The Three Eyed Fox
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It was Kyra’s screams that cut through the night that woke both Griff and Beau. It was the blood curdling kind, the type that ripped right through the air to strike terror into the pits of the stomachs of those who heard it. In only a tank top and black sweats, red hair astray Griff tumbled out of the tiny apartment room and darted down the hall. Inside Saul’s apartment, Griff near stumbled back and out the door. Within, was a sight she was not entirely sure how to comprehend. Kyra stood backed against the wall, shaking with arms weakly attempting to shield herself. In front of her was Saul, seemingly defended her from the monster before them. A creature of darkness, shadows, with elongated limbs and hooked claws. It shambled towards them, a wide, white smile staring down at them, a mane of flowing white hair floating around its oddly shaped head. With no time for questions and no time for answers, Griff summoned Archeus and leapt forth into a roll. Skidding to a halt before them both she swept her sword forth and blades of ice formed in a protective barrier. The shadow creature flinched, just as Griff hoped. With the blade stabbed into the floor, the icicles crept forth and sharpened.
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“Who are you?” Griff demanded, voice raised over Kyra’s weeping and Saul’s rapid gasps of fear. The spirit did not reply, only widened its smile. Faster that it should be able to, it darted a lanky, clawed arm forward and made to strike Griff right in the throat. Yellow eyes burning, she ducked just in time and the creature instead clashing with an icicle. With a growl, Griff swung Archeus up, aiming to cut off the arm of the creature as it extended over the ice. Instead, with an unnatural hiss it raked its claws back through the circle, clearing a path for it to charge through. Suddenly, it became very real how defenceless Griff was. She had only her sword, and the clothes on her back. And she was completely boxed in with this lightning fast, utterly corrupted spirit. For a moment, Griff stepped back almost timidly, nearly backing into Saul. It was only with a blast of fire from a friend that the spirit withdrew again.
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“How did it get in here?” Beau shouted, perplexed. His eyes blazed with the fire at his fingertips. “I – I don’t know!” Griff gasped, perplexed. It should be impossible. Just, impossible for any spirit to get in with the wards and runes placed to guard the building and her charges. These defences were powerful, but sometimes there were cracks. Something to counteract the wards for its own purpose, to contact a spirit somehow. And it had to be somewhere in this room. With a fierce grunt Griff leapt over shattered ice and to the other side of the room into a combat roll. “Beau!” Griff cried out. With her urging Beau sent a whip of flames, distracting the beast for the few moments she required to scan the room. Something, something, something that let the thing in…It could be a flower, a web, a dream-catcher, a herb – there! A wreath of dried holly lay atop the mirror by the wall of windows. With teeth beared Griff waved over to the mirror, and Beau acknowledged with a ball of flame that quickly incinerated the witches tool.
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Within an instant, with a screech that near shattered the glass windows, the creature of shadow was wrenched back from striking Sol within an inch of its claw and back into the shadows from whence it came.
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What followed, was simply silence. Not one of them said a word. Beau let his flames flicker out, his eyes fading back into their natural brown. Kyra let herself crumple down into a heap on the floor, whilst Saul took in haggard breaths, his eyes glazed over.
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“Griff.” Beau began, looking to the embers of the wreath.
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“You let her in. A penitence spirit. What? You felt so guilty you couldn’t help but open up a crack for her to crawl through and rip your fucking throat out?” Griff snapped at Saul, still trying to catch his breath. She let herself take a breath and felt Archeus dissipate. “Listen. I don’t know if you killed her yourselves, but you’re responsible in some sense, Enough that you’re guilty, and you miss her and you’re stupid enough to use that kind of witchcraft. Any kind of witchcraft that is.”
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Saul let the silence speak for him.
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“What do we do. How…do we get rid of this, Penitence Spirit?” He asked, sheepish.
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Griff sneered. “Get some clothes on. We need to see Darway. He’ll see you for what you are, your sins, your crimes, your guilt. He’ll judge you. And purge you of it all.”
