Odder The Demon Hunter - The Blood Curse

Odder’s breathing slowed to a near standstill as if he had forgotten how to breathe. He could hear muffled voices in the background, but he remained focused on the air above.

“Where is she Odder?” Aimma’s voice became clear. “Did the shadow reapers get to her?”

“Odder?” Finkle tugged at his leg. “Odder!”

“Uh…” Odder shook his head. “The shadow reapers, they breached the shield. She was supposed to be right behind me.”

“She’s strong, and I’m sure she found another escape,” Aimma said.

“She pushed me into the…”

The air opened. A stream of black smoke jetted out, landing on the sand, and then transformed into Serra. She laid there twitching, her hands twisted.

Aimma ran and knelt next to her. “She’s badly burnt.” She opened her bag, grabbed an elixir, and poured it into Serra’s mouth. “Try and relax. I’ll take care of you.”

Serra moaned, her body shook.

“Anything I can do?” asked Odder with unease.

Aimma ignored the question and placed her hands above Serra. As she chanted, a blue light left her hands and surrounded Serra.

Finkle pulled Odder away. “Let her be, laddy. This is what she does.”

Odder clenched his teeth and sat on the sand. “She’ll be fine.” He held his hands to his mouth. “She’ll be fine.”

Several hours passed. Aimma finally stood and walked over to Odder and Finkle.

Odder jumped to his feet to meet her. “Is she alright?”

“Mostly,” Aimma responded. “After her rest tonight, she should be healed.”

Odder lifted his head and exhaled in relief. “Thank you Aimma.” She grinned. “Can I go to her?”

“Sure, but be careful not to wake her. She needs her rest.”

Odder kneeled by Serra’s side. She had a peaceful expression, and her bandages swaddled her like a baby. He leaned into her ear, and then whispered. “Aimma says you’ll be alright.” He rubbed his fingertips on the side of her face. “I’m sorry.” He remained sitting for several moments then walked back to Aimma and Finkle.

“Don’t worry, Laddy.” Finkle handed him a cup. “Rest up. We’ll all need our strength for tomorrow.”

Odder sat next to the two. “Maybe we should call off our plan. It’s too dangerous, and we don’t even have Karzan here to help.”

“Nonsense,” said Finkle. “If we don’t stop this scourge, then who will?”

“What about the other kings?” Odder questioned. “They must be gathering their forces.”

“We don’t even know if there are other kings,” Aimma said, “but we do know that you have been chosen to be the Champion. No matter what happens, you need to be at the portal with the Maha’De during the Tetrad.”

“Odder,” Finkle said. “This is your destiny, and you can’t avoid it. Serra risked her life to save you. Don’t let it be in vain.”

Odder smiled. “You’re right.” He padded Finkle on the back. “You have always been a great friend.”

Finkle gripped his hand on Odder’s. “We may be gnome and elf, but we are brothers.”

“Agreed.”

“It’s getting dark,” Aimma said, walking toward Serra. “I’ll check on Serra’s wounds. Can you two conjure a protection spell?”

“Sure can.” Finkle pulled Odder to his feet. “Come on, laddy. I’ll teach you how to conjure one up.”

Finkle filled his cup with the lake water and poured it around their camp. “There are many different protection spells with varying degrees of defense. The one I’m conjuring will ward off beast but also cloak us.”

He continued with the spell. Odder listened and then finished the remainder.

“I’m amazed at how fast you learn spell casting.”

“Believe me. It’s a surprise to me too.”

“Serra’s doing fine,” Aimma said. “I’ll take the first watch. You two get your rest.”

Odder and Finkle laid next to each other near the fire staring up at the night sky.

“All this has happened so fast, this is the first real moment I’ve had to look at the Eye of Adeit,” Odder whispered.

“It is quite a sight,” said Finkle. He turned toward Odder. “Conjuring that magic shield by thought, was extraordinary.”

“It just came to me.”

