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

Removing his axe with a rough yank backwards, his actions jerked the boars’ body in place, leaving it to bleed out. Swinging the large weapon over his shoulder, blade dripping with the creatures’ blood, he stepped back watching as the sovereign boar took in a few more deep, shallow breaths, before its eyes closed and its breathing finally ceased. As he turned with a smug grin, he took notice of the all of the solemn and surprised expressions.

“What?!” the Scotsman mocked, “It’s dead now.” he gestured at it, then turned away, wiping the axe blade across the hide of one of the Boar-wolves behind him, “Sorry if I interrupted the Beauty and the Beast moment between the two of ye, it’s not like you could’ve taken it home with you.” he spat, “You already have two wolves wrapped around your wee finger.”

“Leonus, that’s enough.” Derek groaned.

Looking at the Samoan, Leonus scoffed.

“No, it’s not enough, it’ll be never be enough!” he mocked loudly, “It is because of her that we’re here, and had to have done all of this!” he leered at the men that stared in his direction with such loathing.

“We’re not here because of Yza, we’re here because these things had kidnapped my sister…that’s why we’re here!” Jonathan spoke up in a loud, arguable voice that echoed, “And yes, these things are, or were, responsible for that but that still didn’t give you the right to butcher that animal that was only defending its home.” he gestured behind the Scotsman toward the boar, “It couldn’t help what it was, Leonus.”

“I can’t believe this…” Leonus mocked, “all of ye are goin’ to tell me that you felt sorry for this thing that wanted to kill us all?!” his red alpha Lycynian eyes leered at the figures around, “Well, f*ck that and f*ck all of you, I did what I had to do to survive!” he turned to raise his axe once more, but felt a hand grab his arm. As he turned, Derek stood leering at him, “What’re you doin’ Derek?”

“You are not, going to take a trophy.” the Samoan warned, “You’ve done enough!”

Pulling away, Leonus stood in disbelief.

“You’re with her then? You’re with all of them?” he groaned deeply.

“No, but you HAVE done enough, and to take a trophy from this?” Derek gestured around, “Wouldn’t make you a man, it would make you a coward because this wasn’t a kill for sport, it was something…” he paused, not knowing what to say, “I don’t know.” he shrugged.

“And you?!” Leonus leered toward Yzavela, “You’re quiet over there.”

“Oh believe me…” I groaned, gently pulling away form Anthony’s arms, “I have a lot to say.” I began steaming, approaching him slowly.

“Yza…” Anthony pleaded, then said nothing more as Thomas’ hand reached for his arm.

“Just because that creature was dying, doesn’t give you or anyone the right to treat it like some god damn trophy kill!” I daringly pushed his bulk backwards, thumping his back against a pile of carcasses, “If I could…” I pushed him back again, receiving an aggressive grunt in reply, “I would have controlled that things, and have it shove its horn so far up your god damn a** you would be impaled, then left here to rot with the rest of them!”

Before she could react, nor her dragon and wolf, Leonus raised his axe, pressing the curve between the blades against her throat, and it didn’t matter which way she turned her head, the blades could’ve slit her petite throat.

“No one…” he threatened, “touches me like that, now I have had…” he panted, walking her backwards in shuffling steps, “ENOUGH of your bloody little tantrums, so when this is over, and we get back to the wall, you and I are going to settle this honorably.” he squinted.

“Honorably?!” Erik protested, stepping forward.

“You don’t know the meaning of the word!” Anthony growled.

“Ah-ah…take one more step, and I slit her throat!” Leonus warned, pressing the curve firmly against her skin, hearing her whimper softly.

“Leonus Lancaster, honorable?” I mocked the man’s ego, chuckling in place as I held my hands out as if surrendering, “That creature…” my eyes gazed toward the corpse, “had more honor protecting its kin than you will ever have in a lifetime.” I continued to chuckle, “You hate mate, that’s fine, because the feeling is very mutual so since you have the perfect opportunity to strike me down, taking the island for yourself…what are you waiting for? Do it…” I taunted bravely, “Go on…cause this is the only chance you’re ever going to get, while I’m unarmed and defenseless.”

