章 10: CHAPTER TEN: A STRANGER IN TOWN
I materialized outside the Shadow Realm, my eyes scanning the unfamiliar landscape. The air was thick with an eerie, pulsating energy that seemed to vibrate through every cell in my body. I could feel the weight of the unknown pressing down on me, but I pushed it aside, focusing on my mission.
I had been searching for Steve for what felt like an eternity, but I had finally received a tip that he might be hiding in the nearby town of Ashwood. It was a lawless place, rumored to be inhabited by all manner of shady characters and dark creatures.
I made my way through the dusty, winding streets, my eyes scanning the crowds for any sign of Steve or anyone who might know him. The townspeople seemed wary of me, their eyes darting nervously in my direction before quickly looking away.
I approached a grizzled old man who was sitting on a stool outside a seedy-looking tavern. He eyed me warily, his hand resting on the hilt of a dagger at his belt.
"What can I do for you, kid?" he growled.
"I'm looking for someone," I said, my eyes locked on his. "A man named Steve. Have you seen him?"
The old man's expression changed, his eyes narrowing as he looked me up and down. "I might know something about him," he said finally, his voice low and gravelly. "But it's going to cost you."
I smiled, a cold, calculating smile. "I'm willing to pay," I said
The old man nodded, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Follow me," he said, standing up and beckoning me to follow him into the tavern.
I followed the old man into the tavern, my eyes adjusting to the dim light within. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and ale, and the patrons were a rough-looking bunch. I spotted a few shady characters huddled in the corner, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of curiosity and hostility.
The old man led me to a table in the back, where a hooded figure sat sipping a mug of ale. The figure looked up as we approached, and I caught a glimpse of piercing blue eyes before the hood fell back into place.
"This is the one I was telling you about," the old man said, his voice low and gravelly. "He's looking for Steve."
The hooded figure nodded, its eyes gleaming with interest. "I might know something about Steve," it said, its voice low and husky. "But first, you have to answer a question for me."
I raised an eyebrow, my hand resting on the handle of the Death Scythe that hung on my back. The scythe, a gift from Seth, felt reassuringly solid against my palm.
"What's the question?" I asked, my voice wary.
The hooded figure leaned forward, its eyes glinting with a mixture of curiosity and malice. "What's your business with Steve?" it asked, its voice dripping with menace.
I smiled, a cold, calculating smile. "That's none of your business," I said, my voice firm. "But I'll tell you this: Steve and I have unfinished business. And I aim to finish it."
The hooded figure nodded, its eyes gleaming with interest. "I see," it said, its voice low and husky. "Well, in that case, I might be willing to help you. But first, you have to prove yourself to me."
I raised an eyebrow, my hand tightening on the handle of the Death Scythe. "What do you want me to do?" I asked, my voice wary.
The hooded figure smiled, its eyes glinting with malice. "I want you to fight," it said, its voice dripping with menace. "Fight, and prove yourself to me."
The hooded figure gestured to a large, dimly lit room in the back of the tavern. The room was filled with a motley assortment of fighters, all of whom were eyeing me with a mixture of curiosity and hostility.
"This is the Pit," the hooded figure said, its voice dripping with malice. "Here, fighters come to test their skills and prove their worth. And here, you will prove yourself to me."
I nodded, my hand resting on the handle of the Death Scythe. I had fought in many battles before, but I had never fought in a place like this. The air was thick with tension, and the fighters seemed to be sizing me up, looking for weaknesses to exploit.
The hooded figure gestured to a large, burly man who was standing in the center of the room. "This is Grimgold Ironfist," it said. "He is the current champion of the Pit. And he will be your opponent."
Grimgold eyed me with a mixture of contempt and curiosity. "You think you can take me down, kid?" he sneered. "I've been fighting in this Pit for years. I've never been beaten."
I smiled, a cold, calculating smile. "We'll see about that," I said, my hand tightening on the handle of the Death Scythe.
The hooded figure nodded, its eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let the fight begin," it said, its voice dripping with malice.
The room erupted into cheers as Grimgold and I faced off in the center of the room. The fight was about to begin, and only one of us would walk out alive. I circled around Grimgold, my eyes locked on his. He was a big man, with thick, muscular arms and a cruel grin spreading across his face. I knew I had to be careful, but I also knew that I couldn't use my powers or the Death Scythe. I had to keep my identity a secret.
The fight began, and Grimgold charged at me with a roar. I dodged his blows easily, using my agility and quick reflexes to evade his attacks. But instead of counterattacking, I started to throw low jabs at Grimgold's stomach. They were light, almost playful blows, but I threw them relentlessly, one after another.
