Grimm Brothers Part VIII

Aether watched the body slump to the ground and stood, staring at it, then he noticed the blood gushing from his brother's wound, he knelt down to inspect the wound, not caring about soiling his clothes with blood. The bite was deep into the muscle tissue. Aether tore off the sleeve of his shirt. and used it to bind and put pressure on the wound. He picked up his brother's staff and contracted it, sliding it into his pocket.
"Come on Brother, let's get you home."
He picked up his brother, blood already seeping through the makeshift bandage and carried him to the car, the dog corpses outside had begun to smell, which was not an unfamiliar smell to Aether, he strode past them, his eyes glassy and unfocused.
He got to the car, a brief thought crossing his mind: He told me I shouldn't ever drive this car. I'm sure his almost death would qualify as a good reason.
He opened the passenger door, put his brother in the car and checked his pulse. It was slowing, he had to get him to a hospital or somewhere where he could treat him properly.
A hospital would ask too many questions. And he didn't know any mages in this area that could take show him a place where he could get Nether healed.
Then he remembered.
There was a Necromancer's Temple in Wicklow. But they hadn't been to one since they left the Necromancers 40 or so years ago and they usually held a grudge.
He had no choice but to try.
So he drove there, constantly checking on his brother. He was fading.
The streets were mostly empty, with only a few spare late night party-goers driving past, Aether didn't notice them. When he got the he raced to the other side of the car and got his brother, the dead weight was hard to carry, He struggled the the front door and knocked.
A small bespectacled man opened the door, his white face is stark contrast to his dark robes. He recognized them immediately. And prepared snide remark.
"Ah the imfamous younger Grimm brother, Aether, come back to be-"
He noticed the object in Aether's arms.
"You best come inside." His face paled, which was an astounding feat.
The next few minutes went by Aether in a daze, a man came to take Nether, and Aether followed obediently.
They took him down dark corridors, lit sparsely by torches, to a man he only assumed was a doctor.
He took Nether in a room, with a thick black curtain over the door. Aether wasn't allowed to come any further. He sat outside the room, semi-concious for what could have been hours, or only minutes.
Then they let him in.

His brother was lying on a stone slab, his shirt and coat had been removed, and his shoulder was bandaged.
Aether went to stand next to him, and Nether saw him and turned and said.
"You drove my car didn't you?"
Aether flung himself on his brother and hugged him.
Nether winced from the movement of his shoulder. His brother just smiled.
"I'm glad you are alive brother." He said.
"Nether just looked at him and replied "So am I."

The Grimm Brothers VII

“Well Finally. I mean, what is this, some corny roundabout mystery story?” Aether said, sarcastically.
“Well, If you had of just came straight here, instead of running around town for the most part of a day” Reginald responded, dryly, he had, despite is very tribal appearance, an air of importance around him.
“Oh shut up.” Nether told him. “Who the hell are you and why is there a mark on us? More to the point, why did you put a mark on us?”
“I’m surprised, with all this sleuthing you have been doing, you haven’t figured it out yet?”
Nether thought for a moment. “The Black Hound Bandits. Bluthund, Blood hound. So you are after us because we killed your little gang?”
“Exactly. I have many good traits,” Aether stifled a laugh, to which Bluthund responded with a glare. “But, I will admit, I do hold a grudge, and I am a very stubborn man. And so, I couldn’t just let you get away with it, so I had my dogs track you, I found that little bounty-house of yours and left my card, and a contract, on which, as you know, that pathetic failure, Vicarious, picked up. I knew you would pay me a visit eventually, and so, I could finish you myself.” Whilst he had been talking, Reginald had removed the upper part of his outfit, revealing a lean, muscular forme, and also his shoes placing them next to himself.
“Bring it, Bitch.” Aether told him, grinning manically.
“I take offense to that.” Reginald said coldly and leapt, Launching himself from the staircase, his nails turning in razor sharp claws, his teeth baring to reveal large canine fangs. He crossed the gap between himself and Aether in a second, landing on all fours where the younger brother had been a moment ago.
“So, you are a werewolf then?” Aether asked him, curtly.
Reginald merely snarled. “I think it’s more likely he is an adept” Nether yelled back, Preparing his staff and running at Reginald.
Reginald slashed Aether, slicing him twice on the upper arm, while he tried to move back, and unhook his crossbow. Nether caught up, catching Reginald a glancing blow to calf, the man snarled, and spun on his and leapt. Nether, responding with lightning fast responses, sliced Bluthund across the chest, immediately drawing blood. He landed, panting, then, with a snarl, leapt again, baring his teeth he aimed for Nether’s jugular, he missed, but only just, his teeth clamping through the muscle of Nether’s shoulder, and tearing through, Nether shouted out in agony.
There was a faint click behind them.
Reginald turned to face the glowing black end of Aether’s crossbow.
“When a puppy bites, he has to be put down.” Aether said, his voice devoid of any emotion. And fired a bolt of shadow through Reginald’s face.

