Ch 1
Damien read as the carriage rumbled through the countryside heading for the city of DarkVale. He finished the chapter he was reading and placed a marker to mark his place as the city gates came into view. He began to consider why he was in the city. He was only 20 years old and already a Scholar at the royal academy. The head of the royal academy had chosen him to do an investigation of the Academy of DarkVale. Rumor had it that several dark artifacts that were supposed to be held at the academy were being found in possession of dark cults. What really prompted the investigation was an incident reported to have occurred in the region of Silverleaf. The incident had seen a massive death toll and the destruction of the entire valley forest and town. The only survivors had disappeared and were sighted occasionally but were lying low for the time. The incident that occurred and the creatures described were spoken of in a book that had been discovered. The tome called the old ones was being investigated at the Academy of DarkVale before being sent to the capitol to be secured. The appearance of creatures spoken of in the tome made the higher ups wonder if someone had found a means to summon the entities. So, Damien was here he took off his glass rub his brown eyes as the carriage moved under the city walls and came onto the cobble streets. In a few minutes the carriage came to a stop before the gates of the Academy.
Damien looked out of the carriage windows as the driver spoke to the gate guards and the gate opened. The carriage passed into the enclosed grounds of the Academy and Damien looked out at the stone building standing in the grounds. The carriage stopped before a large dark stone building fronted by columns. It was the central library, archive, and administrative building of the Academy. Damien got out of the carriage, he stretched out his slim body and ran a hand through is black hair before turning to his driver. Damien told him to wait there as he would not be long and turned straightening his rumbled black clothing as his move towards the main entrance. He entered the library inside he saw other researchers and scholars moving around the bookshelves or sitting reading at desks. He walked to the main desk where the main librarian sat. He spoke to her and asked where the Head of the Academy’s office was. Damien was directed up to a passage where some stairs were located and the main offices would be down the corridor. Damien followed the directions given and as he approached the offices. A door opened and a young man stepped out he was hooded and cloaked but he could see his face. He looked upset as he passed Damien. Damien did a double take at the young man’s face it was angelic, and he saw some golden hair under the hood. Damien starts back again and found the office of the Academy Head. He entered the room and saw the older man sitting at the desk writing in a scroll. The Academy Head looked up from his scroll and looked at Damien. “I am sorry young man, as I told your friend I will not let you see the book. Now get out of my office” The Academy Head said. Damien smiled and said “I fear you have mistaken me for someone else. I am Damien I am here on the business of the Royal Academy”. The Academy Head did a double take and sneered “Nice try I am not going to fall for such a transparent trick”. Damien kept smiling and took out a letter he showed the Academy Head the seal on the letter as he handed it to him. The Academy Head paled when he saw the seal of the Royal Academy and opened the letter and began to read. Damien knew what was in the letter it authorized him to investigate the Academy. The Academy Head looked up at Damien “So you are here to investigate, I am Nerick the Head of this Academy. How can I help you?” Damien looked at him “You do not need to do much just make sure that I can inspect the restricted areas. What did the guy who was here earlier want?” Nerick sighed “That young man wanted to see the Old Ones tome for some reason. Since it is restricted to see it I told him No” Damien smiled and asked, “Do you know who is was?” “He said his name was Seth,” said Nerick. “Do you need a place to rest are you starting now?” asked Nerick. “No, I already have a place to stay I will return to begin my investigation,” said Damien. Damien took his leave of Nerick and headed back to his carriage he was tired and wanted to rest. As the carriage moved through the city streets he thought about what he had been told. Could the man that he had seen be Seth from the Silverleaf incident. Soon the carriage stopped in a courtyard of a well-appointed villa. The villa belonged to Damien’s family, and he sent word ahead he was going to be occupying it while he was investigating. Damien got out of the carriage and a group of servants came. They took Damien’s luggage and lead the carriage horses to stables. The villa keeper came up to Damien. “My lord the villa has been prepared as you requested”. “Thank you, have a bath drawn up and a meal prepared” Damien said as he walked into the villa.
Ch 2
Damien woke with the dawn dressing and calling for something to break his fast and was in the carriage on the way back to the academy. Damien began his investigation in the restricted archives that held relics and documents relating to dangerous dark magics. Damien found the doors and secure cases were intact and worked but as he looked closely at the materials and could see signs of disturbance dust moved and signs of rifling. He had some skill in magic and could sense the magics that were woven around the archive to protect the content. Damien found that the major defenses had been disabled but an underlying network that showed places where disturbances had occurred. All this showed that something was happening in the archive someone was going through the archive but Damien was not yet able to determine why. He brought the catalogue of what was stored in the archive and was going through it determining if anything was missing when a man walked in. Damien looked up at the man standing in the door he unremarkable strangely so. He had the look that would cause you to forget him shortly after seeing him but as Damien looked at him, he could feel a creeping fear like as though in the presence of a predator. “You must be Damien the investigator” the man said, “my name is Malik I am a researcher I must say I expected you to be older”. “People have told me that before” Damien said as he went back to the catalogue. “I didn’t expect anyone would come in here today, but I guess you are the one who has been going through the archive”. Damien saw the expression on Malik’s face change quickly from startlement to anger and then go calm again. “Why do you say that anyone has been going through the archive” Malik asked. “I have seen signs that books and papers have been disturbed, this gives me reason to think that someone has been going through the archive,” said Damien. “Ah that it was part of my research; my I ask what you are investigating is it the rumors that are going around or are you after something more specific?” Malik asked. “What more specific thing would I be investigating?” Damien asked back. “Well, there is that book that has a connection to the incident that occurred almost a year ago” Malik said. Damien stared at Malik he was very well informed. “I am just here to investigate the rumors” Damien said. Malik smiled “As you say Damien I am sure I will speak to you again.” Malik left the archive as Damien watched and wondered as to who this Malik was.
Ch 3
Damien came out of the Archives he had spent hours checking the archives. He had found that none of the Tomes and Grimoires or other documents were missing but all of them had been disturbed recently. Damien was starving and he headed out to find a place to eat. As Damien approached the main doors of the library. “Hey Damien,” cried a familiar voice. Damien turned and saw a young man running towards him. The man was lean with and slim build. He had sandy blonde hair and blue eyes, and Damien knew him. “Luc, I didn’t expect to see you here” Damien said. “I heard you were here, and I came to see if it was true” Luc said “What are you up to last I heard you were in the capital”. “I am here to do an investigation Luc and right now I am about to go and have a meal” Damien said. “I will join you Damien” Luc said. They headed to a dining build on the confines of the academy and ordered food. As they sat down with there food and began to eat. “How long are you going to be in town?” Luc asked. “As long as the investigation last you know that” Damien said “I am not sure how long it is going to take. Tomorrow I am going to be running down contacts that might know something”. “Well I would like to help you if I can Damien” said Luc “Also we need to go out and celebrate while you are in town. We can go to that tavern that you bought the last time you were in town.” Damien looked at Luc “No, I don’t think so” Damien told him. “Why not Damien?” Luc asked “Because of what happened last time and the reason I own that tavern now. Don’t you remember we went out celebrating got drunk and trashed that bar. I had to buy the bar because it would cost more for repairs and to pay to appease that tavern owner and didn’t you end up with a wife after that debacle.” Damien explained. “Well yes, I did get married, but she left me” Luc said. “Why?” Damien asked and laughed “I thought since you were caught in bed with the tavern keepers' daughter that guy was going to make sure you stayed with her”. Luc smiled “No, he wanted me to stay with her because he thought I was as wealthy as you since we came in together and bought the tavern. When I turned out to be just a poor scholar they left.” “Well I am sorry they left you Luc” Damien said “Well you are not allowed in the tavern as I do not want the place trashed again since I own it now. Otherwise, if you want to help me sure. If you want come tomorrow, I can take you with me. For now, do you know anything about a researcher named Malik”. Luc finished eating and considered “I have seen him around I do not know much about him. I know that he came over a year ago from one of the other Academies. He came to participate in the expedition to the ruins where the Old Ones was found. I heard rumors that he was the only survivor of the group that found the book. He and two or three others went into the ruins and only he came out carrying that book.” Damien listened with a no little shock at what he heard from Luc. “Did anyone get to know him before the expedition?” Damien asked. “As I heard it the people who knew him were the ones who went into the ruins with him and never came out” Luc said, “After that everyone said he had a creepy and sinister feeling about him”. Damien thought about what Luc had said. He planned to meet with Luc in the morning to continue his investigation and headed back towards the archive. Damien knew that now was the time to check out The Old Ones and see that cursed book.
