Odder The Demon Hunter - The Blood Curse

Only the wail of a soulless wind flowed through the bleak streets. Odder peered back and forth as they walked, observing the closed doors and shutters. A chill traveled up his spine. He’d seen these roads, and homes a thousand times, but never empty. Through his fear, a conflicting feeling of astonishment surfaced as he gave a moment to marvel at the elven workmanship. “I think eerie is the right word.”

A loud horn echoed. Aimma gripped Odder’s arm. They caught site of several elves scattering between buildings.

“It’s an alert,” Odder said.

“Are we under attack?” Aimma tightened her grip.

“Not sure but we should find a safe place to hide.”

Odder and Aimma followed a fleeing elf into an alley. “There’s a shed,” Odder said.

“But it’s missing a wall,” Aimma said.

“We can hide behind those crates then,” Odder responded.

The two sat side by side. “Has this happened before?” Aimma whispered.

“Not that I’ve ever experienced.” Odder placed his finger over his lips. “I’m going to take a quick look.” He peeked over the crates and surveyed the area. The streets remained empty with an occasional elf skirting for cover. The sound of tinkling bells directed his attention to the sky.

“What do you see?” Aimma asked.

“Sparkling streaks of different colored lights above the township.” He squinted, making his vision keen, and followed the lights with his head. “I think they’re fairies. Maybe searching for something.”

A sudden crash, like metal cans clanging into the ground, sounded from the back of the alleyway. Aimma pulled at Odder’s cloak causing him to drop on his bottom. They held their breath, waiting for whatever made the noise to pass. Plop. The rat-faced merchant fell into them.

Odder screeched, but Aimma quickly covered his mouth. “Shh.”

“Uh, sorry,” whispered the merchant. “I just needed a place to hide.”

Aimma narrowed her eyes. “Go hide somewhere else.”

Odder tugged at her arm. “It’s alright.”

She crossed her arms and glared at the merchant. “So what’s going on?”

The horn sounded once again, and the merchant covered his ears. “That’s the sixth time the horn has gone off. The first time, everyone stood in confusion. The second time, guards ransacked the market and everyone scattered.” A bead of sweat fell off his pointy nose. “I overheard a sentry say a goblin infiltrated the castles defenses.”

Odder and Aimma’s jaws dropped. “A goblin,” they both said.

“Here? How can such a foul creature be inside the township? Odder asked. “What kind of goblin is it?”

“The sentry said it resembled a dekan goblin.” The merchant gnawed on his filthy fingernails. “The most cunning of the species. Once word got out, everyone cleared the streets.”

“This half shack isn’t the safest refuge.” Aimma chimed in.

“Agreed,” said Odder.

“We should find a safer location.” She stood and peeked over the crates. “Odd.”

“What is it?”

“That looks like the Prince.”

“In the streets?” Odder stood, joining Aimma. “Where?”

“He just entered into that shop. It’s the town’s magicsmith.”

“You two need to pipe down,” growled the merchant.

“And who’s that following him?” Aimma said, ignoring the comment.

Odder’s eyebrows raised. “I recognize her outfit. It’s Serra.” He stroked his chin. “Why is she following him?” He watched her as she ducked between crates and barrels. She dashed along the walls of the buildings until she reached the doors of the magicsmith’s shop. She made a quick glance into the street and then entered.

“Here in a shed, something is hiding.” A voice shouted.

Odder and Aimma ducked.

“I told you to keep quiet,” squealed the merchant.

“Out now.” A guard pulled Odder into the street, looked at his face, and flung him to the side. “Bring me the other.”

Another guard grabbed Aimma and escorted her next to Odder. “Sit here.”

The merchant sprung to his feet and sprinted down the alley. The guard reached into his satchel, pulled out a glowing rope and threw it. The rope wrapped around the runner’s trunk like a cocoon, causing him to fall.

“No one here is a goblin,” Odder said, climbing to his feet. A guard swung a whip around his boots and pulled. He fell flat next to Aimma.

“Stop.” Shouted the captain. He glared at Odder and the healer. “Are you two with him?”

Odder and Aimma shook their heads. “No, we hid behind the shack, and he jumped in with us,” said Aimma.

The captain stared long at the two. Odder felt his temperature rise. “We are wasting our time with these two.” He motioned for his guards to withdraw. “Question the rat-faced one.”