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Saul gave her a look, cautious but desperate. And scared. As scared as Kyra looked, a shaking mess on the floor. Griff stood before him in three quick, wide strides and stared down at the witch.
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“Whatever you are. Whatever you have done. You will be expected to accept whatever punishment is just. In return, you can keep your life. But when this is all over, you’ll no longer be my charge. And there will be no one protecting you. And I’ll come for you, creature.” The blue in his eyes turned to ice, yet bore acceptance. There were no more options for him.
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This spider, blood droplets trickling down its long legs, glutton poised upon its fangs, had become trapped in its own web.
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Beau flicked the embers from his palms Saul’s way as he left the room. “Off to Darway we go,” He muttered under his breath.
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~ ~ ~
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The city remained sound asleep as Griff guided them through the streets. Past closed stores and beneath the flickering lamp-light, Saul stalked behind them while Beau kept close to Kyra. Not too close. Just enough to catch her if she collapsed. Griff walked ahead of them all, a knot of anger and irritation.
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This whole time…I was protecting those monsters. Or rather, maybe – just a monster. Or maybe she’s allowed herself to feel guilty. Damnit. I don’t know. It doesn’t matter, does it? They lied the whole time. I just didn’t think they’d be stupid enough to do anything to let her Spirit into the apartment. Yet here I am, forced to work with some kind of witch. But the Blue Rose demands each charge be protected. Once this penitence spirit is dealt with, I’ll deal with Saul myself.
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Griff flexed her hands, balling her hands into fists and stretching them out, again and again. A cold wind whistled through the streets, twisting through the alley she led them through. Graffiti lined the alleyway, paintings of spirits of the park bright against the red brick.
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I’ll make sure all in his web are freed and cared for.
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A tingling went through her hands as Griff wondered what kind of confession Darway would reap from him.
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He’s a liar, probably a murderer, and forced three knights into a false investigation.
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Griff allowed herself to glance back once, and deliver one intent glare at him. But he wasn’t looking at her. Saul simply stared ahead, a vacant look guarding whatever type of fear or desperation must have been swimming in his head. Moments before they were to arrive at the dead-end by the two abandoned apartment blocks, Griff ran a hand over the small set of sacks across her waist beneath her white cloak. She was ready for a fight. No matter what Darway decided, the Penitence Spirit was aggressive. And with no wards or walls, there was little pre-organised defences Griff could arrange.
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Amongst silence and the abandoned buildings, Darway lay beside the stone wall asleep. At their approach he roused, all three of his golden eyes opening, his great tail sweeping across the street. He asked no questions, he simply watched them.
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Griff spoke plainly, hoping to make things go quick as possible. “Darway! I bring you two who wish to be held accountable for their crimes. Look to them and, decide their fates. Whatever it may be.”
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The fox stepped forward and bowed his head, his three eyes gazing upon them all, unblinking. The pupils rippled as though they pools, the waters changing from a clear blue to a soft green-hazel. And they gazed at them all, not merely focusing on Saul and Kyra. But it didn’t bother Griff. It enraptured her, like an invisible mist pouring forth to caress her skin, soften her thoughts and weaken the walls within her mind. It sought her secrets, and Griff let it find them. Despite herself, the mist seeped further and further within until it found what it was looking for. Memories, wrapped taut in shame. With a single tender touch, she was ripped from her daze and stumbled back. With a shake of her head the mist crept back. She pinched her nose, and wondered how Beau –
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There were tears coming from his eyes. He stared blankly ahead, and did no wince or react, just simply let the tears flow. Kyra and Saul remained transfixed, nothingness in their eyes. Beau had the same look, save for the tears. She could only watch and let the mist envelope them entirely. Griff trusted that the noble spirit wouldn’t harm them, as he hadn’t harmed any before them, known as an Elder Spirit that was suspected that to have been once a spiritual leader or judge in life.
