Chapter Ten: The Balverine's Den
Also hearing the roar of the Balverine Seth ran out of the Tavern with his cutlass drawn watching a large white monster jump through the window of a large house near the center of town hearing a woman scream inside.
"HOLD ON!" Seth yelled running towards the door and kicking it open pointing his pistol and scanning the room see the room destroyed and heard a crash upstairs.
Running up the stairs Seth spotted a woman lying on the ground, slowly approaching with his gun still pointed he knelt and touched her neck letting out a sigh of relief that she was alive.
Standing up he slowly peeked into rooms till he spotted a room at the end of a hall with a child's name written on it.
Hearing footsteps behind him Seth peeked over to see Connor with his weapons drawn as they both slowly approached the child's room.
Giving a signal Seth counted down before he pushed the door open and Connor pointed his gun both gasping to see a large White Balverine holding a child in it's claws roaring at them before jumping out of the window.
"NO!" Connor yelled rushing to the window to watch the Balverine run out of town towards the woods.
"Dammit! I thought the town had Silver Nitrate Flames bordering it! How did this happen?!" Seth growled rushing over to the fallen woman, "Ma'am! Are you ok?"
Looking out the window to the townspeople gathering Connor yelled, "Someone get those flames lit again!"
"Ngh, what happened?" the woman groaned looking up to Seth then gasped to see her son's room and the broken window, "NO! My baby! Where is my Joey?!"
"The Balverine took it to the woods," Connor growled watching Roscoe sniff around the room and then whispered.
"I got their scent! I can lead us to where the beast took the child," Roscoe spoke watching Connor approach the woman with Seth.
"Leave it to us ma'am we will get your child back safely," Connor spoke watching Seth help her up and take her downstairs.
"Please find my son! I can't imagine how scared he must be," the woman sobbed.
"Don't worry ma'am we will make sure he gets home safely," Connor spoke.
Getting an icepack for the woman's head Seth and Connor exited the house following Roscoe who sniffed the road and led them past the town walls where they saw some men relighting the silver nitrate flames.
"That was the first time I've seen a Balverine in person, and odd that it just took the child, why take and not kill?" Seth asked keeping his weapons out while following Roscoe as they went deeper into the woods.
"It is odd, hopefully, we can find this kid soon, if there's a White Balverine there will be a pack it's leading," Connor spoke narrowing his eyes till he could see old ruins in the distance.
"Please tell me we don't have to go in there, Roscoe?" Seth asked watching the hound sniffing the road.
"Sadly, the scent leads this way," Roscoe spoke leading them closer and closer to the ruins till they reached old stone stairs leading into an entrance.
"I don't like this, ruins and old tombs are the start of every horror movie," Connor spoke attaching his flashlight to his pistol with Seth doing the same.
"I'm picking up many scents leading into these ruins, so that means there is a pack of Balverines in here," Roscoe warned.
"Stick close together," Seth warned watching Connor open the doors into the ruins where they saw lit torches lining the walls.
Following the hall, the heroes followed the torches turning the corner and finding a spiral staircase that led them deeper into the tomb.
"What is this place?" Connor asked reaching the bottom of the stairs that lead to a room with a giant statue in the middle of it.
"Judging from the statue's appearance it appears to be a temple of some sort," Seth spoke going down another set of stairs till they reached a massive room that made them wince from a foul stench.
"Oh god! What is that smell?!" Connor asked noticing a large spike pit directly in front of them and a pillar that had been knocked over to make a bridge for them.
"Ugh, it's getting worse!" Seth gagged walking across the makeshift bridge carefully to the other side where he found the source of the smell, bodies, rotting torn-up bodies scattered all over the room.
"These poor people," Connor spoke noticing the state of the bodies, "they were eaten, this is where they bring their food to feed."
"Guys," Roscoe warned making Seth and Connor look up to see several Balverines above growling and standing on pillars with strange angel designs all over the room.
"Where is the White one?" Seth whispered looking around then spotted a small body among the bodies in pajamas, "there he is!"
Running over Connor got down on his knees and checked the boy for a pulse, "he's alive! Thank Avo, come on kid, wake up."
Trying to shake the child awake Seth kept guard watching the Balverines that stared back at them, "They're not attacking? Why?"
"They're waiting for the Alpha command," Roscoe growled.
Slowly waking up Joey groaned, "Ow, what happened?"
"Everything going to be ok, we are going to get you out of here but close your eyes, I know it smells bad but whatever you do, no not open your eyes," Connor warned not wanting the child to see the state of the bodies around them.
"Connor!" Seth warned making his friend look back to see several Balverines land across from them.
"Stay behind me!" Connor warned pushing the child behind him and drawing his sword.
"What are they?!" Joey spoke in fear clinging to the back of Connor's jacket.
