Everything seemed to quiet down as the flames disappeared completely. Making the place dark once again. I sighed having enough of the gloomy place and started to head back towards the corridor which led outside. I didn't feel like spending another second in there. I needed to go back, and make sure Aaron was alright.

Suddenly from the distance something which sounded like a scream resonated. I quickly turned towards the sound with my daggers at ready. If it was one of the vampires or undead I wouldn't care, but that was not either of them. It sounded... Bigger. I was standing in the middle of the empty main hall and tried to figure out where the sound was from. The echo in that place was horrendously disorientating.

Then the atmosphere suddenly turned cold making the hairs at the back of my neck stand. Something was coming, something with enough power to scare humans off by appearing only.

A sound of wings resonated and was getting louder. That gave me a better idea where it was coming from. I quickly scanned my surroundings realising I did not even bother to do that before. Whenever I was in a fighting mode I would always check out my surroundings first, however, when I barged in the hall I paid no mind to it at all. My focus was purely on Carleon who was sucking the blood out from Aaron.

The hall was flat and empty, not even one window. With the doors behind me, I thought that would be my only escape. Since the stairs leading up to a little balcony. However, my gaze stopped on the back of the hall, there were stairs on the side which lead down. Another possible escape. However, except those stairs with those elaborate railings, there was nothing else. So whatever was coming would come from there, or the main doors. This made me walk slowly towards one of the walls to keep an eye on both ways.

Then I faced the stairs at the back just in time as two powerful wings carried a demonic beast inside which was surrounded by a black fog that followed it. It looked like a pegasus but his whole body black with red, swirled markings going from the head towards the rump of the animal. His eyes, bloody red, stopped on me, and as they did they flashed and the swirls looked like they glowed as well. The black-feathered wings which had two pairs of horns at each joint folded and the four powerful hooves landed on the ground. The long tail swished the ground which kicked up a cloud of ash which was most likely one of the minor vampires. The horse shook his thick neck which made the spiked up mane swish around to each side. The most frightful aspect of the menacing beast were the two, fire-coloured horns on its head. They were curving on both sides of the head and pointed straight at me.

I watched as the beast stomped on the ground a few times judging its next move. If it was a monster closer to human it would be easier to predict but an animal was always tricky. Especially an animal which I have never seen before in my entire life.

After a moment of looking at each other the horse's ears folded backwards and rising its wings slightly, he charges with full force. The beast was fast, even for its large size it got close to me faster than I expected. I had encounters with horses and pegasuses but never one this big or fast. Underestimating the speed of the creature at first I moved to the side at a second too late. I knew the momentum will not allow the animal to turn quickly so I wanted to jump away at the last moment. I managed to avoid the main hit but one of the horns grazed my shoulder piercing through the skin. I gritted my teeth and swore under my breath while trying to get some distance from the creature.

I barely managed to get back to my defensive position and the horse was on the attack once again from another direction. This time I jumped to the side faster, the force of it making me fall down and roll on the ground back to my feet. I turned towards the animal and watched as the horse snarled this time angry it missed. It spread its wings and started to run at me for the third time. Those wings prevented the horse from going as fast but they created a barrier that I wouldn't be able to jump away from in time. Which made me realise that whatever this thing was, it was not stupid. It had quite the brain for something that looked like a horse. If I go too fast the horse will have time to turn back towards me if too slow the horns on the wings will get me.

I grumbled and crossed my daggers in front of me waiting for the impact. The blades were long enough to reach towards both of the horns. As the beast approached the horns hit the metal with a high pitched sound. Sparks flew around as both of us pushed towards the other. I was still standing my ground however due to the ashes under my feet after a moment I started to slip backwards. I tried to plant my feet harder to the stone floor but it was of no use. The pegasus had a strength advantage. As I was gaining speed backwards I glared at the best in front of me. Likewise, the horse stared back. Both of us trying to judge which one will give up first. Unfortunately, it must have been me as the wall behind was approaching pretty quickly.

Not having another choice I took a deep breath and angled my blades downwards which made the horse's head move lower. The beast tried to look up but it was too late. I leant my weight on my arms and jumped up. My feet kicked the wall behind and I pushed myself off of it and flew over the pegasus' head. As soon as my arms followed behind the beast rummaged into the wall, his horns getting stuck in the stone. Thinking that could have been me I gulped.