“Beau…” Griff murmured, an involuntary tug at her heart. What was happening to him? She feared to touch him, or even try to shake him out of it. He began to grit his teeth as if in pain, and with hands clenched Griff couldn’t help herself and rushed to him, her hands cupping his jaw and catching some of the tears as they fell. They stained the black stubble that slowly had taken over half of his face. “Beau! C’mon, wake up. He doesn’t need to judge you, you’re safe okay…you’re safe…just focus on me please...” Griff begged, urging him closer until she pressed her forehead against his. His tears, warm as his skin ran across her lips.
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She was too close, she knew this. He was her charge, and shouldn’t be anything more. Just another for her to protect – his life having the same value as Kyra and Saul despite whatever crimes they committed. He was nothing.
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Griff wrapped her arms around his neck before she pulled back and slapped him, hard. He came back to her in a sharp gasp of confused pain, his eyes wide as he wiped away the tears. But he was back.
“Griff…t-thank you,” Beau said, rubbing his jaw. He gave her an odd look, and seemed to revert to his quiet self. Her heart felt at rest, having freed him from the invasive daze of Darway’s curiosity, but a wrench in her gut replaced it. She’d overstepped her bounds. Betrayed the trust he’d placed in her. An anger without aim or direction began to fill her belly, an irritation that ran like an electric shock beneath her skin. Griff avoided his gaze.
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It was Darway’s voice, deep and ancient that distracted the Knight from her anger.
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“I have looked deep within the depths of the souls that lie beneath their skin. There is a corruption binding her soul and flesh. If this corruption, this disturbance that binds her continues it will leave permanent scars upon her soul. A horrible fate for any of us.”
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Kyra was broken from the daze, and in a convulsion of pain she crumpled to the ground and writhed on all fours.
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In an odd moment of intensity, Darway stepped forward and focused entirely on the dead-eyed Saul. He did not flinch at the sudden closeness of the great fox spirit. It seemed as though light from the three eyes began to beam forth, grazing Saul in his gaze.
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Darway’s voice, powerful and ancient as it was, seemed to lower into a strained whisper that still echoed about the empty buildings and dead-end road.
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“This one. There is no soul within this one.”
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Griff sighed. There’s no surprise there, already knew he was a witch but –
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“But he possessed one once, there are traces within him. His soul was – flayed.”
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Distracted with tracing chalk-lines into the road, seeking to form a weak but protective shield for when the Penitence Spirit sniffed out their shame and guilt, Griff dropped the chalk in her hand. Flayed. She had only heard of such a thing once before. Once. The first boy that claimed to love her had admitted his soul had been flayed from his skin as a child.
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There had been a true sense of void, of utter nothingness in his eyes as he had cupped the side of her young face and told her that while his soul had been ripped from him, it had given him a power unlike any other. It had given him the power of that of a Blood Witch.
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A fear that felt like a volt of electricity jumped through every vein in her body and Griff leapt up, shock washing over her. Thump, thump, thump – blood pounded in her ears as she looked to Saul, Archeus forming in hand. She raced forward without warning. The Penitence spirit was coming for him, only him. With a near shriek Griff crashed into the dazed Saul, the butt of her sword slamming into his chest.
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They landed on the road with a heavy thud. She didn’t care if that was his skull.
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“You!” Griff growled, seconds away from punching him in the face, was sent flying back by a dark force. She flew back like she were merely a discarded toy, tossed away with little thought or effort. White coat dirtied, hair askew and fury blazing in her heart and igniting her yellow eyes the Knight sat up onto her haunches.
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Beau hid behind a derelict car, only fear in his eyes.
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Kyra attempted to crawl away, slow and weak with tears making her face shine.
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Darway had left within the blink of an eye at the first hint of conflict. And without his ancient light, and the chalk circle incomplete, the Penitence Spirit had ripped itself from the shadows and come to punish those.
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It has to be Saul she wants. It has to be. He must have killed her.
