Repository of Words

[Hex]

So I suppose here is where I will be posting my writings. Feel free to read my collection. All I ask is that you refrain from commenting here. If you wish to tell me something, please send it via PM. Thank you.




Not so Ordinary

Chapter One - Incomplete

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick, went the tip of the pen Finch was tapping against the edge of her table. Desk work was never a chore she enjoyed. Nothing like watching the ticking clock to get the mind fuming.


"Damn it," she cursed, her voice sharp and hostile. Finch's green-blue eyes flickered up towards the entrance to her cubicle. Oh, how she hated these grey boxes. Enclosed spaces made her feel like a freak in a zoo, or a bird in a cage.


A fellow Guardian passed by her so-called office. They made a conscious effort to ensure they avoided eye contact with an annoyed Finch. Of course, it seemed nobody could be certain when she would be in a favorable mood. However, today it was incredibly clear how irritable she was. It couldn't have been more obvious, unless steam were billowing out from her ears and her cheeks red with fury.


"Reven, you better come back here, right now!" She shouted, raising from her chair. Her voice had rang throughout the entire floor as she moved to stand atop her desk. Her head was poking out her cubicle, furious eyes glaring every which way.


A moment of silence passed before Finch's self-consciousness got the better of her. Her vibrant eyes caught the glimpses of many staring at her. Slowly retreating back into her cubicle, she spat out another curse before flopping down nosily onto her swivel chair. Today was going to be horrible. Finch just knew.


As for the Guardian who had been so unlucky to pass by Finch's office, he had found himself looking back. He managed to spot her head bobbing back down beneath the thin grey wall of her cubicle. Turning once more, his eyes managed to catch the gaze of a curious female co-worker. He smiled at her, tucking the files he had been holding under his arm and leaning in towards the woman.


"You suppose that was meant for me?" Revenant asked coyly, wearing his most devious smile. The female worker giggled girlishly, nodding absently as she looked up at the golden-haired man. Continuing to wear his toothy grin, Revenant pulled away from the woman's desk, "I best be off then. We wouldn't want the little birdy squawking all afternoon, now do we?" He snickered, turning quickly on his heels and heading back towards Finch's little office.


His quick strides brought him to the opening of Finch's cubicle. Peering in, he spotted the brown-haired girl sulking in her chair and blushing in embarrassment. Once more, a mischievous smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Propping himself against the edge of one of the grey walls enclosing her office, Revenant leaned in.


"A very good morning to you too, Miss Wilson." Revenant chuckled lightly. He wore a thin smile, much akin to a grinning fox. He always wondered how he got partnered with the fire-breathing dragon as he so often called Finch. Never to her face, of course.


Finch was having a hard time focusing. Either it was his peppy, buoyant voice or his warm grin, Finch didn't know which annoyed her more. She could only ask herself, how could someone always be so happy?


With her usual glare focused in on Revenant, she held her hand out. It was about time they got a case. It seemed like it had been weeks since she went out on a job. Her last was a failure, with the rogue Meta disappearing without a trace. Finch took a hard blow to her ego that day. And Revenant seemed intent on reminding her about it.


That was how she got stuck with the oaf of the Guardians. Originally a doctor assigned to the medical lab, how he ever got chosen for field work was a mystery to Finch. The director seemed intent on the partnership, and those Finch would have liked otherwise, she would not oppose his wishes. She had yet to even see Revenant in action, and though she would never openly admit it, she was curious to see what he could do.


She wasn't about to let history repeat itself. Not for a second time. With determination and a clear focus, Finch was ready to tackle her next case head-on.


"Let's see what the boss has for us today," Finch motioned her fingers inwards, gesturing for Revenant to give up the files. With a short chuckle and a shrug, Revenant handed the eager young woman the files he had been holding. When he was given the files, the secretary was kind enough to share some brief details of the case. It seemed some kind of wolf was loose in the city. Perhaps a shape-shifter. Whatever the beast was, it had already killed two people Downtown.


Revenant crossed his arms over his chest as Finch opened the file and looked it over. His dark amber eyes watched Finch closely. He could still remember the day he got assigned to be her partner.

"She's a tough nut, that's for sure," the director had said, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead with his handkerchief. Revenant could remember feeling reluctant. He was a doctor, not a field worker. However, the director believed his background proved he was capable. Apparently, he was ideal for capturing rogue Metas.