Ch 4
Damien walked down towards the archive where he knew the Old Ones was being held. As he came to the door to the stairs, he saw a familiar figure in a cloak and a hood. The figure was standing near the stairs and seemed to be considering going down the stairs. Damien came up to the figure “Hello I am Damien are you, Seth?” Damien asked. The cloaked figure turned, and Damien knew it was Seth. “Hello, I am Seth” Seth replied, “I saw you the other day going into the academy heads office”. “Why are you trying to get into see the Old Ones. Nerick said that was why you talked to him the other day?” Damien asked. “I need to see the book. I heard about the book and even got the partial translation from a friend in the capital. It concerns me but I need to get near the book to confirm my suspicions.” Seth said. Damien looked around and did not see anyone around “Come with me Seth” he said. Damien led Seth down into the archive and went to the vault where the book was being held. The vault was lit with lamps, and the book was placed open on a stand when they entered the vault. “So, this is the book” said Seth as they approached the book. Before they could get very close Damien suddenly felt an overwhelming presence press against his mind. The presence had the feeling of malignance, perversion, and utter evil. As the presence intensified Damien began to discern that the presence was not one presence but many and the feelings of evil intensified. Damien was backing away from the book in the hopes of escaping the presences, but Seth stood firm. A golden glow surrounded Seth as he continued to approach the book. The glow brightened and it took on the look of Seth being an angel with golden wings. When Seth came close enough to Book and touched it the presentences suddenly disappeared. The book seemed fine but the presences that seemed to emanate from it were no longer there. “What was that?” Damien asked. “It is what I feared this book is more than just a book. The being it speaks of can reach out and touch us through it. I have managed to limit them but not stop them. They will be able to reach out again soon.” Seth said. A soft voice from behind Damien then spoke “Well Done Seth I am impressed you were able to do even that, and I am also impressed that you could feel them, Damien.” They turned and saw the form of Malik standing in the door watching them. “I will have to watch you both closely it should be interesting to see what you do in the future.” Malik said as he turned and walked deeper into the archives. They looked at each other “I think I am done for the day” Damien said. “Me Too,” said Seth. “Do you have somewhere to stay as I would like to speak to you more Seth” Damien said. “I have been staying in different Inns. Since I arrived in the city” Seth said. Damien offered Seth a bed at his villa if he wanted it so that they could talk and Seth accepted the offer. They left the Academy and took rode in Damiens carriage to the villa.
Ch 5
The next day Damien sat in the carriage across from him sat Seth. Damien thought on the discussion he and Seth had the other night. Seth had said that after the Silverleaf incident. Seth, Jay, Rowan, and Sky traveled around the land. They were in an elven sanctuary when the word of the Old Ones came to Seth. In that time Seth and Jay had a son and Seth was forced to leave Jay and their son to investigate the book. As they headed back to the academy Damien asked, “What are you going to do now Seth”. “I want to learn more about Malik, I get a bad feeling from him” Seth said. Damien nodded “He gives me a bad feeling to, but I am not sure how much you can learn about him”. “I can watch him,” said Seth. As they approached the gates of Academy. Damien saw Luc waiting for him. Damien signaled for his driver to stop, and Seth got out of the carriage and Luc got in. Luc looked at Damien “Who was that?” Luc asked. “That was Seth” Damien said. Luc narrowed his eyes as he looked at Damien “Did you sleep with him?” Luc asked. Damien smiled “No, Seth is spoken for”. “Would not stop me,” said Luc. “That is why you are always in trouble” Damien responded. Luc looked at Damien as the carriage started to move. Luc saw at Damien waist were the handles of 2 Knives. “What's with the Knives” Luc asked “are we going to a dangerous area”. Well yes, we are going down into the lower city to speak to some friends”. Damien said. Luc had a look of shock as the carriage started moving. “The lower city is where the slums are. Why are we going there?” Luc asked. “Think about it the rumors are about Dark Magics being sold and it is Illegal to sell. So, were should we start looking?” Damien replied. “The Black Market, Do I need a weapon?” Luc asked. Damien smiled “I don’t expect there to be trouble but to have on”. Damien lifted another knife from the seat next to him and handed it to Luc. The knife had a plain hilt and scabbard different from the more ornate look of the knives that Damien had. “Just be careful with it” Damien said. Luc took the knife “Why is it valuable?” Luc asked. “No, I just don’t want you to hurt yourself” Damien said smiling. Luc gave Damien a look and said “Ha Ha”. The carriage moved down the city streets until it stopped at a gate leading into a rundown section of the city. “Why did we stop” asked Luc. “We must walk from here I will not leave my carriage in this area. We should be safe enough though” Damien said. Damien got out of he carriage and Luc followed reluctantly. They moved down the cramped cracked streets between the rundown building of the lower city. Damien moved with an air of confidence and Luc was far less confident. As they moved through the street, they saw people going about their business. Few seemed to pay them any attention, but Luc felt watched and noticed in shadowy side streets the form of a large dog or wolf it seemed to be watching and following them. “Damien, I think that a dog is following us,” said Luc. Damien did not stop or look around “I know just keep going Luc” Damien replied. They walk until they came to a large compound the building was better maintained than the surrounding buildings. Damien came to guarded entrance the guards looked at him and waved him through. “You are expected Master Damien” the guard said. Luc looked at Damein “so you are Master here Damien?” Luc asked. Damien smiled and walked into the compound. The came into a darkened hall the dark was broken by pockets of light from torches. Damien and Luc stood in a pocket of light created by an opening in the roof and stared into the dark hall. Damien and Luc heard the padding of pawed feet and out of the dark hall a large shadow flew at Damien.
Ch 6
Luc saw the shadow and at first thought it was a dog, and it was attacking Damien, but he heard laughter and saw it licking Damien’s face. Getting a good look it he was it was a wolf not a dog. The wolf had black fur and golden eyes it was a large wolf and looked like it could take most men, but it behaved like a puppy. Damien told the wolf to get off him and it did but then rolled on its back and gave a look like it wanted Damien to rub it belly. Damien got down and began to rub it belly “You know wolf if you wanted a belly rub there are easier ways than jumping on me” Damien said. The wolf whined and looked at him. Damien smiled as he rubbed the wolf’s belly. Damien then cocked his head as though he heard something. He did not stop rubbing the wolf belly when he said, “You know guys it is not nice to sneak up on people.” Luc started when he heard that and looked around and he saw two young men standing near him. The were both slim with pale skin tone they looked around 19. Their hair was short and styled and were different colors with one having white and the other black. They were alike in build and looks with the only distinguishing being there eyes. One had silver grey eyes, and the other had a pale etheric blue eye. They smiled “How did you know we were here Damien?” The grey eyed one asked. “You will have to do better than that if you want to sneak up on me Shadow” Damien said without looking around. Suddenly a hiss came from the far end of the hall. “Mussst you two act like children and mussst you act like a puppy wolf,” said the hissing voice. Wolf roll back to his feet and growled in the direction of the voice. “Peace, let them be Cobra” said another voice “Let's get some more light in here”. Suddenly the light in the hall grew until the hall was fully lit. The hall was stone and was decorated with tapestries and decorations that would not look out of place in a place. They looked out and saw that at the end of the hall there two men one was an old man he was tall and had the look of a fox. His eyes were golden and had the look of restrained mischief. The other was younger, but he had an emaciated body it was thin, and you could see chorded muscles under the skin. The skin was a deep black and looked to be scaled like a snake. He had no nose, but his nostrils could be seen on his face and his eyes were slitted like a serpent. The man moved with a smooth and deadly grace like a snake.
Damien stood up and the wolf and the two-boy moved towards the other men. The wolf disappeared behind a curtain then a boy that looked around 18 or 19 came out. The boy had tanned skin and a lean athletic build. He also had messy black hair and golden eyes with a wolfish look to his face but the thing that shock Luc most about the boy was that his ears were set high on his head and were sharp with tufted hair on his ears and a long black wolfs tail coming out behind him.
The old man smiled at them “Well Damien we have been expecting you since we heard you were in the city” He said, “Perhaps a proper introduction is in order for your friend.” Damien smiled and proceeded to with an introduction for Luc the boy who had been a wolf he said was named Wolf. The twin boy was named Shadow who had he grey eyes and Wraith who had he pale blue eyes. The snake looking man was named Cobra. The Old fox looking man was Named Fox. “This is Luc” Damien said as he finished his introductions. “Well Damien now that we are all introduced what is it that we can do for you?” Fox asked.
