The Bane of Existence

Published: 01 May 2017

Heedless of Zane’s warning shout, Derek barrelled headlong down the hill straight at the two approaching vampires. Seeing that he had no intentions of even slowing down much less stopping, the two went into defensive stances similar to the ones Zane and Zander used when sparring.

Realizing that Derek was too far into his trance-like state used for contacting his spirit totem, Zane sent a mental message to the approaching pair. ‘Don’t hurt him, please. He means well.’

‘No problem, Zane. I can tell he’s close to you,‘ thought back the slightly smaller one with dirty blonde hair.

‘Can I at least have a little fun with him?‘ asked the taller one with short brown hair.

‘Of course,‘ answered Zane. ‘But be warned he’s no slouch at fighting and he has claws.‘

‘Warning noted. I have a new trick or two of my own but I promise not to hurt him.‘

‘Enjoy!‘ chuckled Zane as he called to the others and sat down to watch the spectacle.

Soon everyone was settled in front of the cave as the combatants closed on one another. The two vampires separated as Derek got closer making him choose one or the other to attack first. Since he was slightly nearer Derek went after the blonde to his left exchanging a quick flurry of blows that were mainly blocked or met empty air.

After watching this exchange for a few minutes, the other vampire joined the fray by knocking Derek away from his partner. Derek lept to his feet and attack the taller vampire with a furious spurt of punches, kicks and slashes with his claws. The vampire managed to avoid or block nearly all of them then kept Derek busy defending himself.

With Derek occupied by the dark headed vampire the blonde raced up the hill where the others had gathered. Rogan and Radesh rose to their feet and began to transform when Zane and Zander told them to relax. Confused looks appeared on their faces but the Z’s seemed unconcerned about the vampire coming up the path at top speed.

Down below, the fighting had settled into a more thought out confrontation between two well trained individuals in top shape. They circled one another looking for openings and testing for weaknesses. Occasionally, one or the other would close in and a series of techniques would be tried. As time went on Derek got more aggressive especially when he had figured out that his opponent only knew one style of martial arts.

Derek’s change of tactics and aggression soon had the vampire on the defensive most notably once he had received several long, slow-healing scratches. The brunette vamp created a chance to step away from the conflict long enough for a quick breather and an even quicker muttering of a couple of arcane words.

Immediately after the words were spoken the vampire started growing both taller and wider keeping his proportions the same until he stood eight feet tall. Derek involuntarily stepped back with astonishment then hardened his resolve evidenced by the stern expression now on his face.

The young spirit warrior redoubled his efforts as he attacked the oversized vampire repeatedly. Unfortunately, the vampire still retained his inhuman speed in his enlarged state and was slowly gaining the upper hand. Derek pushed himself even harder and was approaching berserker status. In an effort to gain some room to call an end to the battle the giant hit Derek in the chest with an open hand.

The blow itself did very little if any damage but Derek’s footing was not sound when it landed and he stood on the edge of a sharp dropoff of about fifty yards. When the vampire saw that the human fighter could not regain his balance he lunged forward wrapping his eight foot body around the teen as they both went over.

With cat-like reflexes he had them turned feet down well before they reached bottom. However, the landing was on an incline and one foot went sprawling out from under him in some loose gravel and dirt. Keeping a firm grip on the wrapped tight Derek the huge vampire took a beating as they rolled further down the hill. They stopped at last against a stone wall with a sharp outcropping that pierced the vampire between his spine and kidney.

Groaning the battered vampire slowly opened his arms rolling Derek far enough to look him in the face and ask thought to thought, ‘Are you alright, brother?’

‘Huh?‘ was the confused Derek’s first thought. ‘Um, yeah, I think so. Brother?‘

‘Yes. You are a strong, knowledgeable warrior so I call you brother,‘ explained the gasping vampire who was still impaled by the rock.

‘Oh . .okay,‘ sent Derek coming to terms with the fact this vampire wasn’t trying to drain him or even harm him. ‘Hey! You’re hurt! You saved me and protected me! Why?‘

‘I promised your brother I wouldn’t hurt you if he let me have some fun with you,‘ answered the vampire getting tired from the pain.

Just then two blonde vampires came floating to the ground from above.

“Are you okay, Gavin?” asked the taller one with slate blue eyes.

“How about you, Derek?” queried the shorter, emerald-eyed one who was Zane.

“I’m fine but he isn’t,” answered Derek carefully getting off the still oversized vampire he had been fighting with.

“I’ll survive,” Gavin replied tersely. “Help me off this rock then I can get back to normal size.”

Derek moved quickly to assist Shayn, the other blonde, in lifting Gavin away from the sharp rock he was impaled on. Zane watched closely ready to pitch in if needed. The two gently laid the injured Gavin on his side.

“Oooh, that’s better,” said Gavin with a slight sigh. “Andeis!” With that word uttered Gavin put an end to his previous spell and shrank down to his normal size. On a positive note, the hole in Gavin’s back shrank as he did then as the others looked on his vampire body healed itself.

