General Art The Newcomer

[Doc]

This is mostly just a filler update, so I apologize if you find it boring.

Spoiler

The following week was short and simple. Alex trained with Hanna, telling nobody about Leal. She made him swear to keep it secret, at least until he got better. But she didn’t say what to do if he died. There was no telling what Ajax had done to him while they were torturing him. Even worse, Alex had learned his time in the underground facility was a couple days.

Drakion had warmed up to Alex, making the bartender so much kinder, however he rarely showed it outside the Library. Maria had started using Alex as a practice dummy for her technique. She was improving and was much better at making his limbs movable again—for the most part. Nathan still didn’t trust Alex, though. The kid didn’t even seem saddened by the lie about Leal being turned.

Alex spent much of the nights now abed with Ebony. Even when doing so, he felt wrong about it, but he never cared. Alex learned to care for her far too much. He had been able to talk Ebony into delaying her ball until it was actually the changing of seasons, so its date was set for the winter solstice.

“Oh, it will be wonderful! Let me do most of the planning. Our guests will love it! It will be a night that changes their lives for the better!” Ebony had exclaimed when she realized Alex knew nothing about balls. He didn’t even own a suit or anything that could pass as formal wear. “You can’t just show up looking like a homeless man. Go find something!”

Alex went to the Library after that. The whole festivities were tiring him out, and he needed friends. He went into the quiet building and went to a corner full of history books. American history, not a history of demons or Children. Alex made sure he wasn’t being watched and went into the janitor’s closet. He unlatched the trap door that lead to the descending steps of the Library.

The secret basement was empty mind for one person. Sitting in one of the limbs of the tree was Nathan. How the kid managed to spend so much time down there but still capable of spying on the town, Alex had no idea. The moment Alex came in, Nathan’s head cocked around. He was reading a book (of course).
“Nathan, where is everyone?” Alex asked from the balcony. If he went all the way down, he wouldn’t want to have to go back up. Nathan was not his choice of company.

“Drake is at work, Maria and Adrian are doing some sort of couple thing, and Hanna is at the bar. Leal’s location is still unknown,” Nathan responded bluntly, returning to his book.

“Do you need help with anything…?” Leaving him here alone felt odd, and even though Alex couldn’t stand Nathan, he wanted to look out for him. Especially after hearing that Maria and Adrian were a couple. Alex couldn’t believe how little he knew of these people.

“No. But Drake has been telling me to give you a chance. I am just wondering if I should. You were never Confirmed, and you should not be here. I hope you know that you are only here because of Hanna. You don’t belong with us.”

This made Alex angry. He had proved himself, he thought. He killed a centaur with his bare hands and nothing had happened yet. “What are you talking about? Don’t belong with you!?” Alex stormed down the stairs over to the tree. “If I was a demon, you don’t think I wouldn’t have killed you by now?”

“You only continue to prove my point,” the kid continued. “If you want to gain my trust, you shouldn’t be so aggressive about it.”

Alex was breathing heavily, but he calmed down eventually. “Give me a chance.” Alex pleaded, although it came out more as a demand. “I will tell you anything.”

Nathan’s brows perked up. “Why are you here? You lived in LA, and you were in a car accident before you came to Laten. Does that have to do anything with it?”
“Yes. I was in the passenger seat while my friend, Seth, sat in the driver seat. We had been drinking that night but drove anyways. We were on our way back to the apartment when my girlfriend, Vickey, came out. She was hit and killed. Seth was convicted of manslaughter; I got off scot free for testifying against him. I had no point in staying there so I ran as far as I could.”

“I know. Maria told me what you said in the tunnels, and I figured you were talking about the car accident.”

The door opened and closed, and Drakion came in. His expression was calm and caring. “Nathan, give the guy a chance. He killed a centaur, which is something. Haven’t you been saying you need a police report? Have Alex help you.”

“No! He is going to screw it up. I need Maria or Adrian or you. I would even take Hanna! But not him, not the Newcomer.”

“Nathan. I said to take him with you. Alex here needs field experience, and you can explain anything to him on the way. That is an order.”

Alex figured the order was directed to him having to go as well. Nathan sulked for a moment, but he reluctantly led Alex out. He was clearly unhappy about this agreement, but it was just to get a measly paper from the Police Department. “What do you need to ask?” Nathan spoke up in the silence, glumly.

“What are we fighting?” Alex asked, just as coldly.

“Demons. Mostly one kind. They have many names, but they mostly resemble what you may know as vampires. They have a lust for blood and will do anything to get it. But with power comes weakness. The demons are weak in the sunlight. And anything holy. The book you found proved my suspicions. The vampires are the descendents of the creatures created by one of the Seven. The centaurs and dogs, and the rest, I am unsure of their beginning.”

“Are these things immortal?”

“Yes.” Nathan answered. The entire conversation was just a fight inside. Each exchanging words as quick as they could, both hate each other.

“What are you doing here for?” Alex asked. The final blow.

“I...I ran away from home after discovering the Genesis. I used it and found my way to Laten. For two years, I survived by myself until Drake found me. Together we were a team. But as we learned more of the issues here, the more people we needed. I confirmed people and they would join us.”

Alex didn’t ask anything else. They walked in silence until they came up to the station. “So, how do we get in?”

“If we go in on the south side, we can scale the building to the roof. There is access to inside up there. It will be easy to get in through there and there you will have to incapacitate Matthews. We get the papers and run.”

While Nathan was talking, he kept looking around and paying Alex no attention. Alex went to nearby bush and grabbed a rock. He threw it in through the front doors window where it crashed through the glass.

“Are you crazy?!” Nathan screamed at him. “You are going to get caught!”

