Dr. Creepen's Dungeon - S3 Ep114: Episode 114: Reverse Vampires

Episode Date: February 22, 2023

Today’s phenomenal story is ‘I Hunt Reverse Vampires’, an original series by cesly1987; shared directly with me via my sub-reddit and read here with the author’s express permission: reddit.com/user/cesly1987/ The author of this story has initiated a great new collaboration project on Reddit, which I’m very happy to be a part of: https://www.reddit.com/r/collabwithfriends

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Visit cfir.ca. Welcome to Dr. Creepin's dungeon. What is it about vampires that fascinates us such? Is it the fact that they're ostensibly human and yet live in the realm of darkness? Living off us for fun. Living off us for sustenance. Perhaps that is the key to it.

Or tonight's tale of terror turns all that upon its head. Now, as ever before we begin, a word of caution. Tonight's stories may contain strong language as well as descriptions of violence and horrific imagery. That sounds like your kind of thing. Then let's begin. I hunt reverse vampires. Yeah, you read the title right? I hunt vampires.

But not quite the ones you're thinking of. Yes, they are undead. They feast on the blood of humans. And you sex appeal to lure in hapless victims. but that is where it all stops, for the most part. The best way to describe them is as reverse vampires. All the law you know was created as misinformation by the many high-ranking clans. They taught us to expect the exact opposite from what they truly are.

They are still vain, bastards, so they leave hints to their true nature, if you know how to spot them. I could read all of their qualities and behaviours out to you like a textbook, but I want you to actually listen and not fall asleep. So I'll tell you a little story, how I first came across their accursed kind, and how my life was changed forever. I grew up in a small town in Idaho, like very small, less than a thousand people. Most of the people who lived there were farmers. My father was a corn farmer, and me and my twin brother were his ranch hands. We were only 16 at the time and were homeschooled and, well, naive. At least my pop gave us the weekend off from farming and studying.

Being in a tight-knit community meant everybody knew everybody. Me and a bro would walk about a mile to the corner store to get snacks most weekends. It wasn't much else to do when the store was a local meetup for kids in my house. youth group. We didn't have many options in the way of girls. Our youth group had two of them. My brother was dating one, and the other one wasn't very pretty. But like most 16-year-old boys, we were obsessed with pretty girls, but also terrified of them. So, you can imagine my amazement when a dark skin beauty stepped out of the cornfield as we walked down the road towards the corner store one Saturday. My God, she was beautiful.

It was my first time seeing a ten in the wild. Long black hair shining in the noonday sun, soft, elegant features and big brown almond eyes. The skin tone was a rich brown hue that seemed to glow with an inner light. She wore a thin light-covered summer dress, showing off her prominent curves. I only saw her for a second,

but I already had a clear mental picture of her in my mind. head. She stood about fifteen yards from me at the edge of the cornfield. She smiled a beautiful smile and turned to disappear into the corn. I stopped, dumbstruck. My brother had been walking beside me and looking down at his phone while complaining about his girlfriend. When he noticed I'd stopped, he turned to look at me. Did you see her? I spoke with amazement. Of course he had not. When I described her, he laughed. You really need a girlfriend, bro. You're so pent up, your mind is making one up for you now. I must have looked like an idiot running back and forth down the edge of the cornfield, trying to catch a glimpse of her. I only stopped because

my brother started filming me with his phone, narrating the whole thing for his girlfriend. I grabbed my brother and he began wrestling. Pretty normal thing between us. The only reason our fight was cut short was because a beat-up blue forward pickup came rolling up. I almost had my bro pinned when I noticed it. It had come to a stop by us and just sat idling. We both got up and started dusting off the dirt and grass clinging to us. The tint on the windows was almost pitch black, so I couldn't see inside. We're okay, we're just playing around, I said.

Yeah, my brother agreed. No response from the vehicle. It just lingered for a moment before driving off. After this event I decided to keep my mouth shut. Too much weirdness for one day. Maybe I'd imagine the girl. What would a girl like that be doing in the middle of nowhere? The next day came and I'd bugged my brother to make the walk to the corner store again.

It was after church around 1pm. Maybe the beauty would show herself again. Soon, my boyhood dream, though, would turn into a nightmare. We were walking around the same place when she stepped out of the stocks. She was more beautiful than I remembered. This time my brother saw her too. His mouth was agape when he turned to look at me. We just stood admiring her for a while.

She gave a playful smile and began to walk towards. My heart jumped in my chest. Hi, my brother said. Damn it, I wanted to be the first one to talk. Hello, boys, she said back warmly. She had a hint of an unfamiliar accent. Maybe she was Indian or Arabian. I saw you yesterday.

I butted him. What are you doing out here? Oh, I'm like a man who's to the point. She laughed. A beautiful love. She looked me in the eye and smiled. I've been looking for someone to help me with my tractor. She pointed to the cornfield.

Do you live here? My brother asked. I thought the Springer's owned this field. Oh, we bought a part of it. She said quickly. But my tractor is stuck and I need help moving it. Do you two know anything about tractors? I mean, a little, I said.

Truth is I would have admitted to anything to be closer to her. Oh, good, she said as she stepped forward to take my hands into her own. I felt heat began to rise in my cheeks. Oh, will you come? I nodded my head vigorously, but my bro looked a little trepidacious. Maybe he was the smarter one. She turned to him and said, Oh, you can meet my sister.

She's my twin like you two. And that was all my brother needed. I could tell he was already working on how he was going to break up with his current girlfriend. Still holding my hand, she led us into the cornfield. She picked up the pace and almost pulled me forward. We walked further and further into the field. My brother was beginning to wander aloud where we were going. Oh, almost there, she said.

I can feel them getting closer. Well, that comment should have raised some flags, but I was thinking with my wrong head. We finally broke through into a larger circular clearing. The stocks had all been flattened down, reminiscent of a crop circuit. Well, there was no tractor I could see, but there were three people standing in the center of the clearing. They all wore white clothes, hands spread and looking up into the sky. All three were dark-skinned and beautiful like the girl. The girl holding my hand turned and smiled at me again.

Come meet my family, she said as she pulled me closer to them. There in fact was a girl looking like she could be her twin sister and another girl with a dark tan and bleach white curly blonde hair. In the middle stood a tall, dark, statuesque man with a close-cut beard, voluminous flowing hair and prominent muscles. His shirt was open to show his chiseled chest. She took me right up to him. I was intimidated by the tall, handsome man.

He had an aura of power about him. If he was the girl's boyfriend, I could never compete. He stood quietly with his eyes closed, letting the sun warm his face and body. I looked back and forth at all three of them, with their hands outstretched, facing the sun. What are they doing? I asked. They are basking.

girl responded. Commuting with the song girl. A smile had turned from friendly to something else. Mocking, maybe. You're some sort of hippie cult? Came my brother's voice from behind me. The dark look shot across her perfect face

before returning to the reassuring grin. Come here and meet my sister, she said and beckoned my brother closer. She turned and spoke quietly to the torment. Armand, I have brought tributes. His eyes fluttered and he opened them to slowly look down at us. His eyes were a brilliant green and held a quiet intensity. His stare made my heart race quicker than the girls did.

I felt the need to make this man like me. You did good, Joyity, he said to the girl. She smiled and looked away in embarrassment. Sisters, awaken for the gifts joy to us, he announced. The two females opened their eyes and looked at us. A blonde led out a laugh of surprise, and the twin began to flow towards my brother. My brother's face reddened as the alluring woman walked around him, inspecting him. So, um, do you need help with a tractor?

My brother said, looking back at the man. both of you will be quiet now i'm on sent i completely agreed with him i wouldn't talk unless he said i could my brother quieted also we both waited for him to tell us what to do he looked to the girl joiety and asked which one do you want to keep she bit her lip and pointed at me i'd never felt so grateful in all my life or I would do anything for her and him. The only regret was my brother was not chosen to be a part of whatever they had planned for me. The man sighed and motion for my brother to step forward. Come, he commanded gently. My brother walked up to stand beside me.

The three women surrounded him. I had a soft moan come from one of them. The man turned on me and leaned in. His green eyes blazing. He said with a clear smirk, Whatever happens, you won't move. I froze in place. I stilled myself with all my heart.

I knew I would never disobey him. But you, he turned to my brother. You may fight if you want. What? My brother said. His last word. The tall man shot out with his hand and cut my brother's cheek. Three lines of crimson blood began to form on his face.

All my brother had time to do was reach up to his cheek and give a look of horror. In an instant the two twins bit onto either side of his neck. The blonde attacked him from the front, lashing out to bite his nose. He screamed as they dragged him to the ground. I saw all of this from the corner of my vision. I screamed with my brother, but I didn't move. I could hear ripping and moaning as my brother screams turned to helpless gurgling, and then to nothing.

I was breathing quickly and tearing up. My twin brother was surely dead, but I couldn't turn my head to look. Ahman smiled cruelly and said, You may look, child. And I did. My brother lay with his eyes open, frozening a death mask of horror. His nose was missing and giant chunks had been taken out of his neck. He was covered with his own blood. The three women were fervently sucking and licking the blood off him like hungry leeches. I began screaming at this point. I was terrified, heartbroken and angry.

angry at these bloodsuckers myself are not doing anything I wanted to run I wanted to hide I wanted to fight the beautiful woman looked up at me my brother's blood smeared across her face at this moment I hated her

her beauty no longer wooed me I could see the monster she was you bitch I growled at her none of that I once said "'Lover here, boy!' My head shot back to look into his green eyes.

The look crossed his face. At first I thought it was pity. Then I realized he was cringing at the sight of me. I don't know what joint he sees in you, but she's the reason you're not dead like your idiot brother. Armand scooted closer and put his arm around my shoulder. His breath smelled like rancid roguil. Thing is, we need to grow our nest back to strength.

The cattle killed four of my followers back in El Paso. You get to be the new guy at the bottom of the totem pole. I'm sure the girls will have a lot of fun with you. He ended with a hard slap to my butt. Maybe I'll join in too. That's when something began to change in me. All sadness left me and was replaced with a white hot. rage. Ahmonde stepped back and Joyty swooned in front of me. She was speaking sweetly to me and telling me

about how I would be changed into something new. I didn't care. I was seeing red. I felt myself beginning to move. I launched forward past Joyty and swung wide with my right. I saw a flash of surprise in his green eyes as my fist made hard contact. His head rocked so hard I saw a mist of sweat and spittle leave his face. When he looked back, his face wore an expression, a mix of incredulity and anger. His hand shot out and grabbed me by the throat, and then had a stifled choke as he lifted me into the air. You insolent vermin, you dare strike me, you punch your worm.

Joyty was terrified and tried to comfort our mons. He kicked her hard in the stomach. She skidded across the ground to the edge of the clearing. We were going to save you, give you the gift of eternal life. But now I reject my offer for mercy. He squeezed me tighter. Now I pull you apart piece by piece. It all happened at once.

Our Mont's body shuck violently and an incredible boom ripped through the air. My ears rang and birds took flight all around the clearing. I felt heat as Ahman's chest erupted into flames. He screamed and looked to the side. Another blast and I fell to the ground, fire all around me. That's when I realized Ahman's severed hand was still around my throat and on fire. I pulled hard at it to finally fling it away from me, burning my hands in the process. I sat up to see Ahmonde struggling to stand.

Fire engulfed his chest and he was down a right arm. He screamed with a good amount of fear. Shield me! Shield me! Joyty and her twin ran to stand in front of Ahmonde. Joyty spread her arms out and stared off into the field, screaming. The other hugged Ahmond tightly and began batting his aflames vigorously. Another boom resounded and joined his face exploded into fiery pieces.

Mahmonde turned and took off running in the opposite direction, with the twin tailing close behind. A new woman burst into the clearing beside me, racking a shotgun, sending a spent shell flying. She wore what looked like a wielder's mask and an old-school army camel jacket. The blonde-haired monster was still crouched down by my brother's dead black. morning. She hissed and reared up to face the camelwoman. She looked like she was going to pounce when a metal arrow zipped into her head from the side. The blonde snagged. I could see the arrow went all the way through her temple. The blonde clasped to the ground with a thugged. I could see there was a thin wire attached to the end of the arrow that led taut into the field. The line slackened

and another camouflage girl came out while reeling the wire back in, a crossbow hanging from a strap around. Finish the blonde, then help the kid. The first camo woman ordered before sprinting off in the direction of Armand. The crossbow girl had a balaclava on her, and big aviator shades.

She walked over quickly to the downed blonde and looped the razor wire around her neck a couple of times. She then put her foot on the blonde's head and pushed down while pulling up on the wire with both hands. The way she had it gripped, she could pull back and forth with both hands, using the razor line to cut through the blonde's neck tendons and bone. The blonde began to jerk and growl,

even though there was an arrow stuck through her head. In less than 30 seconds, the head snapped off to roll across the clearing. Crossbow girls stumbled back and let out an accomplished side. I almost felt sorry for it. the blonde crossbow girl walked over to me and removed her balaclava and aviades she was a young girl with brown eyes and hundreds of freckles but her face was stone cold hey what's up she said as she offered me a hand

the girl escorted me back out of the cornfield she kept talking on her walkie with the other woman who was pursuing ahman when we got back to the road the beat up Ford was there from the other day. I was sitting in the back seat as the girl gave me water and began digging around in the bed of the trunk. The inside of the truck was filled with fast food wrappers, stray bullets and maps. Mom lost his trail and was doubling back. The girl said suddenly, reappearing beside me. She'll glad your brother's remains when she gets back. Sorry about that, by the way. I turned to stare blankly at her. So, They were mother and daughter.

They went around shooting killer hippies with flaming shotgun bullets and crossboats. Hmm, you're in shock. Hey, I crushed up a clonopin in your water, so drink up. I blinked. Who are you? What were they? Just, what is... I trailed off.

You put her hand on my shoulder. I winced as I remembered Ahman doing the same thing. She got close and her breath smelled like spear mint instead of rot. We're hunters. Those were vampires. But Mar will tell you more when she gets back. Now drink your water. The rest of the day was a blur.

Hot sun beat down on my cold sweat, but Ma did come back. And she was more abrasive than her daughter. She told me pretty much what I told you at the beginning. These were vampires. the night-dwelling emo kind but the sun-baked hippie kind they bast in the sun to charge their bodies and stay alive but all that sun dehydrates so they need blood and she told me their totem isn't a bat it's ra the sun god legend says the first vampires were his children they've prayed upon us for millennia literally doing it in broad daylight

Ma took me to bag up my brother in a body bag she had with her. I cried the whole time. She didn't judge me. I'm glad she left her daughter at the truck. Celia was a name, I was told. She said my brother wasn't turned, so he could get a proper burial back at my farm. She did tell me that they'd have to make a cover story about what happened here. When I asked why, she said many vampire clans worked to remain secret from the world.