A guard lifted them to their feet. “I suggest you find a better place to hide.”

“Ye… yes sir,” said Odder. He pulled at Aimma’s arm. “Let’s head back to the Elestus Archives. We’ll be safe there.”

“Probably,” she whispered into his ear, “but don’t you want to check out the magicsmith’s shop?”

Like other times in his life, Odder’s fear revealed itself, manifesting dark seeds of anxiety which grew into tangling vines of dread. His face went pale like a wilted snow iris. “You can’t be serious.”

“Your master ran in there followed by that dark elf. Don’t you want to know what’s going on?”

“No, not really. It’s too dangerous.”

She sighed. “You don’t have to live in fear, Odder.”

He hunched his shoulders and turned away. “It’s not fear, its survival, and it’s all I know.”

She closed her eyes and gripped the bridge of her nose. “Maybe you’re right.” She walked toward the archives.

Odder turned back around and watched her go. “Wait.” He reached for her. “No, you’re right. We should investigate.”

Aimma clasped her hands to her chest and smiled.

They both waited for the guards to leave, and then focused on their destination. Standing in front of the shop’s doors, they admired the artistry. Bluish metal bars crisscrossed between the frames while smoke-colored crystals filled the gaps. A sign hung above the door. Magicsmith – Why wait 500 years, we do it in 250.

He placed his hood over his head and entered with Aimma right behind him. They peered into a soft blue light that filled the room. He spotted seven motionless wizardsmiths, their cloaks, and boots frozen in odd positions as if the wizards came to a sudden stop. Aimma jumped ahead. “Wait for me. What do you think is giving off this blue light?” Aimma remained silent. “Aimma?” He pulled her around to see a petrified unearthly grin on her face. He glanced at the others who possessed the same expression except their arms stretched out as if to grab an object. Odder shivered.

What’s causing this? He moved in front of the wizards. His eyes bulged like a theif staring at a decanter of silq. “Oh, so beautiful. The pulsing blue light – captivating, mesmerizing.” A glowing blue egg, about the size of a melon, rested on a table. He reached for the egg but met some force resistance. He pushed harder, but his hand and arm shook the closer it came. I must possess it!

His collar tightened, and his body jolted backward. “What are you doing here?” Serra dragged him to the backroom and closed the door. “Are you insane?”

Odder rubbed his temples. “I don’t know what happened. The egg… its beauty drew me in.”

“Yes I know, It’s supposed to. It’s a rare egg from a widow spider. The egg lays out a magic web to seduce its prey. The blue light draws the victim close, then freezes the body until the egg is ready to hatch – and then feeds.”

“Yuck.”

“Xenduri are immune.” She raised an eyebrow. “Strange… You should have been snared.”

“Maybe I’m immune too.” He deepened his voice. “You can’t let the spider devour Aimma and the innocent wizards.”

“Don’t worry; the egg won’t hatch for another several days.”

Relieved, Odder took a deep breath. His face turned pale-green, and he gagged. “What is that horrible stench? It’s like a musky bog rat thrown into a vat of acid.”

“Yes about that, I have someone I want you to meet.” She pointed to a dark cloaked figure sitting in the corner of the room. She kicked the table, causing him to lean forward. His bludgeoned goblin face flopped on the tabletop. “Hello Odder, here is the source of the disgusting odor.”

Odder stopped breathing. His legs trembled and gave way to the ground. He scuffled back until he hit the door. Reaching for a chair, he flung it toward the dark elf. “What did you do Serra?”

“Oh stop being such a drama fairy,” Serra said, blocking the chair with a kick. “I found him this way.”

“He’s a goblin, killer of elves. What’s he doing here?”

Serra stepped toward Odder. “My guess is he was making a bad deal, and someone wanted him dead.” She offered her hand.

He stared at her palm and watched her tattoos travel up her arm before gripping and lifting himself up. He leaned toward the body to get a better look. The goblin wore a midnight purple hood that came to a long point behind his head. The rest of the material wrapped around his neck and laid over his shoulders, but allowed his sharp bat-like ears to protrude. Ragged strips draped over his face and hid part of his olive green skin. One piercing yellow eye remained open while the other swelled shut. Odder cringed at the site of the goblins long-scaly nose, and jutting teeth.

“So this is a Dekan goblin?” he asked.

“Yes,” Serra searched under the table and around the corpse. “Shrewd and devious. Fewer in numbers than the other goblin races, but make deadly assassins.”