Ch 7
Following the introductions Luc stared at Damien. While Damian said, “We are here Fox to speak to you about the rumors of Dark Magic Items being sold”. Fox stared carefully at Damien neither frowning nor smiling. “I thought that might be the thing that brought you here Damien.” Fox said, “Would you like to adjourn to a more comfortable setting”. Damien nodded and moved towards a door in the back of the room where the others were waiting on them. Before Damien could reach the door Luc touched his arm. “Can I talk to you real quick alone Damien” Luc said. Damien asked the others to go on ahead so that he could talk to Luc. “Who are these people Damien?” Luc asked, “How do you know them?”. “Why do you need to know this now Luc?” Daimen asked back “We should talk about this later”. “No Damien this needs to be asked now. One of them is a werewolf, Damien.” Luc said, “That is Dangerous”. Damien gave Luc a hard look “I would be careful if I were you about throwing around such names Luc. Wolf is not a werewolf he is a Lycan you would know the difference if you studied the nonhuman species.” “What's the difference?” Luc asked exasperated. Damien gave him a look and explained “A werewolf is created by magic or a curse. They can change only under certain conditions and during the change they are more beast than human. A Lycan in contrast tend to be born with the shape shifting power and they can change at will maintaining a greater human control in a beast form.” “The twins are spirit human hybrids thought no one knows what type of spirts they were descended form. We call them Shades” “Cobra is a naga, a human serpent hybrid” “Fox is a Kitsune, a fox spirit in human form” “As for how I know them that is a story”
Damien led them to two chairs and began his story. “It began several years ago when I was 13 or 14. My father brought me into the city to teach me about the trade in the city. Several weeks into my stay I discovered a wolf pup. It was injured and alone in a city, so I coaxed it out, brought it home, and began taking care of it. It was several days when the wolf pup turned into a young boy of 11 or 12. The boy had no name and no home, so I gave him a name and offered him my home and so that is how I found Wolf. Wolf had been living with our family for several week. On day we went out exploring the city just two boys and we discovered two boy they were twins very much alike except for their hair and eyes. They were about 13 at the time and we found out they possessed a power to manipulate Light and shadows. They were descended from a distant bloodline coming out of the first world. They were the first to manifest the ability in generations and when they first manifested the powers they were abandoned by their parents. I offered them a home, and a new family and they accepted, and they became my brothers. It was nearly a year before I met Fox, he was a high ranked member of an underworld gang at the time. The gang acted as go between for my father's business and black markets. It was later that the gang leader was killed in a battle with another gang. The gang fell apart after that with Fox and several others taking parts of the original gang for their own. It was near the end of my time in the city after 3 years and I was going to have to leave the city. I could not bring the others with me when I left, I was going to study in the capital and demi-human and non-human species are not welcome. So, I found Fox his new gang was small and his chief enforcer at the time was Cobra. I asked him to take in Wolf, Shadow, and Wraith. I also asked him to become my agents dealing with the Black Market in DarkVale. I offered him in return for this a level of protection from the guards and access to my family's trade. He agreed to my request and that has been the state of thing. When I can make it back to town I go and see my brothers and I write to them as often as I can. That is the general story Luc” Damien said finishing his story. Luc looked struck after hearing Damiens story “So that is the story, but why did you not take them with you or send for them after you were in the capitol.” Luc asked. “I had originally planned to bring them with me when I made enough of a name for myself so that my reputation could protect them. But then I came for a visit and found that they had bonded with Fox. So, I left them where they were.” Damien said. Damien then stood up “I think we have kept them waiting long enough Luc are you ready”. Luc nodded and stood up to and they both walked to the door where the others had gone through.
Ch 8
Damien and Luc came through the door into a well-appointed room. In the center of the room was a large, lacquered table. Surrounded by padded chairs and around the room were bookshelves filled with books and couches for lounging. Fox was sitting at the table reading. Shadow and Wraih were in a corner talking quietly. Wolf was lounging on a couch, and Cobra was sitting on a chair watching everyone quietly. When Damien and Luc walked into in the room the others looked up at them. Fox smiled “Are you done with your chat” he asked. “Yes” said Damien as he set at the table “So let's discuss about what the black market”. Fox closed his book and looked at Damien. “It has come to our attention over the last few months that a new group is working in the underworld. We have been able to discover very little about them. Only that they exist and that they are growing in power. We have found several small gangs have been joining this new group and we they are selling these out on the streets.” Shadow came to table and two books down before Damien. Damien looked down at the books. The books looked exactly like tomes that he had seen in the archive. Damien touched on of the book and felt something strange about them. The power the books should be emanating was weakened like it was a shadow of the original. “It is a copy” Damien said, “it is a copy of a dark magic tome.” Fox smiled at Damien “I thought you would catch that Damien”. “What are you talking about” asked Luc “How do you know that these are the copies”. “I know because each tome or artifact of magic has its own power. The power they possess is a part of the process needed to create them. The power from these despite looking like the tomes in the archive are just shadows of the power of the original” Damien said. Damien began to examine the other book the same copy of the same book exactly, but the power was different. “The power in this one is different” Damien said. “Yes” said Fox “can you guess why? “. “They are perfecting the process but why? they could just make the copies and replace the originals, why make more copies and sell them. Why draw the attention that would bring?” Damien asked. “My questions also” Fox said. “How did you find these?” Damien asked. “We found out about them when we were investigating some of the gangs that turned” Wraith said. “When we found out about them Cobra managed to procure those tomes, they are apparently selling them all over the city”. “Interesting it gives me new places to investigate but that does leave the question of what the larger plan is.” Damien said.
Ch 9
After the revelations of the tomes Damien and Fox began to speak on other business. Luc not being able to follow decided to go sit on a side couch. As he sat there, he became aware of Wolf staring at him. Wolf came closer and sat next to Luc and slowly sniffed. “You smell anxious,” said Wolf. “What are you talking about?” asked Luc. “You” Wolf smiled making him seem more wolfish “You smell of anxiety. Why are you so anxious?” Wolf asked, “Are you nervous about being around demi-humans?” “No, I am not nervous” Luc said. “Would you be more comfortable if I was in my human form” asked Wolf. Wolf smiled and there was a ripple that seemed to run through his entire body. Luc watched as Luc changed. The change ripple through Wolf’s body. The change stopped and there stood Wolf. The same tan skin and messy black hair. The same golden eyes and wolfish features but the wolf ears and tail were gone. “You look very handsome, why don’t you use that form more” Luc asked. “Because after I lost everything and Damien found me and gave me a new family. It was the hybrid form that Damien first saw and that is the form I have become most comfortable with.” Wolf said. “Do you have any other forms?” Luc asked. Wolf had a look of fear “Yes, I do, but I don’t use it. It is driven by rage and hate it is a beast” Wolf said, “ lets not talk about that, I have a question how do you know Damien?” “I have only known Damien for a few years” Luc said. “Yes, but how did you meet our brother,” said a voice. Luc started and looked around and saw Wraith and Shadow staring at him. “I met Damien about 3 years ago do you want to hear the story?” Luc asked. The others nodded as Luc began to tell his story.
Damien smiled as he looked around and saw Luc telling the others some story or another. Damien turned back to Fox. “How are they Fox?” Damien asked. “They are doing well Damien” Fox said “Wolf has all the makings of a leader, but he is still young and reckless. He still likes to act on his instincts and not think his decisions though. When he overcomes that will be an excellent leader.” Damien smiled as he heard the group laugh about something Luc had said “That is good, and Wolf will grow and then few things will stop him” Damien said. “Shadow is proving to be a skilled spy, but he does not desire to lead, he can in if he sees no other choice, but he does not like it. Wraith is his own person as he has always been. He holds his own ideas and does not work well with others he does not respect. Wraith only seems to care for his brothers: Shadow, Wolf, and you” Fox said. “I am sure Wraith cares about you to Fox” Damien said. “No, I think Wraith respects me, but I fear there will be a day that some group manages to convince Wraith to betray me. He would do it but only if he was absolutely convinced of their purpose” Fox said with a dark look. “I do not think that Wraith would do that, but I am sure that Shadow and Wolf would keep anyone from being able to mislead him” Damien said with a soft smile. “I can hope that you are right Damien” Fox said. They continued to talk together as the day wore on.
Ch 10
It was well past midday when Damien and Luc left the compound. They began to walk through the streets heading out of the lower city. “Did you enjoy your time in the Lower City Luc” asked Damien ask they walked into a shadowed and deserted street. Luc almost responded when he noticed the man step into the middle of the street. The man was dress in dark clothing with his face covered. The seemed to also be wearing dark leather armor. Damien and Luc stopped “Who are you?” Damien asked the man. The man stood silent, but he moved pulling out a short sword that glinted in the light of the setting sun. “What do you want?” asked Luc. “I want to deliver a message, stop your investigation now or pay the consequences” the man said. Damien and Luc heard movement all around them and saw about five other men with swords drawn. “We are not supposed to kill you, but we are allowed to use any other means to get the message across” the man said. Damien moved his hand to one of his knives. The hilt was Ivory and inlaid with gems. As he drew the blade the thin pale blade glinted as it emerged. He also pulled something from a small pack on his hip. The masked men began advancing on them and Luc fumbled with his knife. As the men advanced on them Damien in a smooth and quick motion extended his arm out and opened his hand. From his outstretched hand a small throwing knife flashed out and took one of the advancing men in the throat the man dropped with a wet gurgle. Damien advanced quickly into the men and lashed out with his pale white knife. He heard a shout from behind him as he faced off against, the men in front of him. There were two men in front of him and Damien moved in his quick fluid motions as the men struck out at him with their sword. Damien dropped one of the men with a quick stab. His pale blade slid through the leather armor like it was not there. The stab was not a lethal blow and the man lay moaning. The other man sought to strike at Damien with his sword. Damien dodged or turned the strikes and then moved in. Damiens knife slide into the man's chest. Damien knew the blade had found his heart. The man looked into Damien’s eye as his hearts blood was spilled. Damien pulled his knife from the man's chest and turned around. The battle was over. Luc stood nursing a slash across his arm and two of the other men lay dead with Wraith and Shadow standing nearby and on other had Wolf in his wolf form standing over him. Damien cleaned his knife on the man he killed and retrieved his throwing knife from the neck of the dead man. “Are you okay Luc?” Damien asked as he came to Luc and looked at the slash across his arm. “It is not bad Damien” Luc said. “Glad you guys showed up when you did” Damien said to Wolf, Wraith, and Shadow. “We were following you Damien and we saw the men come out” Wraith said “we intervened when we saw Luc get slashed”. “Thank you, Wraith,” Damien said “Can on of you go ahead of us and tell Fox and bring back some men to collect the bodies. The others help me take the survivors back to the compound. That way they can be questioned about what this was about.” Damien went to the man he had struck and began treating his wound as the man moaned and Shadow went to the man Wolf had been standing over. Wolf ran ahead as Wraith and Shadow helped Damien prepare the survivors. They began moving them as towards the compound with Luc cradling his bandaged arm. They met Wolf in his human form leading a group of men as them approached the compound. “Fox is waiting for you” Wolf said as he passed them, and they went back into the compound with their new prisoners.
