Deep in the World Forest the figure clad in shadow came to an arch formed of intertwined honeysuckle stems and sat down on a flat stone, placed like a stone before the structure almost like a chair. As the figure took his seat blue lightning arched between the twigs before forming a pane of crystal, etched figures of men and hounds moving across the surface.
"Sarah got out of here." A voice in the forest echoed, as one of the figures fled into the background pursued by a massive hound.
"Valiant." A new voice, one that the traveller in the forest knew as his acolyte, the Master of Hounds, stated as the etched figure within the ring of twigs cracked a whip, the leather tongue wrapping round his opponent's wrist. "I assume you have faith that she can save herself, that faith is misplaced."
The traveller turned away from the arch as something moved, almost silently behind him. Standing a few paces behind him was a large bald-headed man dressed in robes, his eyes glowing blue.
"The Watcher." The traveller acknowledged as he turned back to the arch got to his feet and walked to the pane of the crystal. "Then now is the time to act." He added as he stabbed his fingers into the pane of crystal, his nails causing the surface to become hot and a stream of glass to collapse into smoke as he forced his way out of the World Forest and into the City that Never Sleeps.
"Sarah got out of here." A voice in the forest echoed, as one of the figures fled into the background pursued by a massive hound.
"Valiant." A new voice, one that the traveller in the forest knew as his acolyte, the Master of Hounds, stated as the etched figure within the ring of twigs cracked a whip, the leather tongue wrapping round his opponent's wrist. "I assume you have faith that she can save herself, that faith is misplaced."
The traveller turned away from the arch as something moved, almost silently behind him. Standing a few paces behind him was a large bald-headed man dressed in robes, his eyes glowing blue.
"The Watcher." The traveller acknowledged as he turned back to the arch got to his feet and walked to the pane of the crystal. "Then now is the time to act." He added as he stabbed his fingers into the pane of crystal, his nails causing the surface to become hot and a stream of glass to collapse into smoke as he forced his way out of the World Forest and into the City that Never Sleeps.
Issue #6
(December 2018) Written by John Cheese Featuring: The Enforcer
Zombie Master
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THE PHANTOM HOUND - PART THREESarah swung the staff as she barrelled through the doorway into the paper mill, the black dog lunging at her retreating as the wooden rod hit it in the face. Moving into the main chamber where the books were being printed Sarah spotted the stamp responsible for implanting the sacred circle into the book.
"Spell casting and mechanisation, who said technology and magic aren't good bedfellows." She whispered as she moved to turn the machine off, only for a growl to sound from the gantry above her and a black dog to phase through the steel as it attacked. Pining her to the floor, the dog snapped at Sarah's face only for an alarm to sound, causing the beast to stagger back, as if it were in pain. Scrabbling backwards Sarah watched as the phantom flesh of the black dog solidified, the creature changing from a phantom hound into a beast of flesh and blood. Getting to her feet Sarah threw the lever controlling the printing machine and clutched her staff tight. Taking a cautious step forward, the black dog moved out of the shadow of the gantry and howled, the call answered by almost a dozen more hounds as they stalked out of the doors and windows of the mill. "How?" Sarah asked as she climbed onto the now stalled conveyor belt and held her staff ready for a last stand. Her enemies moved as one, charging in, swarming their prey. While she kept the first wave of attackers, she knew that it would only be a temporary reprieve against the pack. Clearing a space and rolling off the conveyor, Sarah kicked the lever, the machinery starting up again, the stamp crushing one dog and another two being carried away by the moving belts. Reaching a door that led to a row of offices, Sarah saw another black dog, one that was bigger looking then the others slam into her back, the blow sending her flying and her ankle twisting. Groaning she thrust the staff into its jaws as her attacker lunged for her neck, steam flying from the animal’s mouth as it bit through the wood despite its pain. Hobbling away with only the thick club end of the staff, Sarah knew she had to find sanctuary and a place to hide, the only question was where. Mike dodged the stabbing lance that was thrust towards him, before grabbing the spectral weapon and pulling its opponent off balance. Not wasting any time, he slugged the Huntsman round the face, keeping