Whoa, is it time for the wolf hunt already? No. No it is not. I'm so sorry, but I thought that little Richter Trevor deserved a little more time and it helps flesh out Sonia just a bit more. I felt like she was very harsh, which, admittedly, was on purpose. She's not necessarily supposed to be a "nice" person, especially with the life she lives, and I wanted to highlight that in her relationship with her son. So this part rounds out backstory and the next lot, I promise, is all that sweet, sweet werewolf hunting. Patience! Theodore Roosevelt said that man has no greater virtue than patience. Probably. He said a lot of things. Young Richter tossed and turned in his bed. The silence of the night always seemed to disturb him, as though it were disingenuous, concealing some great threat. He remembered that when his father was alive, there was always the calming sound of life within the manor after Richter retired to bed. Music from his father's phonograph or Grant playing the piano would softly lull him to sleep. But these days there was only silence and the terror that he knew hid therein.
Finally slipping from bed, Richter walked to his window. The pale light of a nearly full moon shined down over the grounds, illuminating a car at the front of the manor. The young boy pulled his long hair from in front of his eyes, leaning closer to the glass to see Grant loading a black trunk into the vehicle. A coldness seized Richter, forcing him to stumble back. He looked toward the door. In an instant he was through it, racing down the stairs, his pale blue nightgown flaring as he bolted to the front hall. "Richter? What are you doing out of bed?" Sonia asked. The young boy froze in front of his mother. She stood, silhouetted in the moonlight, her usual dress replaced with a tight fitting black suit. He saw the shapes of pistols hugging her thighs and chain wrapped around her waist. "My apologies, Madam," Grant called from the door, rushing to the young boy's side. "I should have ensured Master Richter was asleep before I began loading the car.." "Where are you going, Mother?" the young boy asked. "Richter, return to your bed," Sonia replied curtly. "Come, Master Richter," Grant said, taking the young boy's hand. "Mother! Are you leaving?" Richter asked, tears forming in the corner of his eyes. "Master Richter, your mother has important business," Grant assured him. Sonia closed her eyes, sighing. Holding up a hand, she paused her servant and stepped closer to her son, kneeling. "I have important work to do, Richter, but I promise I will be back soon." "Where are you going?" the boy repeated. "Don't worry, my sweet child. I won't be gone long." She forced a smile and ran a gloved finger along his cheek, wiping away a tear. "Would you like Mother to bring you back a toy?" "Don't go," Richter pleaded. "You're going to go away like Father." "Master Richter!" Grant began before being silenced by Sonia. "My dear Richter, I will be back before you know it. I promise." "You promise? You promise you'll come back?" "Yes, my dear," Sonia said softly. "And when I get back, I promise I won't go anywhere for a long time." Richter shifted, uneasy. His mother caressed his red cheek, smiling as sweetly as she could manage. "Now, go to bed, my sweet child." Richter sniffled and nodded, allowing Grant to lead him back up the stairs. Sonia turned moving toward the door, pausing only as a small voice called out to her once more. "I love you, Mother." Sonia hesitated, standing in the open doorway. Without turning, she simply replied, "And I, you."
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I hope this next section is as enjoyable to you guys as it was for me writing. You'll notice the first thing I do is answer the niggling question : What about the servant? I could've added this to the end of the previous chapter, but it seemed to end perfectly with the rose scene. I felt like adding this first part would've detracted from the ending. Well, the time is almost here. Just a few more post and Wolves and Wild Roses will be put to rest and moved over to the bonus content section. Have you guys been enjoying it? I certainly hope so. The carriage stopped at the docks, the morning sun burning away the light layer of fog that lay over the city. Inside, Sonia stared at the list of ingredients to the Wolf's Bait. Some of them were expected, but others seemed quite far fetched. She wondered if hornet's honey was something she could even get in America. That was hardly her greatest concern at the moment, however. She had tied up nearly all the loose ends in her trip, but what could be the most important still remained.
