The Chimera (Legends of the Dark Creatures Book 2)

It took him a while but after visiting, torturing, and killing some Hunters along his way, Ethan found the Hunters’ secret headquarters... a cathedral of all things.

His current escapade had led him all the way to London.

Ethan shook his head as he walked towards the building. He gathered a gust of wind around him and flew into the air. Landing on the roof of the cathedral, Ethan began to plan his next move. According to one very unfortunate Hunter, there was a door in the basement of the building that led to some underground facilities where the Hunters met.

Ethan sensed the auras of only a few humans inside the building.

He sighed and jumped through an open window. Knowing he had to make sure not to alert the Hunters, Ethan controlled some air and stealthily landed behind some marble pillars.

Ethan slid his hands into the pockets of his leather coat; well, at least it looked like leather. Ethan’s jeans, jacket, and boots were made from the same source... dragon skin. Not even the most powerful human weapon could pierce through them. Only enchanted weapons or weapons from other realms could.

“You have to wear these whenever we visit our human friends from now on, okay.”

That’s what his mother once told him. Ironic that the very species she called friends were the ones responsible for all the pain she suffered... well at least some of it. Most of his mother’s misfortunes were a result of Ethan’s very existence.

“Excuse me, young man,” an old man dressed in white robes said. “But that is a restricted area.”

Right, Ethan thought. As far as humans were concerned, Ethan looked no more than a young adult in his late teens.

He walked to the man and looked into his eyes.

“Pardon my curiosity but can you be so kind as to lead me to the basement,” Ethan said and sent a wave of power at the man.

“Of course,” the man replied obediently. “Follow me.”

Ethan followed the man. He was led to a small wooden door. The man unlocked it and said, “Just follow these stairs.”

“Thank you,” Ethan said. “Now forget about everything you have just done and go about your business.”

Ethan left the man and walked down the stairs. He heightened his vision when the path started becoming too dark for him to see.

When he reached the end of the stairs, Ethan heard voices speaking.

“The former Grandmaster is dead!” a husky male voice exclaimed.

“At least they managed to prevent his awakening,” a feminine voice commented.

“Yes... Who knows what kind of hell that monster would unleash upon us,” the husky voice said.

“And Grandmaster Drathvir... Any word from her?” said another voice.

“Nothing from her... She was supposed to have arrived minutes ago.”

“Considering the circumstances, I am sure she thought it best to be as far from this place as possible,” the female voice said.

“Now why is that?” Ethan said to himself.

“Hey... intruder!”

Ethan looked behind and saw five masked Hunters coming at him. Each had a black sword drawn. They were all Captains.

Another Hunter tried to sneak up from behind him but Ethan pounded his palm into Hunter’s chest and the air blew his masked opponent meters away, killing him the moment he crashed into a wall.

“I am only going to give you one chance to leave here alive,” Ethan said.

Unnecessary deaths were not to Ethan’s taste.

Realizing that Ethan was no ordinary opponent, the other five Hunters stood and began to approach him cautiously. They surrounded him. Two attacked him from the front while the other three thought they could prevent his escape by standing behind him.

“How unfortunate,” Ethan said.

Razor-sharp claws protruded from Ethan’s fingers and in one incredibly fast movement, he had slashed his claws across the necks of four Hunters.

Blood spattered everywhere and the Hunter that remained watched in horror as his comrades fell to the ground.

“Those... Those are Werewolf claws” he said, his voice shaking. “And just now, you... you were controlling air.”

Ethan walked to him. The Hunter's shaking hand was still gripping his sword even as he slowly walked back.

“Beware, Beware the crimson flame,

Speak not of the Chimera’s name,

He comes when you’re awake,

He comes in your sleep...”

“Yes,” Ethan replied with a sigh. “Believe me; none of the sentences in that poem say anything good about me.”

“I have heard the legend of the Chimera,” the Hunter said.

“Really,” Ethan replied. “Well, then I am sure you’ve heard of what befalls all who challenge me.”

The Hunter suddenly stopped moving and firmly gripped his sword. He took off his mask and stared at Ethan.

