Chapter 24 - With the Devil

Kaden held his breath as he stared into the eyes of his former comrade. The young Huntsclan cadets could feel the tension all around them as the once friends realized that they were on opposite sides of a war that was older than all of them put together. The eerie silence seem to stretch on for days until Eric finally decided to speak. “You betrayed me,” his voice was nothing more than a whisper, but in a room so still, it felt like a thunderous boom to the ears of those around him.

“I never meant hurt to you,” Kaden's voice was just as soft.

“I don't blame you,” Eric admitted, causing Kaden's eyes to widen in surprise. Eric then cringed as he sounded more emotional than he meant to. Kaden than watched as Eric eye's once again grew cold. Eric knew what he had to do, he had to make an example out of Kaden, and he knew exactly how to do it. “Number One,” Eric spoke and Number One turned her head towards the Huntsman. “Hold him down,” he instructed.

“Yes, sir,” she walked over, a smirk in her eyes as she had been trusted with the task over the others. She pointed her spear downward and took her place as Eric lifted his own.

The dark skinned boy said nothing as he walked out of the room and disappeared from everyone's sight. A moment later, there was a burst of green light accompanied by a devastating boom that rattled the whole cabin. A moment later, his voice was heard, “Let him sit up.” Number One frowned at the idea, but did what she was told as she took a step back and slowly let him rise.

Kaden gasped as he watched Eric drag Fred across the floor by the collar. “Let him go,” he demanded at the sight.

“As you wish,” Eric gladly obeyed as he let Fred drop like a rock. “This is who I blame,” he made clear before kicking Fred on to his stomach, who cringed in pain. Eric twirled his spear before sinking it down into Fred's still opened wound. Fred yelled out in pain as he grabbed the spear with both hands trying to pull it out, but it was unless in his weaken state.

But Fred's screams weren't the only ones that pierced through the night air, as they were accompanied by Kaden's, who sounded as if he were the one being stabbed. “Leave him alone!” Kaden cried out. “You'll kill him!” He went to stand, but the moment he tried he felt the tip of Number One's spear at this chest. He gave a low growl as his dark eyes looked into hers. The stare was so intense that Number One couldn't help but to gasp sharply as she slightly flinched at the murderous intent that was directed towards her.

“That was kind of the point,” Kane's eyes went back to Eric as he spoke. “This filth, has done a number on your head and I'm sure that once he's dead, you'll begin to think clearly.”

At that Kaden scoffed causing Eric to look at him curiously. “You're all talk, you know that?” Eric narrowed his eyes as the other continued. “Let's not forget who, out of the two of us, was given the higher title. Whose hands have actually been stained with that of a dragon,” he laid down the facts. “Because I don't know about you, but I'll never forget that when push came to shove, you just weren't man enough.” Eric lowered his gaze as he heard the truth. “Pretend all you like, but I am the only true slayer in this room!” Kaden roared, as without warning he grabbed Number One's spear by the handle and yanked it towards himself and to the side, causing the young cadet to lose her balance before she fell to the ground, her weapon now in the enemy's hold.

Kaden pointed the spear towards Eric, who eyes had grown wide as a green blast came barreling towards him. Being agile, Eric quickly flipped backwards, his feet touching down on the wall before he sprung towards Kaden, colliding into him roughly. Kaden dropped the spear as he and Eric went rolling across the floor.

They landed with Kaden on top, who drew back his fist and struck Eric across the face. Number One, who finally recovered from her fall looked towards the other three cadets. “Shoot him!” she ordered before cringing and grabbing her ankle. Her fall had been anything but graceful as she had sprung it. The remaining cadets, seem to snap out of whatever daze they were in, when they heard her words, for they had been amazed that the Huntsmen in front of them, who once would have died for each other, were now coming to blows.

Number Twenty-four was the first to react as he aimed his weapon at Kaden, who had been overpowered as he was now on the receiving end of an assault. Number Twenty-four watched carefully as he waited for an clear shot. “Seventeen!” he yelled at the other male cadet and made a head motion towards Number One.

Number Seventeen, understanding the silent command, ran over to his fallen comrade, sliding to his knees as he took off his backpack and pulled how a first aid kit.

Yan Yan, who with luck, had gone unnoticed by the intruders, quickly dashed across the room where she recovered, with her mouth, the bottle Kaden had been forced to drop and made her way over to Fred. Once by his side, she opened and applied the potion before placing the container against his mouth. “Drink quickly, little one,” she begged as she lifted his head and forced the liquid down his throat. She didn't know how much longer Kaden could hold out as Forty-two had joined the fight with he and Eric.

