The Curse of Oberon (The Inglewood Chronicles Book 3) (9 page)

The Sphinx wanted to confront the wolves, but I didn’t.  They weren’t themselves and damn it all, I wasn’t about to kill ‘em over something the Orc Chief and Pan did to them.  After much tugging and pulling, she finally followed me of her own free will.  Once back at the cave, we slid a rock in front, covering seventy-five percent of the opening.  It would keep them out for the time being if they tracked us.

It’d been a long day and I was beat.  I fell asleep as soon as my butt hit the cave floor.  I can’t say it was a good night’s rest, but I felt a bit better come morning.  I don’t think my compadre slept at all, as she was still wide awake when I opened my eyes and yawned.  “You still look like shit.”

“If anyone else told me that, I might take them seriously.”  There was more than a hint of sarcasm in that sultry accent.  “Considering what you look like these days, I would not worry about me.”

True, the time spent on Neverland hadn’t been kind to yours truly.  I’d been able to keep my hair just above shoulder length and my scruff at bay thanks to the various knives we had, but I knew I was losing weight.  Even eating the vast array of animals she caught wasn’t like eating back home.  Out here, it was eating to survive, not eating to thrive.

I got up and walked over to the mostly blocked cave mouth.  “The scent’s far away, so hopefully they’re off somewhere else chasing ghosts.”

“When do you want to talk about what transpired during the fight with the Orcs?”

My back was still to her.  “There isn’t much to say is there?  I got what I always wanted, but as usual it came with a hefty price.”

She could move like a ninja when she wanted to, making it hard to keep track of where she was.  Her voice was right behind me.  “Can you tell me how it felt to transform?  To be able to embrace your animalistic side?”

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it.”  I turned around and she was really close.  “For a moment I felt like an actual werewolf.”

She poked the scar on my chest.  “You are far more than a werewolf; you are the host of the Warg.  The dark curse inside is his essence.”

“Well can it unfriend me?  I don’t wanna be tied to that monstrosity, not with the price it requires.”

She put her hand on my back, which just added to the rather weird vibe forming.  “I am afraid there is no way to undo what has been done.  You accepted the curse’s power and gave it payment.  I am truly sorry Victor.”

I wanted to be mad, like really pissed.  I just couldn’t do it though.  I’d wanted this as much as she’d wanted me to find it.  “So each time I transform…”

“You will have to pay the tribute.  My guess is the curse tied itself to the vampire blood flowing in you and that is why you craved blood afterwards.”

Her hand was still touching the scar and for a brief moment, something came over me.  I looked down at her, this fairly dangerous daemon who’d saved my life, and I saw something else.  However, that moment was shattered when a noise akin to Godzilla roaring from the ocean depths broke out.

The Sphinx shifted from her seductive self back into the warrior I’d come to know.  “The wyrm is here.”

The wyrm, or crocodile as Pan called it, was the wingless dragon that roamed the island.  I’d seen its claw marks when we roamed from our original camp to Pan’s.  Nothing about this thing seemed like it was warm and friendly.  I’d just hoped we’d get through this adventure without running into it.

In the gap that we’d left open in the front of the cave, a very large black eye appeared.  It’d found us.  Its eye disappeared, only to be followed up by a sea of scales flooding into view.  The Sphinx tackled me down as whatever it was smacked hard into the boulder blocking its entry.

“Vic, transform and run as soon as you get an opening!”

“What the hell are you going to do?”

A tear fell from her eye.  “Promise me that you’ll finish the job, promise me that!”

No, I wasn’t going to let her sacrifice herself here and now.  “No way, you and me, we’ll see this thing through!”

She grabbed me with both hands by the shirt collar.  “There is little time for arguing.”  Another thwack hit the boulder.  “Once the Orc Chief is dead, his control over the werewolves will end.  Kill him and finish off Pan.”

“You’re coming with me, so don’t act like this –”

She put her hand over my mouth.  “When Pan is gone, find Oberon and finish the task I have set you with.”

