His Fading Humanity

Chapter 5: Searching for Sinister

They couldn't go any further.

Candie jumped off her horse, her dark cloak fell over her frame and swished against the skin atop her ankles. Her dark hair was windswept and wild and her eyes matched her untamed look.

"It's only a little farther, we're almost there. But the forest only gets thicker and darker from here. I don't believe the horses will be able to make it." She claimed to the soldiers.

"You better not be fooling with us, woman," A scruffy, dark-eyed male spoke from atop his horse, "If this proves to be a waste of time-"

"I can't assure you that Kyros will be there. I can assure you, though, that you will be able to pick up his strong scent and evidence of who he is and of the deeds he's done." Candie said confidently.

And she knew. She knew now that it was only a matter of time before Kyros would be in the Kingdom's clutches.

Perhaps it was not a matter of if, but when. And it had always been that way for Kyros.

"Very well then. Dismount from your horses, men, for soon we will catch the monster! No longer will he be able to hide in the shadows, for the shadows no longer belong to him." The soldier announced to the others who quickly dismounted from their horses and prepared themselves for a possible deadly battle with Kyros.

More than half of the horsemen left their animals with the others and went on alone. Candie was among those on foot and led the men to her home crafted from the very trees which loomed over their heads.

Their branches creaked and swayed slowly, like a predator rocking its tail back and forth in anticipation of the hunt.

The soldiers brought with them heavy silver chains, swords, crossbows, knives, and any other weapon they could use to prepare themselves. They knew Kyros was powerful, too powerful and the threat of death was alive within them.

If Kyros could nearly wipe out an entire pack, then he could do the same to an army of men sent out to arrest and detain him.

But these soldiers carried with them powerful arrows lathered and soaked in a specialized paralyzing poison. It was strong, strong enough to be lethal if administered in a large dose. It took many years to create and perfect, but it was made in preparation for this very reason.

The leaves below their feet crunched loudly as the mass approached the home. Candie was the one to open the front door of the cabin, calling out Kyros' name.

"Kyros," She said, not setting a foot inside, she wanted to lure him out of the home so the soldiers would have a clean shot, "Are you there? Please talk to me, I'm sorry for what I've done and I've changed my mind. I don't want you to leave."

She was fearful. She was fearful because she had hoped Kyros wouldn't have left yet, but he had. The soldiers moved in behind her closely, the designated man held the crossbow in his steady hands.

It shook ever so slightly.

But Kyros did not come out. He was already long gone.

But once his scent was identified by the professional trackers, he wouldn't be gone for long. Because as the soldiers moved in and oozed into the house, they were enveloped by his scent.

As they entered the home, they could see the blood droplets which stained the ground. Dark crusts of scarlet were scattered near the wall by the front door, and Candie froze in her place. 

She feigned fear and let her body shake as the pointed to the spot which contained her blood. "This is what he did to me, just two days ago. I was so scared, so, so scared." She whispered, letting her eyes tear up as she emotionally pleaded with the soldiers.