426: || Chapter 415 || Monsters In The Dark

|| Chapter 415 || Monsters In The Dark

Sun had set and the darkness loomed over the crooked roofs of Helios's quaint city. Lamps are lit, hanging on rough walls, illuminating the dim narrow streets. Within Jagra's abode, a silence, so peaceful and suspicious, wraps the entire building, shrouding every room and hallway.

Three bedrooms are filled with makeshifts beds, each with one little slumbering child. After a full day of playing and laughing, the little ones fell asleep as soon their heads hit their mattresses. Their little snores and peaceful expressions souls warm one's ice-cold heart.

Click!

The gears snapped into place. With satisfaction, Jagra faintly nodded as he finished the last of his work. He'd promised to house several adults and children in his home. Thus, he needed to be more than certain to ensure the safety of these people. With an exhausted sigh, he drew away from his desk and turned to see Erik, the giant Grekellian, ambling into his workroom with a cheery expression.

Honestly, of all the people within his house, wasn't he supposed to be the most exhausted? Carrying and nursing all those children for hours, even Pola couldn't take it and finally blacked out in exhaustion in the drawing room. The two caretakers were in a comparable situation.

'Are Grekellian men built different?' Jagra question silently. Hmp. He quickly erased the thought away.

"I assume Lady Pola has retired for the night?" Erik raised his brows with a soft smile as he approached.

Jagra realized with Erik's height before him, he was as tiny as a mouse before an elephant. "She is sleeping in the drawing room. I'll wake her up on my way. If you wish, I can prepare the extra bedroom for your stay."

"I appreciate the offer, kind Jagra. But I should accompany the men to watch for the night." Erik politely decline.

"You've enjoyed our soldiers' company now?"

Erik gave out a laugh. The cords on his neck pulsed, intimidating the little man before him. "I do have to admit. My people do not possess a hint of Helios' brightness and silence. Even our rebels crowd our streets at night. I find the company of your sentinels interesting and spirited."

Shrugging, Jagra snorts. "There's not much difference as what I have observed in our years of cooperation. Like the warriors you are, Helion or Grekellian, your sweat oozes, one could smell your stinking feet from miles away, and wine cellars are emptied in a flash."

Erik pats his belly in a fit of laughter, Jagra had to silence him with a helpless glare. People were sleeping!

"Well, I do agree on that." Erik grins.

Helplessly, Jagra didn't feel right about heading off to bed while his guests are left burning the midnight oil. Despite Erik's assurances, he too decided to spend the whole night awake. After all, he had a lot of work to finish. The night was long.

The candlelight wanes as several minutes passed. The skies deepened as a soft light flicker within the Jagra's work room. As he worked, the stone relic he cherishes is situated at the edge of the table facing the gaping doorway. His busy silhouette could be seen on the wall of the dark hallway. Shadows danced within the orange candlelight, flickering as a faint breeze passes through the window.

The tiny knife against the complex metallic device paused. Jagra's eyes narrowed, and he looks towards the open windows. He wasn't the only one who sensed the abnormality.

"Did you feel that?" Erik approached behind him. Caution washed away the serenity of his expression.

"A powerful mana...", Muttered Jagra.

It was brief but it certainly collided with the barrier protecting the Jagra's little estate.

Jagra turned to the stone relic on the table. He scrutinized it for a few seconds before concluding. "We felt it, but the artifact hasn't revealed any reaction. Perhaps, it's because of our location... or is it something else?"

"Or do you not think that your invention possesses some defects?"

This question earned Erik a spiteful glare from the man standing in front of it.

With a sigh, Erik nodded. "I'll go and see if there is any abnormality in our location causing the problem."

Erik left the room with heavy steps, leaving Jagra to frown at the window. He had infused his own mana into the barrier stone relic, so he knew well enough that it must have been something unrelated to his device. However, Erik's words weren't all false. Of course, some issues would occur in the process. Tsk. However, he could not help but be offended.

Dira steps down the porch, glancing at the sentinels cautiously scanning the area. They looked well hidden in the dark. Their figures, obscured by deeper shadows of some trees and structures. Even their presences seemed to diminish. Suppressing their mana wasn't terribly difficult but Erik could sense them.

The giant man wasn't difficult to stop in the area. He stood out even if he would try to hide so why bother?

Jagra leaned through the window, searching Erik's figure. A frown filled his face. It seems like there wasn't anything amiss. The cold breeze blew into the room. Darkness loomed eerily. The sentinels were posted, the artifact was working well, and the children were safe asleep. Everything seemed fine.

But why did he feel like something was wrong? A dreadful feeling crawled up from his spine, pressing against his chest. He couldn't ignore it.

Exhaling he drew back from the window and turned around, rolling his shoulders to relief the ache in them. His gaze lifted.

A little girl stood at the doorway. Bright eyes gleamed under the flickering candlelight.

Jagra jumped in fright. almost knocking down the side table beside him. The wood clattered loudly before it stilled. His chest is heaving, and his eyes are wide. It took him several seconds to relax.

This child...

"Y-You scared me..." Jagra stuttered with a hand on his chest. A crease appeared in between his forehead. "Nara..."