The boulder started breaking under the weight of the wyrm.  “You never planned to leave this island alive did you?”

Her head dropped.  “No, it is my destiny to end here; I just thought it would be with Oberon, not this creature.”

Half the boulder broke away, leaving room for the wyrm to start wiggling its hefty claw in place.  The Sphinx pulled my face back around to hers.  “You have a way off the island now, the helicopter.  You do not need me anymore.”

I wanted to tell her I still did, that I didn’t want to be on this island alone, but the boulder flew off the cave.  She transformed into her massive lioness self and charged the wyrm.  I had to give Pan some credit; it really did look like a dinosaur sized crocodile.  It was surprised by the frontal assault and the Sphinx drove it away from the cave mouth.

I felt like a coward again; I wanted to stay and fight not run.  Then I looked at the fight progressing in front of me and knew even the mighty Sphinx was outgunned.  She once told me the wyrm was wary of her powers, but in hindsight, she might’ve just be telling me that to make me feel safe.

I looked inward and felt the Warg, waiting to be called upon again.  Unlike the first time, this transformation was much smoother and not so painful.

Against everything I stood for, I ran.  I didn’t even take a moment to turn around, knowing that her battle wouldn’t last very long.  I hightailed it into the forest, away from the sounds of battle.  I wasn’t even out of earshot when the wyrm let loose a guttural call, the sound of victory.

I urged my beastly form to go faster, knowing there was a good chance that big old reptile would be after me next.  A burst of speed hit all four paws as they pounded on the dense grassy growth of the forest floor.  I didn’t allow myself to get tired, to even think about stopping.

I had no clue where I was, I just knew I was in the interior of Neverland, a place the Sphinx told me to never go alone.  I can’t believe how quickly things went to Hell.  A few moments ago, I actually thought I had a spark with her?

Now wasn’t the time to go over that.  Shit man, pull it together.  Your best chance to meet Oberon and get answers just died saving your life!  I kept running, just hoping soon something would point me in the right direction of where to go.

Then, as if things couldn’t get worse, a tree went flying over my head.  If I’d been in my human form, I’d be dead.  I made a cardinal mistake.  I’d been so focused on what the hell just happened that I let my guard down.  I missed the introduction of a very new, very ‘wrong’ scent.  It didn’t take long to figure out where it came from.

A giant fist came from the shadows, as light wasn’t abundant under the canopy, and crashed into the ground.  The skin was stone grey and it was covered in wart-like bumps.  Looking up, I saw it was attached to a large arm that continued on to what I could only describe as a troll?

Its two eyes stared at me, one larger than the other.  Crap, I was about to turn into a troll snack.  It made a move towards me, leaving me with little option to keep on running.  I turned to go only to be stopped by a much smaller figure.  A dagger was pointed at my head.

The girl looked like a pixie, with short, cropped red hair and pale blue eyes.  Her clothes looked like they’d been made on the island too, just like mine.  I backed up a step, only to run into the troll.  I could attack, but I didn’t think that’d fair well, so I did the next best thing, I transformed back.

As I returned to Vic form, I pleased with the curse to give me time before it requested payment.  I think it was amicable to that request, at least I hoped.  The girl’s eyes barely moved as I shifted back.  “I’m not your enemy I promise.”

She lifted her dagger up a little.  “Marko tells me you smell like the Sphinx daemon.  Plus you transformed into the Warg.”

“The Sphinx’s dead, killed by the wyrm.  And yes, you’re right; I don’t shift into a wolf, but the Warg.”  Shit, I picked up the Silvers getting closer.  “Please, I don’t got much time to explain here.  Take me with you and I promise everything will make sense.”

Her senses must’ve been pretty good to, because there was no surprise to me wanting to leave.  “Those two wolves are looking for you I suspect.”  Her eyes never left mine.  “What do you think Marko?”

The troll leaned over and gave me a good long whiff.  Then he grunted.  The new girl must’ve understood him.  “Marko says you’re telling the truth.  Follow me and maybe I won’t have to kill you.”

