. Smiling again, he turned to Talon and looked at her. "He got away. Oh well, it has been a while since I've had the pleasure of taking a human life, maybe I should finish you off." he said.

Talon's eyes widened as he began to approach her. "W-Wha?" she said startled. He continued forward and stopped, standing right above her.

"Or maybe, I could have a little fun with you first." he said smiling. Stabbing his sword into the ground, he grabbed her by her collar and lifted her onto her feet. Then he slowly ran his hand up her stomach and over her chest. "How would you like that?" he asked wickedly.

Tears now rolled down her face in quick succession. She was only able to mumble one word. "Lyle..."