Gauntlet Rite of Ascension (6 page)

I looked up cautiously, once again drawn into its eyes, watching helplessly as the Beast searched for more prey.

More prey. Another metal cage with wheels. Men inside, eating deep fried bread.

Keepers of the peace.

These men are unaware of the Beast.

The smell of them different. One clearly the pack leader. He sits behind the wheel.

An imbalance with his liver, making his blood sugar levels higher than normal.

He doesn’t know.

The other has the smell of a woman on him, coupled with the anxiety smell.

He cheats. He is afraid to be caught. 

The smell of soap and aftershave.

Deodorant and natural body odor.

Confidence of their security, small metallic tools at their sides. Belief that their weapons will protect them.

All of this comes in the form of smell, so much can be told from smell. Man has forgotten so much.

I will help teach him again.

The Beast slowly makes its way closer, intent on showing these men their impotence in the face of true power. A rejection of the order they represent.

The men are oblivious.

The Beast stalks closer. The Beast blends with the shadows and easily crouches in the front of the metal carriage. The sounds of their eating and talk clear to the Beast.

“Bullshit, it’s not my fault. I work my ass off trying to provide and all she can do is bitch about me never being home, working too much.” The inferior one said.

“Women just want to be important. Maybe it’s not the work that’s really the problem, maybe she just wants to know you put her first sometimes.” The leader said.

“Whatever, I can’t keep up. She wants a house and presents, but she’s pissed at the work needed to make that happen. I don’t know, sometimes I think it’s too much.” He said.

“Don’t give up too soon. I’ve been married for fifteen years, yes it’s been hard, but it’s been a lot of fun too.” Leader said.

“Well, anymore it seems like more hard than fun.” The other said.

The sound of a radio crackled to life and a voice could be heard.

“Unit three, this is dispatch. We have a report of an abandoned car on West Third. One of the neighbors says they heard screaming, may be a possible domestic disturbance. Are you able to check it out, over?”

“Roger that, dispatch. We’re on our way. Out.” The leader said.

“Isn’t that near the Marshall’s house? Where there is supposed to be a party tonight?” Asked the other.

“Probably just some kids screwing around. Let’s go check it out.” Said the leader.

The Beast rose up from the front of the car and stood looking at the men. Both cops visibly jumped in surprise. The leader leaned out the window and said, “Nice costume kid, bet your parents spent a fortune. Now get the hell out of the way or you’re gonna spend the night in jail.”

The Beast leaned forward and let out an inhuman yell.

Hunt.

Feed.

The emotions washed over me.

The two cops sat with opened mouths, fear stopping them. The leader was the first to react. He reached down for his gun, but he was far too slow.

The Beast launched himself at the cheater and flew through the windshield, ripping through the shatterproof glass as though it were paper.

The Beast attacked the man and the inside of the patrol car was splattered with blood as the Beast quickly eviscerated the cop.

The leader managed to get out of the patrol car and unclasp his firearm; he leveled the pistol at the unholy thing that was eating his partner. The barrel shook as his terror made his aim unsure. He took a deep breath and the barrel leveled slightly.

It was enough.

The gun-fire was loud in the quiet night. The cop fired again and again almost point blank into the deep thick fur of the Beast’s back. Almost as quickly as the bullets hit they were pushed back out. The healing abilities the Beast possessed were astounding. The Beast shrugged off six point-blank shots as though they were mosquito bites.

Faster than could be followed the Beast turned from its meal and faced the shooter. A look of incomprehension fell over him.

“No, no, this can’t be, no.” He moaned over and over, trying to deny the insanity that threatened to consume him.

The Beast’s wolf-like snout stretched into a grin. Even more devilish as its deadly looking maw was covered in blood and gore. A bloody bit of tissue dropped from its mouth as it somehow snarled, “Yes.”

The Beast came at the shooter, taking him down easily.

Blood.

Bite.

Kill.

Eat.

Feed.

YESSS.

Chapter 6

I retreated from the scene.

I couldn’t take it. I closed my eyes and tried to shut off the gruesome display before me. I let the darkness surround me. The impersonal shroud of nothingness a welcome respite from the sheer violence of the Beast.

I felt the comforting presence slowly grow stronger and soon felt as though someone else was sitting with me. The Beast’s attention was entirely given to the feast; the hunt was his only concern. I felt safe to try and learn more about my companion.

“Are you there?” I asked, quietly.

“I am.” He said.

I wasn’t sure but he felt like a he. Something about his voice made me think he was male.

“What is going on?” I asked, hoping this presence could give me some information.

“An ancient struggle. Man’s need for civility against his desire for pure animal drive.” He said.

“I don’t understand what that means.” I said.

“The Beast is trying to draw you out, flush you from cover so that he can devour you.” He said.

“I figured that much, but where am I? Am I going crazy?” I asked.

“No, you are not crazy. The details are not important. For now all you need to know is that the Beast is a part of you. You are a part of it. Until you accept this, it will continue to hunt you and have the power to unmake you.” He said.

I didn’t understand what he was talking about, but something else was nagging at me. I had to know the truth.