“Matthews isn’t in there.” Alex said confidently, when in reality he just wanted to go against what the kid wanted to do. Alex reached through the hole and opened the door. To his surprise and thankfulness, the place was empty and Nathan had easily been able to find the reports. The kid flipped through them and smirked.

“I knew it. The caves. There is a tunnel entrance in them and people going missing over there. It is linked, I know it.” Nathan said as they were walking back out. As they came out, the pair walked back towards the Library. Between two buildings, however, three men came out. One’s head was shaved and he wore a jean vest, his arms tattooed all along up to his shoulders. Alex glanced behind himself and saw two others resembling them.

“Well, look what we got here. I bet you’re gon’ give us whatever you got in that bag of yours, kid.” The apparent leader said.

“I bet you are wrong.” Nathan glared at him. This made the thug a little mad, because he grabbed Nathan by the collar and brought him in close. The kid’s expression didn’t waver.

“Give it to us, and maybe we won’t kill you and your little friend here.” This brought a shove from behind Alex from one of the others.

“Just leave the kid alone!” Alex yelled at the man.

“Ooo, and who might you be, huh, hero?”

“I don’t need to tell you anything.”

“Come on, we are all friends here. I will tell you mine. I am good ol’ Dari, they call me. Now, Hero, tell your little kid here to give us his things. The same goes for you.” Dari walked closer to Alex.

“No.”

“No?! Well, then we might just have to make an example out of you. Grab him boys.” The two behind Alex grabbed him and kept him from moving. Alex watched as Dari advanced forward to knee him in the chest. “This is what happens when you don’t comply!” The thug continued to beat Alex, until the two dropped him. They turned their attention back to the kid.

Alex pushed himself back up. “I said leave him alone.”

“Looks like Hero wants some more.” Dari laughed as his two buddies went to grab him again. But this time, Alex was prepared and he was able to knock the two off their feet. Dari came once more, along with the other goons. Alex dodged their attacks and, learning from Maria, was able to render two unconscious easily. Dari snorted and came again, but Alex tripped him the way Dagger was able to do, and kicked the thug in the head.

Alex ran, pushing Nathan along as well. Once out of sight, Alex laughed and so did the kid.

“That was so stupid, Alex.” The kid said.

“I know.” The kid called him Alex. “Do you trust me yet?”

“More than I did before.”

 

[Myriadviper42]

Nice job. Like you said, this was mostly filler, but for me it seemed to serve as kind of a "bonding time" between Nathan and Alex. Although it still has a ways to go.

 

[Doc]

I know. I absolutely hated this beyond belief, but I needed one more post before I could get to the next, just so I can get the time together and prepare for the ball...

 

[TatlTails]

D'aw for Nathan/Alex bonding time, BOOOOOOO for AlexXEbony.

 

[Doc]

Now to redeem from the previous chapter! I present to you, the end of Act I!

Spoiler

Aaron forced the door shut of his home away from home. The snow was getting worse, and the rivers were freezing over. Not solid and it was still too risky to cross them though. Aaron was relieved to see that Hanna hadn’t been there. She was visiting very often and would sit beside Leal. As if that would make him better. The twitching stopped, although one time, Leal was foaming out of his mouth.

He lit the hot coals on the brazier and put soup on the heat. Aaron looked out the window thinking the same thing he thought every winter. He should have cut the branches of the trees so he could close the windows. But then in the summer, he would only regret the decision. Aaron snatched the now warm bowl and began to pour it slowly into Leal’s gaping mouth.

Leal struggled, but it went down. The door slammed wide open, and the snow was getting worse and windier. Aaron ran to shut it, and when he turned around a cloaked figure stood over Leal’s unconscious body. Aaron had no idea when they came in.

Quickly, Aaron notched an arrow and pulled it back on the bow. The cloaked figure just raised its head and chuckled. The voice was deep unlike the woman he saw a few weeks ago.

“Do you really think that will do you much good?” The man asked. He turned, and from underneath the hood, blue eyes shone through. “This body is coming with me,” The man said bluntly.

Aaron didn’t waver. He just kept his arrow focused on the stranger’s heart. The cloaked man began taking steps toward Aaron. Slow, steady, and confident. Fearful, Aaron released the arrow and it whizzed forward. The man moved far too quickly and grabbed the arrow midair. With a spin, he dug the arrow into Aaron’s shoulder.

Aaron saw the man smile underneath the shadow of his cloak, as he ripped the arrow out. Aaron cried out and held his bleeding shoulder, the hot liquid flowing out with each of his heartbeats. The cloaked man was licking the arrow and through it to the ground.

“Oh oh oh!” The strange man giggled. “It tastes so much better every time. Why haven’t I tried this sooner?!” He walked back over to the bed where Leal rested, and effortlessly lifted the unconscious onto his shoulder.

“No…stop.” Aaron cried out. His shoulder screamed in agony as he reached out and pulled down the assailant’s hood. The man he saw was not one he recognized. The only thing memorable was the red tips of his hair. In a second, a shiny object flashed in front of Aaron’s face and he saw a drop of blood fall.
Aaron looked in horror as the man licked the blood off the dagger in his hands. Aaron fell forward, losing too much blood from the gash across his face. The man with the dagger left, leaving Aaron to die in the frigid air.




“Welcome, ladies. I am so glad you came!” Ebony exclaimed as she lead in a group of elderly women. “Alex, I don’t believe you have met Mrs. Larsen.” For the night, Ebony chose to wear a red dress; the color she felt fit her best.