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The Spirit, its claws long and black floating hair longer, hovered above the ground as she clutched Saul’s throat. An unnatural pool of moonlight shone down upon both of them, as it seemed she was passing her own terms of judgement upon him. For but a moment, Griff wondered if the fury within her would be sated by allowing this Spirit to do what it must. Just as she had allowed the spirits of the Candlewax witch to rip apart her townhouse, to deliver their own justice. It was within the nature of her job, was it not? To aid the cohesion of the lives of spirit and man? Why not just let life takes its course –
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“Griff!” Beau called, his voice cutting through the heat rising from her body, clouding her mind. The fear in his eyes. There, made clear with the moonlight, Griff saw it plainly now. What raced in her veins and had her heart racing was not fury, - but fear. More than anything, Griff looked to Saul and felt nothing but fear. A fear she refused to let shut her down. No. This fear would be a fear that fuelled the ice of Archeus, and ferocity of every sword strike.
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First. She had to protect her charges. Still crouched Griff found herself beside Beau. She placed a hand on his shoulder, thumbing over his dirtied white night shirt and giving him a look that asked for forgiveness. Silence acting his second skin as always, Beau returned a look of softened and yet hardened brown eyes. Griff left him with a quick nod, knowing he would be by her side when she needed him.
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Acknowledging the fear that thrummed through her veins she ran forth and with but a second to plan it, leapt up on an old windowless car and launched from the shadows into the haunting moonlight before Kyra. As she landed, Griff slammed the tip of Archeus into the ground and formed a wall of spiked ice between her charge and the witch and spirit. Sweaty and already feeling the exhaustion of sacrificing the energy to create the wall, Griff heaped Kyra over her shoulders and dragged the small girl to safety behind the car and lamppost. A cold sweat had formed over Kyra’s skin as she shuddered, eyes glazed over and eyelids dipped.
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The corruption…whatever it is Darway’s insight has sent it into a fit.
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Griff knew Kyra had to be helped, and fast…but for now, she had a witch and a spirit to confront.
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“Saul!” Griff cried, her voice cutting through the haunting silence of the spirit and witch. He looked to her, and this close she could truly see the glazed over ice within his eyes. But it was not Saul that fascinated her. No. It was the dark twisted horror, the hatred, the pain and suffering that had pressured together to twist into the fabric of this spirit. The shadows that cloaked her unnaturally elongated body looked to be a dress almost, frills and all. It left a sick feeling in her throat, seeing the feminine attributes to the soul of a poor girl, twisted and corrupted as she was. This had to be her, right? Ava. Seeking vengeance. Penitence.
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“I’m sorry. That you died the way you did. And your state, now,” Griff said flatly, yet sincerely. She didn’t flinch when Ava looked to her, the sound of a winters breeze flowing from her greyed, stretched mouth. But it was Saul’s turn to speak, appearing like hey looked like he enjoyed the touch of her clawed fingers around his neck.
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“You think you know us. But you know nothing. You think that she suffered,that she’s suffering now? She’s finally happy.” His last three words spoken softly, fondly. In reply Griff gritted her teeth and shouted for Beau. Leaping to the side just in time, a rolling wave of flames surged forth. Ava sent a fierce shriek that echoed into the night, tearing fear through Griff’s gut. The second the flames dissipated, embers twisting through the air, they were both gone.
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Just, gone. And she took him with her. Paint, Ink...Candlewax, they're all one thing. Most of them, dangerous, manipulative creatures. But a Blood Witch? They are beasts, a synthetic creature with an - unnatural power. And I have no idea how to subdue defeat, if they can be defeated.
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A frustrated growl came from Beau, a small burst of flame flowing from his balled fists. Slightly shaky, Griff stood and bundled Kyra up in her arms.
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“I – where could they have gone?” Beau asked, softly rolling Kyra’s head to rest on Griff’s arm. She sighed. “I have no clue, Beau. I had no clue about anything, apparently. There’s…a lot we don’t know. I thought he was afraid of Ava’s spirit, but, something happened. They communicated somehow. I knew she was transformed into a Penitence spirit but there’s something still wrong with her. It has to be because of him, something he’s done. Witches and their powers over spirits are dangerous to begin with but, Blood Witches are just unpredictable with the kind of power they wield. We can do this on our own, this, this whole thing isn’t simple it never was. We need to return to the Church, call Elaine and Rook back. We need all of us working together to hunt them down.”
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