Dark Realities, Once Upon a Time: A Tale from the Past in a Dark Reality

By Robert Hupel

Preface

There is a theory that there are many different realities that are separated by thin dimensional barriers and that these different realities may include people who are similar to any individual, but they are different because of the decisions and actions that had occurred in their past. In this theory there are different realities that were to have formed due to different actions and reactions. One such reality which this author has had the fortune or misfortune to have peered into is one where magic is real and a fabric of the universe. The earth of this reality has been referred to as Mystik Earth and it is a place where myth, magic, mythology, theology, and the things of fantasy are kept in check by the beings who live within the dark shadows of this world. In these writings there might be people who are living in the reality that this author is from, but those who will grace these tales are just variants of the people that are living within the author’s reality, and any likeness to the characters in these stories is coincidental or admiration of the individual who is mentioned. That noted and without further delay here are here are the facts of this world and ours.

In today’s world, life is evaluated by facts and science.  It is just the facts of how the world is gauged in life.  There isn’t a day that goes by where people are not looking at facts or needing a fact checker to tell them what the facts are, but is that really the reality of things? In days past people would tell their children tales of creatures that lurked in the dark, of fairies that did dark and despicable things to the unwary. These were tales told to children to scare them of strangers or what lurks in the dark, but were they really tales?  In all tales there comes a stain of truth. Today such things are mocked and made fun of, even those that believe in God are ridiculed, as God is referred to as the invisible all-knowing wizard.  Yet what if all of these things are real?  What if there are creatures who lurk the night, or fairies that move in and out of society making deals and trades with unwitting mortals? What if there are gods or a God with angels and demons out amongst the masses of humans unwittingly trading their immortal souls for a fleeting moment of greatness and splendor?   In a world that is based on facts and figures, there are still things that science can’t explain and wonders that appear as if by magic, but how if there is no magic? Maybe the reality that society knows about walks hand in hand with a dark reality that hides in the shadows, that is always lurking out there waiting to draw the unwary into it.  Once a person is drug into these dark realities their eyes will forever be open, and they can never return to the bliss of not knowing the truth that these dark realities exist, and their lives will never be the same. So, enter if you dare into these Dark Realities of this world, for once you do, your eyes will forever open, and you will never see the world the same again.

Chapter One

A Hot Summer Night in 1985 in Kankakee Illinois.

The lights were all dimmed within the basement as the five young men were gathered around a small coffee table each had a bunch of papers in front of them as they were going over their options for what to do for the night. The one who was sitting on the couch had a stack of books sitting next to him as he sighed. “We have Dungeons and Dragons or Marvel, and then there are some board games.” The young man had a slight belly and was wearing a button-down collar shirt that was cut in a western style and a pair of cowboy boots. His cut was not the typical that you would find in the local high school as there were the preppy kids who wore the penny loafer shoes and polo shirts with jeans, though everyone seemed to wear jeans and very few wore dresses, skirts or slacks save on photo day. Then there were the druggies who wore T-shirts which were some rock band tennis shoes, and their clothes all seemed to be worn out for the most part. The second to last group of course were the jocks, who borderline with the same style of clothes as the preps but would have their letterman jacket and seemed to have a superior arrogance about themselves, like they were better than anyone else. The last group of course was the nerds, who dressed and acted outside of the norms of the other groups and just didn’t quite fit in. That was the majority of this group save Curt who was more dressed like the preppy kids of high school, and he looked a bit different than the rest of the group who were mostly wearing T-shirts, and everyone had some jeans of different makers, but none of them were of the fancy designer type that the other kids wore at school.  