The man was Asian and probably in his late twenties. Tears were flowing carelessly out of his eyes but not because he was afraid.

“My wife was killed by a werewolf three years ago,” the Hunter said. “The daughter she left behind grew up without ever knowing her mother and I vowed I would protect her no matter what the cost.”

“Even if the cost implies she has to spend the rest of her days without her father?”

The Hunter smiled and replied saying, “I know I can’t defeat you, Chimera. But I will be damned if I let my daughter grow up with a coward as her father.”

Amazed by the human’s words Ethan asked, “What’s your name, Hunter?”

“Himara Takiro,” the Hunter replied.

“And the name of your daughter?”

“Niko... Himara Niko,” Takiro replied.

“Well Takiro, I think it would be an insult to offer you a chance to leave but at least accept my offer of an honorable death.”

“My pleasure,” Takiro replied, falling into a perfect stance.

Takiro charged at Ethan.

Though Takiro was faster than the average human, his movements were clear to Ethan. His form and precision were flawless and if a human had been his opponent the outcome of this battle would have been different.

When Takiro was close enough Ethan smiled and used his abilities as an Air Element Master to conjure an Air Blade which found its way through Takiro’s heart.

The man dropped his sword and fell on the hard ground.

“H-How is this possible?” Takiro said. “I feel no pain.”

“That’s because I am taking it,” Ethan said, staring at the black veins across his extended hand.

“I remember,” Takiro said. “You are also a Tormentor. But I thought those creatures only inflict pain.”

“In a time before even I existed, Tormentors were called Frethyria, which means Giver of Peace. They would take away the pain and sorrow of all who didn’t want it but with magic the is always a price.”

“The pain they took away,” Takiro said.

“The Frethyria would experience that very pain tenfold,” Ethan finished. “In time one of them was driven mad and sought to get rid of it. So he did something the witches that created him never so coming. He gave it back... and in the process killed off his entire village.”

“It is said that another group of witches finally captured him and put a curse on him; a curse that allowed him to live forever like a dark creature. However, the curse also prevented him from ever harming a living creature, and that is why the only way a Tormentor dies is when it uses its abilities to take a life.”

Ethan gritted his teeth when the burning sensation in his chest worsened; it felt like a thousand hot blades piercing through his heart.

A smile formed on Takiro’s face and in a low fading voice he said, “Who knew that I would die listening to a bedtime story from the Chimera himself?”

“The werewolf that killed your wife... did you defeat it?” Ethan asked.

“I did. And after that, I became a Hunter, to protect people from creatures like the one that killed my wife... to protect them from creatures... like... you.”

Takiro drew his last breath.

Ethan bent down to him and closed the honorable Hunter’s eyes.

He dashed through the huge underground tunnels and found himself standing in front of a large steel door. He punched the door, shearing it off its supports and sending it flying inside the room.

When Ethan walked into the room, he found four men and one woman, all dressed in fine black leather uniforms. They each had a sword drawn. Judging their form, clothing, and their strong auras, Ethan knew that his opponents were all Grandmasters.

“I will only ask this once,” Ethan said. “How you answer will determine how quick your death will be. Where is it?”

The five Grandmasters spoke in unison when they said:

“When the enemy takes away my sword and shield... Then my body becomes the weapon I wield.”

Two of the Grandmasters came at him. Their speed was superb, Ethan admitted when he dodged their sword attack. The woman threw a kick at him. Ethan caught it and a flame burst out of his hand, engulfing the Hunter. Ethan closed his fist, increased the intensity of the flames, and reduced the female Grandmaster to ashes.

“Hilary!!!”

The Grandmaster who shouted that name came charging at Ethan. He slashed his sword at him but Ethan grabbed it and pierced his hand through the man’s chest.

Three Grandmasters remained but Ethan only saw one. He reflexively rolled forward, dodging the swords of the other two who had stealthily sneaked behind him.