"I'm a doctor, sir, not a baby-sitter." Revenant replied rather sternly. From the description the director had given him, this Finch character sounded more like an emotional, angsty teenager. Revenant wasn't too keen on having to keep an eye out for someone so reckless.


"I'm trusting you, Revenant. Don't let me down." With that, the director had dismissed him. His mind was already made. And when the director gave an order, he didn't tolerate objections. That would make him look weak. At least that's what Revenant had come to believe.

"What do you think?" Revenant had pulled himself away from the recent memory. After having met Finch in person, he had to agree with the director. She was a tough one. However, Revenant knew there was a reason for everything. His natural curiosity drove him to question her reasons. He wanted to understand the mechanics of her psyche, it was like unraveling a puzzle for him. It was all a game.


"Hmm," Finch hummed as she looked over the crime scene report. Clearly some sort of beast utilizing claws and teeth. With some fur fibers being found on the bodies, it was easy to assume an animal. For the unsuspecting humans, they would have assumed it was a bear or a wolf gone lose in the city. Finch remembered hearing something about it on the evening news.


With several rogue Metas running rampant, the Guardians had to work extremely hard to keep it all under wraps. If any humans were to find out, it would be disastrous. Finch took that rule to heart. Keeping the Guardians and Meta-humans a secret took priority over all else.


"I'm thinking maybe some kind of Meta-animal hybrid. A shape-shifter perhaps? It doesn't seem like there were any witnesses who saw the animal. It could have changed back into human form to escape unseen." She spoke softly as she continued skimming over the case notes. It seemed the suspect managed to elude the detective attached to the case. Tracking down the culprit would not be an easy task. "We might have to make a run at night. It seems the attacks only happen at dark." Finch reasoned, glancing at to Revenant.


He seemed to be thinking, his gaze distant and expression neutral. Finch couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking about. Was it about the case? Or something else? Finch glanced away. She couldn't stand looking at his mug for too long.


Revenant's smile returned as Finch turned away. "Very well. I'll make the arrangements." Revenant began heading into the hall. He stopped suddenly, spinning around on his heels. Returning to Finch's office, he poked his head in and quickly asked, "Did you have an idea of where we should focus our search?"


Finch never liked it when he smiled like that. He was like the devious villain who just thought up of a brilliant plan. It always made Finch nervous. The fact that he was always acting too nice was also a bit off-putting.


"I would like to know where I'll be heading tonight. Don't wanna dress nicely if we're just going to be skulking the alleyways." Revenant chuckled, shivering as he imagined himself being mugged by a group of rowdy thugs.


"Well, it seems Downtown would be a good place to start." Finch looked over the pictures of the mutilated bodies once more. The first was a woman, and the second appeared to be a girl not much older than herself. She had yet to come up with some kind of motive or pattern. It was too early to tell, and Finch wasn't interested in letting this case go on any longer.


"I'm going to go out on a limb and say these victims were chosen." Finch squinted. Though their faces were a bloody mess, the photo's of the victims prior to the attack was telling. They were both fairly attractive. "Looks like I'm going to be playing a victim."


A sigh escaped Finch's pale lips. She reached up and began twirling a strand of her long dirty blond hair around her finger. She imagined herself walking down the dark streets of downtown Casport in high heels, decked out in make-up and dressed to the nines.


Shuddering at the image of herself, she uttered, "Why me?"


Revenant found himself almost laughing aloud. He slapped a hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter. Gaining his composure, he simply smiled as he tried to clear his thoughts. Of course, Finch had a point. If the victims up to this point had all been woman, it might have been safe to assume that this monster was hunting them.


Finch glared at Revenant. She knew exactly why he was laughing. That sly grin of his was evidence enough. Sure, she knew she wasn't the prettiest thing in the city, but hey, Finch didn't give a damn about what others thought of her. At least, that's what she would have liked to believe.


"Are you so sure about your abilities, that you're willing to throw yourself into this things way? We don't even know what we're up against. It would be wise to patrol the area first, get a lay of the land." Revenant tried to reason with Finch.


It would be near impossible to know when this monster would strike next. And Revenant believed there was even a lesser chance that it would target Finch. Revenant found her plan to be reckless and irrational, as per usual.


"Can you hear yourself? If we wait any longer, someone else is going to get killed. We have to get out there and take this thing out. The longer we spend investigating, the more people die." Finch spoke strongly. There was passion in her voice, something that she didn't show too often. Finch took her job seriously. Saving people was what she did. If someone died because of her, she would never let herself forget. Finch wasn't about to let more innocent people die because she didn't act soon enough.