The speaker also was sporting a thin mustache of dark brown hair to match the locks that were on top of his head in a combover hair style with his bangs feathered back over his ears matching the length of the sides of his hair. It was the 80s and everything was feathered, or air blown it was just the style of the late 70s up to the mid-80s which was the time of the hair bands. Over on one side the youngest member of the groups spoke up. “Wait what about Paranoia? We started that campaign up a couple of weeks ago.” Mark was the younger brother of Matt and whose hair was almost blond in color but was still more light brown colored hair which was parted down the middle and feathered back. He was wearing a colored T-shirt that had some multicolored stripes running around it. No one in the group was wearing the popular band t-shirt as those tended to cost more money than them or their parents wanted to put out on them, save curt who was in one of the more popular polo shirts. The other young man who was sitting across from Mark shook his head and looked at the others. “Wait isn’t that, that game where everyone was getting killed, or trying to kill each other.” It was David who spoke up this time. David had dark brown almost black hair that was wavey and curly, probably due to an Italian maybe Sicilian decent. He has his usual scarf and hat from his favorite Doctor on. David was a big fan of Doctor Who, which most of the others in the group scratched their heads and had no idea what he was talking about. Then again it was British television and was not an easy thing to find when all people were watching came off of the VHF or UHF stations that could be picked up watching off of the television antenna that most people would have outside on a pole that ran up about twenty or twenty-five feet into the air. “I say we go back to Marvel, and I don’t want to do D&D as it is boring it all turns into some Conan story.” Robert interjected as he really hated the whole Paranoia game more than the others and he just couldn’t get into the whole killing each other’s characters as a role play, even though in Dungeons and Dragons it would fall into that if the party had too farfetched alignments. Matt, the brother of Mark who had the darker hair which was definitely brown, was nodding to this as he spoke up to add. “I am not sure about Marvel. Robert keeps throwing Thanos and Galactus at us every time we play that.” Matt and Curt were the only two that wore glasses in the group, both had thick coke bottle type lenses, yet Matt wore the thick plastic frames whereas Curt had the wire frame ones. Matt was the frailest of the group, but probably the toughest. Matt had hydrocephalus, which he had to have surgery on usually on his summer and Christmas breaks to keep the spinal fluid from building up inside of his skull. It also gave him some balance issues, as well as leaving his head slightly larger than others. It was all part of the disease, which he was always working to overcome and did as he was one of the smartest members in the group.  None of the others really thought about that, and usually just knew that he was pretty damn smart and came up with some great ideas as well when he wanted to, yet his comment brought up a protest from Robert as he sputtered a bit. “Wait a second. What else am I going to throw at you guys when Curt is running Magneto and you either are running Thor or Doctor Strange.” Robert Shrugged and then added as he looked at the games sitting next to him. “There is always Boot Hill.” The group played a bunch of different games that TSR had put out as well as other gaming companies. Role play games were something new a different and Marvel seemed to be the regular go to as the bunch all collected comic. Comic books were just the best get away from reality and Marvel seemed to be the most popular one for this group. The new comment by Robert was one that prompted Curt to speak up. Curt who had a pointed chin and a nose to match as well as really light brown hair. “Yeah, and what is wrong with Magneto?” Robert held his hand up in that I don’t know type gesture and shook his head. “Nothing save to make the game a challenge I have to throw all of the superpowered villains at you guys, which has David and Mark over classed as Wolverine and Spiderman are not very effective when facing off with Galactus or his heralds.” Upon hearing this Matt pushed his glasses up with his right index finger as they settled under his brown hair.  Curt then responded as he gave a harrumph and crossed his arms and Robert knew that one of those debates was about to kick in where Curt was going to prove his point about Magneto still being not that powerful, but yet he was one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel universe. Curt was Robert’s opposite in many ways and the two tended to butt heads, yet they would stick with each other through thick and thin.  Curt was on the thin side and flexible, always doing Yoga and having himself wrapped up like a pretzel during PE or the likes and was the oldest of the group by a few months with Robert being the next oldest. Curt always wore wired frame glasses where like Matt wore thick black plastic frame glasses, both of the two had brown hair but Curt’s hair seemed a bit more wavey than Matts though them and David had hair that had more body than Robert and Mark and even Mark’s hair was thicker than Robert’s. Robert unlike Curt who was thin and flexible, Robert was on the heavier side and came off like a tank of the group. Robert had these huge thighs from bike riding as he would ride seven to twenty miles a day. He had the thick neck and shoulders and might have done okay on the football team, but like the rest of the group he was too much of a nerd to have a desire to be another jock. If anything, Robert was one of the biggest loners of the group and if something was popular, he did the opposite. When the rest of the school were either preppy, stoners, or jocks, Robert dressed like a cowboy, which really wasn’t popular in the Upper Midwest during the early to mid-80s. He just didn’t like the idea of conforming to some standard that was supposed to be popular. Curt who was the closest to dressing like one of those groups as he would have his penny loafers and a polo shirt, took a deep breath and then it started. “Wait a second there is nothing wrong with Magneto, and he is a totally workable character. You really shouldn’t