Chapter 9

Quigley's castle was nothing short of impressive. Their original residence was destroyed in a day and rebuilt by the Quigley family with materials on the property. A sign on the entrance stated the owners were no longer open for tours.

Sara frowned and turned to Dawn, "Please tell me you have a plan." A thick cloud of cigarette smoke flew out the window. She watched a pair of squirrels streak across the pine branches.

"I expect it's closed because of the hellbender," Dawn said.

Liam twisted around, "What exactly is the hellbender?"

"There is an endangered amphibian called the hellbender. It dwarfs other salamanders in size. I call them tumbler beasts." Dawn thrust her hand forward, "You got a smoke for me."

Sara handed a pack and Lighter to Dawn, "Knock yourself out." She lit another smoke, "So how dangerous is the tumbler beast?" Sara knew the mission was far from safe.

"The hellbender itself isn't dangerous. The creature of Xorag hunting it is." Dawn replied.

"Why hasn't it Grabbed the little bugger yet," Liam broke his silence and took a deep breath. "Do I want to know?"

"Lesser minions of Xorag aren't too bright and are opportunistic. They'd rather wait for someone else to find their targets. Often in disguise." Dawn puffed on the cigarette. She leaned back against the old seat.

"Do you think Xorag will send tougher seekers in the future?" Liam asked.

"Yeah, he will," Dawn said. She threw the butt on the ground and swung the door open. "Come on, let's go."

***

Security cameras presented a significant problem. Sara knew the world would panic if an eldritch werewolf popped up on youtube. Sara studied the gate, "How long do you think it will take emergency services to respond?"

"Well, the Quigleys are a prominent family, and their house is a tourist attraction. I think we have about fifteen minutes," Liam guessed. "Our success depends on how fast we find the hellbender."

Dawn reached into her pocket and drew Sara's familiar out. "Our little friend can see the hellbender and the creature stalking it. We'll use it to disable the cameras."

"I have to see through it's eyes?" Sara seemed displeased with the thought.

"It's what we have to do to achieve our goals," Dawn replied.

The familiar still refused to come near Sara. She held out her hand, "I don't hate you, little one. We have to work together." The small wolfish avian cocked its head to the side thoughtfully. It nodded, and Sara said, "Shall we get started?"

The tiny creature lifted from the palm of her hand, and Sara closed her eyes. The world came into focus as Sara's mind linked with her creation. She saw her body through its eyes. Though she would never fly in real life, she would treasure the experience until her death.

Her mind guided the creature outside the camera's field of vision to the back. The tiny fangs gnawed on the cables. Sara's eyes caught the second camera ten yards away. However, something else caught the attention of her nose, the smell of fresh asphalt.

"We're not alone. What are my options?"

Dawn's voice entered her ear, "Let's avoid conflict until we disable the cameras."

The screech of a bird of prey split the air, and the familiar spotted a massive avian with three red eyes and long tails with long spikes. The shape and form marked it as a harpy eagle. It opened the clutch of talons and revealed two mouths on the feet.

"What do I do?" Sara sat on the verge of panic.

"How about we use the creature to take out the cameras?" Liam suggested.

"It's the only shot we have. How are you holding up, Sara?" Dawn asked.

A dull ache started at the base of Sara's neck, and it slowly climbed upward to the skull where it held. "It hurts a little, but I can hang on."

Dawn tapped her foot in thought, "Forget the cameras and focus on finding the hellbender."

The mutated eagle started to circle above her. Sara didn't know how long a bird of prey circled before it dove down, but she sent the familiar toward the unique building.

She did her best to scan the ground for the hellbender and came up empty. "Where am I most likely to find this stupid creature?"

"It's a salamander," Liam said, "I'd look for a small pond. I can't see it being too far from water."

The eldritch avian started to circle faster, "It's getting ready to attack." Sara darted toward the tree line with the mutated harpy eagle in tow. The raptor dodged and weaved through the forest with ease. "I thought birds of prey were terrible in heavy underbrush?"

"The internet says they primarily inhabit the rain forest. Harpy eagles are adept at navigating heavy vegetation."

"Who the hell has time to find one of those?" She flew over a small pond made by human hands. She saw the familiar eldritch glow amid all the koi, or what she guessed to be koi. "I have a visual on the hellbender."

"Your job now is to guide your big friend away from it. Liam is on his way right now."

"Tell Ishtrath to hurry. I don't think this thing will stay interested in the familiar for much longer." The dull ache became a sharpened spiked of pain tapping her brain, "I'm barely maintaining the connection."

The familiar dodged a lethal set of claws. The twisted bird crashed into a tree and almost tumbled to the ground. Sara's hands held her head, desperate to ease the pain in her mind. "Hurry up, Liam. I can't hold on."

The harpy eagle managed to correct itself in midair. Unfortunately, it noticed the hellbender in the pond below. The familiar's vision started to go in and out of focus. "I'm losing it." The harpy dove toward the hellbender in the muddy water below. The connection severed, and Sara collapsed.

***

The next time Sara opened her eyes. The glowing eyes of Istrath stared at her with concern. In his hand, the broken familiar. "It fought bravely until the end."

Sara noticed a sadness in Dawn's eyes, "It succeeded?"

Ishtrath nodded, "Just as the bird was about to snag the hellbender, your little friend sacrificed itself. I have to say it's one of the most impressive things I've seen a familiar do."

Sirens filled the air. Dawn and Sara exchanged worried looks. "Looks like it's time to skedaddle," Dawn said, "Ishtrath, get Sara in the car and drive us away from the sirens.

***

The companions found an alternate dirt road back to Eureka Springs. The pain in Sara's head started to lessen. Dawn gently stroked her hair, "Welcome back. We succeeded in our endeavor."

"Is Liam okay?" Sara asked, worried about the friend she had started to like. "Did Ishtrath relinquish control?"

Ishtrath held out an arm with a tattoo of a lizard-like creature, "Liam does not have the power to contain our prize. He didn't feel confident enough in his ability to use mine as of yet."

"Why aren't you like the other demons?" Sara blurted out.

"The foolish creatures who call themselves angels and demons are the same twisted beings. One happens to be more beautiful. The angelic ones saw humanity and decided to keep them as pets. The demons, resented the claim."

Sara shook her head, "Are you saying one is no better than the other?"

"Precisely. Both sides fear their eldritch origins and fight against their insignificance in the universe. There isn't much difference between you and the divine beings your kind worships. Even they are insignificant in the elder's eyes."

The car rattled over the gravel road, "Then why are you fighting to keep this world afloat?" Sara pointed to the road, "Keep your eyes on the wheel, Ishtrath."

"I find existence more interesting than nonexistence." Ishtrath leaned back in the driver's seat. "Where are we headed next?"

"Greenbank West Virgin, home of the Silent Fang pack."

"Oh, that would explain why Liam is so nervous."

"Why would he be nervous?" Sara asked.

"I guess his father, the Alpha of the Silent Fangs, ordered him to kill a family. Liam wasn't keen on killing an infant. The family discovered the truth. Liam's father...Liam is so angry right now."

"Why wouldn't he be?" Sara yelled, "You are airing a secret that isn't yours." Her body shook with rage. "What right do you have?"

"I'm a demon, Sara. I don't play nice. Torment is my pleasure. Pain my mistress. Sorrow is my constant companion." Ishtrath turned down another road, "Beside's, we need Liam's head on straight. If he dies, then I go back to the realm of chaos. I am not welcome there because I refused to choose sides."

"You did this to help him?" Sara raised and eyebrow and shivered.

"I did it because I wanted to live another day. I don't want to go home."

Dawn smiled, "Lets get some books on therapy, shall we?"