Outside, the coach driver groaned gestured toward the door. Unaided, it swung open. He sat still at the head for several moments, waiting, before he turned back to the open door. "I'm dreadfully sorry, but I need your assistance," came Sonia's voice. The gaunt servant dropped from the driver's seat with an audible thud, the carriage bouncing slightly as he approached the door. "In here," she urged, motioning for the servant to enter. With a low sigh, the driver stepped inside the carriage. It first sized up Sonia, then examined the coach interior. Upon seeing nothing impeding the hunter's exit, it turned to stare at her. "Do you not see it?" she asked. The driver only stared at her. "I simply can't leave until... oh my, what happened to your face?" The servant carefully ran a hand along his face. "No, around the mouth," she said. The servant touched his fingers to his parted lips, head cocked curiously. "No, no... Come here, I'll get it," Sonia instructed, the driver leaning forward. With a quick motion, the hunter's gloved hand darted in and out of the servants mouth. His eyes slowly closed and he fell back against the opposite seat of the carriage, stiff as a board. Sonia grinned and stepped out, hoisting her considerably lighter trunk from the roof. "Don't worry, dear," she said before closing the door. "I'm sure he'll find you when he eventually escapes. Or perhaps he'll just make another." With a shrug and a smile she approached her ship, handing her trunk off to a porter. As she ascended the gang plank she tossed aside a small, withered scroll wrapped in twine. As it floated down into the water, she smirked. "Golems." *** "I must say, your new hair suits you, Madam." Sonia rolled her eyes as she dropped a folded piece of paper on the table before him. With a sigh she took her seat at the cafe table, Mr. Roosevelt opening and scanning through the list. A waiter approached, setting a cup of tea before her, which she accepted with a nod. "Mr. Roosevelt, if you only knew what I went through to end up with this look," Sonia replied as she sipped her tea. "Is this everything?" he asked, adjusting his pince nez. "My source is trying at times, but reliable. If your people can get everything, we should be ready to mobilize in a day." "Bully!" Roosevelt exclaimed as he looked over the list. "Incredible work, my dear. You are sure this will do the trick? I've not heard of some of these... items." "My source told me that every werewolf within a hundred miles would be able to smell it. We should have it brewed and set up at least a day before the full moon," she continued. "Ah, so the beasts can smell it even as men." "Indeed. They won't know why they're attracted, but it will lure them just same." "Good work, Mrs. Trevor. I will have my men begin copying the book right away. Expect it waiting for you when this is over." Sonia set her cup down, trying not to let her mind dwell on the hell of the last few days. There was fresh hell waiting for her that required her attention. "Have you set a location?" "By all rights, we should wait another month and try to lure the beasts out west," Roosevelt said, handing the list to a waiting agent, "but I fret to think what damage will occur if we delay the operation further. I've selected a relatively isolated forest near the border. It should keep us away from the eyes of the public." "Is that wise?" Sonia asked. "These creatures will have an advantage in a forested area." "Mrs. Trevor, I led my men through hellfire at San Juan. I have no fear of untrained beasts." "I hope that confidence is warranted," she replied, standing. "Please send me the exact location. I have preparations to make." Today's update is just a short little section. It finishes out the chapter and gets things set for moving into the finale. I suspect it will only be a few more of these. May up to part 12 if I stretch these. In any case, I sincerely hope you're enjoying them. I had a blast writing them. If you're new around here, these little snippets are very raw. I've been editing The Paladin for many months now, cutting, swapping and otherwise refining the work. These short stories, on the other hand, are quick and dirty writing projects. I'm not putting a lot of effort into editing them because I'm offering them up free. Just a sample. With that said, I hope you enjoy this next installment of Wolves and Wild Roses. Yes, it's super tiny, but I wasn't paying attention to where the chapter ended yesterday... er... I mean... it's very poignant and the brevity of this installment highlights the complex relationship the immortal vampire Pasha has with his very mortal students. Yes. That. Sonia stared at the parchment in her hands. Pasha's handwriting was so elegant, so formal. Everything about him was, really, and yet, it was all just a facade, wasn't it? She looked up from the list of ingredients for the Wolf's Bait, watching as Pasha stood before his coffin in silence. He has been standing there for several minutes, leaving the huntress uncertain of what to say. Taking a last look at the formula, she folded the parchment and tucked it away.
"Thank you again, Pasha. This will help immensely." "When the full moon is passed, your mission will be over. I will come for you then." "Just give me this time, Pasha. Let me do this... as a human." "I will keep my word. And I will hold you to yours." With these words, Pasha cast out an arm, his coffin swinging open. His body began to blur and fade, melting into a hazy mist. Sonia took a step back as the mist swirled and floated around her, finally moving into the coffin and taking the form of a sleeping Pasha as the lid closed. Sonia looked to the window, watching the first beams of light creeping over the horizon. It was only a few minutes later when she coming down the steps to meet Pasha's servant at his carriage. He looked impatiently at her as the door swung open. "In just a moment," she said, approaching the front of the carriage. "I have one last thing to take care of. Please, wait here. I won't be long." The servant groaned and turned his gaze back to the horses. Sonia nodded in appreciation and made her way toward the garden. The servant watched her from the corner of his eyes, but couldn't see what she was doing as she passed through and back into the manor. Once again, she stood before Pasha's coffin, running a hand along the grain. "Pasha," she said aloud, lifting three wild roses, "you are welcome to claim me when next you rise." Her face still and emotionless, she placed the roses atop the coffin. She stared at the flowers for several moments, thoughts dwelling on her past with Pasha, before producing a small can. Opening it, she poured a viscous liquid over the stems of the roses, sealing them to the coffin. "Goodbye." So how are you liking the story so far? Again, the character of Pasha belongs to the same artist that did that amazing picture of Reagan (I'll have that up on the front page soon!) but I think he fits very well into The Paladin universe. So from here we get a peek into the mindset of the vampire Pasha as well as how his relationship with Sonia works. Take a look and enjoy! Sonia spent the next day forcing smiles as she indulged the vampire, spending the evening dancing with him, listening to music, and, of course, listening to his tales of adventure from across the centuries. She had heard these stories many times, but Pasha seemed to have few people these days to share them with. In fact, when he was with her, whether it be dancing or conversing, he seemed to light up in a way she hadn't seen since she was a young girl.
