Notorious

Chapter 25 - And then there were four.

"The pixies then?" Jason piped up. "They could be using them to keep people away and to make it seem like there's more of the eximius than there actually is."

"Smarter than he looks, isn't he?" Layan said, with a slightly shocked expression.

"That has to be it then." Notorious nodded. "Hermy, think you have good enough aim to take down most of the pixies?"

"Of course i do." He said. "Im offended that you have to ask."

Notorious smiled at him. "Then the rest of you focus on taking down the eximius."

"And you, my dear?" Laylan looked worried.

"I'll go after Atera." She said grimly.

"He's in there?" Merredith gasped.

Notorious nodded. "He's down with his creations. I can take him."

"And we're going to lead them out into the open, i presume?" Laylan asked.

"Not we. I will." Merredith said.

"Merry..." Notorious started.

"No, I'm not a great fighter but this i can do." She interrupted.

Notorious went to argue again but Laylan stopped her. "I believe she can do this. Have faith, my dear."

She sighed, but nodded anyway.

Merredith gave Hermit a quick kiss and ran off towards the front door.

They all stood in silence. Tense statues, waiting for any sign that Merredith was going to return.

Helplessly staring at the door in which she had just disappeared into.

After a short, but never the less, tense wait, Notorious heard faint footsteps.

"Jase." She whispered and tapped her ear.

His ears grew and pointed, becoming hairy like dogs ears.

He nodded his head and the rest of him moulded into the shape of the eximius. Notorious took a deep breath as the footsteps grew louder.

Laylan and Hermit could obviously hear it now too, because their eyes all darted towards the door at the same time.

Hermit prepared his crossbow.

Laylan placed his cane onto the floor and kicked it into a bush nearby and got out two long, curved blades.

Then came the sound of heavier footsteps and chains rattling, as well as something else...

Something light and barely audible.

Notorious recognized it as the flutter of small wings.

"Hermy." She nodded towards Hermit and he held up his crossbow.

"Jase." She tapped the place on her hip where his belt held the silver bombs.

He held one in each hand and readied himself to throw them.

Laylan didn't need any instructions, he would already have his own plan.

Merredith burst out of the door, whip in hand, followed by a swarm of pixies.

Hermit shot repeatedly and every arrow hit.

Pixies fell before they even knew what was happening.

Next came the eximius, growling and snarling, their eyes set on Merredith.

While they were distracted, Jason threw the silver bombs and with perfect aim, hit at least 6 of the creatures. Some of the other eximius fell over the ones that were writhing on the floor in pain, but were very quick to get up.