Ch 11
Damien checked in on Luc as his wound was being checked and bandaged again. “How is the wound?” Damien asked. “It is not too bad now,” said Luc. “What did you learn from the prisoners?” asked Luc. “We learned that they were from one of the other gangs that converted.” said Damien “According to them the mysterious new leader came to them and gave them the order to ambush us and deliver his message. They cannot give any description of this man, but he seemed to know that both of us would be traveling and were we would be for an ambush.” Luc looked at Damien and gave him a strange look. “How would anyone know that?” Luc asked. “I don’t know yet,” said Damien “Cobra is with them now and is trying to get more information. For now, Fox has offered us an escort out of the lower city and will keep us informed of any new information.” Damien and Luc headed out of the Lower city with Wraith, Shadow, and Wolf acting as an escort for them until they reached the gates of the lower city and found Damien carriage waiting for them. Damien and Luc said goodbye to the others and got in the carriage. “What are we going to do now?” Luc said. “We are going back to my villa. It is getting late, and we need rest after the day's events,” Damien said “We can continue the investigation tomorrow from the villa.” The carriage rattled down the city streets and the villa came into view. “Is Seth not staying with you?” Luc asked. Damien smiled at Luc “Yes, but there is plenty of room for you both Luc” Damien said “I just don’t know if he is already back or not. He was at the university all day investigating.” “Investigating what?” Luc asked. “He was investigating Malik. I guess we will find out what he learned when we get back,” said Damien.
The carriage stopped in front of the Villa and servant appeared to aid Damien and Luc and taking the carriage away. “Has Seth returned yet?” Damien asked on of the servants. “No sir” the servant said. Damien nodded at the servants and asked to be informed of Seths returned. Damien and Luc went into the villa and Damien order a bath to be drawn and a meal to be prepared by the servants. They bathed and ate, and Damien showed Luc to a room and returned to his own room. It was as Damien was getting ready for bed that he heard a knock. Damien opened the door and found Luc standing outside. “Can I come in Damien?” Luc asked. Damien looking startled stepped aside and let Luc enter the room. Damien stood there in only his underclothing as Luc stared at him. “Can I stay in here tonight, Damien?” Luc asked, “I don’t want to sleep alone”. Damien smiled at Luc and nodded. Damien watched Luc strip his clothing until he was only in his under clothing too and Damien and Luc got into bed.
Ch 12
Damien and Luc awoke nestled together to the sound of soft knocks on the door. “Sir, you asked to be informed when Mr. Seth returned” a servant said. “Thank you, we will be down in a moment. Prepare him anything he need.” Damien said. Damien and Luc got out of bed and looked at each other's bodies as they got dressed in tunics and trousers. The went down to the large dining room and found Seth. He looked rumbled and disheveled as he sat at the table, a plate in front of him as he ate a cold meal. Damien and Luc sat down at the table and Seth looked up at them. “Who is this?” Seth asked Damien “I remember him getting in the carriage this morning after I got out.” “This is Luc, he is helping me with the investigation” Damien said. Seth nodded and Damien order some drinks to be brought for him and Luc. “How did the investigating into Malik go?” Damien asked Seth as a servant brought drinks out to the table. Damien thanked the servant and turned to Seth. “Malik is difficult to pin down. It seems most people don’t know much about him beyond that he left with an expedition and came back changed.” Seth said, “I tried to follow him during the day, but he disappeared into the restricted archives for hours at a time, and I would sit at the entrances and wait for him to emerge.” Seth looked disturbed “I did not talk to him but there was something off about him” Seth said. “I was able to talk to him, and I agree there was an aura of something off about him” Damien said. Luc looked at Damien and Seth but remained silent as they talked. “How was your investigation today Damien” Seth asked. Damien started into his story about going into the lower city and their time among Fox’s gang. “Sounds like you had an exciting time today do expect any updates on the people who attacked you” Seth asked. “I expect some kind of update in a day or two.” Damien said. “What are you going to do in your investigation tomorrow?” Seth asked Damien. “I have some contacts in the common and Noble a part of the city that I want to question tomorrow” Damien said and then asked, “What are you going to be doing tomorrow?” “I don’t know yet I am most likely going to be at the university again unless something comes up” Seth said and then pushed back from the table “I am going to bed now if the room is still open to me.” “The room is your for as long as you need it Seth” Damien said, and he turned to Luc “I am going back to bed is you coming?” Luc nodded and smiled at Damien. Damien dismissed his servants so they could go and rest. Damien and Luc returned to his room, and they stripped off their clothing again and got back into bed. Damien felt Luc snuggle against him as they fell back asleep.
Ch 13
Damien awoke in the soft dawn light and saw the sleeping form of Luc. Damien softly woke Luc up and they got prepared for the new day. They came down into the dining hall and saw Seth sitting at the table. Damien asked the servants to bring them something to eat. “You are getting ready to head out?” Seth asked. “Yes, are you going to the university would you like a ride there?” Damien asked Seth. “No, I will make my way over to the university later. I saw a few places I want to check out” Seth said. The servant brought a meal, and they ate in silence. After the meal Damien and Luc headed out to the waiting carriage. “Where are we headed Damien?” Luc asked. “We are going into the inner city, starting in the common quarter. I want to talk to a craftsman that I know.” Damien told Luc. “Can we stop at the university first?” Luc asked, “I want to check on my rooms and pick up some fresh cloths.” Damien told the Driver to stop at the university and the carriage rolled down the streets. The carriage stopped at the gates of the University and Luc got out. He told Damien to wait in the carriage, and he would be out in a moment. Damien waited for a time in the carriage he pulled out a book and began reading while he waited. Then Luc returned he had a small pack of clothing when he came, and Damien told the driver to head to their next destination. The carriage drove on for a short time before stopping in front of a modest shop. Damien and Luc got out and Luc stared at the shop. The building was made of stone and stood 2 stories. From behind the build came the pounding of metals like would be heard in a forge. The sign above the door said hammer and anvil.
Damien and Luc entered the shop and were greeted by a teenage boy behind a counter. The boy was about 16 and skinny he had long black hair and hazel eyes. The boy started to greet them as they entered and got a look of shock “Master Damien, we did not know you were in town,” said the boy. “Hello Matt, are your parent here I would like to talk to them.” Damien asked the boy. “Yes sir, I will go get them for you” Matt said. The boy left the counter and headed into the back and soon a plump woman came into the room. She had a round and kindly mothers face with long black hair and brown eyes. “Damien” She said, “It has been so long since your last visit.” “Elaine, It is good to see you.” Damien said. Then Matt came back in followed by another boy looking to be about 17 with curly brown hair and brown eyes and a large well-muscled man he had Hazle eyes, brown hair and a brown beard. “Damien” they both said. “Luc let me introduce you” Damien said. “This is Elaine, Matt, Tam, and Bill” As he introduced each, they nodded with the woman being Elaine, the 16-year-old boy being Matt, The Man being Tam, and the other boy being Bill. “This is Luc” Damien said as he finished the introductions. “Nice to meet you Luc. So, what brings you here today, Damien?” Tam asked. “I am investigating the reports of the dark magics being sold on the black market, but I am here to ask you some questions about magic items” Damien said. “Let's go into the other room and so we can talk” Tam said. They all went into the other room to talk. “So, what is your question?” Tam asked. “Actually, it concerns creating copies of magic items and tomes is it possible to create a perfect copy of them?” Damien asked. “No, it is not possible to create a perfect copy. I studied many of the rituals of creating magic Items with my master Damien and the in all of them a part of the ritual that transfers power into the item also transfers a part of your spirit into the item as well. That is why most tomes seem to have an aura about them depending on the nature of the person who created it.” Tam said but then he got a contemplative look “There might be a way of making a perfect copy if an item acts as a conduit for an outside power” Luc looked at Damien as Tam spoke and Damien got a dark look on his face. “I was afraid of something like that, and I hope this is not what I fear it is” Damien said
CH 14
Everyone in the room stared at Damien. Many had faces of shock following his dire pronouncement. “What do you fear it is?” Luc asked. Damien looked at the others and Elaine said, “Tam maybe you should go and check the forge and boys come with me and help me make some drinks.” The others left the room leaving Damien and Luc alone. “Think about it Luc we know they are trying to perfect copying magic tomes, and it would be possible to make a copy of such a tome that acts as a conduit.” Damien said, “I know of such a tome that could act as a conduit for a terrible power.” Luc went pale and looked ill “You don’t mean that someone is trying to copy The Old Ones”. “Yes, that is what I fear” Damien said. As they finished their conversation Elaine and her sons reappeared. She passed out drinks to everyone and tried to start up some small talk “Well Luc you are quite handsome, do you have a wife or a girlfriend?” She asked. “I had a wife, but it did not work out” Luc said with a sad look. “I am sure it was for the best and now you can always find another wife” Elaine said. “I have been asking Damien about if he has a girlfriend for years and he always says he is too busy.” Elaine said. “That is because I usually am.” Damien said. “How exactly do you know Damien?” Luc asked Elaine. “Did he not tell you?” Elaine said, “We are friends of his family” Elaine said, “Tam and I knew and were friends of his father and we have done business with his family for years.” During this part of the conversation Tam returned “What are we talking about?” he asked. “Nothing just making small talk” Elaine said. “I haven’t seen the little ones yet” Damien said, “I thought they would have decided to investigate by now.” “They went out play” Elaine said, “We let them go and play for a while before we must go pack. We are taking the children out to my sisters in the country for some fresh air”. Damien looked at the tight look on Elaine face as she said this “are there problems in the city” he said. “Actually yes” Elaine said “We have heard from other merchants that an unknown group has been approaching certain individuals and offering a deal. They offer Dark Magic items for sell and in return the merchants join their group.” “Have you been approached by this group or know of a merchant who has?” Damien said. “We have never been approached” Tam said, “but I hear that a merchant in the black dagger a shop not far away was approached and took their offer”. Damien nodded and stood “This was a pleasant visit, but we have other places to go today” Damien said. Elaine got up and hugged him and Tam shook his hand. “Don’t be a stranger and come and visit us again soon” Elannie said. Damien and Luc left the shop and got in the carriage. Damien told his driver that he wanted to go to a shop called the Black Dagger and the carriage rattled down the road. “Why do you want to go there?” Luc asked. “I want to check if this merchant has a tome for sale and how close they might be to perfecting their copies” Damien said as the carriage rolled down the street.