be…” Robert knew it was coming and as soon as Curt hit workable Robert had his counter and was already to intercept. “Oh bullshit. Magneto by your words is the most powerful character in the Marvel Universe save Dark Phoenix or Phoenix which is the same damn character.” Robert was good at remembering what others had said and throwing it back at them, but Curt was no slouch at it either as he returned. “Yeah, and you using Captain Mar Vell and his cosmic awareness has ruined how many games as well.” Matt was nodding at this as he had already banned Captain Mar Vell from being used in any of his games because his one story was finished in less than an hour thanks to Robert using Captain Mar Vell’s powers. It was Matt at this point that stepped in and was up standing between the two. “Alright enough is enough. The last time you two decided to argue over characters we spent the whole night just listening to the two of you. I also know that we can’t do Boot Hill anymore as Curt’s dad complained about you clogging up the downstair toilet by flushing dead character down the toilet.” Robert smiled a meek smile as he remembered that lecture and it was true as he had given his dead characters a burial by sea as he called it flushing them down the toilet. He then remembered almost burning the shed down beside the house when Robert got the bright idea to cremate his character by burning the dead character sheet up. Luckily there wasn’t any wind that day and no one noticed that the bottom of Roberts boots had been burned when he stomped out the burning sheet of paper and grass that had caught fire. Robert was the first to hold up his hands and return to his seat as he had already stood up to meet Curt as the argument started. Curt nodded and was content as he got the last word between the two. “Okay so what are we going to play then?” Robert asked as he sat down as Matt sighed. “How about we give role play a break and do a board game. Robert nodded and pulled out Allies and Axis a game that was a mix of World War II, Risk, and its own little element that was unique in and of itself. Robert smiled and chimed in. “I am going to take Germany, who is going to be the Ruskies.” Robert was already setting up the game, putting the board on the table and waiting to hand out the trays to the rest of the group depending on which country they chose. “Wait a second the last time you played the German’s it wasn’t fair. You need to play another country.” Mark popped up as the last time they had played Robert decimated the British and then the rest of the Allies. Robert nodded to this and smiled. “Okay I will be the Ruskies, and who will be my comrades?” Robert said with a smile as David then chimed in playing on the whole Ruskie play of the slang for Russia for the time. “Da comrade I will beski England.” Robert grinned and handed David the Styrofoam tray for the British, as Mark smiled and added I will take the German’s thinking that he was going to repeat the events of the last game when Robert had used the Germans to win. “Oh, you ski think you will beat the Ruskies.” Robert added to Mark as he turned and grabbed the tray for the German’s and handed it over to Mark. Robert then turned to look over at Matt and started to reach for the Japanese. “So, comrade did you wish to beski the Japanese?” Matt lifted his hands in a defensive position and waved his hands and shaking them. “Oh no. I got my butt kicked last time, while you took over the world. It is Curt’s turn to be the Japanese since he was the Americans last time.” Curt shrugged as he just wasn’t so interested in this, but then again Curt just seemed to be down on a lot of things lately as he had broken off with his girlfriend, but even then, he just didn’t seem to be happy about life in general. “I don’t care I will take whatever.” Robert nodded as he handed out the last two trays to Curt and Matt. No sooner did he do that the house seemed to shake all the way down to the basement. “What the hell!” Robert and Curt almost chimed at the same instant. Robert was already up and moving towards the stairs, Curt was the next one followed by David, Matt and Mark. Robert moved up the stairs almost two steps at a time as he came out and into the kitchen. It was one of those nights and Curt’s family had been out and the five friends had the house to themselves. It was one of those things about the five they were a bunch of nerds of the time and the outcasts of the school were maybe Mark, but the older ones just were not part of the in groups of their peers. The group played role playing games and all of those other brainy nerdy games as evident by the games that they were just trying to figure out what to play. None of them went out and partied or got drunk, they just played their games. Robert looked around the kitchen and then over into the living room and see that out of the picture window there seemed to be a glow that would be in the front yard of the house. Robert’s mind was racing as he thought of the possible things that could cause a glow, and David called up from behind him. “What is it? What do you see?” There was a strange sell that seemed to be coming into the house. It was a mixture of sulfur and some rotten flesh or food, but it was a very foul and even nauseating smell that was coming from the front room. The Living room was off to the right of the kitchen with a half wall that created a hall from the front door into the living room area. The living room had a couch that was light brown and was looking out towards the picture window that showed the front yard and then to the trees in front of the river. There was a recliner that was by the half wall that looked towards the fireplace with a mantle as well as all the family pictures that adorned the top of the mantle. The fireplace was all laid stonework as was the rest of the house which Curt’s father had built as a mason. Then next to the fireplace was the counsel television set and then across the room when entering the room from the front door was a desk that had the phone and a bunch of papers on top of it in neat piles and stacks. Robert looked back at Curt and then the others and shrugged. “Something is going on outside. I can see some lights flickering in the window”.  