“I know you don’t I? I recognize your feel. It was the same thing I felt when I had a nightmare and my dad would come in and make me feel better. Or when I did something wrong and he would punish me, but at the same time letting me know how much he loved me. You are my dad aren’t you?” I asked, emotions warring within me.

I was scared that this presence was my father, and terrified that he wasn’t.

“I am a gift from your father, a lasting legacy of his undying love for you.” He said.

“I still don’t understand, how is this possible?” I asked.

“Magic, love. Are they not one in the same? Does not love allow man to be stronger than normal or achieve things that would be impossible? Love is so very strong and magic is only the emotions made tangible. Trust in yourself, you are stronger than you know.” He said.

I could feel his presence slowly receding again. Slipping away like fog on a slight breeze until there was only the barest wisp of his presence noticeable.

“The Beast comes again, remember, be strong …” He said as his voice slowly shrunk and faded.

Chapter 7

I could feel when the Beast turned from its feast and left the scene. It quickly entered the woods and quietly stalked through the dense trees. As it made its way through the foliage it turned inwards, looking for me.

“I would have thought the champions of the law would have put up more of a chase than that.” The Beast said in a growl.

“It is so hard to find good prey these days. You, however, are turning out to be quite adept at eluding me. I suppose it is fitting for me to have to earn your capture. After all, you are from a strong line.” The Beast said.

I had the impression it was trying to goad me into talking, giving me some information in hopes of drawing me out.

I could feel the Beast waiting, hoping I would show myself in search of answers. I might have too, if it wasn’t for the words and encouragement from my father’s legacy.

A strong feeling of rage welled up from the Beast. Its anger at failing to get me to reveal myself overflowing as I felt the palpable waves of its emotions.

“Stay in your hole, little pup, it matters not!” The Beast roared.

“I have the scent of one who recently challenged you, I will show you how to properly deal with rivals. I will teach you a few things before you yourself succumb to my power.” The Beast finished.

What was I going to do? It was so dark in here. If only I could see. Maybe some light would help me think. This darkness was unnerving.

Almost on cue a slight illumination began to glow from a spot not three feet from me. I thought of my bedroom and a longing to see it again, to sit on my bed and worry about something simple, like a test, overwhelmed me.

I was astonished to see my room appear out of the darkness and the light from my bedside lamp illuminated the familiar surroundings.

I sat on my bed looking around, stunned. How can this be? I had a moment of insight and decided to try something.

I thought about an old football I used to have. It was smaller than a normal one and was great for throwing back and forth with my dad. I remembered my sister would play with us, before she was too cool. I visualized it on my bed next to me and sure enough it appeared. I reached out and picked it up. It was as solid and real as anything.

Amazing.

Interesting.

I looked up and saw the large eyes of the wolf. I waited for my location to be revealed, but nothing happened. Apparently this little corner of the universe was mine alone.

Once again, I was drawn into the Beasts senses, sharing in the hunt with the Beast, seeing what it sees, hearing what it hears. My disgust building as my heart sped up, drawn to the power the Beast held and anticipation of hunting down my prey using my strength and cunning.

The Beast stopped and took a deep breath.

Thousands of scents came to me as the Beast’s supernatural senses easily identified them.

Car exhaust, cigarette smoke, a rabbit nearby, a skunk far away. I smelled perfume from Sara and the aftershave of the cops. I could smell the natural odors of the woods, leaves and sap came to me in clear contrasts. Thousands of different odors to sift through, yet somehow one among the many was identified.

An odor I remember from school matched with a scent in the air. The link clicked and my fear took another nose dive as I realized who the Beast had targeted.

Ricky Roberts wasn’t a bad guy. He was just another teenager trying to find his place in the world. He never treated Sara bad, they just drifted apart.

It happens. His sights set more towards his athletic career and hers towards her art.

My fear didn’t stem solely from the fact that the Beast had targeted Ricky, but more from the chances of who Ricky was with. I remembered the odor I detected on my sister yesterday and how it matched Ricky’s.

Susan wasn’t worried about being alone tonight because she wasn’t going to be. I had no doubt that she was seeing Ricky and that he was coming over tonight. If the Beast followed his path, it would take him right to my sister and my family.

My fear passed anything previously known and I watched, unable to stop the Beast from hunting down Ricky, and by extension my sister.

Chapter 8

I rode with the Beast, amazed at the stealth such a large creature possessed.

The Beast traveled through the woods with wraith-like fluidity. Every footfall silent, every movement confident.

The Beast crossed from the woods and quickly made its way through the neighborhood. Easily scaling fences and obstacles that came in its way. The Beast absently swiped at a dog that foolishly tried to protect its home as the monster crossed through its backyard. The dog left behind in two pieces.

The Beast leapt the twenty feet needed to gain access to a houses roof with ease, the Beast’s supernatural strength and speed allowing it to traverse the neighborhoods roofs as easily as a sidewalk.

I recognized the neighborhood the Beast passed through. I could tell the heading it was taking and I knew where its path ended. I wasn’t surprised when I saw my house come into view. My fear was an almost physical thing, however.