him distracted as his other hand went to his foe's belt, the fingers looking for a sword or a dagger, anything that could help him in this fight. "Your hands are not welcome thief!" The Huntsman snorted as he headbutted Mike, the blow staggering him. Dissipating the lance into white smoke, the Huntsman removed a cruel looking skinning knife and kicked his prey to the ground. "Your hide will be well placed on my wall." He added as blue lightning sparked along the gates to form a palm sized disc of glass to a dark looking space. "Behold, the way to the World Forest opens. He Who Wanders comes forth for the rewilding!" "Cheer all you like." Mike announced as he lashed out with both feet into the Huntsman's groin, causing him to drop the knife in pain. Quick as a flash he'd recovered the blade and stabbed it into his attacker's throat, only for a swarm of biting flies to emerge from the wound. "I am of the wild, no creature of the field and forest may hurt me, even when it's bones are shaped to kill." The Huntsman stated as he punched Mike in the face through the swarm. "Nor can any such beast escape from my hounds, behold the witching hour when they can run freely." He added as he punched Mike again, this time in the gut. "She will be ran down and brought to me." Not bothering with an audible reply, Mike lashed out with the blade again, returning the knife to its owner embedded in his fist. Taking what merger advantage was offered to him, he ran to the portal and picked up a sizeable stone ready to break the screen to another world. "I think not!" The Huntsman snapped as blackthorn twigs erupted from the ground forming a cage around the Enforcer, stakes and thorns stabbing into his flesh. "You will live long enough to see the rosebud Hannigan brought to me, to see my master's first step, after that you will see nothing!" Sarah didn’t turn from the locked office door to face the black dogs stalking up the corridor behind her. Instead she closed her eyes, trying to think of any magics, any piece of knowledge that might help her. After what felt like an age an answer came and when she opened her eyes there was a new look of determination in her eyes. Rising her staff, she scratched a Sanskrit symbol into the door, and began to push through. Not fast enough though, a black dog latched onto her leg pulling her backwards away from the sanctuary she'd created. "No!" Sarah screamed as she tried to curve round and fend the beast off. It was only in the corner of her eye that she saw a slim tanned hand adorned with bangles reach out of the door and grab her by the scruff of the neck dragging her into the sanctuary, along with the black dog attached to her leg. "Who?" Sarah asked as she felt the black dog let go of her leg. Looking up she saw a woman dressed like a Hindi temple dancer, a look of concern on her beautiful face. "An Apsara." Sarah gasped before getting to her feet and bowing slightly. Smiling the Apsara's body collapsed into dust, leaving Sarah alone in the office. "This is a strange place." A voice stated behind her causing Sarah to spin round to see the black dog sitting by the door. "Still it could be worse, my mind seems to be returning Mistress." "Mistress? You were just trying to kill me!" Sarah spat as the dog lowered its head. "I'm sorry, I served another but you brought me into your lodge, gave me a home." The black dog stated as it wagged its tail. "Even if this really isn't your home. Now I serve you Mistress." "It's Sarah, and what’s to stop you attacking me when I leave this space?" Sarah asked as she went over to the desk and looked for anything that might contain a weapon or better yet the seeds she needed to banish the pack. "You've heard of a dog's loyalty before, right? The huntsman beats us, starves us but I can tell that you will be a better mistress than him." The black dog announced as it walked over and placed its head on the desk. Hesitantly Sarah stroked the dog on the head, her new-found companion looking up at her with puppy dog eyes. "What about the others?" Sarah asked. "They will be hesitant to attack, but they will attack unless I can convince the Alpha that running with you is better than running for my old master." The dog announced. "Perhaps we can bypass them altogether, you can move through the 'tween spaces', can you bring your quarry with you?" Sarah asked cautiously as she found a letter opener in a drawer and pocketed it followed by a crossword book, the symbol of the Wild Hunt glowing on the open page. "Yes, mistress I can." The dog barked as she wagged her tail even faster. "Then I have a plan." Sarah stated as she stroked the dog on the head. A howl sounded from the gates and a black dog emerged with a body held limply in its jaws. Dropping its prey at the feet of the Huntsman it looked up hoping to get some affection, only to receive a boot to the face. "I