“You…” Leonus mocked her, gripping the hilt of his axe in a tighter grip, tempted by her words, “are anything but defenseless, I do have to say.”

“Leonus, come on…” Nick sped forward, standing next to him.

“Let her go…” Caleb sped, appearing on the other side of the alpha.

Glancing down both left and right, knowing he was surrounded by supernaturals that could end his life if they had bitten him, sneered.

Watching his moment of hesitation, I focused on the hilt of the axe, burning it against the palm of his large hand, and once his grasp had released quickly, the weapon fell, creating a loud clank against stone. I watched as he attempted reaching for it, but then he was pinned to the wall by the Wraiths that hissed, digging their supernatural nails through the fabric of his shirts and armor. Raising my right hand, I gathered a powerful orb of my fiery Aura that swirled around my fingers.

“Yzavela…” Derek affirmed, “don’t do this, he’s not worth it.”

“But he is, that’s the problem.” I snapped, looking at the Samoan, “It would be so easy to just blow you apart, it really would, but I’m not you.” I reached out my right hand over the axe, “You’re not worthy of this weapon!” I muttered in a low voice, releasing the gathered fire, melting the axe in place, and regardless of the fatigue and energy that I had wasted fighting in this battle, I wouldn’t stop until there was nothing left of his prized weapon that was now nothing more than a heap of melted metal and ore at his feet. Shaking my hand, I turned to Anthony, falling into his embrace, feeling drained.

“What have you done, you f*cking little b*tch?!” Leonus screamed.

“Let him go!” I ordered Nick and Caleb, “NOW…” I watched their hesitation.

The Wraiths hissed, pushing Leonus’ back against the wall then took steps back, turning away as they sped toward Yzavela and the others.

“What have you done?!” Leonus knelt on the ground, “That….” he leered at her, “was mine, it belonged to me!”

“I accept your challenge!” I announced.

Growling deeply, Leonus lept his feet, lunging toward her with his clawed hands but he didn’t get far enough as Abraxas and Zanzabarr pounced him to the ground; the supernatural companions snapped at his hands, but didn’t dare bite for they knew he wasn’t theirs to kill.

“ENOUGH!” I shouted, “Look around…” I gestured around at the bodies surrounding everyone, “there has been enough bloodshed and killing done here today, no more!”

“You need to leave.” Derek turned to her, “Get that leg looked at.”

“He’s right, come on love…” Anthony pleaded, wrapping his arms around her, “please, for me, hmm?”

Looking into his dark eyes, my rage softened. Studying his injuries, I nodded. Leering back at Leonus that remained frozen in place as the wolf and dragon snarled and roared, he flinched once they snapped in his face before retreating upon my summons once more.

Nick and Caleb led the way back to the cellar, while the others all shuffled close behind, leaving Leonus and Derek behind by the pit.

The Samoan grunted, pulling the Scotsman to his feet then he turned, strolling down the tunnel but kept glancing back, making sure that Leonus, not that he cared, was in close pursuit.

“At this point, I don’t care…I’m opening a bloody portal out of this god damn place.” Erik mumbled, then turned, waving his hands and with ease, a portal opened, revealing the ruins on the other side. As he lept through with Jonathan, he turned, watching as Nick, Caleb and Thomas were next, followed by Anthony and Yzavela, leaving Derek and Leonus, “Come on, it won’t stay open long!” he called out.

“Move it…” Derek growled, pushing the Scotsman through and just as his bulk fell on the ground on the other side, Derek was about to take a step forward, but he heard shuffling behind him from the dark tunnel. Frowning, his paranormal eyes saw nothing, thinking maybe it was just debris or the bats shuffling in place from the constant, and persistent disturbance.

“Derek!” Jonathan shouted, “Come on, mate…”

The Samoan shook his head, stepping through the portal and just as his boots crunched in the snow, he turned watching as the void had vanished, leaving behind sparks that faded with a lingering hum and crackling pop like distant fireworks.

“Nick, Caleb…” I grunted as Thomas led Anthony and I toward the nearest boulders to sit on, “I want you to go back to the wall and tell the Guardians that we made it out, then get to the hospital and get yourselves looked at.”