If the story got out, a rival clan made. kill me and my family to keep the story from spreading i asked how many clans existed she said she was uncertain because they're so secretive she told me ahman was actually royalty in a vampire clan he'd gone rogue and started killing recklessly and that's how she got onto his trail it was getting dark and we were back sitting on the tail of the fort when i asked do they hunted knights no Oh, very rarely, Ma said in the gruff voice. They lose their charm ability and freak strength. Also, they sort of glow from all the sun they absorb.

Twilight got something right, Celia said. I snorted a laugh and the grief left me for an instant before flooding back in. I turned to look at the body bag loaded behind. I need to get home. I need to tell Dad. I started crying again. Listen, kid, Mar said sharply. I turned, blurry-eyed to face her.

We have ways to make you forget this day. We can make your part forget this day, too. We have the technology. I can make it seem like an animal got your brother, or a car hit him. I can convince the cops, too. It'd be easier in this area. You probably have one anyway. She jumped down from the tail of the tail.

to stand and face me clearly. But hey, I can feel your anger. You broke free of the charm of a royal vampire. You punched the ass all in the head. I think you want to remember. I think you want to be angry. I wipe the tears and snot away. I was intrigued by Ma's proposition. I wouldn't ever have to remember the sight and sound of my twin being killed beside me. I could forget how I felt so helpless. I could forget Ahmond. Ahmonde. My fists and jaw clenched at the memory of his green I'd stare. No, I said flatly. My dad, yes, but not me. I have to remember. He was my brother. I stared back at me, thinking. Her wrinkle seemed deeper in the failing light. Then she finally spoke. And there's one thing I need to tell you. A lot of things will be kept from me at first,

but I have to start with honesty. My gulms. I knew she was about to say something hard to hear. We are used you to as baits. She sighed. The other day, I put a tracking spell on both of you. I knew the freaks would go after such helpless victims. She looked at the ground. She looked at the and I could see genuine sorrow in her face. But we did try to get to both of y'all fast. We did try to save you both. I went over it in my head. Well, I could have warned us, but would we have listened?

It's still for a good minute before responding. It happened. You did try to save us. It's not you who murder my brother. It's Armand. I spat those last words. It's him who should pay. him and his horse.

Mark cracked a smile at this. What were your plans when you graduate? Me and my brother were going to join the Marine Corps together. Buddy program, like my dad did when he was our age. The twinge of sadness stabbed my heart again at the thought of him. Well, I pulled a card out of her back pocket and handed it to me. It was wrinkled and old, with a 1-800 phone number on it. In two years when you graduate

And you want to forget all of this and move on with your life You call this number Someone will come to take those memories from you She snatched it back and quickly wrote a number on the back side of the car If you graduate and you still feel angry And you want to do something that anger You call me So

That's my first story of how I got on the path of being a hunter I was dropped off at the house Ma took Dad inside to talk. When I came in later, he was crying about his boy being hit by a car. When the sheriff arrived, he was soon thinking the same thing. Some sort of magic Ma used. Magic. It gets crazy.

I guess you deduced which phone number I called the day I graduated. Also, we don't call them vampires. They go by a bunch of different names. The most popular one is the anagram Mavry. I think it sounds stupid, so I just call them mouse. Easier than reverse vampire. So, maybe I should have started the story with that, but you wouldn't have known what I was talking about.

Anyways, stay tuned. I got a lot to teach you, if you're willing to listen. Part 2. Two Boots. Now that the pesky origin story's out of the way, I can get to the juicy bits. I can tell you how a black limo picked me up a week after I called the number Mar at Leffman. I have expected Maher to pull up in a beat-up ford. But a blacked-out limo was a welcome surprise. Oh, I'm Taylor, by the way.

My late brother was Tyler. I didn't think my name was important at first, but if you've stuck around this long, it's only fair to know. Well, anyways, when I sat down in the air-conditioned limo, I was across from Ma and some black guy in a nice suit in a shaved head. The limo was strangely well lit, leaving no shadows, almost like a hospital room. There was an awkward amount of time where we just sat across from each other. Ma stared intently, even nervously at me. The man hid behind dark shades in a blank stare, taping his fingers on his knees. This one broke a man's charm in broad daylight.

The man said in an unnaturally deep voice, it actually made me jump. I tried to cover it by rubbing my arms like it was cold. Sure it did, Ma replied. Smacked him riding his smug face too. The imposing man leaned forward and sniffed the air. I could see my uncomfortable image clearly in the reflection of his shades. You're tough one, boy. Another awkward pause until I realized he actually wanted an answer.

I'm tough when it counts, sir. I said, well, trying to keep my voice calm. The man leaned back, sighed and turned to Mar. He smells like a bitch to me, he stated coolly. He hit a button on a panel beside him, and my door flung open. Get out, he demanded harshly. well I'll have a tech mind wipe you later I sat dumbstruck

I'd waited two years for this now I was being dismissed like I didn't take this seriously it was a test yeah a mind game just like the mind games dad told me about in marine bootcamp no sir I said I want to kill the things that murdered my brother in an instant the man was across the small gap between us and have me by the throat.

His teeth gritted, vein showed prominently in his neck. You don't say no to me, bitch boy. You are nothing, and I owe you nothing. He reaches his free hand out and slammed the door back shut. If you want to stay in the car,

then stay. It's soundproof anyways. I'll wipe your mind right here. You won't even remember your brother when I'm done with you. His shades slid down and I caught a glimpse of his green eyes. Flashbacks ensued as I pushed him back with all my strength.

He landed back in his seat and I launched after him, ready to deliver my signature right hook. Stop, he said firmly. I stopped. My eyes widened as I realized what this feeling was. I was charmed. It was a trap. They were monsters all along.

I tried to push him. through like I did with Ahmonde. But with Ahmonde, it was like moving in quicksand. With this guy, it was like being stuck in hard concrete. The man took off his shades completely and smiled. Can you hit me? Or is your will too weak? Maybe the fire in your heart has dimmed these past few years.

I can just erase your brother from your heart, so you have no reason to fight, if you like. I screamed a deep scream at him. I tensed and pushed, but I still couldn't move. The man's eyes went to my raised fist. It was quivering. So the firestorm burns, he remarked in his deep voice. Tyler, stop, Mar said in a consoling voice.

She sat forward to put her hands on my shoulders. She looked deep into my eyes. If you want answers, you'll calm down. She ushered me back to my seat and sat beside me. I was huffing pretty hard. But after a while, my agitation subsided, and the dark man scooted to the middle of his seat. I was going to wait a while before I showed you my true self.

You intrigue me. He straightened his time. The name is Rafe. I'm one of the things you want to kill. Is this a deal breaker for your irritable sensibilities? You're a vampire, I asked. Raif smirked. Vampires don't exist.

Never did. Fables like the tooth fairy and Santa Claus. I am Alnusel, the offspring of Ra. You Westerners call us Mavrips. I looked at Maw. So you work with Mavrips to kill me. Mavrids. How does this work? Ma replied with a rehearsed tongue.

I work for a clan charged with keep in order. There's no reason in this modern society for Mavs to hunt humans anymore. Most clans are crudy free. Poulching humans and collecting them is considered a heinous crime. I laughed derisively. Truly free. The freaks have ripped my brother to shreds, didn't get the memo. They enjoy killing humans. Humans also enjoy killing humans. Raif said, putting emphasis on the last word. Cruelty is inherent to all races.

Us both being here today in the same limo shows we find cruelty unacceptable. Cruelty must be punished. The outliers must be purged. I open my mouth to respond before Ma quickly cut in. Look, we work with Mavs to keep people safe. safe. If this is a deal-breaker, then get out. If not, then shut up anyway. I found my words caught in my throat. The door next to me once again popped open to accentuate the point. The hot air blew in on us, quietly sitting and staring. I let out a defeated son. Fine, I said as I reached out to close myself in. We were driving to a private airfield. On the three-hour ride over

I was told to consider carefully I could refuse to step onto the plane with no hard feelings I would even be able to keep the memories I had but once I got on the plane I would not be given the chance to leave for the next four years attempts to escape would be dealt with harshly it really was like going into the service when we were on the plane I asked

Where are we going? No, Marr scolded. The talking back and tests are over. You shut your damn mouth. This is a secret society. You learn things when we deem you learn them. Rife must have snuck up behind me because the bag went over my head

and something sharp poked my neck. I was out like a lot. When I awoke, I was in a high ceiling building with cement floors. I was surrounded by night. nine other people around my age, seven boys and three girls in total. We all wore grey sweats and all looked groggy and confused. This is when the next month of my life melted together. Three instructors burst through a side door to scream and peteed us non-stop. All three were lean

and well-muscled. Their psycho-energy was ungodly. We fully believed all three were mouths or some other freaks of nature. They started the day, cranked to 11, and never came down. We all lost our call with their harassment at some point. I pushed one away from me only to wake up hours later with a mild concussion. This went on for 16 hours a day. We had breaks for eating and showering and two separate rooms for sleeping, but other than that, it was nothing but screaming and exercising in hand-to-hand combat train.

We were referred to as cattle and bait. The instructors never used names and seemed to genuinely hate us. We can only refer to them as instructor, Sergeant Instructor and Master Instructor. Master Instructor being the loudest and cruelest. There was no mention of Moths, no mention of being hunters, no mention of anything, just day after day in a windowless building being torn down physically and mentally. Any resistance to training was punished brutally. By the end of the month we all looked gaunt and extremely pissed off.

After what seemed like an eternity, all three of our instructors walked out of the room. We all stood at attention, terrified. We'd never been left alone. It had to be a trick. In Warked Rife, his three-piece suits. I felt relief. Finally, some answers. I thought they were never going to address why we were really here.

Ryev told us we'd be entering the second phase of training, Intel and weapons. He escorted us out of the room which led into a much bigger room. I believe it's used to be a hangar for jetlight. Every day that we woke up and entered the hangar, the interior layout would be changed. Movable walls like the ones seen on movie sets sectioned off different areas for training. It also housed its own indoor fire. firing range. In class, we learned more about our enemy. Firstly, they didn't have fangs. Some of the more demented mouths sharpen their teeth to break the skinnies yet. Their tongue mutated at the end into

two barbs, reminiscent of a snake's forked tongue. The tongue had hollow cartilage in the tips that acted like straws to suck blood. Secondly, only decapitation and fire had any effect on killing them. They had an incredible regeneration power. The shells Marius were loaded with dragon breath in century rounds. My cattle buddy, Mark, said they were like trolls in D&D. I didn't know what he meant, but maybe it helps you understand. Thirdly, all mavs can turn humans into new mavs by having the human consume their blood or tissue. But this would only cause the human to half turn. The half-turned would lose higher thought process and become feral.

Only an ancient Mav could completely turn a human into a new map. Lastly, contrary to popular media, it's not sexy being a full-blown man. Now Mavs have a magical charm ability on humans. You already know some humans can fight it, but once you're turned by an ancient Mav, you are completely under his command. You are in thrall to his every whim. The head-mouth can read the minds of the ones he's turned, and control them at any time from any distance. This makes them incredibly organized.

Now I need to tell you about Mark. Yeah, it's a harsh segue, but you need to know his story. Actually, the only fellow cattle you need to know out of the Ten of us are Mark, Vauas, and Mika. Mika was a badass. I don't want to spoil her story just yet, so I'll circle back later. Vouse was super PT stud, super serious, already good at everything. Looked down on all of us, especially me and Mark. Talked little, but did tell us he trained his whole life for this.

Mark said he was my Susuke. Again, I hope that helps. Mark was like me Like me in the way that he was recruited After his mother, father and sister had been killed Hunters had shown up too late But he was recruited because he held his own Against a feral mauve until he was rescued

And he had a wicked scar running down his right sheet More scars on his forearms and chest Mark was always quick to smile and joke But I saw the sadness in his eyes sadness not rage like mine we couldn't keep anything when we started the program

so Mark had sketched a portrait of his family and kept it tucked up under his mattress and also have to tell you about my special training it started around the second phase the instructor came in after lights out and pulled me out of bed

he pulled me back into the PT room from first phase and there stood right jack it off laying beside him. He was rolling up his sleeve when I entered. The instructor quickly left and shut the door behind him.

I stood to attention. Every night, I'll bring you in here. He growled at me. I'll make you an offer no one else gets. You tell me when you want to quit, then we let you go. He cracked his neck. The only way this punishment stops is you quitting. He raised his hands into fist.

or you beat me he launched at me with his own right cross he wasn't charming me so i reacted quickly and ducked even with all my training i could not keep up with him he was so fast and his hits was so powerful even blocking an attack rattled my bones the first time i was in a bloody pile on the ground within a minute instructor came back in and knelt beside me he injected something into my arm before dragging me back to my bump the next morning i was as good as new and the next night i was beaten to a pulp again night after night it went on i started to last a little longer each time but rife would cheat and freeze me with his charm before knocking the crap out of me every night as instructor dragged me back to bed, he would say, quit, cattle. Other than the nightly beatings

and being singled out, things were going good in training. Maybe I was losing my mind. I was actually enjoying the weapons training. All ten of us were at the shooting range firing crossbones, master instructor giving gruff commands. But even this relative piece couldn't last long. In the middle of shooting, the hangar's intercoms squawked to line. Instructors, this is not a drill. All personnel prepared to repel hostiles. We all froze and turned to look at Master Instructor. We were all wondering if it was another mind game.

But we quickly saw it wasn't, because Master Instructor didn't yell or call us cattle. Training's over, hunters. Grab the shotguns and pistols. Loads Dragon's Breath and Slugs. Pistols for hatchethoes. at close range only. Rally on me. Go. Pandemonium broke out. All ten of us hustling to the gun lockers and spilling out shells from boxes. Once we were all loaded up, we circled

around Master Instructor. We rearranged the chute house for training later today. On the other side of that maze of walls is the office section. If we have an emergency, it likely come from there. Now, stay on me. Check your corners, muzzle awareness. And with that he turned to jog to the opening of the chutehouse maze. We all followed to stack up on either side of the doorway. I was second in the stack behind Valas. I heard crashing and footsteps coming from within. All my muscles tense.

That's when Sergeant Instructor limped into view. His face was ironed, but he was covered with blood. nursing a leg. At least three mouths. About a dozen half-turn. They're looking for something. Taking prisoners. Close behind me.

