Run To Earth (Power of Four) (31 page)

“The Scorcher may be only fifteen,” Scott started, “but he’s got more power than most. Not only is he an Elemental but also
a vamage. His power is such that in the two years since his core awakened, we’ve only been able to take back one zone – leaving the score nineteen to seven.”

“And if this kid reaches the glorious age of nineteen before we get him,” Skyler said, “he’s going to be what Hadrian would have been if Neriah hadn’t bound his powers: a full blown Elemental mage with all the demonic powers of a vampire.”

“Which means the war will be over and all of us will be dead,” Ella added.

“We’ll get him,” Kyran said, his voice quiet and full of promise. “We’ll get him before he comes of age. We’re going to win this war.”

“Yes, we will,” Scott agreed with a small smile. “We’ll win the war, one hunt at a time.”

***

Breakfast the next morning was loud and messy. The Hunters were in a great mood, clearly excited for the hunt. They were already in their ‘hunting outfits’: heavy boots, dark jeans, long-sleeved hooded tops which were half-zipped to show the plain vests underneath. Narrow leather bands lined with shiny metal blades criss-crossed their backs and torsos. Everyone had holsters snapped onto their belts for their firearms. Aaron noted that a few – namely Skyler, Kyran, Ryan and Zhi-Jiya – had sheaths for their swords attached to the leather strap on their back. Their rowdiness pulled even Sam and Rose out of their quiet melancholy.

“What’s up with them?” Sam asked, his voice lacking its usual warmth.

“They’re going on a hunt today,” Aaron replied, eager to have Sam talking again. Ever since Rose overheard his conversation about vamages, both she and Sam had been awfully quiet.

“Hunt?” Sam narrowed his eyes. “You going?”

Aaron shook his head. “Scott won’t let me go. Not until he deems me ready.”

Sam gave a tight nod. “Good. At least someone’s got their head screwed on right.”

“I wish I was going,” Aaron confessed. “I want to see a hunt.”

“What are they hunting?” Rose asked, leaning in towards him. There was something in her tone and an odd glint in her eyes that unnerved Aaron.

“Um, it’s a weird name. Icha...something.” Aaron paused. “Ichadaris, I think.”

Sam frowned. “Icha what now?”

“Ichadaris.” Aaron shrugged. “I don’t know what they are. Some weird type of demon, I guess.”

Sam grunted. “Sounds like a bad rash to me.”

Aaron chuckled.

“Where is it?” Rose asked. “Here or our world?”

Aaron stared at her, trying to figure out what it was that was alarming him, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. “Here,” he said. “Some place called Danwan.”

Rose nodded and looked away, promptly losing all interest.

Aaron reached out, holding on to her hand. “You okay?”

Rose nodded. “Fine.” She pulled her hand out from under his and got up, walking away.

Aaron turned to look at Sam, but the other boy dropped his head low and concentrated on his bowl of porridge. Aaron looked away, his heart clenching with a sense of dark foreboding.

***

After breakfast, the Hunters mounted their bikes and gathered in the street, like they had when they were about to go to the Q-Zone. Of course, at that time their number was a lot greater than now. This time it was only the twenty or so Salvador Hunters, grinning from ear to ear, revving their bikes in excited anticipation. Aaron saw the outfits were complete with the long coats, hiding the inventory of weapons adorned on each Hunter’s body. Skyler was wearing his fancy coat again, ivory white with the spiral mark in silver. It reminded Aaron of the green coat he saw his dad wearing in the flesh memory. He shook the memory aside, not wanting to focus on it. He noted there was no sign of the cut or blood stains he had seen at the shoulder when Skyler returned from the Q-Zone hunt. The coat had been repaired to it’s former glory.

Aaron stepped up to Kyran’s side as he and Ryan tightened
their binds and pulled on their gloves, before twisting the handlebars and making their bikes growl under them.

“How’s Lexi doing?” Aaron asked with a grin.

“Not as well as Susie,” Ryan answered quickly. Grinning, he patted his bike. “My baby is the fastest.”

“Delusion is such a pretty thing.” Kyran smirked.

“You hear him, Abigail?” Ryan turned his head to the side. “Sounds like we’re gonna have to show him and his sweet Lexi by making the most hits.”

“I take it Susie’s your bike,” Aaron said, pointing to the red Kawasaki Ninja under Ryan. “But who’s Abigail?”