The old woman put out her hand, supporting her weight on a cane with her other. “Oh, you are such a handsome boy. Ebony here changed my life. She is a keeper you got there.” Mrs. Larsen croaked out. The same thing was repeated with the other women: Mrs. Jackson, Ms. Arndt, and Mrs. Francis.

Alex smiled and shook each of their hands, laughing and nodding with them. Ebony did the same, although earlier she had been worried nobody would be able to make it. The snow outside was rapidly becoming a blizzard.

Apparently when Ebony said close friends, she really meant anybody she ever had a conversation with ever. People never seemed to stop showing up. Alex spied Maria and Adrian on the dance floor doing a slow waltz together. Drake was somewhere with a few girls around, flirting with them. And Hanna was in a corner all alone. Alex dismissed himself from Ebony and went towards her.

“You didn’t have to come, you know. If you were going to be miserable, you could have stayed at the Library with Nathan.” The kid had stayed behind, saying that he needed to go over notes involving the caves mentioned in the report they stole.

“Like I would ever want to be with that little brat alone. I don’t dance and don’t want to talk to any of these people. None of them can be trusted.” Hanna replied as she readjusted the green dress she chose to wear. She was uncomfortable in it, that was plain as day.

“Come on.” Alex offered his hand to Hanna. She stood up and took it, letting Alex escort her towards the dance floor. The orchestra was playing the waltz still, and Alex lead Hanna along. Neither one of them was skilled in dance, and hardly knew the waltz. The product, a room full of grace interrupted by the stumbles of a pair.

“Ebony is glaring at us.” Hanna said, looking behind Alex.

“She is not. Ebony is not going to be jealous of you.”

“Oh, let her. It would be great to be your secret mistress. Make her squirm and be paranoid about our forbidden ‘love’” Hanna smiled, and when they turned around so Alex was facing Ebony, she was walking up the staircase on a phone.

“Ebony is gone. Are you enjoying yourself now?”

“No. Have you seen Leal or Aaron in a while? I was going to check on him earlier, but the ladder was pulled up. When I yelled, nobody answered. Is Leal awake?”
Alex shook his head. “Not as far as I know. Did you try looking for Aaron around town?”

Hanna shook her head this time. “I had to get dressed for this. It doesn’t take ten minutes to look this mediocre you know.”

“You look great. Tomorrow morning we will go find Aaron. He lives down by the edge of town, right?” Alex couldn’t help but smile from Hanna’s paranoia. Leal was in safe hands with Aaron. They saw how good he was with a bow.

“That might be too late. I should probably go find him now or something…I need to leave. If Leal is lost somewhere out there he is going to freeze to death.” Hanna hurried off the dance floor and Alex followed quickly behind.

Hanna pulled the door, but it didn’t open. She tried and tried, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Is there a back door?”

“It just leads to the garden, and that is fenced in. The hole in the cellar should still be open though. Try the tunnels.” Alex told her, confused why the door wasn’t opening. He assumed ice had frozen it in place. The music became sadder now, no longer a romantic tune.

Several people stopped dancing and walked towards random locations to stand. Before Alex could process anything, there was a large boom and the lights went out. Some people yelled out, but most remained quiet. Torches along the walls lit, illuminating the room with a new ominous lighting.

Alex looked around for Hanna, Drake, Maria, or Adrian. The bustle of frightful people made it difficult for Alex to make out anyone. But he did see one person.
At the top of the stair case, Ebony stood calm and collected. “Everyone please calm down. It will be alright soon.”

The crowd calmed down, and Alex looked around. While others were still scared, others didn’t seem fazed by the black out at all. That was when Alex heard the sound of chains rattling. In the center of the room, a person being held upright by a wooden cross was being lowered. It was hard to tell in his current state, but that body limp was without a doubt Leal. Another frenzy of shrieks. A few men stood around the area and enclosed it, keeping people away from Leal.

“I show before you all the acts of man. They are cruel and tortured this young man here for something that they cannot achieve! At least, not as man.” Ebony was smiling as she strode down the steps. Alex watched in horror as he noticed a long silver object in Ebony’s hand. “For centuries, I watched you all. You weak worthless humans! But I wish to help you, not destroy you. Ladies and gentleman, this young lad here fights against my gratitude. This is what happens when you deny a gift!”

Ebony stood in front of Leal, and Alex looked around the room for Hanna. It was too dark, but he did see someone charge forward. Maria swung herself around, and pulled a sword out from one of the men’s sides. She shoved it deep into one’s throat, ripped it out and impaled another. She was a strong fighter and they were no match for her. But then it all went wrong.

As Maria slashed at a man another came from behind her. He grabbed her and pulled her in close. The man’s mouth stretched open, and two fangs bit deep into Maria’s neck. She struggled for a second, and her skin paled. She stopped moving, and fell to the ground deathly still.

“Nobody can defeat us!” Ebony screamed, as she plunged the sword deep into Leal’s heart. People gasped all around, and Alex turned just as Mrs. Larsen was charging him. He ducked and the ball turned to chaos. Guests began killing guests, the demons killing each human one after another.

Mrs. Larsen came at Alex again, but Alex grabbed a vase and slammed it against her head. She fell down, her blue eyes glowing and two sharp teeth pointing out. They all resembled the vampires he was told of. Alex ran past several dying, ignoring their cries. Ebony was nowhere to be seen, and Alex saw Hanna with Drake and Adrian.

He went over to them, and everyone ran towards the door discovering it was locked. Something banged on the door from the outside, and in a moment the door shattered apart sending wood everywhere. But what came was not rescue. A centaur, but much more human stood there, along with more beasts.

“The cellar! We can get to the tunnels!” Alex yelled over the screams. Drake nodded as he led them towards the trap doors that lead to the wine cellar. They went down and locked it. It was quieter down there, but they could still hear the distant sounds of people dying.