"You were such a tiny thing back then," he mused as the pair walked beneath the light of the waxing moon. "I had no faith that you would ever amount to a hunter." "Such confidence. I can't imagine why I had trouble," she replied, her black gown trailing lightly behind her as they toured his garden. "You jest, but I will always admit when I am wrong. I have trained many hunters over the centuries and you have proved to be one of the most intriguing students I've ever had." "Intriguing? Not talented or gifted?" "No, far better. You captured something in me, Sonia." The hunter shifted uncomfortably, turning her gaze away. "Why do you insist on speaking like that, Pasha?" "Because I have lived long enough to ask for what I want rather than want in silence," he replied, pausing their pace. He stepped closer to Sonia, trailing his fingers along her cheek. She shivered and pulled away. "You presume too much, Pasha." "Do I? Surely you must be lonely since your husband passed. Wouldn't it be better to spend you days in the company of one like me?" "My days are quite fulfilling as they are. When I'm not engaged in the destruction of foul hellspawn, I still have my Richter." "Richter is as welcome here as you are, Sonia. Surely he would benefit from a father figure." Sonia tensed up, turning away to hide her sneer. "My husband and my family are none of your concern." "I meant no disrespect," he said looking toward his flowers. "Come, let us speak of other things." "Like the formula?" she replied, stepping further into the garden. "It is... coming to me." "I'm quite sure," Sonia said, moving from planter to planter. Even in the moonlight, the garden was beautiful. She approached a stone fountain, topped with a sad angel. Here she paused, reflecting on her trip. "I am thinking they are giving you something big, no?" "Pardon?" Sonia asked. "Your employers. For you to return to me after all this time, they must be offering something quite valuable." "Perhaps. That is not your concern nor part of our deal." "Would life with me be so miserable, my dear?" Pasha asked, placing a cold hand on her bare shoulder. "It would not be a life, Pasha. I will never allow myself to become..." "Like me?" Sonia turned to face him. "Yes," she answered firmly. "What you want from me I will not... cannot give." With these words she turned from the vampire and moved back toward the verdant plants that surrounded the fountain. Before her was a planter filled with camomile. Even in the moonlight, she could see the beautiful colors of these and all the other blooms, all carefully chosen and cultivated so that their owner might appreciate them even at night when other flowers closed their petals. As she looked closer, she took notice of something out of order. Beneath the camomile where more flowers, a pale pink. She leaned closer. "Are these roses?" she asked. "Wild roses," Pasha answered, moving to her side. "They showed up in my garden one day." The vampire smiled as he knelt beside the plant, reaching his hand out, halting just inches from the roses. "I cannot touch wild roses. I cannot disturb them at all." "Why hasn't your servant removed them?" "Because... they remind me of you." Sonia stood, taking a deep breath. She looked up into the waxing moon. "You won't give me the formula unless I agree, will you?" "I promise I will make every day a paradise for you." "That's not a promise you can keep," she replied, turning to face him. "Still... I have my obligations and you seem to be the only solution I currently have. Let me have this contract and you may claim me after." Pasha leaned closer, looking for deceit in her eyes. "When you have finished your contract-" "You may come to claim me." "I will hold you to this, Sonia." "I know that full well." "This... payment... it must be something incredible," Pasha remarked. "That is not your concern. Do we have an accord?" Pasha nodded solemnly. "Agreed." "Thank you. Now, I need that formula. Time is running out." When Sonia awoke again, she was in an enormous bed, a red canopy hanging above her and satin sheets covering her. She sat up with a jolt, looking for any signs of her foe. Only the pale, carriage driver was present, standing at the door to the bedroom. She lifted her sheets slightly to see she was at least modestly dressed in a silk nightgown before throwing back the sheets.
"Where is he?" she asked. The servant gestured at the window. She turned to see the sun hanging low in the sky. She must have been out the entire day. That meant Pasha would be sleeping now, too. "What does he want?" The servant pointed his bony finger to the closet where a long, red gown hung in waiting for her. "Of course," she grumbled, "dinner." She stared out the window once more. There was still enough time, she could escape now. She could commandeer one of Pasha's horses and return to London and never set foot in this manor again. To Hell with Pasha. To Hell with Roosevelt and to Hell with werewolves. "The Magus Device," she muttered as she sat back down on the bed. Eyes clenched shut, she nodded. "I'll be down directly." *** Sonia stepped down the cascading stairs into the dining room, a lavish table awaiting her with Pasha sitting at the head. He stood and bowed. Sonia paused and watched him, her hands drifting to the bandages her borrowed gown covered. Continuing closer, she was met by her host who wore an unmarred blue suit and a bright smile. Forcing herself to act within the rules of proper decorum, she presented her gloved hand, which he took and kissed. She shivered. "You look lovely tonight," Pasha commented as she took her seat. "Well, I suppose a bit of rouge can hide the bruising," she replied. At that moment the gaunt servant approached, setting down a bowl with red liquid inside. She stared at it for several moments before turning to her host. "Tomato soup," he assured her, taking his seat. She took a cautious sniff before indulging, finding herself quite famished. Still, she presented herself as a woman of class, resisting both the urge to slurp the soup down in one go as well as the urge to hurl obscenities at the man across from her. "I was quite impressed by your performance," Pasha continued, his servant setting a similar bowl before him. "I see life in America has not dulled your talents; you almost had me." "If I was truly attempting to kill you, I would've done it during the day," she remarked. "A wise decision. So, what information was so important as to make you come all the way to London?" "I've been contracted to kill werewolves," she answered. "My student is having difficulties