With cold determination in her eyes, she stared Revenant down. She was holding her ground, and she wasn't going to give in. This sudden show of emotion surprised Revenant, and he was taken back by the sterness in her voice. She was dedicated, that was obvious enough.


Smiling, Revenant shrugged in defeat. He figured arguing any further would just prove her point. Wasting time could be fatal for some unsuspecting human. It was best to just let his ego go. "Then I'll meet you in the garage at nine." Revenant bowed his head slightly. A gentleman at heart, Revenant always left with a smile. "Good day to you, Miss Wilson."


Nodding, Finch turned back towards her desk. She wasn't expecting the conversation to end so abruptly. She could still feel her heart pounding in her chest. Her hand flew up to her chest as her gloved-hand squeezed her chocolate-brown jacket.


Walking down the hall, Revenant headed for the ever-eager secretary who always greeted him as he passed by. He looked forward to tonight's stakeout. He had only heard of Finch's ability. The opportunity to see her power in action was exciting. Being a human, Revenant was always a bit jealous of the Metas around him. But he wasn't envious. He had skills and talents of his own.


"Come on, Finch, get a hold of yourself." Finch inhaled deeply. She hated it when she allowed herself to get so worked up like that. Shaking her head to erase that distinct smile of his out of her mind, she finally got her head to clear up.


Finding herself diving into the files and crime scene reports, Finch looked over the reports one more time. She wanted to understand how this monster attacked.


From the gruesome photos, it seemed the women had no idea what had hit them. With fear still fresh in their glazed eyes, they must have been ambushed. The beast struck without warning, and finished the job quickly. With no witnesses, the attacks must last no more than a few minutes.


"It attacks, just to attack," Finch noted. With nothing significant missing, it was clear the assailant wasn't doing this for a meal. Instead, it must have been attacking for the thrill. Perhaps it was all a game to the culprit.

The Curse

Chapter One - Incomplete

How long have I been walking? Lily mused to herself as she continued pressing forward. It was hard to tell the time a day, with the dark canopy of the forest obscuring the azure sky. Though she was able to discern the sunlight as it trickled in through glimmering slivers through the leaves. It may have been sundown, as the light was dim and gold. As Lily glanced upwards, she listened as the sound of her footfalls resonated all around her. It was hard to tell where such sounds were originating, with the forest being so densely populated by ancient, towering trees.


"The Gilder Forest has a soul," Lily remembered her mother once tell her, "They say the souls of those who perish within its borders are trapped and sentenced to haunt the forest floor for all eternity." Of course, back then, such frightening tales would have frightened a young Lily. But she would not be swayed so easily now. Gripping the hilt of her rapier ever tighter, she pushed on.


It was clear from the mud and debris clinging to her ivory boots that she'd been travelling for some time now. Days had turned into months, and every day was beginning to become a blur. Lily inhaled deeply, telling herself she could continue. She could walk another mile, another hour. In truth, Lily was near exhausted. She was fighting the urge to collapse right then and there.


"Keep moving, Lily. Keep your head high, and press on." She told herself, inhaling again before letting out a long sigh. She stopped near the base of a tree, holding herself up by propping herself against the tree trunk. Its bark was cool, soothing against her arm. She took a moment to catch her breath, and wipe the sweat that had been building up on her brow with the back of her gloved hand. How much longer...How much longer until I find you? She closed her eyes, recalling the faces of her missing family. Her mother, Gardenia was the first she saw. Lily had always been told she had her mother's beautiful face. Then, she saw her two older brothers. The twins, Thane and Orrick. Finally, she saw her father. Her eyes opened slowly, her vibrant scarlet hues rising towards the snaking path before her. She knew she would never see the smiling visage of her father ever again. However, there was still hope for the rest of them.


Meanwhile, making his way through some thick brush was the forest Demon, Belial. He could have sworn he heard a voice. His pointed ears perked up, his head turning towards where the sound had originated. Footsteps, he knew could identify that easily enough. A smirk formed on his thin lips, and he was off.


Pushing off the tree, Lily staggered forward as her foot got caught in the trees roots. She let out a startled gasp. Barely catching herself, she took hold ofo the nearest object to stop herself from falling over. She let out a tired, weak laugh as she heaved herself up.


Belial has acted quickly, stretching out his hand to help the girl from toppling over. She hadn't seemed to notice him quite yet. Of course, he couldn't blame her. He blended quite well with the surrounding greenery.