With little choice, I shifted back into the Warg and took off after her.

I was staring up at one big ass tree.  “You’re hideout is up there?”

The girl, who by this time I’d come to recognize as a vampire, probably an old one too, didn’t even acknowledge the question.  Nope, she just walked right up to the trunk and gave it a solid whack with her hand.  Imagine my face when a small section of the tree popped forward, revealing a ladder inside.  “I’ve been on this island a long time.  I’ve had time to make some improvements.”

She didn’t even wait for me before she started climbing up.  I wasn’t about to be left behind, so I started the ascent up.  My arms were burning and my legs were dead by the time I reached the top.  Meanwhile, my new found frenemy seemed as fresh as a daisy.

It was a very minimalistic feel.  There was a table in the middle with two simple wooden chairs.  A hammock was tied across a few branches, and there was some old mason jars filled with a red liquid.  I knew it was blood, and I didn’t even need to rely on my sense of smell anymore.  The curse was demanding its payment.

“This is going to sound weird, but I really could use a one of those.”

Her eyes went to the jars.  “A werewolf that needs blood?  Oh this is going to be a rich story, I can already feel it.”

She hadn’t said no, so I grabbed one and got it over with as quickly as possible.  I hadn’t planned on drinking the entire jar, but I did and set it back down, hoping that I hadn’t made a mess on my face.  “Yeah, it’s quite the tale.  You want to hear it now or later?”

“I guess let’s get this over with.”

A few things struck me as strange.  One, she was sporting an Italian accent (took me awhile to place it), and that seemed out of place.  Two, she’d been here so long that she built this treehouse, yet no one ever mentioned anyone being on this island other than Pan.  And three, she was friends with a troll.  At least I thought it was a troll, it could be just about anything, but for the time being, I’d call it a troll.

Before I started my story, “Do I at least get a name?  Maybe make some introductions?”

There was still quite a bit of tension.  It was creepy the way she looked at me, like I might’ve been lunch.  “I’m Isa.  Who the hell are you?”

“Victor, but most people just call me Vic.”

“You’re a talkative one, aren’t you?”

I hoped my face remained neutral, not giving away just how uncomfortable I felt around her.  “Only when I’m nervous.  Anyone tell you you’re a bit unnerving?”

“Good.”  She propped her feet up on the table.  Her combat boots looked old… very old.  They were in remarkable shape though, all things considered.  “I don’t want to kill you, but unless you give me a good reason not to, you just enjoyed your last meal.”

Ugh, blood as a last meal.  That would be a terrible way to go.  “For starters, I was brought here against my will by the Sphinx.  She ‘hired’ me for a task, one I think she could’ve done herself, but alas that’s neither here nor there.  Anyway, things were going as well as they could on this island when Pan shows up.  Add in an uneasy alliance with the lizard people, an attack by the wyrm, and some other weird shit, and that’s my story.”

Yeah I left a bunch out, but I didn’t trust this girl for anything.  I was expecting a thousand questions to fill in the blanks, “So you’re an enemy of Pan?”

“Yeah, you can say that.  He and his buddy Jonathan nearly killed me some time ago.”

“Jonathan,” she basically spit his name in disgust.  “That asshole banished me to this island when I refused him.  Then when Roderick sent Pan here in exile, that little bastard tortured me with his Lost Boys.  Tell me, how many of them did he bring with him?”

Maybe this would cheer her up.  “They’re dead.  He’s here with two Silvers who are being forced to act against their will by the Orc Chief.”

“That vile creature… Oh I’ve hoped that stupid wyrm would’ve finally eaten him, but a girl doesn’t always get what she wants.”  She hopped down on to the deck of the treehouse.  “I can’t even tell you how much I’d savor the chance to kill them all.”

Strike that, she didn’t make me feel uneasy, she downright scared me.  “Luckily we have a similar goal then.”

“You said the Sphinx brought you here for a certain job, tell me what that is.”

What the hell?  Why do I keep meeting these bossy ass women?  “I doubt that really concerns you.”