“What’s goin’ on? Is Derek okay?” called an anxious Zach from the spot Derek and Gavin had fallen from.

“I’m fine, Zach. Just helping my new brother!” returned Derek brightly.

“We’ll be there in a few, Zach” Zane added. “We’re going to take the long way back.”

Derek pulled Gavin to his feet and everyone set out for the pathway that took a longer but not as steep a climb to the cave where the Z’s and the wolves had been living. The young warrior tried playing twenty questions with Shayn and Gavin but Zane managed to convince him to wait so they would only have to tell their story once.

So, instead, Derek told them all about himself and some about Zach since the others already knew his tale. He talked nonstop the entire twenty minute trip back to the cave entrance.

After Derek went on to Zach and Zander and began describing in detail the fight which they had seen, Gavin looked at Zane and asked, “Is he always like this?”

Zane laughed at Gavin’s expression and answered, “Pretty close. I think he’s more than a little hyped after the fight and fall so it’s exaggerated more than usual.”

Gavin chuckled shaking his head, “This will be interesting!”

With everybody gathered together introductions were made and hurried overview stories told. After that it was getting close to dark and Zach and Derek headed for home promising to be there as soon as their chores were done.

Settling in the common room Shayn looked at Zane, “So, you found the prophecy among other things, I take it?”

“Yes, we did,” replied Zane. “Would you like to hear the complete prophecy? Then if you’re staying you can also read from the Book. You won’t believe the spells available.”

“Oh, yes! I definitely want to hear what’s supposed to happen,” Shayn returned perking up. Gavin also sat up straight nodding his agreement.

“Okay, then. Here it is,” said Zane then clearing his throat he started the verses.

When the earth is troubled by Rinaldo’s Bane
and the children of blood rise again
the offspring of Rinaldo doth oppose

the gray Hunter of the Dark
must join bringing His Mark
against the Dark, emerald glows

combined together both Fire and Ice
in battle with leeches must suffice
the Bane’s weakness to expose

the Hunter and the Celtic witch
give their all to drain the bitch
the promised future forgoes

when Rinaldo’s Child and Samhain’s Son
can finally join the battle as one
on the Bane their will impose

with friends so dear
the end is here
and blessings he bestows”

“Wow! Made it plain as day, huh?” remarked Gavin after they had let the words sink in.

“Figured any of it out, yet?” questioned Shayn still thinking hard about the verses.

“I’ve spent five years thinking and reading on almost nothing else,” sighed Zane. “Well, that and the fact that my mother is evil and wants to rule the world. I’m still not sure I have all of it down.”

“S-o-o-o . . ” Shayn drug out the small word. “What do you know?”

“Okay, the first verse is pretty easy especially after I learned that ‘children of blood’ was an olden times phrase for the Rogues. The Bane has started stirring up evil and Rogues are on the rise so the offspring of Rinaldo must oppose. That’s me . . mostly. There are other descendants of Rinaldo who are coming into power who are against the Rogues but they are being hunted by the Rogues at the Bane’s request.”

“We get that part, too,” chimed in Gavin. “We’ve hunted down many Rogues the past few years and some were after humans who fought back with magic. What else?”

“Well, we learned in Europe that Zane and I are definitely Rinaldo’s Child and Samhain’s Son,” Zander spoke up. “And we’re learning to fight as one.”

“Also, I’m pretty sure the Dark Hunter and his Mark refers to Master Kwon’s and our old friend Grayson and his son Marko. I have an idea on a couple more but need to find some more old friends to know for sure. In the meantime I need your help,” remarked Zane looking seriously at their old friends from the dojang. “I have two more half-brothers on my mom’s side and I haven’t been able to connect with them. That’s got me worried. I thought if the six of us combined tried maybe we could reach them.”

“We’ll be glad to help; you should know that but why don’t we wait until tomorrow since it’s getting late and have your brothers join us,” suggested Shayn. “They are both strong in magic. We could feel that right away.”

Gavin again merely nodded his agreement with his partner. Zander also thought that was a good idea so Zane complied with their suggestion.

When the brothers Zach and Derek arrived around noontime on Sunday they were ushered into the cave’s common room and Zane explained what he wanted to do. They were all for it so preparations commenced.

In the center of the room Zander drew a three foot diameter circle on which Zane laid an oak limb that had been tied in a circle with jute twine. Shayn and Gavin each brought an oak stick that was approximately three feet in length and laid them crosswise in the circle. Radesh and Rogan each brought a brown candle and set them on opposite ends of the same stick before lighting them. Zach and Derek were directed to do the same with the green candles to the other stick.

Next, Zane stepped into the small circle and knelt with each knee in adjacent wedges, His feet were crossed under him with each foot in the complementary wedge to the knee on the same side of his body. In his hands he held a gold candle that he lit from a green one on the circle.

The other seven participants took a black candle and formed a circle around Zane. They stepped forward in unison then knelt on the ground sitting on their heels. Slowly and in complete syncopation inched up until their knees all touched around the circle. Each participant in front of one of the four lit candles used those candles to light their own and then the candle of a person on either side of them until all candles were burning brightly in the dark cave.