Grimgold laughed at first, thinking that my jabs were ineffective. But as the fight wore on, he started to tire. My jabs may have been light, but they were constant, and they were starting to take their toll. Grimgold's breathing grew heavier, his movements slower, and his blows less precise.
I kept throwing my jabs, wearing Grimgold down with sheer persistence. He stumbled and fell to the ground, exhausted. The crowd cheered, but I didn't react. I just stood there, my chest heaving with exertion, my eyes fixed on Grimgold's defeated form.
I felt a pang of disappointment. The fight had been too easy, too boring. I hadn't even broken a sweat. I had been hoping for a challenge, something that would push me to my limits. But Grimgold had been no match for me.
I turned to leave the Pit, but as I did, I caught sight of a woman watching me from the shadows. She was tall and slender, with long, curly black hair and piercing green eyes. She was dressed in a elegant black gown, and she looked at me with a knowing glint in her eye.
"Well, well, well," she said, her voice husky and seductive. "Look what we have here. The mysterious stranger who just took down Grimgold Ironfist. I think I know you, stranger. You're Liam, the Tenebri. Am I right?"
I raised an eyebrow, my expressions neutral. But inside, I was surprised. How did she know my name?
I walked towards her, my movements fluid and confident. "And if I am?" I asked, my voice low and even.
The woman smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. She reached out and touched my arm, her fingers sending shivers down my spine.
"I think we could have a mutual beneficial arrangement," she said, her voice dripping with seduction. "I have information about Steve, information that I am willing to share with you. But first, you'll have to do something for me."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. What did she want me to do? And what kind of information did she want about Steve?
I leaned in close, my face inches from hers. "I'm listening," I said, my voice low and even.
Madame Abigail's smile grew wider as I leaned in closer to her. But before I could ask my question, she surprised me by licking the back of my ear seductively.
I pulled away, angry and shy. "What the…?" I started to say.
Madame Abigail laughed, a throaty sound. "Oh, Liam, you're so cute when you're blushing," she said, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Tell me, are you a virgin?" Her voice was husky, like velvet wrapped around a razor's edge.
I tried to pull away, but her words had already ignited a fire within me. My face burned with embarrassment, and I felt like I was drowning in my own mortification.
Madame Abigail's laughter was like music, a melodious sound that seemed to wrap itself around me, pulling me in. "Oh, Liam, you're so cute when you're blushing," she said, her eyes glinting with amusement.
I tried to focus on the task at hand, but Madame Abigail's words had already thrown me off balance. "What's this package you need me to deliver?" I asked, trying to sound calm, but my voice came out shaky.
Madame Abigail's smile grew wider, her lips curling up like a cat's. "Oh, Liam, even if you are a virgin, you're still sweet as you are," she said, her voice dripping with seduction.
As she reached out to touch my face, I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body. Her fingers brushed against my skin, sending shivers down my spine.
But it was what happened next that caught me off guard. Madame Abigail's eyes locked onto mine, and I felt myself getting pulled into their depths. The room around me began to spin, and my vision blurred.
I stumbled backward, trying to break free from her hypnotic gaze. But it was too late. My movements were already staggering, my senses reeling.
Madame Abigail's laughter echoed through the room, a sound that seemed to come from all directions at once. "You're already mine, Liam," she whispered, her voice like a snake slithering through the grass.
As she reached in for the kiss, I backed away, my heart racing with fear. But my movements were slow, my body responding sluggishly to my brain's commands.
Madame Abigail's lips brushed against mine, but I managed to pull away just in time. I stumbled backward, my vision blurring, and my senses reeling. I knew I had to get out of there, fast.
I stumbled out of the tavern, into the cool night air. My head was spinning, and my senses were still reeling from Madame Abigail's hypnotic gaze. I knew I had to get as far away from her as possible, before she could exert any more control over me.
I staggered through the streets, trying to clear my head. But my thoughts were jumbled, and my memories of the past few hours were hazy. I remembered walking into the tavern, and talking to Madame Abigail. But everything after that was a blur.
As I walked, the streets seemed to grow darker and more twisted. The buildings loomed over me, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground. I felt like I was being watched, and the skin on the back of my neck was crawling.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. I spun around, my heart racing with fear. But there was no one there. The streets were empty, except for the shadows that seemed to move and twist of their own accord.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. I knew I had to get out of there, find a safe place to hide. But as I turned to leave, I felt a strange sensation in my head. It was as if Madame Abigail's voice was echoing in my mind, calling me back to her.
I tried to shake off the feeling, but it only seemed to grow stronger. I knew I was in danger, that Madame Abigail's control over me was growing by the minute. I had to find a way to break free, before it was too late.
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