Nothing else mattered to Yan Yan as she watched her boy, praying that the potion she slaved over worked and that he would open his eyes and see her. Her praying seem to help as she finally saw Fred's deep blue orbs, his wound was now almost completely healed. “Ya- Yani,” he breathed and reached out to scratched her behind the ear.

“Kill it!” Fred suddenly heard and before he had time to register what was actually said, a bright green blast flew passed his head and hit Yan Yan, a sickening crack was heard as her small frail body hit the wall.

Fred quickly sat up, ignoring the pain that still electrified his body as he looked at Yan Yan's limp body slide to the floor, her purple eyes open, with no sign of life within them. Tears wield in his eyes as he realized his beloved graduation was no longer apart of this world.

“You bastards!” His scream was raw and feral, sounding more like a vicious animal than anything a human could make. Orange and yellow flames circled around him as he turned into his dragon form. He took a deep breath before blowing fire in every direction, not caring what was in the way, not even Kaden, as he had been blinded by his anger and his lost.

As the flames came racing towards them, each person took evasive action. Number Seventeen, dropped everything before scooping Number One in his arms, bridal style, and moving her out of danger. Number Twenty-four twirled his spear rapidly, dispensing the flames and making them harmless.

Number Forty-two, who was the quickest on her feet, ran towards the flames before jumping clear over them as she reached for her utility belt. Meanwhile, Eric and Kaden, who had been fighting until they heard Fred's scream, suddenly felt an overwhelming heat wash over them. “Get down!” Eric yelled, pushing Kaden to the ground with him. “Shield!” he yelled, activating a small transparent barrier around them.

Each breathed heavily as they found themselves in very close proximity. “Eric,” Kaden whispered. Eric turned his eyes away as they both realized what he had just done. He had saved him. But then again how could he not? The Huntsqueen wanted him alive. He was only following order. “Eric,” Kaden repeated just as softly, causing the other to look at him again. Kaden smiled before he tilted his head up and his lips brushed against Eric's.

Eric eyes had grown wide at the strange gesture. What if the cadets saw them? But how could they as the cabin had been set on fire and black smoke surrounded them? He was toying with him! He was only trying to buy time. Time Eric would not allow him to have. Eric quickly sat up and decked Kaden across the face, blood flew out of his mouth with the motion. Eric then reached for the blade he kept around his ankle and stabbed Kaden's shoulder, causing him to scream. “Don't play with me!” Eric demanded before lowering his shield and allowing the black smoke to engulf them. “Cadets!” he yelled, unable to see them. “Sound off!”

“One!” Number One yelled out, before she was followed by the others.

“Seventeen!”

“Twenty-four!”

“Forty-two!”

Eric nodded as they were all accounted for. “Where's my dragon?” He wanted to know.

“I got him, sir!” He heard Number Forty-two.

As the smoke and flames began to die down Eric was able to see that Number Forty-two had caught Fred in one of her nets. He smirked at the sight. “Good job, cadet.” And as Number Forty-two beamed at the recognition, Number One frowned. “Come here and watch this traitor.”

“Yes, sir,” she quickly made her way to take his place as Eric, who was now walking with a slight limp, took his time making his way over to the dragon, picking up Number One's fallen spear as he did so.

Fred gave Eric a dirty look as he stood over him. “How does it feel, knowing I'll be the last face you'll ever see?” he asked, his tone revealing his joy at the situation.

“frack you,” was Fred's only reply.

Eric placed the spear tip on Fred, as he was still in his dragon from. “You heal quickly I see,” he commented. “This time I won't give you the chance to recover. He aimed for the soft underbelly of his captive, knowing that striking here would result in a clean slay. He then rose his spear ready to make his, long overdue, first kill. Fred struggled against the netting, knowing it was a lost cause, but if tonight would be his last night, he would go down fighting.

Eric began to make a downward motion with his spear. “Stop, please!” came Kaden's voice from the other side of the room. He was on his knees, his hand covering his bleeding shoulder, which he could no longer feel. “I'll do whatever you want. Just leave him alone. Please,” his voice was scared and desperate. “Eric,” he called his name.

“You are to come back to the Huntsclan.”

“I'll come back, but only if he's alive,” he gave his condition.

“You will also have no more contact with this- this thing,” he indicated Fred.