Robert answered the group as he was already turning and heading for the front door. He was moving a bit slower than the others, but Robert always held and would quote things as ‘a brave man only dies once but a coward dies many times’ or ‘there is nothing to fear but fear itself.’ Not that Robert wasn’t feeling his heart racing and felt like it was in his throat, but a healthy bit of being anxious was a good recipe for a longer life. It beat being reckless and foolishly rushing into something.  It was David who chimed in as Robert was moving for the door. “Ewe, what is that smell? It smells like someone blew up a septic tank.” Robert was shaking his head and Matt added. “You know I would almost laugh at that, but it does smell horrible.”  The others seemed to be holding back and Curt was peering over Robert’s shoulder and shook his head. “Are you sure that you want to open that door?” Robert stopped and looked back at the others and shrugged a bit. Curt’s house was near a small town that if you blinked you would drive right past it and would have missed it. Behind his house was a cornfield and to the right side of the house was the next-door neighbor’s house and yard, but there was a line of trees and such that obscured the other house and of course there was the street in front of the house and on the other side of the street was another small batch of trees before going into the river.  It was just a quiet area which Robert had been taking into consideration when looking at the lights and inspired his shrug. It might be someone who broke down or an accident. If it is someone, just come in and call 911. The 911 system was still new in the area, but it was simple and easy to use as it was quickly catching on. When Robert had pointed this out Curt smiled and looked back at David. “Maybe Davey is right. It might have been a septic pumper truck that blew up then.” This did bring a laugh from the others as Robert shook his head and moved to the door and opened it. He stopped and stood a bit shocked in that moment. There was a loud screech, and the house shook again as this creature that seemed to have sprung out of the pages of one of the game systems and came to life, was standing out on the front lawn. Robert was looking at it and then seen some movement in front of the creature was a man who was wearing some clothes which were in tatters and what looked like maybe a black chain mesh shirt under the tattered clothes. In his hands were two swords looking to be medieval style long swords with a cross hilt. The blades were about thirty inches in length and were jet black in color which was odd for any sort of metal that Robert had seen, but the blades did match the armor that the man was wearing. The one sword the man had was pointing up that was in his right hand and the other pointing down that was in his left. The creature which had to be the source of the smell was snarling at the man who was in a slight crouch as if he was slowly starting to rise from being hit. The red burning eyes moved from the man towards where Robert and the others were as they had opened the door. The creature had wings that sprouted from its back and were moving not so much to fly but to keep the creature’s balance. It was standing on two strong muscular legs as it bared a mouth full of sharp pointy teeth at the teenager who was at the door. It had just as muscular arms that gave it a humanoid appearance save the added tail and wings that were flapping at the air. The arms ended in a set of five fingered hands that had claws protruding from the ends of them. The creature’s skin was a dark crimson to black color and shown spots where a black ooze was spilling from what looked like slash marks upon the creature’s skin. It was Curt who broke the silence and stillness of the moment when he yelled in a high almost shilled voice. ”Run.” Matt was right behind him and at the opening to the stairs that lead upstairs as David and Mark were just coming up out of the basement and caught tight of the horror that was outside on the front lawn. “Holy shit!” David exclaimed as Mark’s eyes grew to the size of saucers. “Oh fuck!” Robert was standing there with the door open and was quickly throwing the door shut as he was trying to figure out what to do. There was nothing in the house that he knew about that could be used to fight that sort of monster, and he wasn’t even sure that they could outrun it. He could still picture the warrior who must have been the cause of the injuries. The man had salt and pepper hair with a big handlebar mustache that the man was sporting. When Robert had shut the door, he missed the man sudden lunge as he drove the one upward blade deep into the side of the creature who had been distracted by the opening of the door. The creature let out another shriek which rattled the house. “The back door.” Curt called out to Mark who was the last of the group as they all started to turn and run through the kitchen. Curt’s voice had dropped back closer to normal