The tunnels seemed smaller now, as they ran back to the Library. But the sight made Alex choke up, and Hanna was in tears. Small fires are all that remained. Alex was trying to make sense of what happened, and he realized what the loud boom was they heard earlier. They blew up the Library.

They all walked through the charcoaled mess. The ceiling was gone and so was the actual library, letting the snow gather. More people screamed from above on ground level, and Alex realized this was a lot bigger than just the ball.

“Where is the kid?” Drake asked sadly. Alex completely forgot, and everyone stared at each other, knowing what must have happened.

In the silence, they heard soft cries though. They came from the tree, which was ripped from the trunk and splintered to the side. Drake sprinted over to it, where they all helped lift the tree. Nathan’s big eyes lit up, and he smiled slightly as Drake dragged him out. Luckily, Nathan was small for his age, and Drake could easily carry him. It was almost heartening enough to make them forget what had just happened. Almost.

A piercing shriek jerked them all back to reality and behind them stood a person, but much harrier and rabid. Its head was that of a wolf. The beast sprinted quickly on all fours towards Hanna. It leaped at her, ready to kill, when an arrow protruded from its throat.

Alex looked up, and on the surface Aaron stood with his bow, and a bandage wrapped around his face.

“We got to run!” he yelled.

 

[Myriadviper42]

Welp, it was pretty obvious that Ebony was eeeeevvvviiiiiilllll but that was most likely the intent. That was great!

 

[TatlTails]

I KNEW IT! IKNEWITIKNEWITIKNEWITIKNEWITIKNEWITIKNEWITIKNEWIT! DAGGER WAS A DEMON ALL ALONG! AND SO WAS EBONY! I KNEW IIIIITTT!!! Epic chapter. Completely epic. LOOOOVED IIIIT!

 

[Doc]

Okay, sorry for the delay. I have been busy with trying to plan this out, vacation, summer school, and cross country. I apologize and hope you enjoy this chapter.

Spoiler

People walked through the caves muttering softly the names of family of friends, as they all hoped the name they spoke was gone. Drake had called for everyone to follow him down there; anywhere else would have been cold. The maze of the Tunnels would make tracking them down long and difficult. At least, that is what they all hoped. Nobody knew what to think anymore. Drake, Hanna, Aaron, and Adrian all went quiet after the night and Nathan just glared at the ground muttering to himself.

Alex was one of the silent. He had nothing to say. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop telling himself how stupid he was. How he should have seen the signs. People died and it was all because he couldn’t pay any attention to his surroundings. The worst of it was that others knew it too. They looked at him differently, like he was just the same as Ebony or Dagger.

Drake went to the surface twice, and said that people were still walking around town like nothing had ever happened. All the survivors knew better, that it was all just some trick. For three days they were down in the caves. Aaron had taken a group of men and woman with proper clothing to go out hunting. Each time they came back with very little, game was very little during the winter.

The people were dying from disease and with the food income they would surely starve. The outlook was bleak, and they could do nothing. Nothing until the third day.

A phone started ringing. The sound echoed throughout the silence, breaking it like glass. Alex, like others, started looking back and forth for whoever had the phone. Nobody had received a call since the Night. It took him a moment to realize it was coming from his suit pocket.

Drake realized and motioned for Alex to follow. Hanna, Adrian, Aaron, and Nathan followed close behind. Once they were alone, Alex answered it.

“Hello?! Alex!? Please, please tell me you are alive!” A worried and scared voice whispered, the signal was shaky and kept breaking up.

“Jazz? Are you okay?”

“No, there was a woman over here a couple days ago. The White girl, I think. She took Ajax and Dagger to the conference room and…they started acting weird. Dagger kept going out, and now…they let out everything, Alex.” Jazz said softly, her voice was wavering and Alex could hear her silent sobs.

“Get out of there, Jazz. Where are Dagger and Ajax?”

“Dagger left three days ago, I haven’t seen him since. And Ajax…I don’t know, he is down here. I lost Pratt after the monsters were released…they are going to find me, Alex. Please, please help.” Her sobs were no longer held back, they were louder than her whispers.

“Jazz, we are on our way. Don’t do anything stupid, okay?” The signal was lost and the only response was the obnoxious buzz.

“What is going on?” Nathan asked.

“Ebony got to Dagger and Ajax. Everything was released. Now Pratt and Jazz need our help.” Alex told him.

“Who are you talking about?” Drake demanded, his tone frightening and aggressive.

“Ask your beloved Hanna. She knows all about it.” Alex smirked at her, while she just glared. She was no better than he was, and he wanted them to know it.
“They are a group stationed at the remnants of the Green City.” Nathan’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “They capture demons and search for what makes them immortal. Ajax is old, and he wants to live forever.” Hanna answered them all, somehow skimming over the part of how she worked for them.
“Should we help!?” Aaron spoke up. “I am new to the demon hunting world, I can’t handle that!”

“We all are going. Us only. None of them out there, they aren’t prepared for anything like this. Pack your stuff we leave in an hour. Hanna should be so kind as to lead the way.” Drakion answered.


As they came out onto the surface the sun was close to setting. Perhaps less than an hour left of daylight. They got moving quickly. Aaron had his bow, Hanna her short sword that she trained with, Adrian carried a shotgun, and Drake a one handed sword and shield. Nathan was given a dirk, although it was not meant to be used. Just in case. As for Alex, he had longsword, one that they found under Ebony’s mansion. Glancing at it, he noticed strange etchings in the metal that he hadn’t seen before.