"Phew," she exhaled, chuckling slowly before adding, "That was a close one." She made sure her feet were firmly planted in the ground before moving again. Dusting off her palms, she then went to straighten out her skirt.


The Demon took this time to examine the girl. She was definitely not a huntress, not by the looks of her fine clothing. She was small, and frail-looking. Perhaps she was some kind of princess of sorts. He pondered to himself, his eyes looking her up and down. The young woman looked like she belonged in some far-away castle, not in the middle of the dangerous Gilder woods.


"I'd say," he added calmly, agreeing with the girl's last remark. Now he was certain he'd been mistaken for some kind of shrub. He wore his most dashing smile, "Good thing I happened to be passing through at the right time, huh?"


Startled by the sudden appearance of an unfamiliar voice, Lily let out a sharp yelp. She had pulled back, her hand flying to her sword. Instinctively, she reached for her blade. Fingers wrapping around the hilt of her rapier, she withdrew Storm-Splitter from its hilt and brandished it towards the strange man.


Lily gasped, surprised to find she was not facing a man, but something else. She wondered to herself, looking over the creature with a scrutinous eye. He had horns rising from his head, and dressed strangely. She couldn't even tell if what he wore were clothes or some kind of...fur. And his hand, the hand that had saved her from falling, was more like a claw than any hand. What is he? She thought to herself. Though she was curious as to what this being was, she could not let that distract her. He could have been one of the many predators that stalk these woods. It didn't seem like such a far-fetched idea considering how dangerous he appeared.


Lowering his hand to his side as the girl flinched and moved away, Belial continued to wear a crooked smirk as he watched the girl grab her weapon. He glanced down at the point aimed at him, then raised his gaze to meet that of the red-eyed girl. A hint of puzzlement crossed the Demon's face suddenly. Staring into the girl's eyes, he quirked an inquisitive brow. He'd never seen a human with such eyes. Normally, you'd find red eyes among...well, Demons. Though as Belial looked her over again, he could not sense the aura of such a creature within her.


"Stay back, creature," she warned, not wanting to meet her end by the hands of this strange creature. Even as he wore that strangely friendly smile, she could not help but feel threatened by his very presence. She now held the hilt of her blade with both hands, her scarlet-colored eyes keenly focused on watching the man as he stood before her. Lily even caught his gaze sizing her up.


"Don't let my looks deceive you. I know very well how to handle this sword, and I will not hesitate to test it against you." She spoke sternly, commanding herself to remain steadfast and brave, even in the face of such uncertainty. "Now, state your intentions. Be you friend?" Lily inquired slowly and deliberately. She paused shortly before continuing, "Or foe?"


"Easy now, little girl." Belial teased, using a clawed hand to casually push the blade of her sword out of his face. He didn't appreciate being threatened, especially by spoiled nobles like this girl. After all he'd done to help her from falling down, this was how she dared repay him? Such insolence would not go without punishment.


Lily scoffed, mouth agape as she could not believe her ears. Little girl?! She was not a little girl. And she did not appreciate being treated as such. She would have shown this creature some kindness, if it had done the same. However, Lily was beginning to believe this thing was only capable of being rude. She continued to scowl at the man, moving her sword towards him even after he'd pushed it away. She was not going to let her guard down, especially around him.


Belial's sinister smile continued stretching across his lips. She was probably some noble's daughter looking for adventure. That, or rebelling against said father by venturing into the woods. Both, of course, being futile attempts. Though, he had to admit, he was surprised she made it this far into the Forest without so much as a scratch. Perhaps, there was some truth to her claims after all.


She watched as his face contorted into an ominous grin. He wasn't friendly at all, only creepy. Lily didn't like the way he looked at her either. She'd heard so many stories about the monsters of the Gilder Forest. No place in Dilutius was more populated by evil, blood-thirsty creatures. Why, even her first day into the woods she had to fend off a raging Minotaur. But Lily shook her head, telling herself silently to focus on the entity before her.


Belial bowed respectfully to the young woman. His dark, long hair falling over his shoulders as he lowered his head. "Forgive me, madame," he began, sounding very formal and dignified. Oh, he enjoyed acting as the suave player. "My name is Belial, servant to my mistress, the Witch of Gilder." He introduced himself, his head rising to face the young woman.


Lily was certainly surprised when the creature lowered his head in a bow. Her hand wielding her sword lowered slightly, her eyes watching his every movement. She was so taken by this sudden change in his behavior, she had almost missed his words.