Postponedination

To avid readers of my story on my blog.
I had planned to finish it this weekend, but didn't
I am now going camping, and it won't be finished till next weekend at the latest.

So, you will have to wait.
There is a thrilling conclusion in store for you though.
Have a good Holidays everybody. That is if you are a Queenslanderian.

Peace :D
Tyler.

The Grimm Brothers Part VI

They took the car out of Dublin, back through the country, heading south, down the M50 and the N11 they drove for almost an hour until they arrived at the stately Manor of 7 Knockrobin Estate, a Brass sign on the gate read “Das Haus der Hunde” They went to open it, But it swung open just as Nether went for the handle.
“Oooh Spoooky” Aether said, making cheesy  ghost noises.
“Quiet Aether.” Nether responded sharply.  And Aether was.
They walked up the path towards the house, A large white building with an extended entrance , with marble columns supporting the roof. There were large bay windows evenly spaced along the front of the house, Aether could see red curtains drawn behind them. The place looked deserted, despite being so well kept.
“Actually, this is rather eerie Aether.” Nether admitted, That is when they heard the dog barks, and the howling.
“You know Nether, those sound like they are getting closer.” Aether said, calmly unhooking his crossbow and expanding it with a click.
“And they don’t sound very friendly.” Nether added, continuing his brother’s mocking tone, Sliding his weapon from his belt and extending it with a satisfying Schwing!
“No, quite ferocious indeed.” Aether concluded.
Then they saw them, a large pack of hounds, Teeth bared and glistening, they were sprinting towards the two brothers, and were certainly not friendly. The two brothers looked at each other, Nodded then leapt into action.
Aether fired a bolt into the largest beast, the shadows brief spread across it’s body, then it slumped the the ground, quite obviously dead. Nether lept, bringing one end of his staff down on another of the wolves. It sliced deftly through, splattering the ground with blood. Then another of the beasts turned on him, he swung, his hit traveling straight through its abdomen. With a sudden rush Nether was knocked to the ground, a beast had jumped and pinned him, him claws tearing through and digging into Nether’s back.
“A little help!” He called to his brother.
His brother spun around after taking out another of the hounds. He fired three shoot, each hitting exactly on the target, felling the beast, right on top of Nether.
“Gee, thanks” He said, heaving the dead weight off of his back.
“Welcome” Aether responded, curtly.

With a flourish nether stood up, taking out a beast, while at the same time, Aether shot the final one through the chest.
Nether walked over to Aether, who had just finished counting.
“9, 10, 11, 12, 13! My lucky number!” He turned to his brother grinning.
“I’m almost insulted, he said in response, I mean, this was obviously going to be a trap, why not make it an effective one?” Nether responded.
“He probably just wanted to injure us.”  Aether told him.
“How do you figure?” Nether asked him, taking of his torn coat an discarding it.
“Well, he hasn’t given his whole, “I’m the bad guy and this is why I hate you” spiel. You know, like in movies?”
“The way you think never ceases to amaze me, Aether.” Nether said to his brother, who responded with a grin.
They walked up to the doors and pushed them open, inside they revealed a large hall with a wide staircase carpeted in thick plush red shag carpet. The rest of the house was bone white, white the exclusion being the scare decorations and painting that hung about the house.
Just then, a thin man with wavy dark blonde hair and a beard walked down the staircase, he was wearing an odd outfit, which vaguely resembled a loose fitting suit, made of animal pelts and fur, on his head sat a wolf’s helm, made from the skin from the head of a wolf. He looked amazingly out of place in these surroundings.
“Ah, the Grimm Brothers, I have been expecting your visit, I hope the welcoming party wasn’t too much for you.” He spoke with a slight German accent, which was only scarcely noticeable. “But I forget my manners, my name is Reginald Bluthund.”

Just Deserts

For the purpose of anonymity we will call these two boys, Boy, and Bully.

Boy walked to school, as he did every morning, dreading the day ahead, it was not the classes, they were easy, or the teachers. But just one boy, one particular student that makes his life misery. He hated Boy, hated him with everything he had, which was usually his fists. The boy was reading on his way to school, he often did this. But this particular morning, on a lovely sunny autumn’s day, Bully came to find the Boy.