Ryan reached back and pulled his sword partly out of its sheath. “Aaron meet Abigail. Abigail, this is Aaron Adams.” He pushed the sword back into its holder

Aaron couldn’t help but laugh. “Susie?” he questioned. “Lexi? Abigail? Your bikes and blades are girls?”

“All good things in life, mate.” Ryan grinned.

“There’s a custom with Hunters,” Kyran explained. “A Hunter’s very first bike and sword is named after someone they love.”

It clicked into place and Aaron turned to look at Ryan with heartfelt understanding. Ryan smiled, but this time it held sadness rather than its usual cheekiness.

“Abigail was my sister,” he revealed. “And Susie was my childhood sweetheart. I lost both of them when Lycans ravaged my city.”

Aaron’s stomach lurched horribly. “Ryan.” He felt his mouth go dry. “I’m so sorry.”

Ryan smiled at him, the kind of smile that masks pain of the worst kind. “The Lycans played their hand,” he said. “We’ll play ours.” He smirked. “Abigail here has tasted more demon blood than her fair share.” He patted the hilt of his sword. “And she’s gonna get more today.” He revved his bike and grinned. “Let’s get to this dance already!” he yelled before speeding off, going to the front.

“Ryan’s in a hurry,” Scott mused, walking up to stand next to Aaron.

“We all are,” Kyran said, nodding to the front of the crowd. “Say your stuff, so we can go do our stuff.”

Scott laughed. “Patience, Kyran. You can go as soon your apprentice climbs aboard.”

Aaron turned to Scott with shocked surprise. “Sorry?”

“I heard you at the table,” Scott said with a smile. “You said you wanted to see the hunt.”

“You serious?” Kyran asked Scott.

“I think it’s a great idea for Aaron see a hunt,” Scott replied.

“Scott, it’s Ichadaris,” Kyran reminded.

“Ichadaris are tame compared to Lycans and vamages,” Scott said. “An Ichi hunt is the safest for a Hunter-in-training to observe.” He pulled a long silver chain from his pocket, just like the ones Kyran and the rest of the Hunters were wearing. This one had a silver circle dangling from it. Scott slipped the chain over Aaron’s head. “So you can communicate with me and the Hunters,” Scott explained.

Kyran shook his head. “This is a mistake,” he argued. “He’s not ready.”

“
He
is standing right here,” Aaron said, annoyed. “And I wanna go.”

“It’s too risky,” Kyran said, turning to Aaron.

“That’s why he’s going with you,” Scott replied. “I trust you’ll keep Aaron safe.”

Kyran glared at Scott. “Did I do something to piss you off?” he asked. “Are you punishing me?”

Scott laughed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Hurry up. You’re leaving in two minutes.” He walked past them, heading to the front.

“Wait!” Kyran called after him. “He doesn’t have any weapons!”

“That’s because he doesn’t need them,” Scott replied, pausing to look back at Aaron. “He’s not hunting, only observing.” His eyes flashed at Aaron. “Understood?”

Aaron nodded, barely holding back his grin. Scott nodded at him, smiled at Kyran’s furious look and walked away. Kyran growled something under his breath – something Aaron was willing to bet wasn’t very polite. Fierce green eyes turned to Aaron and narrowed at him.

“Get on, already!” Kyran bit out.

Aaron quickly climbed onto the bike, holding on to Kyran’s shoulders.

“Don’t touch me!” Kyran snapped.

Aaron didn’t know where else to hold on, so he reached back and gripped the edge of the seat.

“Alright.” Scott clapped his hands, getting everyone’s attention. “Time for a good clean out, boys and girls.” He grinned. “Send the Ichadaris back to the hell hole they slithered out of.” He held out a hand in the direction of the Gate, which obediently slid open.

Aaron felt excitement explode in the pit of his stomach. Since arriving, this was the first time he was stepping out of Salvador. From somewhere in the back of his mind, his mum’s voice whispered,
You are protected as long as you stay in Salvador
.

Guilt surged within him but there was no time to change his mind. Scott gave his last commanding nod, and Skyler and Ella charged towards the Gate, the rest of the Hunters roaring after them.