The little girl innocently blinked her bright big eyes. She tilted her head as though confused but a smile remained on her face. Her hands are hidden behind her back.

"I couldn't sleep." She spoke.

Helplessly, Jagra nodded. "Alright, let me take you back to bed then. Perhaps, I can read you a story to-"

His movements abruptly stopped. A few seconds of silence stretched out between the child and the man.

"Nara..."

"Yes?"

...

A frown slowly formed on Jagra's face. "Please... return it to me."

"..." The smile on the little girl's face faded. "What should I return to you-"

"What you took from the table. The stone. Give it to me. Show me your hands."

The stone had disappeared from where Jagra had left it on the table. Wariness rose and his suspicions grew. He hadn't sensed her sneaking behind him. Silently, scrutinizing the 'innocent' little girl at the doorway, Jagra was ready to arm himself.

Suddenly, the girl giggled childishly and finally revealed her hands. Two bony limbs exposed themselves before Jagra's eyes. The ends of the little girl's fingers were finely sharp and pointed. Her joints pierced through her skin like a knife tearing through paper.

In a split second, her eyes changes color. Deep crimson washed the innocence of her iris and her pupils stretched into tiny slits like the eyes of a serpent.

"What? didn't you want to see my hands?" She giggled terrifyingly. Her voice deepened into a voice of a woman.

And just as Jagra had suspected, the barrier artifact sat vulnerable in the giant grotesque palms of the little girl.

"What are you?" Jagra eyes sharpened dangerously as he slowly slipped his hand towards the dagger hidden on his belt.

"A little visitor," replied the girl with a chuckle.

She held the rock close to her nose and sniffed. A sinister smiled stretched her lips. "You are quite talented, darling. Fortunately, I was clever enough to slip through your little trap. Your essence smells wonderful, I must say."

"A demon..." Jagra muttered through gritted teeth. He let a demon enter his home right before he had put up the barrier. Right from the start...

Suddenly, a heavy feeling plagued his limbs. His breath slowed while a soft fragrance entered his nose. Like the freesia's he used to grow when he was young. The more he breathed into it the more his body felt heavier. A burning sensation filled his throat.

Rising panic clogged his chest. What is happening to me?

"Don't try to fight it..." The little girl spoke in a coaxing tone. "Welcome death with open arms, love. It will make it hurt less..."

"Aagh!" Jagra cried out as he fell hard on his knees. Excruciating pain spreads all over his body like thousand knives cutting his insides before he was doused in boiling acid. It burned.

Giggling, the girl squeezed the stone in her hand. Blissfully closing her eyes as she replaced the mana within the device with her own tainted energy. Her laugh faded in Jagra's ears as she left the room.

It was time for the feast to commence...

.....

Erik stiffened, abruptly turning his head towards the house. A sickening stench abruptly filled his nose catching him off-guard. Not only that, but the energy constructing the barrier has been altered. It happened so fast, even he was shocked still. 2

They have been breached.

Erik, with his hulking body, ran to the house so fast, his steps made the ground shake. However, before he could enter through the last layer of Jagra's energy, a flash of light swung at him from the side. With a grunt, he could not help but avoid it, changing his direction.

A sharp spear violently thrusts at his abdomen, but he was quick to grab the wooden shaft near the blade. His gaze lifted and confusion filled his eyes.

A sentinel was attacking him.

With the shaft, Erik hurled him towards the group of hostile sentinels advancing towards him. The scent in the air grew thicker and the fallen warriors rose from the ground, wielding their weapons to attack the only person immune to the fragrance, Erik.

"How bothersome. I truly do not want to hurt any of you, my friends." Erik straightened his back while calmly cracking his knuckles. "However, it seems I have no choice."

When he thought of the little slumbering children within the house, a deep sigh escaped Erik's mouth. "A few broken bones will do."

.....

Creak!

The little child shifted uncomfortably on the bed. His eyes are shut tight in discomfort as he is yanked from his peaceful sleep. The little fingers gripping the blankets tightened.

Creak!

Heavy footsteps drew close. The wooden boards sounded as though they would snap from the weight.

This time, Erthyl is awakened. Drowsy eyes blinked open in the dark room and a fragrance wafted in the air. The sound of shuffling blankets filled the bed. Leaning on the pillows, frowned in confusion. His cautious gaze settled on the door of his room.

The footsteps finally paused.

...

The extreme silence made Erthyl fully awake. A foreboding feeling plunged into his gut and his drowsiness is replaced with fear. Something lingered in the air. A wonderful fragrance... but he could not truly perceive it. It wants something from him, but he doesn't know what.

His gaze are strained on the door of his room. His heart pounded heavily. His shoulders shook and his breath quickened. The darkness lurked nearer around his bed.

Something is standing behind the door.

Knock... Knock...

Erthyl flinched. He gripped the blankets tightly, shuddering in fear.

Scared... Someone...

"..."

Creak!...

The door slowly creaked open. It revealed the wide terrified eyes of a young child clutching on his blankets. When he finally sees the monster opening the door of his bedroom, his little vulnerable figure shivered on the bed.

Erthyl whimpers as tears filled his wide eyes.

A red bony claw reached out from the door and a shrill scream filled the entire house.

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