Darius landed with Elania back at the mansion.
“Astrid,” he said, “I need to stay in control for a bit. Everyone needs to know what we are up against. Fighting him won’t be easy.”
“Do you promise to give me control back afterwards?” Astrid asked
“Yes I do.”
“Then its fine.”
Lorelai came running from the house.
“Eli,” she said. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw him. “The Dark Arc, why is he out? Who broke his seal?”
“He saved us Lori. I don’t know what he saved us from though.”
“It’s why I am still in control. We should get inside. I haven’t actually fought this guy, but his hunting skills are legendary.” Elania, Lorelai, Darius and Jason gathered in the den of the mansion. “Have any of you heard of the Cloister Hunter?” He noticed the looks of confusion. “I only know what I’ve heard. When you’re in the cage, you can hear everything in Purgadum. The Cloister Hunter goes by the name of Chase. Fereneses lets him loose on contracts. Typically they are used to hunt down dark ones. When I felt his presence and noticed Elania I knew we couldn’t take him on. I may have stood a chance, but with defending your friend here, we didn’t. I asked to be let out for the fight because with Astrid’s training it’s going to take her a while before she can fly and we needed a decent distraction before we took off.”
“So that’s what Astrid was doing in the back yard,” said Lorelai
“Yes I was training her. I also helped in taking on the Assassins spirit. We may not have to kill Chase; just find out what the contract is and find a loophole. He won’t stop that easy though. I have a feeling he’s on his way, but I’ll let Astrid take over so you guys can make a plan.”
The shadows retracted and Astrid was in control again.
“We have a lot to talk about,” Lorelai said with a frown.
In Purgadum, Fereneses walked up to the cage with the last Continuum Militia hovering. He touched the cage and a spirit came out.
“Gallia,” he said with a slight condescending tone.
“You have a lot of balls letting me out, or you’re incredibly desperate.” Gallia spirit said.
“I have a task for you.”
“And what do you need me to do.”
“Your brother is fighting for the side of good and I’m betting that displeases you as much as it does me.”
“I do not fully understand how he was set loose.”
“It’s the prophecy to end me by all accounts.”
“You do realize by setting me free it could have unintended consequences for you.”
“Yes I understand that.”
“Then who is to be my slave to take over.” Fereneses lowered the militia member and the spirit fused with her and took over. “A strong body; I could get used to this. Send me to where I need to go.”
Back on earth Sparky was making laps around the mansion. They separated again.
“I’m glad you’re getting better Eli, and a good run allows me to think.” Lorelai said as they approached Astrid and Jason waiting in the foyer. “Astrid I’m still very disappointed in you. Most of it was that you didn’t trust us. Are you even listening to me?” She asked noticing that Astrid wasn’t paying attention.
“Sorry,” Astrid said looking at her, “Darius was going through hand motions with me. I’m learning, but mental projections versus actual usage feels off. He says its basics moving onto advanced, and he also says our connection right now allows it to almost the same when I use them.”
“That’s good I guess. I still don’t trust him. Then again trust is earned so time will tell. We all need to be ready.”
“For when Chase comes,” Astrid said looking at the horizon. “Darius said it’s soon.”
“Then it’s time for the hunted to fight the hunter,” Elania said with a glare into the distance.
Chase appeared in the field across the mansion with both the Cloister idol and the one to Purgadum. An arrow flew through the air and Chase deflected it shortly before the arrow exploded. Astrid came running up making hand signs. Chase swung the blade as Sparky ran up. The energy spikes were hit with bolts of lightning as sparky came straight at him. Chase smiled, held out the blade and turned it 90 degrees. An invisible hit Sparky and they separated.
“Ow,” Lorelai said standing.
“Lori what the fuck was that!”
“It wasn’t me.”
“It was me,” Chase said sending more spikes.
Astrid pushed her hands forward and two shadow tornados appeared and absorbed the spikes. Astrid brought her hands back and pushed again. The tornados sped at Chase. He held out the blade again and turned it. The tornados were cancelled out and disappeared. Astrid made more hand signs. Elania and Lorelai merged again. They vibrated and sent lightning at Chase who absorbed the blast with his blade. Astrid came around with a wave of shadows and knocked the blade out of his hands. Sparky knocked him back. Astrid touched the seal and Jason caught up with them. Chase called the blade back to him and stopped.
“You could have almost killed me. You had your shot and stopped. Why is that?” Chase questioned.
“What is your contract?” Darius asked.
“What does it matter?”
“What is the contract” Darius asked again.
“The main purpose was to send you and your host to Purgadum. However, I got the council to agree to make my contracts broad when I was imprisoned. It allows me some wiggle room. It also allows me to have a backup in case I don’t like it. In regards to you Darius, I see you and your host work well and do some actual good. It actually makes me question whether to do through with this. So there is the topic of the backup.” Chase said getting his footing.
“What is the full contract?”
“A dark being must be sent to Purgadum. It’s my final contract for my freedom. I have to follow it anyway or die.”
“We are the only dark being here on earth.” Darius responded.
“Yes and no,” Chase said taking out a crystal.
“This crystal has a demon spirit in it. It gives the one who I cast it to a demon that I can send in your place.”
“Well no one here is going to damn well do that.”
“I will,” said Jason causing everyone to turn to him. “I will take it.”
Sparky separated.
“I won’t allow it,” said Lorelai.
“Nor will I,” Elania said on the verge of tears.
“Madams, something like this was always a possibility. My task is to protect all of you. This is me doing that.”
“But Jason,” Elania said now crying.
“It’s alright. I accept it with no regrets.”
“Jason you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. This is Purgadum we are talking about.”
“Yes I do. My task is to protect my madams. This is what I was given this by Cratos. Now it is time I honored it.” Darius retreated and Astrid took over. Everyone but Chase hugged him. They let go and he stood in front of Chase. “Now that you are to be free, I have a contract I would like to call upon for you.”
“Yes sir.” Chase responded.
“It is for you to protect my madams for the rest of your life.”
“As you are freeing me from Fereneses, it will be done. I accept.”
“Then there is only one thing left to do.” Chase cast the crystal on Jason.
Jason was covered in Red and orange and fell over. He stood up again with his eyes black. Chase held the blade at the idol of Purgadum and the idol glowed and took Jason away. The idol shook and from it came a Dark skinned being wearing all black. It sped forward, jumped up and obliterated the mansion.