?Hound’s Duty?
⚡️Volume 2: The Badlands⚡️
?Written by Crownway Amef?
⚡️Episode 22⚡️
It’s been 5 minutes since Susan got to the school but was denied access.
She started getting a strange feeling with her supernatural instinct. She hid the car keys inside her bag and she went to a corner where no human eyes can see.
She never imagined a situation that will make her change would arrive and so she bit on the strap of her bag to suppress her pain.
She went on all fours and groan in pain. Her bones started breaking and reshaping. Her dragon scales crept to the surface tearing off her human skin. Her muffled groans soon turn into screams when she finished her shift and up she went on to the sky.
ON THE FIELD
Haliah and Kira went to meet their friends when they heard the commotion from afar.
Two of the cheerleaders followed them with trouble evident in their eyes. A girl named Jamie bumped into Kira from behind making her stumble but Haliah was quick to catch her.
“Oops sorry,” She said as she blows her bubble gum to a big size.
“If you’re sorry, you should be on your way. You’re forgiven “ Kira said.
The two girls didn’t move from their way, they stood with proud stances and hands crossed against their chests.
“We’ve got no time for this!” Haliah said and she slapped the Jamie girl with the back of her hand which sends her flying across the field. Luckily no one saw her when she attacked her but they sure saw a figure rolling on the floor.
The other gifted scrunched her face and advanced toward Haliah with her speed. Kira yelled a loud “Insubordination!” and her voice came with such a big wave that pushed the gifted away from reaching them both.
“If you are in your right mind, you should know it’s not advisable to blow your covers to normal humans,” Kira said to them as they went their way. But then another mark appeared on her wrist which burned through her skin.
“Ah” she winced.
Kira grabbed her hand on seeing the mark.
“We really should get out of here as soon as possible,” she said.
“No” Haliah answered.
“We are bonded together so anything that happens to her, happens to me. She must have tried to feed on someone untouchable” she added.
“Perhaps one of the gifted?” Kira said.
“I doubt it. So far we don’t know how to send her back but someone else apart from us managed to hurt her” Haliah explained walking briskly with Kira so they can get to Erik and Jeff in time.
On getting there, Haliah stopped Erik from fighting Tammy and the other gifted that had managed to surround them.
Ciara and Anthony also got to the scene after receiving reports about Jamie being hurt.
The crowd is no more of mere mortals but the gifted, Haliah, and Haliah’s friends.
Ciara noticed the mark on Haliah’s wrist and she smiled in satisfaction.
“Oh, no poor thing” she said to Haliah who didn’t spare her a glance.
“Back off! Right now” Haliah warned.
“We don’t have to listen to you prodigal daughter, when you were still her loyal daughter at Grey, we were never thr_@tened by your presence, “ Gabe said.
“Guys, let’s give her the honor for old times’ sake,” Ciara said.
“What if she later comes back as the loyal daughter? You all won’t be safe and I have found what we are looking for” She said staring at the mark on Haliah’s wrist.
“Really?” they chorused.
“Yes, we should leave now,” Ciara said and the gifted left the scene.
“Don’t forget the party tonight, you all are invited,” she said with a wink.
“Okay now, what was that about?” Erik asked.
“Their goal was to get into a fight with us to check the progress of the demon they summoned,” Kira said.
“They got what they wanted so it’s our turn,” Haliah said.
“Let’s get out of here. And there’s no way we are attending that party!” Jeff said.
On their way, Kira saw a movement in the forest and she called Jeff’s attention to it. They all stopped on their track and Haliah used her super owl’s eyes to zoom everything into her sight.
“Guys it’s Susan!” she said running towards the forest and the rest followed her.
Susan finished changing and when she picked up her bag to venture into the main school when she saw the rest.
“Oh thank God” she cried and rushed to hug them.
“What’s wrong? Why are you in the woods?” Erik asked
Susan wipes the tears forming in her eyes “This is the only way in without an ID” she said and her tail swiftly disappeared. “Sorry, I was too excited to notice my tail was out,” she said.
“What’s wrong outside Susan? Are you crying?” Kira asked drying her wet cheeks.
“The professor disappeared” She dropped the bomb.
“WHAT?!” They chorused.
“I’m sure Floral has disappeared too… All his robots are gone and It took me hours to get his computers running again” she said.
Despair gripped their hearts as Susan explained the whole thing to them.
Haliah sniffle her tears and said “Everything is because of me! If I hadn’t left my mother’s side, they wouldn’t have summoned such a demon that keeps messing with humanity. Father didn’t return as an angel, Ferya preyed on him because he failed to get rid of me. He saw the good in me but that’s not for us to judge.
They know everything… That I will end up being the demon I was born to be” She said.
“No, come on Haliah,” Erik said.
“You don’t have to say things to make me feel better okay? I’ll handle it since it started with me. Do they want me? And they will have me” she sobbed.
Susan pulled her in for a hug and pat her back.
“Don’t be silly, Professor asked me to protect you no matter what and I will risk my life doing that” She assured.
“So what’s on the ground?” Susan asked.
“Professor disappeared, the gifted are hosting a party, Lady of Wills attacked Haliah and they are bonded together. Anthony is in danger and the gifted are about to turn Erik’s friend against him” Kira explained.
“That boy? French fries?” Susan asked.
“No Fred” Erik answered.
“You didn’t go to work for a day and it’s already taking a toll on you” Jeff teased.
“We need to talk to Anthony so you can go back for now or hang around for a few hours so you can get us home,” Haliah said.
“I’ll wait outside for you okay? Stay safe” she said to them before going back into the forest.
The bell rang out loud indicating that they should vacate the sports area and they should prepare for class.
