Chapter 1: SIGBIN

KABOOOOM!

The fiery explosion was followed by sounds of shattering glasses. Alexa and I turned to looked at each other with concern. Whatever was happening inside the abandoned building didn't sound good at all.

"What on earth is Christian doing? The traps aren't set yet!" She complained as we both swiftly chained the delapidated gates of the property.

"I'd better work on the glamour while you set the traps!" I suggested.

If our mission was to succeed, then timing is of the essence.

"Good idea!" She nodded her head in agreement before scurrying across the yard.

I took a step back and closed my eyes. I gently lifted my hands to start feeling the flow of magic around me as words began forming inside my head.

With every breath, my magic grew until my whole body was all tingly and warm. Moments later, I began chanting.

Magic of deception,

Bend thy perception.

Scene of objection,

Cloak with illusion.

The warm sensation left my body as soon as the final words escaped my mouth. The enchantment spread to my sorroundings, extending across the entire building, under the gaze of the full moon.

"Is it done?" The girl asked while standing near the front door.

I gave her a thumbs-up in response.

Anyone within the confines of my spell will be unaffected. Anything that might happen during the course of our mission will remain undetected or unnoticed by the general public.

As long as I hold the spell, the people will remain blinded to truth.

Alexa then continued on setting the traps near the door. If my special ability lies on the spoken words of spells and incantation, hers was runic and sigil based.

Her specialty is trap magic.

She inscribes symbols on surface of any object using mana and then she activates them from a distant. Her traps were only visible to her, so there's no way anyone can avoid it.

I was about to walk towards her when one of the windows shattered. A figure broke through and came tumbling down the grass. We both went stiff as we stared at the creature between us.

We knew what it was! We've seen it one too many times on our books and in our previous missions. We also knew what it's capable off.

I saw panicked on Alexa's face and I can understand why. Neither of us has closed combat abilities and our two comrades was nowhere in sight!

The creature turn its head towards the girl. And despite its grotesque appearance, it somehow managed to squeel with glee upon seeing her. Its as if, she was its next meal.

The Sigbin was trully hideous and it reeked of dead flesh. The monstrosity of evil looked like a hybrid between a bat and a dog with a body of a huge kangaroo. It has sharp fangs and claws while its body was covered with thick gray fur.

The monster wagged its long tail in delight as its red predatory eyes feasted on Alexa. A sordid, vulgar and repulsive essence emanated from the vile creature. My stomach churned and it almost made me vomit in disgust!

The beast has completely ignored my presence as it advanced slowly towards the panicked stricken girl.

"Alexa! Run!" I screamed but my voice has fallen on deaf ears.

So far, her role has always been from afar, detonating her traps when needed. This is her first time being up close with such repulsive being and she succumbed in fear!

Powers that be,

Hear my plea.

Wind around me,

Purge my enemy.

The words left my mouth before I realized what I did. It's like my body has a mind of its own and has moved on its own accord.

A strong gust of wind blew towards the beast, throwing it against the wall. The creature howled in pain as its body slammed on the hard surface.

It looked me, furious, but I did not care. The only thought running through my mind was to buy enough time for Alexa to get away.

"What are you waiting for? Move for fuck's sake! Run!" I yelled at the frozen girl.

I felt the weakening of my glamour spell as my magic split between that and the attack. Depending on the power and complexity of the spells, I can only hold two at most.

The sigbin got onto its feet and shook its head. It decided to change target and went for me. I strengthen my resolved and held my ground. I began chanting!

The front door burst open before I could finish my incantation. A sigh of relief washed over me as soon as I saw our comrades, however, it was only short-lived.

Christian and Michael looked injured and they both looked pretty bad with their torn clothes soaked in blood and bruising all over their body. The Sigbin has clearly done a number on both men.

The creature stopped on its track to look at the other two. It snarled at their direction before switching focus between myself and my fellow warriors, as if it was choosing who to attack first. Unfortunately, it chose me!

It started charging towards my direction, however, a metallic chain swiftly wrapped around its leg, tripping the beast. It was Michael's divine weapon and he was controlling it where he stood.

