Catherine was about to respond when the world around them grayed out. All sounds ceased and neither of them were able to move. Before they could begin to panic a system message box appeared in front of their eyes.

  The system box disappeared and, in its place, came the monotone voice of their nameless host. “This is an example of how outside factions can influence your scenario. The Savanah Alliance has graciously agreed to assist in this example. Be warned that not all interference in your scenarios will be positive.”

  The world came back into focus and Bronze let loose an enraged screech and did something Damian wasn’t aware was possible. She sent an image across their bond showing the disgusting creature. It was as described in the system message, small, hairy and apelike, but what it neglected to mention was that it had gouged out eyes and a smoking hole on top of its head. From the image it could be inferred that the beast and the poor unsuspecting woman it was following were in the alley behind the building they were in. Damian focused on the image of the woman in his mind and attempted to send it back to Bronze with a single order, protect. Judging by the acknowledging cry and swooping silhouette, Bronze got the message.

  Catherine had already barged out of the room and screamed at the two startled officers outside the door. “Get some back up here and cordon of the block behind this building! We have a monster in the area and I will not have it escape! Damian what’s the play!?”

  Damian didn’t respond as he had moved to the window and looked down. By some grace, maybe Nomkhubulwane as she offered this quest, on the road behind a large wagon covered in boxes topped by what looked like rugs was about to pass by below. Damian backed up a few steps and called back, “I’m about to do something stupid! Get there as quick as you can, and call a doctor if possible.”

  Catherine looked in just in time to catch Damian crash through the window, “What are yo-! Holly Feck! You bloody idiot! Get someone to call a doctor along with the other officers, now damn it!”

  Damian’s timing was perfect as he plummeted towards the oncoming wagon, he oriented himself to be on his side, to minimize the damage he would take and allow him to roll as he landed. The impact drove the breath from his lungs as he plowed through the top layer of boxes and rolled forward off the cart. The hard, dusty ground slammed into his back as he fell the remaining few feet to the ground. There gasps of horror and shouts of surprise from onlookers as Damian struggled to his feet. He desperately drew in a deep breath as he oriented himself and staggered off towards the alley. As he made his approach, he started to go through his memories to see if he could recognize the creature he was about to fight. He was forced to give up in the end, as while he recognized Nomkhubulwane as a goddess of Zulu mythology, his studies didn’t do more than give a brief introduction to the most popular and important of the Zulu gods, it never went into the creatures and monsters that existed.

  He did know, however that most mythologies in Africa, much like the native tribes of North America, dealt heavily with the spirit world and many of their monsters were spiritual nature and in rare cases demonic. So, he summoned his knife, Sanguine Ember, as it was his best weapon to deal with spiritual entities. The knife’s edge flared as it appeared and Damian heard the terrified scream of a woman, the furious screech of a pissed off avian, and hideous guttural laughter come from up ahead. Damian sped up, limping slightly on his left leg but the adrenaline coursing through his brain allowed him to easily ignore it.

  As he rounded the corner he took in the scene quickly as he made for the hostile creature. The young African woman was trembling in fear against a far wall as in front of her Bronze furiously kicked an swung its sharp metallic wings at the hideous creature in front of it. The beast was unpleasant to look at to say the least. It reached up to around Damian’s waist and was a sickly gray color. Its limbs were thin and gangly covered in red markings that seemed to be a mockery of traditional African tribal markings. Its eyes weren’t just gouged out they were sown over with rotting ropes looking like the eyes on shrunken heads in sold in a Louisiana voodoo shop. Smoke rose from a jagged circular hole in its head that looked as if it had been cauterized violently.

  Damian took it all in, in the time it took to reach the beast. He made a lunging swipe at that the creature detected just in time to dodge enough to turn a debilitating cut into a nick across its arm. The creature shrieked in pain and fury as the cut began to burn at its very essence. The creatures playful grin turned to one of fury as it launched itself at Damian’s legs. Its claws came in fast but it forgot something important in its anger. It was small and thin. Damian reared back a leg and punted the little bastard into the air and the waiting talons of Bronze. Bronze clamped down on the beast and did a quick rise and dive maneuver that ended with her slamming her full weight on the creature before quickly rising into the air again.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Damian circled to the creature’s right while Bronze harried it from above. It was at this time that Damian heard the sound of rushed footsteps, as Catherine rounded the corner, axe held high. He saw here take in the situation and slashed at the monster that was struggling to its feet causing it to stumble as she planted herself in front of the frightened woman at the other end of the alley.

  “What are we dealing with Damian?” Catherine asked as she reached the would be victim and briefly checked on her.

  “No, idea beyond it probably being African in origin, maybe Zulu specifically but I didn’t have the opportunity to study it in depth.” Damian responded as he made for another stab that the beast managed to dodge this time.

  Surprisingly the next person to speak was the young woman behind Catherine. “It’s a tokoloshe, a creature brought to life by a sangoma to do their bidding. They are undead and demonic.” The woman’s voice trembled with nerves and hope that she would make it out of this.