“There are wizards who couldn’t do what you did.” Finkle rolled over to his back. “Will you still be the same Odder when this is all done?”

Odder stared at the Eye. He pondered Finkle’s question. With the defeat of the demons and the freedom to wield magic, how could I not change? “I’m already different, but I’ll always be your friend.”

Finkle smiled. “That’s what I wanted to hear.”

After a pause, Finkle asked, “Say, remember those silly prank spells you collected?”

“Of course, I have them now in my bag.”

“I suppose you won’t be needing them anymore.”

“Nonsense, when this mission is all done, we’ll both try them out.”

“Deal,” Finkle said, his word fading into a snore.

“Wakeup,” whispered Aimma.

“What is it?” replied Odder.

“Be quiet. We have trouble.”

Odder nudged Finkle. “Finkle get up.”

“What? What!”

“Shhh,” Odder and Aimma said.

Finkle grabbed his hammer. “Is there trouble?”

“Yes,” said Aimma. “Two goblin skags just outside our camp. I don’t think they’ve spotted us yet.”

“Let’s hope the protection spell works,” said Odder.

“I can knock them over the mountain,” Finkle said, lifting his hammer.

“No, that’ll alert the other goblins. We need something subtle.”

“A sleep spell,” said Finkle.

“Too slow,” said Aimma

“I have something,” said Odder.

“What?” Aimma and Finkle said at the same time.

“The prank spells.”

“What, you want to give them donkey ears?” questioned Finkle.

“I’m saving that for you,” Odder smirked. “What about slippery step?”

“Knock it off,” said Aimma, in a harsh whisper. “This is no time for child’s play.

Odder and Finkle looked at each other and said in unison, “Flatulence.”

“Ridiculous and gross.” Aimma placed her hand on her forehead. “You can’t be serious?”

Odder opened the scroll, rubbed his fingers across the top and launched the words at the first goblin.

The goblin stopped and grabbed his stomach. “Arr, my gut feels strange.”

“I told you to stay away from those anoles,” said the other goblin. “It had warts all over its rotting skin.”

The first goblin belched. Then, pfft…

“Ah! That’s foul. Do it again and I’ll slice your head off.”

Finkle covered his mouth and chuckled.

“Shh…” Aimma elbowed him in the ribs.

Pfft, pfft…

“What did I tell you. We might be vulgar goblins, but we’re not filthy. Keep your foulness to yourself.”

“I can’t help it.” Pfft, pfft, prrrph…

“Ugh!” The second goblin pulled out his sword and held it up. “I’ll cut off your –“

-Rhipapa…

“Dah!” The second goblin’s eyes bulged. His hook nose twitched, and his mouth drooped. He took off running in the opposite direction.

“Wait!” said the first goblin following and leaving a trail of disgusting gas behind.

“Yes!” Odder raised his hand and met Finkle’s in the air.

“I can’t believe that worked,” said Aimma, with a look of disgust.

“I wouldn’t go in that direction for a while.” Odder laughed with Finkle joining. “See Finkle. I knew those prank spells would come in handy one day.”

“Indeed, laddy.”

“Alright, you two. We got lucky.” Aimma dimmed the light of the fire with a cloaking spell. “We know goblins are patrolling, so we need to be careful. I’ll check on Serra. Odder, do you want the next watch?”

“I’ll take it,” said Finkle. “Odder needs his rest. Big day tomorrow.”

“Thanks.” Odder tapped Finkle’s hat.

Odder woke to the sounds of giggling.

“He’s awake,” said Aimma, sitting by the fire next to Finkle and Serra.

“Good morning, laddy,” Finkle said, as he flipped over a flat fish.

“Serra?” Odder wiped his eyes.

“Hey, Oddy.” Serra smiled.

He stood, walked over, and huddled at the fire. He held out his hands to take in the warmth. “Serra.” He grinned. “How you feeling?”

“Not bad.” She handed him a fish. “Thanks to Aimma.”

