chronicles of eden - act I Page 9

  “He is after all stuck in his beliefs that you monsters can be trusted,” she said flatly. Alyssa looked to her with remorse then down at Daniel.

  “I wouldn’t have been so kind out there, Alyssa. I would have killed those wolves, then you. I would have hacked you into pieces for taking him from me like that,” Triska said harshly. She glared over to the witch who backed up a bit.

  “I’m not saving him so he can be used as your source for children. He may have shown kindness to you by saving you, but that doesn’t change the fact you’re still nothing more than a lustful monster. Go back into your hole, Alyssa, and don’t ever crawl out. You helped save his life, so in return I’ll spare yours this one time. Now go!” Triska yelled out at the witch. Alyssa trembled slightly and backed up, her eyes watching Daniel as he lay there.

  “I said go!” Triska yelled out again. Alyssa looked down with her hat hiding her eyes as she remained silent. After a pause she held her staff back towards the opening in the ground surrounded by twisted vines. From the opening Triska’s sword and dagger shot out, the weapons flying up into the air then down towards them. They raced downward then slowed down, the blades slowly floating over to Triska handles first. She looked at them then to the witch cautiously. After a moment’s hesitation she slowly reached out and grabbed them, the weapons being released from the magic as she held them at her sides. Alyssa looked at Daniel again with a gentle gaze as she lowered her staff.

  “Go. Now,” Triska said sternly as she held her weapons at the ready. Alyssa shook her head slowly then kneeled down next to the boy.

  “Get away from him, Alyssa,” Triska said with a sharp tone. The witch looked up to her with a worried glance.

  “Giving me back my weapons won’t fool me. Giving him that potion won’t fool me. I can’t trust you, Alyssa. Now go!” Triska yelled out with anger. Alyssa looked down with her hat covering her eyes and shook her head.

  “I won’t…” she said softly. Triska held her sword up as she kept the dagger ready to strike with.

  “Alyssa,” she hissed.

  “He needs me,” Alyssa said gently. Triska looked at her with narrowed eyes as the witch glanced up to her.

  “He needs me,” she repeated.

  “Needs you? All he needs from you is for you to stay the hell away from him!” Triska yelled out. Alyssa shook her head and held up her staff. Triska’s sword whipped out of her hand and swung around behind her, the blade sliding into the sheath. Her dagger flipped out of her hand and slid back into its sheath as well. Triska looked at the two then to Alyssa with caution.

  “Daniel will need help with his journey. Your sword alone won’t do at all. He won’t survive without me,” Alyssa said looking back down to Daniel.

  “What? What are you talking about?” Triska demanded as she kept a hand on her dagger’s handle.

  “I’m talking about me going with you. It’s obvious he’s going to need protection after all,” Alyssa explained. Triska looked at the witch with surprise then growled loudly at her.

  “What? Like bloody hell you’ll be going with us! Why in the world would I let some sneaky, underhanded, horny witch near him after what you just did?” she roared.

  “I just named a very good reason, you can’t protect him,” Alyssa said calmly as she looked back up to the teen. Triska growled then reached for her sword, with Alyssa raising her staff towards her with narrowed eyes. Triska halted and glared at the witch then glanced to the staff.

  “He saved my life. I’m going to repay him,” Alyssa stated firmly.

  “There is no way you’re coming with us,” Triska said with anger.

  “I am if you want to survive out there,” Alyssa said looking back down to the boy as she lowered her staff. Triska glared at the witch with frustration then looked to her friend. Slowly she lowered her hand and then knelt down beside him. She glanced to Alyssa carefully as the witch was watching Daniel sleep with a gentle gaze.

  *****

  Daniel’s eyes slowly opened, blinking a few times as he started to wake up. He looked up to see the sky turning to night as a few stars were faintly seen above. Slowly he sat up, his shoulder aching as he moved. He cringed slightly then looked over to his side to see Triska smiling at him brightly.

  “Daniel! You’re ok!” she cheered as she embraced the boy tightly. He cringed in pain as she hugged him while smiling happily.