Kyran took off with a vehement burst of speed, almost knocking Aaron clean off the bike. Aaron latched onto Kyran, not caring about his previous warning. Kyran didn’t reproach him. He was too busy racing to the front. They whipped through the Gate and along the pathway that Aaron had seen upon first arriving – the long road with the perfect trees lined along either side. A glowing ball of light sat at the end of the road, dazzling and bright.

The crowd of Hunters sped along the road, seemingly headed for the light, but quarter of a mile away, Skyler and Ella turned to the right and led them into the forest, across a thin pathway snaking its way through the trees. It was so dark here the only things Aaron could see were several bike headlights before him. A faint sliver of light beckoned them closer, far off in the distance. Aaron clutched onto the fabric of Kyran’s coat; the red and black thick material scrunched under his tense fingers.

The closer they rode, the bigger and brighter the light became. It started taking shape and Aaron was stunned to see that the rays of light rearranged themselves into Aric’s mark. It glowed brightly, a shimmer running through it. Skyler and Ella were the first to reach it. They rode straight through it, and disappeared.

Aaron would have gasped if the rushing wind had allowed it. The only thing Aaron could do was close his eyes as Kyran headed into the circle of light, straight through the legs of the inverted V and smack into the centre of the shimmering spiral.

20

The Ichadaris of Danwan

The bike came to a stop and Aaron opened his eyes. He unclenched his hold on Kyran and sat up, staring at his surroundings. They had passed through the glowing Aric’s mark, which Aaron now understood was a portal, and entered a rural and peaceful-looking village. In the distance there were small mud huts with wide cone-shaped roofs, a fire that had long since gone out and what looked like rocks and rubble heaped in small mounds next to some of the huts.

Kyran switched off his bike and turned his head to the side. “Hey, Adams?” He still sounded mad. “Planning on getting off Lexi anytime soon?”

Aaron frowned. “That doesn’t sound right,” he said, but climbed off.

He caught the reluctant smile crossing Kyran’s face but when the older boy swung his leg over and stood up, his expression was carefully arranged to indifference. The Hunters gathered into a tight group, scanning the area.

“Where is everyone?” asked Sarah, one of the dark-haired mages, as she squinted in the bright sunlight. “The whole place is deserted.”

“Devoured more like,” Julian revised.

“We should split and search,” Ella said, her tone commanding than suggestive.

The twenty Hunters split into five teams, with Aaron added to Kyran’s team. The groups headed out in different directions, trying to find a living being who could tell them what was going on.

Aaron walked behind Kyran, Ryan beside him. Two Hunters, both girls he had never spoken to, walked behind him. The heat beat down on them as they crossed the messy lines of huts. Their boots kicked up clouds of dirt and dust as they walked. Aaron took in his surroundings with interest. This was the first place he’d seen in the mage realm other than the City of Salvador. He had to admit as rural and village-like as Salvador was, it had its charm compared to this place.

“
Talk to me.
” Scott’s sudden voice made Aaron jump. “
What do you see
?”

Kyran reached up and touched his spiral pendant to reply. “The place is deserted. The residents must be in hiding. We’ve split up to find what we can.”

“
Good,
” Scott replied in Aaron’s head. “
Watch for the signs.
”

“We know,” Ryan replied. “Not our first Ichi hunt, Scott.”

“That was so weird.” Aaron shook his head.

“What?” asked one of the girls – a blonde with a thin, pointed face.

“Scott’s voice,” Aaron replied. “In my head.”

The girl frowned at him and looked away. The brunette by her side smiled kindly at Aaron. “That’s nothing. Wait till you hear full conversations happening.”

“Really?” Aaron asked.

“You’ll hear anyone with the same sign as you.” She pointed to his necklace. “When they talk to Scott, you’ll hear their conversation.”

Kyran held out a hand, gesturing for them to stop. His narrowed green eyes were staring at something in the distance. The other three Hunters went still, painfully alert. Guns in hand, they waited for Kyran’s instructions. Aaron craned his neck to see past the huts but he couldn’t see what had halted Kyran.

“What is it?” he whispered.

“Shut up, Aaron!” Kyran hissed. “Listen.”

Aaron fell silent but he couldn’t see or hear anything.

“Bloody hell,” Ryan gasped, eyes widening. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“What?” Aaron whispered. “What is it?”

“You don’t hear that?” the blonde asked, her pointed face seemed even longer with annoyance. “The music?”

Aaron frowned. He couldn’t hear anything but the whistling wind.

