On the Evil Scale: Keeper of La Tecla (The Key) Book Two

Anthony stood alongside Thomas, keeping their eyes fixed upon the center tunnel growing worried for the remaining numbers of their party hadn’t returned and it was past the thirty minute time frame. Fearing the worst scenarios, Anthony glanced down at his watch, and took notice of the time.

“What if something happened?” he feared, “It’s past thirty minutes.”

“It’s all right, they’ll be here. Yzavela is resourceful, so is Caleb, he’s not one of the best Guardians around for nothing.” Thomas did his best to comfort his brother, while concealing his own worries.

“Seriously though…” Nathan rasped, turning to Leonus, “they are taking too long, what if something happened?”

“Give them time.” Leonus growled, sharpening his axe with a rock he had found useful enough for the task.

“That’s the problem…time is something we don’t have.” Luke added, “If those things are walking the tunnels, we’re screwed because there’s no way we can keep hiding behind the boulders each time they pass through. They’ll catch our scent eventually, if they haven’t already.”

“He’s right.” Jeremy agreed.

“That’s what I’m worried about.” Nathan pondered.

“Leonus…” Derek approached the Scotsman, “you don’t really think something happened to them, do you?” he glanced around, making sure their conversation wasn’t overheard.

“If it does, it does. It would solve my problems.” Leonus slurred.

“You do realize that she’s not easy to kill, right?” Nathan mocked, “I mean, she’s like an itch that won’t go away, always nagging and biting with her little mouth.”

“She’s not immortal, which means she can die.” Leonus groaned in a soft whisper, glancing around at the others that were oblivious to his conversation.

Nick, standing near the tunnels, sharpened one of his axes, overheard the entire conversation. Releasing a low hiss, he paid no attention to the blade, cutting the palm of his hand. Hissing, he opened his hand, watching as the deep gash healed in seconds, leaving only blood in its place. Wiping it against his pants, he raised his gaze toward Leonus, knowing he would have to keep a close eye on the Scotsman and the other Lycynians that stood whispering around him. Looking toward Anthony and Thomas, he approached the Italian brother and spoke with them softly.

“Psst, hey…”

“Nick?” Anthony wondered.

“Listen to me very carefully.” Nick slurred, looking toward the three Lycynians that looked guilty of something that hadn’t yet been seen through.

Finally making it back to the ledge, after falling forward tripping on a loose rock, I grabbed onto the wall in front of me. Sighing deeply, I instructed Lucy to climb off my back and once following my blunt instructions, she whimpered with a squeal, scraping her feet on the sharp stone. Turning around, I swiftly picked her up, handing her to Jonathan, who swung her into the air and into his arms, not wanting to let her go.

“Lucy, are you all right? Did they hurt you?” he whispered, checking her sweet face, giving her a few kissed on her cheeks and forehead.

“No.” she cried, burying her head, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, “Johnny…they’re ugly-mean ladies, I want to go home.” she sniffled, “I want Mommy and Daddy…”

“I know, Button…I know.” he held her tight.

“Hi, Lucy…” Sarah greeted her, shaking one of her small hands.

“Sarah…” she smiled widely.

“You okay?”

“Mm-hmm.” Lucy sniffled once more, “I’m hungry.”

“We’ll get you home.” Jonathan reassured then turned, watching as Erik and Caleb helped Yzavela out of the cavern below, “Is she okay?”

Climbing up the wall, attempting to pull myself up on the ledge, one of my boots slipped on a loose stone. Feeling myself slip backwards, I felt someone grab my wrists, and I as looked upward, there stood Erik and Caleb, holding on tightly. Gently pulling me up with little effort onto the ledge, I sighed in relief, feeling a lump in my throat.

“Thank you.” I appreciated, sharing a brief nod with them.

“Are you okay?” Erik asked, examining her quickly.

“Are you sure?” Caleb wondered.

“Yes.” I nodded, then knelt in front of Zanzabarr, praising him for his patience and obedience, “Good boy.” I stood then turned, calling for Abraxas. Holding out my arms, the small dragon landed in my arms, snuggling his head against my chin, “Thank you.” I appreciated telepathically.

“You’re welcome. Mother.” he purred.

“All right, let’s…” I suggested then paused, hearing rustling coming from the cavern behind me and below, “tell me that’s not what I think it is?” I feared.

“It’s exactly what you think it is.” Caleb slowly reached out, pulling her away from the ledge, turning her around, “We found Lucy, so we have to get out of here NOW…” he urged.