Growling a Balverine inched closer jumping back when Seth fired a warning shot, "Stay back!"
"They're scary!" Joey cried staying behind Connor who slowly moved them towards the bridge.
"The alpha here!" Roscoe growled smelling the White Balverine nearby.
"What do we have here?" a man's voice echoed above making Connor narrow his eyes when he saw in the darkness behind the pack of Balverines was a man with jet black messy hair with his arms crossed leaning on a wall.
"Who are you? Why did you kidnap this child?" Connor demanded pointing his sword and feeling the child behind him take a peek.
"Daddy?" Joey spoke catching Seth and Connor's attention.
"Joey, what are you talking about?" Seth asked still pointing his gun keeping it pointed at the man.
"But mommy said daddy died," Joey spoke watching the man walk forward.
"I am very much alive son, now come my child, it is time for you to join your real family," the man spoke but Connor held a hand out to shield Joey from the stranger.
"You intend to turn him into one of you, don't you?" Connor glared at the stranger.
"I am going to give him the wonder gift, imagine the power my son, the speed, you will never be afraid again, others will fear you," he smiled wickedly.
"Forget it! Joey, I don't know who that man is but he is not your father! No parent would ever wish this kind of life for their child!" Connor growled.
"I will give you boys this warning one time, leave the boy and we will let you leave this place alive, stay and interfere in our plans and you will die, what will it be?" the alpha spoke.
"How about you go to hell! There is no damn way I am letting you ANYWHERE near this child!" Connor yelled flipping the alpha the bird.
"Hmph, kill them," the Alpha spoke jumping high in the air and vanishing into the darkness above.
"Oh shit," Seth spoke seeing the Balverines charge at them, "BRING IT ON!"
Slashing his sword across a Balverine face Seth dodged sharp claws and shot several shots into another.
Eyes glowing blue Connor held out his hand seeing three Balverines charging at him ready to cast a new spell, "Time Control!"
With time moving slowly, Connor moved with lightning-fast movement stabbing his sword through the chests of the three Balverines, spinning his sword when time resumed and the three monsters dropped dead in front of him.
"Time Control!" Roscoe growled vanishing before a Balverine and appeared behind opening his mouth, "BLADES!"
Launching the spell Roscoe sent the Blades stabbing into the back of a Balverine back turning to watch Seth dodge another swipe of claws of a Balverine and stab his cutlass into its neck.
"Come on!" Connor yelled ready to fight another Balverine, hearing a roar and watching the man land across from them.
"You little bastards!" he growled his voice getting deeper and eyes becoming black, "I will tear you to pieces!"
Transforming Connor and Seth watched the man rip through his clothes transforming and growing in size till he became a White Balverine and roared into the air.
"Bring it on ugly!" Connor yelled watching Roscoe run up from behind.
"Time Control!" Roscoe yelled increasing his speed and launching at the alpha back only for the Alpha to growl and swat the canine who yelped bouncing on the ground and sliding towards the pit where he used his claws to hang on the side, "ah shit!"
"Roscoe!" Connor yelled watching Seth rush over to try and help the canine only to get tacked by a Balverine.
"Gah!" Seth grunted holding the Balverine jaws away from his neck, grunting when it slashed its claws across his chest, "GET OFF ME!"
Roaring the White Balverine charged at Connor who quickly pushed Joey away in time when the alpha slashed his claws across his arm creating three nasty deep gashes, that made him cry out, "GAAAH! Dammit!"
"Bwhaha," the Alpha laughed licking the blood on his claws, "I won't kill you quickly boy, oh no I am going to make you suffer!"
"NGH!" Connor grunted covering his bleeding arm and quickly glancing at the child who was frozen in fear, "someone gonna die here today and it sure as hell won't be me!"
Grunting Seth switched to one hand to keep the jaws at bay, then with quick movement he grabbed a knife and began to stab into the Balverine's neck over and over getting blood on himself with each stab, "I SAID GET OFF ME!"
Getting a foot under Seth kicked the Balverine off and into the spike bit quickly running over and grabbing Roscoe by the collar and began to pull.
Once freed Roscoe charged again towards the alpha where Connor smirked and formed a spell in his hand, "suck on this! LIGHT!"
Creating a blinding the Balverine charged into the blinding light tackling Connor where Seth and Roscoe had to shield their eyes from the light waiting for it to dim when they saw the Balverine on top of Connor.
"Connor! Get off him!" Roscoe growled running over but stopped when he saw a blood cover sword stab out of the Balverine's back.
"NGHHH!" Connor grunted in pain having been stabbed in the shoulder by two of the Balverine's claws when he impaled the alpha, "can I get a hand?!"
Running over Seth grunted and yanked the alpha off hearing Connor grit his teeth and groan when the claws were pulled out of his shoulder, "Quick use that healing spell Gabriel used!"