It was a trap. Before Ethan could even stand, the Grandmaster in front of him gathered all his strength and launched an attack at the speed of lightning. The Hunter’s sword found its way through Ethan’s chest and so did the swords of the other two behind him.

Ethan could feel it; the pain of all the creatures their swords had killed. Hot red blood was spilling out of his chest and the Grandmasters were continually twisting their swords.

However, their eyes widened when Ethan smirked.

“Did you really think you could harm or even kill me that easily?” Ethan said, as he saw the blood flowing out of the Grandmaster’s mouth.

Ethan closed his eyes and pulled them out of the illusion he had created. He wasn’t standing trapped as they had thought. Each of the Grandmasters had stabbed his own comrade thinking he was Ethan.

They all fell to the ground.

“B-But h-how,”

Apparently one of them was still alive.

“The answer to that question is quite simple,” Ethan said, wiping off some dust from his coat. “I am the Chimera. Plus, I often find that the best illusions are the ones the caster experiences himself.”

Hunters were trained to resist psychic attacks but none of them was trained to fight against someone... no, something like Ethan.

The Grandmaster died and Ethan ended up not finding what he came for.

He was just about to leave when he heard it.

“It’s good to see that the Chimera still lives up to his reputation.”

For a moment, Ethan felt his heart jump but he quickly gathered himself and turned behind him.

“And it seems forty thousand years in the spirit realm weren’t enough to shut your mouth,” Ethan retorted, staring at the man standing before him. He was dressed in dirty old clothes, bald, brown-skinned, and his dark brown eyes held an icy gaze at Ethan.

“Yes, forty thousand years. For forty thousand years you have continued to roam the earth in my absence. Everyone fears you now... if only they knew what kind of a coward you were.”

“Oh, Deimos,” Ethan said. “Don’t tell me you still hold a grudge; your father Ares would be very disappointed. But then again, you were always a disappointment, weren’t you?”

Deimos’ eyes flared with rage.

Deimos; son of the god of war and someone Ethan hoped he would never see any time soon. For some unknown reason, Deimos had declared that he wouldn’t rest until he had defeated the Chimera. Even when the gods left the Earth realm, Deimos stayed behind and searched for Ethan; a mistake he later paid for when Ethan trapped him in the spirit realm.

“My time here with you is limited, Chimera,” Deimos said. “But be rest assured, this isn’t the last time you will be seeing me.”

After those words, Deimos faded and disappeared.

Perhaps being dead for almost a year weakened the spell he used to seal Deimos?

Ethan curled his hands into a fist and his chest rose and fell rapidly.

This would greatly hinder his plans.

Being awakened after only a short period of time was indeed proving to have been a mistake.

Ethan sighed.

“I have no choice but to worry about Deimos later,” he said to himself.

He chanted a few ancient words and sent out a wave of magic.

Just as he thought; the item he was looking for wasn’t here and if it was, it was long gone.

Now Ethan had to resort to a more unpleasant option. He needed to pay a visit to the annoying immortal sea witch that was responsible for creating the dagger Richard used to lock him in eternal sleep.

Ethan could sense a few leylines passing underneath the floor so he raised his hand and said, “Chiathre Antalis.”

A portal of spiraling red flames opened. Ethan jumped inside it and a loud splashing sound of water echoed when he dived in the ocean. The portal had led him to the middle of the Atlantic.

Ethan swam to the bottom of the ocean bed. There he found a deep trench that led to the worst prison the merpeople had ever created; Drenagen. The magic guards and traps set around this abysmal monstrosity were the reason why no one had ever escaped in over five thousand years.

After Richard had his way with Talya, he had her sent to this place as punishment for summoning the demons that had attacked a certain kingdom nine hundred years ago; an act merpeople still blamed Ethan for.

Shaking his head, Ethan continued propelling himself further down. Unlike other merfolk, Ethan’s legs couldn’t turn into a tail when he entered the ocean. Ever since that day...

Ethan quickly pulled himself out of his daze, waved his hand, and cast an invisibility spell on himself when he saw three mermen in armor coming his way. The guards each had a spear-shaped plasma projector that could incinerate even the hardest metal in seconds. Of course, even such weapons couldn’t kill Ethan but even he had to admit that they were a nuisance uto deal with.