He spoke quickly to Master Instructor on the opposite side of the doorway from him. Scream and a boom followed immediately as the wounded Sergeant Instructor was flung through the door, blood trailing behind him. Before even Master Instructor could react, Vals was through the door firing back at whatever it killed the sergeant. Not to be shown up, I followed close behind. Vowse had already downed a manv, evident by a flaming pile of blood-spattered walls.

Crazy-looking half-turned, charged into the kill-room from an opposite doorway. Both our shots, incendiary and bugshot, smashed him simultaneously. As we both rack new rounds, another half-throarmed. turn came over the wall while two more rushed through the door. Back, back, back, the old master, as I spotted another figure soaring high above us, soaring over the maze. It was another Mav, and it landed somewhere behind us. My quick glance of it showed it was wearing all black with body armour and a glinting sword. Master turned to quickly engage the hostel behind us with his pistol.

All the eight remaining of fellow cattle students that hadn't entered the maze were quickly under attack by the sword-wielding enemy. Master had left us in the maze to assist his students. We faced down the hissing half-turned with thunderous shots. Vouse looked at me with his patented serious expression. We push through or we die, he stated, and so we did. We used what we learn to clear the rooms one by one to push towards the end of this maze. Either by accident or by design, somebody cut off the lights, drenching us in black. This made the half-turned glow with an orange unnatural light. We moved silently, easily spotting them before letting loose with a crack of fire. Vouse would drop them with a fiery volley and I would roll up to blow

their heads off while they squirmed on the ground. Finally, we spotted the exit. We could see the offices beyond still with their lights on. All we had to do was make it down a long hallway. Now that the exit is secure, you can go back and retrieve the rest of them, Vowse ordered me. First off, I argued, screw off. Secondly, you're coming back with me, coward. Vouse was about to reply when a glowing figure landed lightly between us. A kick knocked my shotgun low to fire into the ground. The Mavs spun away from me to deliver a kick to Vows' midsection. It quickly grabbed him by the head and rammed half of Vows' body through the thin wall.

I tried to lever my shotgun and rack a shell. The Mav turned with two silver flashes. My shotgun split in two and I felt myself falling sideways. When I hit the ground, I was laying in someone's warm blood. The mouth bent over to look me in the eye. The look of recognition flashed across her beautiful face. It was Joyty's twin sister. Oh, how exciting, she said.

You're the one who got my sister killed. She said this and raised her sword. You killed my brother, I mumbled back. Things were getting foggy. Another orange figure landed behind the twin. It glowed brilliantly. The twin's face stretched in horror as a glowing hand encircled her neck from behind. Her hair was grabbed and her head was ripped off from the mouth up.

Her head was slung to bounce off the wall with a sick smack. Then I heard the brilliant orange mouth speak. It was rife. Instructor, help these hunters. Once again, instructor came to inject me with another shot. My vision blurred and I felt the warm sensation of heavy narcotics in my bloodstream. I did notice something weird as my vision faded. One of my boots was standing upright in a pool of blood in front of me.

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BenMGEM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario. Part three. Three promises. I know I left off at the most inopportune time, but it's a lot for me to tell. My time in Hunter boot camp all runs together in my memory now. Maybe it was all the stress of all the drugs, all the beatings, or Or maybe I just like messing with you by stopping the story as soon as it's getting good. After the horrible realization that one of my legs had been chopped off by the harpy, I'd fallen into a medically induced sleep. A lot of vivid dreams of bright colours of screaming monsters followed. Finally, I came too in some sort of medical wind.

It was my right leg from the knee down. She chopped it off like a skilled surgeon. I don't doubt I received a mixture of medical and magic to keep me from dying that day. Mark was the first to visit me. His familiar smile on his sad face. He told me the damage. It was only me, Mark, Vaux and Mika left. Vos had left the infirmary a day before me.

Mika lost a couple of fingers, and Mark had made it out with no new scars this time. He explained to me what had happened when Vos and I left the others to push through the maids. Once I heard what happened, I chastised myself and not staying and helping. Mark had none of it, though. He said if we didn't press the attack, it would all have been overrun and kill. The black-clad Mav that had landed behind us, immediately cut Nero in half. The Mav charmed two more students and commanded them to fire on their own. Mark had to shoot and kill Svetlana before she could shoot anyone else. The Mav then looked right at Mark and told him to kill him, sir. Mark said he stood still,

trying to resist the urge to put the shotgun barrel in his mouth while the rest of the team fought in front of it. He said only Master Instructor, Meeker and Roland were left, where he peppered the Mav with buckshot and pistol fire, but he was wearing some serious body armour. Master and Roland finally got hands on him, and the wrestling match was on. They got the sword away from him but the damn Mav had a hidden knife that he used to slip Roland's throat. Well, it turns out Master Instructor isn't the Mav, and he was losing the fight pretty badly, getting stabbed numerous times. That's when Mika comes in with only a crossbow bolt tied to a line of razor wire. She looped it all around him, head, arms and torso. Every time

the Mav swung at her, she ducked under it and looped him up even more. Master must have figured out the plan and tackled the Mav, getting stabbed more in the process. Mika uses her shirt to wrap around her hands and pull the wire tight so the Mav is pinned. The wire cutting deep into the joints between the Mav's armour. The wire did slice through her shirt and cut deep into her hands, but she kept pulling. Mark said he watched all three screaming and bleeding until the Mav went silent. Mark was released from the charm and immediately walked over to finish the Mav with the shotguns of her head. Wow, I said, looking down and thinking, you got to see Mika with her shirt up.

Mark burst out of love. She had a sports bra on dumb ass. I saw the smile reach his eyes this time. But he quieted, and when he looked back at me, he wasn't even wearing his fake smile. I felt killing him would feel good, but I felt nothing. He said with a faraway look. Do you know how hard it is to fight being charmed? Me being an idiot didn't pick up on the contest at the time. I've been there, brother. But you were strong enough to resist.

That's what camp. I clapped him on the shoulder. It'll all get easier when we get out of this hellhole. Me and you will be the dopest team. Taylor, he said quickly, cutting me off. I need you to promise me something. Okay, I say it quizzically. Me and you are the same. We're brothers.

He paused and took a breath. Don't give up, no matter how hard it gets. He placed his hand on my arm that was on his shoulder. I was taken aback by the show of intimacy from him. There has to be justice for the ones we lost. No more than that, he continues. We need to stop this from happening to other families. We have to stop it.

the creation of broken kids like you and me. We both stared at each other. We slowly removed his hand from on top of mine. His intensity returned to downcast once again. I promise, Mark, I said firmly, we'll both save people and avenge our families. He gave a slow, half-smile and stood up. Remember your word, dumb ass, he said as he walked to the door.

I was confused by the way he. he was acting. A thought occurred to me. He was torn up over having to kill Svetlana. Hey, I said as he opened the door. He half turned to look at me. He did the right thing. It's where violent would have forgiven you. Don't feel bad about it. Here's the thing, bro, he replied. I don't feel anything. And with that he slipped out the door, leaving me to run through this conversation millions of times, wishing, I could have said anything different. Later that day, nurses came in and fitted me with a prosthetic leg.

The leg was made out of a super-light metal with ruin scratched all in it. Once it was attached, a woman knelt down and whispered into it for an awkward amount of time. I just sat there quiet as the woman prayed over my new leg and the other three nurses hummed in unison. Finally the whispering and humming stop. The woman spit a command word at my leg, and suddenly it took the weight and form of my real neck. I could even feel my toes.

This is only temporary, boy, said the lead nurse. Life wants you up and ready, ASAP. Illusion and sensory spells like this run out fast. And with that, they left, leaving me to walk around the med bay with my new magic leg. I have to admit, I look like the biggest idiot, kicking around and having imaginary fights with my sweet new leg. and that's when instructor walked him I quickly went to attention and he pretended he didn't see me kicking me in

Ray if wants you he said he waited for me to follow and we walked through the long hangar it was completely empty and clean how's master instructor I asked didn't make it

instructor said flatly not turning to look at me just keeping the same quick pace after a couple more steps he added He died for you, Carol. You better all be worth it. Instructor led me through a side door to the hangar. I hadn't seen the outside in months. The burning sun hit me full force, causing me to shield my eyes.

It was some sort of arid climate. I looked around to see flat land, dirt and splotches of shrubbery as far as the eye could see. It reminded me of where Walden Jesse cooked meth in the RV. The instructor continued his pace towards the horizon, marching right towards the setting sun. I was still partially blinded and used the instructor's shadow to let my eyes adjust. Finally we came to a stop. I looked around instructor to see Ryev, standing with his back turned to me, facing the dying sun. His arms were outstretched and he was shirtless, soaking in the last of the lights.

He turned to face me, his muscle. body looked to be carved out of obsidian. First chance, cattle, he said. This is the last of our meetings. The last chance to quit. I half expected this sort of crap from right. Fighting me right after I lose my leg. I launched forward after him.

The initiative would go to me. He looked me in the eye and commanded. Stop. I pushed through him. his charm. I realized the charm was less effective when you expected it. I swung our low kick to the knee of Rai'af with my good leg, buckling him. I locked him up with both arms and executed a leg sweep. Rive just went with the momentum, flipping with unnatural grace to land steadily on his feet. The upper cut me, but I swung my head back towards him to head by him in the nose. He stumbled

back from me. I felt the world spin. It was like slamming my head into a brick wall. I saw a look of anger flash across his face as he charged back in. I raised my guard, but Rife came in with a devastating, sweeping kick to the inside of my fate leg. The magic sent a shock of pain at my body as my leg flew off me into the air. I landed hard on my chin. I looked up at Rive's feet and cursed. You cheating ass, I'm sorry.

where I have calmly walked over to my discarded leg and picked it up. I actually had no intention of fighting you, boy. I just wanted to talk. He looked at the leg, then down at me. So I'll hold on to this for the time being. You hung it down next to me, just out of grabbing distance. Save your strength. Your last fight will be tomorrow night, at 3 o'clock a.m.

when the Mav's powers are at their weakest. Just, let's finish this here, I grunted. Give me my leg back. Oh, you're not fighting me tomorrow, boy. I've been training you for this new fight, slowly building up your resistance to being charmed, trying to give the lamb a weapon before he's led to slaughter. He got up and stretched, turned and began to walk away.

More and more chance to give up. At least give me my leg. back i screamed oh this is my property your leg was incinerated yesterday he said holding the leg up quit carroll i started crawling after him the sun was low and he was starting to let off an orange glow i won't give up i promise you that you glowing bastard well i had to crawl about a quarter of a mile to the hangar then all the way through the hangar finally to the room with my bunk in it Mark saw me and helped me hobble to my bed. Valsh was already there, sleeping.

He turned to give me and Mark the stink eye before turning around to sleep. I told Mark everything. All the special training the sadist rife was giving me. Harry stole my leg and kept badgering me about quitting. Harry had some big final fight with me tomorrow night. Mark just listened and let me vent all my curses and frustration. At the end of my tarade, he asked. But you remember your promise?

The ones never give up. I looked at him sincerely. Yeah, bro, never. Screw that bald-headed bastard. We're going to crush this training. He smiled back weakly. Good. That's your promise to me.

Now, go hit the shower. I'm not helping you with that. He walked to a supply closet and pulled out a sweeper for me to use as I make sure. crutch. When I finished my shower he was working on his sketch of his family. I fell asleep fast. I didn't know what challenge Raif had waiting for me, but I was sure I could beat it. The next morning instructor came in with crutches for me. Vow sprung to attention like we did every morning. Mark lay still in his bed. Instructor screamed at him to get up, but he didn't move. I have to move quick through most of this.

It's hard even now to write about. Mark had taken his life during the night. He stood at a risk to hang it over the side facing away from me. Of all the deaths I'd experienced in my short life, this one tore the heart right out of me. Almost worse than my own brother. I couldn't save either of them. My brother from the monsters and Mark from the ones in his head.

Conversations we'd had the day before played in repeat in my mind. Oh, hindsight was so clear. I was so stupid. When instructor brought a stretcher in for his body and Vowse helped lift him, I saw he was laying on his folded sketch of his family. I picked it up and unfolded it. It was a beautifully realistic drawing of his family, smiling and posing. But a new addition had been at it. It was a drawing of me, standing with his kid's sister and mom and dad. Written at the top in his scratchy handwriting was one sentence.

Remember your promise. I ain't going to lie, I bored like a baby. Instructor and Vals carted him away. They left me alone for the rest of the day. Only Vos came back to say Mark would be buried with the rest of the fallen at the memorial tomorrow. Before Vowse left me to my grief, he added. It takes a different kind of person to do what we do. Mark was not weak, he was stronger than most, just not like us.

And with that he left, I considered it one of the nicest things he'd ever said about Mark. Maybe Vars wasn't a complete douche after all. Along came 2am, and I knew my little appointment with Rave wouldn't be cancelled because of my friend's debt. So when instructor walked in, I used my crutches to try and stand to attention. "'Ary, his cattle,' he said as he presented my fate leg to me. I sat down and strapped the bad boy back on. He spoke a magic word, and it took the form of a real leg, feeling and all.

He leaned in close to talk quietly to me. Raiif asked me to equip it with something extra. The ball of the foot is equipped with a makeshift claymore. Detonating it will destroy your leg. But it's your trunk card. He handed me a piece of folded paper. This is its verbal activation phrase. I opened it and looked at what it said.

It read. I was thoroughly confused. What game was rife playing? Why would it give me a powerful weapon to fight him? Instructor walked me through the office area to an elevator. The elevator took us up two floors and opened to a white hallway with heavily armed guards on both sides. instructor typed on a keypad to let me into a bright room and there stood right

his arms behind his back to the right side of the room was some sort of opaque glass wall that divided it I could see blurry images on the other side this is the moment Taylor everything that has happened is built up to this all the horror all the training I began to take a fighting stance

and Rife raised a hand. No, you are not fighting me. Rife clipped a remote and the blurry glass cleared up to show someone in kneeling position on the other side of the room. I turned and looked close. It was a large man kneeling down

with his long black hair covering his face. His hands were restrained behind his back with a thick, looping metal lock. The man looked up and sniffed the air. A thick metal, collar around his neck. It was Armand, beaten and dirty. He spoke in his buttery voice. I smell cattle on the other side of the glass. Did you bring a snack to tempt me right? I was enraged. This asshole was here. For how long? This is why we were attacked.

His brood was looking for him. We've heard him here for about three months. Rife said, as if he was reading my mind. I've been torturing him for information on his master's whereabouts. Armand is not an ancient Mavrib, yet his master freed him so he could go out and cause habit. He granted Armand free will centuries before he was mature enough. His master is just as responsible for the death of your brother as he is. I looked at Rive. Let me torch him.

