Chapter 37: An unknown ethereal

Chapter 37: An unknown ethereal

The first responders had cordoned off the area around the mayor's residence, but none of the rescue teams had managed to get close to the mansion to attempt an evacuation. The mayor was trapped in his residence along with his family and servants.

With all their attempts to take down the Ethereal on the mansion grounds ending in failure, the cops had set up a defensive perimeter and called for backup.

Seeing that they were dealing with creatures from another world, the authorities in Faros thought it wise to enlist the help of the Department of Mystical Affairs.

Eileen and her agents had foiled the sinister plans of many twisted, power-hungry Mystics in the past, but they had no experience fighting entities from another world.

Though Eileen wanted to back herself to break the stalemate at the mansion, after hearing the details over the radio, she didn't feel too confident. The only one who had any experience dealing with bloodthirsty Ethereals was the guy standing before her.

Keeping the interest of the citizens in mind, Eileen swallowed her pride and addressed Xander in a much softer tone.

"There has been an Ethereal sighting outside the mayor's residence in Galing Avenue. The cops have set up a defensive perimeter around the place, but they can't get through. The mayor and his family are still trapped inside the mansion."

Xander raised his left eyebrow and gave her a look of disapproval. "I don't see how that concerns me. I was here with you all this time. There's no way you can pin the blame on me again."

"I'm not blaming you for anything." Eileen paused for a moment and then forced the next unwanted words out of her mouth in a much calmer tone. "We need your help to deal with the Ethereal threat."

"That sounds like a problem for your department. Don't drag me into this. I'm sure you and your agents are more than capable of handling a few creatures from the other side," Xander sneered.

Eileen wanted to snap back at Xander, but the sensitive situation forced her to treat the Dreamwalker with more respect than she thought he deserved.

"If anything happens to the mayor, the whole city is gonna tear itself apart. There'll be riots on every street come morning," Eileen said.

"Good luck with that." With that final snarky remark, Xander turned to go.

But Eileen wasn't ready to just let him walk away. She balled her fists and called out after him, enticing him with an offer. "We will compensate you for your troubles. Fifty thousand vireks!"

Xander stopped but didn't turn around. "We're talking about the mayor here. I'm sure you can manage a better offer." He snickered with an air of contempt.

"How much?" Eileen muttered angrily.

Leena couldn't believe that Xander was haggling about his payment instead of trying to save the mayor. It was as if the only thing that mattered to him in this world was money.

After pondering a while, Xander turned around to face Eileen. "Eighty thousand vireks and a clean chit from the Department of Mystical Affairs. I don't want you or any of your lackeys bothering me again."

"You're crossing the line here, Xander Nyxon," Eileen muttered, holding back her suppressed anger.

Xander grinned and replied, "The way I see it, you don't have a choice. The longer you spend haggling with me, the worst it's gonna get. Either accept my conditions or take a hike." n-)o-(V--e-/L/.b((I.(n

"It's the mayor she's talking about. He's the head of administration in Faros. Without him everything is going to fall apart," Leena intervened, hoping to make her friend see reason.

But Xander had already made up his mind. "He could be a member of the Lower Council, and I still wouldn't care. Nothing in this world comes for free," he replied without even bothering to look at her.

Pressed into a tight spot, Eileen was forced to relent. "Fine, you'll get what you asked for. Just help us evacuate the mayor and his family."

Xander shook his head, letting a wry grin flash on his face. "It's always about the elites. You wouldn't have bothered if it was an ordinary family of fishermen," he huffed. "Either way, it's all good as long as I'm getting paid. Let's get moving."

***

Riding with the Red Jackets was the last thing Xander had expected when he left his apartment in the evening. Every Talent wielder in Merantis knew the Department of Mystical Affairs was composed of prejudiced Ordinaires who hated Mystics and were always looking for excuses to frame them for crimes they didn't commit.

However, the recent turn of events had flipped the table completely, leaving the Red Jackets with no choice but to seek the help of the Dreamwalkers.

Though Eileen held several personal grudges against Xander, she too was forced to swallow her hatred and treat the Dreamwalker as an equal.