Ch 15
The carriage stopped before a seedy looking shop. Damien looked at Luc “Ready?” he asked. Luc nodded at Damien, and they got out of the carriage as they moved towards the door. Luc looked at Damien in amazement as his entire demeanor changed from being a quiet assured nature he normally had to an overly arrogant swagger of a high-born noble. They entered the shop and looked around. The shop had an ill kept dusty look and was full of wicked look artifacts. “Greetings young masters, how can I help you?” asked a soft silky voice and they looked and behind the counter was a weaselly looking man. “I am a collector and am seeking some rare items. I have been told the items I seek might be found here shopkeeper” Damien said. A slimly smile came on the shopkeeper face “Of course young master I have many rare and quality items here for sale kindly let me know what you are seeking.” Damien looked around with a look of open contempt on his face “I have no interest in this trash. I am looking for something much darker and rarer.” Luc stood silent watching the Shopkeeper as a greedy gleam came into his eyes. “I think that I have exactly what you are looking for in the back young master” The shopkeeper said motioning to a door covered by curtains. Damien and Luc followed the shopkeeper though the door into a dark room light only by flickering candles. The room was more ordered than the front. Tables and shelfs covered in carefully arranged Dark Artifacts and Tomes. The shopkeeper motioned for them to enter and look. “I am sure that what you seek is here young masters” the shopkeeper said. Damien began to look though the room and saw the tomes that he sought. He approached the tomes and reached out his hand. He could feel the echos of power from the tomes and then he felt one that he wanted. He grabbed the tome a copy of the tome he had already seen multiple times in the last few days. He felt the power radiating off the tome it was stronger than the copies he had seen with Fox’s gang but not as strong as the originals. “This is it” Damien said. The shopkeeper looked at the tome a look of greed evident on his face “A good choice young master, it is very rare and very expensive” The shopkeeper said. Damien and the shopkeeper haggled for several minutes before Damien and Luc left the shop. Damien having paid an absurd price for the item. “Why did you buy it for that price?” Luc asked Damien after they left the shop. “It was easiest for me to buy it from him and for him to think I was just some eccentric and rich collector.” Damien said as he let his old self come back to the surface. “Okay if you say so” Luc said, as he opened the door to the carriage and as he moved to go in, he was staring into the pale blue eyes of Wraith. Luc started and Damien smiled “Why are you hiding in the carriage Wraith?” Damien asked. Wraith smiled softly “I was waiting for you because I have new from fox” He said and got a more serious face “The prisoners you brought us are dead”. Damien looked shocked “How did they die and when?” Wraith got out of the carriage and stood before them “They died sometime in the night after Cobra finish questioning them. They appear to have died from poison. Fox is looking into if the poison was something they took when they were alone or if Cobra was over enthusiastic.” Damien and Luc looked at wraith as he said this “That is a setback” Damien said. “Well, I have delivered the message” Wraith said and turned, but then he turned back “There was one more thing” Wraith said “I discovered a man trying to leave a message on your carriage. Your driver did not notice him until I came up behind him. I drove him off, but I did find this the note he intended to leave.” Wraith gave the message to Damien and disappeared. Damien looked at the note and saw it read. Stop investigating this is the final warning.
Ch 16
Damien and Luc got into the carriage and Damien placed the book and the Note in a inner pocket of his coat. “So where are we going to go now” Luc asked. “We are going into the noble quarter now” Damien said and signaled the driver. The carriage started moving “So about the book. What did you learn from it” Luc asked. Damien pulled the book out and handed it to him. “It is the closest to a perfect copy that I have seen yet. I think it means that they are getting close to their goal. I am not sure what will happen at that point, but I hope there is still time.” Damien said. Luc nodded and handed the book back to Damien. Damien put the book back in his pocket and looked at Luc. “The place we are going it is going is called the White Flower. You need to be careful while we are there” Damien said. “Why do I need to be careful?” Luc said smiling. “Because I know you and you will try to indulge, and you need to be careful about indulging in the White Flower. Damien said seriously. The carriage rattled down the road and came to a stop. Luc got out and looked around the buildings around him and were made of shaped marble and shone in the light. The building that the carriage stopped in front of was a multi-story building with many terraces and walled courts. Damien got out and stood next to Luc and they went into the building. Luc was struck as he saw beautiful women in fancy dresses. They walked or sat by themselves or in small groups. Many of the women that saw them smiled at them. “Damien is this place what I think it is?” Luc asked. Damien smiled and looked at him “No it is probably not what you think it is” he said, “remember be careful”. They stopped in a well decorated hall with doors and stairs leading to other places in the building. A beautiful woman came up to them “Hello Gentlemen, how may I help you?” Damien smiled at her “I am here to see Mistress Lily; tell her it is Damien”. The woman’s eyes went wide at the names and curtsied to Damien before heading up the stairs. While Damien and Luc stood waiting a group of women approached. “Well, aren’t you both handsome” One of the Women said. Luc stared open mouthed at the women. “Perhaps you want to come and have a meal with us handsome?” She asked looking at Luc. Luc nodded without a word. The woman turned to Damien “How about you?” She asked smiling. Damien smiled back “I am waiting for someone and will be along in a moment”. The woman smiled and she and her group moved away leading Luc along with them. A short time after the women left with Luc a voice called down from the top of the stairs. “Well, I thought that Kate was leading me on, but it really is you Damien” The Woman standing at the top of the stairs was a pale exquisite beauty in a white gown. “It has been a long time Lily” said Damien.