as the group had done a one eighty and were now heading back through the kitchen. Mark and David were a bit surprised and worried as they didn’t know what was going on. It was Mark who asked first. “Why are we going the other way what’s out there?” Robert just yelled back at him. “Something nasty and demonic looking, run!” Then David stopped and looked back at the other three. “Wait you said demonic looking, are you fucking kidding me! You are joking right?” He interjected as he stepped to the side as did Matt. Mark now stopped and was looking back at the others with a confused look on his face. “Wait a demon. There is no such thing.” Mark shot back at the group as Robert shook his head and stepped to the side. “Don’t believe me go check for yourself.” Mark hesitated on that as his brother shook his head. “No, it sure did look like a demon, and it had some big teeth.” Matt said softly and there was a look of fear on his face and Mark realized that there might just be a demon or something that was looking like one standing out on the front lawn. “Okay…” Mark started but was interrupted as the back door burst open and in walked a smaller version of the beast that was on the front lawn. “Fuck me!” Robert proclaimed as he charged past the others towards the demonic looking creature. He dropped down his right shoulder and slammed into the creature sending his full one hundred and seventy-nine pounds into the creature and actually knocking it back into the wall by the back door. The creature quickly recovered though in the confined space of the utility room, which was a hall by the back door where the washer and dryer were, didn’t offer much space for the demon to use its wings and they were actually very much in the way, but it was able to bring its arm into a backward swing which caught Robert under the jaw and sent him flying back onto the floor. “Upstairs.” Curt called out as the others were torn on what to do. “What about Robert?” Matt said as he looked at Robert and wasn’t too sure what he could do to help his old friend from all grade school. “If we stay here, we will die with him.” Curt pointed out which Matt reluctantly had to agree with though Mark and David were already moving to the stairs that lead upstairs to where the bedrooms were. Robert was on the ground and his anger was beginning to take over. The one thing that he knew was that he had a temper and when it went into overdrive, he had a tendency of losing control. Robert let out a bestial snarl as he grabbed out for anything he could find which turned out to be an aluminum broom, as soon as it was in his hands, he swung it with all of his might at the demon who was now advancing on him. The head of the broom caught the creature in the head and face knocking it to the side as the top of the broom bent from the impact on the creature. Robert was already getting to his feet as he drew the broom stick down to thrust it like a spear. His first hit had thrown off the demon as it shook its head and then snarled in disbelief that this human was not running in terror. If Robert had been in his right mind he might have, but he was falling into a berserker mode. Maybe if Robert had been born twelve hundred years earlier, he would have been one of those terrors that had sent fear into many a Roman Centurion who had laid siege against the Germanic tribes of the north, or later as a Viking warrior raiding the different countries taking slaves and goods around Europe and elsewhere. The demon reached out and its claws shredded the front of Roberts shirt and left four trails of blood from the gashes on his chest. He didn’t even feel the hit as he thrust the head of the broom up and into the demon’s abdomen. The head of the broom snapped off leaving a sharp pointed end which continued to penetrate into the demon’s belly and out through the other side as Robert was now rushing and pushing the demon back till the point came out through the back of the demon as it was pushed back into the wall and the broom stick now extending through it and pinning it to the wall. Robert went to pull the broom stick back as the creature howled in pain and anger. A second backhanded slap sent Robert flying back and this time smashing him into the kitchen table and chairs. Curt was the last one heading up the stairs as the others in the group had already gone up the stairs as he heard the table shatter and seen Robert laying against the wall and starting top stir. Curt was moving down and seen the creature howling in pain and pinned to the wall. Curt quickly moved past Robert to a drawer and started to dig through it. In the drawer were all sorts of knives, from steak knives to cleavers, and everything in-between. Curt soon found a butcher knife and moved in towards the creature and drew the knife over his head as he was moving in and swung it downward as the creature drew back and caught Curt with another backhanded swing. The butcher knife struck home into the creatures’ arms and hit all the way to the bone as it screamed in pain a second time as Curt went flying backwards, all the while keeping his grip on the knife and pulling it out of the creature’s arm as he followed the same trajectory that Robert had had. Robert, who was just getting up spied Curt flying his way and braced for the impact which left Curt sprawled out on the floor and buckled Roberts knees. “Thanks for breaking my fall.” Curt gasped out through clenched teeth as that impact did hurt. It was hard to tell if there was a bit of sarcasm or if Curt was genuine in his comment, but it was missed by Robert who was already up and moving towards the creature.