  “I was so worried about you; don’t scare me like that again. Are you ok now? Are you feeling better?” she asked worriedly.

  “I’m sure he would feel a lot better if you let go of him,” Alyssa commented dryly from Daniel’s other side. Triska leaned back and saw him struggling not to cry in pain. She held her hands to her mouth and shook her head as she realized what she just did to him.

  “Oh god, I’m sorry, Daniel, I was just worried about you. Are you ok?” she asked franticly. He nodded slowly as he used all his strength not to cry in front of a girl, and then looked over to see Alyssa sitting next to him as well. She was watching him timidly as she held onto her staff in her lap.

  “I’m ok… but… where…” he said looking around.

  “You’re back outside, Daniel. We brought you here after you… after…” Triska said before looking to Alyssa with a glare. The two travelers looked to her as she showed a remorseful expression.

  “Thank you, Daniel… for saving me again,” she said softly. He looked at her carefully then shook his head.

  “Actually, I only saved you once. But you’re welcome,” he said gently. She nodded and looked at him curiously.

  “Why did you though? You could have run away,” she asked curiously.

  “That’s what I want to know. What were you thinking risking your life to save this monster when she tried to rape you?” Triska shouted out in disbelief at her friend. He looked between the two then to the witch again.

  “I just couldn’t leave her out there to die alone. She was so scared of those wolves, like a real little girl. I just couldn’t leave her out there alone,” he said with compassion.

  “Scared? She was scared of wolves?” Triska asked looking to the witch with a raised eyebrow. Daniel nodded and looked at Alyssa curiously.

  “Yeah, but I don’t understand why. How come you didn’t just fend them off with your magic, surely you’re powerful enough to do that,” he questioned. Alyssa looked down then away.

  “I… don’t like wolves,” she said softly.

  “Wait, you’re a monster, and you’re scared of wolves?” Triska asked in disbelief. Alyssa trembled a bit and nodded while still looking away.

  “Why?” Daniel asked. Alyssa glanced to him then down at her staff, her grip around it tightening.

  “You took down those villagers and me without any problem, what’s so bad about a few mangy mutts?” Triska asked puzzled. Alyssa started breathing heavily as she closed her eyes, shaking a bit as the travelers watched her carefully.

  “Alyssa?” Daniel asked gently. Alyssa trembled then looked to him with teary eyes.

  “They… killed my mother,” she said quietly. She choked back a sob then looked down with closed eyes. Daniel and Triska looked at her with wonder then to each other.

  “They… killed her… they tore her to pieces right in front of me!” Alyssa cried out before she broke down sobbing. The two travelers watched her with surprise as the witch cried loudly. She may have been an old witch, at least old in human standards, but she certainly acted like a scared child thinking about the memory again.

  “I can’t stand them… I just can’t. They attacked and tore her apart in the forest… I had to hide in a tree and listen to her scream. I couldn’t have done anything; I didn’t have my focuser then. I could only hide while they ate her!” she cried out as she rubbed her eyes with her hands, the memory of her mother’s screams echoing out in her mind along with the howls of the wolves.

  “I know they can be dangerous in numbers and everything, but I never thought a monster would be afraid of them. Hell, I
thought some monsters kept them as pets and hunters,” Triska said in wonder as she watched the young witch shake with fear. Daniel looked at the witch with gentle eyes then glanced to his friend.

  “They may be monsters, but they’re not all that different from us. We do have some common ground if we take the time to look,” he said softly. Triska nodded and just watched the crying witch with wonder. The girl had incredible magical powers at her disposal, was able to move through fire and take down multiple threats with ease, yet she was scared to death of ordinary wolves.

  After Alyssa cried for a bit she wiped her tears away then looked to Daniel with a gentle smile.

  “Thank you for saving me, Daniel. You really are chivalrous,” she said graciously. He smiled weakly and rubbed the back of his head.

  “Yeah… it’s a curse, believe me,” he said tiredly. Alyssa giggled and shook her head.

  “No no, it’s a gift. Believe me, Daniel, it makes you very desirable,” she said with a wink. Daniel looked at her with a bit of surprise as he remembered Triska saying those same words with a wink as well. He glanced away while Triska glared at the young witch, the girl also having remembered the similar gesture and saying earlier.