Ch 17
Lily walked slowly down the stairs “It has been a while, how are you, Damien?” Damien smiled at her “I am quite well Lily, how have you been?” Lily smiled back as she reached the bottom and approached Damien “I am well to, now what brings you here to my humble establishment.” Lily hugged Damien and Damien said, “Actually I am investigating the sale of Dark Magic Artifacts on the black Market.” Lily gave a coy smile “Really and here I was thinking you came to see me. I heard you brought a handsome friend and here you are alone. Did he wander off.” Damien laughed at that “It is always a pleasure to see you Lily, and the last I saw Luc was being taken to the dining hall by some of the ladies and I am betting he has gotten into trouble.” Lily smiled “Well let's go save him them” she put her arm though Damiens and they walked down the hall to the dining hall. When they entered the dining hall, they became aware of a commotion. Several of the women were standing around a table and seemed to be scolding someone. Lily and Damien approached the table, and the women gave way when they saw who was approaching. They saw Luc sitting at the table looking a little shocked. Damien smiled as he saw one of the women approach LIly and begin telling how Luc tried to order without paying and how he tried to touch one of the women. Damien pulled out a small pouch and gave the woman some gold coins saying that he would pay for everything. The woman seemed shocked by the coins that Damien gave her but smiled and walked off. Lily and Damien sat at the table and Lily sent out an order the specials for the group. Lily asked Damien about his investigation so far and Damien began to lay out what they had learned and discovered so far. “It sounds like you have your investigation figured out Damien, why are you coming to see me?” Lily asked, “I came to ask you if you had heard anything through your network and to see if you could help me with a warning.” Damien said. Lily looked thoughtful as the food was brought, and they began to eat and then she began “I have heard of some nobles from low-ranking families becoming involved with a new group. They appear to be some sort of religious organization, and they are gaining disciples from the noble and the common quarters both, but they are not very big yet”. Damien nodded “Its is as I suspected, if I wrote out a message could you get it to the lord” he asked. Lily nodded and Damien looked at Luc and saw his confusion. Lily must have seen it to because she got a coy look. “Damien did not tell you did he. The place is a house for the high Ladies many of whom are mistresses and concubine to the nobles and Lords of the city. It also serves as a gathering place for many of the elites of the city who enjoy the luxuries of the house. So, it makes for a practical place to gather information.” Luc looked rather shocked about what Lily told him. Lily ordered some paper and writing materials and Damien began to quickly write out some letters and had them sealed and gave them to Lily. After eating Damien and Luc moved to leave the house and Damien turned back to Lily. “Be careful Lily, I feel like thing will begin to spiral soon” Damien said. Lily nodded and they left the house and headed back to the carriage. They got in and Damien ordered the driver to take them home. Luc asked Damien “How exactly do you know Lily?” Damien smiled at him “Well I know her because we dated for a while, but I am not going into that.” Luc looked upset that Damien would not tell him the details as the carriage rolled down the street
Ch 18
As the carriage rolled down the street Luc stirred “Can you drop me off at the University Damien. I want to check on some things”. Damien nodded “Sure” and he called out to the driver to make a stop at the University. The carriage rolled down the street before it came to a stop at the university. Luc looked at Damien “You can go on to the villa. I will be a while and will meet you later”. Damien nodded and he signaled his driver to continue as the door shut. The carriage moved on until it came to the villa and Damien stepped out of the carriage. A servant came up to Damien “Some, Letters arrived for you sir”. Damien took the letters and thanked the servant. The letters were addressed to him and one he could recognize the writing of Fox on one of the Letters. The other had no identifiers, and he could not recognize the writing on the letter, so he opened that letter first.
Damien,
There is no sign of Malik, but I have found men behaving suspiciously in and around the University. From what I have overheard they are concerned about your investigation. I have also heard that they have some plan they are going to advance. I hope to have more information when next I see you. Be careful.
Seth.
Damien read the short letter. So, they are advancing their plans. I hope everything is in place before they are ready. Damien looked at the other letter that had Fox’s writing and open it.
Damien,
I have been looking into the deaths of the prisoners. I have discovered that the poison was self-administered but the poison used was very rare and would not have escaped out search of their persons. I can only conclude that someone passed them the poison. I will not voice my suspicions on here. I will discuss my fears in person with you before the day is out.
Fox
Damien finished reading both letters and he entered his villa. He spent several hour thinking and reading. While he waited letters from Tam and his family saying they were away from the city came in and a letter from Lily came saying that the messages were received and all was ready. Damien thought to himself “So, the pieces are set, we do not know the full game yet, but we are ready for the next play.” The sun was setting, and twilight was stretching over the city when Damien noticed it. A red glow from the direction of the lower city and plumes of smoke beginning to rise to the sky. Damien moved out of his villa and was gathering his people. He was giving orders to send runners out to find out what was going on when one of the watchers gave a shout. He pointed to the growing gloom and a group of about 20 people coming towards the villa. Damien looked out at the group and saw that many of the men were battered and wounded and leading the staggering group were Shadow and Wolf. Damien rushed out and met them. Damien gave orders to his people to get the men inside and tend their wounds and as he helps Shadow and Wolf inside, he asked “What has happened?” Shadow looked shell shocked and said, “Fox is dead”.
Ch 19
Damien help Shadow and Wolf to a empty room. He helped them both get comfortable he called to one of the servants and told them to bring him some drinks before he turned to them. “Okay I need you to tell me what is going on. What do you mean Fox is dead?”. Shadow shuttered and Wolf looked like he wanted to howl with grief. Shadow gathered himself and began the story. “It was a few hours ago. Fox was in the main hall preparing to come and see you as a matter of fact. Then Cobra came into the hall. He was leading a large group of our own people and men from other gangs. Wolf and I were in the hall to and stood with our own people who were loyal to Fox. We didn’t know where Wraith was at the time. Cobra declared that Fox was unfit to lead our gang and that he was taking over. He issued a challenge of single combat and Fox was forced to accept. They fought for a time with Fox slowly beating Cobra down until Wraith appeared and stabbed Fox in the back. While Fox was stunned by the back stab Cobra struck him down. Then Cobra ordered the other men to attack us we had to fight our way out and we came here. I don’t know how many others survived or where they might have gone. I fear that Cobra might have sent some men to follow us so you might be in danger now Damien.” Damien listened to the story in silence and when Shadow talked about the danger he said, “Do not worry about the Danger I have defenses for this villa that will be difficult for anyone to defeat, and my servants are all trained in some form of combat. Rest now I will go and look to the defenses.”
Damien left the room and went down to the main hall. The other men were being treated or sitting in the main hall and rooms were being prepared for them. Damien turned to the side and went down lower into a basement room. The room was largely bare; the walls covered in runes and in the center of the room was a pedestal and an amulet was sitting on it a small coin with a rune of protection inscribes on it. Damien took the amulet and put it on the runes on the walls all flashed with power and Damien felt the defenses around the villa activate. Damien walked up the stairs again and was approached by a servant. “Sir, there are some men standing outside the gate. They are demanding the release to the people we took in.” Damien smile “Well, Let's go meet them.”
Damien and the servant when out to the gate and Damien saw a group of armed men. The front man in the group was robbed and hooded so Damien could not make out his face in the gloom. “You are the master of this place. Give us the men you are hiding here, or we will come and take them.” Damien smiled at them, come and take them then if you can.
Ch 20
The robbed man signaled and some of the men behind him moved forward. They moved towards the gates with speed and as they tried to pass though. In a flash of light, the men were violently thrown back. The robbed man walked forward slowly and stood before the gate. “So, you are not without some tricks” the robbed man said softly “It does not matter really we will find a way to get in.” Damien smiled and raised his hand and the robbed man fell back when a crossbow bolt hit the ground at his feet. “Leave now” Damien told them “You are not welcome here and you will not be getting in”. The robbed man signaled his men, and they faded into the growing darkness. It became clear that they did not go far away, Damien and his people could see them ringing the villa. Trying to hide in alleyways and in places of deeper shadow. Damien spent time comforting Shadow and Wolf in their grief over the death of Fox and watched the worsening situation in the city. The fires had grown in the direction of the Lower City. Other fires had sprung up in other parts of the city. Bells were ringing in different quarters of the city as the Night wore on.
It was as the light was brightening in the dawn light that those in the Villa heard the horns blowing. The horns sounded like a clarion call through the streets and from the direction of the noble quarter marched a group of soldiers. Armored in gleaming steel the soldiers descended on those men surrounding the villa. Several of the men were quickly captured by the soldiers and many others including the robbed man escaped fleeing back towards the lower city. The Soldiers secured the area around the villa and an ornate white carriage pulled up to the gate. It was preceded by a young officer in ornate armor. Damien and a group of his servants when out and watched the soldiers and officer as he got off his horse and went to open the carriage door and Lily stepped out of carriage. “Well Damien it seems like you had a bit of trouble, it is a good thing I came.” Lily said with a smile “May we come in?”
Ch 21
Damien nodded and said “Welcome to my home Lily to you, your friends, and your prisoners. Lily smiled as she walked through the gate into the courtyard. The Officer gave order to his men as and they and the carriage proceeded to follow her. The prisoners were dragged in last, and Damien told his people to help secure the prisoners and to tend to the carriage and horses. “Do you have a place we can talk Damien” Lily asked. Damien nodded and gave orders to his servants to continue their work and motioned for Lily to follow. Lily looked to the Officer who gave a quick series of orders for his soldiers and followed Lily inside. Damien led them through the main hall and some of the men sitting there and up the stairs. Damien saw Shadow and Wolf and signaled for them to follow him also and led the entire group to his private study. Damien motioned to chairs, and everyone sat down.
“What has been happening” Damien said, “we have seen the smoke and fires but as you saw we have not been able to get out”. Lily had a stern look, and the officer was looking outraged. “The city is in chaos there are groups like the one that were outside your house everywhere. These groups are roaming around setting fires and attacking others. The damage would probably have been worse if not for your message Damien. The lord had the guard on alert and prepared before the chaos started. Still certain events have made containing them hard and much of the lower city is burning”. Damien looked at Lily “What is making it hard to contain them?” Lily motioned to the officer, and he got up and went to a window overlooking the courtyard. He called out of the window for one of his soldiers to bring him a prisoner. “It would be faster to show you” the officer said. It was several minutes before a servant leads the soldiers and a prisoner in. The officer walked to the prisoner and motioned to his face. “Have a look,” said the Officer. Damien got up and investigated the prisoner's face. The prisoner had a look of anger on his face, but he also saw underneath the look. The prisoner's eyes had a vacant look as though he was in a deep trance. Damien waved his hand in front of the prisoner’s face and there was no reaction. “He looks like he is asleep” Damien said. “Exactly” Lily said, and the officer nodded “It became apparent early on that many of those engaging in the violence were like this. It makes it hard to contain since we do not want to kill the people who are in a trance like that. The problem is we do not know how to wake them up yet.” Damien nodded and went to sit back down; the officer sent the prisoners back. “I think the robbed man was not in the trance like the others, I could not see his face, but I have not heard the others speak and he spoke to me.” Lily nodded “We think the ones in charge are not in the trance, but we have not been able to capture any of them yet. Right now, we are containing the fires and the groups starting them”.