Upstairs the others could head the sounds of the fight downstairs and the sounds of shrieks and roars from outside of the house as if there were more of them out there. Matt moved into the bathroom and looked out the bathroom window to see two or three more of the smaller creatures flying around the house as he called back to Mark and David. “Um, I don’t think that we are going to be going out this way there’s more of them.” Matt said in his calmest voice in relationship with all that was going on right now. David his eyes were going a bit large as his fear was running through him as much as the others. “What?! Oh, you got to be fucking kidding me.” He protested as he moved up next to Matt and looked out the window as the creatures were flying about, though one of the oddest things was starting to happen as the night sky started to fill with clouds and lightning started to fill the air. Then there was a huge roar that shook the house to the foundation just as a stream of fire poured out of the sky catching two of the creatures and turning them into floating embers as their bodies dissipated and were blown through the air just as the rain started to come down. “Holy shit!” David muttered as Matt stood there in awe. Mark by this time had moved into the small bathroom as was trying to look out the window as he had seen the flash caused by the blast of flames. “What was that?” Mark asked as Matt was shaking his head and looking out the window. “I have no idea. I just hope since it killed them it is on our side and is not here to eat us instead.” David was nodding to this as the night sky started to grow darker, and the rain was coming down even harder.

Robert was running in on the creature and slammed into it driving his shoulder into the handle of the broom, pushing it deeper into the wall as he bent the handle into a hook shape helping to keep the creature pinned to the wall. The creature snarled and slashed at Robert its claws shredding Robert’s shirt on the back and leaving more trails of blood that were now rolling down his bruised and battered back, yet with Robert’s adrenaline running as high as it was, he was not feeling a thing other than anger and seeing red. The attack did register enough in Robert’s brain that he let out another snarl as his hand shot up and seized the creature by the throat. Robert’s grip was clamped down like a vice grip and now there was a gurgling sound that was starting to come from the creature trapped in his grasp.

David and the other had turned and started to go back down the stairs after seeing the flames raining down from the sky. David had been the first one down as he then seen Curt lying on the floor and Robert charging the creature for round two. David quickly looked around the room and spotted the knife in Curt’s hand as he moved over and took it from Curt, who was still a bit dazed from being backhanded by the creature. David moved in quickly as it seemed the creature was busy with Robert and not paying attention to him and thrust the butcher knife deep into the creature’s chest as its gaze was locked on Robert’s who was snarling at the creature in return. Mark, being the second one in the room spotted David moving in with the knife and Curt laying on the floor. Mark then spotted the drawer full of knives and ran over to it and after a quick search spotted a meat cleaver and grabbed it as he took off after David. It wasn’t scant seconds after David thrust the knife into the creature’s chest that Mark brought the cleaver down upon the head of the creature with a loud thud as the creature jerk and its claws dug deeper into Robert’s back as he crushed the creature’s throat and closed off its windpipe. Matt, seeing everyone else attacking the creature moved over to Curt’s side. “Are you okay?” He asked Curt, while trying to keep the panic out of his voice. Curt looked over at him and then the other. “Wait I thought you guys were going to try to get out through one of the upstairs windows.” Matt shook his head and pointed towards Robert and the others. “That was until we seen that there are more out there, and there is something even bigger out there as well.” Curt looked shocked and then looked at the others and back to Matt. “How are we going to get out of here? My car is out front and so is the one creature and the guy with the sword, and we can’t make a run out the back…” Curt didn’t get to say more as a soft voice from the back door interrupted him. “You’re not.”