  “So, Daniel, where are we off to next?” Alyssa asked looking towards the horizon.

  “What? We?” Daniel said in surprise looking back to the witch with wide eyes.

  “For the last time, Alyssa, you are not going with us!” Triska shouted out.

  “She’s going with us?” Daniel asked, looking to Triska in disbelief while pointing to Alyssa.

  “There, you see? He said I’m going with you. He even pointed to me in saying so,” Alyssa said happily.

  “He said no such thing, Alyssa, you’re not going with us!” Triska yelled out with anger.

  “Why does she want to go with us?” Daniel asked in surprise.

  “You need me silly. You won’t last a day out there without proper protection,” Alyssa said with a giddy laugh.

  “He almost didn’t last a day because of you, remember?” Triska barked out.

  “I wouldn’t have harmed him, he’s so cute after all,” Alyssa said looking to Daniel with an adorable smile. Triska growled then took out her sword. She raised it up before it, and along with her, flew back and crashed into the ground. Alyssa smiled playfully as she held her staff out towards where the teen was thrown to while Daniel looked at her worriedly.

  “Wait, I never agreed to this,” he said nervously. Alyssa giggled then looked to him with a gentle smile.

  “Don’t worry; I’ll protect you out there. I promise,” she said softly. He stammered some form of protest while shaking his head then looked to see Triska struggling to pull her blade out of the ground, the sword being held down from a magical force by the witch.

  “You need me, Daniel, somebody has to keep you safe,” Alyssa said happily.

  “That’s my job, you bitch! I’m going to protect him, and I’m going to start by hacking you into little pieces and feeding them to those wolves!” Triska yelled out. Alyssa shuddered at that thought then glared at her, lifting her staff up and causing Triska to fly up into the air with a scream.

  “That’s not very nice!” Alyssa called up to her.

  “Hey, stop it! Don’t hurt her!” Daniel said looking up with wide eyes as his friend tumbled around high above before falling back down towards the ground. Alyssa giggled then held out her staff as she smiled at him. Triska screamed as she flew down towards the ground, and then suddenly stopped an inch before impact. She blinked then shakily looked over to the witch before she dropped down with a thump. Alyssa giggled and looked at Daniel with an adorable smile.

  “If you insist, Daniel,” she said with a cheery tone. He looked at her worriedly then over to his friend who was rubbing her head with a groan. Sighing he shook his head then looked back to the witch who was keeping her eyes on him still.

  “Why are you coming with us, Alyssa?” he asked weakly.

  “I told you, you have your desires, and I have mine,” she said simply.

  “Yeah, I noticed. So you’re still fixated on that are you?” he asked with a dull expression. She smiled happily at him and tilted her head slightly.

  “What I desire, Daniel, is to be with you,” she said softly. He looked at her with wonder as she nodded.

  “Besides, you need a monster that can help you against others that aren’t very nice and keep you safe, and that’s me,” she reasoned cheerfully. Daniel just looked at her curiously as she giggled to herself. She may be a monster that nearly raped him, but she did have a point. They would need protection out there that Triska’s blade alone may not be able to provide. He just hoped that Alyssa would be able to control herself properly if she was going to be near him.

  The witch looked around curiously then down to the sleeping blanket with an innocent smile.

  “So can I sleep with you tonight, Daniel?” she asked sweetly.

  “What?” Daniel and Triska cried out together. Alyssa giggled happily then looked to the blanket as she bounced a bit on her knees.

  “Please? I’m still so scared of those wolves still; won’t you please hold me tonight? I would feel so safe in your arms,” she asked with a sweet tone. Triska yanked her sword out of the ground then ran towards the witch with it held high.

  “Like hell you’ll sleep with him!” she yelled out swinging downward. Alyssa held out her staff, the relic glowing orange as Triska’s blade stopped in place. The teen growled as she tried to push the blade down while Alyssa looked at Daniel with a sweet smile, not seeming to pay Triska’s threat any mind.