  “That explains why my knife works so well on it. Catherine, think you can pin it down to let me get a good stab in?” Damian asked.

  Just as Catherine nodded and moved to attack the beast grabbed a stone and went to swallow it.

  The young woman’s face twisted in fear and she shouted, “No, don’t let it swallow the stone! It will become invisible and escape if it does!”

  Catherine cursed and sped up but wasn’t able to make it in time. The tokoloshe disappeared before their eyes.

  “Shite! Now what are we going to do?” Catherine cursed.

  Damian just relaxed his posture and spoke up his tone unconcered, “Don’t worry about it.”

  “What do ya’ mean don’ worry ‘bout it?!” Catherine asked him tersely, her accent getting thicker as she got more agitated. “You ain’t the one tha’ needs t’ be worried if the wee beastie comes back!”

  “It won’t come back.” Damian shrugged.

  “The feck do you me- “Catherine was interrupted as Damian lunged to the side a slammed his knife down onto something just in front of him. The beast reappeared and twitched in violent spasms as it burned around the knife in its chest. “How?”

  Damian stabbed the beast again to make sure it died before answering, “Two reasons I could find it. First the beast reeks of sulfur and death, so I wasn’t going to lose its trail if I failed to stab it as it passed. Second, Sanguine Ember, possesses the ability to detect all hostile supernatural entities are within fifteen feet of me, and gives me an exact direction for them. When the pulses it sent me showed it was slowly sneaking away, I wasn’t worried about it escaping before I could kill it. Now, about that doctor?”

  Catherine put away her axe and shook her head, “You’re a bloody fool, you know. Leaping out a fifth story window, your lucky that cart passed by or you’d be a damn smear on the road. As for the doctor? I have no idea, I asked for the officers to get one but who knows how long it will take.”

  The young woman who was gathering herself decided to interrupt, “If you need healing, my grandmother is an Inyanga. She would be willing to help you seeing as you saved me from a horrible fate.”

  She still looked fearfully at the tokoloshe corpse but found reassurance in Catherine’s presence and stood closer to her. “Also, it’s not over I am afraid. The Sangoma who created the beast could easily make another one if he isn’t stopped.”

  Damian gave the girl a grateful nod, “That would be much appreciated. Do you happen to know who the Sangoma who created this creature is? Also, what’s your name?”

  “My name is Gugulethu, and yes, I know who sent the creature after me. His name is Nkosi, I refused his advances and he did not take it well.” Gugulethu said.

  “Don’t worry we will take care of it.” Catherine said, “Is there anything we can use to prove he created and sent the tokoloshe after you?”

  Gugulethu shook her head, “No, not unless he is caught in the act.”

  Catherine nodded and pondered the problem for a second. “That is tricky, but he does have a motive even if it is somewhat of a flimsy one from a legal perspective. I can have him watched for a while would you be able to give the officers that will be responsible for watching him a description of what to look out for?”

  Gugulethu agreed and was led out of the alley by Catherine while Damian followed behind after grabbing the body of the tokoloshe and whistling for Bronze to follow. As they emerged from the alley they were approached by a squad of officers with drawn maces and pistols. The officers were watching the surroundings for any signs of hostility as the leader of the group addressed Catherine.

  “What is the situation Madam Inquisitor?”

  “It is temporarily under control for now, however I will require some of your more discreet officers for a sting operation to catch the creator of this monster.” Catherine gestured to the body in Damian’s hands. “Miss Gugulethu here, will give you details on the person you are to watch and what to identify to affirm the suspects guilt. Any questions?”

  The officer glanced at Gugulethu briefly before turning back to Catherine. “No, ma’am. I have just the officers in mind give me a few minutes to get the details from the young lady and I will have it arranged.”

  Catherine waved for the man to get on with it and joined Damian as he leaned against a wall nearby. “How are you holding up?”

  Damian grimaced, “Better than I should be, but it still hurts like hell. I think I might have bruised a rib.”

  Catherine slugged the man on his shoulder, “You’ll be lucky if that’s all that happened. You jumped out a bloody window, you stupid arse. What possessed you to do something that stupid.”

  Damian shrugged and gave her look, “It is what an exterminator from the MHL should do when a monster is present.”

  Catherine rolled her eyes at him. She got the message he was conveying; he was making a performance for the audience. While she could see how it was a cinematic moment and would likely get them some bonus essence at the end, it was still the first day of the portal scenario. “We are here for a while yet don’t get yourself hurt or killed and leave me to solve this by myself.”

  Damian conceded the point, but before he could say anything Gugulethu approached them with the officer who had gotten her statement.

  “We have everything we need ma’am. The young lady mentioned you agreed to take her home?” The officer asked.

  “Yes, good work officer. Good luck in catching the culprit.” Catherine said and gestured for Gugulethu to lead on.