Odder smelled the pleasing aroma of the freshly charred fish. He sat on a log by the fire and took a bite. The meat had a slight salty and smoky flavor. “Delicious.”

“Thanks,” said Finkle. “Eat up. There’s plenty. Caught it fresh while everyone slept.”

Odder noticed the burnt scars that ran down the left side of her face, neck and arm. He turned away. “Your…,” he said with shame.

She rubbed over the wounds. “You can stare. I don’t mind. It looks worse than it feels.”

“Aimma, can you heal the scars?” he asked.

“The damage was too great, but internally she’s restored,” Aimma responded.

“I like it,” Finkle said, handing Serra a fish. “Nothing fiercer than a vixen with battle scars.”

“Gnomie.” Serra grinned. “You’re starting to get on my good side.”

“Wahoo.” Finkle did a back flip.

“So, what happened?” Odder asked.

Serra sat next to him with Finkle and Aimma sitting across. “After you jumped into the portal -”

“- After you pushed me you mean.”

“Yeah sure. After I pushed you into the portal, all eight of the shadow reapers attacked.”

Serra went on to tell everyone how the battle went down and how she barely escaped.

“Why didn’t you morph into smoke and disappear?” Odder questioned.

“What do you think I did that whole time?” Serra responded. “I don’t actually turn into smoke, though. I cast two spells at once. A haste spell and an illusion. It’s taken me years to perfect it.”

“Conjuring two advanced spells at once and by thought, is genius,” Aimma said.

“Brilliant,” added Finkle.

“So now you know my secret.”

“I’m sure you have many secrets,” said Finkle.

Odder handed Serra her satchel and belt. “When you teleported, how did you get your satchel back?”

“Thanks.” Serra buckled her belt. “The satchel is magically coupled to me.” She glanced at her dagger and an empty sheath. “Unfortunately, my daggers are not.”

Odder’s eyes widened. “Your other dagger, where is it?”

“Stuck in the neck of a reaper.”

“Another one down,” Finkle said.

“Wishful thinking,” Aimma said. “They’re already dead, remember?”

“At least you still have one,” said Odder.

“My grandfather crafted those daggers and gave them to my father. It’s all I have left from my family. I promise I will get my dagger back.” Serra cleared the ground in front of them. “We should focus on the details of our plan.”

“Good Idea,” Aimma said. “It’ll be noon before we know it.”

“What about Karzan and the fairies?” Finkle asked.

“We can’t wait,” said Odder.

Serra formed the market, the alleyway, the buildings, and the statue out of sand. She pointed in the alley. “We arrive here. The statue’s here.”

“If goblins are in the area, we’ll need a distraction.” Finkle pointed his thumbs toward his chest. “Leave that to me.”

“Perfect,” said Odder. “You’re great at making commotions.”

“Serra and I can guard Odder as he reunites the Maha’De,” Aimma said.

“Simple enough,” said Serra. “Once Odder’s done, we’ll all head back to the alley and teleport out of there. In the meantime, let’s prepare our spells.”

“You ready for this, laddy?” Finkle asked swinging his war hammer in the air.

Odder gripped his wooden sword. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

Odder fell on his hands and knees on the cobblestone. “I haven’t quite mastered the landing.”

“Don’t worry,” Serra whispered, in a crouched position with her back against a building wall. “It takes lots of practice. Now find a place to hide.”

Aimma fell through the portal next with Finkle following. Crushed crates, tipped over storage boxes, and bashed in barrels littered the alleyway. A sure sign that a small army passed this way.

As they hid in the debris, Serra turned into her black smoke and disappeared around the corner. A few moments later she returned and changed back to her normal appearance. “Very odd. I didn’t see any goblins. Only a few tortured elves chained to a pole.”

“Maybe the goblins killed the remaining elves and left,” said Finkle.

Odder peeked around the corner. His mouth fell open. “I think one of those elves is Drugan.”