“Good idea.” Erik gulped.

“Yeah.” Jonathan’s eyes widened.

A sense of intrusion was felt by the restless figures beginning to wake.

As we turned, watching as they stirred, Caleb quickly handed Yzavela her weapons’ belt and jacket, while shining his flashlight toward one of the women’s faces, noticing her eyes were sensitive to the light, as she shielded her eyes.

“Bloody hell…” he complained, studying some of them quickly with wild, matted hair, dressed in skins, while others were bare breasted, or moving around in full nudity, “that’s disgusting.” he frowned, as he continued backing away with the others shuffling down the tunnel. Reaching forward, laying the flashlight on the ledge, he left it behind as a distraction, watching as the mortal women clawed at the torch with lung, untrimmed fingernails and snarled with missing teeth, even sharpened ones, “How did they sharpen their teeth?” he wondered.

“I don’t know, care to stick around and find out?!” I grabbed his arm, turning him around, “Move it, smiley!” I grunted.

“Oi, don’t call me smiley.” he complained.

“Sorry.” I shrugged, glancing back, watching as the children crawled up onto the ledge, “Oh my god…” I paused, for they weren’t like any child I had ever seen with fawn legs and pig-like snouts, others with hooves and claws, or just so mixed together, I don’t think I could begin to describe them.

“Yza…” Caleb pleaded, gripping her arm firmly in return, “Yza, we have to leave, come on love…”

“They look like experiments gone wrong.” Erik fretted as he too, had a moment to study the women and children.

“We have to go…” Jonathan pleaded, watching as women crawled in and around where Lucy should have been, “LET’S GO!” he shouted, holding Lucy tight, as she whimpered and cried.

Sensing the child’s absence, the women and children signaled around at one another in a series of grunts and screams, that echoed up and down the tunnel and cavern, bouncing off the wall loudly.

“Hello?!” Caleb spoke into his watch as he and the other rushed in a series of shuffling steps down the tunnel, “Nick?! Nick mate, are you there?!”

“Caleb?” his voice answered, “Oh my god, finally! Where the hell are you, what’s going on?!”

“We found Lucy, we’re heading back to you now!” I grunted loudly.

“Yza?!” Nick’s voice raised with relief.

“Yzavela?!” Anthony called out to her.

“I’m fine, just…” I glanced back, “be ready to get the f*ck out!”

“Get you’re a**es moving you hear me?!” Leonus’ voice barked, “We hear movement from the left tunnel and its’ growing more hostile!”

“We’re trying, Red Ape…we’re bloody trying!” Caleb hissed, ending the call.

“Wait…” I came to abrupt halt, with Zanzabarr pacing nervously.

“Yza, we don’t have time to wait.” Sarah argued.

“Caleb, you take Lucy.” I instructed.

“What?!” Jonathan protested, “No, I’m not letting her go!”

“Jonathan…” I urged Abraxas onto my shoulder, “Caleb will get her to the other much faster than we can, it’s traumatizing her enough to be here, do you really want to out her through any more by running down these tunnels, and in the dark no less?”

“She’s right.” Sarah pleaded, holding onto his arm, then combed her fingers through Lucy’s hair, offering her a brief comforting smile.

Lucy coughed, then sniffled.

“She’s right.” Caleb stepped forward, holding out his arms for her.

Hearing shuffling behind us, growing close and closer, it pushed the decision.

“All right.” Jonathan nodded, “But you hold onto her, and don’t let her go until I get there, do you understand?!” he reached out, roughly grabbing hold of the Wraith’s jacket.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to protect her!” Caleb argued.

“Mother…” Abraxas shrieked verbally, “they are coming!” he held out his wings, casting an eerie shadow along the wall.

I turned to the tunnel behind us, seeing figures and shadows crawling along the stone ground, releasing low grunts while trying to shield their eyes from the disturbance of our flashlights.

“Caleb, get her out of here now!” I ordered, “NOW!” I pushed the Wraith down the tunnel after he swept Lucy from Jonathan’s arms.

Offering a nod, the Wraith teleported, appearing by the pit startling the others that jumped from his sudden appearance.

“Caleb?!” Nick praised, “Thank god!” he sped toward his friend.

“You found her!” Thomas greeted the small child, “Hello, Lucy.”

“Hi.” she squeaked innocently, holding onto Caleb tightly.

“Wh-where are the others?!” Anthony worried.