“But what about you?” Caleb worried.

Looking around, seeing I was in in good hands, I grinned.

“I’ll be fine.” I reassured, “Now, please…go. Keeper’s orders.”

The Wraiths nodded, then shared brief knuckle bumps with Erik and Jonathan before they sped, disappearing through the tree line.

Derek shuffled through the bags for the first aid kits, tossing them all toward Thomas and Anthony, then tossed bottles of water around.

Everyone managed to clean off their faces, feeling the cold air tickle against the water but it was a relief from the conditions underground.

“Thomas…” Derek instructed, “let me look at your shoulder.” and as he received a nod, he observed, “lucky for you, it’s just dislocated, but the rest of the arm, I can’t do anything about.”

“Just…set it.” Thomas moaned.

Derek nodded, then taking position, he counted to three and before he made it to three, he listened as Thomas screamed, feeling the bone set back in its socket, while the rest of the arm was kept stiff from the shattered forearm.

“Thomas…” I rasped, “take handfuls of snow and rub it into the wounds, it’ll numb the pain.” I moaned, then worriedly glanced to my right where Anthony sat, “Derek, do you have a…” I turned to him, seeing him handing me one of the kits, “thank you.” I nodded, then began ripping it open, looking for something to stop the severe bleeding.

“Here…” Derek removed his scarf from his bag, “tie this around.”

“Th-thank you.” Anthony grunted, nodding then cursed loudly, as he felt Yzavela’s hands tightly wrap the scarf around the deep wound, after cleaning it quickly and applying the cold snow that for just a moment, numbed the pain.

“How’s that?” I looked at him.

“It’s…good, I don’t feel a thing.” he grinned, attempting to joke, “I want you to take care of yourself.” he reached for her hands, “Please.”

Nodding, I leaned against the boulder, watching as Derek helped me with my leg wound.

“How does it look?” I groaned, flinching from his touch as he swiftly pressed a handful of snow against the wound. Sighing in spurts trying to contain the painful screams that I wanted to shout, I closed my eyes, thinking about happy things and moments.

“That should do it for now.” Derek placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Thank you.” I opened my eyes, nodding in appreciation.

Erik and Jonathan tended to their wounds, while Leonus hunched forward huffing deeply, leaving Nathan standing nearby, smoking a much needed, and wanted, cigarette.

There was an eerie silence within the ruins, aside from the occasional shift of feet crunching through the snow. Suddenly, Zanzabarr lying next to Yzavela, raised his head, perking his ears as he tilted his head, hearing something rustling from the cellar underground.

During the eradication of the Boar-wolves and their sovereign, down the center tunnel, the women huddled together, observing everything. Once a dead silence lingered throughout the caverns, the cautiously emerged from the tunnel, looking around, with quick sniff of the air. Taking notice that their invaders were gone, the women crawled and climbed around the creatures, clinging to their mates, grieving deeply.

Despite their deformities, they too, loved.

The sovereign’s mate was a tall, muscular woman, and walking over, she knelt beside his head, stroking his snout and rubbing her head against his, crying softly. Grunting, pushing away the women wanting to gather around her, she huffed as she stood, leering around at what was left of her kin. Releasing a string of grunts and moans, pointing toward the single tunnel leading to the cellar, she communicated by a series of hand signals, before two words managed to escape her lips in a low, deep whisper,

“Mates…vengeance.” and as she continued to stare, her cloudy eyes filled with revenge before squinting with intent of her actions. As she marched, kicking glow sticks into the pit, she took it upon herself to seek justice. Leading the women behind her, following the length of the tunnel, running their hands along the walls, they stumbled upon the cellar where a rope still hung from above, swinging slightly from a source of movement above ground. The woman quickly ran toward the rope, cutting enough to bound someone’s wrists and ankles. Her eyes veered upward, then shielded them from the sun, but then they widened, catching the glimpse of a woman’s petite figure. Grunting, she slowly, and quietly climbed the stacked debris, listening to the deep grunts and hisses from the other women that gathered around the cellar. Reaching her hands upward toward the hole, she withdrew, hearing deep guttural growls of a canine, “Vengeance.” she whispered.