killing wolves?" he replied with a furrowed brow. "I feel insulted." "I'm not being contracted to kill a handful of wolves, Pasha. I've been contracted to kill them all." The vampire's scowl was quickly replaced with a slight smile. "All of them?" "Yes," she replied between spoonfuls of soup. "It seems the United States is suffering from... an infestation." "Any country with werewolves is so cursed; they are an abomination." "I suppose you would be the expert," she replied. "You jest, Sonia, but I have seen monsters that would make Hell itself quake. Werewolves are a disease that must be purged." "Good. Then you'll help me?" "With conditions," he replied. Sonia lowered her spoon, scowling. "Name them." "In time. I can assume that you have no issue killing the foul beasts, yes? It is finding and attracting them before the moonlight fails you." "Indeed," she confirmed. "If we attempt to track them the traditional way, we may hope to kill one a month, perhaps a pair. It won't even keep up with the rate at which new ones are spawned." "Then you have no choice but to gather the infected souls together and purge them all at once. Very well. I believe I have the knowledge you seek." "Good. Then let's not waste time, the trip back to America is long." "Unfortunately, I believe the book I require was burned in an unfortunate accident last night." Sonia's eyes narrowed and her fists clenched. "But... if you give me a few days, I can perhaps remember the formula for a proper Wolf's Bait." "A few days?" she exclaimed. "The full moon is less than a week away and I have a very long trip back." "Then it would be in your best interest to help me relax so that I might recall the formula more quickly." Can you believe it? I've been doing this blog for 10 weeks now. I'm pretty stoked. I usually don't have the gumption to see to a daily task like this, so I'm giving myself extra kudos today for hitting a blog post every day since I started. How long can I keep this up? Stay tuned and find out. Now, the important thing for today is that we take a brief respite from Wolves and Wild Roses. If you're enjoying, I'm very happy. If you need a break, I understand. That's what Paladin Playlists are for! And today's song is another one that, in hindsight, should've been right there in the beginning. While Soldiers is my unofficial theme for The Paladin, this is the song that inspired me to write it in the first place: Vater Unser. Now, usually I add the artist afterward, but to my surprise when looking this up, I'm not sure who to credit anymore. When it was made, the group at the time was called E Nomine. Apparently it was less a band and more a project, because a good chunk of the members have moved on and formed another band/project called Schlafes Bruder. I have to say, I like the old name better. All of that is beside the point, which is that the music is excellent. It's not hard to figure out how I came up with the idea of demon hunting priests while listening to this track. It's intense! It's perfect for battles against the unholy armies of Hell and, lets face it, lyrics in German always sound at least 2.5 times more bad ass. That's just science. Now, I tried to find a link to an official channel for the song, but it looks like Schlafes Bruder doesn't have the song on their channel and there is no E Nomine channel. So... thanks for checking out this random person's channel when enjoying this song! Inching toward Christmas. The crazies are out in full force at all the stores and I really don't feel like facing society. Fortunately I have plenty of work to keep me busy with editing The Paladin. On that note... I am still accepting beta reader applications. If you'd like to get a look at the full novel before it's published, this is your chance. Just send me a line through the Contact page. And now, onto the next part of Wolves and Wild Roses. "Is this really necessary?" she spat.
"Only so long as you resist me," he replied. With a wave of his hand, the floor around her cracked and broke, skeletons clawing their way up from the open chasms. Sonia skirted backward, turning to rush for the door, but flames encircled the entire perimeter of the ballroom. She turned in time to dodge the first creature's attack, but the next ripped its bony hand across her raised arm, spilling her blood once more. Biting and scratching at her, they swarmed the hunter, but she managed to throw their light frames back with a few well placed kicks. As the creatures closed back in, she seized a nearby standing candelabrum, spinning it like a staff and using the heavy base to crush the skull of one of her advancing adversaries. Spinning the makeshift weapon around, she stabbed the prongs into the next skeleton's rib cage, twisting and locking it in. Lifting the creature, she used it's body like a flail, slamming it into its cohorts. She moved to finish the last standing creature when a disembodied arm seized her leg, causing her to stumble. She kicked it off in time for the advancing skeleton to push past her weapon and tackle her to the ground. It pummeled its fists into her chest and face repeatedly, the hunter shielding herself as best she could. Screaming, she caught the monster's arms and pulled her feet up, pressing against its chest. With a sick pop the arms pulled free and the skeleton reeled back across the floor. She kipped up to her feet, using one dismembered arm to knock the skeleton's skull loose, then turned to hurl the other at the vampire Pasha. He laughed as the arm evaporated before him. Folding his arms he rose into the air, his smile still piercing the darkness. Sonia screamed as she rushed toward him, but a wall of flames erupted before her. She turned back, but more flames spread behind her, trapping her in place. The vampire roared with laughter as the ground beneath her glowed bright red. Feeling the heat well beneath her, she plucked another bottle of holy water from her belt and smashed it into the ground. The glowing subsided, but she could see the water begin to boil away. She cursed herself for having left her cloak in the grand hall as she looked for her exit. The chandelier? Too high for her chain. The curtains? Too far away. She felt over her belt for more holy water, but she was out. Looking about she saw through the flames the writhing form of one of the skeletons, the candelabrum still buried in it's chest. Unraveling her chain, she shot it out, snaring the candelabrum and pulling it back to her. As the last bit of holy water beneath her boiled away, she jammed the makeshift pole into the floor and vaulted