Hanna lead the way, Drake was curious to how she knew where the Green City was, but he never said a word about it. Adrian was still silent, his glare unwavering. His expression sent a chill down Alex’s back. Adrian was out for blood. Alex just hoped he wasn’t about to do something stupid.

It was night when they came up to the old rusted gate. The portcullis was knocked completely from the doorway, as if something big had came through and knocked it off. They all readied themselves as they stepped through into the city.

At first, everything was silent. The only sound was the party’s breathing and footsteps. But then, a shriek rang throughout. More followed, and soon it seemed as though they were surrounded. The group walked quickly, but Alex bumped into Aaron when they abruptly stopped. There on the road leading to the castle built into the hillside was a figure. It appeared female but it was hard to tell.

Aaron drew back his bow, and the thing ran forward screaming. Almost the moment it started, a larger figure appeared out of nowhere ramming it to the side. A bull like beast started tearing the female apart. The smell of blood drew out more hiding beasts and they all started eating the girl. Soon, they all began fighting for the fresh meat.

The group ran down another street away from the castle and hid in an alley. Two more creatures sprinted past in a blur, but none had noticed Alex or the others. A grunt came from above, and a face was peering down at them. Its blue eyes were glowing down at them, and the man was smiling. That is, before Aaron stuck an arrow in his head.

Alex led them back to the streets, and more creatures were noticing the intruders. Hanna, Alex, and Drake were cutting down as much as they could, but their defeat was inevitable if they couldn’t get away.
They fought their way back towards the castle, but the things were coming to quickly for them to get safely inside.

“You all get out of here! I will hold them back!” Drake shouted.

“Are you stupid? You are gonna die. This is not the time to get all heroic on us! We aren’t losing another!” Hanna yelled at him.

“I am with you! Everyone get inside, we got this!” Adrian screamed before shooting the head off of a wolf man.

It appeared they had no choice but to listen, so Hanna, Aaron, Nathan, and Alex ran inside. A staircase went down deep into the earth, and Hanna went to the side of the hall. She felt along it until she flipped a panel open revealing a keypad. She punched in four numbers and torches along the walls lit up.

They ran down until they found a large door. Hanna entered another keypad combination and the door opened slowly. Alex ran through, as did everyone else. The door shut behind them, blocking the sounds outside out entirely.

“We should split up.” Aaron suggested.

“This is a big place, someone is going to get lost.” Hanna answered him.

The now smaller party walked down the hall. They passed the room where they offered Alex membership to the Immortals. There was still nothing to be seen. The first creature they found in there was in the prison hall. A man was standing in the center, eating something in his hands. When he heard them come in, the man turned around revealing he had been snacking on an arm. His mouth and hands were covered in blood, and the arm was dark and muscular. Alex recognized it as Pratt’s.

The man dropped Pratt’s arm and his neck grew. It swelled up, until he finally spit out sending a yellow liquid forward. Alex and Aaron jumped to the side as it passed by, only to hit the wall. A droplet of the yellow goo ricocheted onto Alex’s arm, and he winced as he saw it dissolving his skin.

Aaron shot an arrow into its shoulder, but the thing just reared back. It spat again and managed to hit Aaron as he was spinning. Luckily, it hit his back where he kept his quiver. The leather quiver began to dissolve, as did most of his arrows. Aaron swore under his breath as he grabbed three survivors careful not to touch the yellow.

Hanna stepped in front of Nathan to protect him, and Alex sprinted at the creature. Its neck swelled up once more, but before it got a chance of spitting it out, Alex swung his sword forward, and it caught the man’s throat just as it was about to spit. The yellow sprayed to the side and dribbled down the gash. The man gurgled as some came out his mouth, and it began dissolving his skin.

“Come on…we need to find Jazz.” Alex told them.

They followed him along until they were back in the laboratory department. The dead bodies of creatures were mangled and gnawed on in the test rooms. It was disgusting, but it wasn’t Ajax or Dagger.

Nathan pointed out how there was movement in one room. Hanna checked in the window to see what it was. The points of pink hair were poking up from behind a bed. But there was also a large amount of blood around her.

“It’s her.” Hanna exclaimed, as she swung the door open. Jazz gasped in fear when she heard the door open. Alex went around to help her up when he saw the source of the blood. Pratt was lying down in her arms, one of his missing. His breath was slow, but it was still there.

“I-I found him…and, I…he can be helped, right?” Jazz cried. Alex nodded although he wasn’t completely sure. Carrying Leal out was difficult enough, but this time he had to try and carry Pratt. Aaron and Hanna went down and pulled Pratt up on his feet. Alex helped Jazz up, and he took the lead. He opened the door and held it open. Before anyone else came out, the door moved itself and closed in place.

“Alex! Open it!” One of them screamed, but no matter how hard Alex pulled it wouldn’t budge. He then heard laughing from behind him. Alex whirled around and Ajax was sitting down in his chair.

“Alex...welcome back. You have changed your mind about joining, I presume.”

“You know I didn’t. Open this door and let my friends out.” Alex commanded the old man.

“Boy, I am not going to take orders from you. And if you aren’t here to join, you are trespassing. Do you recall what happens to trespassers?”

“I will not be an experiment.” Alex drew his sword and pointed it at Ajax. “Now let us leave!”

“Uh, no. I have finally gotten what I have wanted all my life.” The crippled man pushed himself up from his chair. “Look at me! I am as spry as I once was in my youth.”

Alex lunged forward and sunk his sword deep into Ajax’s stomach. The old man looked surprised as Alex pushed him off his sword and blood seeped out of his gut.

Alex used the butt of his sword to hit the glass of the room the others were in. Aaron was chanting him on, but his chants soon turned into yells to turn around.

