Elise brought her
attention back to where the fog had been and watched a man walked toward them
clapping slowly. Cage leaned into her a snarl on his lips.
“It’s him.”
Elise squinted her eyes,
trying to make out who the man was walking toward them. Even though there was
something oddly familiar about him. Her eyes widened as her brain finally
placed him. “Paul Campbell, in human form? How can that be?”
“I’ll answer that,
sweetheart,” said Paul with a smirk. “You banished Mozath, stupid jerk just
stood there and let you banish him with light. I fought, inside the fog, I
fought and like always I won.”
“Not like always,” said
Elise, with her own smirk. “Seems I banished you from this place before, don’t
think I can’t do it again.”
Her body was fraught with
fatigue as her heart pounded in her chest causing a throbbing sensation in her
ears. Banishing Mozarth had taken a toll on her, but she would stand up to
Cage. She wouldn’t let him win. She couldn’t.
Cage laughed loudly.
“When you banished me, I was a mere mortal. Now I am a demon. I have more
power, more magic, and more strength than you and your town of misfits. Funny
thing is I was just going to kill you, but now that they’ve stood behind you,
knowing full well what you are … well now they all have to die. I’m prepared to
wipe this entire valley off the map.” He glanced down the line at townsfolk. “I
hope you all have made peace with your maker.”
“That’s enough,” yelled
Cage stepping forward.
Paul laughed louder. “Well,
look what the cat drug in. My old student. I would say protégé, but you’re so
far off the path I hate to even admit you were a pupil of mine, much less an
outstanding one.”
“Just wait until you have
to admit that the student has beaten the teacher,” said Cage.
Paul shook his head. “Your
worst trait has always been your cockiness.”
“I call it confidence,”
said Cage.
“Now listen here,” Mayor
Garver stepped forward before Elise could stop him, “we’re a welcoming sort of
town. Elise may have cursed the founding families, but it was a curse that was
justified. We have learned to live with it. This town thrives because we stand
together. We’ve welcomed Cage, knowing he’s a hunter and we have a family of
Pixies getting ready to move in as long as they have retired from most of their
mischief. We have learned from our ancestors that humans are not the only
beings on the planet, just as we have learned from them that not all paranormal
beings are bad. Some are simply delightful. Apple Hill is a haven to all and we’ll
remains by standing together. We’ll stand together now, just as we did against
that black foggy thing against you, and you’ll lose.”
“Is that so?” asked Paul,
eyebrow raised.
“It is,” said Mayor
Garver, “I’m the mayor of this city. I also vet all the people, supernatural or
not, that want to live here. We have rules. Now, you haven’t hurt anyone
terribly yet, other than some nightmares, but if you want to retire, let’s
talk. There’s a nice little spot just down the road, perfect for a home and a
garden.”
“You can’t be serious,”
said Cage.
“I am,” said the mayor, “all
this gentleman has to do is think wisely and agree to not hurt anyone else.” He
turned to Elise. “I hope you’ll make the same agreement when this is all over.
We’ve allowed your curse because of that dastardly act those men did so long
ago, with the hope that you’ll realize we aren’t them. We aren’t them, Elise.”
He turned back to Paul. “We aren’t here to harm anyone. Can you say the same?
Wouldn’t you like to live in peace?”
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