“What has been going on here, how did we find a group of men besieging your villa.” Damien told the story and while Shadow and Wolf made a few light comments about the events. Lily and the officer seemed impressed by the story Damien told. “So how are we going to be able to resolve this situation?” the officer asked, “I don’t really see any way except to hope we can keep it contained.” Then there was a knock on the door, and a servant went to Damien and whispered something to him. Damien nodded and told them to show them up. He went to the same window the officer used and shouted that they should come in and join them. Damien turned back “Perhaps we are about to get some more information and can make a plan” he said. The door opened again, and Luc and Seth came into the room.
Ch 22
Seth looked disheveled and needed sleep, while Luc did not look much better. “I guess you are getting the war council together Damien” Seth said. Damien nodded “You could say that” he said, “What happened to you?” Seth went and sat down, and Luc went and sat near Damien. When Seth was comfortable, he began his speaking “The University has been taken over by the groups that have been burning the city. I was at the University and could not find Malik, but I did find several people acting suspiciously. So, I followed them to an outbuilding far in the back of the grounds. The men were talking about you Damien and your investigation. They talked about advancing some of their plans if they could not stop you and they were given orders and dispersed. I managed to get into the building, and I believe this building was being used as the groups base. They had the resources for copying and even a few copies of Dark Magic items. I remained at the University for a while, and the sun was setting when it began. Several men in black hoods and robes began moving though the building. I watched them drag the Head of the University out of his office and capture several other scholars. I remained out of sight during this and saw them take the prisoners to a Dormitory. I might have been found out and captured also if I had not run into Luc. We managed to evade the robed men, and we saw new groups of men come into the University. These new men were led by a young man with black hair and a naga. We only managed to escape by a side gate before they secured the grounds. I am afraid the University is now a stronghold for these men.” Seth finished his story and was caught up on the other stories. “Well, the question now is how we approach this. We have the threat posed by copies of the old one. The prisoners and the University now having been seized.” Damien said. “We should attack them,” said the officer “it is the only thing to do.” Seth looked at him “How the university is now a stronghold. We will not be able to easily break in.” Damien looked at each person Lily, The Officer, Shadow, Wolf, Seth, and Luc. He considered each person as he ran the scenarios through his mind. “I think an attack is a good Idea” Damien said. The officer looked happy, and the others looked dubious. “I think an attack could work but not just a singular attack. A multi-pronged attack. We need to send different groups to different areas.” Damien explained “We have one group attack the main gate and draw attention. While the others move to different locations. One freeing the prisoners, one destroying the workshops in the outbuilding, and the last securing the original book in the main vaults.” The others all agreed that that plan was best and that they should adopt it. It was agreed that the guard would lead that attack on the main gate. A mix group of guards and gang members would free the prisoners, Seth said, he would take care of the workshop himself. That left Damien, Luc, Shadow, and Wolf with a few of the gang members would secure the main building. It was determined that they needed sleep before an attack could be begun. So, they adjourned some they could get some rest. Luc grabbed Damien hand and asked him to come with him, and they went to Damien’s bedroom.
Ch 23
Damien awoke on his bed in the fading light of dusk. The time was drawing near for the attack, but Damien had a much more immediate shock to deal with. Luc was not in bed next to him. He was not in the room at all. Damien looked around and spied a sealed note left on his clothing. Lucs clothing was gone and Damien assumed Luc had gone some wear else in the villa. Damien got up and got dressed and then looked at the note. The outside of the note had a message.
Damien,
By the time you read this I will have left the villa. I have placed in this note things you need to know about me, but I want the opportunity to tell you in person. So, keep this note and do not unseal it. I will see you again soon, but I cannot tell in what way will be together. So, this is my insurance policy if something happens this night or we do not meet again. Then unseal this letter so that you will know who and what I am.
Luc
Damien was curious by what was in the letter, but he did not open the letter yet. He placed the letter in a pocket inside his coat and grabbed the rest of his gear. He went down the stairs and saw the others gathering in the main hall and preparing. Damien joined the group and learned that Lily had been sending and receiving messages and wolf had gone out and found more members of their gang and brought them back to the villa. They were as ready as they could be for the coming battle. So, they move out Lily and a group of the soldiers left first. She would join the commander who was leading the attack on the Universities main gates. Damien and the others began to move toward the university and broke apart as they moved towards different side gates. The officer led a mixed group of Soldiers and Gang members towards the gate closest to the dormitories. Damien led the others close to a side gate that put them close to the main building.
They were gathered and waiting in anticipation when they heard the signals. Horns blared from the direction of the main gates. Shouts of alarm began to be heard as men moved towards the gates. The groups made their entrance then Damien and the others found few guards at the side gate and disabled them. Seth broke off and moved toward the workshop and Damien, Shadow, Wolf, and the small group that went with them moved towards the main Library. They saw no other people as they came to and entered the library. They entered and came into the entrance hall where they met the first obstacle. A group of robbed men stood waiting and a familiar soft voice said “You came just as he said you would. I thought I would have you at the villa, but it is much better that you came here.”
Ch 24
“Damien, let us take care of these you go and find the book” Shadow said. Damien looked at Shadow and nodded. Then he looked a Wolf who was shifting into his wolf form. Damien turned back to the robed me and pulled out his long knife and a shorter broader black blade. “Okay let's go then” Damien said, and he rushed forward with the others following. The robed man stood fast and prepared to defend when Damien feinted and lashed out with his knife. The robed man cried out and fell back while Damien rushed past him heading toward the archives and the vaults. He got to the door and rushed inside the vaults and headed down the chamber where he remembered the book being kept. As Damien got to the chamber and entered, he saw that the book was no longer on it pedestal. Damien knew that the book was gone, and he could make a guess who had it. Damien left the chamber and headed back up to the main archive. As he left the Vaults Damien heard hissing laughter and as he looked in the direction of the laughter. Cobra came out of the darkness and continued laughing. “SSSSo you have come Damien” Cobra laughed maliciously. “Cobra, I hoped I would not see you here” Damien said. “Ahh but I wanted to ssssee you I have a ssssurprissse for you” Cobra said and he waved. Out of the shadows behind him a group of more robed men appeared and between the men being supported was Luc. Cobra’s hissing laughter filled the chamber again. “What have you done to him?” Damien asked. Cobra hissed “We have done nothing to him yet”. Luc looked up and saw Damien standing there he smiled weakly at Damien “Sorry we had to be reunited like this Damien” he said. Damien moved forward his knives out with the intention of freeing Luc. Cobra intercepted him and swiped at him with his claws. Damien fell back and Corba smiled and raised his hand to swipe at him again. Luc began struggling against the men holding him. Damien moved to evade Cobras attack. Cobra continued to attack, and Damien continued to evade. Damien was evading when a solid mass slammed into Damien. He fell back from strike and looked at what was had hit him when he saw it. Damiens eyes widened when he saw Luc had gotten away from his captors and slammed into him, but what caused Damien to look in shock was Wraith and the knife he had trust into Luc’s belly. Luc looked at Damien sadly and grunted when Wraith pulled his knife out. “Why did you do that?” Wraith asked “Why get in the way?” Cobra hissed “It doesssn’t matter this trash is done.” Cobra grabbed Luc and thrust him to the side. Luc fell against the shelves and slumped to ground in a cascade of books. Wraith and Cobra turned to Damien “Now for you” Cobra said but was taken aback by the look of rage in Damien eyes. Damien gripped his Knifes and with a snarl he charged at them the other men rushed forward to try and intercept Damien before he got to Cobra and Wraith. Damien lashed out and in a flash of his knives the men fell bleeding and then he was at his targets. Cobra tried to strike out at him with his greater strength, and he fell away screaming his hand maimed. Damien turned his whole attention to Wraith and blades clashed as they fought. In a swift series of strikes Wraith fell back screaming clutching his face. A long cut running down the side of his face.
Damien did not pursue continue the attack on them after they fell back. He came to Luc; he tried to staunch he wound but Damien knew that he did not have the skill or powers to do more than give him a few more minutes. Luc turned his head “I am sorr... sorry Damien” Luc said softly. “Don’t speak just save your strength” Damien said. “Note” Luc said coughing up blood “Read Note”. Damien pulled out the note and tore it open and began to read.
Damien,
I do not know what will occur tonight. So, I am leaving this note as an insurance policy. Damien, I have always admired you and wanted to be near you. I think I love you and what I must tell you is going to break my heart. I work for the Cult you have been investigating. I became involved with them when master Malik found me and promised me access to near infinite knowledge. I wanted to be your equal Damien and so I took his offer, and l worshiped his Old Ones. When you appeared, Malik sent me to you he knew that we were friends. At first, I was only going to spy but then we spent time together investigating and those wonderous nights. I fell for you all over again and I wanted to stop and tell you the truth, but I was restrained by oaths to Malik and I betrayed you and told him everything you did. I will go ahead of you tonight in the hopes that I might get the book and bring it to you or to find a way to stop Maliks plan for you. If you are reading this then it probably means I failed and cannot tell you about these things in person. I know you can never forgive me Damien, but I am deeply sorry for what I have done. I will always love you.