“Alex! Behind you!” He screamed.

It was too late. Ajax spun Alex around and lifted him by his throat. Alex struggled, but couldn’t break free. He just watched in horror as the gash of his stomach began to mend itself close.

“It isn’t that easy to kill me, boy. Not anymore. Your girlfriend made me as such!”

The old man carried Alex into the room across the hall, and bound him to a chair. The chair rose higher and leaned back up to a machine hanging full of different syringes.

“Let’s see, what shall we see works on you,” Ajax said as he began playing with a console on the ground. Several syringes lowered and they would stick into his skin. Alex screamed as they all injected different venoms into him. He felt it coursing through his body. Ajax just stood there laughing.

Another syringe came down and stuck itself into Alex. It injected a purple liquid and Alex felt it coursing through his veins. The pain of it all seemed to grow until Alex felt his skin go numb. The sounds of Ajax and his friends screaming all were drowned out and Alex could hear everything else. His breathing, the buzzing of the lights, the ocean. He heard it all.

In a blur, Alex ripped free of the metal bounding him to the chair and dropped to the ground. Ajax stared at him in fear, genuine fear this time. Alex kicked the old man sending him flying backwards. He picked up his sword and walked towards Ajax’s lying body.

“I…I did it. I found the right combination.” It was all Alex would let him say before he brought the sword down onto Ajax’s arm. He then dismembered his entire body, except for the head. Ajax screamed and Alex laughed this time. Alex dragged the bleeding man over to the pool he escaped from last time. Ajax’s limbs were growing back, but not fast enough to stop Alex. He held the man’s head underwater until Ajax stopped struggling.

Alex stared down at what he had done. He hadn’t meant to laugh, he hadn’t meant to do any of that. But it was done. He went back to the other’s door and broke the glass much easier now. They all climbed out and walked back out silently.

Alex felt no fear as he was walking back out the city. The onslaught continued but Adrian and Drake were still fine. Alex marched down the street slashing through the beasts, until they all were gone. Those who stayed were all remaining hidden fearing for their lives.

“Alex, what happened to you?” Drake had asked when they were safe.

“Ajax injected me with stuff. What makes you ask?” Alex asked him.

“Your hair is white.”

 

[Myriadviper42]

YAY! YOU UPDATED! ...now I guess I should update. I perfectly understand, I've been swamped with the return of school and such, so s'all good. Epic chapter, a lot of good stuff happening in it. Keep it up.

 

[TatlTails]

...Well. Hot dang. Alex... Is permanently altered by Ajax's whatevers, and Dagger's gonna be out for revenge most likely, and HOT DANG ALEX SCARED ME. PLEASE DON'T TURN HIM EVIL.

 

[Doc]

I wasn't busy so I was able to get this one done!

Spoiler

“My queen, we can destroy them if we wish. A simple force of the Goats would be more than suitable.” The feeble and ugly Throat said kneeling before Ebony.

“I have heard reports that they had been able to breach the abandoned city and struck fear into the hearts of the demons stationed there. Yet Goats would be enough?”

“Your Grace, those reports came from mad men. They were tortured and pumped full of chemicals. They also say that a great hero of light had slashed through them with ease.”

“Regardless, I will not have the survivors killed. Send nobody after them. What good is taking over a town without a little resistance? It is no issue to you, Simon. Summon me the assassin.”

Simon nodded and ran out. A few moments later, Dagger strode down the hall, his hair now dyed completely red. He went forward and knelt.

“What did you gather about the breach at your old HQ?”

“Bodies are strewn about everywhere of our own. A camera in the prison hall showed that Alex and his companions were there. The blood of a Throat destroyed the camera so that is the last I know of what happened. My father was also killed…he was dismembered and drowned.”

“And do you seek revenge on them for this?”

“Yes, Ebony.”

Usually she would correct others for her title, but she let it slide. Instead, she walked up to him and rubbed his cheek. In an instant, she smacked him there. “No! We will not go after Alex for this! You cannot let your own plans come before mine. Ajax was a weak old man, I only wanted you.”

Dagger held his red cheek and glared up at Ebony. “Yes, my queen.” He said with hate and scorn. “What would you have of me, now?”

“Leave me be, I must speak with my brother. Don’t do anything crazy. If you wish, you can kill my servant. Simon would be right outside, do what you wish with your rage.”

Dagger smirked and walked back out. Simon’s screams were faint and didn’t bother Ebony. She went down to the steaming pool that she added at the center of her grand room. The body of the boy, Leal, was raised directly above it.

It has begun to smell. I must do something about that soon, she thought.

Ebony waved her hand over the steam and the rich, young blonde man appeared. “Brother, have you gathered the others?”

“No, honestly I haven’t. Laten still stands and there are still survivors, my people tell me.”

“A small resistance that was chased away. They now hideaway in the tunnels…”

“Exactly. They are in the tunnels! The exact place we need them not! Sister, I am sorry, but you can’t just rely on an early winter as your reason for an upbringing.”

“I have other reasons! You just can’t trust me! I am capable of killing them all if I wish! I would finish them all off it didn’t contradict my plans.” Ebony cried out. Her brother’s mistrust had grown to irritate her.

“That is great, but perhaps you should call in help. Have you even contacted the others with these ideas?”

“No.”

“Because it isn’t worth their time. Envy and I would be more than willing to step in and take over this operation if it proves too much for you.”
“Never! I will not allow it! Laten will be gone in two weeks time! I promise you. I just need to get someone out of the resistance and they will all be dead. I swear to you, brother, there will be no survivors here.” Her family always doubted Ebony. It was because she was a woman. She was Greed’s elder, yet he had the audacity to claim what was rightfully her’s.