I'll get you what you want, and I'll kill him. Rife chuckled. I don't doubt you can give me what I want. I've tortured him in ways so debauchous you would faint. He's not bent or given in, but he knows I'm done with him. I was going to execute him tomorrow before the memorial. So why am I here? I asked. You're the carrot.

He replied calmly. He agreed to give me the location of his fellow. disciple, another apprentice to his rogue master. I'll try torturing answers out of the new apprentice. The only way he would agree to give me this information is if I offered him you. Before I could answer, he continued. You see, maverips have a code of honor of sorts. Two powerful maverips can stare into each other's eyes and charm each other by making an unbreakable promise with one another. Rife turned to look at Ahmonde. He knew I was going to kill him tomorrow, so I tempted him with getting revenge on the kid that got him caught, and a last bloody meal.

It gives me the information. I give you him. You just set me up to die, I screamed. No, he only made the promise to each other yesterday. I'm unabound and compelled to offer you to him now. In return, he'll tell me what I want when he sees you. Rice studied my angry face and continued. Hey, I've been giving you special training and the chance to quit every night. I've pushed you harder than any cattle. You're practically impervious to being charmed.

All this time, you never quit. And now you're scared because it's Armand and not me. I am not scared, I spit back. Good, Rive said, pushing his shades up. Doesn't matter if you accept anyways. I made a promise. I have two, I stated back flatly. Well, I try to keep these segments short so you can all digest them in little bits.

The next one, you'll have way more action, I promise. I'll try to get back to you quickly. Next up, my fight with Ahman. part four four beats okay we are back time for the fight but first let me go on a long

drawn out flashback of another person I haven't told you about it it's pretty important to the fight that's about to happen so I'll give you some context and maybe get to the fight next time I'm kidding let's get right to where we left off I stared at Ahmond on the other side of the glass

He couldn't see me but he could smell me So you brought the twin boy The one whose brother screamed so shrill when he died Amon smiled a sly smile Didn't even fight bad Do you have more fight than him boy Did I help make you a man He mocked with a condescending tone

Let's get this over with. I taught Raif, while staring daggers at Ahmond on the other side of the glass. Wait, Raif said. The deal is just you and him in the cell. Rive turned me to look in his green eyes. If there's any attempt to escape, the collar on his neck will explode. I felt a twinge in my mind, but shook it off. Why was Raif being so weird?

yep okay I'll kill him before he can even try to escape I said back then let's get to it rife said and walked the door an arm guard open the door to Ahman's cell Armand let out a crack of laughter soft boy warden has granted me a fine last meal I looked at the ground and stepped back towards the glass wall let him think be solved. Oh, I won't charm you, boy. I'll give you the same courtesy as your bitch brother.

Well, I knew that was a lie. Rife taught me that Mavs fight dirty. I looked up at him and smirked. Soft boy, huh? Ahmad was about to say something else stupid when Rife interrupted. You are compelled to tell me what I need to know.

Ahmonde put on a look of a fence. Oh, Master Rahif, am I not a son of Ra like Horace? Heresy, Ryiv's mat. You are onerless and of diluted blood. Now, tell me where your sibling is. Ahmad, waif, came closer, whispered in his ear. Rai'ift stepped back and said, you have fulfilled your end now mine he hit a button and the metal shackles fell off his arms to thud to the floor at least wait until i leave the room rife said to ahont oh of course

ahmond hissed his long tongue splitting to a fork at the end as he lowered his stance rife turned to me goodbye captain I pushed past Raif to punch Ahmond in the face for the second time in two years. My left shot out to straight jab him right in the throat. Ahmond choked and I swung my magic leg to kick him hard in the nuts. Armand was completely off balance. He was bent over and stumbling backwards. I jumped after him to deliver a Tony Jha elbow to the top of his head. Amon's eyes crossed as I grabbed him by the neck with both hands, forcing him against the back wall.

My thumbs found his eyes and I pushed them in, blood erupting down my hands. Oh, I'd planned this for a long time. Ahmonde let out a scream of pure pain, loud and shrill. I continued to dig thumbs inwards. I would tear him apart and stomp on his face with my expanse. exploding magic leg to finish him. The screams got louder, and he squirmed as I forced him to his knees. Then I realized something.

Armand was screaming like a woman, like pretend screaming. His womanly screams turned to mocking laughter. Oh, no, my eyes, I'm blind, he chided. Then a strike hit me in the stomach. Ahman's hand was open in a cruel, claw-like pose, his fingertips stabbing into me. Is that all you've got? he said in a grey voice. He stood up and an open hand slapped me across the face with lightning speed. I saw a burst of lights and stars in the corners of my vision.

He stood eyeless and smiling at me. He shot forward to grab me by my shoulders and slammed my head into the roof. The light fixed a shone. shattering and landing around me as I hit the ground. The room was dark, except for the soft glow from the room on the other side of the glass wall. Ahmad glow brilliantly. He wasn't weak. Rife didn't train me enough to fight this.

I was a sacrifice. Rife had left, and I was all alone with this madman. He picked me up by the collar and used his forked tongue to lick the blood off my face. I could smell his horrible breath again. I delivered an elbow, but with no effect. His glowing face with two holes for eyes just laugh. A hand stabbed into my side and blood poured freely. Ahmon now licked his hand, holding me out with the other.

He was going to take his sweet time killing me. My mind raced. Maybe I could swing my leg up and activate the Claymore. I gave a test kick with my real leg, and he intercepted it with a knee to my groin. All strength left my lower calf. If there is an attempt to escape, the collar will explode. Came the memory of Raif's voice. I had a plan, but I had to get this asshole to drop me. Ahmaud, please, I choked.

I'll help you escape I'll help you kill Raif Mahmong tilted his head in curiosity His left eye had already grown back You can't turn me I'll be your soft boy I sniffed It would be the worst insult to Raif

Me betraying him Rahman let out his hardy laugh He was intrigued How does a lowly cataly you help me get out of here, he whispered. I have a coat, an activation coat to remove the glass wall. I whispered back harshly to him. Instructor gave it to me behind Rive's back.

Instructor takes care of me. Both eyes were back now. Ahmonde looked me up and down. I bet he does, soft boy. Ahmonde thought a second. All right, get me out of here. He flipped me around to face the opaque glass wall, his hand around my neck. He pushed about two feet away from it.

I took a breath, please, please let this work. Say the activation phrase, Almond demanded. I put my magic leg flat against the glass. I shielded my face and closed my eyes. I quit, I screamed. There was a deafening blast as my leg exploded against the opaque glass, sending me and Ahmond flying backwards, the glass shattering into millions of pieces. The room was filled with smoke and alarms were going off.

Armand and I lay beside each other on the opposite side of the room. Ahmond cushioned me from smacking the wall. I looked up to see a pretty good-sized hole in the glass wall, enough to crawl through. I started pulling myself across the room to the hole. I could hear Ahman stirring behind me. Not good. Ahmad, let's go, I said as I pulled myself up on the sharp lip of the broken glass. I felt Ahmond stomping towards me.

No, boy, I told you once I revoke the... the mercy of turning you'll make a good snack to heal me for my fight with Ra'i. I toppled through the hole to the other end, stabbing my belly pretty good. As I set up, Ahmond was reaching in after me, and that's when it happened. What I prayed would happen. A green light lit up on his collar and let out a singular but loud, beep! Ahman stopped halfway through the hole, a question on his face. Another audible beep chimed.

This one lit up beside the green light as a yellow light. There were only two lights left. Realisation dawned on Ahman's face. He tried to scoot back through the hole, but I sprang up to catch him by the head and dropped down with him, stone-cold stuner style. His collarbone stabbed deeply into the glass. I pulled him down further to be sliced by the bottom of the hole even more. He screamed. The third beat.

This time the light was orange. I turned to look him in his eyes. Pull me up! Pull me up! He screamed. The cowardice creeping into his voice. His charm ability hitting me at four falls. I just smiled at him. No, I said to him as I poured his hair hard, sliding him down further.

The fourth beep was a long, sustained beep. The red light blinking to light. I threw myself back as another deafening explosion occurred, showering me with brains and hair and destroying the glass even more. When the smoke cleared, I looked up coughing. The other half of Ahman's body was on fire. His head was pink mist all over the room.

I lay down and shut my eyes. Did Raif compel me? Or had I figured it out on my own? I doubt he would ever tell me. The door stood open, an instructor came in. I produced my hand for him to give me my shot. Raif stood in the doorway Things started to get fuzzy with the drugs and magic in my system

But I swear I saw him smile before turning to leave Well That's the end of the asshole Ahmon Now I'm on to the next big bad evil guard Five points pentagram All right, we are back I had to take a little bit of a break going through my past is mentally straining on me.

Also, my memories jumbled together. I'll get to the reason for that later. So Armand's punk ass was dead now. It felt good, really good. I knew it was different from my late friend Mark now. I knew I wanted to continue the fight. I slept like a bandaged-up baby that night. The look on Armand's face before his head exploded was like an ambient to me.

The next afternoon I limped out with crutches to the memorial we were having outside. It was the first time me, Mika and Valles had been together since the attack. We lined up with the instructor, rife and a few others I'd never seen before. Lay before us were eleven graves with fresh dirt piled upon them. All my cattle makes and some staff. Behind them was a three-foot-tall white marble column with a sculpted balance scale atop it. On one end of the balance lay a sculpted heart on the tray, on the other a sculpted feather. Both were weighed equal on the scale.

The inscription on the column said, Alas, in our eyes, you were found pure. I didn't know what all the symbolism meant at the time, but I got the gist of it. I mourned for Mark, most of all. His heart was too pure to withstand the horrors of this life. He stood quietly as Ralph spoke in an ancient tongue over the grave. Then a priest stepped up to read from Psalms. This blew my mind.

Shouldn't the priest be shoving a cross in Rive's face, screaming, The Power of Christ compels you? I guess things really were different from the movies, but I did see Vowas make the sign of the cross with the priest. Hmm, interesting. Vos must have seen me looking, and he stared back at me. Mika was between us, her entire left hand a robotic replacement now. She'd lost three of her fingers.

and said, Screw it, just give me a whole new hand. Maybe I should be made more often so I can get cool new arms and legs. He said dryly to both of us. Yeah, then, maybe you can get an actual personality too, meager retorted without looking at him. After the ceremony, we were told we were moving

to the final and longest phase of training. Three more months of spellcraft, hunting technique and field train. While we were finally told where we were, in Mexico, close to the Texas border. Every morning we went outside to sit on some bleachers in the hot desert. Only the merciful shade from her overhead tin roof to cool us. Now this is where we met our new instructor,

Alejandro Domingo, a stocky and thickly-muscled Mexican man with a killer mustache. Alejandro was surprisingly open about his past. Maybe we'd finally reached a place in training where they trusted us. He told us he was one of the founding members of the Zeta cartela, U.S. trained Mexican police unit that immediately converted to being criminals when they got back to Mexico. Alejandro told us not everybody was down with Breaking Bad as soon as the training was done, but they had no choice. Alejandro was forcefully turned by an ancient Mav who was the drug kingpin of the region. Alejandro's life only consisted of killing and maiming for his new master,

therefore establishing the Zeta cartel. Between catching people on fire and piling people into mass graves, Alejandra was relegated to a small one-bedroom apartment with only a bed, shower and fridge. He told of how he was forced to work out and clean weapons for 16 to 20 hours a day in his small room. No relaxation, no communication with anybody, no nothing. Is Mav Master only seeing him as a blunt instrument to hurt people, away, only calling him out when somebody needed to die horribly. He went on to explain Amit, the organisation I apparently worked for, found and killed his master, freeing him from his thrall.

Alejandra also told us Amit was a peacekeeping force between the many Mavrip clans. He joined up with them after years of spreading death and misery. It was his attempt to, well, atone. He taught us tracking, interrogation, crime scene investigation and tons of other spy stuff. I excelled at all this, but I was a little thrown by some of the tactics, like how to torture someone for info, or how to get the drop on the cops if you were being arrested. It was half for me to admit that I would be considered a criminal in most of the places I went. Oh, and I got my leg back. It still looked like a metal leg, but I could feel it.

The one thing I didn't excel at was spellcraft. The way it was explained to us was very bare bones. Some people had connection to magical forces by means that were not disclosed to us. If you didn't have a magical connection, you could still use finite magical items, though. I only had luck with activating magical charms and items. Mika was good at both, but Vals was super wizard Savant with everything. Mika went on to tell me a little bit of her backstory. She was from Haiti, where the ruling Mavrip clan terrorised the people.

Some ancient treaty kept Amit from interfering, but they could train independent contractors to protect the smaller villages from being preyed upon. Mika told me her plan was to go back to Haiti and take on an apprentice to defend the people. She came from a long line of badass hunters, also why she was so good with Spellcraft. She'd been taught it at an early age, but even she said Vars' ability was freaky. During one night, we all stood outside in the desert around a pentagram of salt with candles at the points.

Alejandro was glowing as he led each of us individually in a chant to summon a lesser spirit. Spirits were a good source of information, like a sea-ar. My summoning went horribly. At the end of the chant all the candles were now. leaving us with only the light of the glowing Alejandro. Candles going out gotta mean something, I said nervously after moments of silence. Not always,

Alejandro sat back and called Meeker to be next. Meekers went way better than mine. Her candles went out but a dark mass had appeared in the pentagram. Mika nodded her head as if she was hearing something, her eyes tearing. When the figure disappeared, she told us it was her late grandfather. She said he was proud of her and told her his sword was buried for her to retrieve when she got back to Haiti. Next up was Valles, and oh boy, what a show his was.

At the end of the chanting, the candles burst forth blue flames like blow torches, a massive cloud materialized with two shining purple dots for eyes. Your noble's heart calls out to me. I will devour you entirely once it mature. Came a growling voice in all our heads. A lowly human doesn't need such power. Alejandro stepped forth and began chanting, trying to banish the apparition.

The entity's eyes flashed a brilliant purple, causing Alejandro to collapse in pain. Vowler stepped forward to take his place, removing his shirt to reveal a pentagram tattooed over his heart. A giant scar ran down the centre of his chest, as if from surgery. I then realised I'd never seen Vow's shirtless. And we'd just supposed he took his showers separate due to thinking he was a better class of person than us.

The pendergram on his chest began to glow hot red, as Vow spit put Latin phrases like curse words, as Vow spit out Latin phrases like curse words. It took a while, but the purple eyes faded, and the black mass disappeared. Once again we were left in the darkness, a glowing Alejandro getting to his feet. This happens sometimes,

thou said sheepishly. The first time I'd ever seen him, not extremely confident and cocky. What's a good Catholic boy like you doing with a pentagram on your chest? I asked. The pentagram is a symbol of power. It's not inherently evil.