The guards passed him. Ethan quickly went past some prison cells. The cells were designed like caves in the rocks and Ethan could see some prisoners inside.

He reached the lowest level. He swam into a dark cave and found two guards standing in front of a prison that had a gate made of thorns. That’s where Talya was.

Suddenly Ethan entered a magical threshold that nullified his invisibility spell. When the guards saw him, Ethan quickly waved his hand and controlled a wave of water that knocked the guards against the cell, rendering them unconscious.

“Ouch,” said a voice coming from inside the cell.

“Talya, I am sure you know why I am here,” Ethan said.

Talya swam to Ethan. She was still as devilishly beautiful as she was nine centuries ago. As she ran a hand through her long black hair and tilted her neck, Talya smiled and revealed her sharp white fangs. There was a fierce purple glow in her eyes. Everything about her now was a result of the power that was running through her body; Ethan’s power.

“Fate yet again chose you, Ethan,” Talya said, moving her scaly dark purple tail.

“Fate had nothing to do with anything,” Ethan snapped back. “Don’t take me for a fool. I know you are the one who wanted me back.”

“But how could I when I am trapped in this cell?” Talya chuckled. “I can’t use my magic in here remember.”

Ethan gestured his hands and a sharp icicle flew at Talya.

Talya didn’t even flinch nor chant any words when the icicle melted right before it hit her.

“You were saying?”

“Alright, maybe I have a little magic saved up.”

“That ‘little magic’ was apparently powerful enough to open a portal in the middle of the ocean,” Ethan said. “How did you get Sebastian to work with you?”

“Desperate times, desperate measures. Isn’t that what the humans say?” Talya replied. “Sebastian understood that concept quite well.”

“And you are the one who told him all about Prometheus’ Orb... So why did you want me back after all this time?”

“Because I missed your charming accent,” Talya replied, swimming around her cell.

“What game are you playing, Talya?” Ethan asked.

Talya simply smiled.

“This was a waste of my time,” Ethan said, turning his back to her.

As he was just about to leave, Talya asked, “Has the god of terror and dread paid you a visit recently?”

Ethan stopped. “Your power of foresight?"

“I get a few visions every now and then,” Talya replied. “And you are right; I do know why you’re here.”

“And you want something in return,” Ethan said.

“A fair deal wouldn’t you say?” Talya said.

“Your freedom for information?”

“Your Fire Demon flames can burn these thorns to a crisp and free me... and also don’t kill me immediately you set me free, please.”

Ethan folded his arms.

“That’s two things I have to do for you, Talya.”

“And I get to do two things for you as well,” Talya replied.

“Interesting. We have a deal. First, tell me where I can the object I seek.”

“Why don’t you ask Deimos’ uncle, Hades?”

So that’s where it is, Ethan thought. He didn’t think about it because it was the last place any sane human would go to.

“And my other request,” Ethan said. “I am sure you already know about the half-breed living in the town where my little brother resides...”

“No harm shall come to the girl,” Talya said. “At least not from me.”

Flames shot out of Ethan’s hand and he burnt the thorns that had trapped her and sealed her magic.

Once released, Talya smiled at Ethan and said, “But as far as your brother is concerned...”

“You can play with him all you want,” Ethan said. “I will just have to be sure to kill you before you kill him.” Not that you could kill him even if you wanted to, he thought

Talya cast a spell. A thick dark fog surrounded her and she disappeared.

Ethan remained thinking about what Talya had said. If the object was in the place he was thinking of then the Hunter who took it there had to sacrifice themselves in order to enter that place.

Impressive, Ethan thought. The Hunter knew that if Ethan went to that place then his body would be vulnerable.

After thousands of years, someone out there had actually devised a plan to kill the Chimera.

First the half-breed girl, then Deimos, and now this...

“Things are really starting to get interesting,” Ethan uttered.

“Now then... I think it’s time I properly introduced myself to the little half-breed."