THE HUNTED HUNTER

Chapter 2: BENEATH THE BLEEDING VEIL

Kael's boots crashed softly against the broken ground as he raced the dying forest path. Monsters lurked in the shadows and they all felt his presence. None dared step foot in his path as they knew what he was capable of. 

Kael could feel their presence but he didn't pay any heed to them. He had a goal and he wasn't going to let any distract him..

The dull scent of ash and blood lingered in the air and with each step he took, Kael could feel the entire forest sink further and further into silence. He was out of Blood Valley and on his way to his target. 

The scroll the Order had sent to him made everything clear. Eldrin Varrick was hiding the Cursed close to the Worldroot Tree, a place rumored to be the home of the devils as it was the place where the Bleeding Veil was the weakest. Kael did not mind though. He never did. They were rumors. And even if it wasn't, he'd kill whatever came out of the veil without hesitation. 

His palm stayed on the hilt of his god-blade as he surged forward, his gaze never leaving the path before him. 

The path finally led to a fork road by a low ridge, and there, in the shelter of a torn down fence and the remains of a weed infested grove, stood an old barn. The beams supporting the roof of above the corridor creaked as the wind picked on, hinting its ancientness. Kael knew it wouldn't stand long, but that wasn't what caught his attention.

Tied to one of the rickety beams was a strong horse, a leather saddle strapped to its back. Upon seeing him, the horse snorted and kicked up chunks of dirt as if it had been expecting him.

Kael walked up to it silently, stroking its side gently as he ran his hands down the strong reins. He could run faster than the horse, but if he rode on it, he could save up enough energy in case he needed to confront Eldrin. 

“Good boy," he muttered under his breath as he started to release the reins. Its coat was thick and black and its eyes grey and bright. Kael could tell it was young, exactly what he needed.

Grunting, he arranged the saddle and placed a foot on the stirrup. As he swung a leg over the back, a voice boomed through the splintered doorway of the barn.

"You thinking of stealing my horse, eh stranger?"

Kael stopped, slowly raising his head. He remained silent.

The large barn door groaned heavily and a bony elf in a worn patchwork vest stepped into the sunlight. He had in his hands a magic-infused shotgun, its barrel steaming with magic waiting to be shot. His fingers sat on the trigger as he raised it up, pointing it at Kael. But then, his ears pricked, and his golden eyes locked with Kael's.

Then recognition set in.

The elf's eyes widened and his lips parted, his words caught in his throat. Kael's eyes told him everything he needed to know.

“Kael Draven,” he whispered under a shaky breath. The elf's resolve faltered and he quickly brought his gun down as he began mumbling apologies. He quickly averted Kael's gaze before retreating quietly into the barn. The door creaked loudly as he shut it behind him, and not too long after, a loud click was heard from the other side. 

“Hia," Kael shouted as he whipped the horse with the reins and rode away without a glance back.

___________________________

The trees groaned and creaked around him as Eldrin Varrick ran—half-staggering, half-sprawling over roots slick with rot. He slid down hills and climbed over rocks, his breathing ragged, and raspy as he raced through the haunted woods. Cold sweat ran down his neck, mingling with blood from a new gash across his cheek, sending a stinging pain that he tried so much to ignore. 

"They've found me," he muttered under his quickened breath as he pulled down a branch in his way and raced by it. “My gods, the Order's found me…"

The silence that had coated the forest was deafening and Eldrin felt he was going to run mad from the thoughts that had begun to plague his mind. To chase the thoughts, he began speaking to himself. 

“Get to the Worldroot, save them," he said as he crawled over a large root. His thoughts traveled to the Order and he bit his lips. They considered him not a normal threat. 

The Order would never send mere mercenaries. They sent the Hunter when they wanted someone eliminated.

Kael Draven. 

As the name crossed his thoughts, Eldrin eyes darted around him. He could already sense that something was wrong. The Worldroot was close now as he could feel the gentle thrum of its roots beneath his feet like a pulse in the ground, but something about the forest felt… different tonight.

Eldrin turned around. All that surrounded him were trees twisted at unnatural angles by centuries of the cursed magic seeping out of the Bleeding Veil. There was no sound of footsteps, or scent. But the feeling that he was being followed did not fade. 

Still no matter where he turned, there was nothing.

Trying to ignore the feeling, he pushed on.

Finally, Eldrin arrived at a massive clearing where the trees gave way, spreading out beneath a sky tainted black. Thunder grumbled in the distance and the clouds above churned and twisted, warped by the Bleeding Veil. The Seal still kept out the evil on the other side, but out here, in this region of the Worldroot Tree, the effect was loose, and the veil was at its thinnest. Reality glitched above Eldrin and one could see and feel the demons pounding like raging beasts, waiting to be let out. 

The bringers of the Curse. 

At the center of it was the Worldroot-a tree so massive and older than time whose roots spread across the woods, wider and deeper than anything. Its bark was as black stone and its branches stretched upwards like dried-out arms begging the sky for mercy.

At its base, carved into the ground like a wound, and hidden by thick foliage, was a cave-the resistance’s the last refuge.

A low growl vibrated from its entrance as Gareth, the guard Eldrin had positioned to protect the cave in his absence, stepped out. He was a half-werewolf half-Elf-short with long ears, claws caked with dirt and his amber eyes narrowed.

"You were followed?" Gareth asked as he walked up to where Eldrin stood. 

"No–" Eldrin began to say, but his words died in his throat. 

The wind suddenly died and a strange cold clothed the air. 

And then… a loud thump sounded behind him.

Eldrin and Gareth turned, gazing in the direction of the trees. Right in the clearing stood Kael, his god-blade in his fist, eyes pinned on Eldrin.

“No,” Eldrin breathed. Gareth snarled as he made to rush towards Kael, but Eldrin raised a hand, stopping him in his tracks. "Go back inside."

"But–"

"Now."

Gareth kept his eyes on Kael for some seconds before growling. Stepping back, he turned before ducking inside the cave.

Seeing that he was gone, Eldrin turned to face Kael. "So the Order sent you," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I suppose I should be honored."

Kael said nothing at first, just stepped closer, the blade humming in his hand like it was hungry. “Yes,” Kael said finally. “And I’m here to end you.” He pointed his sword to the cave entrance. "And every Cursed you’re hiding.”

Eldrin flinched at the word. He wanted to scream, to tell Kael that they were not cursed, that the Order had lied to him. 

But he knew Kael wouldn’t hear it. So instead, he turned to his next option-protecting his people. 

Growling, Eldrin crouched low. His bones snapped and his muscles tore and morphed. Black fur erupted from his flesh and shadowed leather wings tore his back apart, ripping his shirt off. His eyes turned crimson red with hints of amber as long fangs shot out of his mouth. 

Eldrin transformed to his beastly form, now towering eight feet tall. He let out a loud snarl as his wings opened up.

If anyone saw his form, they'd immediately be consumed with fear, but Kael's reaction was different. He merely cocked his head, smiling as he gripped the god-blade harder.

And then they both attacked.