It depends on the will of the user. He answers to Curly. Well, that was pretty cool, Mikea said. I've never seen a purple-eyed demon. Oh, he must be big time. Not a demon. It's something far worse.

Vos replied cryptically. This event officially ended the class for the night. Alejandro was visibly shaken by what had happened. When I walked back to the hangar, I was lagging behind everyone. Taylor! I had a voice cool. from far away. I turned to look out in the darkness. It was Mark, looking pale and sad.

Don't trust Mark. Ask about the tracking spell. His voice echoed in my head and then he was gone. I kept it to myself and ponded the meaning. I knew whatever it was, Mark was looking out for me. Finally we reached the end of training. Rife and Alejandro met us all in the small Pity room to give us our first mission. Your first mission won't be far from here, and Alejandro will accompany you to babysit, and for unfinished business, right spoke. Once our teams had eliminated the Mavrip master of the Zeta cartel, this left a lot of young Mavrips running around with free will.

We've recruited or eliminated most of these lieutenants, but one is stationed up in a nearby village. His name is Conrad Avila. Alejandro continued for rive. We received special forces training together. When he turned, he was relegated to being a psychagio like me. When our master was killed, he decided to make his own pack of mouths under his control. He has successfully turned everyone within his town, with the exception of human lieutenants. All of pharaoh, half turned under his mind control. He's killed any ambassador, Amit, his sense. We'll infiltrate and kill Conor, hopefully freeing as many under his control as we can, Alejandro finished. How many half turned? Vowas asked. 30 to 40, Raif replied. There are collective gasps on all three of us.

He will be armed with state-of-the-art weaponry and with a highly trained maverick to accompany. rive said a little angry all three of you have faced this enemy and survived where's your backbone your army pride we can handle this laura says like a teacher's pet later that day we were driving towards the target town in an unremarkable white van the inside was skidded out with all sorts of weapons and goodies all four of us decked out in black bdus i guess we were going to enforce that trade at night. Alejandro was the only one wearing something different, a rubbery

black form fitting body suit with pouches and pockets. He kept him from glowing through his clothing like he normally did. He had a hoodie and black mask that could completely conceal his face. The mask was blank except for two round glass eyes, looking very ghoulish.

The local gangs and police must provide humans as food to Conrad for protection, Alejandro said as he placed a map down between us on the bench. The main road runs up to his villa, mostly guarded by humans, but the town is infested with half turn, he said as he ran his finger along the map's road. You must infiltrate the villa and kill Conner,

but if he is alerted, he will bring a swarm of half-turn down on it. He turned to point at Valas. That's where I need my best fighter and shooter to be a stopgap between the town, the villa. If the hoard is alerted, you must mount a defence on the villa walls. Alejandro pointed to a grenade launcher and M-60 in the weapons round. Nice, I heard Vowas say under his brain. Conrad is a devout worshipper of Santa Moult. He is rumoured to have a priestess living in the villa. That's where Amiga comes in if we need to combat her, he explained.

me and Taylor will go in for the kill. Are you okay with killing humans? He asked me, point blank. I guess I have to be. If we have to kill humans, at least let it be human trafficking assholes. I said back nervously. I was hoping we could just solid snake our way through the villa

and get that silent assassin rank for just killing Conrad. Well, sorry guys, I promised my first mission in this chapter, but there was a lot more set up than I realized and nowhere seemed like a good place to stop. I'll crank out the next part quit. Let's just say, things don't go solid snake during the fusser clock of the first mission. Watch your six. The infiltration started at night. All four of us hurried up the main road, staying close to the shadows.

A quick peek in one of the houses revealed a cluster of half-turned, sleeping together, all huddled up and glowing. They must all be inside the houses. This left the place with a very creepy ghost town field. The villa sat on a hill, a large whitewashed brick gate surrounded it, with lights pointed outward. Alejandro sniffed the air before saying, I don't smell any guards on the walls. Cabron is too cocky to believe he is at risk of an attack. At this relocated a guard shack connected to the big wall by the main entrance gate. We heaved Vouse atop it to set up his defensive position. As I handed up his grenade launcher, I said,

time for you to earn a cool new body part, quiet boy. Vous just stared at me with a mixture of boredom and annoyance. Think Jim Halpert from the office. The rest of a circle the perimeter to the back to scale the wall. Once I got over, I had my first good view of the giant villa, with its red roof, white stucca walls, lavish green and multiple pools. Conrad was really living in style while the rest of the village slept in shanty houses. I was equipped with a full auto-block 17 with a suppressor attached.

The song over my back was a heavy AA-12 auto-shotgun with a drummeg, just in case things popped off. Alejandro was equipped with a silenced MP5 with two serrated machetees. crossed on his back. With his mouth strength, he could chop off heads with ease. Mika was our support, equipped with a one-shot blooper grenade launcher, and tons of grenades on her bandalier. Conrad's witch will probably have the house-warded. Alejandro spoke in a hush tone as we huddled around him. It would require too much power to cover the whole property with a warding spell, so I think we're safe for now. He turned to Mika.

You stay out here and jam her spell. If we have to make a fast X-Ville, you hammer the building with everything you got. Mika nodded and began setting up for her spell by producing pouches of materials and unfolding a board with ruins written upon it. We gave her about three minutes before she began chanting softly.

She waved us to carry on with our mission. Alejandro put on his ghoulish mask. As we darted around the pool, we came up to a lock glass door. The lock on the door popped, and the glass door stood open about six inches. Mika had managed an unlocking spell, or jabbing the witch's warding spell. She's a genius. Then we snuck like shadows. The house was dark, but a low rumble of music was coming from the floor above us.

We made our way past two giant pool tables to locate a side stairway. It was a skinny set of steep stairs with white walls sandwiching it on either side. We heard descending footsteps and loud talking. A tall Mexican man with face tattoos turned the corner at the bottom of the stairs or talking on his phone. Unfortunately, he turned right in to Alejandro. Alejandro grabbing quickly by the top of his bulletproof vest and stuck the MP5 to the center of the thugs' head. It was only an instant. The man didn't even have time to scream as three sharp coughs from the weapon annihilated his face.

The phone clattered to the ground with a tinkle of shells while Alejandro just held him out like smelly garbage. He then slammed his foot down on the phone and walked around the corner to lay the dead man down in the shadows. It was all so fast and emotionless. A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of Alejandro when he was under the control of his cruel Mav Mast. We go up, he said, when we came back round the corner. Don't dwell on it, Taylor. I need you on my six for this. I followed him up to the well-lit second floor. There was a common room bigger than my entire house back in Idaho.

He had couches, statues and multiple TVs blaring loud music. The opposite wall was a long hallway with rooms on either side. Alejandro motion for me to take position behind a couch. He fished around through a pile of remotes on an ottoman before finding the one he needed. He cranked up the volume on the TV to an unbearable level. Soon after we heard yelling between two men coming down the hallway, probably arguing who was going to turn the volume down. Whoever lost the argument stomped down the hallway, cursing under his breath.

He leaned over the ottoman to search through all the remote. Aless, Alejandra peeked out from behind a love seat and fired one muffled shot into the back of the man's head. The man plopped down on the ottoman, very dead. Alejandra then turned down the volume on the TV. "'Grazias, Pendejo,' came a call from a room on the right side of the hallway. I was amazed at how efficient Alejandra was. Now we knew what our next hostile would be. I followed Alejandro down the hallway.

He cut off into the room to let out three quick bursts of his weapon, only to re-emerge back into the hallway just a second later. He stacked up on either side of the doorway at the end of the hallway. This had to be the master bedroom. Conrad was surely inside. Alejandro retrieved a grenade from one of his many pouches. It was a special grenade, a magical blackout. instead of a brilliant flash of light

it led out a cloud of impenetrable darkness all noise within the cloud was muted and this in turn would light up a mouth like a Christmas tree but they couldn't see anything from within it Alejandro pulled the pin but held the lever secure he looked at me with his wide-eyed mask and whispered kill everything in the room I can't have you hesitate

I nodded back and he popped the door open and tossed in the blackout grenades. Of course it made no sound, so we waited a second before entering. In the middle of the giant master bedroom was the dark cloud of magic consuming a ten-foot radius in front of the bed. We scanned the room for anyone else, but saw nobody, so we focused our weapons back on the black fog. There wasn't a mav glowing in the fog, but the carpet on the floor was moving back and forth, like someone was shuffling their feet, feet inside it. The black fog should last around 30 seconds. We both waited for it to clear up or for someone to come rushing out at us. My finger was steady on the trigger. About 15 seconds in

and the impossible happened. A cackling laughter emitted from the dark mess. Laughing voices overlapping each other. The black fog blew away and dispersed to reveal three women huddled together. The three elderly women had similar coarse black hair and beady eyes. They were all wearing flowing garments with multiple necklaces and bracelets. All three were slightly hunched over and grinning at us. These were our witches. Not one, but three of them. Tell the girl outside she can stop trying to out magic us, the middle one crowed.

We foretold Colt Conrad of this attack on his life by the Amid's attack dogs. The right one squealed in a shrill voice. You will tell me where he is, Bruha, Alejandro demanded. When all three of the women began laughing harder. I'll try to charm us, you, Amit bastard, the left one said. I'll tell you where he is. He's in a bunker under the house. Why would you tell us this? I asked.

I was getting a terrible feeling in my stomach about all of this. "'Cost Taylor, you will die in this town regardless,' one said while giggling. We knew Amit would send Sikarios when we killed their messengers. It was easy to focus the all-seeing eye on your organization to predict your next move. It foretold you will fail in your assassination attempt. At this moment we heard screaming and banging from downstairs. It was a tumultuous uproar. We later found out Conrad was not just feeding on his human traffic slaves, but turning more of them to store in his bunker.

Alejandro turned to point his weapon down the hallway to the stairs, where noise was coming from. It was a good 30 feet away from us. Kill the three of them, Taylor. I level my pistol at the trio and tried to get a bead on the middle witch's face. When my head was pierced with a sharp pane, It was like staring into a spotlight when you're having a migraine. No matter how hard I tried, my pistol kept jerking to the side or up too high over them. They cackled relentlessly as they walked at the sidewall of the room.

I could only keep track of them out of the peripheral of my vision due to the blinding pain of looking straight at them. May not on a part of the wall to reveal one of those damn Scooby-Doo hidden door walls. You know, the kind of spin around. They slipped away, and I heard a metallic clank of a locking mechanism locking it shut. I cursed aloud. I got movement in town. Vouse's voice crackled over our headsets. I'm guessing things haven't gone as planned.

Oh, far from it, Alejandro muttered. Vos, prepare for incoming hostels. Mika, get ready to lay down suppressing fire when you see us. Alejandro commanded into his mind. The first of the half-turned breached the top of the stairs, a smiling and bloody male child. I couldn't pull the trigger when I saw him. They were still hope for him if we'd kill Conrad, right?

I was so distraught, I didn't see the grenade in his hand. The child was halfway to us when the red burst jerked his hand backwards and he crumpled to the ground. That's when the grenade went off, showering the hallway with blood, rubble and smoke. My ears were still ringing when Alejandra grabbed me and lifted his mask so I could see his eyes. I will compel you if you do not fight, Taylor. Yeah, yeah, okay, I said, snapping out of my shock.

We both turned back down the hallway to see three more rabid half-turn, tripping over themselves as they crested the stairs. What looked like a man, a woman, and a young girl? all wore ill-fitting flak vests and helmets Alejandra's shots stuttered them but they continued to make ground on us I waited until they were about five feet away before shooting from the hip with the auto shot letting loose with an automatic burst of dragon's breath I have to say if it wasn't so sad it would have been beautiful the three mouths exploded backwards into

multiple burning pieces. They had been so close I could feel my face and hands burn. The Hoy was now decorated with sprinkles of fire and burning body parts. Another group of half-turn were bunching up at the top of the stairs again. This time I could see they held some sort of ballistic shield. The half-turned were idiots, but their master could give basic mental commands when nearby. Alejandro shot the one carrying the shield. in the foot and it stumbled over dropping it. He then pebbered the group as they retreated back down the stairs, the one shot in the foot pulling the shield back with them.

This brought us some time. Alejandro slung his empty weapon and pulled out both of his machetes, and I knew it was best not to fire until they got close. We were going to be overrun. I thought of a stupid idea, but it was less stupid than getting within melee range from these vicious hordes. Mika, target the room with four windows at the corner of the villa, make us a way out, I yelled. There was a pause, then Mika replied, Okay, one sec. We don't have a sec, Mika, I said as the half-turn formed a wicked Congo line

to shuffle down the hallway, holding the shield in front of them. They were five deep, with more and more gathering at the stairs. when they got close enough Alejandro jumped out and pulled the shield down with all his might it lowered enough for me to step forward and put the barrel of my weapon to the lead's half-turned chest

this resulted with deafening repeated thumps from my AA12 turning the hallway into a tunnel of gore and fire decimating the line of attackers my drum mag was now empty I only had two eight rounds straight mags left Alejandro jumped in front of me to challenge the new wave of attackers.

Stay away from the windows, boys, came Mika's warning right before the windows and half the wall exploded behind us. I tapped Alejandro on the shoulder and pulled him towards the smoking hole Mika had created. We both jumped down from the second floor to the well-kept bushes beneath. Mika was there waiting for us, already popping smoke grenades to cover our retreat. Mika had a couple of special grenades developed by the nerds at Alex. The grenade would first shoot jets of a highly flammable liquid all over the area before igniting as an incendiary grenade. This would blanket the area in fire, like a fancy Molotov.

A couple of those were tossed at the ground below the hole we'd jump from, catching the ground on fire and giving the half turned a fiery death at the bottom. fell in behind us as she dropped smoke and fire grenades. Alejandro was running down the side of the villa to link up with Vowse at the front gate. When we approached him, he was kneeling down on top of the guard shack, firing small bursts from his M-60. They aren't rushing the gate. They are all taking cover in the closet houses, like they're waiting for us.

Vowus spoke with some confusion in his voice. It's a trap. They will all be on us from behind if we're going. we stay here. They mean to swarm us. We need to get back to the van, Alejandro said up to Valles with excitement and anger. A flaming half turned was already screaming towards us from behind. Mika turned and loped its head off with a machete. We all turned back to Vowas. He nodded his head with a silent plan. So, they mean to force us down the main road to ambush and overwhelm us. Vars explained.

I'll create a path through the backyards of the houses. We can just cut in through the last building to get back on the main streets. Push through or die, I said to him. And he actually smiled a little at that. With that, Vowus stood up and let out six measured shots from his grenade launcher to rumble in the distance like thunder. He looked back down at us and said, Okay, let's go.