Hearing Yzavela scream once more, thinking maybe she had been frightened by one of those insects that might have escaped from the underground cellar, the men turned, taking notice that the screams were more intense, and terrifying. Anthony didn’t care about any of his injuries as he jumped to his feet, limping forward watching as her wolf and dragon lept back underground.

“Yzavela!” he shouted.

Everything happened so fast, that by the time Jonathan and Erik had appeared in their swirling flames, there were only signs of a struggle that led back down the tunnel toward the pit. The Demons turned, watching as Derek and Anthony lept on the debris, not caring if the stacked crates and boulders gave way to their heavy weight, even the Scotsman Leonus descended which was a great surprise. Glancing around, they then froze, hearing a woman’s screams echo throughout the cellar and tunnel ahead.

“Guess we follow them!” Derek watched as the wolf and dragon ran down the tunnel without hesitation, then turned as both Nathan and Leonus landed on the ground, “What are you doing here?!”

“F*ck you!” Leonus growled, pushing the man out of the way.

“Thomas…” Anthony called out to his brother who was looming in above them raining snow and dirt upon the stacked debris, “call the Guardians and get them here now!”

“What about you?!” Thomas hollered.

“Just do it!” the Italian growled, then rush forward after the others.

Thomas nodded, then turned, carefully shuffling away. Rummaging through his bags, he huffed searching for his phone then once he felt he had a grasp upon the gadget, he was disappointed seeing it was his radio but it would work just the same. Turning it on the frequency for the Guardians, he called out urgently, pleading for someone to answer,

“Hello?! Hello, is anyone there?! Hello?!”

“Who is this?!” a voice answered.

“Oh thank god, this is Thomas.” the Italian shouted, “I’m out b-by the ruins and there’s been an accident, w-we…”

“Thomas?” a voice answered nearby.

Raising his gaze, the Italian watched as Wyatt and Justin ran toward him in quick shuffling steps through the snow.

“Thomas, oh my god…” Wyatt pondered, kneeling alongside him, “what happened?!” he looked around, “Where are the others?”

“They’re underground, or…they went back underground!”

“Went back?” Justin wondered, “Why?”

“Yzavela was taken.” Thomas leered over his shoulder, “I would be down there but…” he grunted, trying to move his broken arm.

“All right, all right…take it easy.” Wyatt placed a hand on the man’s shoulder, then he looked at Justin, “Get him to the hospital, then see if you can find Nick and Caleb, I got word from them so you should be able to find them somewhere.”

“What are you going to do?” Justin’s eye grew wide.

“Justin!” Wyatt ordered.

“Bloody hell, all right mate…no need to shout!” the Wraith hissed, then holding onto Thomas, he was moments away from teleporting, but Thomas reached out, grabbing Wyatt’s arm.

“Bring them, bring them both home!” the Italian pleaded, referring to both Anthony and Yzavela.

“I will, now go!” Wyatt nodded, then carefully descended the rope. As his feet felt the debris below, he cautiously climbed down then as his blue eyes adjusted to the darkness of the cellar, he removed his flashlight from his belt then followed the tunnel ahead, “Erik….” he called out, “Anthony, Jonathan!” he avoided the insects and worms, continuing forward, “Derek, Yzavela!” and as he came across the pit, he couldn’t believe the sight that lay before him, “What the f*ck?!” he shone the flashlight around the cavern, studying all of the piled up carcasses of the Boar-wolves and their sovereign lying nearby, but then his attentions were called down the center tunnel, hearing voices and screams echoing loudly.

Thrown downward onto the hard stone floor, it crunched beneath. I moaned deeply, shifting in place when I heard voices shouting out my name, voices that grew closer followed by roars and barks. I had managed to push myself onto my knees, while my hands and ankles were still bound.

“Hello!” I shouted, fearing the dark, “I’m here…I’m in here!” and seeing nothing but darkness around me, I took several deep breaths, concentrating on my Aura and as I looked around, the cavern lit up with a reddish hue. Squirming in place, I felt the ropes beginning to burn from the flames and just as they snapped, I broke free from their bindings. Looking around toward the ground, I moaned feeling something slimy move and skitter from my touch. Knowing exactly what it was, I screamed like a Banshee.