He rode up on his bike, skidding, in a way, just to spray gravel all over Boy. It stung his face, and his eyes, but he would not cry, or react, that is what Bully wanted, that tiny yelp of pain, the slight cringe, so he can play on it, make it hurt.
“What’s up?” Bully said, with a grin.
“Not much Bully Walking to school, as you can see” Boy regretted it as soon as he said it. He didn’t mean it to sound smart, but he knew that’s know Bully would take it.
“Being smart are you poindexter? What cha reading?” At this Bully snatched the book from Boy.

“Catch Her in the Rye? Planning on getting kinky in the fields Boy?”
“No, It’s not even about that” Not able to look his enemy in the eye.
“You calling me a liar?”
“No.”
“What’s that?”
“No!” Boy basically shouted it.
At this Bully delivered a punch into Boy’s gut. Boy fell to the ground, gasping, Tears springing to his eyes.
“It wasn’t even hard. Get up.” Boy did. “What? You going to cry? Little baby going to cry?”
Boy wouldn’t look Bully in the face, would let him see the pain the hurt he feels, wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Bully could see that taunt wouldn’t work, so he tried another.
“You know, Boy, They do say knowledge is power, so why are you so weak? I mean c’mon, swing a punch at me, right here, right on my cheek, c’mon.”
Boy knew it was a taunt, knew he was just trying to hurt him more, but he was angry, at Bully for being the bastard that he was, but more it was at himself for not standing up to Bully. So, he took the punch.
And Bully moved out of the way.
“Wha’cha doing? Trying to punch me?” Boy said, changing his tone.
“Bu- but you said.” Boy stammered.
“Said what? Said you could punch me? Did I really? Would I be that stupid?” Bully moved closer to Boy, they were matched in height yet Bully still seemed to tower over him. “Well! Answer me!” He yelled.
“Yes.” Boy said, defiantly.
“Wrong answer” Bully said, with a sick, twisted grin, and laid into Boy, a punch to his jaw, knocking his glasses off, another to the ribs, a knee to the face, All boy could feel was pain, searing through his body, racing though his mind.
When Bully was done, He rode off, without a word. Boy picked himself up, and pain racking his body, tears springing to his eyes, his head a mess of emotions, decided to skip school, and go home.

Many years later, Boy grew up, and became a Man, He became a prison guard. Contacts to replace his Glasses, magazines replacing novels, Anger replacing all other emotions, He never forgot Bully, and the constant torment he endured that day, the days before, and the days after. He hated him, in a way that could never be replaced. When Bully grew up, he was still a bully, some people never change. He forgot all about Boy, whose life he had made a living hell, whose whole life may have been different if it weren’t for him.

When Bully got arrested for assault he was sent to prison, he was sent to the same prison Boy worked at. When Boy found out, he was so happy. He went to pay Bully a visit. He had gotten bigger since Bully had last seen him, His once “weak” arms, now corded and muscular, His thin, small frame, now wide, and imposing.
“What do you want?” Bully spat, as Boy entered the cell.
“Hello Bully.” Was all the Boy said, it was all that was necessary. Bully’s eyes opened wide, in pure abject terror, He knew the man in front of him. He saw the anger in the man’s eyes, He remembered the pain he had caused him.
“Pleas- please..” He stammered.
But the Boy couldn’t hear him, He was reliving that day. He delivered the same punch to the gut he had received. The same swing to the jaw. And the Bully, He got his just deserts.

The Grimm Brothers Part V

The two brothers walked in silence to the car, neither of them said a word, neither of them had to. They drove back through the seedy areas of Dublin, down the streets they had already traveled that very morning.
They got out, and walked up and into Garmand and Co. Mr Garmand greeted them as they walked in.
“Ah, The Grimm Brothers, this is a surprise, I’m afraid there are still no more contacts, I do know how you hate being out of wor-“ Nether cut him off.
“Shut it.” Aether looked at his brother, He was angry, he was hardly ever angry, he was hardly ever anything, he always just had a cool detachment about him. But now, he was angry.
“We just got attack by some idiot in a suit. I believe you are acquainted, A certain Mr Vicarious Splay? You knew this would happen and you didn’t tell us, not once, even though we have been your best clients, for the last five years. You know what, I have half a mind to end your life right now, But you can save yourself. Tell me, who contacted you for the contract?”