"Right healing spell," Connor groaned still lying on the ground moving his hand to his left shoulder creating a green light that began to heal his injury, "oh yeah that feels better, is everyone okay?"
"I'm good," Seth panted rushing over the child and picking him up, "are you ok Joey?"
Staring in awe at Connor Joey watched Connor heal his other injuries before slowly standing up his Will marking glowing, "Amazing! Is he a hero?"
"Yes, he is, Heroes have returned Albion," Seth smiled watching Connor heal Roscoe's wounds.
"You ok buddy?" Connor asked Roscoe who nodded.
"It will take practice but we will get better at this," Roscoe spoke.
"My turn," Seth groaned approaching watching Connor heal gashes on his arm.
"Can we go home?" Joey asked being picked up by Connor.
"Of course buddy," Connor spoke carrying Joey out of the ruins.
"You used magic, are you a Will user?" Joey whispered hearing Connor chuckle.
"I am," Connor smiled heading up the stairs leading the group out of Howling Halls.
Later that night Joey's mother was pacing at the entrance to the town gasping when she saw a blood-covered Connor and Seth approaching with her son unharmed.
"Joey!" she cried out running over and taking Joey into her arms, kissing and hugging him tightly, "Oh my darling! Thank Avo you're safe!"
"Mummy! I was so scared!" Joey cried hugging his mother back.
Approaching from his date Jack ran over to Connor and Seth, "by Avo's mercy! Are you both alright?!"
"Yeah, we're ok!" Connor said smiling at the reunion.
"Mummy it was incredible! He's a hero! A real Hero! He used magic! He beat all of the monsters!" Joey spoke pointing at Connor.
Getting an idea Seth whispered into Connor's ear, "Now a time to start spreading the news of a hero return!"
"What? How?" Connor asked hearing Seth whisper and then looked down to his Seal attached at his side.
Taking the seal into his hand it began to glow with his Will marking bursting in a light that he shot in the air gathering all the town's attention who watched Connor radiate a heroic light.
"It's true..." Sunny spoke, "The fables are real."
"Heroes have returned!"
"Could it be?"
"Look! He has a Guild Seal!"
"I don't know seems kind of scrawny to be a hero."
"Ok, let's do this," Connor spoke approaching the center of town, "people of Westcliffe we live in uncertain times, Albion is being ruled by corrupt tyrants who are bleeding it's good people dry! I refuse to allow another soul to die in the streets or another child to be orphaned! This is the time for a revolution!"
"I will fight with you!" Seth spoke holding his fist to his chest.
Watching Connor saw the people of Westcliffe moving their hands to their chest pledging their alliance with the new hero.
Joey's mother then approached standing next to Connor, "I Mayor Natalia Tonks am forever in your debt brave hero, for saving my son and your good deeds to this town I think it is only fitting we name you Hero of Westcliffe!"
Cheering then erupted with Seth taking a picture of Connor with his phone and then sending it to Friday with the message, 'Spread the word. The Hero of Westcliffe leads the fight to save Albion.'
"It would seem your actions has gained you quite the popularity, this is a good thing too, the Crucible will surely allow you to enter so that you can meet with the Hero of Strength," Gabriel spoke while Seth and Connor headed to the Tavern.
Once in the room, the two took turns cleaning up in the shower before changing, "Did you speak with Kyler today?"
"I did, he of course thinks it rubbish, however, that's not the worse news, Reaver is on his way here, they're coming for Kyler, you will need to convince him you're the real deal," Seth explained taking a seat on the bed.
"How?" Connor asked seeing Seth smirk.
"I made a bet with him, if you can hit him hard enough to draw blood, you are a real deal hero, no man has ever hit him hard enough to draw blood, if you can do this he will believe," Seth explained.
"Reaver and his goons will be here soon, we will have to get out of Westcliffe as soon as possible," Connor spoke lying in bed.
"And what if you fail to convince him?" Gabriel asked.
"I could always knock his arse out with that hammer of his and kidnap him, we can work from there," Connor shrugged.
"Works for me," Seth spoke turning out the light.
In The Crucible Kyler was in a private VIP room where he was studying his computer where an image of Connor was on display, 'that the hero that blonde weirdo was talking about?'
Hearing a noise, he looked over to see a graying man with a cane exit a room, "Kyler, you should be resting up! You will need all the rest you can get for the big day tomorrow."
"I know Dad," he spoke closing his computer and standing up.
"Remember not to hold back your punches, don't let anyone get the upper hand, and watch your bloody six!" his father scolded before he began coughing aggressively.
"Yes 'coach' and you need to get back in bed!" Kyler spoke leading his father back into his room and helping to put an air mask over his father's face, "gonna make your proud tomorrow."
"You already have my son," his father smiled watching Kyler smile back before turning off the lights and leaving the room.