“Hey, shh…” Derek barked, hearing shuffling coming from down the tunnel behind them, “shh!” he placed his fingers to his lips. As he and the others turned, they gripped their weapons tightly, unknowing of what threat might charge toward them and as they lunged forward, Derek and Jonathan pinned Wyatt to the stone wall, slamming his back against the stone.

“Whoa, hey…it’s me!” Wyatt shouted, “IT’S ME!” he reassured.

“Bloody hell…” Leonus complained, “just what we don’t need, are more magic fingers! What are you doin’ here?!”

“Thomas called.” Wyatt answered, pushing the hands away, “What’s happened here?!”

“Now isn’t the time to talk, we have to…” Anthony growled then he turned, hearing a woman’s scream like a Banshee, “Yzavela!” his steps shuffled awkwardly, limping forward.

“Anthony!” Erik called out.

“Who was that?!” Wyatt wondered, hearing the screams bounce off the walls and floors, scattering several more insects and worms, “And what the f*ck are those things?!” he shone his flashlight down toward the large roach-like creatures.

“It doesn’t matter, come on…” Jonathan urged, pulling the Demon away from the wall, pushing him forward.

“Yzavela!?” Anthony shouted, then paused, hearing her screams.

Ceasing my screams, moaning softly, I then felt hands tugging at me, turning into deep grunts as their hands burned against my Aura. As I stood, stumbling in place trying to keep my balance on the uneven floor crowded with twigs and bones, in that moment, I knew what poor Lucy must have gone through. Feeling my rage brew, I turned releasing blats and spurts of my Aura, burning several of the women that gathered around me; I watched as they retreated to the shadows, licking their hands, then felt sorry for them for just a moment, for they were lost and helpless without the protection and care of the male beasts.

Crouching in niches, huddling together, the women and children all observed the petite figure engulfed in fire, thinking maybe she was a fire goddess, or perhaps their new sovereign or queen, but regardless of what they thought, they feared her nonetheless, especially her fiery powers.

Breathing heavily, I stood leering at the women and children, when suddenly I heard voices growing closer, loudly calling out my name. I turned, trying to find the ledge that I had once climbed down, but all I could see were rough rock walls that masked the tunnel. Raising my hands, creating large clusters of embers that resembled orbs, I found the tunnel. Beginning to stomp my way through the bones, I began seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, which wasn’t a good thing at this point, until I saw figures moving in front of the light source.

“Yza!” voices called out my name once more, before jumping off the ledge and into the cavern below.

“Yzavela!” Anthony rushed toward her, limping awkwardly but knew to avoid her Aura, although he wanted to desperately hold her in his arms.

Smiling in relief, I glanced past his shoulder, watching as the others trailed behind him. I was surprised to see both Leonus and Nathan, but I pushed aside the distraction of their presence then frowned as I saw Wyatt jumping in last. Glancing upward, holding onto Anthony after my Aura faded, I watched as Abraxas hovered above, igniting his scales with Zanzabarr not too far behind; he lept into the cavern, growling deeply, scattering the debris across the floor as his massive paws landed roughly.

Seeing the wolf, the women and children grunted in admiration, for he was magnificent to behold, thinking he might have been one of the Boar-wolves that had survived. Some reached out in attempts to touch his fur but quickly withdrew as he turned, snapping at their hands, slathering his jaws.

Grabbing onto his harness, I backed away with Anthony as the others crowded around, and in front of me, leading me toward the ledge.

“We need to leave…” Derek muttered deeply, looking around, “just back away slowly.” he watched as the women and children sneered in eerie hisses as they approached revealing their threatening intentions.

“There…” Erik pointed across the cavern, seeing figures emerging from a hidden tunnel among the rock, “you’ve got to be kidding?!” he watched as countless women and hybrid children crawled around, surrounding everyone, “Sh*t…” he fretted.

“Her…” I pointed toward the tallest woman that stood in the center of the cavern, “she’s the one that took me, she’s their leader!” my eyes scanned the room, watching as the women and children gathered all around her, waiting for her word to advance and attack.