I have been Born in a world of men.

“Fine, but in two weeks this uprising will be taken into charge of another.”

The image disappeared, and Ebony’s confidence was completely wiped. The whole idea was ridiculous. Ebony turned to see that Dagger returned. For how long he was there, Ebony did not know.

“Who might this ‘survivor’ you need be?” He asked her.

“Our leader.” She told him, striding up the staircase to regain her confidence.



Once back with the rest of the surviving population, Alex figured it would be best to hide his hair. The cut it shorter for it to fit underneath a wool cap. The people had already begun starting rumors. “He is demon summoned by the witch that now controls the town,” they said, or “He began poisoning Laten and making everyone evil.” Some believed that Alex made Ebony evil to let her take the blame for the Laten takeover.

The wool cap just brought more rumors. “He wears it to cover the wicked eye he has on his forehead. It lets the demons see us all.”

Everyone distanced themselves from Alex, because even though his friends won’t say it, they blamed him for Leal and Maria’s death. Alex would spend much time with Pratt and Jazz due to this. They were the only ones who didn’t treat him differently.

Alex found them at the edge of the colony, Jazz was feeding Pratt. His gaze went straight to the bandage that wrapped Pratt’s shoulder. The arm was only pulled off at the elbow, but due to infection and rot, they had to cut it even shorter.

“Where is everyone else?” Alex asked them.

Jazz shrugged and went back to tending to Pratt. She was his closest friend, she always said. Ever since they had to go down into the tunnels she hadn’t taken it very well. With Pratt’s condition, she would have fits of tears often. Even now, her eyes were puffy and her nose red. Pratt only ever slept, regaining his strength. It still seemed as though he would never make it.

Alex sat down next to them and just stared forward for a while. There was very little else to do. The maniacal demons had fled their outpost in the Green City and now wandered the woods. Hunting parties ceased to go out and the people were growing weaker. The cave entrance at the library was closed off, the hole caved in. The only way in and out was the shack in the field.

Lost in his thoughts, Alex didn’t notice when Nathan came up to him.

“Alex…You need to come with me. There is something you have to see.”

“And what would that be?” Alex was in no mood to go with Nathan anywhere. He never liked the kid, Nathan had this superiority complex.
“You need to come. It is our only hope of survival. Please come, unless you want to die of starvation.”

Alex reluctantly got up and followed Nathan as they wandered deeper into the tunnels and away from the colony. It was about an hour before Nathan breathed another word.

“I have been keeping a secret from you. From everyone. But I can’t show you it unless you promise to not tell anyone.” Alex nodded. “I am serious. I would never show you this but he insisted.”

“Who is he?”

“See for yourself. Down there, if you keep going forward you will see it. I come back later.” Nathan motioned towards a small hole. Nathan would be able to fit with ease, but it proved much more difficult for Alex.

He squeezed through and looked through the hole to see Nathan’s torch light receding. Alex continued forward as he was directed to. The tunnels were ever changing there; sometimes he couldn’t even see the walls around him, while others he had to squeeze through.

Alex was sidestepping through a squeeze when he noticed a light coming from ahead. It was dim, but illuminated the tunnel all the same. With a strong push, Alex stumbled out of the fissure in the wall and stopped just before falling down a staircase. Alex looked around the room.

White marble pillars supported the great hall, and two stone thrones were carved into the earth at the end. Swords and banners hung from the walls, most were rusted and the banners were rotted. The device that was once on them was unrecognizable. And in the center of the room…

…there was a man with a sword.

The stranger had apparently not yet noticed Alex. He was practicing his swordplay. The man was lean and in good shape, with a full head of blonde hair and a trimmed beard. Alex guessed the man at around forty five years of age.

“Hello?” Alex called out.

The man stopped abruptly and spun around quickly, his sword out. Once he saw Alex, he sheathed his sword and smiled. “You must be Alex. I have heard so much about you.”

“And who might you be?”

“I am Christopher Balron, Nathan’s guardian and friend. I hope that in time I befriend you as well. Your training must start soon.”

“Training?”

 

[TatlTails]

WELL HOT DIGGITY DANG. DAGGER IS EBONY'S ASSASSIN. AND NATHAN HAS A SECRET TRAINER/GUARDIAN THINGY THAT IS ABOUT TO TRAIN ALEX.

Dang, dude.

Dang.

 

[Doc]

Spoiler

"What sort of training are you talking about?" Alex asked the elderly man.

"The town was taken over by monsters and demons because of Her. Of what Nathan has told me, you are close to the wicked woman. The ***** deserves to die and I am far too old to do it myself. I was hoping you could finish what we couldn't." Christopher Balron answered him.

"Christopher, I don't think I can kill Ebony. And who is 'we'?"

"You mustn't call me Christopher. You may only call me Balron!" The man shouted with a sudden rage. Alex didn't understand what provoked such an anger, but decided it was best to be obedient. With a sigh, Christo--Balron continued. "My friends from long time past. The greatest people I will ever know. They are gone now, but they fought the woman. Ebony as you know Her.

"I should have tried to stop Her sooner. But there was nobody to fight Her. She was too strong, and with too many a follower. However, Nathan has done exactly as I needed him to. The young lad has found me a warrior."

"A warrior? I have killed a couple of demons, that doesn't make me a warrior. If that is what you want, go looking to Drake or Adrian. They are stronger fighters than I am."