“They’re still back there, they’re coming.” Caleb held Lucy close.

Anthony growled, then turned, grabbing his sword, running down the tunnel.

“Anthony!” Luke called out.

“Tony!” Thomas hollered.

“God damn it!” Leonus growled, carrying his axe as he stomped.

We ran in haste, but occasionally our feet slipped on the sleek stone, but gaining our footing, we were in a full run with a wolf and dragon close behind. The erratic movement of the flashlights began creating a blinding effect, making it difficult to see a clear path ahead.

“Stop!” I shrieked, catching my breath.

“We can’t, we have to keep going!” Erik pleaded.

“I know that, but…”

“Keeps, listen to me…we have to go!” he grabbed her arm.

Nodding agreeably, I threw my flashlight away.

“What are you doing that for?!” Sarah complained.

“The flashing around is making me dizzy and it’s drawing far more attention from those things back there!” I gestured behind us, “You can keep yours if you want…” I stepped forward, beginning to run once more, “are you coming?!” I called out over my shoulder, then whistled for Zanzabarr and Abraxas.

Erik, Jonathan and Sarah turned off their flashlights; the two, quick-thinking Demons created orbs that hovered above, following along the length of the tunnel, illuminating the path ahead where another batch of figures appeared, startling us as we bumped into each other.

Gripping our weapons, we were prepared to defend ourselves when we heard Anthony and Thomas calling out.

“Anthony?!” I rasped in relief, then ran forward into his arms.

Holding her close, Anthony took in her scent, not letting her go.

“Thomas…” Jonathan greeted, then glanced past his shoulder, seeing Leonus and the others, “is my sister all right?”

“Caleb is with her back near the pit.” Thomas reassured.

“Let’s go!” Leonus bounced his axe in hand.

“Let’s go!” I ordered loudly, pulling away from Anthony’s embrace, hearing the rustling behind us growing closer, then glancing toward the orbs hovering above, I used my Telekinesis to throw them down the tunnel blinding the figures that shrieked from the brightness, “It won’t last, let’s go!”

“What are they?!” Luke questioned.

“Women and children!” Erik grunted.

“Women?!” Derek wondered.

“Children?!” Nathan muttered, holding Sarah’s hand tightly.

“They’re not children in the traditional sense, which is why we need to get the bloody hell out of here!” Erik argued.

Finally, making it back to the pit, there stood Caleb holding Lucy; he bounced her gently, keeping her calm as he whispered softly to her.

“Caleb, her to the hospital and call her parents, then get your cocky a** back here!” I instructed.

Jonathan scampered over, kissing her quickly, reassuring her that he will be with her again but needed to help his friends, then he turned to Sarah, pleading to her.

“Go with them.” he guided her toward Caleb.

“What?!” Sarah whimpered, “No, I’m staying here!”

“Sarah please, she’s scared enough as it is, she needs someone that she knows there with her while the Doctors and nurses hover around her.” Jonathan placed his hands on her shoulders, “I have never begged a thing from you, but this time please, do this for me?” he stared into her wide, blue eyes.

“Sarah, love…” Nathan approached, “he’s right. Go with her.”

“But…”

“Sarah!” both Jonathan and Nathan barked loudly, “Go!”

Biting her lip, Sarah nodded. Turning to Caleb, she held onto him, and just before the Wraith vanished, she offered the men that meant something to her, a smile before disappearing, reappearing within the lobby of the hospital.

“Help!” Caleb shouted, “Matthews, Beth!” he called out for them.

“Caleb?!” Beth emerged from her clinic down the hall, “By the gods!”

“Where’s Matthews?!” Sarah shouted.

“I’m here!” the Wraith appeared, approaching them quickly, “Follow me.” he turned, leading the young man and woman down the hall, to the pediatrics ward upstairs, “What happened?!” he closed the door.

Caleb spat the words, quickly telling the man what happened but he kept a lot of the details to himself as he shared worried glances with Sarah, who helped settle Lucy’s nerves.

“All right…” Matthews nodded, then turned, hearing the pediatric Doctor enter the room, “Susan, tend to the child.” he instructed then turned to Sarah and Caleb, “You two, come with me now.”

Following Matthews out of the room and into the hall, Caleb hissed, stating that he couldn’t stay long for he promised that he would get back to the others that were still within the lair by the ruins.

“Bring them home…” Sarah pleaded, holding onto his arm, “please.”

Caleb nodded, then vanished.