The woman stood slightly hunched, with her dirt hair hanging in her face in thick, dry strands. Her muscular frame made her looks as if she were once a female body builder, wearing a halter top of skins and a loin-cloth-like skirt that hid her lower regions. Screaming, she pointed a bony finger toward the invaders, then lunged forward with the other women from all directions, attacking.

The three Demons managed to create a barrier around the group; the unsettling thumps from the crazed clan viciously attacked before they withdrew pacing curiously before attacking once more, tossing large rocks toward the shields that bounced off. Backing away toward the ledge, the barrier moved as the Demons shuffled their feet carefully.

“Get her out of here!” Wyatt ordered, “Erik, Jonathan...open a portal and get Yza out of here!”

“We can all get out!” I shouted arguably.

“Yza!” Wyatt leered at her over his broad shoulder, “Just do it!”

Knowing I had no other choice, I grunted with a reluctant nod. As I turned away with Erik and Jonathan, they managed to open a portal within the entrance of the tunnel; I could see the ruins above ground where figures paced. Feeling the Demons grab my waist, lifting me up onto ledge, I summoned Abraxas and Zanzabarr who managed to run and fly through the portal ahead of me. Falling to the snow, with Erik and Jonathan landing alongside me, the portal immediately, and unintentionally closed.

“No…” I moaned, “noooo!” I screamed for Anthony was left behind, “Open it…” I turned to the Demons, “open it!”

“Yza, no…” Erik argued, grabbing her firmly.

“Anthony is back there, open it!” I pleaded.

“No…” Jonathan slowly knelt on his knees, “I’m sorry.”

“Nooo!” I screamed, “Anthony!” then glancing behind Erik, a rush of Guardians, both Demon and Wraith, rushed forward, helping us from the ground.

“Yzavela…” Thomas worried, running toward her, holding her close, “where’s Tony?” he looked down at her.

“He’s still in there…” I cried, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t get him out, I…”

“Shh…” Thomas pulled her closer, listening to her cries.

Once the portal behind them closed, the men looked at one another.

Wyatt dismantled the barrier that he pushed outward, throwing quite a few of the women and children backwards with such force, their bodies thumped eerily against the stone, while others jumped in mid-air onto their back or from the front, knocking them to the ground, trying to bite with their sharp teeth. Wyatt unfortunately hadn’t been equipped with the leather armor or vests, so his uniform easily tore from the teeth and nails.

In between their attacks, the clan caught the Lycynian scent which, for a moment, ceased their attack but resumed quickly as they were roughly handled and attacked. Their eyes reflected nocturnally in the dark, setting off an eerie appearance as they caught the light from the flashlights that were dropped. Attempting to bite down on Wyatt’s shoulder, the woman that pinned him to the ground, shrieked as a pair of hands yanked her by her hair, dragging her off his 6’4 bulk.

Derek, Anthony and Nathan found it difficult to strike them down, but Leonus didn’t seem phased by his actions as he swung one of the spare machetes, hacking down any of the clanswomen that charged.

Anthony struggled to keep his balance, limping in place leaning along the wall for support then grunted, feeling one of the women pounce on his back, wrapping her legs and arms around him tightly. Turning around facing her back toward the wall, he lunged backwards and with a hard thump, he slammed her against the rock, loosening her grip, as she fell to the ground, suffering from a broken back. Huffing, holding his sword in hand, he looked down at her, watching as she laid in pain, crying as she gazed up at him with a horrified expression. Frowning, he briefly studied her disfigured features, knowing that the next act, would be an act of mercy.

“God forgive me please, for what I’m about to do!” he prayed, then plunging his blade through her chest, he closed his eyes, hearing her shriek from the wound before hearing a thump as her arms fell by his feet. Opening his eyes, he regretted it deeply, for he would never harm a woman or child, “I’m sorry…” he clenched his jaw, removing his blade that pierced her heart. Tears ran down his blood splattered face, knowing this would haunt him for the rest of his life. Quickly, he gave her the sign of the cross before he turned, continuing to fight, trying not to strike any more down, just wounding them enough to keep them back.