over the edge of the flames. Fire burst from the floor as she flew into the air, engulfing her for only a moment before she rolled clear. She screamed as she rolled and patted the flames out on her clothing, but her hair was too much to stop. With a flash of her dagger her long, beautiful braid fell to the ground, burning. "Such a pity. Your hair was so beautiful," the vampire quipped. "End this Pasha!" "Your surrender is all that will end this." Sonia roared, pulling loose her chain once more, twirling it through the air as she raced toward the creature. Pasha merely held his hand forward and the cracked chunks of the floor rose and flew at her. She slid under one, dodged to the side of the next, and leapt into the air, vaulting off the last and sending her barbed chain sailing through the creature before it disappeared, merely another illusion. "You still haven't learned have you?" his voice echoed through the ballroom. In a flash he was in front of her. Then gone. Then to her right. Vanished. Behind her. Disappeared. Over and over the vampire flashed in and out of her sight, dancing around her. She let loose her chain, striking at each glimpse of Pasha, looping the chain back to swing through the next, but it never met it's mark. After several tries and the long, odious laugh of the vampire taunting her, she pulled free her last vial of the red liquid, casting it straight into the air. The sound of glass shattering confirmed her suspicions and she looked up to see the red haired vampire engulfed in flames. He flailed and cursed, crashing into a large balcony that hung over the far end of the ballroom, trying to rid himself of the flames. Sonia knew she would not have this opportunity again and raced toward him, climbing a nearby curtain to gain the elevation she needed. As Pasha tumbled into the balcony seating, she cast out her chain once more, lashing it around the guard rail that surrounded it. With a swing and a tug, she pulled herself up to the vampire's level. He rid himself of the distracting flames just as she stood up. The pair stared at one another in silence for several seconds, Sonia panting and Pasha snarling. With a growl the vampire lunged at her, but she avoided the attack flipping over him as she opened a loop in her chain. She pulled it tight around his throat, but Pasha turned quickly. His powerful claws slashed at her, but she spun to the left, looping another section of chain around his neck. He pulled at the chain, but she took the opportunity to plant both feet into his chest and tighten the loop around his neck. He batted at her, but she spun to the right, once more looping another section around his neck. "This... won't... stop me..." he growled. "I'm not finished." Gripping both ends of the chain tightly, she leapt over the edge of the balcony, pulling Pasha against the guardrail. Hands at his throat, and back curved over the edge, the vampire held his ground. Dangling from the chain, Sonia simply exhaled and released the barbed end of her chain. Though it took only a second or two, it felt like forever, as if Sonia were floating down from a cloud. The floor rushed to meet her as her chain dug into Pasha's neck, spinning and slicing through the flesh, topped off by the spiked barb at the end. Sonia hit the floor and rolled to disperse her momentum, but it was still a hard landing. She gripped her right leg as she collapsed to the floor, her eyes drifting over to the severed head of the vampire. She collapsed back, wincing in pain as her injuries began to catch up with her. Had she actually done it? She groaned as she shifted herself, trying to get a closer look at the head. Had she actually managed to kill Pasha? The part of her that had traveled so far for answers was frustrated and sad, but there was another part, a significant part, that was suddenly relieved. She was free. She smiled. Her smile turned to laughter, laughter that echoed through the ballroom, laughter that only ceased when a drop hit the hunter's forehead. Sonia froze, eyes opening slowly. She didn't need to touch the drop to know what it was, for as she stared up, the entire ceiling had become a rippling pool of blood. Her legs trembled as she followed the blood back to the wall and down to the balcony. Pasha's body twisted and convulsed as streams of blood stretched out from it, reaching out to coat the walls. Sonia fought up to her feet and scrambled to the door, but the wall of blood crashed down in front of her. She turned to run, but the flood came from all directions. In seconds she was swept up in a river of crimson, struggling just to breathe. It surrounded her, gripped her, smothered her. She lashed out, but her attacks were futile. There was nothing left but surrender. She took one last breath before the room was completely filled and she began to sink to the bottom. Before darkness took her, a lone, deep voice echoed in her mind. "You have done well, my pupil." Well, it's time for the first big action scene. I had fun coming up with scenarios to test Sonia with and even more fun designing her interactions with the vampire Pasha. Believe it or not, I actually did a fair amount of research for this section, too, but I won't bog things down with too much analysis. I'll let you guys decide. Please enjoy! "Pasha!" she cried out, casting aside her cloak. "Don't do this! Let's just -"
CLANG! The hunter dodged backward as a large ax slammed into the floor in front of her, guided by hands of an empty suit of armor. She roared in frustration and peeled a long chain from her waist, spiraling it in front of her. As it swung again, she let out the chain, sending it wrapping around the handle of the ax. With a leap, she was in the air, both feet colliding with the armor's chest and sending it backward, the hunter flipping back to tug hard at the chain, liberating the armor's weapon from its grasp. She looked around, seeing that the rest of the armors were now approaching, some with axes, some with swords. Steeling herself, she rushed in to the nearest one, dodging it's blade and wrapping her chain around it's legs. With a swift pull, the armor was on the ground and Sonia was rushing past, making for the stairway. But every step through the manor seemed to only pull the stairway further and further away. She screamed in frustration as they retreated, turning to dive out of the way of another ax. She was surrounded now on all sides, but she acted without hesitation. In an instant she vaulted herself, hands first, onto the shoulders of the nearest false knight, somersaulting over it toward the walls of