The voice had a slight accent, but it was an exotic one that didn’t match any that the group had ever heard before. The voice itself was coming from a woman who was coming in the back door wearing a very revealing light green dress. The woman had sea green eyes and the reddest of hair that one could imagine and still be natural. She looked the boys over and then the creature and shaking her head as she did so. “Me and my companions are cleaning up the rest of this mess, and we need you boys to stay in here till we are done.” The woman had a soft voice but yet it seems to convey a sense of authority that dared not be questioned like that of an overbearing mother watching out for the safety of her children. Matt nodded to her as the others were looking her way, save Robert who was now starting to slide down to the floor as his adrenaline was bleeding off now that the creature was dead, and it seemed that the group was safe. “Who are you?” Mark was the first one to speak as he turned to look at her with the black ichor covering his face that was the creature’s blood. The woman looked at him and smiled softly and said just as softly. “I am Erica, but most know me as Dream Shadow.” She then kneeled next to Robert and took his arm as she sang a soft song, and a reddish glow started to emanate from her hands and across his body. Robert let out a soft moan as the gashes that covered his body started to heal. The woman then looked at the others and back to the creature. It was David who popped up next. “Okay, but how did demons get here? I mean this is not some place where you would think demons would just pop up at.” The woman then looked over to him and shook her head. “I do not have time to play twenty questions, but to answer this and to keep you from any stupid notions about things I will tell you this. Demons can show up anywhere save those places that are on holy ground, and these are not demons they are spawn.” David blinked and looked confused as the rest of them were, but it was Curt that came up next. “What’s the difference?” The woman looked over at him a bit annoyed at having to answer a bunch of questions but patiently explained before lifting her hands to wave off any more questions. “Spawn come from different dimensions and are drawn into this one and given a body composed by this realm. Where demons tend to possess the body of a human as it is difficult for them to materialize their true form on this realm, but it can be done just like angels do the same.” The woman then turned but before she went too far, she sung another soft song and soon the table had returned to its original form as did the door and the spawn disappeared with the destroyed broomstick. The whole room and house looked as it had before the battle had happened. She then opened the back door and walked out the door and started to sing some more. The five friends sat there and looked at one another. Curt and Robert, though his cuts and such were healed still hurt from all of the bruises that covered their bodies. Robert was already getting up and moving towards the door when they all heard that same female voice chime in. “I said stay. They will not breach the house again.” Robert froze and looked around as the others were looking as well, trying to figure out how she had seen him moving towards the door and how her voice just appeared in the room as if she had been there. He turned and looked at the others. “What the hell?” Matt shook his head and looked over at Robert as he shrugged. “I don’t know but um I think should we take her on her word after that.” The others were nodding in agreement as Robert then looked at his shirt and sighed. “What am I going to do about this shirt?” Curt gave one of those looks and Robert knew that there was this sarcastic remark to follow. “Throw it away?” He almost said with a giggle. “Really Captain Obvious?” Robert returned just sarcastically as he pulled off the rag that had been his shirt and tossed it into the garbage and wondering if he had another shirt in the old International Travelall. The Travelall was an early SUV like the Chevy Suburban but looked more like a breadbox on wheels. The one that Robert’s family had was a 1974 model built on a three-quarter ton frame and wasn’t all that fast but it sure was solid if it were to ever get into an accident. Then again, most cars from that time were built like a tank and could go through a brick wall and just scratch the chrome, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but they were solid cars. He looked at the others and they all looked back to him and started to move to head back down the stairs and see what they could see, and yet still be out of line of sight. Robert watched Mark and David moved to the window as Robert dropped down into a beanbag chair. That was the nasty side effect of going berserk he didn’t feel much pain and didn’t control his strength, and he tended be stronger or could do things he normally could not, but there was a price to be paid as that adrenaline all ran out it just caused Robert to get tired, and he just needed to crash. Matt and Curt sat down on the chair and the couch in the basement living room area. “Okay what are we going to tell our folks.” Matt started in as Robert looked over at him at about the same time as Curt and they answered in unison. “Nothing.” I tripped and fell down the stairs while we were horseplaying me and Curt.” Curt nodded as it sounded like a plausible story as Mark and David looked over hearing this and then glancing out the windows towards the yard not really seeing anything. David nodded as well. “I agree. One who would believe that shit?” This had all of the group nodding