"Alex, you humble yourself. The demon you killed in the abandoned city...he said Ebony turned him, correct?" Alex nodded and Balron continued. "We used to call those like him Night Bloods. Ones who are turned by one of the seven Origins. They are more prone to kill their victims because of this. One of the seven couldn't allow someone whose strength revelled their own live. Therefore, they made none."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you killed one! That is a remarkable task. Night Bloods are rare and powerful, yet you were capable of dismembering and drowning one! Now, don't you realize that you are the warrior that will avenge those who fight before you!"

Alex stared at the ground for a little while longer. He had killed Ajax, but that didn't feel any different than any other demon. Perhaps Balron was wrong and out of his mind. Alex was unsure, but decided it would be best to fight under him. Ebony killed Laten. And regardless what anyone else said, it was his town too. "Fine...I will let you teach me."

Balron burst out into a grin. "That's the spirit, boy. Grab a sword and lets get on with it." Balron motioned towards a wall. There were many different weapons hanging from the wall. However there was one weapon that stood out from amongst the rest. Alex stepped forward and studied the beautiful sword. The pale metal rippled and reflected perfectly. The hilt was gold, with fragments of white on the sides. It was the greatest sword that Alex had ever seen. "Not that one!" Balron called out.

"What? You told me to take my pick."

"Not that one!" The man said more sternly. Sadly, Alex wandered over to a different, normal sword. This one was sharp, but not as adorned as the other had been."Good. Now we shall begin. Get in your starting stance."

Alex held the sword out, ready to strike or defend. Balron came over and hit parts of Alex with the flat of his sword to fix his position. "Legs further apart. Pull the hilt of the sword to your cheek and point it towards your opponent. Better."

For a while, Balron just circled around Alex studying his movement. "Well, now what?"

"Nothing. You are to keep that position until I tell you elsewise." Balron said, before leaving into another room. It was two hours before the mentor returned. Alex refused to move during this time, his muscles tensed and sore.

"Are you going to teach me to fight yet?"

"That is it for today. We will work more on this on the morrow. Farewell, boy." Balron said, motioning towards the staircase. Nathan stood atop it, ready to take Alex back. "Nathan, I need you to keep your ears to the crowds. An attack on Alex could result in a catastrophe. Do you understand?"

Nathan nodded with a smile, and waited for Alex to climb up the steps. The young boy went through the small crack in the wall with much ease compared to Alex. Nathan was already small, but Alex had to struggle to squeeze through. Once they were far beyond hearing distance of the hall, Alex started to talk to Nathan.

"So, how did you meet him?"

"I was wandering through these caves. I had just arrived in town, and figured there had to be something down here. Balron made me promise to keep it a secret. Nobody knows he exists, not even Drake."

"What is Balron's story? He kept speaking of his friends that must be avenged."

"I don't know. He is always telling me that life is like a book. You can't read it until it has its ending. I guess he has yet to finish his tale."

Alex chuckled to this as he kept walking. He realized Nathan had taken an abrupt stop, and Alex turned around to see Nathan still mid-step. His mouth was open as if he were about to say something and he wasn't moving at all. "Nathan, come on. We are almost there." Nathan still didn't move from his frozen position. "Nathan?"

"He can't hear you. He can't see you. He can't do anything." A familiar female voice sounded behind Alex. He turned around to see the smiling face of Ebony. "Hello, Alex. Did you miss me?"

"Go." Alex spat at her with a glare.

"Aw. You wish to hurt my feelings? I did not come here to be insulted, stranger. Look, I apologize for what happened at the ball. That was sudden and you didn't need that kind of pressure. I was hoping you would be able to handle it better."

"Oh, quit your flirting and finish this up!" A different voice called. "I am getting exhausted keeping the kid frozen like this. Do we even need this fool?" Dagger said.

"Yes, he will be my family's leader. You hear that Alex, in charge of the surviving six. They may doubt you, but once we destroy Laten they must respect you. I promise. We will leave this horrible town behind and join Greed and Envy in New York. The others will follow and we can control the world."

"I knew it...I am not going to be the leader of the sins, Lust"

"Oh, Alex. I am no different than you. At least, not after I turn you. Trust me, you will be stronger." Ebony said, putting her hand to Alex's face.

"Just give it up, Ebony! He is obviously too weak to join us. Let's just kill him right here and be done with him. He is a weakling, it will be easy!" Dagger yelled at her, which was met with Ebony's cold stare.

"I was strong enough to kill your father, Dagger." Alex reminded him.

"You were, weren't you...?" Ebony looked at Alex confused. "Why are you wearing that cap?"

"No reason."

"Aw, you lie to me." Ebony pouted. Her hands crept up and began tugging at the wool cap. When a strand of his white hair fell through, she stared at it. Then began to break out into a laughter.

"What!? What is so funny?" Dagger asked irritated and confused. "He probably dyed it or something."

"Your idiot father did this. The moron caused his own death, Winston. But that does make me wonder, what are you capable of now?"

"Ebony! I can't hold the kid like this anymore. We gotta go unless you want him blabbering his big mouth everywhere!" Dagger exclaimed, wincing.

"Fine. Think about joining us Alex. Those others don't accept you, and they sure will try to kill you once they learn your strength. It is only a matter of time." Darkness shrouded the two and once they completely disappeared, Nathan began to move again.

"I don't care what you think, Balron is a great man...Alex are you okay?" Nathan asked the angry and startled Alex.

"Fine. Just fine."

 

[Myriadviper42]

NIce update...AAAANNNDDD you're still making me feel guilty about not updating my own story, so...thanks. I'll work on it soon, I'm really enjoying this story.

 

[TatlTails]

Well MOTHER OF HOT DANG. THIS... just keeps getting better and better. I like... Dude. This is so unbelievably amazingtastic that I seriously can't even. Like... My brain can't function. Dude. You rock.