Flashing blue beacon lights intermittently, the white SUV drove across Faros at top speed. With the curfew in place, the streets were nearly empty save for the lonesome cop cars patrolling the main roads and the stray dogs barking in the shadowy alleys.

As the SUV crossed the dark maze of alleys leading to Kessler Street, Xander lowered the rear window and looked out of the vehicle.

The starless sky was overcast with black clouds, and a foggy darkness blanketed the deserted streets. Though it was the middle of winter, a warm breeze was blowing from the north, and the smell of rotten mushrooms pervaded the air.

Sitting beside the driver, Eileen had her eyes glued to the road ahead. Even with both the fog lights turned on, navigating through this suffocating darkness proved to be a difficult challenge.

The blaring sirens and red beacon lights flashing in the distance informed them that they had reached Galing Avenue. The whole area had been cordoned off by patrol vehicles and metal barricades.

As the SUV came to a smooth halt near the makeshift checkpoint, a young cop approached the vehicle.

"Eileen Williams, Chief Investigator, Department of Mystical Affairs," Eileen said, flashing her badge. "We're here to help."

The cop looked at her with terrified eyes and mumbled a feeble reply. "We...can't stop that thing. You're all going to die...just like them."

"You're supposed to be a cop. Get a grip on yourself," Eileen reprimanded with raised eyebrows, but her words had little effect on the young officer. He kept staring into the blank space behind them like a madman.

Leena quickly stepped out of the SUV and approached the cop. "What exactly did you see out there?" she asked.

"An abomination. The curse of the Gods," the cop stuttered nervously. "You can't fight it. You should run while you still can."

"It's going to be fine. We're Dreamwalkers," Leena spoke reassuringly.

The young cop kept mumbling incomprehensible words as Xander and the others walked through the checkpoint. Eileen stationed two of her agents at the entrance and ordered the others to follow her lead.

As Xander and his companions walked up to the mansion grounds, a gruesome sight met their eyes.

Blood-soaked bodies of cops in uniform were strewn across the road. Some had apple-sized holes in their chests while others had multiple gaping wounds in their abdomen through which their guts were spilling out like meaty ribbons.

The few cops who were still in one piece were cowering behind their vehicles, drenched in sweat and tears.

Among them was Detective Locksley himself. Though he didn't look injured, his jacket was covered in blood, and his face looked gaunt and pale. It was almost as if he'd seen a ghost.

The foggy darkness enveloping the mansion grounds made it impossible for them to see what was happening. Xander and his companions had no clue what was in store for them.

"What happened here?" Eileen asked, approaching the detective.

Detective Locksley was shivering in fear and almost jumped out of his shoes as he heard her voice. Without getting up from his hiding spot, he lifted his eyes to meet her gaze.

"We weren't prepared for something like this," he whispered in a cold voice. "We've already lost fifteen patrol officers."

"Why didn't you call for backup?" Eileen asked, looking around nervously.

"Our radios aren't working. The best we could do was to send a runner to the HQ. I guess...he made it."

Eileen and the others were still looking at the gruesome scene when Leena grabbed Xander's left arm and pressed it tight. "It's clearing up. Look over there."

Xander slowly shifted his gaze, narrowing his eyes on the mansion ground. As the fog gradually dissipated, the carpet of green grass covering the front lawn finally became visible.

Eileen was about to shout out a new set of instructions when her voice died inside her throat. As the silver rays of the waning moon glazed the front lawn, she caught a glimpse of the grotesque abomination floating ten feet above the ground, blocking the only entrance to the mansion.

It was a monstrous red eye with grizzly black eyelashes and dozens of barbed tentacles emerging from its back.

The rotund eyeball was easily as big as a fully grown Gray Elephant and each of its squirming tentacles measured over three meters in length. Its jet black iris enclosed a coral red pupil which was dilating and constricting at regular intervals, and its flabby eyelids were covered in slimy greens scales.

The agents from the Department of Mystical Affairs froze where they stood, their knees seized by a sudden weakness. Their hearts were pounding rapidly inside their chests, and their palms had turned ice cold.

Eileen slowly turned to Xander and asked in a feeble whisper, "What the hell is that thing?"

Xander tightened his grip on his revolver as he swallowed an airy lump in his throat. "I have no idea. I've never encountered this kind of Ethereal before."