“Not possible,” said Aimma, looking over Odder’s shoulder.

“Is it him?” asked Finkle.

“Oh no, I think so,” Aimma replied.

“Sounds like he got what he deserves,” Finkle said.

“No one deserves that,” said Odder.

Aimma gripped her satchel. “We should check to see if he’s still alive.”

“Let’s focus on what we came here for.” Serra pointed to a butcher’s shop, just east of the statue. “Finkle, we might still need a distraction. Can you make it to that shop?”

“Easy as curd in milk.”

“If you see anything coming, make the distraction,” Serra said.

“Anything for my fair maiden.”

They watched Finkle maneuver to the butcher’s shop.

“Aimma, Odder, you ready?”

“Drugan’s close,” said Aimma. “It’ll take me just a minute to check on him.”

Odder gripped her shoulder. “I know your instincts are telling you to heal, but Serra’s right. We need to reunite the sword first, and then we can check on Drugan.”

Aimma hesitated but agreed. Serra took the lead with Odder in the middle, his sword drawn, and Aimma watching the rear. In a low stance, they hurried to the statue.

“Here we are,” Serra said. “Aimma you watch the North and I’ll keep an eye on the south and west. Odder, you know what to do.”

Odder stared up at the statue of Lazden. After all the times he passed the statue and studied its opulence, this was the first time he noticed Lazden staring back at him. The statue’s eyes were stern and unyielding as if demanding the spirit of the Maha’De be reunited. While Odder lifted, his sword began to vibrate. This is it, he thought. He heard noises in the background but stayed focus on the sword. He touched the tip of the wooden sword to the tip of Lazden’s sword. An intense light swirled around the two swords bringing them together with Odder still holding the hilt. A flash of brilliant blue light exploded. Odder shielded his face and then glanced back. He gasped, for in his hands, he held the Maha’De, and for a moment - time stood still.

Red, blue, and orange lights accompanied by loud crashes came from the butcher’s shop. Odder flinched.

“It’s Finkle,” said Serra. “There’s trouble.”

“Goblins, “Aimma shouted.

From every direction skags, dekans, and even the large Guriquars poured into the center, surrounding them.

“What do we do?” Odder asked, his voice quivering.

Serra held up her dagger. “We fight!”

A red cloaked figure adorned in royal purple ribbons stepped forward. “You don’t have a chance.”

Odder recognized the voice. It can’t be.

The figure pulled back his hood.

“Renzt.” Acid burned Odder’s throat as he spoke. His nostrils flared. “What are you doing with the goblins?”

Renzt held his chin high above his shoulders. He strutted over to the group with a look of condescension. “We have made a special arrangement.”

“No elf would be so foolish!” Shouted Aimma. “Why would you sell out your race?”

A smile cracked at the corner of Renzt’s mouth. His eyes narrowed while he tilted his head. “With Queen Sorren’s stinger embedded into my chest and her venom filling my veins, I pleaded an exchange.”

“The location of the Maha’De,” interrupted Odder.

Renzt raised his brows. “I gave her the location in exchange for my life,” he looked around at the goblins, “and to govern Elestus.”

The goblins cheered.

Serra whispered. “I count around a hundred goblins. I can strike the four Guriquars wielding the saw throwers with my stilettos first. We can take the rest.”

“Aimma?” Odder asked.

She nodded, giving reassurance.

Odder held up the sword toward Renzt. “It doesn’t matter. I have the Maha’De and not even the demon Queen, nor your dragon is a match against the demon killer.”

“Perhaps, but the Maha’De is just a sword until dipped into the molten silq of Rigan. As for the Queen, she’s preparing the dragon for a greater purpose.”

“Without the dragon, killing a hundred goblins will be effortless,” said Serra.

Renzt laughed. “Perhaps you’re right.” He lifted his hand to the sky and twisted his wrist in a circular pattern until black clouds formed.