the manor. A display of throwing hatchets, blades crossed, rested atop the manor's family shield and crest. Without delay, the hunter leapt into the air, grabbing and prying them from their display. In one fluid motion, she cast the hatchets out, each one sinking into the chest of a suit of armor, dropping them. She quickly surveyed her surroundings. If the stairs wouldn't cooperate, she needed another way up. Spotting several chandeliers that cast down the little light still in the grand hall, Sonia rushed forward. She slid between two armors, dodging their attacks and leaping up onto the shoulders of a third. Casting out her chain, she leapt into the air, snagging the nearest chandelier. Her lithe form swung through the air, reaching apex near the center of the room. Turning, she returned back to the armors, smashing into them with both feet and sending three of them tumbling over. She smirked as the armor crashed and fell lifeless, but several more were still approaching. Building back up her momentum, she swung from the chandelier, faster and faster until she was peaking over the edge of the third floor balcony. Catching the railing with her foot, she pulled herself up and released her chain with a twist. Twirling the chain one more time, she spun it around her chest and waist, locking it in place. She rushed into the adjoining room, a long hall with a grand piano at the center, shelves of books all around. In a flash the lights were extinguished, but Sonia was unfazed. Reaching to her belt, she unclasped a glass bottle with a glowing red liquid. She cast it at the shelves where she knew the books must be and it exploded in a blaze of fire and light. Flames erupted from the book shelves, spreading around the room and illuminating it. The light was restored none too soon as a swarm of grotesque heads, kept aloft via bat wings, swooped down at her. Each head screamed and contorted, the hair on it writhing like a nest of snakes. Sonia rolled and dodged, avoiding their attacks. She raced toward the bookshelf, twisting in air to send a volley of throwing knives behind her. Three hit their mark, dropping the creatures with earsplitting screeches, but the remaining three closed in on her. The hunter leapt against the flaming bookshelf, pushing off as fire licked her heels, vaulting up and over the incoming creatures. As she landed, she loosed her chain once more, spinning it through the air. The creatures swooped around, barely missing the bookshelf, but they did not miss her chain. In an instant the spiked end of her chain was launched through the air, lodging itself into the leftmost creature's face, crashing it into the flaming shelves. The other two continued forward past their fallen comrade, but a quick jerk from Sonia freed the barbed end and sent it hurling into the back of the closest creature, her further pulling crashing it into the remaining head. The pair of demon winged heads floundered on the floor for only a moment before Sonia's boot came down on them, crushing each one and splattering her in their blood. Panting, the hunter turned to the exit of the hallway. "What further hell do you have for me, Pasha?" she cried out. There was only the sound of the burning books to answer her. Gritting her teeth, she pressed forward. The hallways of the manor seemed to stretch and rearrange at will. She would look down one corridor only to find the one she had come from had disappeared. Stairs appeared at random, leading to nowhere. The very floor beneath her fell away at the slightest touch. Doors ignited into blazes before she could pass through them. Still, the hunter pressed forward. Her breath fogged in the air as she approached a large, wooden door. She stared at it for several moments before approaching, producing her chain and kicking the barbed end at it. It struck the door with a satisfying thud; this, at least, was no illusion. This also meant this was where Pasha wanted her to go. With a roar she kicked open the door, revealing a large ballroom. Candles and torches lit the room, with various colored glass panes transforming it into a kaleidoscope of light and shadow. In the center of the hall, with the light dancing about him, stood a tall man with fiery red hair and a regal, blue coat with gold trim, lined with fur. He smiled at the hunter as she approached. "It has been a while since we shared a dance, Sonia. Shall we?" "Pasha, I'm not here to-" SMASH! The colored panes of glass crashed down as demonic, winged creatures, each the size of a large man fell from the rafters, landing around the hunter. They roared at her with twisted faces and broken horns jutting from their skulls. The hunter screamed in frustration as they lunged at her, weaving and dodging their blows. Loosing blades from her belt once more, she stabbed two of the creatures, but left herself open to the attacks of the rest. Her blood spilled across the ballroom as their strikes sent the hunter tumbling. Reaching to her belt once more, she produced a vial of holy water, hurling it at the creatures. It crashed against them, its contents burning the demons. They writhed and shrieked in agony as she quickly righted herself, stabbing her dagger into their hearts and heads, ending them. She turned in time to see the red haired man, Pasha, appear before her. With a sweep of his arm she sailed across the room. Instantly the man was behind her as she struggled to her feet, seizing her by her long braid. With a sweeping motion, she buried her dagger in his heart and kicked off from his chest, pulling herself loose. The man stumbled only a step or two, smiling. His grin revealed two long, pointed fangs. "Give in Sonia. I will make this painless." So what'd you guys think of good ol' TR? It wasn't much, but I promise you'll see more of him later. Now the character coming up in this section is actually a character created by a friend of mine. She's the artist who did the picture of Reagan I posted before and she gave me her blessing to include him in this. I really hope I do him justice, but, just so you aren't disappointed... his real debut is in tomorrow's post. So, allow me to build a little tension and get this story moving. I present part three of Wolves and Wild Roses. A motorcar led to a train, and that train led to a ship, and now that ship lay docked at harbor in London. Sonia stepped off the vessel, a porter tugging her large, black trunk behind her. Grant, sadly, had to stay back at the manor to look after young Richter. While that would prove an annoyance, she was more than capable of navigating London on her own.