wanted her alive not dead!" The Huntsman snarled as the dog backed away to where Mike was entombed. "A pity her flesh is now cold, she would be most exquisite as part of my hunt." He sighed as the dog covertly started chewing through the blackthorn holding Mike. "You'll pay for killing her!" Mike snarled as he felt the dog lick his hand. "Brave, foolish words." The Huntsman stated as he turned to look at the growing pane, a shadowy figure with glowing yellow eyes staring back at him. "My master will be here soon." He added as a stabbing pain radiated through his back. Cursing in pain he spun round and back handed Sarah to the floor before removing the letter opener jabbed into his spin. "Sarah!" Mike yelled as his hands closed round something paper before worming his way out of the blackthorn cage. "Betrayal!" The Huntsman yelled as he towered over Sarah, the skinning knife in his hand. "Your hound will pay for its lapse in loyalty!" With a snarl the dog leapt at her master, teeth biting into his arm. Kicking the beast again, the Hunt's drew his sword and thrust the blade down into the spirit's body, black smoke erupting from the dog. "No!" Sarah yelled as she crawled over to the dying dog. "You'll be joining the mutt soon!" The Huntsman snapped as the sound of breaking glass rang round the compound, the shadowy figure from the World Forest breaking through. "Master you're wandering is at an end!' "I agree!" Mark yelled as he broke free of the cage and slammed the crossword book into the Wanderer's face before hammering the stake through the pages into its left eye. "If this was good enough for Merlin, it's more than good enough for you!" He added as the Wanderer's body disintegrated into ashy flakes until the book and stake fell to the floor with a thud. "Master no!" The Huntsman yelled as Sarah rolled away, before getting to her feet, her shadow falling over the hunter. "You!!" He snarled through gritted teeth as he glowered at Sarah. "You did this!" "You should be nicer to your pets." Sarah stated as red eyes shone from her shadow. "Because karma has a funny way of coming back to bite you!" She added as a black dog lunged from her shadow snapping its jaws round the Huntsman's legs. With a snarl the hunter rose his sword, only for a shot to ring out, the blade flying out of his hand. "I curse you, let all the gods and demons know that Nero and Hannigan are dammed, never to find happiness or rest or solace!" The Huntsman snarled as more black dogs emerged from Sarah's shadow, ripping him apart before dragging what was left back into the shadow. "And nuts to you too!" Mike snorted, as Sarah stroked the dying dog on the floor, smoke weaving through her fingers. "I'm sorry Sarah, there's nothing we can do, the spectral energy is being displaced, probably back to the Lodge." "They were people Mike, what about their loved ones." "I don't know, there's no way to transform them back." Mike sighed as he picked up the sword and crossword book, "At least it’s over." Sarah sighed as the dog's body fully dissipated. "No there's one last thing I need to do." Mike announced through gritted teeth. "We have to do." Sarah added quietly as all around them the walls of blackthorn came tumbling down. The Lair, Somewhere in Staten Island The vampire's body fell out of the lift and exploded into dust as it hit the floor. "And that's how you deal with vampires." Mark dressed in his Enforcer costume told Sarah, her face hidden by a pink motorcycle helmet. "Nero, I take it you have good news." Nicky Bats stated as two well-muscled vampires flanking him un-holstered their pistols and pointed them at the two intruders. "The killer was a black dog, as you know they leave no earthly trace when banished but I do have the sword of the Huntmaster." Mike announced as he drew the Huntsman's sword and laid it on a table. "That will go a good way to settle your Uncle's debts." Nicky gulped, only to see Mike fish out a detonator from his belt. "All his debts." Mike snarled in a cold voice that caused the vampire courtesans to flinch and look at each other with fear. "Or your lair loses its roof, and I can assure you it's sunny weather outside, just right for boiling leeches." "Did I say some of his debt, I meant all of it." Nicky gulped as he kept his eyes on the detonator. "That's what I thought." Mike replied as he walked back to the lift. "Come on Sarah let's get out of here." He added as Sarah followed him into the lift, the doors closing shut. After a minute Nicky smiled a fanged grin across his fat face, blood tinted saliva dripping from his lips. "Get me the Gosodydd, I believe that the Heinman debt is in need of settling now his blood now runs unfettered." Nicky hissed as a thick tongue licked the drool dripping from his lips. "Forget Delanzy, what he and his owe me is eclipsed many times, and I intend to collect it, one way or another." |