"C-come again?" Lily's tone was that of confusion, but it was clear from her expression that she was struck with anger. "You serve the Witch that lives in these woods?" She questioned, her tone finally matching her expression. For so long, she had been searching for the Witches that had killed her father and taken the rest of her family. Lily was confident she had finally made some progress, and that she would be reunited with her family.


Rising his head slowly, his dark eyes examined the girl's change in demeanor. Belial parted his lips, moments from speaking.


Without waiting for a response from the man, Lily stepped forward. Her free hand extended forward, reaching for the man's feathery collar. She gripped it in a clamp-like hold, pulling the man closer to her in a threatening fashion.


"Ouch, hey! Watch it," He snapped, furrowing his brows as he glowered at the girl. Belial was certainly surprised at the girl's sudden show of strength.


"Take me to your vile mistress. Now." She said forcibly. Lily then pushed him away, pointing the end of her blade at his throat yet again. She nodded her head, gesturing for the man to lead on.


After she had given her orders and shoved Belial away, he staggered backwards before straightening up. Again, with the sword pointed at his face, he let out a contemptible grunt. It seemed he was getting pushed around by women no matter where he went. Then, something struck Belial. His irritation melted away, and his sly grin returning to its usual place on his thin lips.


"As you wish, young maiden. Right this way," He turned slowly, his gaze lingering on the girl for a moment longer before he moved to lead her through the labyrinthine woods. This was a wonderful turn of events. If this girl actually knew how to use that sword of hers, and had some skill wielding it, perhaps she would be able to slay that horrible wretch. At long last, Belial could almost taste freedom. Should this girl be the one to eliminate that Witch, he would finally have his powers restored to him and free of being bound to her servitude.

Blood Tied

The Beginning : A Prologue

It's dark. So very dark. And it's raining. It's a downpour, and it's nearly deafening. There's something out there. Something else that wanders the coldness of the night. Someone else in the pouring rain. They're breathing—no, panting—and they're presence is haunting. They are hunting, just as I am.


Who's there? Who else stalks the shadows?


"Do you think to frighten me?"


A laugh follows my crude remark. It thinks to mock me, but otherwise it remains silent. I hear it now, its heavy breaths grow closer. I can hear its hunger; I can feel its insatiable appetence.


"It is futile to try and hide from me. You will find no shelter among the shadows, creature."


It emits a low growl at my imputence. The sound of its claws scraping against the wet ground approaches. I finally see it now. A pair of glowing, yellow eyes pierce through the veil of darkness and rain. It glares at me, hungering for me. I know what it wants, and it will tear me apart to get to it. My heart, my soul, my very Essence is at risk. I remain adamant, and stand strong.


"You face death, Demon."


The monster is no longer amused by my insolence. Without a single utterance, it lunges forward. I see a glimpse of its fangs as its gaping maw snaps shut. I jump back, quick enough to evade the Demon and avoid losing an arm.


"You do not know the powers you taunt, maggot!"


The Demon attempts to loosen my confidence, but I refuse to be shaken. With sword in hand, I plunge its blade deep into the monster standing before me. It releases a monstrous howl, one of pain and shock.


"You seem to be mistaken, Demon."


Another growl from the Demon prompts me to move. I see its claws swipe at the air where I once stood. It tries to lunge at me once again, but the beast is met with my blade at its snout. It lets out a whine, and finally recedes back. Once bemused by my rebellion, it now begins to fear me as the honesty of my threat begins to sink in.


"Human scum," the Demon hisses, "What trick is this?"


"No tricks, Demon. I guess you just aren't used to someone fighting back. Pity, I was expecting a bit more from your ilk."


The monster roars, having had enough of my taunting. It charges forward. I can feel my lips contort into a grin. I'm enjoying this. As the Demon flies towards me, I maneuver aside. This is what I've been training for. My blade finds its place between the Demon's ribs, ripping deep into its flesh until its scream is deafening. I feel something warm cover my hand and arm. Something tainted and wrought with sin. The smell alone is enough to make me gag.


"Mortal filth," the Demon manages to gurgle a few words before it collapses onto the ground. It grunts, before choking. Once more, it is only the sound of rainfall that comes to drown my senses and wash away the grime on my arm.


I look down at my weapon. The glint of the blade is masked by a crimson stain. My heart pounds away in my chest, and my thoughts are racing. I've done it. I did what was believed to be impossible.


I killed a Demon.