Mika, Get your blooper and blow a hole in the gate. We don't have time to climb it, I said with authority. Mika looked at me like I was an idiot. We could just hit the big red button to open it, she said as she pointed to a box with the big red button mounted to the guard-shack wall. In a hot minute, all four of us were racing down the hill towards the group of shanty houses. From up on the hill, I could see Vouse's surgical line of destruction blowing fences, sheds and

garbage to form a pretty clear path. It'd be about a hundred yards through the back of the neighbourhood properties before we got to the last house. As we jumped through a blasted hole in the first hurricane fence, we heard the half-turn began screaming all the way down the road. They must have caught on to our plan. Looking behind me, I saw the maves from the villa, racing down the hill behind us with reckless abandon. By the time we got to the second backyard, half-turned had begun bursting through the windows and doors to intercept us. Vours pulled a ramble and began firing full auto from the hip into the houses we staved past them. The size of the houses exploded into rubble from the punishing onslaught of his bullets.

Half-turned were blown back through windows and doorways as soon as they appeared. But where one fell, another glowing bastard took its place in the chase, scuttling hungrily after us. We came to the last house. I'm going to cut a hard right into it and get back on the main road to our van. The van was about a quarter mile out from town. We could make it if we thin the herd of bloodsuckers chasing.

A half turned were already campy inside the house, probably having caught on to our plan. Alejandra was first in, slashing fiercely at the unarmoured enemies, dropping three of them. I came in second while Valles and Mika laid down suppressive fire from the back doorway. I cleared the small house quickly, exploding Mabs as they foolishly came in close to attack me. My last few shots piled three burning bodies in the front doorway, creating a makeshift burning barrier.

But that's when I saw it and my heart sank. Outside in the road was our burning van. It was attached to a tow truck by a chain. Glowing maf stood all around it. But then I saw something even worse. Get down, take cover, I yelled to my team. Luckily they didn't question me and dropped low as gunshots tore through the house. Human soldiers with automatic rifles stood behind vehicles,

firing at us and shredding the front of the house. Alejandro pulled me behind him and grunted as big. bullets ripped into him. When the barrage finally stopped, we all laid prone, me covering the front and valise covering the bat. I didn't know how we were going to make it out of this dusty town. We were low on ammo now, and they could always send in waves of half-turned as bullet sponges. This was some real Wild West stand-off ship. We heard the clamour of excitement outside from the human soldiers. Alejandro and I peaked over the shattered windows to see what the fuss was about.

The soldiers were pointing in the air at a black helicopter circling the town. The men look confused and curious. Oh hell, Alejandro mumbled. What? I answered. New buddies or friendlies? I recognise the clan markings, Alejandro said in a low voice. It's the Toltec group.

and we aren't supposed to be in their territory. Well, that's it for now, folks. Let's just say the Toltec group don't play well with others. 700 in blood. The black helicopter buzzed the soldiers and half-turned mavs standing in the road. Alejandro must have heard it before all of us humans and feral half-turned because he yelled, shit, everyone, get down. Suddenly the road outside the house lit up in a monstrous explosion.

The force of the blast threw me back and caved in part of the bullet riddled house. I was surrounded by upset dirt, smoke, and ringing in my ears. The ringing diminished, and I heard the rhythmic bursts of heavy machines on fire and screaming. Meeker and Vals pulled me up out of the rubble. Their faces powered white from the dirt clouding our vision. Alejandro was coughing and dusting himself off beside me. So, not good, guys. I asked Alejandro, more of a statement.

No, not good guys to anybody, he answered back. Mercenaries, Mavs were higher, honourless. I looked through a hole in the collapsed entrance to the house. The Mavs and enemy soldiers were being decimated from machine gun fire from about. The vehicles were wronged firing, so were the enemies surrounding the vehicles. It wasn't a battle, but rather a massacre. What do we do? Valles asked, the flames burning outside, sending dancing shadows across him and meek as worried faces.

We continue our plan. We get the hell out of here, Alejandra replied. Reloge your weapons. We are hoofing it from here. We all reloaded what little ammo we had left and filed up to escape out the back doorway. Vows was leading the group and was the first to step out of the back doorway. He froze and jumped back a instant later. He motioned all of us to stay out of the fatal funnel of the doorway. I quickly saw what had spooked about us. Lines of green laser lights illuminated through the doorway and glow brilliantly through the upset dirt and smoke. At least four of them.

We were surrounded. We all trained our weapons on the back door, waiting for an attack. Alejandro Domingo, please lower your weapons. Came a booing voice in a thick Mexican accent. Her mistress would like to speak to you. Shit. Shit.

Alejandro cursed under his breath. Mika looked at him, then looked back at me in vows and silently mouthed to us. What do? Lower your weapons hunters, Alejandro finally said. We did, but we were ready to fight in a heartbeat. The moonlight coming in from the doorway was blocked by a massive figure. In what the tallest and widest manner ever seen. He practically had to duck and shimmy in sideways through the doorway to get in.

He wore a black suit and body armour like Alejandro's, except it was serrated and stacked like the scales of a servant. He didn't carry a weapon, whether that be a sign of good faith, or maybe the giant like killing things with his own hands. Upon his head he were a shining metal face mask mimicking the ears and snout of a wolf. It wrapped around his head, depicting a frozen snarl and sharp pointy teeth with two glowing red slits in the mask for eyes. Lobo, I take it your pack as the house surrounded. Alejandro asked the hulking figure.

Yes, signor, please wait here while my team cleans up. The wolf mask giant replied. Outside the same green lasers blasted the remaining half-turned in soldiers to pieces. The helicopter began a slow hovering landing in the centre of the road. or dark-lad men emerged from the shadows to gather up the fallen half-turned, who'd been grounded by gunshots. I stayed in amazement at the men who emerged from the shadows. I only counted five, but they move with the deadly grace of panthers.

They'd finish off the downed soldiers, and throw injured half-turned into the blazing fire created from the explosion. I counted at least twenty bodies between the dead soldiers and man's. some body's in too many pieces to properly count. Giant wolf guarding the door put a hand to his ear and said, Yes, mistress, we're coming out. He waved for us to follow as he stepped out of the doorway to begin his walk around to the road. We followed cautiously.

Three more black-clad ninjas appeared around us as we made our journey to the bonfire in the street. The helicopter had landed, and a machine-gun wielding ninja confronted us. before we could get too close. Yang really told us to put our weapons on the ground. Alejandro nodded for us to do so, and we did. Then we all waited with anticipation as the helicopter's blades and rotor died down. A seamless black hatch popped open to create a set of stairs. Out stepped two figures of a luptuous Mexican woman,

clad in black with that faint telltale maverick glove. The hair pulled back tightly in a braid to coil around her neck, like a snake. She walked up to Alejandro to look up into his eyes. She had dark eyeliner accentuating her sparkling green eyes. She was hot but like scary hot. I realised this was a common trope with Mavericks. The other figure to exit the chopper was a skinny teenage boy, hidden within an oversized jacket and hoodie.

His hands in his pockets and trailing slowly behind the intimidating woman. He just stayed in the darkness and looked at the ground. What are Amit's dogs doing in Toltec territory? The short, furious woman asked. Alejandro didn't reply at first, just stared back down at her. I'm pretty sure you Toltec thugs know exactly why we are here. You probably have eyes and ears everywhere. Such a calculated response demands you have prior knowledge of our mission.

Alejandro finally spoke. Exasperation in his voice. The woman smirked, a cruel smirk. I just wanted to hear your excuse, Alejandro dear. She mocked, and she ran a finger down his chest. You are here for Conrad, the same reason we are here. Not for the same virtuous reasons of the benevolent Amiglan. She mocked. Alejandro shrugged her teasing finger away.

You would only come out to suit your own interests, line your own pockets. The woman gave a terrifying glare at the disrespectful comment. I thought she'd strike him. The giant wolf-mask man loom ford to stand within choking distance behind Alejandro. I thought things were about to pop off. I was already planning my daring grab for my pistol on the ground. Bows and Meekha's eyes darted around the area, also planning.

But finally the tension was lifted as the woman gave a gentle laugh and a wave of her hands. I guess we should thank you. The sisters told us of your assassination attempt and we took advantage of the situation. You emptied the villa out of the half-turned so we can move in and extract Conrad

from his bunker, she explained. The witches work for you? Alejandro asked. No. They're just pragmatic enough to be on the winning side, she replied. They knew that cash flow from Conrad was coming to an end and needed another avenue of income.

By this time the dawn was beginning to rain, the smoky night sky turning from flat black to a dark blue. I looked around the village at the ninja-esque henchmen, burning bodies and forming a perimeter of security around us. That's when I noticed the villages, half turned, stumbling around in the distance. I pointed to two half-turned, stumbling towards the light of the burning fire. The half-turned are no longer being controlled.

Someone's gotten to Conrad, I announced. The fierce woman gave me a look of disgust, before turning to look at the half-turned, meandering towards us. Ah, yes. Conrad must have been forced to sever his connection with them. She looked at her giant wolf bodyguards. Lobo. Kill them if they get any closer.

"'Ah, woman, they are freed from his throne. "'They can be redeemed,' Alejandro exclaimed her, "'while the giant wolf stalked over to both the half-turn, "'grabbing one and snapping its head in a grisly 360, "'loosening the spine enough to yank its head off. "'The other half-turn tried to put up a pitiful fight, "'swiping at the behem-off. "'The wolf just caught the hand to deliver a devastating jab

"'burying itself into the half-turned. face. The wolf lifted its limp body up to traverse back to the bonfire to throw his body into the flames. We don't have bleeding hearts like the Amig clan. We don't sink millions of dollars into rehabilitation and therapy for abandoned half-term. The woman chided Alejandro. Alejandro was bristling again and looked like he was on the verge of violence. Simultaneous explosions echoed from the inflamed villa up on the hill, smoke bellowing up into the pre-dawn sky. I noticed a black Hummer was kicking up dust trails on its way down to us, driving down the road towards us. Here comes your old friend Conrad now, the one said slyly to Alejandra. The Hummer pulled up beside the helicopter,

and all the doors popped open in unison. More black-clad ninjas jumped out, escorted a man with his hands tied behind his back. They pushed him to his knees beside the woman to face Alejandro. The prisoner was a bald, clean-looking Mexican man, glowing slightly, the black snake tattoo

stretching across the left side of his head. He looked up at Alejandro and spit to the ground. I didn't expect my old amigo to be working with a Zorte group. I don't work with them, Cabro. I came here to put you down like the rabid dog you are.

Alejandro fired back. You were granted free willer, and you went back to being a slaver and a killer. That's enough moral grandstanding, the woman interrupted, stepping between the two arguing men. Let me tell you what the situation is for both of you. Alejandro, dear,

you and your pups were caught operating red-handed in Toltec territory. That's no biggie because we used your little mission as a distraction to nab ourselves a rather love. bounty someone put a bounty on my head asked Conrad how much oh not much only 700 the woman answered the new boss of the Zeta cartel wants all the old lieutenant's back dead or alive you can discuss with the new boss the conditions of your new employment Cortez smiled what about this Pandello he nodded his chin at Alejandro are we going to be

co-workers again? Never, Alejandro growled. I refuse to be a butcher like you. But you were the best of us. You couldn't have been so good a killing if you didn't enjoy it on some level, Cortez remarked. Would you two please shut up? The woman said, rubbing her temples with her fingers. Getting Conrad was just a bonus. The real mark was you, Alejandro. It was a great opportunity to catch you in the open. Alejandro looked around.

He wasted all these resources to catch a low-level bounty like me. I'm not coming back to the cartel, no matter what you say. Oh, the woman remarked, your bounty wasn't to return you to the cartel. It was to deliver your head or your tense to this.

Alejandro actually relaxed and rotated his shoulders, letting out a deep breath. Ah, I'll see. But I'll make you work for that seven million. It's seven hundred, the woman his bat. The sentence hung in the air between all of us. The fire crackled. The sun was rising, and the tension between us was thick in the air.

Then who'll do it? Alejandro asked, looking around, challengingly. Would it be you, Chu-Chucho? He said to the wolf-mast man. The wolfman stepped forward and cracked his knuckles, let out a low ground. Stop, Lobo, came a voice from behind the woman. Mistress La Salina, may I handle this disrespectful fool, said the hoodie-wearing kids standing behind the woman. I almost forgot his awkward ass was back, then.

The woman half turned to look at him. Of course, Derek. It was always a pleasure to watch you were, Mistress Lazalina said. stepping aside for Derek to step up to face Alejandro. From his close distance to me, I could see you as a pale kid around 15 or 16 years old. He had dark blue eyes with oily blonde hair falling across his face. A small silver lip ring hung from his bottom lip.

Are you sure you want to do this boy? Alejandra warns. Don't call me boy, you bastard. The kid said back, I detest you self-righteous, Alecad. clamp. He lifted a skinny hand to point at the rest of us standing behind Alejandro. You all behave yourselves and don't interfere. You three may walk out of here with only a slap on the wrist if you're good. My blood boiled at the audacity of this scrawny punk.

Alejandro just asked again, serious as a mortician, Are you sure you want to do this boy? Sure, pops, the punk said back sarcastically. He began to take off his hoodie to reveal his bare chest and wiry frame underneath. Even though the sun was rising, while his body still let up a red glow, he threw his garments to the ground and smiled a mischievous smile at Alejandro. Alejandro stepped back from the glowing red adolescent. The sun finally crested the earth to illuminate all of us in orange lights.

The kid closed his eyes and held his arms out as if to embrace the dawning sun. He flew in a mixture of red and orange. Oh, it can't be, Alejandro stuttered. You're a child of the fool. The punk opened one eye to squinted ice. Now you realize you done messed up, he taunted it. Now I know this was a lot of standing around and talking, but I couldn't leave you all hanging for long.

I'll be back with the follow-up very soon. I hunt reversed vampires. Figure eight struck. Dool. Well, I had no idea what that was at the time. Whatever it was, it was enough to scare Alejandro. I looked at Mika, and she was as confused as I was, but Vowse looked absolutely pale.

His face was one of fear. Alejandro quickly regained his composure, and stepped forward toward the kid. My apologies, signor. I should have known from the aura of arrogance wafting off your Aoudian features. Alejandro conveyed with a helping hand of sarcasm. Oh, quiet fool, the kid spat. I hated the moral grandstanding of the Reich just as much as your precious armament.