“I have to be with her.” Sarah tried pushing past Matthews but the tall black man wouldn’t allow her to pass, “What are you doing, let me go…” she grunted, “I promised Jonathan I would be with her!”

“And you will be, but not dressed like that.” he argued, gripping her by the arm firmly. Leading her, more like dragging her, down the hall, he escorted her to the showers, “Take a shower and clean yourself off, you don’t want Lucy seeing you looking like that.”

Glancing down at herself, Sarah realized he was right.

“Fine.” she nodded agreeably, “But please, make sure Lucy is safe.”

“I will.” Matthews nodded, then sped down the hall.

Retreating to the showers, ripping at the filthy clothes, she stepped into the stall, feeling the hot water pound against her skin that she fiercely scrubbed clean repeatedly until it turned pink, afterwards, she dried off, dressed in clean hospital scrubs of a shirt and pants, then wandered down the hall where she could hear Lucy’s voice crying out.

A massive creature crawled its way across hundreds of his kin toward a tunnel, listening as distant echoes disturbed its peace, and within its black environment, its red eyes squinted as its nose sniffed the air. As it turned its body around into a position where it would emerge its bulk down the tunnel to investigate, the beasts around it, scampered down the tunnel for they caught the scent of intruders that had been there before. Releasing a guttural squeal that vibrated off the walls, it stood within the cavern, touching the roof with its massive horn and aggressively flicked its long boar’s tail.

The Boar-wolves crowded the tunnels, scraping against the walls that shook from the constant friction as they moved forward, preparing to attack the intruders of their domain and lair. Squealing, grunting and snorting, their aggressive intentions were made clear as they were just a few feet from emerging, bombarding those that invaded their home.

As the vibrations grew more intense, I turned to both Zanzabarr and Abraxas, pleading to them to wait outside, I didn’t want them here for this, growing fearful they would be attacked or injured.

“No…” Abraxas argued, roaring loudly over the vibrations.

“Abraxas, please!” I demanded, “I would never give you an order but this time, I am now please…if not for me, than for Zanzabarr.” my eyes glanced toward the wolf that whined and paced nervously.

The Zyphyn bowed his head, reluctantly adhering to her command. Communicating with the wolf, they both turned, scampering across the pit, disappearing down the tunnel leading them back to the debris stacked, but waited in the cellar.

Sighing, I turned, allowing my eyes the chance to adjust to the lack of proper lighting. Spreading out with the others, I stood too close to the center tunnel and before I, or my companions could react, I felt hands pulling me backwards, throwing me to the ground. Letting out a fierce scream, I tried pushing a woman off me as she attempted gnawing with her sharp teeth, and scratching at my torso through my leather padded armor. Closing my eyes, beginning to steam beneath the woman’s weight, I listened as she shrieked, feeling my Aura burn her skin. Moments before I could push me off, shwa s roughly pulled of from behind by two powerful hands, and thrown across the large clearing, hitting the wall. Suddenly, I felt another set of hands reach for me; pushing and kicking them away, I heard Anthony’s voice plea softly.

“Yzavela, Yza…it’s me, it’s me.”

Opening my eyes, there he was, kneeling above me before pulling me to my feet after my Aura faded.

“Thank you.” I appreciated.

“Always.” he combed her hair back, then turned, hearing Nick shout.

“They’re coming!” the Wraith hissed, pointing down the left tunnel.

Thunderous thus boomed from the tunnel, followed by series of red eyes growing closer and as the creatures emerged, the Boar-wolves all spread out across our path, surrounding us in an awkward pattern. All we could do was back away, closer to the pit behind us, needing to watch out footing rather carefully. Suddenly, Caleb appeared with his guns held in hand.

“Try not to get yourselves killed!” Leonus shouted.

Everyone adhered, gripping their weapons of choice tightly, waiting for the creatures to charge and after walking around in a taunting and menacing manner, catching our scent, they pounced. As they lunged, we defended; stabbing and cutting at their tough hides that proved to be difficult to pierce. The light from the glow sticks and flashlights affected their eyes, being kicked and scattered about. Being in such a close proximity, some of the beasts had heads and tusks of a boar, but others were deformed with wolf-like heads, fangs and physiques. Either way, they were f*cking hideous monsters.

While some in the company were expert warriors, excluding myself, everyone struggled in their attempts to defend themselves, even for the Wraiths.

Efforts to pierce their tough hides required several repeated strikes, but after continuous strong, and powerful blows, it proved successful.