Luc
Damien finished reading and looked at Luc. Luc coughed up more blood and said “Sorry”. Damien felt tears filling his eyes “I forgive you Luc”. Luc smiled with blood on his lips and he spasmed and went limp. Damien saw the light fading from Luc’s blue eyes as they closed for the last time. Damien held his head and held Luc’s body.
Ch 25
While Damien went to try a save Luc. Cobra and Wraith rallied themselves and then decided to try again to kill Damien. They came up behind him as he pulled out a note and began to read. It was as they moved to strike him that from the direction of the front two figures launched themselves and attacked. Wolf clamped himself on to Cobra and they went down in a snarling and hissing heap. Shadow struck out at Wraith and the moved down the hall in flashing and clanging of knives. The new combat moved away from Damien and the body of Luc
Shadow and Wraith moved in a deadly dance. There knives flashed as they struck out and defended and among the clamor Shadow cried out. “Why Wraith? Why, did you betray us? Why did you kill Fox? Why did you kill Luc?”. Wraith evaded a strike “I did not betray you, Shadow, I did not kill Fox and Luc. I set them free Shadow. I freed them from this mortal world and now their souls can go to Old Ones.” He said with a zealous gleam in his eyes. Shadow faltered for a moment “Free?”. Wraith nodded “Free” he said, “We are bound to the cycle the Archons made of death and rebirth, but now the Old Ones are returning, and they will break the cycle, and we will be free and live forever with them”. They closed again trading blows and Wraith said, “You cannot win Shadow don’t be afraid, I will free you, Wolf, and Damien also and we can be together with the Old Ones forever”. He moved in for a killing strike and Shadow moved in letting out a breath. His knife flashed out as they crashed together. Wraith stepped back from Shadow. His knife was wet with blood, and he looked a shadow. A cut ran up Shadows arm and a bloody knife was in his hand, and he felt cold moving up his body and he placed his hand near his heart. Wraith's hand came back bloody and a look of shock came over his face as he collapsed. Shadow moved in a caught Wraith and lowered him to the floor while whispering apologies as the light faded from Wraiths eyes.
Wolf and Cobra rolled down the hall in a snarling heap. Wolf snapped and tried to savage Cobra who hissed and tried to claw and snapped back. Cobra managed to get a hold of Wolf and threw him off. Wolf flew through the air and smashed into a wall. Wolf hit the floor and moved around whimpering. Cobra gave a long hiss “You have been an aggravation for me for a long time Wolf. I will enjoy killing you as much as I enjoyed Killing that old fool Fox” he said. Cobra changed his neck becoming longer and his head becoming more like a snake, the claws on his hands became longer and poisons dripped off the tips and he hiss again and approached Wolf slowly. Wolf went still his eyes closed and he let out a terrible growl. Cobra stopped his approach and looked at Wolf. Wolf eyes opened again and where before his eyes were golden, now they ear bright red. Wolf body began to shift dramatically his front legs and paws becoming more human and his body growing larger. Wolf arose and now had form of the dreaded werewolves. Wolf puffed out his chest and let out a deep roar at Cobra. Cobra hissed back at Wolf and Wolf his red eyes glowing, and they ran at each other. They collided but the greater power of Wolf let him bear Cobra to the ground and he began to savage Cobra again. Cobra attempted to snap back and sink his poisoned claws into Wolf, but Wolfs beast form was hard to harm and was resistant to many poisons. Cobra writhed as Wolf ripped chunks of flesh off his body. Cobra finally went still when Wolf bit down on his neck and ripped. Wolf stood over Cobra’s body snarling and panting.
Damien stood from Luc’s body promising to bury him when this was over. He looked around and went first to Shadow. He laid his hand in comfort on Shadow who responded but did not move from Wraith’s body. Then Damien went to Wolf ‘Wolf” Damien said, the great wolf snarled and turned his red eyes on Damien “Come back Wolf”. Damien stood there his knives put away defenseless, and Wolf closed his eyes and when he opened them again, they were golden. Wolf approached him and as he did, he changed. Wolf changed back into his normal form, and he pressed himself into Damien. Wolf began choking up saying about how he did not want to lose control. Damien comforted him as best he could. “Well, isn’t this nice” said a familiar voice “I suppose you think you have won”. Malik appeared from a doorway, and he was smiling.
Ch 26
Malik continued smiling as he walked into the room. Damien noticed that he was carrying The Old Ones in his hands. Malik looked around the room and looked at the bodies. “Was it really necessary to kill so many of my people?” Malik said, “You even killed poor Luc”. He tutted but smiled wider as he came closer. “Why are you here Malik, why are you doing all this?” Damien asked.
Malik stopped and seemed to consider “I lived in the time of the first world a millennia ago. When I was young, I studied the Archons and discovered the first hints of the truth. I discovered the hints of the abominations among the myths but no other information of these beings. Then on night out of the darkness I heard his voice, The Whisperer he told me about The Old Ones. How to commune with them and I did. I wrote this book and others and began to preach the words of the Old Ones. I gained a great following, and we gathered and planned to free our lords. We were discovered and they procced to destroy us. They hunted my people across the face of the world and destroyed my works. I was the last we stood fast in the last of our temples and the enemy stormed the temple the last of my followers died as I hid my last book. I was killed before my very alter but my soul was preserved my lords insured even as our temple was burned my book was protect and it was protected during the great calamity that destroyed the first world. I remained trapped in the ruins until this body came and found the book. My lords granted me the use of this body and its memories and I came back here to begin my ministry again. I am doing this so I can finally fulfill my mission to finally free the Old Ones.” As Malik finished his story “So you know my story, now what to do with you?”
Damien looked at Malik pulling out his knives again. Wolf changed back to his wolf form and Shadow raised his knife. “We are going to end you, Malik. For everything you have done I am going to personally destroy that book and make sure you are purged from every.” Damien said with cold anger. Malik smiled, he raised his book and opened it. A dark veil expanded out from the book and suddenly All three of them were on the ground writhing as a dark entity began attacking their minds. Malik looked at them smiling and Damien heard people moving around him he saw they were robbed men and gang members. Damien looked back and saw soldiers and other robbed men coming in. Each one had the blank look of the brainwashed. “So that how you did it” Damien said through the attack. “I am impressed that you three are so resistant to the Whisperers power. I guess I will allow your friend to destroy you. Malik smiled and was about to signal when the room was brightened by a golden light. The brainwashed people stopped and their seemed to be a struggle in their eyes.
Ch 27
“Welcome Seth, I suppose you have finished destroying my workshop” Malik said. With the coming of the light the attack on Damien, Shadow, and Wolf had stopped. The looked back and saw Seth approaching a golden angelic aura surrounding him. As he came closer, he raised his hand, and the light intensified the brainwashed people collapsed. “I have destroyed the workshop and destroyed all the books Malik” Seth said. Malik looked indifferent “It is no great loss I have the secrets now and I made sure to spirit a few of the first copies away”. “Fine, but I will destroy you and rid the world of you and that book.” Seth said he pulled out a crystal blade. The blade pulsed with golden light, and a beam of golden light struck out at Malik. Malik raised his hand a hole of darkness appeared and swallowed the beam. “No, I do not think you will Seth” Malik said, “I am running out of time to play with you, and I have other plans that need tending to”. Seth raised his knife for another attack when the veil reappeared but this time it became thicker obscuring sight. Seth golden light shone out and fought the veil and the veil shrunk. “I have other plans to tend as I said. I have foreseen that we will confront each other again soon. I am sure that you will hear soon enough of the trouble brewing in Dusken. I am sure I will meet you there Seth, I will keep Jay entertained until you get there. I will take my people with me as a courtesy to you.” Maliks voice came from the dark. As the veil shrunk down and finally faded. Damien looked around Malik was gone and so were the bodies of the robbed men. The bodies of Cobra, Wraith, and Luc were gone to. Damien had to control his anger and sadness that he could not even bury Luc. Damien swore that he would put an end to Mailk and his gods.
It took several days to straighten out all the people who had been controlled had snapped out of their trance after the final confrontation with Malik. The Lord had deployed soldiers to keep the peace while the damage was assessed, and rebuilding efforts begun. Nerrick reassumed his position and began to put the university back in order. The same night of the confrontation, Seth left he said he was heading to Dusken. Wolf and Shadow went to try and sort out the gang situation. Damien was all over the city, offering his aid as he could, coordinating his efforts between various groups sent out by Lily. After the effort could be concluded without his presence Damien began to gather his gear and prepared to follow Seth so he could confront Malik. As Damien started to leave Wolf and Shadow appeared. “We are going with you; we have a score to settle with Malik for what he did to Fox and Wraith.” Shadow said. So, Damien, Wolf, and Shadow set out for Dusken.
No comments:
Post a Comment