“Listen,” the brunette instructed. “Really, listen.”

“Forget it, Danielle,” the blonde said. “Don’t even bother with him.”

“Give him a break, Jean,” Ryan called over his shoulder. “It’s his first hunt.”

Aaron concentrated, straining his hearing, but all he could pick up was the wind. Kyran and Ryan led the way further down the road. It was another three minutes before Aaron heard the faint beat of a drum and the sound of bells ringing. They turned a corner and went into a thick cluster of trees. The sound of the drums was getting louder the further they went into the forest. Aaron could even make out clapping. When Aaron followed Kyran out of the trees, he found the strangest sight before him.

It seemed like the whole village of Danwan had gathered in this small clearing. Men, women and children alike were sitting around a fire, laughing and clapping as others played strange instruments – what looked like a cross between drums and tambourines. But Aaron’s gaze quickly went from the villagers and their hybrid instruments to the dancing girls.

They were the most exotic, beautiful girls Aaron had ever seen. Tall, around six feet at least, with wild, dark hair that cascaded down to curl at the small of their backs. They had big, expressive eyes, encased by long, thick black lashes, which they fluttered unashamedly. The villagers laughed joyfully, beating the drums, making the girls sway the
ir tiny hips. Small bells attached to the hems of their skirts gave a tiny jingle. The cropped tops bared their midriffs, exposing flawlessly smooth, tanned skin.

Ryan shook his head, chuckling. “Damn, Danwans,” he muttered. “Always ready for a party.”

The villagers turned to the five newcomers and smiled, nodding at them in greeting, but turned back to the dance show almost instantly. The dancing girls, all ten of them, looked around at the Hunters with bewitching smiles.

Kyran’s gaze was fixed on the girl at the forefront, the one who was staring back at him with big hazel eyes.

“Jean, Dani,” Kyran murmured.

That was all it took for the two Hunters to push Aaron down, forcing him to sit. They took their places on either side of him.

“What–?” Aaron exclaimed. “What are you doing?”

“Joining the party,” Jean said dryly.

Ryan took a seat next to them. Kyran strode forward with a wide grin, green eyes shining with a hunger Aaron had never seen before. The girl eyed him just as intently. As soon as Kyran reached her, he wrapped a hand around the girl’s tiny waist and pulled her forward into his embrace. Aaron’s mouth popped open. He hadn’t expected that.

“Damn, you’re beautiful,” Kyran said to the girl. “Where have you been hiding?”

The girl smiled back, showing her line of perfect, glistening teeth. She eased herself from Kyran’s arms but didn’t move far from him. She swayed her hips in time to the drumbeat, her smoky gaze fixed on Kyran the whole time.

Two girls moved towards Ryan. They took a hand each and pulled him up, leading him away to dance. One by one, the dancing girls pulled up partners from the sitting crowd. A girl moved towards Aaron, but before she could hold out a long-fingered hand, Danielle and Jean crossed their arms over Aaron.

“No!” both spat at once.

The girl stopped, big brown eyes wide with hurt. She looked at Aaron, smiled apologetically and moved away, pulling up another boy.

Aaron turned to the two girls with disappointment. “What was that for?”

“Trust us,” Danielle said, glaring at the dancing girls. “You’re better off here.”

Aaron looked over to Kyran and Ryan’s – there were no better words for it – indecent proximity to the dancing girls. Kyran was holding the girl so close their fronts were pressed together, as both swayed to the drumbeat. Aaron couldn’t help but stare. It seemed so strange for Kyran to just go up to a seemingly random girl and start dancing with her. Weren’t they here to hunt? Shouldn’t they be looking for the Ichadaris?

Aaron glanced over at the villagers still seated around the fire, playing the drum-tambourine things. The fire was rather unnecessary. It was still daytime and the sun was scorching above them. In fact, he was already feeling the burn on the back of his neck.

Aaron’s gaze studied the man playing the drums. He was sweating. His face was covered in fat droplets of perspiration, his face and neck flushed pink. Yet he didn’t move away from the roaring fire. His fingers continued to beat on the drums. A closer look revealed awfully pink fingers, as if he had been playing for hours.

Aaron felt a cold prickle of dread run down his spine. He looked back over at the dancing girls, at their beautiful faces, their wild, tangled locks and the way those smiles lifted up their thin lips, almost in hidden glee.