A dagger whistled out of nowhere and dug into the wood only inches from my hand.  “I asked very nicely; don’t make me ask not so nicely.”

I swallowed hard.  This was probably one old ass vampire.  “I’m here to find and kill Oberon.”

She jumped back from me like I was a leper.  “Are you insane?  Do you even know what Oberon is?”

“Yeah, he’s the bastard who cursed my family.  So excuse me if I don’t care who he is.”

She let up a bit and sat back down.  “I’m not telling you what to do; I just wanted to make sure you were advised as to what he is.  I’m guessing the Sphinx’s filled you in appropriately?”

“Yeah.”  The mention of her hit me a bit hard.  Not that we were that close, but I’d come to count of the Sphinx for a lot.  She wasn’t as bad as I think she wanted people to believe.  “Her and Oberon had a history.”

“You can say that.  Rumors always said Oberon was a bit of a cheat.”  Did she just give me a look of pity?  “So you’re a Red then, from that clan?”

I nodded, not really wishing to give her any more information than she needed.  As she already deduced, I was a bit of a talker.  She sat there, waiting for me to elaborate more I reckon.  I tried to turn the tables on her.  “So you know a bit about me, so what’s a little of your story?”

“You recognized me already as a vampire, a woman doesn’t divulge her age, and I’ve been on Neverland for a lot longer than I ever anticipated.”  It was going to be like that huh?  “It appears neither of us is willing to let the other in.”

“That’s okay; I don’t think we need to know each other to trust each other.  We both have the same goals; eliminate the Orc Chief and Pan.  If you’d like we can work together and afterwards, we can go our separate ways.”

A simple ‘agreed’ would’ve been nice, but my new ally Isa seemed to be in the wheelin’ and dealin’ mood.  “I agree that we have similar tasks, but what’s in it for me to lend you my assistance?  I’ve been stuck on this island for a good long time and have gotten used to living off the land.”

What the hell could I give a vampire?  “Lady, I showed up here with all I’ve got and it ain’t much.  I don’t know what you think I can offer you.”

“A way off this island, that’s what.  Pan didn’t get here by magically flying towards the North Star, so there has to be a way to leave Neverland.”

The helicopter was my way off now that the Sphinx wasn’t here to magic me back to real land.  “There’s a way, but I don’t plan on using it until I finish my task, which means you’d have to wait for me to deal with Oberon.”

“You mean I’d have to wait forever because he’ll kill you.”

I laughed that one off.  “You don’t know me well enough to assume that.  I’ve been in tighter spots and I always seem to make it out in one piece.  I give you the way off the island and you’ll ditch me at first chance.”

“Fine, I agree to that.  But you’ll owe me something in return.”

Damn this pixie was one tough nut to crack.  “I told you already, I don’t got nothing to bargain with.”

Using her vampire speed, she was right on top of me.  Her finger flicked the chain that was under my shirt.  “Yes you do.  I want to know where you got the Gem of Babylon from.”

“Whoa lady, back up.”  I put my hands up and shimmied away to create some space.  “I don’t know how you know about this, but this stays right here.”

“I could pry it off your cold, dead body if I really wanted it, but no.  I just want to know where you got it from, that’s all.”

Leary, I sat back down only when she retreated from my personal space.  Against my better judgment, I told her the story on the labyrinth under London and how the treasure of Death’s Scythe was just a tale.  This was what was really down there and it was well protected.

When I finished up, “You met an angel?”

“There’s two of ‘em down there, one fire and one ice.  I met Jack, the ice guy.”

Her expression went from intrigued to confused in a snap, but that wasn’t my problem.  She shook it off, “That gem has no business being in play.  We must destroy it and quickly.”

“You worry about your affairs and I’ll worry about mine.”  I was holding on to this thing until people I trusted got a chance to look at it.  “I completed the deal you asked, so if you don’t mind, I’d like to focus on Pan and the Orc Chief.”  She seemed to be amused with my newfound take charge attitude.  “We got a lot to do.”