Odder remembered reading about the several species of goblins. The Skags were smaller, low intelligence, and foot soldiers. While the Guriquars were large, obese, and considered the ruling class. The Dekans most resembled the elves, were highly intelligent, and cunning.

Odder broke his stare and looked at Serra. “If you didn’t kill him, do you think Prince Destin did?”

“Oh.” Serra grit her teeth. “You saw me follow him into the shop.”

Odder nodded.

“I don’t know if this is his work, but I followed him because I have some unfinished business with your dear Prince.”

He squinted, wrinkling his brow. “What do you mean?”

“The story is longer than I have time to tell. The guards will be here soon.” She opened the door to peek into the blue-lit room. “We can flee through the back door.”

“What about Aimma and the others?”

Serra snarled and threw back her cloak revealing a dozen foot-long metal rods holstered to her leg. She opened the door and whipped a silver stiletto at the egg. The egg burst - green fluid flew against the wall, and numerous small, black, and hairy spider legs fell to the table. Once the light dissipated, the elves dropped to the ground.

Serra’s eyes met with Odder’s shocked expression. “Silq tipped stilettos. They do lethal damage.” She closed the door. “Now let’s go.”

Odder stood still, paralyzed from the sight.

Serra looked over her shoulder. “Oh, the spider legs. Nasty creatures. The babies have a couple dozen legs and the mother, just hope you never run into her, has over eighty legs covering her body. Now…” She pointed her thumb toward the back door.

“Yes, nasty.” He cringed. “Aimma and the wizards… are they dead?” Odder asked.

“No, they’ll be fine. The egg’s magic stunned their bodies and erased their recent memories. It’s a natural defense in case one of the trapped victims breaks free from the spell.” She grabbed Odder and pulled him toward the door. “Let’s go.”

“Stay,” his inner voice screamed. He shook his head. “You’re a Xenduri, and I know nothing about you. Why would I go?”

Her face flushed, and she said in a stern voice, “No telling what the guards will do if they find you here with a dead goblin.” She tightened her grip. “We don’t have time for your stalling.”

Odder bit his lip and crossed his arms. “No.”

She looked down and pounded her forehead. “I swear on the frost giants of Adeldus. You are the most stubborn -”

Sudden shouts echoed from the streets. “In here, the goblin is in the shop.”

“Don’t be stupid,” she snapped. “We have to go now.”

Crashing sounds came from the front room as the guards tried to gain access.

Odder stomach knotted. “You better go.”

Serra lifted her hands and released a blue magic beam that blasted the back door. Splinters flew out the alley. She ran and stopped at the opening. “We still have a deal Odder. Get me into the masquerade, and I’ll take you to the potion master.” She winked and disappeared into a cloud of smoke.

The door exploded, sending debris into the room. The fragments stopped midair and imploded back into the shop. A gray melon-sized creature flew into the center of the room. Six leathery appendages protruded from its body with eyes at the end of each part. The eyes lifted and probed the area as if capturing every detail. Odder slowly moved to the corner. The creature let out a high-pitched screech and spun toward him, revealing a gigantic eye in the center with the other six eyes fixating on him. Odder gasped, breaking the silence. The creature charged at him but stopped before striking his face.

Odder squeezed his eyes shut. After a period of silence, he peeked to find the beast drifting out the back door. Several guards, with swords drawn, charged into the room and followed the creature into the alleyway.

The captain entered. “You again.”

Odder shrugged, unsure if he was safe. “Yes.” He dusted the debris off his clothes. “I thought the Magicsmith’s shop would be a safe place to hide.”

“The seeker tracked the goblin here.” The captain pointed at the body. “And to my surprise, he is face down on the table dead.”

Odder cringed. “Yes, but not by my hands?”

The guard flared his nostrils and grabbed the cloak at Odder’s chest. “Strange. The stench of this lifeless evil monster fills the room, and you - the town vekart - stands here without a scratch. How does that happen?” He shook him. “Tell me what you know?”

“I don’t know anything!” Odder said, trying to escape the captain’s constraint.

A guardsman ran into the room. “Sir, the seeker is circling the shop. I do not believe there is another threat.”

The captain released his grip. “Guard, confirm we are secure with the fairies then announce it’s safe.” He glared at Odder. “Take this outcast to the streets. We will get answers.”