I landed on the back of the horse sitting backwards. Before the beast could react I drove one of my daggers into its back without a second of hesitation. Black blood oozed from the wound. Another strange thing I have never seen before. The beast had a very tough skin, even with a blade inside its back the damaged was not as grave as it should have been which made me curse once again. The horse snarled and started to kick its hind legs up. By doing so his horns got free and he reared up. It then bucked while I balanced on top of it. The wings flapped about as I chuckled “I ride a wolf, don't bother with the jumps.” I twisted my body backwards and was about to push my other blade into the beast's neck hoping that would be enough to kill it when one of the wings smacked me in the head knocking me down. I rolled on the ground a few meters.

I lied on my back holding onto only one dagger now. The other was still stuck to the horse's back. My eyes were shot from feeling dizzy, but not quite sure from what, the smack or the hit on the ground. I felt something going down the side of my chin and when I reached for it I realised it was blood. Turned out one of the horns on the wing must have caught me since there was a small hole in my cheek causing the blood to pour out from my mouth.

Then I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a small stream of blood from my head which obscured my vision. However, through the crimson body fluid, I saw that two hooves were inches above me. My eyes widened momentarily and I rolled to the side avoiding the crushing blow by a mere second. The horse in rage reared again aiming for my head. I rolled once again and quickly tried to get to my feet. Although that proved harder than I thought it would be, with my head foggy, shoulder bleeding harder, and poor sight. While I was still low on the ground getting my bearings the horse managed to get a hit on the back of my leg. A crushing sound followed by agonising scream filled the hall. The excruciating pain of my leg being shattered cleared my head at least. I fell on my side not being able to stay upright, sweat rolling down my face. The beast did not give up however, it turned around and kicked me with its hind legs sending me tumbling to the other side of the hall which ended with an abrupt stop on the stairs' railings. I managed to get my arm in the way of the hit, and another cracking sound reached my ears. My bones might have been crushed but I was alive at least. Although I had a hunch my consciousness will not last for much longer.

I shook my head trying to estimate how much time I had before the next attack. Which was not easy considering everything was spinning. I looked at the horse which lowered the head and aimed his horns at me once more. Seeing the approaching beast I dragged my broken body behind the railings just in time for the hit. The metal bars shook from the impact and bent causing the horns which were in between the bars to be right in front of my face. The horse huffed and was about to move away but I grabbed hold of the horns holding them in place. The horse raged and tried to get out. While, I using my good leg managed a hard kick on one of the metal bars which bent once more, causing the horns in between them to be trapped. With my leg and arm crushed I had to gain an upper hand someway, and getting rid of that pesky head was a good way to solve that.

While the horse fought with the railings his wings tried to reach me over them, so staying low I sneaked out from behind the railings hoping that the horse will be stuck for long enough for me to escape. Whenever the wings came close I would slash them causing feathers to fly in all directions and black blood splattering around. I had a hunch that the animal would not fly as well anymore.

As I was already some distance away the pegasus pulled on the railing harder until it freed himself. While I felt a shiver going up my spine. There was no way out, I had to fight it. With a huff, it charged at me once more, somehow it felt like a final attack. It was too close to gain too much speed but enough to trample me in the process. Just before it reached me I crouched down and at the last second moved out of the way and while the animal rushed past, I slashed at the hind leg with my dagger. I tried to cut through the bone but for some reason, I felt the blade bouncing back from it as if it was made of hard metal.

The beast yelpt. The cut was deep to the bone which, due to the speed, sent the animal flying. As it did, the dagger which was stuck in its back fell down. As the beast rolled on the ground towards a wall I stood up and limped towards my dagger picking it up. I wiped the blood from my chin at last and watched as the animal was trying to get up. Brushing my hair back I heaved a sigh wondering if there will be more.

I was injured, tired, and not in the right frame of mind to fight a powerful opponent like that pegasus. I had to kill a bunch of undead and vampires not long before for crying out loud. I needed a break. Besides I was almost beaten so trying not to risk my life anymore I spat some blood down and limped away hoping that is the end. The horse couldn't get up in time to catch me thankfully. Whenever it was close to standing up another batch of blood spill from its leg or back making the animal fall back again. Both wings were also damaged, and the animal must have been exhausted as well. However, it never gave up, not until I could hear it at least.

As I got outside a horrendous sound came from the mansion. The horse probably in pure rage his prey escaped. I only looked up at the castle, thinking that if I will ever need something which is hard to kill as a mount I knew where to find it.

Once I rushed into the bushes to hide I whistled for Lashaka who hurried to me. Lashaka was stubborn and hard to kill but in comparison, she felt a lot safer. Even with her being so dangerous in reality. She laid low to let me get on after she looked over me. I grumbled as I sat and looked at my beaten leg saying “Just great…” I sighed and tried to move my arm which surprisingly was not as useless as I expected. I then sped Lashaka towards Kellwood ignoring the excruciating pain in my limbs since my mind was back on Aaron once again.

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