It wasn't long before she entered her hotel, black trunk still following behind. The decor was certainly inviting, a lodging worthy of a Trevor, but her mind was set on other things; this was far from a luxury holiday. As the bellhop moved her trunk up to her room, Sonia approached the front desk. "Pardon, my name is Sonia Trevor. Have there been any messages left for me?" The well groomed clerk at the desk smiled and nodded. "Allow me to check, Madam." After a moment of perusing, the man returned to the desk with a telegram in hand. "Here we are. It's simply addressed from a 'P.'" "Please read it," she said, peeling her long gloves off and sliding them into her bag. "Let me see. 'Carriage sent. STOP. 11. STOP. Arrive prepared. STOP.' Not sure what to make of that." "It's not for you to understand, now is it. Please dispose of that message. And no disturbances." "Of course," the clerk nodded. Sonia quickly retired to her room, leaving a tip with the bellboy before locking the door and staring at her large steamer trunk. She sat on her bed, hands folded and pressed against her lips. In her mind she was screaming. She didn't want to be here. She didn't want to do this. At the same time, to hold the secrets of RJ Thompson, this was going to be the only way. She unlatched the large lock on the trunk and flipped it open. She stared at the contents for a moment, her mind still back at her own manor. She should've tried harder. Maybe her library had something she could've used to gather the werewolves. No, she thought as she reached in, taking hold of a large, wooden stake. I know every book in that library. Every book in hunter's underground. There's only one person who can tell me what I need to know. Setting aside the stake, she pulled out a set of dark clothing, followed by several knives, bottles of various liquids, and a small box with a golden cross emblazoned on the top. Lastly, she reached in to pull out a long chain attached to a whip handle. She weighed it in her hands, letting the spiked tip dangle and swing. She was never supposed to come back here again. In America she was free, she was in control. Here? Things only happened if he deemed it so. Several hours later she stepped out of the hotel, her gown replaced by a long, black cloak that hid her in the darkness of the night. A horse drawn carriage arrived, right on time. A languid, pale driver with clothes several decades out of fashion stared down at her, the door to the carriage opening on it's own. The half moon glinted off the steel daggers peeking out from under her cloak as she stepped on. "I see Pasha hasn't seen fit to purchase a motorcar," she remarked. The driver seemingly ignored her, giving the reins a whip and setting the carriage off into the night. "And you are still ever the conversationalist." The trip concluded in silence, the hour passing with Sonia left only to check and recheck the equipment held under her cloak. When the carriage finally came to a stop, they were in front of a large manor, ancient in its decor and easily dwarfing the Trevor manor back in the States. A chill went up Sonia's spine as she stepped out, the carriage moving away the moment her feet touched the ground. She was alone now. She pulled back her hood and looked up the steps to the imposing structure. The manor was several stories tall and spanned a majority of the grounds. Clenching her fists, she ascended the stairway, passing statues of vile looking gargoyles, tortured men and women, and monsters of every description. The giant doors stood before her, but she didn't bother to even touch them. They opened before her on their own as they had many times before. Stepping into the grand entrance hall, she looked upon the familiar sight of the ivory pillars, spanning three stories. Tall windows with velvet curtains lined the hallway, with suits of armor resting between each. An imposing staircase spilled down from the upper levels like a waterfall of blood, a rich crimson carpet lining it. She took only a few steps in when the doors shut behind her with a loud thud that echoed through the halls. The candles about her flickered and several died out, darkening the room substantially. "Welcome, hunter," boomed a deep voice with the faintest trace of a Russian accent. "May your God have mercy on you." I hope you're enjoying the latest short story, once it's all post I'll add another section to the bonus content for it. This section is where we're introduced to the one and only Theodore Roosevelt and I have to say, I enjoyed writing him. I had to do a lot of research to get things right about him, but I am confident that, so far as existing in a supernatural world with vampires and werewolves, this is a fairly historically accurate Roosevelt. So, please enjoy the next installment of Wolves and Wild Roses. Sonia stepped out of the car, the noon-day sun shining down on her black gown, her eyes shielded by a wide brimmed, "Merry Widow" hat. Grant exited the car behind her, surveying the scene. To either side, men in tweed jackets and hats, marched to the door of Rinaldo's, opening it for her. She acknowledged them with a nod and entered, the host taking her from there. Her dark gown and hat drew a few looks from some of the patrons, but Sonia didn't bother to look their way. Her gaze was directly ahead of her, at the door to a private dining area. As she approached, the men in jackets halted her servant. Grant reached into his jacket, but Sonia placed a hand on his arm, halting him. He nodded and took a position outside the door as she entered. Stepping inside, she was bathed in a soft light. The walls were adorned with landscape paintings of Paris and London, with wall sconces illuminating the room. Near the back at a solitary table sat a man with a strong frame and a spruce mustache. He looked up from his meal, smiling at her approach. He dabbed a napkin against his lips and stood, donning his pince nez. "A pleasure to meet you, Madam!" he boomed with an exuberance usually saved for younger men. She nodded and offered her hand, which he took. "And you, Mr. President." "Please, have a seat. I trust you don't mind that I began without you. My men were quite sure you wouldn't show." "I told your boy I was coming," she replied, taking her seat across from him. "Do BOI agents really think so little of me?" The former president chuckled before taking a drink. "No, Madam, I daresay BOI agents know nothing about you. However, these men aren't with the Bureau. Well... not that Bureau." Sonia took a moment to survey the men around her. They dressed like federal agents, but she failed to see what set them apart. A small glint from the collar of one man caught her eye, drawing her to a pin. A white shield adorned the pin with a stylized purple flower, it's petals hanging loose and staggering down the stem. "Is that...?" "Wolfsbane," Roosevelt remarked, digging back into his meal. "Dear God, you've created another agency." "A good portion of which are made of former hunters, like you. Your