Chapter 14: Bat Out of Hell

-10 MONTHS REMAIN-

Night had descended upon the Astral Verdant. The forest’s usual darkness had been heightened, with only twinkling stars and fireflies to provide light. Crickets chirped an eerie symphony and woodland critters scurried through the underbrush just out of peripheral vision. Aurora and Ulric had decided to continue their trek. The Astral Verdant was unfamiliar territory for the both of them and the knowledge that something was lurking in the dark didn’t help their anxiety. They did, however, let Miryam rest. She had been asleep atop Ulric’s back, clinging to him as if her life depended on it.

“How’s the arm?” Aurora asked. She made a small gesture towards Ulric’s forearm. After their encounter with Lilith, she had cleaned up and dressed the bite wound with bandages soaked in health potion. While the potion wasn’t as effective being applied to the skin as it was being ingested, it still helped treat the injury. It kept everything sterile and promoted the healing process. Whatever was left of the potion after Aurora had soaked the bandages she drank.

“It doesn’t hurt. More of a mild discomfort really.” Ulric answered. He rubbed his arm and gave Aurora a smile. “Thank you for treating me.”

“You know you could’ve gotten the kid to heal you.” Aurora said, rejecting the praise.

“I know, but I don’t want to make her our personal little medic.” Ulric said. “She’s been having a rough time as is. I want to minimize the strain on her body.” Aurora shrugged and took a swig of a potion. Ulric’s eye narrowed as she wiped her mouth. “What are you drinking this time?”

“Does it matter?” She corked the potion and tucked it away for later.

“I’d like to keep track of what you’re drinking in case you overdose or go through withdrawal. If it’s something I can help with I’d want to know what to do. So yes, it does matter.”

“Alright.” Aurora said dismissively. She hoped that would end the conversation there but Ulric stared at her expectantly. She sighed. “It’s sensory enhancement. Makes my sight, hearing, and smell better.” She paused and then frowned. “Which reminds me that we should stop to bathe soon. Especially you.” Ulric blushed a little and sniffed himself.

“Any reason you chose that potion in particular?” He asked, trying to ignore the fact that she was right.

“It’s good for night vision.” She smiled.

“I could cast light if you need to see.” A soft, groggy voice said.

“Miryam? What are you doing awake?” Ulric questioned.

“I couldn’t sleep well.” She yawned.

“I’m sorry. Was I not steady enough for you?”

“No, it’s not that.” She reassured. “I just feel too anxious to sleep.” Miryam, like most other high ranking light clerics, possessed danger sense. It was a useful spell for catching things like ambushes, but Miryam’s nervous personality made it difficult to discern what was an actual threat and what was just her nerves. “It’s probably nothing. Just paranoia.” She laid her head back down. Ulric sighed and thought nothing more of it, just a stressed out kid. Aurora, however, wasn’t totally convinced. She slowed her pace before coming to a complete stop.

“Ulric.” She said softly. “Do you see that?” Ulric squinted to try and match Aurora’s enhanced eyes. It took him a moment, and he had to be a little further down the path, but he did eventually see what Aurora was seeing. A man. Tall and thin. Long hair and a long cape danced in the air behind him. He didn’t move. He just stood there amongst the trees. After a while Ulric’s skin turned pale. He backed away slowly, trembling as he did.

“Aurora.” He whispered. “We need to leave. Follow my lead and hope he didn’t notice us.” His voice was shaky, fearful. Aurora cocked her head.

“Why? What’s wrong?” She asked.

“Yeah. What’s wrong?” Another, husky voice said from behind. Ulric quickly whipped around. The motion threw Miryam off of him but Aurora caught her and set her down gently. Ulric gasped. He retreated quicker than before. He wanted to shout but he was gagged by his own fear. The man was unmistakable. The bloodied clothes. The white hair. The pale skin. The pointed ears. The leaf nose. The huge fangs. The large smile.

“Cassius…” Ulric quivered. The man suddenly grabbed one of the many golden chains that wrapped his body and whipped it. It cracked against Miryam’s face, sending her to the ground. She cried and grasped her head, light flowing from her palms.

“Miryam!” Aurora and Ulric shouted.

“Daddy, I’m sorry. Please, no more. I’ll do better.” She unknowingly said out loud.

“Ah my bad!” Cassius said nonchalantly. “I was aiming for Ursine. I didn’t mean to hurt that pretty little face. Let me try again.”