  “Please? I’ll make sure you have good dreams,” she said with a wink.

  “Alyssa, that’s not something we’re going to be doing. Is that clear?” Daniel asked tiredly. Alyssa giggled as she pushed Triska back with her magic once again, and then leaned closer to Daniel with a playful smile.

  “Aw, c’mon. I don’t bite, unless you like that,” she said with a seductive tone.

  “Alyssa!” Triska yelled out as she held her duffel bag over her head. Alyssa looked over to her curiously as the girl threw the bag towards her. It crashed into her and pinned her down on the ground, with the witch crying out and gasping for air while her arms and legs flailed about underneath the bag.

  “Holy crap, what’s in this thing anyway?” she cried out as she struggled to budge it. Triska jumped onto it then bounced up and down to push it down onto the witch.

  “Keep your hands off of him, you got that? You hear me, witch?” Triska yelled out with fire in her eyes.

  “I can’t breathe! Get it off of me!” Alyssa cried out.

  “Tell somebody who cares!” Triska shouted down at the girl.

  Daniel watched the two yell and curse rather loudly at each other with a tired expression, then dropped back down onto the blanket with a sigh. He had avoided being used for a monster’s own inner desires and was back on track with his journey. First, off to Ashwood, then to the surrounding areas outside the safety borders where other monsters could be found. He had his trusted companion and friend Triska, the sword wielding fighter from his hometown that he grew up with. And now he was being joined by a little witch named Alyssa, a powerful magical caster, who was determined to remain by his side as his protector.

  Whether he and Triska wanted her to or not.

  Chapter 4

  A Monster’s Nature

  In the world of Eden, monsters roamed the lands searching for those they could use to breed with, something that was a driving force in all types and classes of monsters. They were compelled to mate much as they could, and some were more forceful than others. Certain monsters would savagely rape their prey wherever they could, sometimes seriously harming them in the process. Others would try to charm or ‘poison’ their victim into giving themselves willingly. However, one thing was consistent with all monsters in the world, no matter how peaceful and innocent they may appear to be.

  The desire to breed would always
take over eventually.

  *****

  Sunlight started to rise over the horizon as another day began, with the grass around the rolling plains swaying gently as a calm breeze rolled by. Near the dirt road a group of travelers were beginning to wake as light slowly crept over the fields nearby.

  Triska yawned and slowly sat up, opening her eyes and looking over towards where the sunlight was coming from with a tired expression. She shook her head and blinked a few times to clear her vision then stretched out her arms with another yawn. Her duffel bag was next to her with her sword propped up against it, her dagger being stuck in the ground next to the blanket that she had slept on during the night. She rubbed her eyes a bit and smiled contently as she looked around.

  “Wow, I slept like a rock last night. Hey, you awake, Daniel?” she asked looking over next to her. As her eyes looked down to her sleeping friend she showed a surprised expression that quickly turned into a furious one. From around the plains her yell could be heard echoing out.

  “ALYSSA!”

  Daniel shot up with surprise as he had been ejected from his peaceful sleep by his friend’s sudden cry. He was wearing his gray outer shirt still while his chest and arms had bandages still from the previous night. He looked around franticly as he slowly came to his senses.

  “What? What’s going on?” he asked quickly in a daze. Shaking his head slightly he realized he was no longer in dreamland, and then looked down. He too was sitting on a blanket with a pillow just like Triska, and something else that caught his immediate attention.

  “Oh, good morning, Daniel,” Alyssa said with an innocent smile, the witch dressed in her usual clothing while leaning over his waist with her hands hovering above his pants. She giggled then looked over to Triska who was glaring at her with murderous rage.

  “Did you have to shout like that? He was sleeping so peacefully,” Alyssa said disappointedly. Triska yelled and grabbed her sword, unsheathing it and lunging towards the witch. Before it could cut her down Alyssa held out her hand towards the blade, which whipped back and flew over into the ground from a magical force. Triska flipped over it and onto the ground with a thud as Alyssa giggled and held her hand back, with her staff flying over into her grip. Daniel looked around confused then to Alyssa, who was giggling and looking to him with a cute smile.