family's name came up more than once in recent days." "Which begs the question, Mr. Roosevelt, what is it you want killed? Surely a man such as yourself wouldn't come to me without reason," she replied. "Indeed not, Madam. But first, I do hope you'll be dining as well." At his signal, a waiter approached. Sonia looked at the plate in front of Mr. Roosevelt; fried chicken smothered in white gravy. Beside it, a large cup of black coffee. "Cucumber salad, please," she ordered. The waiter nodded and stepped away, leaving the former president with a large smirk under his thick mustache. "A killer of monsters, but still with the appetite befitting such a dainty frame." "Mr. Roosevelt, I'd be willing to wager that fewer meals of that caliber and you wouldn't need this 'dainty ' woman's assistance." "Ha!" Roosevelt exclaimed, clapping the table. "Bully! I like this woman!" Seeing the president's reaction, several of the agents around him allowed themselves a nervous smile. "Very well. Let us get down to brass tacks. My men at the Bureau of Demonic Affairs have been tracking an infestation recently. I believe it's linked to the outbreak of lycanthropy back in 1906." "I handled that," Sonia commented. "Indeed. But it seems the ramifications of that outbreak were far more wide reaching than we expected. My men have put down no less than three dozen werewolves since then, all throughout the Eastern Seaboard." "Then it sounds like your men are doing a good job," she replied. "Of course they are! But now that I am free to join them in the field, I believe it's time to find a more permanent solution." "Permanent? Is death not a permanent enough solution for you, Mr. Roosevelt?" "My dear lady, Americans are dying every day. Poor working conditions. Impure food. Those were problems I could solve as President. Now unholy creatures from the bowels of Hell seek to destroy those I have sworn to protect. I cannot put forth legislation to outlaw lycanthropy, it is a disease that must be eradicated and it must be done before it can spread to infect all of these United States." "You're looking to go on a werewolf hunt? That is ambitious, Mr. Roosevelt. I don't believe I've heard of such a hunt since Salem," Sonia replied. The waiter returned, setting down her salad and bowing before leaving. She nodded to him before turning her attention back to the President. His look was intent. There was no doubt that he was serious in this matter. "Madam, if I must travel this entire country and put down the cursed beasts one by one, I shall. But my men told me that if there was anyone that could bring me a solution, a way to eradicate this plague once and for all, that the Trevor family would know." Sonia smirked as she brought her first bite to her lips, allowing the former president to linger in silence as she finished. She looked at the men surrounding them. "Your men are not mistaken, Mr. Roosevelt. If anyone in this country could do it, it would be me." "Then you'll help?" "No," she replied, returning to her salad. "I beg your pardon. Why not?" "I have no interest in this matter. This seems exactly what you formed your little... bureau for." Roosevelt laid his knife and fork down, furrowing his brow. "Madam, if this is about compensation, I can assure you-" "Please, Mr. Roosevelt, you don't have the money to bribe the Trevor family." "One would think you'd do it as a service to your country!" "I've served this country and several others by eradicating unholy abominations and, somehow, I still don't have the right to vote." Roosevelt pounded his fist on the table, several of the agents turning, hands moving to their pistols. "Mrs. Trevor, I have been a staunch support of equal rights for women since I was a lad! Do you know that I put women in key positions at the New York Police Department? Or that I advocated for corporal punishment for wife beaters? Why my bureau has three executive officers that are women!" "I'm aware of all your pomp and circumstance, Mr. Roosevelt, but I also know that you served two terms and didn't give us the vote," Sonia replied, taking another bite of her salad. Mr. Roosevelt took a breath and calmed himself, raising his hands to his men to ease their concern. "Very well. If none of that will convince you, perhaps this might." With another gesture, an agent approached, handing the former president a rectangular object wrapped in cloth. Pushing aside his plate, Roosevelt laid down the object and unwrapped it, revealing a worn, leather-bound book. Sonia hesitated, staring at the book for several moments before setting down her fork. She reached for it, but an agent drew his pistol. "Hold now," the former president said, calming the agent. "Let her examine it." Sonia sneered at the agent as he holstered his gun, grabbing the book. She weighed it in her hands and ran her fingers over the cover. Faint writing was etched across the front: The Observations of RJ Thompson on the Magus Device. She parted the pages, flipping through the book. Her stern disposition melted away as she read over random pages, each second forming a larger grin on Roosevelt's face. "You'll... give this to me?" she asked. "Not this one exactly," he replied, holding out his hand. "But a copy, exact in every detail. This journal is too valuable to go missing from the BDA library." Sonia closed the book, hesitantly placing it back in the president's hand. He wrapped it back up in the cloth and handed it off to one of his agents before turning back to her, his smile a mile wide. "Do we have a deal, Mrs. Trevor?" "How do I know the copy will be exact?" she asked. "You have my solemn word, Mrs. Trevor. There is nothing more pure I can offer than that." "And... why would you allow state secrets like that to fall into the hands of a hunter?" she countered. "The journal is of historical importance, but my men... and women... have been unable to find anything useful from it. I thought perhaps you might have better luck. The Trevor family is famous for its... clandestine connections, shall we say?" "Very well. I expect all my expenses to be paid and to be given full control of the operation." "Second in command," he countered. "Excuse me, sir?" "You don't think I'm going to just watch, do you Mrs. Trevor?" he replied with a grin. Sonia composed herself, glancing around at the agents in the room. "Very well. The full moon is in three weeks. I'll be back in two with your solution." "Bully!" Sonia slid out from her chair, the former president standing in respect as she did. He took her hand in farewell and the two parted. Stepping out, Grant resumed his place at her side."I trust you had a lovely lunch, Madam?" "Delectable. When we arrive home, please prepare my trunk and make preparations to travel to London." "Of course, Madam. Will this be the red trunk or the black trunk?" Sonia grinned as she slid into the car. "The black one." |
Matias TautimezKeep your eyes open for my debut novel, The Paladin. Archives
January 2023
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