With all the black candles lit each person leaned back and placed the candle on the ground right behind their feet. Seeing that all the candles were in place Zane uttered the word,”Wardja,” and a curtain of power rose around the circle of black candles to protect everyone. Next the seven encircling Zane spoke a single word, “Uf,” in harmony with one another. This caused a short wall of power to form around the brown and green candles and infusing power all through the oak pieces.

This added the power of the seven participants to Zane’s own magical power. Now he was ready to try to contact his half-brothers. Concentrating on the flame of the candle in his hands Zane spoke another word with authority, “Schwatze.” A tight golden beam of light went up from the candle piercing the cave ceiling and continuing on while Zane thought of the ones he wanted to contact.

Duncan Renoldo winced as pressure again built on his brain. Someone was trying to get through his defenses for yet another time. This time was the worst one he had faced so far. Turning to look at his younger brother he saw that Thomas had the same expression on his face.

Just as he reached forward to make contact with Thomas so they could join forces his brother’s green eyes began to glow. Suddenly Thomas pointed at Duncan, “Bro, your eyes are glowing!”

“So are yours,” retorted Duncan becoming annoyed by the unrelenting assault.

Unperturbed by his brother’s outburst Thomas connected with Duncan physically which allowed them to connect mentally without opening their minds to the attacker. Strengthened by one another the pressure eased up on both causing them to give a small sigh of relief.

‘Something seems different about this one, Duncan,‘ sent Thomas. ‘Cover me; I’m going to open up a small part to check it out.‘

‘Okay, bro. But be careful,‘ thought back Duncan bracing mentally for whatever might happen.

Tentatively, Thomas allowed a small sliver of his mind to open to the insistent barrage pressuring the brothers. Instantly Thomas’ mind was fully flooded with a soft green light that was intense yet soothing at the same time. He let it bathe his mind and body until not a pain was left then he heard his name being called.

‘Thomas! Is that you?‘

‘Yes,‘ he answered slowly. ‘Who are . . . Zane?!‘

‘Yeah, it’s me. Is Duncan near you? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you two for a couple of weeks now.‘

‘We’re in contact. Let me bring him into the loop,‘ advised Thomas putting words into action. ‘What’s so important for you to try this hard to reach us?‘

‘Hey, Zane! Duncan here. You having the same problems we are?‘

‘Well, brothers, our mom is Rinaldo’s Bane and the one creating all the Rogues. She’ll also be after any Rinaldo kin she can find.‘

‘Wait!‘ interrupted Thomas. ‘How did you mean the use of the word brothers.‘

Duncan broke in on his brother, ‘He said OUR mother, bro.‘

‘You mean we really are brothers,‘ exclaimed Thomas.

‘Half-brothers to be technical but I never was very technical when comes to family,‘ chuckled Zane. ‘But I need to get down to business we’re expending a lot of energy to contact you and trying to keep it secure so no one else can listen in.‘

‘We already know part of that. Mom’s come after us a couple of times in the last three years and we don’t know where dad is,‘ relayed a somber Duncan.

‘Why is she after Rinaldo kin?‘ asked Thomas his worry slipping through the connection.

‘To get them to join her or else she will try to destroy them. I need you to get somewhere safe,‘ Zane answered honestly.

‘What about Dad?‘ sent both boys at once.

‘I don’t know,‘ admitted Zane. ‘He is a very good mage and may be keeping her away from the two of you.‘

‘Maybe,‘ hedged Thomas. ‘I sure hope so,‘ thought Duncan.

‘Are you hidden? Is it safe there?‘

‘We’ve been on the move for the last six months,‘ answered Duncan. ‘I think we’re safe here.‘

‘Do you have a place to go if necessary?‘ Zane wanted to know.

‘Erm . . . uh,‘ sputtered Duncan trying to think.

‘What about dad’s cousin in Tennessee?‘ inserted Thomas. ‘Uncle Matt is always inviting us to come stay.‘

‘Is he a cousin or an uncle?‘ questioned a confused Zane.

‘He’s dad’s cousin but me and Thomas have always called him Uncle Matt. His husband Jordan is pretty cool too.‘

‘Wait! Matt and Jordan in Tennessee? Is your Uncle Matt’s last name Knight?‘ inquired Zane eagerly.

‘It was,‘ replied Thomas. ‘But after he and Jordan got married their last name is Knight-Warner.‘

‘They moved back to where they grew up. A place called Pattyville,‘ added Duncan. ‘Do you know them?‘

‘I used to. If you can, go there; it isn’t far from where we are,‘ insisted Zane.

‘Okay but we’re fine right now,‘ Duncan began and was interrupted by a loud noise. ‘What’s that noise? Can you see anything Thomas?‘

Zane waited for an answer for what seemed like forever but in reality the total silence only lasted for five heartbeats. Then it came through like it was whispered, ‘They’re here!‘

Are you enjoying Jeikor’s tale? Let him know you are reading: Jeikor at CastleRoland dot Net

25,526 views