Erik saw Anthony and decided to use that chance to talk to him so he went with Kira.
When Anthony saw Erik and Kira, he knew immediately that they want to talk to him so he slowed down on purpose for everyone to leave. Two of the gifted were also around and he didn’t want them to suspect anything.
Just then, Erik closed his eyes and the falcon’s russet eyes switched over. His hair went up in a spark and blue light emitted out of his whole body. He’s using the sword essence as a shield but Falcon as the main fighting beast in him.
He charged at Anthony in his human form in front of the gifted. Startled by the sudden outburst, they ran from the scene to call on Ciara.
Anthony repudiated the pain and his broken leg fixed itself. He let out a soft growl as his fire essence took over.
His weapons and armor crept unto his body like a second skin.
He attacked Erik back and the two of them start to exchange fire forces, punches are no exception.
Erik hasn’t spent much time trying to master his bloodline essence but he’s doing so good controlling it to his usage.
Anthony threw his fire chain to catch Erik with it but he dodged the attack by tilting his head to the side. His grandmother’s sword starts forming in his hands with blue streaks of light.
Falcon had to exit his body cause of the huge wave of power the sword is sending into his body.
Falcon stayed beside Kira to watch the fight even though he’s got no idea why Erik is fighting in broad daylight. He must hearken to his call anytime he calls in exchange for hosting him.
This is the first time Kira would see Falcon up close and she finds him scary, especially the fact that hellhounds have three heads and he’s got just one with a frightening look.
Ferya showed up when she smelt a strong scent of will and desire in the air.
But when she spot Falcon, she scoffed and ignored him.
“You’ve got nothing in you!” she said.
“I hid it because of you! It’s all your fault” Falcon growled.
Now, this was getting too tense for Kira because she can’t see the Lady of Will. Only Haliah and her victims can see her.
Falcon can see her because he came from hell. He fled in the first place when he heard that the last hell hound is going to be used in the wrong way. To bring havoc to God’s creation, the planet earth.
His will is hidden in the most gruesome part of hell where even ferya cannot enter.
He came to earth for help and then he would go back for it.
Since Kira can’t see her, she started moving closer to her but Falcon warned Kira to keep her guards up. He didn’t open his mouth to talk, he say things in his mind so only those that he wants to talk to can hear them.
Alarmed and confused, Kira screamed so loud with her Phoenix voice making Lady of Wills shriek in pain before she disappeared.
Falcon looked surprised and he started ambling towards Kira who took a few steps back in fear and with the mountain ash In her hand.
“How did you do that? I’ve lived for centuries and seen Banshees like you but none could ever cause a scratch on Ferya” he said.
Just then, Erik’s sword collides with Anthony’s he’ll chain and a barrier has them surrounded.
The gifted arrived at the scene but the blue light is blinding their eyes and they had to look away. Even Ciara can’t lift her head to look at the light.
But when they had tried to perform magic to break the seal, Kira spread mountain ash all over the place so they wouldn’t dare move closer to them.
Erik and Anthony having similar powers created a space for their talk. Outside, it looks so blinding to the eyes but inside is peaceful and quiet.
“I’m afraid I don’t have much time left, Ciara is after me. She summoned a demon just to prove herself to Lady Violet and I wonder what she would do just to be like her daughter” Anthony said.
“We know everything and the plan is to look for how to send Ferya back to hell then we can focus on how to nullify the bond between the gifted and Lady Violet,” Erik said.
“The gifted attacked me today, I need to know if they desire to be free or they are enjoying being bad already” He added.
“They are free from Ferya because of Cup of the oath so they just wanted to be safe. It’s the only thing keeping them safe. Try to break the bond and we will help you take down Lady Violet. That’s their message” Anthony said.
“They are all here, we should stop now,” Erik said on sighting the gifted and his worried friends from the barrier.
They both retreat their weapons and the barrier dissipates like air. They both fell to the ground panting heavily and their clothes burnt by the edges.
Falcon entered Erik immediately.
“Hey, wake up are you okay?” Haliah asked as Kira examined his body.
“Your ears… You’re bleeding” Erik said pointing to Haliah’s ears.
“It’s nothing, someone must have attacked Ferya again,” she said.
“Uh…” Kira was about to talk when Jeff spoke,
“How was it, buddy? Are you okay?” Jeff asked.
“We’ll talk at home,” Erik said to them.
Ciara thought Anthony had gotten into a fight with Erik and she starts to doubt if she was wrong to suspect his actions. She helped him up and they part ways.
A FEW HOURS LATER
Haliah helped with Erik’s bag as they walked toward the entrance. The school period has long been over.
Freddy called out to Erik and they stopped in their tracks.
“Heard you got hurt… Are you okay?” he asked worriedly.
“I am, thanks for asking,” Erik answered.
“Okay… Take care “ Fred said and exchanged glances with the rest.
“Can you please stay at home tonight?” Erik said to him.
“No Erik, it’s my first party and you should come instead, with your new friends,” he said.
He turn around and went his own way.
Haliah fell out of line to cross their way with a smile “Freddy was the one that hurt Ferya” she said.
Erik and the rest stared at her confused
“What do you mean? He’s human and the easiest to prey on” Jeff said.
“I saw the Mark on him. The Mark Ferya puts on her prey” she said.
“But you also have the mark and you could not hurt her. Fred is human so he couldn’t possibly have seen her” Erik said.
“Fred’s mark is different, instead of it being red like mine, his mark is black which shows she could not feed from him but we will find that out tonight,” she said.
“Tonight? How?” Kira asked.
“We are going to that party,” she said.
Deep down in her mind, she’s up to something big.
“I will end everything tonight, let’s all return to hell where we came from,” Haliah said to herself.