Shadow reapers fell from the darkness and landed next to Renzt. The familiar glow of their yellow eyes screamed at Odder. Frozen with fear, he held his breath and listened to their black hearts pulse within their translucent skin. Renzt lifted the corner of his lips to form a crazed grin.

A sudden deep boom echoed from behind Odder. Several goblins flew over his head and landed on the ground. Another boom, this time with goblins flying into the cobblestone walls of a nearby shop. Odder, Aimma, and Serra ducked. Bolts of lightning struck the shadow reapers knocking them to the ground.

Renzt’s grin turned into confusion.

Hundreds of raging fairies emerged from sparks bursting in the air. Several attacked the reapers while the rest swarmed at the goblins.

Odder turned toward the source of the booming noise and saw Finkle clearing a path through the goblins like a farmer reaping wheat.

Serra grabbed Odder’s arm. “This is our chance to escape.” She pulled him toward the alley.

Two shadow reapers escaped the fairy attack and blocked their way. A lightning bolt ripped over Odder and struck one reaper, blasting it into a wall.

Serra lifted her hands toward the other reaper and chanted a spell. A funnel of air launched at the reaper and threw it back into the alley.

“Odder this way.”

“It’s Karzan,” said Aimma.

The group ran up next to him.

“No time for small talk.” Karzan glanced around. “Several fairies hold open a portal. This way.” He pointed west toward a narrow street. Odder, Aimma, Serra, and Finkle all followed Karzan as he led the way.

Goblins and fairies blanketed the town’s landscape like a broken mosaic.

“What about Drugan and the other elves?” Aimma asked.

“Leave him,” replied Finkle.

Drugan rested on his knees, gagged with a golden sphere. His hands trapped inside silver metal canisters, attached to a chain mounted to a pole. He lifted his bludgeoned head. His eyes pleaded with Odder.

A knot formed in Odder’s throat. He took a deep breath. “We can’t leave him. He may be a Xenduri, but we are all Elven.”

“I agree,” said Aimma.

“Fine. Let’s make it quick.” Karzan launched a fireball at an advancing goblin. “The fairies won’t deter the shadow reapers for long.”

Serra, Finkle, and Karzan surrounded Aimma and Odder.

“The other elves are dead,” Aimma said.

Odder stared deep into the Xenduri’s bloodshot eyes. “Can I trust you?”

Drugan bowed his head.

Odder held up his hand, and a bright blue beam fired, shattering the canisters around Drugan’s hands. Drugan collapsed to the ground.

“Quickly heal him just enough so he run.” Odder removed Drugan’s gag. “We don’t have time for a full recovery.”

Drugan stretched his fingers out and rubbed his neck. “Thank you.” He looked puzzled. “You can now wield magic?”

“My curse is lifted.”

“How’s your strength?” Aimma interrupted.

Drugan stood. “I’m strong enough.” He conjured a fireball in each hand and launched it a two nearby skags.

“Then let’s go,” Karzan commanded.

The group ran toward the clear road between the tall buildings fighting goblins on the way. A high pitched shrieking sound pierced the air behind them.

Serra turned. “It’s a reaper!”

They sprinted down the cobblestone street. Serra stopped and chanted a spell as she threw her arms open. A magic web-like rope flew from her palms and attached to the walls of two buildings opposite of each other. Just as the reaper turned the corner, she pulled collapsing the buildings down on the reaper.

“Where we going?” Finkle asked gasping.

“Just ahead.” Answered Karzan.

The debris exploded behind them. The black smoke swirled around the reaper as it rose into the air. It screeched and soared toward the group.

They fired magic beams and fireballs as they ran but the reaper dodged each attack.

“We’re close!” said Karzan.

Odder spotted several fairies holding open a shimmering mirror like object with a blue outer glow. “I see it.”

Two more shadow reapers appeared behind the other. One launched a black fireball at one of the fairies holding open the portal and vaporized it. The portal buckled and shrunk on that side.

“Everybody jump in. I’ll hold them off.” Karzan shot lightning bolts at the nearest reaper.

