Book 2: Chapter 44

Book 2: Chapter 44

With no time to lose, Garrett sprang into action, flashing to the silver blade that reflected the captains face and unleashing Isabellas power just as the blade started to fall. Captain Ferneks muscles seized up, locked in place as the heavy pressure rolled over him. But Captain Fernek wasnt the target that Garrett was locked on. Behind the captain lurked a large shadow that grew deeper as Garrett glared at it.

You have observed a Void Terror, a terrifying nightmare that enjoys slowly consuming mortal minds, driving them to death. You have gained 5 EXP.

EXP: 64/360

The monster in the captains shadow tore at Garretts control, trying to break free, but Garrett wasnt about to let go of his advantage. Recognizing that only a small portion of the monsters body was in the waking World, Garrett jumped to the dream, only to find himself in a pure hellscape. The entire room was filled with shadows that danced like flames, and the captain, who sat in the midst of them, was slowly being eroded by a many-tentacled monster that was all hooks and barbs. Looking like something from an eldritch gods worst nightmare, the monster lunged toward Garrett as soon as he appeared, its body transforming into one big mouth.

Dashing backward, Garrett set Isabelles hair spinning, battering away the reaching tentacles that tried to stuff her into its mouth. With a gesture, her hair rose up around her like a wave, stabbing out at lightning speed to open up a deep gash in the Void Terrors body. The amorphous monster drew back, more shadows flooding into its body to heal the wound and a powerful surge of energy gathering the flames to the tip of one of its waving tentacles.

With a roar, it threw the flames at Isabelle, forcing her to use her hair to block it. The flames licked at her black hair, sending an acrid smell into the air as it burned. Sensing that he was outmatched, Garrett ceded control back to Isabelle who let out a paralyzing shriek, blowing out the flames and shattering the tentacle that carried it. Her hair began to billow, spreading out in a sea around her that whipped into a hurricane. Her hands extended like claws and she dashed forward, practically throwing herself into the monsters mouth. At the last moment, she drifted like a leaf, barely avoiding the maw that snapped shut, and then raked the Void Terror across the eyes.

Garrett watched her closely, wanting to see how she fought against such a large nightmare. Though the Void Terror was not quite the same level as the terrifying chosen he had seen, it was a tremendously powerful creature, and simply shrugged off the blows that Isabelle unleashed like they were nothing. Engaged in a deadly ballet, the two greater nightmares twisted and wove, trying to do as much damage to the other as they could. The Void Terror filled the empty space like a flood of black flame, chasing Isabelle as she flitted this way and that, using her hair to propel herself at eye-watering speed.

Her nails tore the Void Terror apart, but it just returned to its normal form as if nothing had happened, relentlessly trying to grab on to Isabelle. It soon became apparent that the attacks that the Dire Spirit was unleashing were not having any effect, so Garrett took a risk and focused his mind, sending out a Dream Seed. He knew that planting them in the Void Terror was useless, as it was too strong for him to control without a guardian seed, and his abilities would not support another one. Instead, he was worried that the Void Terror might consume them, absorbing the energy they contained to revitalize itself.

Instead, he targeted Captain Fernek, who was oblivious to the battle happening in the dream. Fernek was a mortal, and as a mortal, should have been largely immune to the influence of the denizens of the dream, but somewhere along the line he must have been infected with dream energy, setting him up as a target for the Void Terror. The seed that Garrett threw out settled into the captains mind, and Garrett willed it to grow, adding another and then another.

Five experience points dripped away in an instant as Garrett sent five seeds into the captain, willing each to grow into a single bloom. He had no idea what this would do to the poor man, but at this point he was angry enough that he didnt care. He had been nursing a deep fury for days, suppressing it to make sure he took no risky action, but now, under the influence of the Void Terrors black flame, his emotions began to boil. Intellectually, he knew he was making a mistake, but that rational part of his brain had been shoved into a small corner and he was now operating on the pure rage that filled him.

Another five experience points transformed into more flowers, each one blooming inside Captain Fernek and then crawling out into the room. Normally, a seed would bind itself to its host by wrapping its roots deep in their mind, but these dream flowers were just blooming and marching to war. As soon as they left the Captain, the black flames that made up the majority of the Void Terrors body assaulted them, starting to wither their leaves and petals, but Garrett had been in this sort of situation more than once and knew exactly what to do.

Hunt.

EXP: 32/320

Mentally cursing at how many experience points he had wasted, Garrett didnt hesitate. All of the flowers that remained sent their energy surging into Isabelle, crumbling to the ground as Garrett commanded his Dire Spirit guardian to return. Instead of riding along with her, he disconnected and opened his eyes, his teeth gritted tightly together as dark flames ignited on his body, burned away by the golden light from the throne. Bearing the pain, he took a deep breath, taking solace in the fact that if there was any hidden influence left in him, the throne would remove it. He knew that there had been other nightmares, and maybe even worse, lurking around the building, watching for him to emerge, and he was just hoping that none of them could detect his projection.

It wasnt long before Isabelle had returned, and Garrett met her in the mirror world. She floated through the mirror, ten brilliant rainbow flowers in her hair. Her hair parted and she produced a bundle that she tossed to the ground, revealing a stunned Captain Fernek. A soul spark glowed weakly in him, but he was still incredibly disoriented and didnt seem to realize that he had already become awakened. Standing in front of him, Garrett stared down at the sprawled out man.

At someones direction, you targeted one of my pawns. Normally, I wouldnt care about that at all, but in this case, I have particular plans for that piece. Not only did you target him, but you targeted someone he was using and nearly ruined an operation that we have spent considerable time on. Again, normally I wouldnt care about this, but I find myself irritated.

Crouching down, Garrett locked gazes with the captain.

Do you know what I am referring to?

It took a full minute for Fernek to answer, but Garrett was happy to give him time.

Y you are talking about Carraway. And that cripple. Klein.

Very good. One of the best characteristics a pawn can have is the ability to recognize opportunity, but you look to be in rough shape so Ill just spell it out for you. Currently, you have something I want. Specifically, everything you know about the person who hired you. And, wonder of wonders, I have something you want. The opportunity to live. However, what I have comes in a few different kinds of flavors. Flavor one, I turn you into a drooling slave with no free will who can only follow direct commands by having one of my flowers burrow its way into your skull and consume your mind. Flavor number two, I have my pretty friend Isabelle here turn you into one of those.

Garrett gestured toward the door as a Pale Fiend floated through, its dead eyes fixed on the captain.

Theyre not great at parties, and theyre terrible conversationalists, but they make good fodder for throwing at my enemies, and theyre loyal as well.

A shriek broke out of the Pale Fiends mouth, causing a noticeable shiver to run down Ferneks spine and he tried to back up, only to find an undulating wall of hair behind him.

You dont seem to fancy the first two options, so let me give you the third. Maybe youll like it better. Third flavor of this once in a lifetime opportunity. We become friends. You tell me what you know, and I let you go. Of course, Ill have the occasional favor to ask of you, and Id love to keep up on what youre doing, but no will-destroying flowers, no spectral screams. What do you say? Want to be friends?