“Heal… Heal… Heal…” Miryam continuously murmured to herself. Aurora tried to help the poor girl, but as she took her first step another chain whipped at her thigh. She screamed as she fell over.

“Gods, I am just a fucking mess tonight!” Cassius laughed. “You know what, I’m not warmed up. Give me a second.” He then started doing stretches. Seizing the opportunity, Ulric grabbed Aurora and Miryam and attempted to run away to safety. Aurora hobbled against Ulric’s side, blood gushing from a large gash on her leg. Miryam squeezed his hand tightly, relying on him for sight as tears and blood covered her eyes. A dark fog curled around Ulric and the others, soon taking the shape of Cassius and cutting them off. He reached out and grabbed Ulric by the throat. “I see you’re the same old coward, Ursine.” Ulric tried to pry himself free, but it was no use. Cassius lifted him off the ground, grinning as he flailed helplessly. “This is the second time you’ve run from me! When will you give me a proper fight?” Cassius threw Ulric, knocking over Aurora and Miryam. Ulric picked himself up and glared at Cassius. His body ached already but he pushed through the pain to charge at the vampire. Halberd drawn, he attempted to swing at him, but was stopped by a punch to the face. Ulric stumbled back and Cassius continued to close the distance. He struck him repeatedly. A barrage of punches to the face and torso. Cassius painted the grass red with Ulric’s blood. He ended his assault by grabbing Ulric by the hair and slamming him into the ground.

“How did you get out of jail?” Ulric coughed.

“A little birdie left me out.” Cassius smiled. “He promised me freedom as long as I played along with his little game. I even offered to let him stay at my castle! On the condition I remain in power of course.” Hawthorn is staying at Cassius’s castle? They’ve been unknowingly heading the right direction, but the fact that Hawthorn is located in the heart of the nocturnal empire was more disheartening than not knowing where they were supposed to be going at all. Ulric struggled to get back up. He managed to get onto his hands and knees, body shaking, before Cassius kicked him back to the ground. He looked at Ulric, disappointed? Usually someone would marvel at overpowering their foe. Cassius didn’t. He frowned. “Come on! Is that all you fucking got!” He kicked him again. “I thought you Solstyan’s were supposed to be good at killing my kind! Was that all talk? Have you even fought a vampire before?”

“We have!” Aurora shouted back. Almost immediately she covered her mouth. While Cassius was distracted with Ulric, she and Miryam crawled off to go hide amongst the trees. Miryam wanted to lay low but Aurora was looking for an opening. She held her breath and tried to remain absolutely undetectable, frustrated that her need to always be right might’ve just gotten her killed. Cassius paused and sniffed the air.

“Hmmm.” He left Ulric alone and began pacing around the forest. “I do smell one of my kin on you, though not one I recognize. I try to keep tabs on every member of our species, especially those in the Chiroptera guild. But you can imagine with a population as big as our own, and with being imprisoned for a hundred damn years, that can be a little difficult.” Suddenly Cassius thrusted his fist at a random tree. He went straight through the trunk and grabbed ahold of Aurora on the other side. He pulled her through the tree and held her up. “So I guess I have more business with you three than I thought.” He grinned.

“How did you…” Aurora chocked.

“I’m a full blooded vampire sweetheart. I could sense your heart beat. You should really learn to steel your nerves.” He let go of Aurora and proceeded to beat her just as he did to Ulric. He forced her back, pinning her against a tree. Aurora tried to fight back but she couldn’t get in any hits. Cassius was relentless. He continued to pummel her until the skin on his fists started to break. He kneed her stomach and grabbed her head. Cassius took a deep breath before screeching into Aurora’s ears. The sound was so high pitched she could barely hear it, and yet it was painfully deafening. Aurora clutched her head. The sounds of the world around her had been completely drowned out by an intense ringing. The effects of the potion she drank earlier were still very much in effect. What was supposed to aid her was now working against her. Her senses had been totally overwhelmed. She then felt a searing, stabbing pain on each of her sides. Cassius dug his nails into Aurora’s waist. She groaned and gasped as she felt him wriggle his fingers inside her. “Squeal for me piggy!” Aurora cracked her eyes open. He was smiling, laughing almost. Cassius was deriving some sick, perverted pleasure from this. He wasn’t fighting to simply kill them. This wasn’t some job that he had to carry out, some requirement of his deal with Hawthorn. No, Cassius was fighting for personal reasons. Cassius was fighting purely for entertainment.