Kaden went to agree, but hesitated before looking at Fred, who looked at him longingly. Catching this, Eric stomped down on Fred's underbelly, causing Fred to curse loudly at him. Eric raised his spear again. “Okay! Okay!” Kaden yelled out. “I'll never see him again. I promise.” Tears fell down his eyes.

“Then we are agreed.” Eric safely lowered his spear to the ground. “Let's go home,” he spoke to his cadets.

Eric watched as Number Forty-two placed a hand on Kaden's shoulder before reaching for her utility belt with her free hand, they both than disappeared. Eric then looked to Number Twenty-four, who nodded before pressing the button on his on utility belt and disappearing as well. Number Seventeen held Number One just a little tighter as she reached for her belt and they vanished from Eric's sight.

Eric once again looked down at Fred. “Know it's only out of respect, for the friendship that Kaden and I used to have, that you life is being spared, but if we ever come across each other's path again, there will be no mercy for you,” he made clear and was surprised to hear the other laugh.

“Kaden was right,” he began. “You're just not man enough.”

Eric frowned deeply before he cried out, lifting his spear and driving it into the underbelly of the dragon at his feet. Blood splattered everywhere. “At least I am a man,” were the last words Fred heard before he took his last breath and his eyes closed forever. “So much for a clean slay,” Eric thought out loud before reaching for his belt and headed home.

The four cadets waited patiently for their leader to return at the Transport Station located within the academy. The transporter than began to hum before a orange light engulfed the room and Eric appeared before them. Each of them looked a little surprised to see him covered in blood. “Huntsmen,” Number Seventeen called out as he quickly made his way towards him, “are you injured?”

“No, I'm fine,” he reassured the medic in their group as he placed his hand on his shoulder. “Where's the traitor?” he asked, looking across the room.

“He's in-” Number One began as she rested on the floor, her ankle not strong enough to allow her to stand.

“I'm speaking to Forty-two,” he cut her off, causing her to look more wounded.

“As soon I as arrived, I contacted Team Delta to escort him to the Nursing Station. After he's patched up, he will be returned to his quarters, where he will be locked in until orders come down from the Huntsqueen, sir,” she reported.

“Good.” He nodded his approval, before he stepped off the transporter platform and began to make his way towards the door, his limp very apparent by now.

“Huntsmen?” Number Seventeen spoke.

Eric turned to him. “Yes?”

“Did you slay him after all?” he couldn't help but ask.

“Him?” Eric shook his head. “It,” he corrected. “And yes, I did. Because we don't show mercy to dragons and we don't negotiate with traitors.” He then looked around at them all. “Understood?”

“Yes, sir!” they barked.

Eric smiled tiredly at them. “You're all fine cadets,” he told them before he left the room.

“I need to go to the Nursing Station,” Number One spoke quietly. She felt as if she had disappointed her team leader. And how could she not, when it was her weapon that had fallen into enemies hands. Maybe Number Forty-two was right, maybe she had just been the biggest suck up.

Number Twenty-four reached down to pick her up, but was stopped with a touch on the arm. He turned to see Number Seventeen. “Thank you, Twenty-four, but she is my responsibility,” spoke the medic.

“Of course.” Twenty-four stepped out of the way. The four than left the room and went their separated ways.


Yan Yan jolted into motion before she coughed life back into her body. Her body was sore and her brain felt as if were going to pound right out of her head. “Dammit,” she cursed as she was now down to six lives. She tired to stand on all four feet, but her legs felt like jell-o underneath her. Then she remembered how she had lost her life and her head snapped up looking at her surrounding. The cabin was nearly gone, burned to the ground. In fact, in some places, fire still remained, but was slowly flickering out.

As Yan Yan continued to look around it was then that she noticed Fred, in his human form, under netting, and not moving. “Boy!” she yelled out. She went to run to him, but still had not regain her bearings; she tripped and fell several times as she made her way over. She collapsed on top of him, breathing heavily as she shook him, trying to ignore the blood that surrounded them. “No, no,” she cried as she laid her head on his chest and dug her claws into him, but she felt no movement.

Fred was dead.

Yan Yan had never cried before. She had also never cared about any of her charges before this one. And yet, he was the one she had failed. Yan Yan wiped away her tears. She knew what had to be done. It would call for great sacrifice, but she would do anything for her boy. She would make this up to him. But there was only one other who could help her now. “Fu Dog,” she whispered his name as if it left a disgusting taste in her mouth. Asking him for help would not be easy, because seeking assistance from Fu Dog, for Yan Yan, was like dealing. . . with the Devil.

To Be Continued. . .

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