It was at this moment I detected the faintest hint of a German accent that it all finally clinked. Oh, he's a Nazi, I blurted out. Nazis were always the bad guys. I should have caught it sooner. Just couldn't get rid of them. There was suspended silence as Alejandro, the kid, all the ninjas and the rest just turned to look at me. I decided I should probably keep my thoughts to myself for the time being. Reform Nazi, little shit, the kid said to me, you can't blame me for the brainwashing they did to me when I was young. It doesn't matter, Laszalina.

I'll make a deal with you, Alejandro said, addressing the wound. I kill your fighter, and you let us leave. You know this world is too small for us not to cross paths again eventually. You take your chump change bounty and re-establish your rule in the area. We leave having completed our mission. No war between clans. Lazalina laughed. You overestimate your prowess and importance to your clan.

I don't think Amit will go to war with Tolte Group for killing one, the Sicario during an off-the-grid wetwork mission. But, she tilted her head, as much as I despised cattle, it shouldn't be their fault you got them killed. She lets out a melodious laugh. Amit may have issue with me killing off their pets. I agree to your demands. The boy interrupted. Lassin Lina looked at him furiously, but held her tongue. If you be me, you and the cattle live.

Herr, dry son, this is idiotic, Lassalina said, waving her hands in a sweeping gesture at everything around us. We did all this for... Shut your mouth, you schumpit woman, the brat screamed back. His red aura flickering about him in anger. Well, should I tell your master about this disrespect? Lazalina cleared her throat and looked down at the ground, avoiding his stare.

The red flames burning on him seemed to die down before he turned back to Alejandro. Order them not to interfere. Herr Delitzain commanded Alejandro, pointing to the three of us. Bullshit, Mika said. Put four or four.

We'll kill your best fighters and let the rest of you off with a warning. I saw Mika already had a razor wire wrapped around her robotic hand. The rest ran back into a spool on her belt. Mika, stop, Vos interjected. Have faith in our teacher, he begged. We won't interfere.

He spoke like he knew Alejandro would win, but I suspected something else. Vos was afraid. Ah, then let's begin, the boy said as he pulled two small scalpers out to carry in both hands. He pushed a button on him. and they began to glow a hot red. They are self-heating and caused burning damage,

as this makes a good melee weapon against other men's. It also allows me to get in close and experience every little detail on my patient's face. Do you want one? Alejandro swiftly pulled both machetes out from behind his back. He too pushed a button, and a low hum began to admit from them. He touched both together, and they spark like live jump. jumper cables. I have my favourites too, Alejandro said back. I tell you, Conrad began from his

position on his knees beside Lanalisa, behind Herr Dreitzheim. I still hate you, Alejandro, but I kind of want to see a fellow brother from Nuevo Larado. Teach this uppity Gringo. Alejandro ignored Conrad, pushed in towards Herr Dreitzee. The boy deftly leaned back and forth out of the path of Alejandro's blades. He almost made it look easy, like Mohamed Ali doing a rope-a-dope in his prime. We all expanded outwards a couple of steps to give the dueling pair more room.

Alejandro seemed to be getting frustrated with his nimble phone. He still hadn't landed a blow as he aggressively forced the tiny Nazi in a backward circle. Angry, Alejandro kicked a handful of dirt up in Dritezain's eyes. Driedsane, thrown. long enough for Alejandro to get very close to decapitating him. Drighte Zane had to throw up a scalpel to block the swinging machete. Sparks flew and Dredzane screamed as electricity arcs through his body and making contact with his heated scalpel.

Alejandro's other machete came across in an arc to slice off the hand of Drightzane that he was using to block the first machete. Dresin screamed and stumbled back as his left, left hand tumbled to the dirt, still holding the glowing scampal. Alejandro then took advantage of the boy's confusion and swung both machetes downwards in an overhand arc, meaning to dismember both arms from the boy's body. Drightezen intercepted and sliced lightning towards Alejandro's fingers on his left hand as he swung downwards. Those fingers flew off, and the machete just bounced off of Drighte Zane's shoulder, doing minimal damage. The other machete

struck deep into Draytsein's collarbone Once again the electricity popped through the boy's body But he wasn't phased this time This time Draytzain stabbed and sliced Alejandro As his remaining weapon was still stuck In Drightzain's collarbone Alejandro was forced to release his remaining weapon

To retreat from the fury of blows He was receiving from the scalpel When he stepped back I saw his gut was burnt meat he had a slice across his face that popped a right eye and left glowing amply. I could smell a burning flesh, and for the first time I feared for Alejandro's life. Draynoyanked the machete out of his shoulder and tossed it aside. He began his slow stalk towards the weaponless Alejandro.

Already, Dritesay's left hand and shoulder were completely healed. I'm already better, Pups. Drightzane said as he rotated his shoulder Sure you don't want to trade up for one of my weapons D'Handro wasn't healing because of the burn damage And his first machete was located behind Dredsane He saw him eyeing it And stepped in his path to block it from Alejandro

But Alejandro had to get it So he charged forward With a combo of kicks and punches Alejandro tried to knock D'litezane off balance but he kept jabbing and slicing Alejandro between dodges. Streaming blood spattered to the ground. Alejandro's forward momentum carried him when his body gave out. He stumbled forward to crash into the dirt face first in front of the machete he was after.

Drydzein just sidestepped him and let him fall. Not what you anticipated was it? Drightzang gloated as he walked away from Alejandro's body to turn on his heel and face it. again. Alejandro and Dreitzain had switched places. Now Dritesane was closest to us with his back turned, while Alejandra was further facing us, with Mistress Lazolina and Conrad behind him. The wolfman Loew stood off to the side while his ninja completed the circle. We were all quiet. I could hear Alejandro grunting as he struggled to stand up, using his machete for balance.

I saw him looking at us as we worried for him. I could see that he made eye contact with Mika on the other side of Vowls. And I saw him mouthing something to Mika. She later told me she could read lips and he had charmed her. He told her, Bob Darkout Grenade. Now the next hundred things all happened at once, so I tried to keep up. After three seconds, Mika's dark grenade went off and swallowed Mika and Valsce in a silent darkness. Lazolina sought these from across the way and screamed and pointed at Mika, thinking it was an escape attempt.

All the ninjas and Lobo turned their attention to us. At the same time, Tritzen was not so easily distracted. And he rushed after Alejandro, and Alejandra rushed after him. Alejandro's blade raised above his head. At the last second, before the two warriors clashed, Alejandro didn't press the attack. He swung too early, swiping down harmlessly in front of the oncoming Dritesay.

Alejandro then pivoted on his lead foot to turn in the opposite direction towards Conrad and Lazalina. Alejandro's missed downward swing turned into the momentum of an upward strike. I saw Conrad's and Lasalina's eyes bulge as Alejandro came close. I saw a flash of movement as Lobo launched to protect his mistress. I saw Drayt same pursuing right on Alejandro's heels about to strike. All within the same split second, three strikes landed one right after the other.

The first strike was Alejandro slicing off the kneeling Conrad's head. The machete cleaving most of Conrad's face off in an up. downward. Alejandro pivoted the upward momentum of the strike to swing back down and swipe back down behind himself in an attempt to hit Dritesane with the same attack. He just killed Conrad with. But Dritesane was too fast and too close for Alejandro to complete the attack. The second strike was Dritesane slamming into Alejandro while his machete was low,

stabbing him deep in the cut, making him crumple inwards. The third was Lobo. coming in with a giant battle-axe to chop off Alejandro's head from the side. Alejandro never had a chance to defend himself against his attacks. He made a gamble on a flashy manoeuvre and failed. But I saw the look of peace on Alejandro's face as it fell to roll besides Conrad's, his visage of terror. I guess if Alejandro wasn't making it back,

he'd make sure Conrad wasn't making it either. and everything popped on. Well, I'll be back soon with the next update. I've got the answers to a lot of your questions. I hunt reverse vampires. Nain, Zoom Freidem. Well, it's been a while since the last update. I'll bring everybody back up to speed quick.

So, let me paint the picture for you from left to right. Well, I'll disguise my terror with a lot of dark humour. The stage is set in the middle of a dusty road with houses on both sides. In the middle of the road, you have the burning wreckage of the enemy soldiers and vehicles, sympathetic to the drug King Conrad. Pan further right to me, Meeker and Vals standing in front of the blazing wreckage. They've just been engulfed in a magical blackout grenade, while I'm standing outside of a dark bubble with a surprise and stupid look on my face.

Further right is a rough circle of black-clad nindexam. dudes two in front of us looking very surprised with the blackout grenade obscuring their view the rest of the ninjas are turning to look at us also they formed a ring around three individuals that are fighting those three individuals fighting in the middle well the first is the Nazi prick hair dritzen stabbing Alejandro my teacher in the belly and the third man is a giant black-clad ninja with a silver wolf mask he swung in from the side to decapitate my teacher Alejandro while he was being stabbed in the gut by Dritzen a little to the right on the

ground is my teacher's head Alejandro lying next to Conrad's also decapitated head and a foot right is Conrad's kneeling headless body next to the body is the screaming dominatrix la Salina and so that's the freeze frame in time I told you last time things pop off well they do so better keep up. The two ninjas facing me had me dead to rights with a fancy gun that I had never seen before. I was going to make a desperate grab

for my pistol on the ground but they would have shot me multiple times before I could even have reached it. I went for the pistol anyways and they pointed their weapons at me and right before I expected to feel the pain of bullets ripping me apart they both screamed and jerked their guns

to the side. I grabbed the pistol easily, and popped off two shots, one into each of their melons. Now, I know that's not enough to kill the Mavs, but they'd be down for a while. Vowus with unnaturally quick instincts had already bear-hugged Mika and dove backwards with her.

Just as a magical hurricane-force wind blew the dust and flames into a flaming tornado between the black-clad enemies and us. On the other side of the flaming tornado, Dritesain, Lobo, and Lasalina got another surprise. It was La Salina who first smelled

and felt the moisture on her clothes. Lobo looked down to see that Alejandro bore the pin on a flame grenade attached to his vest before he died.

The grenade misted streams of highly flammable liquid everywhere. Brightsein looked down at the headless body of Alejandro and let out a curse

in German. Lobo grabbed his mistress and jumped away as the grenade switched to its second phase, and sparked hot thermite. A white, hot explosion flared up the area, engulfing Alejandro's body.

Dred Seine was inflamed as he jumped to the side, his fully engulfed body smashing through the wall of a nearby house. The magical whirlwind of fire created a good barrier between my team and the bad guys. The fire that had once engulfed the destroyed vehicles was extinguished, leaving black scrap metal for us to hide behind. I slid in next to Vals and Mika, taking cover by the twisted metal. I peeked through the smoddering wreckage of the jeep to marvel at the whirlwind of fire.

Did one of you summon this? I asked in amazement. I didn't, Vos answered. Nope, Mika said as we both looked at her. It's some sort of witchery, she added. We have to get out of here, Vowis said, as we all watched the swirling flame. This whole operation has gone, tits up. Loud female chanting was heard from the other side of the fire. The fire froze as if it was freeze-framed in time.

Finally evaporated into smoke and blew out through the area, obscuring everyone's view. I could see that it was La Salina chanting, hands clenched at her side, face furious. Three of the ninja dudes were spraying down low but with fire extinguishers. fire extinguishes. He was on his knees, huffing. Her damned witches betrayed us, she screamed. Why do you save the Amit Pups? Well, I didn't know if she expected us to answer her, but I was just as confused as she was.

I guess it would make sense that the witches were helping us. The ninjas acted like they couldn't look at me, similar to how I couldn't look directly at the three witches in the villa's bedroom. mika look here vauer said as he pulled out a burnt hunting rifle it matches my seven sixty-two rounds can you do some repair magic meka nodded and began drawing symbols in the dirt laying the rifle in the middle wau still had a bandolier of spare ammo and so did mika that firestorm torched the two guys i shut in the head an explosion from alexandrol's flame grenade three more of them that big bastard is down but so is Alejandro I said with sadness as I scoped out the playing field six more ninjords the big wolf and the hotchick still standing and that Nazi prick is missing somewhere the enemy had fallen back to the cover of their hummers part by the helicopter ninjas mounting the machine guns

Vals was sighting in the newly fixed rifle and I had a suppressed pistol The three of us huddled behind the burnt-out vehicles Waiting to be slaughtered And to speak of the devil Herr Dreitzain came kicking out of the collapsed house We'd used for sanctuary earlier His entire upper body was burned deeply

Making him appear like a ghastly zombie All his blonde hair was singed off His chest a patchwork of black and red, black and skin showing bloody red layers underneath. His lips curled in a terrible grimace. As he stalked out into the street, his aura burned a bright red, struggling to heal himself. He stared over at where we were huddled behind the wreckage. Steam flowed off of him as he clinched and unclinched his fists. Oh, he's been.

back, I stated to the other's family. I'd never been so afraid of a teenager with a skin problem in all my life. His head was a smooth pale again, and his snarl turned into a pound. You broke the rules. You interfered. I'm going to have to kill all of you now. No mercy from me, he screamed at us. Bullshit. I was compelled, Mika argued. No, I think he cares, I said back.

He was almost fully healed now, his blonde hair twirling in a cowlick. When, out of nowhere, Thoultz started unbuttoning his bandoliers and straps. Mika's eyes sparkled. I've got to do something, he said with regret in his voice. It's going to hurt really bad. Vals pulled out a knife and put the tip to the pentagram tattoos on his chest over his heart. He looked at Mika, and I could see she was scared. I'm going to cut the blinding symbol apart.

You have to cast a minor healing spell to reseal my skin when I say so, and you'll have to do it fast. He used a blade to cut his finger and handed the bloody blade back. Use my blood for the magic, he told Mika. She nodded again, but this time more confident. All Mika could do then was. to begin prepping a healing spell in agreement. He looked at me, gave me a nod.

I like a, you know what to do, nod. He broke cover to walk out to Dritesane. Drightzain saw him and began stalking towards him. I was previously stated when I recount these stories, I may frame them in a humorous light, but that's just a coping mechanism. Because I was scared, shitless, and I had no idea what to do.

Ah, his student comes out to da. The brat screamed at Vowels, the skin from his burnt lips flapping grossly. I'll take all of my anger out on you, little lamb. Oh, you will not, hear Dritesay. Or should I say, Mr. Thirteen? Vals yelled right back. Or this pause Dritesane's forward movement.