"Red! Focus on the glamour, dammit!" Christian yelled as he ran towards the Sigbin.

He summoned his own weapon. A blessed sword of light, capable of exterminating the evil in front him.

I turned my back on them in order to refocused my magic. I felt the spell regaining its strength and power. I tried to concentrate as best as I could while ignoring the clashing sounds of battle and loud grunts of frustration behind me.

"Michael! Watch out!" I heard Alexa screamed.

"Fuck!" Christian cursed.

I slightly turn my head and saw Michael lying on the ground unconcious while Christian was fighting the monster on his own. His injuries were a lot worse than before!

What the fuck is going on?!

The Sigbin aren't the strongest of creatures. We fought many of its kind before and we never had this level of difficulty. This one is different. It seemed stronger somehow. Something that I find unusually odd.

"Christian!" Alexa screamed as the sigbin's tail pierced the man's stomach before flicking him and throwing him on the ground.

I feared the worst when he didn't moved.

The beast then turned its focus to me once again and started crawling. I let go of the glamour spell to face the creature head on.

I saw Alexa dropped into a defensive crouch as she placed one hand on the ground. Our eyes met and I realized that she was about to activate one of her traps as her hand glowed a bright blue colour. No words were spoken between us as I fully understood what I needed to do.

"Come here you fucker!" I taunted as I pretended to cast another spell by lifting my right hand up.

The beast snarled as it changed pace. It was now running and hungry for my blood! Unfortunately, just as me and Alexa had planned, the creature got caught in her trap.

The earth began to move as soon the monster stepped on the trap. The ground protruded, creating a series of spikes that pierced its body. It howled in pain and anger as black liquid oozed out of its wounds.

"Can you hold it?" I asked her as the creature tried to break free.

"I'll try!" She replied.

I nodded before sprinting towards Michael. I kneeled down on the ground and reached for the man.

"Michael..... Michael..... can you hear me?" I called out but there was no response.

"Hang in there man!" I told him as I frantically rummaged through my waist bag, looking for the right herbs.

He was bleeding out. I tore open his clothes, revealing a familiar symbol before my eyes. I did a quick assessment on the severity of his injuries before deciding to heal his lower abdomen first.

Horsetail, plantain and rose,

Heal thy wounds to close.

Warrior on death's door,

Your health I restore!

I felt my magic bounced back. So, I tried again!

"I restore....." I chanted loudly and same thing happened again.

I tried to push the nagging inside my head as the reality dawned on me. There was only one reason why my magic was bouncing back and I am not ready to accept that.

I tried feeling for his pulse but there wasn't any, so, I began CPR.

"Oh god! Is he okay?" Alexa's voice quivered.

I didn't answer.

I couldn't!

I tried the healing spell again but it failed.

"Dammit I restore.....!" I cursed but it was useless.

Michael was gone! There was no herbs or any healing spell in the world that could bring him back!

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" I kept on swearing as I pummeled his chest with my fist.

"Get your shit together, Red! Our job isn't over!" A familiar voice yelled from the other side.

I lifted my head to look at him. Christian was alive but he was barely standing! He may be covered in blood but the fire in his eyes never wavered.

I wasn't sure whether to admire him for his determination or be furious at him for being heartless! We just loss our comrade and all he can think about was our mission! How could he?!

In saying that, a small part of me knew he was right! We all know the risk of our job and Michael's death would mean nothing if we don't stop the monster that killed him!

I swallowed my emotions and steeled my heart! I can and I will grieve later but not right now because the Sigbin must die first!

Christian nooded as he saw my resolved. We both knew what we had to do. We had to end this while the monster was trapped.

He summoned his divine weapon again. This time, it floated in the air as it hovered beside him.

"Espada de la trinidad!" He chanted before the swords splitted into three and launched towards the beast.

All three swords went straight to its heart. But that wasn't enough! Not for me anyway.

Water and air,

Empowered by anger.

Shards of ice,

My enemy's demise!

A rush of cold air sorrounded us, as sharp and pointy icicle formed around the Sigbin. I tried to create as much as I can before releasing it all at once, impaling the monster to its death.....