“You know I can’t tell you that. And besides, you know you can’t kill me.” Edmund said, smugly.
“You want to talk that chance?” he said, extending his bladestaff, it’s black tendrils hooking and failing from the ends, feeling of it’s owner’s anger.
“Okay, calm down Nether, even if I wanted to tell you, I don’t know,  I don’t think the man who contacted me was the man who ordered it, and he gave no name, no anything, just an address to send the proof of contract, which was to be” he nodded at the weapons “Your bladestaff and crossbow.”
“What was the address? Remember your life depends on it” Nether was back to his cool self, no sign of the anger that had just passed him.
“Um..” Edmund stammered, which was, despite his lisp, uncommon for him, he checked his notebook. “It’s a P.O box..”
“Where?” Nether’s voice was urgent, obviously keen to leave.
“Wicklow.”

Nether looked at him and turned to Aether who pulled out the business card.

Mr Reginald Bluthund
7 Knockrobin Estate
Wicklow

“Well Aether, looks like you were right, time to pay Mr Bluthund a visit.”

The Grimm Brothers Part IV

"Don't see why not" Aether responded sharply, firing several bolts of darkness at Splay, Who promptly snapped his his hands open, propelling himself safely over the shots and landing a few feet away.
"Nifty" Nether said, rushing him, both blades at either end of his staff absorbing the light around it. "My turn"
He spun around, swinging the staff in an arc, catching Vicarious a glancing blow on the arm, Who responded by hurling two fireballs, at Nether. Aether let off another volley of shots, hitting both fireballs, making them fizzle out mid-air.
"You are almost too easy Vicarious, I would have expected more"
"You want more?" Vicarious spat, hurtling at Aether. Pre-empting this aether leapt back, Firing at the ground.
"You missed me, You little bastard."
"Look again" Aether replied cheerfully, grinning.
The darkness had spread across the ground, spreading up Vicarious' legs and binding him there.
"See, the crossbow is just for show, we are necromancers, we control the shadows themselves. not just the objects they are bound too" Aether taunted. He then threw a hard jab into Vicarious' ribs. This made him cough, winding him. Aether followed up with a kick, right into the same spot. There was a faint cracking noise. And Vicarious fell to his knees. the shadows surged over his wrists, binding him there. Nether stalked over, holding one of the blades to Vicarious' throat.
"So, Mr Splay, do tell us, who put out the contract?" He said menacingly.
"They don't tell us, you know that, you are a mercenary"
"I have a feeling this was a special contract."
"It wasn't, I just went and picked it up, just like always, I thought it odd why anyone would want to kill you two, but work's work, and the reward was high enough" He began to cry.
"How much?"
"Two hundred thousand pounds." Vicarious sobbed.
"Well, I'm flattered"

With that, Nether walked away, followed by Aether who jogged up to join him.
"Well, you know who we have to pay a little visit to?"
"Reginald Bluthund?" Aether responded, confused.
"No, he can wait. A certain Mr Edmund Garmand has the information we want."
"Ah."

The Grimm Brothers Part III

Nether sat on the couch, waiting for his brother, and must have dosed off, because when he opened his eyes, Aether's face filled his entire vision.
"Wake up Sleepy. You want a shower or not?"
"Yes, Thanks Aether."
Nether walked off into the bathroom and Aether jumped and laid down on the couch.
"I love this couch" He said, to no-one in particular. Turning on the television, he sat there, gazing at the characters of his favourite cartoon.
When Nether came out of the bathroom, he said to Aether "I don't know how those shows amuse you"
"The jokes are... Funny." Aether responded, not hearing the actual question.
"Well, turn it off, we have to go visit," He said pulling out the card "Mister Reginald Bluthund"
"He has a ridiculous chosen name don't you think? Reginald, Bluthund, Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue does it? Now our name, stroke of brilliance really"

"Yes, thank you Aether. For the hundredth time."

Dressed and ready, they left the apartment, which, unlike entering it, only involved the pushing of a button. They took the elevator down to the carpark, where, they were greeted at their car by a gentleman who looked as if he had stepped from Victorian London, complete with an accent.
"Hello, My name is Vicarious Splay, and I've been looking for you two, I even brought you a gift" At this he snapped his palms open, spending ripples through the air at the two Grimm Brothers.
"Oh hell." they said in unison, and promptly sent flying back. Doing a twist in the air, Nether landed on his feet, His brother, a bit less co-ordinated, was not so lucky and was left sprawling.
Aether regarded his brother, from the ground. "Vicarious Splay.."
"The guy who took the contract, yes." Nether finished for him.
"So that means.."
"The contract was to kill us" He finished again.
"Stop doing that!" Aether shouted at him. Then, a thought crossing his mind he said, smartly "Well, better he took it then us, I wasn't really in the mood for suicide."
With this he scrambled to his feet, and pulled out his crossbow, which snapped open, with a faint click.
He joined his brother, who already had his weapon out.
"If you family meeting is over," Vicarious called, from across the carpark "Then care to come at me, Brothers?"