I am Vals, Barthes, Barthes, of the Templarites, Odopuchyam, and I am the heir of the house of Bloodraven. Fals looked past, Tritzen, to point at the Toltec henchmen standing further back by their vehicles. Your fight was with Conrad Avila and Alejandro personally. If you transgress any further, you will be starting a war with Amit, the Vatican, and the oldest, most powerful noble house in this world. You need to call it a day, and we both then return to our response. perspective camps. We have learned our lesson. Tolstic group is not to be trifled with. He stated with

the calm that really impressed me. Oh, my Catholic Savior, Dreystains stated sarcastically. You know, people rescued me from my evil Nazi captors, then turned around to do the same experiment with you. He waved his arms dramatically of balance. But unlike you, it didn't take me 80-plus years for my balls to drop, Vowse near back. I saw in Valsh's face that he knew he'd lost his temper. He steadied his voice and said, Me and you will get the chance to see who's the better experiment. But not today.

Right now we are leaving. I saw Lazalina and Lobo whispering to each other. Lazarina finally walked up next to Dritzing, with Lobo at her sight. We will withdraw with Alejandro and Conrad's remains. We don't fear Amit, but don't want war with the Vatican and House Blood Raven, she told Vals Sturbed. Well, Dritesain was not impressed.

He reached out to touch the pentagram on Vows' chest, and Vowse recoiled away from his touch. So, the church has made a deal with the devil. He looked up at Vals. You're supposed to be my bedder. A bridge to unite all of us. Heard Dreitzin, you have fulfilled your contracts. Whatever you do next is of your own volition,

Lazolina said. Lobo got the picture and stood between her and the glowing Dritesane. Both Lazalina and Lobo began walking hurriedly back to their men, Lazalina shouting orders. Yeah, I think I'll take that heart from you. Drightsane sneered at Val. I don't need it for peace or power. I just want to hurt mother.

I saw Vowse tense up and throw a punch to knock Dritesane four feet back. Dredsen snout, and his aura exploded with red fire. Vaus quickly pulled out his boot knife and ran it down across the pendergum on his chest, blood gushing out of the wound. Vos later told me he had to make it deep. He had to rip the skin enough for the pentagram. Pentegram's power to fade. The pentagram was placed upon him to dampen the powerful heart he had inside him.

It was meant to let his body adjust to the power as he grew older. But now the seal was broken and the immense magical power was let loose in his body. He screamed as a deep blood-red order sprung from his body. He threw his head back and his muscles tense to the point of snapping. The next moment, the awful power of Dritesane met the wild, overwhelming power of Vowers. And well, seems like a good place to stop for the next part. Oh, don't worry. I will tell you how we got over this mess.

And I get to ask Vowas some meeker a few questions. When I was ten. Hello, everybody. Well, I don't know how to start this. My mother always told me to sharpen my speech and writing skills. She told me it would be important if I was ever meant to bridge the gaps between worlds. Oh, this is Vowis, by the way. Taylor pressured me to tell my side of the story.

But none of you want to hear my backstory right now. You want to know how we escape from Herr Tritzen and the Tulsa group. I won't lead you around with cliffhangers like Taylor does. or he likes the attention that gets him. No, I'll tell you about cutting the seal on my chest and the power inside me that began to eat me alive. I'm secure enough in my manhood to admit that I was mortified at the prospect of cutting the seal on my chest.

I was never told to do this. I was told to never do this. I was told my body would be devoured like an ant falling into the sun. That was years ago when I was a child. I was stronger now. I had to be in order to survive today and fulfil my destiny. You see, I don't have a normal human heart in my body. To explain further, I'd have to go back hundreds of years, so just take my word for it right now. The heart in my body was far more powerful than any mavericks. It was like having a nuclear reactor in my chest. So I stood

facing Drydzen in the middle of a dusty street in Mexico. Upon slashing a deep cut through my pentagram on my chest, I could feel the burning energy raging outwards from inside my body. I realized my human body hadn't adjusted to its immense power yet. I had little time, so I had to end this fight fast. Drightzain seemed to move in slow motion, his right fist arcing towards me. I threw my own right fist back at him. I intercepted his fist with my own, exploding his hand.

in a mess of gore I delivered a brutal left hook to his face catching his jaw and dislodging it off one side of his face to hang like a loose scrap of meat oh I saw Dritesane's eyes widen as he stared at me a look of terror over his young face he knew he was about to die maybe he'd never felt the sensation before before I could smash his scrawny head I first had to projectile vomit. I doubled over and cleared my stomach contents all over the ground. I was horrified to see blood and a few of my teeth in the sick puddle. I looked up in time to see a kick flying into my face. More teeth were knocked out of my mouth as I spiral backwards across the dirt. As I skidded to a halt, I realized how much pain was racing through my body. Or how could my body ever acclimate of this?

I felt a knee land in my belly and a punch splatter my nose across my face. I stared through blurry eyes up at the jawless face of Drit Saint, forked tongue hanging out as he landed blow after blow down on me with his remaining hand. To be truthful, Taylor will think this is just me bragging, but his punches didn't even register through the pain that was resonating from inside me. His punches were, well, more of an annoyance. I reached up and grabbed him by his left shoulder and ripped off his remaining left arm like it was made of paper mashay. Oh, Dritesane screamed, his forked tongue flailing wildly.

And the armless bastard jumped back up to his feet and began stomping on my face. He must have been in the same amount of pain as me, but he kept his laser focus on killing me. Three coughs from a suppressed pistol met my ear through all the pain. pain. Holes appeared in his face and blew brains out of the back of his head. He fell backwards to clap away from me. Do it, Mika, I heard Taylor scream, heal his magic chest thing. Taylor appeared over me, blocking out the sun, burning my blood-filled eyes. I heard him grab me by the back of my vest and begin pulling me backwards to the safety of cover. I could see his hand out stretch pointing an empty pistol in the direction of Dritesane and the Tulsaac group.

I could hear Mika fervently chanting and the overwhelming pain of my magic heart, boiling my body from within, vanished as the pentegram was healed back, and I was just left with the pain of having my face almost caved in. I was sucking for air and began shaking. Mika ordered Taylor to roll me on my side. I cuffed up my last remit. the remaining teeth and the rest of the blood and bile in my mouth. Do what you can for him, I heard Taylor say. I'm going to finish off that Nazi print. I was told later Taylor grabbed the only remaining rifle

and approached Drite Saint to either bash his head in or shoot it with something powerful enough to obliterate the brain. Taylor was intercepted by Lobo on Lazolina's. Lobo had the ruin, but slowly healing body of Dritezane slumped over his shoulder. And it turns out bullets to the brain slowed down the healing in a maverip to a crop. Lazolina yelled to Taylor that the fight was over, and Dritesane was still useful to the Tulsaac Group.

Taylor made the smart decision and allowed Lobo to take Dritesane back to the helicopter. The Tolset Group peeled out and left immediately, leaving us stranded in the village. Mika desperately attempted first aid on me, The heart in my body would begin to hit me instead of hurt me now that the seal was healed again. After about 30 minutes, I sat up and ran my hand through my hair. Giant clumps of my dark hair fell out as I did. It was okay.

I mean, hair would grow back. But teeth. Are you going to tell us what that was all about? Mika demanded. I sat up and told them the little I could before violating my oath of secrecy. Well, first time. I explained our head, Dritzen, was the 13th of 20 kids rescued by Allied forces from Nazi scientists during the war. The Allies were led by a special contingent of Templar commandos from the Vatican.

The children were injected with Mavrip DNA in the womb. The Nazis wanted to create hybrids that had the traits of ancient Mavrip without having to wait hundreds of years. They also wanted each child to have autonomy and be able to make decisions for themselves. strange for the Nazis to want their child experience to have free will but they were supposed to be the new leaders of the Reich when they grew up the Nazis had accomplished their mission with eugenics but the children aged at a very slow rate they stayed infants for 20 years

80 years later and Dritzening was just hitting puberty so obviously creating an instant army of hybrid superhumans was out of the question I told them all this to tell them about why Dritesane hated me so much. I was born a normal human. The Vatican adopted orphan children to raise as warriors in the fight against the unholy forces of invading realms. I was one of these children adopted by the Vatican.

I was born with a genetic defect in my heart. By the time I was ten years old, my heart was already worn down and giving out on me. surely I would have been dead before my 11th birthday I received a heart transplant from an ancient being a noble this being was far older than any maverick and originated from another plane of existence entirely she had been stranded in our world for millennia well I can't tell you much about her right now but I called her mother the heir to house blood raven for centuries the church has been at war with magical forces and beings from outside our dimension. This war has saved a lot of lives, but also damned a lot of innocent ones. Mother made a pact with a more open-minded sect of the church to give me her heart. Mother was tired of living and wanted to do something good with her death.

She'd caused so much pain and suffering in her long life, she knew she could never atone for it, but, well, maybe I could. I would begin a bridge between the church and all things supernatural. I could lead to greater peace and cooperation between the many warring groups and clans. It would only take me around 300 years to adjust to the noble heart burning within me, and, after being trained in secret for eight years, the church finally found out about me. To keep me safer, deal was quickly struck with the Amit clan,

for me to join as a hunter for the next four years. And that's why Dritzen just saw me as another experiment, another super-soldier in league with Amit and the Vatican. The church's attempt to won up the Nazis. Well, rumors of my existence had permeated all corners of the underworld already, and this had undoubtedly hurt Dritesain's fragile ego. After I told my story, we all moved to one of the houses to take shelter.

We'd already agreed to stay and recuperate for the day. If rescue hadn't shown up in the morning, we'd have to hike back on foot. It was around midnight when we hunkered down in a house, lit by candlelight. Meeker had found some canned food from before all the residents were turned into mavs and was heating them up in a fire pitch he'd made on the dirt floor of the living room. I laid in a cot.

still thoroughly exhausted and Taylor stood by the window watching the villa still smouldering in the distance. The witches helped us out there, he announced the room. Meeker turned to him, questioning, but I didn't have the strength to waste on him. Well, unless it was you, Meika, he said. Those ninja dudes had the drop on all of us when your blackout grenade went off. But they all spares down and act like... Well, looking at us, hurt them. The same thing happened inside the villa to me

when I tried to shoot the witches. I couldn't look or even point my weapon at them, the same way the ninjas acted with us on the street. It wasn't me, Mika answered. That's some high-level protection magic. Why would these three set us up for an ambush? Then help us survive the ambush, I asked, with my eyes closed. and the thing I heard next

made me shoot up to standing position ready to defend myself we just wanted the money stupid boy came an old woman's voice my head pounded as I searched the room for her Taylor spun and levelled his rifle

in all corners of the room The boy with a pentagram is important to us And you and this girl are important to his grow Came the witch's voice from Micah's lips. They both stared at her as her eyes rolled back in her head and she shook lightly. She turned a smile. So you will remember the dead you now owe us when we meet again, handsome. Before I could think of what to do, Mika started shaking even more violently. Her pupils rolled back down and she let out a primal growl.

Those bitches! She screamed in her. She screamed in her own voice. She immediately pulled a stick of chalk out of her pocket and started drawing a circle in the middle of the living room floor. I'm going to put up a protection circle. You'll both need to pack in with me. So minutes later, we all sat back to back with our knees up, within the circle of protection.

The worst part was we'd left the food out of reach with the circle. Taylor must have risked his own safety for the food, because after I woke up for my shift, our food had somehow entered the circle. I tried to stay awake with the two of them. If the witches were telling the truth, these two were important to my future. Maybe I needed to get closer to them.

It's difficult because I always felt out of place around them, like I didn't belong. Well, I don't think I belong anywhere. Somehow I was supposed to be a bridge between different people and clans, but I couldn't even see. start up a normal conversation with my teammates. People seem so trifling and concerned with silly things in my opinion, especially Taylor. Taylor was always joking, always filling the blank

spaces with the sound of his own voice. People liked him because he propped up their fragile egos, even though he was mediocre at just about everything he did. Oh, I know he'll read this, and I don't care. The things I say are not a out of spite, they're just factual observations I've made. I'm not writing this to make him feel good. I'm a man that would live for around 300 years, maybe 1,000, maybe even forever. I see things from a perspective other humans don't see them from. The answer to most problems was always the straightest path, the most brutal path.

I required no finessing and beating around the bush to get to an obvious solution. I had more time than any human alive, but I still had no place for wasting time. In conversations I'd always end up insulting whoever I was talking to. Speaking was only useful to relay an order or get answers to questions asked. I had no time for pleasant conversation and pretending I cared what the other person was saying. So most of the time I wouldn't say anything. People were too easily offended when I just wanted to get to the person. wanted to get to the point.

But, anyways, I did keep falling asleep throughout the night. I tried to listen to the details of Taylor and Mika's conversation. All I knew was Taylor was asking Mika about magic, specifically tracking spells. Taylor explained to Mika that a hunter had placed tracking spells on him and his late brother the day he was first attacked by Mavrips. Mika told him she didn't know of any spell that could. could consistently track a life human. Mika said she only knew spells to give locations of stationary objects

or scrying spells that gave you the location of the targeted person the moment you perform the spell, but couldn't continuously track the target. Taylor began to get upset for some reason. So how did Mar put a spell on us to keep track on us the day we were attacked? She knew her in danger. She came to rescue me moments after my brother. was killed. Mika was quiet for a while. You were all propped up against each other back to back,

and I felt her shoulders tense. You can magically bait an object or person, she said slowly. Me and father would do it to animals when hunting shifters and skinwalkers. Magic attacks magic. Magically baiting something will cause magical creatures to take a greater interest. It pulls the fate of magical creators closer to each other. It's similar to being charmed, how magical creatures and those bated draw closer subconsciously, but you can resist it easier if you notice it. Now Taylor tensed. She told me she used us as bait. I thought she just meant keeping eye on us, assuming the mavericks would attack us. But what you're saying is she could have intentionally attracted the maverips to us, so that she could kill them.

She caused the death of my brother. I'm not saying that for sure, Taylor. What makes you suspect this ma used devious tactics that day? It was Mark, Taylor said quietly. He spoke to me on the night we performed summoning rituals out in the desert. He told me not to trust him. Well, there's a spell we can perform to see if you abated. Mika answered in a measured voice.

It's out of my league of skill, but we can find somebody. The spells like a search history on yourself for any spells or curses performed on you. Well, this seemed to shut Taylor up so I could sleep. He was moody and quiet for the rest of the night, and I wasn't complaining. We would make the high count the next morning and be picked up by Amit forces later on. Taylor and Mika never got to perform the spell they were talking about. As soon as we made it back, we were sent on another hunt back in the States. We'd be assisting Mar and her daughter, and Taylor would get the answers that he needed.

And so once again, we reached the end of tonight's podcast. My thanks as always to the authors of those wonderful stories, and to you for taking the time to listen. Now, I'd ask one small favour of you. Wherever you get your podcast from, please write a few nice words and leave a five-star review as it really helps the podcast. That's it for this week, but I'll be back again, same time, same place, and I do so hope you'll join me once more. Until next time, sweet dreams and bye-bye.