Lyka A Soul Divided

Hell Hounds

Their fangs glistened with venom, mouths bared in a snarl. The brawl had drawn their attention, having forgotten the creatures that roamed this forest.

"Looks like we have guests*" Constantin said chuckling.

But the hounds focused on both groups three of them on each.

"What is this?" Vladan growled in surprise. "You turn your back on your masters."

The hounds continued their advance. No one made any sudden moves least they provoke an attack. Any wound inflicted would prove fatal.

"Why do they advance on us?" Vladan asked his companion. "This has never happened before"

"Perhaps" Constantin replied while backing up. "It is because of the blood loss we have suffered during this fight. The demon blood in our veins must not be enough for them to recognize us, now we are just as much foes as these trespassers."

That would explain their strength and regenerative speed. Demon blood was a great deal among vampires as it greatly enhanced their abilities. It was also quite expensive.

Hell hounds like demons were hell spawn, thus they recognized one another as kin. The vampires having consumed demon blood would be recognized by the hell hounds as fellow hell spawn and not be attacked.

But now due to blood loss caused by the fight they now had little to no demon blood in their veins, its effects on the hell hounds no longer effective.

They hounds now considered them prey just like the rest, their protective veil gone.

"Tariq" Alric whispered.

Already roots crept silently through the earth. They crept up their limbs unseen, binding them in place. The hounds leapt to attack but were jerked back into place piling upon one another, provoking the others to attack as well.

They advanced on the vampires but they managed to dodge each strike.

Fighting hell hounds was reckless, doing so up close was even more stupid. A scratch or bite from one of them no matter how small could mean their end. Tariq was their lifeline now.

His roots had subdued them for now but the vines had cut into their flesh, their blood dripping and burning through their bonds like acid. They would soon be free to resume their attack.

Tariq could perform ranged attacks and use magic to shield them from their advances, but he was no lykan nor vampire. His stamina was not as good as theirs. To defend them all while trying to subdue the hell hounds would prove a tiresome task. Even killing them given that no one carried any weapons and the blade he had used earlier would not work. Poison was useless against hell spawn.

If they turned to flee they would risk attracting the attention of more of them.

Suddenly Vladan and Constantin were sprinting towards them, hell hounds on their heels. They were drawing their focus to then. Once the vampires were in their range they jumped into the tree tops above leaving their pursuers to focus their attention on the new targets before them.

Normally hell hounds would pursue their targets anywhere, even into the trees but the vampires had made sure to re direct their attention to Eirik's group as they disappeared.

A hound leapt at Alric and with a sharp twist Alric grabbed a vine and cracked it like a whip grabbing the beast mid leap and hurling it into the trees with a thud.

The remaining hounds attacked.

Tariq raised his hands a shimmering done rippling into existence and shielding the group.

The others could only trust in him.

The vampires long forgotten, the hell hounds focused on the prey before them. Two lunged again, Tariq calling forth vines to bind the beasts mid air. He began pulling the vines in different directions, an attempt to tear them in half.

The vines strained, the creatures hides proved too tough. The bindings snapped under the tension, dropping the hounds back down.

Each attack forced the group to retreat. Currently they stood in a clearing caused by Alric and Constantin's battle. It was clear the beast were herding them, trying to force them into the treeline to take advantage of the blind spots.

Tariq's eyes went gold.

His locks extended, each thick strand elongating into braided snake like whips. His golden bands turning into knife like points at the end of each lock. They slithered and swirled around him like a halo of serpents alive with magic.

They struck with blinding speed, slicing across thick hides but even as they bled the beasts wounds sealed instantly, cauterized by the very acid like blood in their veins.

More of them emerged. Two to the right another two to the left. Still Tariq stood firm shielding his companions with sheer will. A dozen hounds froze in place, locked by invisible threads.

Blood bind.

But more came still, more of them emerged.

Tariq gritted his teeth. " Terrae Se pulchrum!"

The earth trembled, a shock wave surged outward. The ground split beneath the hounds dragging them down into the earth swallowing them whole.

Yet still it wasn't enough.

One of the hounds managed to break through finding an opening and attacked.

Eirik managed to duck under the beasts open jaws, pivot and slam his fist into its muzzle shattering its jaw. The creature staggered, lower jaw hanging useless, but that didn't deter it. It attacked yet again.

These beasts would not die so easily. Fire would not work on them, their hides too thick and they were growing in number as the minutes went by.

Tariq could fly, but the battle had depleted him. He would not be able to lift the others. If they didn't find a way out soon, they were going to die.

Unless.

Tariq narrowed his eyes. He had one more spell, one he had yet to master. One that could kill him, no all of them if ye failed to do it right.

But what choice did he have. If he didn't use it they would die nonetheless.

He raised his hands once again.

"Ceuor Glacialis" Frozen blood.

The temperature plummeted. Mist curled from every breath. Frost clung to his fingertips, spreading like veins of ice.

The hounds slowed, the fire in their eyes dimming. Whimpers filled the air as their veins once glowing red now turned a dark blue. Their limbs trembled, froze then locked. One by one they collapsed. The blood inside them turning to ice.

Statues of death.

When the last hound fell, Tariq stood at the center, breathing hard his hair still writhing around like golden serpents.

For a moment there was all but silence.

But then

Crack!

Tariq's body flew backwards, crashing several feet behind Alric and Eirik.

Vladan now stood over him, his fangs bared.

"Thank you" he said with a smirk. "I really thought you were going to die but I'm glad you did not" he said as he hoisted Tariq's now unconscious body over his shoulder.

"I had planned to kill you all myself and this one..." Vladan's gaze glimmered as he licked the blood dripping from Tariq's now bleeding head. " I intend to keep for a long time. His blood will be quite valuable given his display of power"

And with that he turned and vanished into the forest, Constantin close behind him.