“Danielle,” Aaron whispered. “What exactly are Ichadaris?”

Danielle’s hand was sneaking up into her coat, while her eyes stayed on Kyran, Ryan and their dancing partners.

“Demons,” she murmured back. “They devour mages, or humans if they slither into their realm.” She glowered at the dancing girls. “Disgusting things Ichadaris are.” She began sliding something out of her pocket. “Time to send them back to hell.”

What she brought out was the weirdest instrument Aaron had ever seen. It was small, no bigger than his hand. It looked like a flute but instead of being a long, thin stick, it was broader and had a round bulge near the top. It reminded Aaron of the flutes he’d seen in books about snake charmers in India.

Danielle paused, the strange flute thing still half hidden in her pocket. Her other hand closed around her silver spiral pendant.

“It’s on,” she said. “Come if you don’t want to miss the party.”

“
Be careful
.” Aaron heard Scott’s voice.

Danielle pulled the flute out, just as Jean took an identical instrument out of her pocket. No sooner were the wooden flutes out than Danielle and Jean put them to their mouths and started playing. Their tune, a spine-tingling melody, cut through the drums and tambourines. The dancing girls came to a sudden standstill, their expressive eyes widened with horror. With an unearthly hiss, the girls pulled back and, as one, they turned to Jean and Danielle.

Before Aaron’s very eyes, the dancer girls started to change. The deep brown of their eyes lightened to yellow. Their pupils slitted. The previously smooth, unblemished skin started to develop a strange rash: small brown and black boxes appeared across their cheeks, travelling down their neck to their arms, stomach and legs.

The villagers stopped playing the drums, seemingly coming out of a trance and gasping in horror at the sight of the changing girls. The boys who had been dancing with them scrambled to get away, crying out in fear. The only exception was Kyran and Ryan, who were smirking openly. The rapidly transforming girls backed away, forming a tight circle in the middle of the stunned crowd.

The girl who was dancing with Kyran tried to step away, but Kyran’s firm grip on her arm pulled her back again.

“Where are
you
going?” he asked with a grin as the girl struggled. “You know, I don’t understand why girls feel the need to change. Be proud and just be yourself.”

The girl hissed at him –
actually
hissed. Aaron recoiled in absolute horror when the girl’s eyes narrowed in rage, and she opened her mouth. Gone were the perfect, white teeth. Instead, she had fangs – two sharp, curved fangs that threatened to sink into Kyran’s flesh if he didn’t let go of her. Kyran’s hand closed around her throat, holding her still.

“Don’t get hissy with me,” Kyran teased.

Jean and Danielle were still playing their strange flutes in a continuous tune – no breaks, no stops. Their cheeks were bulged out, a sign of their circular breathing.

Every single dancing girl was focusing on Jean and Danielle. Terrifying black-slitted yellow gazes were fixed on the flutes playing that tune. The girls shivered, sticking out long, black-forked tongues. The
ir hissing got louder, fiercer, until fangs bared, the girls came at them at once.

A sudden pandemonium broke out as the villagers leapt to their feet, screaming and crying, running in every direction to get out of the way. A wave of Danielle’s hand had the girls flying backwards. The only exception was the girl in Kyran’s grip.

“Sorry, Ichi,” Kyran said to the girl, “it was never going to work out.”

He pushed her towards her crowd of girls. Ryan held out both of his hands, palms facing up. Hovering above both hands were two small fireballs. Transfixed to the spot, Aaron watched in horrid fascination as Ryan sent the fireballs at the girls, one after the other, forcing them to stay back and huddled in a tight group.

The girls kept trying to come for Jean and Danielle in an effort to stop them from playing, as it was clear the longer they played the strange, eerie music, the more of an effect it had on them. The brown and black rash spread across their skin, forming scales. Their bodies began to get tighter, thinner and longer.

“Keep going, keep going,” Ryan encouraged Jean and Danielle, as he thre
w more fireballs at the girls to keep them back. “Almost got ’em.”

Jean and Danielle’s continuous playing did its work and before Aaron’s eyes, the girls changed completely. Their long, wild hair disappeared. Their faces and necks elongated until they merged with their bodies. Their long limbs fused together until, for a terrifying moment, they were no more than tall, thin poles, before they all collapsed to the ground. Gasping in utter horror, Aaron realised where the ten girls had stood there were now ten hissing snakes.