as Robert rubbed his chest and other spots that were now starting to hurt. “Yeah, I know I sure as hell wouldn’t” This had the others nodding that much more. Matt started to object but Mark cut him off. “We can’t tell Mom or Dad not that I am sure if they would believe us or not, but seeing that is stuff of nightmares, and we can’t put them through that as well. That and they might not let us out of the house over again.” Matt had to nod at that as he realized that Mark had a valid point. Mark might have been the youngest of the group, but he was also highly intelligent as well as having the common sense to back it. Robert was pushing to stay awake as he looked at everyone half lidded and shook his head to clear the cobwebs out. “Then we all are making a pact that we don’t tell anyone else about this and only keep it to the five of us.” Robert said as the others all agreed. “So how are we going to make a pact. Don’t we have to poke our fingers and put the blood together?” Mark tossed in and Matt turned a shade of pale at the thought. Robert was shaking his head on that as well. “We make an oath to each other and on our friendship.” Robert noted as this drew head nods from the rest of the group as they all stuck and hand into the middle and as they all touched hands it was David who then added. “Swear that I will not talk about this to anyone else for as long as we are together.” In hearing the words, the rest of the group all make their allegiance as a glow started to form over them. Not that it was visible to them, but it was to a certain red headed witch whom they had talked to just before this. She then nodded to herself as she looked the bunch over just before she appeared next to the knight who was in the backyard as the bodies of the spawn seemed to burn up into piles of ash. The smell of the burning flesh was a mix between brimstone and a sewer back up. One thing was for sure it was a harsh smell that was not going to go away anytime soon. “We will need to watch over this bunch. I have a feeling that they will be dealing in this world more than they probably ever dreamed that they would be.” The man looked over towards her with his salt and pepper hair which even included his beard. “I know Erica, and you know that we are stretched thin as it is.” He said as the wind picked up for a second a white scaled dragon dropped down next to them. The dragon had the bluest of eyes as well as a full ridged plates and spikes that surrounded its face and went down its back all the way to the tip of its tail. The wings quickly folded back into place behind her back as the dragon started to shimmer and change form to a lovely blonde woman with those same blue eyes as she moved up next to the man and looked over at the redhead. “My husband speaks the truth. There just isn’t enough of us as father is constantly on the move dealing with this or that. The rules of the past are being strained as your brother keeps corrupting more into the will of his god.” The redhead nodded to the other woman and sighed. “Yes, I know, but I do see great things from this bunch. It is the odd thing with mortals. Their lights burn the brightest and are soon gone, but they can do so much harm and good in that short period of time.” Erica then tilted her head and looked back into the house. “I fore see them coming to play a major role in the events to come. We can either watch them or see what they become. We can draw upon the other mortal groups to help. They prefer to watch their own over having us corrupt them.” Erica added that last part with an evil smile which brought a chuckle out of the other two. Robert then looked over at his wife Lady Kimber and back to Erica. “Camelot is calling, and we are needed there. Evil is not just stirring here, but in all of the realms and dimensions. I will see if I or Pherros can find out how a bunch of drug users got ahold of a spell that summoned spawn. These spells are supposed to be guarded, and yet more and more are turning up out here on this realm.” Erica had been noticing it as well. There were spells that those who knew the powers to be would let out for people to use, but there was a time when greater powers did make bargains with mortals and gave them the means to destroy the world in the lines of spells. Erica’s brother had been one of those individuals that was willing to ply for immortality and power at the cost of destroying the world. He was more than willing to gain the power he craved, no matter what the cost. In the end it was their home as his pact and attempt was the reason for the destruction of Atlantis as it was buried under tons of ice when the world shifted on its axis and the continent of Antarctica, formerly known as Atlantis, was moved from the warm section along the equator to the southern pole. Erica nodded as she looked over towards the couple after a couple of seconds in silent memory of the hardships that her brother had caused and she swallowed softly with a slight grimace that was barely perceivable. She then looked back at the other two. “Fair thee well Lord and Lady Falsworth. I shall gain some more agents to help watch over hopefuls because if you are right about this evil that is coming again, we will need all of the help that we can get and then some.” She noted to Robert and his wife before they stepped into a shadow and faded from sight. She always cringed when he used shadow magic like that as it was a dangerous form of magic, but then again, all magic could be dangerous, and he was one of the more adept practitioners of the shadow arts even for being a knight of the round table at one point and time as well as the apprentice to none other than Merlin himself.