“I will stay behind and help,” said Drugan.

“You’re not strong enough yet,” Odder said. “Finkle take him through the portal.”

Finkle and Drugan jumped in.

“You next,” said Serra to Odder.

“No way.”

“Don’t argue. The reaper is almost here and I need to protect the remaining fairies.”

Odder used magic to push Serra in the portal. Her eyes and mouth sprung open as she fell in.

“Now you Aimma,” Odder said.

She looked at Odder and then the fast approaching reaper. She pulled out the snare cloth from her satchel and tossed it. As the cloth flew through the air, it became a large fibrous mesh that wrapped around the reaper, propelling it back, and attaching it to the side of a building like a trapped insect.

“Wow. Nice work healer,” said Karzan. “Now jump through the portal before the other two get here. You too Odder.”

Just as Aimma’s image faded into the portal, the earth rumbled, knocking Odder to the ground. A colossal stone hand lifted from the cobblestone and clutched Karzan. Odder battled the tremors to get to his feet. He pounded at the stone attempting to free Karzan.

“It’s no good.” Karzan gasped. “You have to go.”

Odder spotted one of the reapers hovering while chanting a spell and the other advancing on their location. His heart wrenched.

A saw blade whizzed over his head and sliced another fairy. The Portal shrunk and flapped on one side like linen left out during a wild storm. A horde of goblins turned the corner and advanced toward them.

He knew his only option. “I’ll be back for you.”

He quickly sprinted for the portal but a black snake-like tentacle wrapped around his leg, knocking him to the ground, and pulling him back toward the reaper. He rolled to his back and struck the tentacle with the sword several times with no effect.

The tentacle came from the mouth of the advancing shadow reaper. Its yellow eyes blared, and its dark heart beat faster as it approached. Odder punched and ripped at the tentacle in a wild panic until the reaper’s menacing form stood over him. Odder looked at its face with fear, but then pity. For a brief moment, he could see the true face of the shadow reaper. A face in agony, a tormented soul, an elf who allowed his body to be a puppet to a demon.

The reaper extended its arm above its head, and long metal claws grew from its fingertips. Odder held up his palms in an attempt to cast a spell when a high pitched whistle sounded, and a bright white light exploded in front of the reaper. The tentacle turned to ash and crumbled. The creature covered its eyes, screeched, and cowered.

“Back to the abyss foul creature,” a voice hollered from the other side of the light.

Surprised, Odder bolted up off the ground. His sword drawn in front of him. He turned to see Thalius, the monk. His pristine white robe now tarnished in soot, soil, and blood. He charged at the reaper holding his staff high in front of him. From the golden eye beamed a blinding white light. The reaper retreated into the dark shadows behind the buildings.

Thalius stopped near Odder. “Savior, remember me when you meet the Celestines.”

Savior, Odder thought with bewilderment. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Please!” Thalius insisted. “Remind them of my sacrifice.”

Odder reluctantly nodded. The monk smiled and charged at the reaper hovering in the air. The blinding light caused it to turn away and broke the spell. The stone hand collapsed, and Karzan fell to the ground.

Odder ran to his side.

“Help me through the portal,” said Karzan.

“But the monk. Shouldn’t we help him?”

“He is a Follower of the Light. It’s his honor to give his life for the Celestines. Let him be. We must hurry. The portal is unstable and collapsing.”

Odder helped Karzan through the portal but took a quick glance back just before entering. Two more reapers joined the fight along with the goblins nearing his position. Thalius fought with great faith, impeding several of the reapers, but quickly lost ground when struck by several saw blades. A reaper penitrated his defenses, and dug its claws into his neck. Thalius held his staff high and cried out for strength, but the light faded, allowing the other reapers to strike.

Odder turned back to the portal, his heart heavy. Under his breath, he said, “Please remember this faithful and heroic elf.” He sighed, his heart heavy with dispair, as he dove into the portal.